Mike's "Vanilla Gorilla" M3 V2.0 Build

[MikeE36]

Hey guys and gals,

I haven't been posting as much lately but I've been lingering at least. I recently graduated from UT with a structural engineering degree, and I'm in the process of starting a business with a few family members at the moment, so my M3 has taken a back seat for the past year or so and has just been sitting.

I am gearing up for the 2015 drift season with the build in progress now and would like to share a few changes with you guys here.

Blurry flame picture from the last event I drove in OK in Dec 2013 for a charity:



And a couple videos of my car for those of you who don't know me:

TWS 2012 around 500whp


Charity event Dec 2013 (last event the car ran) maxxed out GT35R at 28+ psi



And new progress:

Removed the dash to clean up a bunch of wiring behind there from the Painless harness and switch panel. I previously laid the chassis harness out in the car and had a bunch of extra length I didn't remove the first time that was just wrapped around the dash bar.



I decided that clutter was bothering me, and my stock dash was so mangled and cut up from trying to fit it with my window cage bars that I just went dashless. I usually hate that but I think I can pull it off much cleaner with just a little wiring box.

So I built a little tray and moved my fuse block and harness into the cowl area:



And moved my panel to the dash bar. I also cut up the hard motorsport electrical cutoff panel and mounted my painless switch panel to that to reduce even more clutter:



Reloomed the entire wiring harness front to rear all into one nice loom instead of wires on both sides of the car. I also decided to run it along the tunnel as passengers usually hit their feet on any wiring running along the floor near the cage door bars.



Some fuel system goodies - AI surge tank, Dual Bosch 044s, Rallyroad.net fuel rail, FuelLab FPR, and 115# OBD2 tuning package from RK-tunes!

Also a couple extra MXL sensor patch cables to log a few more things, including fuel pressure and EGT this time around.



MXL mounted up and the wiring is finished



Scrubbed the engine bay a ton moved the entire engine harness inside the cowl to get more space near cyl 6:



S50B32 euro pan and pickup acquired (Thanks Cody!) and a -10 AN turbo drain added today (Huge thanks to Antonio @ Calvo Motorsports for the beautiful fab)





New hardlines under the car:



Dropped the tank to change the OEM lines and venting setup:



M52 block freshly honed and torque plated and ready to go back in:



Same good 'ol S50 crank I've been using forever that was actually bent in 2013 and then straightened again



Cam trays and new Total seal rings for my re-used Wiseco pistons:



Wisecos and Eagles



And last but definitely not least, the mothership from AR Design



S366 .91 T4
AR T4 twin scroll
2x Tial MVS
4" downpipe flare cut and 1 WG dump out the hood
PTP T4 blanket
DEI lava wrap

And the car on jack stands currently for the rest of the fuel system install:




I really wanted to wait until I had it on the dyno to post a build thread but I am getting pretty stoked and can't wait anymore

Stay tuned!

Mike

[Matutino]

I remember your first time around when you dropped a valve... you have come a long way.
Love the new set up, sub for dyno numbers and videos.

[GG///M3]

Good work. It's good to see a student of mine doing well. I'm proud of you

[dburt86]

i like everything that is happening here. That turbo kit looks of the highest quality. Someone was not F....ing around when they put that together.

Well done and carry on

[MN E34]

Can I haz ride plz

[Keith1054]

I think that dash looks awesome. I'm looking forward to hearing how the BW turbo compares to your previous setups.

[hsvturbo]

That's the turbo I want to eventually get too. Looking hot, but don't you mean a 4" up pipe, out the hood?

[danomite]

Sweet Mother of Jeezus!!!

Mike, this car is an absolute pleasure to watch in the vids! Great driving too!

[iRodD]

Me Likey, Mikey

[black bnr32]

what are you doing about the premature wastegate failures?

[e36blur]

That thing fits under the hood?

[MikeE36]

what are you doing about the premature wastegate failures?

I will be water cooling both wastegates this time around. I didn't previously, and needed to badly. Also since I had an oil consumption / ring problem, I was blowing a ton of oil and crap through the wastegates, which probably helped them sieze up. I am going to pull them apart and thoroughly clean them out, then water cool them in series using my old water line off the head. (The BW turbo is a journal and doesn't need water cooling)

That thing fits under the hood?

I haven't test fit anything yet. We still have to put together the engine and put it in with the manifold on.

Still a few weeks out as I need to find who has the best deal on an ATI damper for this thing. I really really need one since its always on the rev limiter. I've had the rubber separate on 3 stock dampers already in the course of a year. I also need to get my 4 clutch diff rebuild kit from BimmerDiffs for my 210 diff, as well as fix my leaking rear cover. It's nasty grimey back there. All it takes is a little fluid to stick to, and lots and lots of tire chunks flying around and you get a horrible mess:




Thanks for all the kind comments guys, I really appreciate it!

P.S. Does anyone know if the S50B32 or S54 oil pump gear is a slightly larger diameter than the E36 pumps or not? I am going euro S50B32 pump/pickup and compared the gears today with my old one, and the euro gear is slightly larger. Last time I installed the oil pump chain, it was already a very snug fit getting the gear on with a new chain. Will I need a different chain to run this setup?

Thanks!

Mike

[black bnr32]

so......





why you no s54?

[MikeE36]

so......





why you no s54?

That's ultimately the reason I can't justify turbo cams or high compression new pistons at this point. I want to just build an S54 for it. Maybe 2016

Mike

[1SLWM3]

I sent my euro oil pump to VAC to have them retrofit the US oil pump sprocket. Ended up doing the entire pump upgrade but my understanding is you can't run the pump without swapping the sprocket. They can send you the parts you need since many do not trust VAC's handy work.

[jjjjjjj]

So much win. That manifold is a work of art, can't wait to see it. Earplugs will be needed lol!

[Colby Colbs]

Mike I would switch to the .88 twin scroll housing

[E.Hands]

Thanks for the update Mike. What's the best way to keep up with the Drift scene? I would love to see that beast in action once your back on track.

[MikeE36]

Thanks for the update Mike. What's the best way to keep up with the Drift scene? I would love to see that beast in action once your back on track.

If you're willing to come to Texas for events, I hope to run the full FD Texas Pro-Am against next year for an FD license. There are events in Houston and Ft. Worth mainly. I recommend coming to a Mineral Wells event (west of Ft. Worth) if you do want to make it out and get a ride. Those events are held at an abandoned airport, so we have tons of space to play and get to enter at well over 100 in 4th gear

Mike

[jszy25]

I think that dash looks awesome. I'm looking forward to hearing how the BW turbo compares to your previous setups.

+1 and also the pie cuts look awesome on the "exhaust"

[bubela]

Dude. Sweet.

[RobertE36]

One day I'll want my m3 to be amazing as yours

[pbonsalb]

I might do my dash like that. Where did you hide the stereo and AC?

[MikeE36]

I might do my dash like that. Where did you hide the stereo and AC?

The stereo has been redirected and piped directly through the exhaust system now for maximum sound clarity and experience in the car, while the AC has been redirected through much larger vents that blow in through the window openings

Mike

[chikinhed]

Sort of how the M5 exhaust is done on 'opposite day'.

Sent from my GTX3582R