Garagistic E46 Performance Mods
The Garagistic team has recognized that the E46 has become the latest budget performance BMW chassis. Like other BMW chassis', the E46 has loads of potential and could be considered the most versatile. No matter what track or canyon road you find yourself at, you're likely to find this car there. Here are the top ten performance modifications, Garagistic and more, that you can do to get the most out of your BMW E46.
1. BACK TO STOCK
Here at Garagistic, we will always tell you that the best BMW to modify is a stock one. If you plan to make modifications to an E46, it's easier to start with a solid foundation rather than one that is too far gone. It's a good idea to make sure that everything functions properly prior to purchase. You also wanna make sure that basic maintenance is taken care of.
Non M's
Oil pump nuts like to back off of the oil pump causing loss of oil pressure and resulting in catastrophic engine damage. You can have the nut welded in place or purchase a kit that uses a safety wire to secure the nut to the pump.
M's
The S54 is a high output, high revving engine that requires that the rod bearings be serviced every 60 to 80 thousand miles.
2. REINFORCEMENTS
Like the E36, the E46 suffers from front strut tower and rear shock tower cracks. Bolt-on reinforcement plates can prevent major damage and save you lots of time and money
Unlike the E36, E46 M3s and non-Ms suffer from the dreaded thin rear body and are subject to cracks. Excessive movement from the subframe causes the body to crack at the subframe mounting points. This is the case for every stock E46 and is something that must be addressed. If you've just acquired your chassis and have never had the body inspected it's a good idea to have it inspected before it's too late.
If you're looking to track your E46, a subframe reinforcement is a must. Excessive movement on track could lead to major body damage or in some cases even your subframe falling out. Yikes...It's a good idea to replace your rear subframe bushings while you do the reinforcement. You'll benefit from having a rear subframe that doesn't move and flex on track.
3. DIFFERENTIALS
Non-M
- Manual transmission vehicles come equipped with a longer final drive than automatic transmission cars.
- Almost all the Non-M differential carriers are interchangeable making them easy to swap in and out for the ideal final drive you need.
- No Factory 3-Series LSD options but can be purchased aftermarket
- The M3 subframe can be swapped in with the LSD
M3
- Ratio is the same between manual and auto
- Has factory LSD
Changing the final drive is one of the easiest ways to improve your E46's acceleration. But that does come at a cost.
If you shorten the vehicle's final drive, yes, you'll have more access to the powerband but you'll also be doing more wear. Because you're constantly in the power band your engine is under more stress. You'll also notice that your MPG may be lower. These are things you have to consider when thinking about this mod because it directly affects performance/efficiency. Go with the final drive ratio that works for you.
4. SHIFTER
At Garagistic, we now offer a larger number of shifter options so that you can get that perfect gearshift every time. Want to retain the stock shifter components and use an aftermarket knob? We've got adapters! Or maybe you want adjustable throw and rod length? We've got shifter kits! We've got you covered with options across the board.
Our latest chassis mount shifter is completely modular and allows for countless combinations. Pair your personalized shifter with a DSSR and get the slop out of the gearbox! If you're still rockin the stock shifter and looking for an upgrade, take a look at our Garagistic options at the link here
1. The Shifter
The Chassis Mount Shifter requires no permanent modifications to the chassis. Every part of the Chassis Mount is customizable and there are tons of combinations to choose from. Built from a single piece of aluminum, the shifter looks as good as it feels. Height and throw are adjustable with this unit.
The OEM Supreme Shifter uses factory BMW mounting components, such as, the shifter carrier but still offers the short throw and customization of the Chassis Mount Shifter.
2. The Carrier
The Chassis Mount Shifter completely eliminates the carrier and attaches directly to the transmission tunnel using a sandwich plate. No drilling is necessary and completely reversible! However because the shifter is now directly mounted to the chassis, the transmission bushings will need to be upgraded to polyurethane or stiffer material to limit the movement of the gearbox. Motor mount bushings are always recommended to be replaced as well to match the material of the transmission bushings.
Traditional style shifters such as the Supreme shifter will retain the carrier. Here's a diagram of what that looks like: (No. 1 pictured)
To really tighten up the shifter setup, we sell an upgraded replacement bushing set which can be found here
3. Selector Rod or DSSR
The selector rod is the link that attaches the shifter to the transmission. The OEM selector rod only allows for torsional forces to travel through one side. This leaves the shifter feeling sloppy. The DSSR eliminates side play by connecting to the shifter on both sides. We have lots of options for DSSR, so make sure you get the one that matches your vehicle. DSSR
4. The Selector Joint
The selector joint attaches to the end of the transmission and connects to the selector rod. The foam piece inside tends to wear out. If you are still experiencing some play after changing out the shifter and selector rod, the joint may likely be worn out and needs to be replaced. We make a billet version which can be found here
5. WHEELS/TIRES
This is an incredibly broad topic and will be discussed in further dedicated blog posts. But to keep things simple, here are the things you need to know about the E46. Keep in mind that things change because of the M3's wider front and rear fender flares.
E46 Wheel Center bore
- 72.56 – This is the center bore of the E46. If you get aftermarket wheels with a different center bore, you will need hub-centric spacers.
E46 Lug Pattern
- 5X120mm – This is the lug pattern for the E46 and is a must-have when fitting new wheels.
E46 Wheel Offset
- Offset – For Non-M's offset vary from +30mm to +42mm. M3s vary from +22mm to +44mm. This range in offset allows for an aggressive track setup or perfect fitment for stance.
