Post by s54smg2 on Jun 8, 2013 22:52:57 GMT -5
e46 m3 diy
e46 m3 CSL Bumper I did this install in 2011, a few years before I started making diys. Information is limited and less detailed than my usual threads.
As seen below the stock bumper had taken a beating.
I had never intended to 'black out' the front of the car. The new bumper and some darkened corner lenses really changed the look of the car.
It didn't take long to grow on me and seeing these pictures compared makes me happy with my choices.
I had never intended to 'black out' the front of the car. The new bumper and some darkened corner lenses really changed the look of the car.
It didn't take long to grow on me and seeing these pictures compared makes me happy with my choices.
The nicest the carbon fiber will ever look!
Now lets see what you get
...an empty bumper cover with no foam insert and only top mount brace. .
we can work with this. Hope you didnt plan on selling or keeping the OEM bumper!
Side brace top/ no bottom
Comparison Photos/ here is the OEM bumper
Side Brace/ OEM
We know that a CSL is equipped with the aluminum carrier. The same carrier is used on 2001-2002 e46 M3's.
I have a 2005 with the Kevlar carrier, photos and direction will follow as such.
After you've removed your bumper, its time to dismantle it.
To remove the bumper, remove belly pan and all attachment screws under the front.
Remove the mounting screws in the wheel wells and the fog light mounts
Pull front bumper strait back/ be care full not to fall back on your ass like I did!
Carefully remove the foam insert/ start at one end and work your way across. . CAREFULLY
If you'd like to attach the lower side brace, remove it from the OEM carefully. I chose not to use it in the end
With that removed, lets get a look at its function and see why the foam is the main factor in setting your bumper line!
Where we epoxy this onto our CSL bumper will set the height and line of the bumper
(Look at that washer container! I keep mine next to empty since I saw I could save 10lbs in water weight from the front of the car)
Line up the foam in the CSL bumper and notice you will have to drill small holes to fit the foam onto the CSL bumper before epoxying
You'll want to be cautious drilling these. make sure they are lined up so that the bumper will sit high enough to make a solid line under the lights.
Take this time to fit your CSL bumper on and off the car a few times to get a feel for where you are and where you need to be.
Notice the foam on the top of the kevlar under the lights. Be sure to epoxy those too after you find the best place for them. This will keep your bumper from sagging as can be seen on some of these bumper installs.
A test fit can be done with a small bit of the epoxy. Just enough to test and remove when ready to epoxy permanently
as seen below I decided to separate the foam from its ends. I found these to want to stick out giving the bumper the big cheek look I'm not a fan of.
I also decided not to use the lower brace from the OEM bumper.
I drilled a screw through the bottom of the new bumper and made my own mounting point
this functions as it should supporting the bottom of the bumper from pushing under and out of place.
Do this step after all other parts of the bumper are installed and fastened for the best fit.
here are some picture of what you can do with the OEM brace if should decide to use them
No reason to claim numbers as the temperature changes everyday for everyone concerning that variable.