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OEM M3 PARTS ON NON-M - modding guide

854K views 961 replies 382 participants last post by  m3jala 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Since a lot of threads pop up about fitting OEM M3 parts on Non-M cars, I figured we might as well have a thread that explains everything. This will be a list, hopefully including part numbers, of everything you'll need to fit OEM M3 parts on a Non-M.

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Front Bumper:

Difficulty: 4/10
DIY: Maybe.
Installation:
- Coupe: http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=40
- Sedan: http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=41
Part Numbers:
- Re-Bar: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=51_3229&hg=51&fg=15
- Bumper: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=51_4781&hg=51&fg=15

This will fit on okay, but will need some tinkering to fit flush with the stock non-m fenders. Without modification, the bumper sits about an inch and a half forward and the sides flare out an inch or so; on a sedan, it's a slightly bigger gap. To fix this, some people opt for the OEM CF reinforcement bar and stretch the sides in a little bit, while others simply shave down the stock bar to allow the bumper to sit farther back.

Safe Alternatives:
- OEM Mtech2 front bumper (available at your local BMW dealership)
- M3/ CSL replica bumper (available through many of the sponsors here at e46)

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Front Fenders:

Difficulty: 5/10
DIY: If you're looking to save money, then a DIY would be nice.
Part Numbers:
FRONT LEFT 41357894337 $281.23
FRONT RIGHT 41357894338 $281.23

The OEM M3 Fenders will fit on nicely, but will be wider than the stock coupe front bumper. An M3-fitment front will fit perfectly flush with these.

Safe Alternatives:
- Racing Dynamics Tornado

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Hood:

Difficulty: 4/10
DIY: Absolutely.
DOES NOT FIT SEDAN!
Part Number:
HOOD 41617894223 $558.00

Minor fender modification is needed for 100% fit. Most people do this by simply spacing the fenders out by using washers.

Safe Alternatives (for coupes/verts ONLY):
- Carbon Fiber (available from many aftermarket companies)
- Vorsteiner GTR
- Hartge-Style

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Mirrors:

Difficulty: 2/10 (coupe/vert), 4/10 (sedan/wagon)
DIY: Yes.
Installation:
- Coupe: http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=6
- Sedan:
... Assembly: http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=27
... Base Plate Modification: http://www.rogueengineering.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=E46M3MIR
Part Numbers:
RIGHT PRIMED EL.EXTER.HEATABLE MIRROR 51167893468 $232.13
LEFT PRIMED EL.EXTERIOR HEATABLE MIRROR 51167893597 $232.13
ACTUATOR LEFT 51167895273 $169.63
ACTUATOR RIGHT 51167895274 $169.63
MIRROR GLASS HEATED PLANE LEFT 51167157247 $46.59
ADAPTER LEAD, MIRROR HEATING 51167836442 $6.58
MIRROR GLASS HEATED CONVEX RIGHT 51167157244 $58.31
ADAPTER LEAD, MIRROR HEATING 51167836442 $6.58

On coupes and convertibles, they're a direct bolt on. For sedans and wagons, the bases have to be modified slightly.

Safe Alternatives:
- M3 Replica Mirrors (M5-look) (available through sponsors)
- Hammann/Hagus (available through sponsors)
- AC-Schnitzer (available through sponsors)
- e36 M3-style (available on ebay)
- Hartge

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Side Skirts:

Difficulty: 2/10
DIY: Yes.

Direct bolt on. No modifications needed. On sedans and tourings, the skirts will be a couple millimeters too long. No biggie though...

Safe Alternatives:
- Hammann GTR
- Hammann Competition
- OEM Mtech2
- AC-Schnitzer
- OEM Aero Kit (a.k.a. 'Mtech1')

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Rear Quarter Panels/Fenders:

Difficulty: 9/10
DIY: NO!
Heavy modifications are needed for these to work. In short, a body shop will need to cut your existing quarter panels to smithereens and weld the M3 ones into place. This will require many hours of labor and lots and lots of money. This process is also irreversible. Only do this if you're absolutely certain that your pocket can take the hit.

(Not-so-safe) Alternatives:
- Custom widebody

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Rear Bumper:

Difficulty: 6/10
DIY: Probably not.
Part Numbers:
- Re-Bar: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=51_3306&hg=51&fg=15
- Bumper: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BL93&mospid=47714&btnr=51_4219&hg=51&fg=15

This has only been tried a handfull of times, but this mod is usually accompanied by a widebody. Since there's such a difference between M and non-M rear fenders, this bumper is a good inch or two too wide. To fit this correctly, you'll either need to do some hardcore molding and reshaping of the bumper, or a custom widebody in the rear. If you can deal with the bumper flexing and creating numerous noticeable gaps, then I guess you could do it without modifying anything (and only stretching the sides of the bumper in). Again, this mod isn't highly recommended unless you're serious about modifying your car.