E46 Wheel Diameter/Width
- Diameter/Width – 15" diameter is the smallest OEM wheel for Non-Ms. The go-to size is 17" and can easily fit 18". Non-M's can fit wheel diameters between 6.5" and 9.5". M3s can fit anything from an 8" to 11" wheel.
E46 Common Wheel Setups
- Most Common Setup- For ideal fitment and performance without modification for Non-Ms the most common wheel and tire combo we see is a 17"x 8.5" ET40 on a 235/40R17. If you're looking to fit a wider wheel and tire combo like a 245/40R17 on a 17"x 9.5" ET30 you may need to roll your fenders or use a spacer. For M3s we recommend a staggered setup. In the front 18"x 9" ET30 with a 245/40R18 and 18"x10" ET25 with a 275/40R18 in the rear.
Tires are just as broad a topic and there are certainly tradeoffs no matter what you decide to go with. Some questions you must ask yourself before buying tires are:
Will I be racing? I might want a 200 treadwear softer rubber compound.
Am I looking for max gas mileage? Then an all-season with a 400AA treadwear is most appropriate.
...etc.
Remember that no matter what wheel/tire combo you go with, you will be sacrificing one aspect for another. Larger wheel/tire combos rob the car of more energy as they are heavier and have more mass to spin further away from the center of rotation whereas smaller wheel/tire combos have less rotational inertia and can effectively increase the acceleration of the car. 17's just look cool though!
At the end of the day, it all comes down to your personal agenda for use and your preference.
6. SUSPENSION
Suspension is a real game-changer for the E46 chassis. A good set of coil overs or quality springs could make this chassis a real contender at the track. Just a recommendation to stay away from soft rear springs. Torque from these engines causes torque hops which results in a bad hopping sensation. Trust us, it's not fun.
The best bang-for-buck suspension modification that we can recommend for this chassis, is sway bars. From the factory, E46s have tons of body roll. Adding sways bars reduces this roll. With a good set of tires and sway bars, you'll begin to see that you have a chassis with tons of potential.
7. EXHAUST
One of the best modifications you can do to any car is adding an exhaust system. Adding an exhaust gives the M52 or M54 more emotion and provides a sense of direct engine feedback. Stock exhaust systems weigh a ton of bricks. A catback system made from stainless steel or titanium is a major weight savings.
If you really want to gain from the benefits of a catback system and open up some exhaust flow, get yourself a set of headers. Headers will improve flow, as well as magnify the catbacks exhaust note. It's important that the headers that you buy are dyno tested and proven. You want to help your engine breathe and avoid creating back pressure. If you go this route you'll want to fully optimize the system with a tune for maximum gain. You'll be wondering why you didn't do this sooner. Be sure to keep a muffler or resonator not to wake the neighbor though.
8. THE M50 MANIFOLD SWAP
It's a known fact that the Non-M factory intake manifold has airflow restrictions. A common way to open up intake flow is by swapping the intake manifold from an M50 engine onto the M52 or M54. It is not a simple bolt-on procedure though, you will need to port the cylinder head to fit the manifold. This may require a trip to the machine shop but if you have a steady hand you can do the work yourself. Of course, increased air flow means you need a DME flash to run the car properly.
M50s used to be a dime a dozen but now these manifolds are becoming harder to find. Local secondhand listings show these manifold kits being sold for $150. If you spend some time in the junkyard you might find them for a steal. It's a bit of work to do but a worthwhile investment if you plan to go for maximum power or forced induction.
9. FORCED INDUCTION
If N/A engine power isn't your thing or you're just ready for more power, you can supercharge or turbocharge your engine. A lot of these kits are bolt-on and maximize power output of your engine. The M54 and S54 have kits available for supercharging from VF Engineering and Active Autowerks. The M54 can see as much as a 100-horsepower gain when paired with a quality supercharger. S54s are even crazier seeing as much a 200hp gain!
The M52 is commonly turbocharged. This is typically the bang-for-buck setup seeing as some of these systems can reach up and over 500hp! Talk about a boost in power! Ok, I'll stop. You can make power like this with the help of a proper turbo kit. The previously mentioned M50 manifold is commonly used to help increase engine airflow. Sprinkle a little E85 into the system and boom! You got yourself a turbocharged BMW engine capable of some serious power.
You can't go wrong with forced induction on the E46. These engines have strong internals making them great candidates for boost. Just make sure you're up-to-date on maintenance before you add a turbo. You'll want your engine in tip-top shape to ensure maximum performance.
10. COOLING
Much like the E36 before it, the E46 is plagued by its cooling system. Plastic in the cooling system is a big issue. Expansion tanks explode., clutch fan fins break over time, and plastic water pump impeller can leave you stranded at the side of the road. It's important to service the cooling system as it's one of the weakest links in the chassis.
As far as upgrades go it's about taking the plastic out and putting aluminum components in. There are many service kits that include aluminum water pump impellers and thermostat housing. Upgrading to a full aluminum radiator gets rid of the flimsy plastic end tanks and in some cases increases overall cooling efficiency. 3-Series 330i's come with electronic cooling fans that you could swap into the rest of the 3-Series lineup. These were the major upgrades that gave us peace of mind when pushing to the limits.
There you have it! The Top 10 Best Performance Modifications for your BMW E46! We hope this was helpful and gives you an idea of how to maximize this chassis to best suit your needs!
Give Moderns Hell.
Garagistic.
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