Finally took some pictures of the car. I know it's nothing special, but I'm going to use this thread share and document the car's progress. :thumbsup:

Current Mods: Performance Grills, Performance Steering Wheel, RE 12MM Spacers.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/3847663190_85e54a901b_b.jpg

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Nice shoots. Good luck with the project.

off to a great start :thumbsup: nice choice of color too ;)

So in my quest to build what BMW refuses to build (The infamous CSL. Or at least my version of it) ;), I picked up some additional parts.

And no, the GTS is not a replacement for the CSL. Its design objective is more inline with a race car, then a perfectly crafted road racer like the CSL. The CSL feels more thoroughly thought out in its weight reduction regimen. From it's use of materials such as carbon fiber, to fully utilizing the car's design elements such as access to rear seats, it just has that bit more finesse. Besides the engine, the GTS approach was a bit different with it stripped out interior using off the shelf Recaros and inclusion of a bulky roll cage. The GTS went the route of the RS, but the RS does it better. The CSL was in a class of it's own.

Anyhow, the overall goal of the project is 100KG in weight savings (Similar to the difference between a standard E46 and the CSL), 50HP/30TQ, improved suspension and brakes sub-systems, all while maintaining as much of an OEM feel and quality as possible.

With this in mind, I picked up a pristine set of OEM BMW M3 CSL Seats. These seats look amazing in real life and are surprisingly comfortable. They are covered in Alcantara and include the OEM rails.

Weight savings for this mod is 22.7lbs per seat for total of 45.4 lbs overall.

Stock: 62.6 lbs each (weighted by Sam@AutoTalent)
CSL: 39.9 lbs each

Reasons I went with this setup.

OEM fit and finish
Alcantara
Based on Recaro Polo Position design while incorporating various features such as larger cushions, lower side bolsters to improve usability
And the biggest reason - built in tilt functionality that allows full usage of the rear seats.


Couple of problems to resolve.

The mounting pattern is a bit different on the E46 versus E92 M3. I'm working on 2 potential solutions. The first being designing custom aluminum floor mount adapter plates, and two - After talking to VAC motorsports, there is high probablity that the VAC mounts floor mounts will allow the seat to bolt right in. I'm working on getting detailed measurements to check the feasibility.
The E92 passenger airbag sensor is no longer just a simple mat that you can just buy and retrofit. It's actually built into the OEM seat system. One of the perks of working at Microsoft is having access to some really smart people that also like cars. I'm talking to a few hardware people that will try to help me either emulate the sensor in hardware. Some further research is needed.

Unpacking

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/4170750702_1566d4cd46.jpg

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Stay tuned for installed pics and videos of the tilt up functionality.

Wow, amazing start man! I can't wait to see the pictures of the seats inside the car.

Good luck!:thumbsup2:

dibs on your oem 18's WHEN you take them off and change your wheels a hundred times and then sell your car... lol

i bought my first set of wheels from you on here!!! volks te37.. you never put them on...:lolhit:

dibs on your oem 18's WHEN you take them off and change your wheels a hundred times and then sell your car... lol

i bought my first set of wheels from you on here!!! volks te37.. you never put them on...:lolhit:

What can I say. I'm a wheel *****. :lolhit: It's like a very very bad sneaker addiction.

I have RAC RG63's on order.

haha this is great! subscribed !

awesome seats :beer: but where is the round thingy for the seat slider release?

awesome seats :beer: but where is the round thingy for the seat slider release?

I forgot to add them into the weight. I have them in a box somewhere.

In an effort to learn more about composite making for enthusiast home garager tinker types, I just picked up this book. A couple of people have recommended this book for getting started with carbon fiber. If anyone knows of any other good resources, books or classes (Ideally in Seattle) on composites / fiberglass let me know.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CFa97zHbL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1929133766?ie=UTF8&tag=michaeldorian-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1929133766)

Onwards towards -100 kgs :thumbsup2:

Nice, can't wait to see the progress

looking good, that wheel is pretty sick

What can I say. I'm a wheel *****. :lolhit: It's like a very very bad sneaker addiction.

I have RAC RG63's on order.
let me know when you sell the oems... and i want a good deal like before...:thumbsup2:

I think you could use Macht Schnell floor mounts which will give you the ability to install the seats easily. Call Julius at WheelSTO and he will set you right.

Michael

nice car BTW!

congrats on your OEM CSL seats...looking forward to see them and the RACs on

What are you planning to make out of carbon fiber??

What are you planning to make out of carbon fiber??

Truck floor (Though, I may go with a cardboard like composite similar to the CSL)
Door Panels
Center Console

^ have you seen the CF door panels AmuseEriccson makes for the E92?

^ have you seen the CF door panels AmuseEriccson makes for the E92?

Yes, but this is way out of the budget. I'm sure it could be replicated. Stay tuned.

Excellent project and choice of parts! Waiting to see pics.

Awesome...I can't wait to see how this turns out. Unique like the CSL, but even more rare.