Safe Alternatives:
- Hammann GTR
- Mtech2
- OEM Aero Kit (a.k.a. Mtech1)
- Various rear addons

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Trunk (including CSL trunks):

Difficulty: 3/10
DIY: Yes.
DOES NOT FIT SEDAN!
Part Numbers:
- M SPOILER REAR, PRIMED 51717893671 $139.50
- TRUNK LID 41627065260 $430.78

Some people (for whatever reason) want OEM trunks on their cars. The trunks are the exact same dimensions for M and non-M cars, therefore this is a direct bolt-on. No biggie.

Safe Alternatives:
- M3 Trunk Lip (yes, it fits fine)
- CSL Replica Trunks (Vorsteiner)
- CSL Addons (eh)
- Bimmain CSL-Style Addons (very nice looking IMO)
- ACS 3-Piece Race Wing
- ACS 3-Piece Trunk Spoiler
- ACS 1-Piece Trunk Spoiler

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Muffler:
Difficulty: 4/10
DIY: No. (leave it to any reputable muffler shop)

Despite what many people think, this mod isn't very hard to do. Here's what you'll need to do:
- Either cut the spare tire well ($100ish) or get an OEM M3 one put on ($150ish) in order to allow room for the muffler box.
- Get a new rear bumper to accomodate the sexy, center-exiting, quad tailpipes.
- Go to a muffler shop and have them weld it on. Just the welding and bracketry shouldn't cost more than $100 in total.

Safe Alternatives:
- Custom quad exhausts
- Remus/Eisenmann quad exhausts

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Wheels/Tires:

Difficulty: 4/10
DIY: Sure.

To get a set of four to fit, you will need to do some hardcore fender rolling and buy some smaller tires. To ensure proper fitment and to avoid a headache, I'd probably just find a set of four front wheels. These will fit just fine with no rubbing or modifications or anything.

Safe Alternatives:
- Anything :)

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Gauges/Instrument Cluster:

Difficulty: ?/10
DIY: ?
Part Number: INSTRUMENTS COMBINATION UNCODED MPH 62117837972 $504.43

This has not been successfully done yet. People have plugged these in, and here are the results:

WORKS 100%:
- MPH
- RPM
- OnBoard Computer Functions
- Lights
- Indicators
- Engine Temp.
- Gas Info

DOES NOT WORK:
- Oil Temp. Needle
- RPM Warmup Lights
- Little orange ODO Tamper Light comes on...which is bad

This is a DIRECT PLUG AND PLAY, but will not work 100%. You be the judge...

Safe Alternatives:
- Bimmian M3-Style Gauges
- UUC Whiteface Gauges
- Silver Gauge Rings w/ Red Sharpie'd Needles

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Steering Wheel:

Difficulty: 3/10
DIY: Yes
Part Number: M SPORTS STEER.-WHEEL, AIRBAG, LEATHER, BICOLOR 32348022322 $700.29

As long as you have the round airbag, this will be a direct bolt-on. The airbag, horn, radio buttons, cruise control, and everything else will work. Yay!!

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More to be added later....

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11
#598 ·
I've seen it done well plenty of times, my personal favorite was Mike Benvo's old white 330ci. It's fine as long as the M3 badge is taken off, but IMO the rear fender flares are already too small when compared to the stock non-M front fenders. So, making the front fenders even bigger makes that quite a bit more noticeable and I don't like it.
 
#602 ·
the M3 convertible and the M3 coupe have the same part number for the sideskirts. So it's the same question as if E46 M3 sideskirts will fit a E46 Coupe which is on the first page of the thread.
Yes
 
#607 ·
How To Fit OEM M3 Parts To A Non M


thread is "How To Fit OEM M3 Parts To A Non-M"

you're talking "OEM" but not "M3".
wrong thread
Will complete M3 coilovers, including camber plates (from Ground Control, TCK, etc.) fit directly onto a non-M?
thanks.
you're talking "M3" but not "OEM"
wrong thread
 
#609 ·
Will complete M3 coilovers, including camber plates (from Ground Control, TCK, etc.) fit directly onto a non-M?
thanks.
They do

question:
what about changing ASC throttle body on m52tub28 for a m3 TB????
tnks
No , M52 uses a throttle cable but the S54 uses an electric motor.

Aswell as you'd have lots of physical problems fitting it the performance boost isnt that much, the head is where the S54 makes its power.
 
