F81 M3 Touring Build Thread: Full Conversion w/ 6MT

[TouringM3]

Hey Pals –

Over the next few months i'll be creating a full conversion F81 M3 Touring here in the states. The second one on our shores and the only 6MT F81 in the world (so far).


Before I start cracking into disassembly, i figured i'd start this build thread, and share the two donor cars and various bits i've acquired to get this project officially rolling!


We'll record lots of video and photos along the way to make logical episodes to the build so people can follow along and do this to their own car(s) should they want – and also to share what i've learned from Nick Prichard (IG: @63np) and Kam (IG: bmw_f81_project) in great detail.



Here's what i've sourced over the past 6 months:

2018 F80 M3 6MT ZCP, Full Leather, Exec, Carbon Pack, MS Electronic Wheel
2016 F31 328xi "Sport", Black Leather, Black Headliner, Lighting, Driver Assistant+

Key Body Parts:
• Full F80 Quarter Panels off a 2017 M3 salvage car
• Rear bumper cover off the same '17 M3
• Rear wheel liners
(Buying these from a wrecker – vs OEM replacement – probably saved me about $6K. These replacement body panels are fucking expensive).


I'll need to pick up a few reinforcement bits and i'm sure i'll need some replacement gaskets, hoses, and whatnot, but without risk of totally jinxing myself I believe i have most of what i need to start taking these babies apart this month.



There are three reasons why i'm doing this. First and foremost I'm a huge fan of fast wagons, and we just don't get enough of them in the States – and I simply refuse to own a fast / fun car without a manual transmission. Secondly, I'm counting on the fact that there are others who think & feel similarly, so if I can provide even more of a blueprint on how to do this efficiently, i'll be stoked to see more F81 conversions pop up over here. Lastly, I'd love to be able to work with or influence BMW to consider bringing the G81 to the states. I figure the quicker I can get this build done, and the more attention I can get on it to drive North American excitement - we may just have a shot at getting a federalized official M3 Touring in the future.


Hit me up if you have advice or requests for certain content details and I'll be sure to produce everything I reasonably can throughout this build. It's going to be a blast!

[omgf80]

Good Luck sir, excited to see another one!

[Wmf80]

Love.
So it’s a M3, 328 wagon , and parts from another m3?

[ByeFelicia]

Looking forward to this

[EvoFire]

The black F80 seems awfully nice to chop up though....

[hoppes-no9]

Oh man, this is gonna be GOOD!!

[irunalot]

Can't wait to see it!

Subscribed!

[TouringM3]

Originally Posted by Wmf80

Love.
So it’s a M3, 328 wagon , and parts from another m3?

Exactly right.
I didn't want to cut into the pristine black F80, so i got the quarters and bumper off a salvage car.

The game plan for the M3 chassis will be take the 2L x-drive driveline & interior and put it in the sedan, so i'll effectively have a very pear-shaped 328xi sedan with a carbon roof.

It's gonna be weird, but useful!

[Wmf80]

Originally Posted by TouringM3

Exactly right.
I didn't want to cut into the pristine black F80, so i got the quarters and bumper off a salvage car.

The game plan for the M3 chassis will be take the 2L x-drive driveline & interior and put it in the sedan, so i'll effectively have a very pear-shaped 328xi sedan with a carbon roof.

It's gonna be weird, but useful!

Okay so you’ll have two vehicles at the end
A 328 in a M3 body
An m3t in a 328 body plus salvage pieces

[SYT_Shadow]

Love it. Do it!!

[M3_Socal]

That's gonna be epic

[Suds]

OP that’s perfect.
You could make a business out of that.

[8_is_enough]

Subscribed!

[Son of Achilles]

Originally Posted by Wmf80

Okay so you’ll have two vehicles at the end
A 328 in a M3 body
An m3t in a 328 body plus salvage pieces

That's the coolest part about this.

[TrackandTuner.com]

Kudos on this project, but just wait for the new M3 saloon

[TouringM3]

Originally Posted by TrackandTuner.com

Kudos on this project, but just wait for the new M3 saloon

Oh man, i hear ya - but ....

As of right now it looks EXTREMELY unlikely that North America will get the G81 Touring.

Also, the rumors I hear are that the touring won't be available with a manual transmission.

So I'm going to build this puppy so it's a sure thing!

[GERMAN M3]

Originally Posted by TouringM3

Oh man, i hear ya - but ....

As of right now it looks EXTREMELY unlikely that North America will get the G81 Touring.

Also, the rumors I hear are that the touring won't be available with a manual transmission.

So I'm going to build this puppy so it's a sure thing!

I see your Spring 21 Tour, any idea when you will be in the Atlanta area? Would love to see this thing first hand.

[nicolasmora]

Subscribed!

[pattymtb]

OMG I can't wait! This is going to be epic!

[henrylee]

Subscribed

[chriszach1]

When I went to Bimmerfest 2 years ago in The Netherlands, I got to see the one from the UK. These things are beautiful! Good luck and can't wait to see it when it's finished.

[Adcampo]

What a cool project. Do you have a YouTube channel?