For chassis improvements, I ended up going with matched shocks, springs and sways setup: specifically the RD Sport M3 Chassis Kit. (RD/Bilstein Shocks + RD Springs + RD Front and Rear Adjustable Hollow Anti Sway Bar 30.2/25.5mm). Couple of reasons why I decided on this route.


Weight. I did not want the added complexity and weight associated with coil over setups. I think a cohesively designed single setup system is more in line with the design philosophy for production streetcar like the CSL or GT3

Designed and tested by Racing Dynamics and Bilstein on the Ring on an M3 for the M3

OEM Fitment from a top tier OEM Manufacturer

CSL had similar upgrades. New aggressive shocks, springs and sways

Reasonability priced

Sporty ride height and stance

Test drove an RD Sport Chassis Kit equipped car and it felt perfect. It felt stiffer without sacrificing ride quality too much. Felt much more planted and firm across variety of surfaces. Big improvement in sporty feel. Feels more “hunkered” down. Though, if you love comfort mode, this kit is not for you. Stick with just springs.


Sways
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4258880224_b01655230b.jpg

Springs
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4258880622_36ff35a37f.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4258880660_54d1b8d3d2.jpg

Shocks
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4258880304_bae46d6ec9.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4258122611_b4f29328e3.jpg

Installing
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Here's where I'm thinking the next areas of focus will be in order.

1. Transmission: The car and human user interface components. Couple of things I see in the current M3 that I don't think we'd see in the CSL.

- Sloppy, rubbery and long 6MT gear lever. I also think the lever is placed to far forward on the car. After research various solutions, I think the Rogue shifter best fits the bill. It neutralizes the driving position. It’s not too short of a throw (Something BMW engineers would definitely consider). It aims at solving both the precision problem with the current lever and the ergonomics. Other shifters seem to focus just on the precision.

- The original CSL being an SMG car had built in shift lights in the dashboard to help with shifting and an Alcantara steering wheel to improve grip. This has been solved with the inclusion of the BMW Performance Steering Wheel. This adds a couple of things including shift lights, lap-timer, engine temp and g-force monitoring. Additionally, the position of the LCD screen, with its bright orange display acts as a visual centering marker, just like in many Ferrari’s CS version cars and Porsche GT/RS level cars. I think with this wheel readily available at the factory, this would be the steering wheel used in the fictional BMW CSL.

http://image.europeancarweb.com/f/9354012+w750+st0/0702_ec_01_z+porsche_911_GT3_RS+steering_wheel.jpg

- Couple of things about the foot interface components. The gas, brake pedals, and clutch are both visually cheap and can use some additional grip. The clutch is too light and long. The brake pedal sit to high compared to the gas pedal for heel-toe action. I don’t think any of this would fly in for a CSL variant. I think I’ve found a potential solution to all this though.


2. Interior Design and Optimizations

- TBD

3. Engine and Performance

- TBD

lookin good bro!

Can't wait to see those OEM CSL seats on it and the new RAC!!!

Any progress on getting the seats to work and can't wait to see some door panels

Any progress on getting the seats to work and can't wait to see some door panels

No progress yet. Stupid head restraint system is now getting in the way. This applies to all cars 09+. This is going to be a lot harder then it looks.

Couple of quick updates.

Improvements in the air induction department - Technocraft charge pipe and accompanying BMC air filter. Thanks to Eric@Pyspeed for the great service. Overall, very impressed with the quality of the unit. Definitely feels lighter then the stock unit. Unfortunately, I was not able to weigh it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2736/4277530063_9a0f4bfebe.jpg

Weight of the Rogue Octane Shifter if anyone is interested.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4277529755_08884c4cdb.jpg

Finally installed the BMW Performance Grills. Pricey, but I think they look much better then the matte black ones. Matches the rest of the trim so much better.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4277529967_7369556255_b.jpg

I feel like the mid-range throttle mapping on the current stock map can use some work. Something more aggressive. After talking to a couple of users who now swear by it, I decide to jump on the Sprint Booster band wagon. I'll report back after installation soon.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4278445130_4dd20581e4.jpg

That's it for now.

notice any difference with the TC charge intake pipe?

notice any difference with the TC charge intake pipe?

I did a before and after dyno same day after install. I made ~10HP + 7 torque across the board with the intake+filter.

3 runs stock and 3 runs with TC and BMC.

Throttle response seems better, but that could just be in my head. However, numbers generally don't lie, so I'm happy with that.

Any updates?

Here's some after installation pictures of the RD Sport Chassis Kit. This includes front and rear sways to dial out some under-steer, Bilstein Dampers and RD Sport Springs.

Detail write up coming soon. I tested the car driving a variety of roads over 1300 miles in non stop shot from CA to SEA. This includes canyons, freeways and street driving. The car feels better planted and the steering feels, sharper and more direct. In hard drivings, the sways definitely reduced the under-steer a bit. The car definitely rides stiffer and a tad bumpier then stock on bad roads.

