The BMW F30 chassis is a SUPER popular one for us at Wheel Lab. We wanted to showchase a good friend’s car we had the pleasure of setting up. When Mirel and I became friends, we became friends fast. The F30 328D coudln’t be any further away from the type of car that fits Mirel’s wild personality. Being his daily and his E36 M3 his fun car, we focused more on the looks of this one.
Our goal was a nice clean attitude change for the F30 while keeping it daily drive-able. We wanted a flush stance that was tucked perfectly under the fender, to avoid any unnecessary bodywork. With Mirel being from Boston, we knew coilovers wouldn’t cut it. Air Lift was the clear winner for suspension for this car and the RSE’s by Rotiform couldn’t have been a better choice for cast wheels.
The car here is a 2003.5 BMW M3 in Alpine white with a 6spd manual and 50,400 original miles in these pics, with factory nav, full black napa leather. Essentially the dream car from my highschool days. In its current state even better than I could have ever imagined. Shortly after this photoshoot the car was sold to a friend in Colorado who is enjoying what the M3 became. The perfect driving machine.
It has been tastefully upgraded my by myself into what I really wanted out of a BMW M3. I wanted the car to be drive-able and look the part. I wanted the CSL experience with a manual gearbox. So in we dove over about a year including some serious bodywork and paint by Precision Collision we didn’t plan to really do, but with anything, projects tend to just get out of control. Especially when you want to fit a 11.5″ rear with a 275.
Here are some of the build details.
For suspension: Status Gruppe SRS coilovers with 8/9k springs and adjustable pillowball camber mounts SPC rear control arms
For wheels: We did Rotiform LSR in a 3 piece convex rear load configuration finished in matte trans candy gold face, chrome lips and hardware and black barrels. Sizing is 18×10 et25 and 18×11.5 et20, tire choice is a 245/40r18 and 275/35r18 from nitto. Car is set up with -2.5 degrees camber up front and -2.8 degrees in the rear
Performance wise we have done the following: Status gruppe full exhaust with – catless headers, rasp reduction section 1, SCZA section 3 with titanium tips 2m open velocity stacks TTFS custom alpha N tune Auto solutions 30% reduction short throw with the ultimate package and race bearings
On the Body: Full Respray Alpine white, extended rear arches by 10mm and fixed every little detail that we didn’t like. We also added a 1 piece Status Gruppe CSL front and rear splitter as well as color matched side markers.
STACK ON STACKS ON STACKS!
Wheel Style: Rotiform LSR 3 piece forged – rear load rim parts Every other bolt exposed with LSR Flange Detail Convex Face Profile
Finishes: Face: Polished with Matte Trans Candy Gold Lip: Chrome Bolts: Chrome Inner Barrel: Matte Black
Specs: 18×10 et25 18×11.5 et20
Tire choice: Nitto NT555G2 245/40r18 and 275/35r18
Car: 2003.5 BMW M3 Status Gruppe SRS coilovers w/ 8/9k swift springs SPC Rear Control Arms camber specs: -2.5 degrees front, -2.9 degrees rear
A car I will certainly miss and always remember in this condition! The new owner has since done air, and new wheels along with a Brembo BBK. Stay tuned for an update!
Words by: James T. Curtis @becausejtc New Owner: @ty_westrum Photographer: @doctor_dario
Over the past few months we’ve been working on our new shop project: the BMW E46 M3. James has been talking about owning one for what feels like ages now. When we found an Alpine White 2003 in a six-speed manual local, he jumped on the opportunity. It wasn’t long before he started making it his own:
So far he has put in Status Gruppe SRS coilers with 8/9k springs and adjustable pillow ball camber mounts along with SPC rear control arms.
When it came to the wheels, he already had the set in mind pre-picked out. We threw on a set of custom Rotiform LVSs in a concave three-piece front-load forged configuration. The faces are powered coated in matte black; while the lips, barrels, and bolts were all done in gloss black. As for sizing goes, they are 18 x 9.5 et22 in the front and 18 x 11 et17 in the rear. The current tire selection to wrap these beauties in are 235/40/18 and 265/35/18 Hankooks.
Performance-wise, we have a full Status Gruppe exhaust with hatless headers, rasp reduction section 1, SCZA section 3 with titanium tips. The car also has the Eventuri CSL carbon intake, a TTFS customer tune, Auto Solutions 30% reduction short throw with the ultimate package and race bearings.
In the short amount of time that he’s had it, we brought it to Precision Auto in Nashua for a full respray after putting on the Status Gruppe CSL front and rear lip along with some color matched side markers.
Cheers for everything else to come!
Looking for these wheels?
Here’s a link: Rotiform LVS (forged multi-piece)