#610 ·
So, swapping M3 coupe seats into a sedan requires the transfer of the sedan seat outer rails onto the M3 seats. But can you transfer both the inner and outer rails from the sedan seat on to the M3 seat? I've got a chance to buy some M3 coupe seats but the rails aren't included. Thanks
 
#619 ·
Not a good idea, you would be spending a lot of money to do a 'reverse retrofit' from OEM M3 bumper to Non-OEM/Non-M3 bumper. Get a used one on craigslist or the forum for a couple hundred bucks.

Does anybody know if m3 end links will fit a non m? Sedan in my case
They should, as long as they're shorter. e36 M3 front endlinks are equivalent to the shorter ones that come with KW V2 coilovers, which is what I have in my car. Endlinks are very very similar between all the e46 3 series and e36 M3, plus probably e39s and more. The key is the length, they can't be longer than the e46 links or they'll hit the control arm. Shorter endlinks help the sway bars function better when the car is lowered, less preload.

Ok so i have a 02 330Ci and i have a OEM m3 bumper from a 02 M3 ( this is the m3 bumper with the foam stuck inside of it). My question is what is the best way to get my stock rebar to fit onto the m3 bumper. I have already started to shave down the foam bar with my dremel and it seems like its gonna take years to do as the dremel only can do so much at a time i was gonna shave this down and jb welb it to my rebar.... I am wanting to to just take the whole foam part out but then im left with a bumper cover and rebar and i dont (think) jb welding them togather would work or would it? . I know im gonna cut my rebar on both ends down a inch or so to get it flush with the fenders.

HAS ANYBODY DONE THIS? IM SURE SOMEONE HAS AND I JUST NEED SOME INPUT IM STARTED TO GET PISS3D HAHA.
You're using a dremel on the re-bar? Damn. That's a lot of work when a sawzall or cutoff wheel can zip it apart in a minute or two. Yeah you have to cut it down quite a bit and use glue if you stick with the non-M rebar.
 
#617 ·
Ok so i have a 02 330Ci and i have a OEM m3 bumper from a 02 M3 ( this is the m3 bumper with the foam stuck inside of it). My question is what is the best way to get my stock rebar to fit onto the m3 bumper. I have already started to shave down the foam bar with my dremel and it seems like its gonna take years to do as the dremel only can do so much at a time i was gonna shave this down and jb welb it to my rebar.... I am wanting to to just take the whole foam part out but then im left with a bumper cover and rebar and i dont (think) jb welding them togather would work or would it? . I know im gonna cut my rebar on both ends down a inch or so to get it flush with the fenders.

HAS ANYBODY DONE THIS? IM SURE SOMEONE HAS AND I JUST NEED SOME INPUT IM STARTED TO GET PISS3D HAHA.
 
#621 ·
Direct bolt on if you have a coupe, and are using OEM M3 fenders and a GTR hood that's designed to fit on an M3.

1.) Unbolt fenders etc.
2.) Unbolt hood etc.
3.) Install is opposite of removal

Most GTR hoods don't fit well. I've only seen vorsteiner fit decently, lots of problems with warping and bowing on other cheaper hoods.

You'll want to get an OE M3 front bumper setup too, or figure out a way to make your non-M setup wider. It will be too narrow compared to the M3 fenders.
 
#625 ·
You can, but you basically have to do fab work in order to make it work. We've talked about it multiple times in the past couple pages of this thread.

I would save the hassle and use the OEM M3 rebar that will be stronger and easier to work with, plus it's carbon fiber or carbon kevlar or something
 
#629 · (Edited)
That question is better answered in a 'coupe headlight vs sedan headlight' thread, which there are plenty of. I may have mentioned that in this thread under 'headlights' too.

OEM M3 HEADLIGHTS/FRONT CORNERS:
- DO NOT FIT SEDAN AS-IS (see below)
- Headlights and corners are totally interchangeable between all coupes and verts of the same generation and body style. Coupes are all the same until they were 'facelifted' with 1 piece lights in 2004 (maybe 2003.5?) The facelift for sedans happened in 2005 (2004.5?)
- Prefacelift coupe headlights can be fitted to sedan if the lenses and headlight trim pieces are swapped, and vice versa.
 
#630 ·
I recently installed an M3 hood on my 323 and am having some problems making minor adjustments. I've read the DIY's recommending to dremel the fender holes / mounting holes, cutting the rubber stop, and shave the sides, all which I have done. My problem is when I push the front of the fender in to lessen the gap, the other end near the firewall is impossible to pull out at all. I've tried different variations of which place I screw in and adjust first, but the other end wont budge in the opposite direction. So right now the front has a small gap while the rear has basically no gap. Can someone point me in the right direction? If I take my wheel off, is there another way to pull the rear of the fender out more?
 

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