Stance wise, I think the drop on the front is just a tad too low. Maybe by 1/8 of an inch or so. Or inversely, the rear could be dropped just a tad bit more. IDK, that is just me.

The front sway installation was simple enough, but the rear requires you to drop the sub frame. The sway job is easily 5-6 hours of work.

What do you guys think of the stance / drop?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4357990634_236fae5abd_o.jpg

Closer:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/4357243773_8f0265d73a_o.jpg

-M

Looking :drool:
:thumbsup2::thumbsup2:

Looks awesome! Now get some nicer wheels! :D

im curious, if your trying to do a csl type conversion, why not get pole positions, there very lightweight an extremely comfortable, i used them in my e46 as a dd, and if its adjustability you want to keep the sportster cs would have been perfect.. jw

Or the BMW Performance seats

true, but arent there airbag issues with those still?

im curious, if your trying to do a csl type conversion, why not get pole positions, there very lightweight an extremely comfortable, i used them in my e46 as a dd, and if its adjustability you want to keep the sportster cs would have been perfect.. jw

1. Because they are not as nice as the OEM CSL seats. The alcantara finish is perfect on the CSL seats.
2. The side bolsters on the PP's are higher then the OEM CSL's. It makes getting in and out of the car much more difficult. I don't think it matches the CSL philosophy. That is more a GTS philosophy.
3. Non factory mounting hardware frankly looks non factory and tacky.
4. OEM CSL with OEM mounting hardware have the ability to tilt up giving access to the back seats even with a fixed seat. Just like the E46 CSL.
5. It's badass and no one has attempted it.

true, but arent there airbag issues with those still?

Yup. Any aftermarket seat including OEM PS seats will trigger the 3 error codes.

1. Because they are not as nice as the OEM CSL seats. The alcantara finish is perfect on the CSL seats.
2. The side bolsters on the PP's are higher then the OEM CSL's. It makes getting in and out of the car much more difficult. I don't think it matches the CSL philosophy. That is more a GTS philosophy.
3. Non factory mounting hardware frankly looks non factory and tacky.
4. OEM CSL with OEM mounting hardware have the ability to tilt up giving access to the back seats even with a fixed seat. Just like the E46 CSL.
5. It's badass and no one has attempted it.

1. although ive never sat in csl seats, i would rather have the pp in a e92 as i had them in my e46 and the blend in with the interior perfect.
2. like ive said ive never sat in them
3. the recaro hardware give the m3 a nice sporty look and still give it a nice factory like look if done right other then the big recaro side mount lol,
4. i didnt have back seats in my e46 for that reason :shifty: :rofl3:
5. very true but id rather have bmw performance seats in the end, they oem and look amazing.

1. although ive never sat in csl seats, i would rather have the pp in a e92 as i had them in my e46 and the blend in with the interior perfect.
2. like ive said ive never sat in them
3. the recaro hardware give the m3 a nice sporty look and still give it a nice factory like look if done right other then the big recaro side mount lol,
4. i didnt have back seats in my e46 for that reason :shifty: :rofl3:
5. very true but id rather have bmw performance seats in the end, they oem and look amazing.

:thumbsup2: I've sat in all 3 pretty extensively. The OEM CSL's are superior to all 3 for aggressive street applications.

Totally agree abou tthe big Recaro side mount. Not a fan, though they give you good adjustable. I also don't like the harness holes and the side belt holes. I won't be running a roll bar or harness so it would be unnecessary.

Personally, I don't think the OEM PS looks or feel nearly as sporty. The design is a but too bulky. However they are more comfortable then the CSL for long trips.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3574615619_f420de7444_b.jpg

http://www.uspinoyrc.com/m3/cf_roof/IMG_6251.jpg

either way your car is coming out great :thumbsup2: and like yu said is very unique, i hope the seats work and im excited to see what else your going to do, have you gotten pullys yet?

also how do you like the re shifter, ?

also how do you like the re shifter, ?

The shifter is really nice. I like the new shifter position and throws. The only thing is shifting from 1 - 2 or 3 - 4 hard, you get this whirl sound from coming from the tranny up through the shifter. It is very faint though. If you are a detailed oriented person, you will notice it.

Alright - Update on these crazy seats. I tried test fitting them and they are too wide for e92 M3's. The rails are 1.5 inches wider then the available mounting holes. I guess the E46 is a roomier car despite the smaller size. There's not enough room to fabricate custom adapters.

Without the OEM rails, the benefits of mounting these seats are lost. You can go with Recaro mounting hardware to make it work, but that the real star is the rails and associated hardware.

With the combination of the fault codes (3 total) and spacing issues, I think this is officially done.

These seats are really a site to be seen. I'd love to see them in an E46 M3 here in the US. So if anyone is interested PM me. These are EXTREMELY rare. You're going to have a hard time finding another set like this. Took me close to 2 years.

pm me a price, i know a bunch of guys in the area with e46s, not sure if theyd be interested but ill put it past them, have you picked new seats yet?

cant beat alpine white !!! .....nice project !!