Shop Car Spotlight: E46 M3 x Rotiform LSR – final stage

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

Rotiform LSR Forged Wheels: Purchase Here
Contact Us:
978-219-9060 | sales@wheellab.us

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