conversion 318ic to m3 convertable

[snow0pro]

i have a 1996 bmw 318ic and it is wrecked

so now i figured that i want to convert it to an m3 since i need to buy a new bumpers and hood, might as well put a little more money into it and have an m3 looking bimmer.

mine is a convertable 318, rwd, 5 speed, bottom line - awesome car.

You guys think its worth converting it to M3? I found a carbon fiber hood for it and the m3 bodykit and even that m3 emblem to put in the back.


Also, is it possible to find sponsers for the car. Now that i might upgrade my car, I might aswell put on the muffer and all those guddies for under the hood. Can a get a sponser to pay for that? how do sponsers work? thanks.

[DinanM3_S2]

An M3 body kit is ok, but dear god do not put a M3 badge on your car. You will be laughed at by any BMW enthusiast who knows what he is looking at. Putting an M3 badge on a non-M 3-series would be just slightly better then putting one on a Honda Civic. It looks rediculous and makes you a giant poser. If you really want to hide the fact that you drive a 318i, just debadge it.

Don't worry about sponsors... They are hard to come by and a million miles beyond you right now.

Muffler under the hood? are you serious?

If you really wanted to do a real M3 conversion- you would swap out the engine for a M3 engine.

[snow0pro]

Originally Posted by DinanM3_S2

An M3 body kit is ok, but dear god do not put a M3 badge on your car. You will be laughed at by any BMW enthusiast who knows what he is looking at. Putting an M3 badge on a non-M 3-series would be just slightly better then putting one on a Honda Civic. It looks rediculous and makes you a giant poser. If you really want to hide the fact that you drive a 318i, just debadge it.

Don't worry about sponsors... They are hard to come by and a million miles beyond you right now.

Muffler under the hood? are you serious?

If you really wanted to do a real M3 conversion- you would swap out the engine for a M3 engine.

but i dont have the money to swap the 1.9 to a 3.2... and i said put a muffler and (that means i moved on to another thing) put all those goodies under the hood.

also, what is the difference between "my future m3" and a real m3. i look at some m3 pictures and they will look so totally the same.

[Bimmere21320]

I agree with Dinan, putting an M3 badge on a 318 is a bit ridiculous. However, it is your car, but keep in mind that you may recieve a lot of crap about the badge on a non-M3. There are many things different about an M3 than just being a badge. The M symbolizes what it is all about on the performance side of BMW, so you are looking at the engine in particular being different as well as suspension, and gear boxes, etc. The only way that car would ever be deserving of an M badge would be for it to have the same equipment and specs as a true M3. However, I totally agree if you want to do an M3 body kit, exhaust, etc., just don't ever let an M badge near it. It would be cool to keep it badgeless to keep those rice rockets guessing (assuming you had the performance to back up the looks).

[Gearhead202]

Originally Posted by Bimmere21320

I agree with Dinan, putting an M3 badge on a 318 is a bit ridiculous. However, it is your car, but keep in mind that you may recieve a lot of crap about the badge on a non-M3. There are many things different about an M3 than just being a badge. The M symbolizes what it is all about on the performance side of BMW, so you are looking at the engine in particular being different as well as suspension, and gear boxes, etc. The only way that car would ever be deserving of an M badge would be for it to have the same equipment and specs as a true M3. However, I totally agree if you want to do an M3 body kit, exhaust, etc., just don't ever let an M badge near it. It would be cool to keep it badgeless to keep those rice rockets guessing (assuming you had the performance to back up the looks).

Totally agree with you i personally like seeing the 3 series with a lot of work done to them totally badgeless cause like you said it will keep everyone guessing what it is and that is perhaps the best part of customizing a car. well it is atleast for me