E36 Widebody Build

[Dwob]

subscribed! keep going man, you started out as a clueless kid, now gone so far beyond that!

[Mark Ostrowski]

I dislike the E46 headlights being fitted, mostly because you opted for the facelift units (I am guessing because they are 1 piece?) and I **** the flicked up indicator like eyelashes.

But still, I have no idea what are you are trying to do when I just look at pictures and skim read. Seems to be a lot of work you have on your hands, not something I would ever attempt myself, so keep it up. Is there a rough ETA on it at all?

Thanks, I chose to go with the facelift coupe for a couple reasons: Using these further enphasizes my point that I am not trying to copy an e46, I am trying to create something completely different. The other reason is that the coupe version is fairly edgy and doesn't have the high/low beams carved out like the standard e46, or even the facelift sedan, which is way too curvy for me. Last reason is it is slightly more unique, people most often use the facelift sedan lights for these conversions where they are popular in Europe....plus I always have worshipped zhp coupes just because they are so rare around here and I never even knew they existed til a few years ago


Roughy eta is hard to say, all depends on when my wheels are done and I get suspension back but tentatively I wold say 1-2months, maybe sooner

[Jorge]

I dislike the E46 headlights being fitted, mostly because you opted for the facelift units (I am guessing because they are 1 piece?) and I **** the flicked up indicator like eyelashes.

But still, I have no idea what are you are trying to do when I just look at pictures and skim read. Seems to be a lot of work you have on your hands, not something I would ever attempt myself, so keep it up. Is there a rough ETA on it at all?

[DCJodon]

Ya know what? That shit's looking great.

[w201e34]

Dislikers gonna dislike!
Lol on a serious note, I went through the entire build thread today, and its awesome. Your building something all your own. Your building the car for you, you're the one thats driving it, no one else. Finished product is gonna be sick!

[nykwhy2]

Nice! updates, it was worth signing in today!

[hi its me alec]

Getting better and better, good work

[StateOfTheArtMS3]

I do love wide body cars, and if it's something you did or built it makes it that much better. My car is in limbo and this thread reminds me to do things that make me happy and not others. Good luck, man.

[bostongrnM3]

likin it alot the front little redesign is what made it for me :] the squarish e36 front with the wide body was too much

[Mark Ostrowski]

I can't picture a car with such an aggressive look that isn't loud and fast. Hopefully an engine swap or something is in it's future.

yeah i know, it will be the slowest, fastest looking car. but on a serious note yes of course there are many performance mods in the future...i plan on keeping this car a very long time so just because I don't have the funds now doesn't mean its not very near in the future...but to answer your question: yes, LS6 or 7 swap, or built LS1...or LS9...

but thats long in the future, couple years to enjoy the car before i put it under the knife again

looks good and cant wait for the finished product but did i miss something....y r u building the front end off the car? Wouldnt it be easier to build it on the car. What happens when you bolt all this up and shit doesnt fit right? just saying...love the work. keep updating...

In my opinion, no for two reasons:

1. Car is not moveable off jackstands right now with suspension at powdercoating and a caliper getting rebuilt and blocked in by junk

2. I can make the panels line up exactly how i want, then just re-drill/re-fab mounting points on the car..that stuff has to be done anyway, plus the front bumper mounting has to be redesigned anyway so the front bumper wouldn't even be held on...i just prefer working in a more controlled enviroment where it is easy to access panels and parts from behind

[HTOWN///M]

looks good and cant wait for the finished product but did i miss something....y r u building the front end off the car? Wouldnt it be easier to build it on the car. What happens when you bolt all this up and shit doesnt fit right? just saying...love the work. keep updating...

[StateOfTheArtMS3]

I can't picture a car with such an aggressive look that isn't loud and fast. Hopefully an engine swap or something is in it's future.

[Kielan]

Front reminds me of a Z3M front now. Not sure if want, but I want to see more progress.

[Rally]

Gives it a sinister look...very fitting for an extreme widebody.

[Mark Ostrowski]

Okay since this thread got bumped I'll update the small amount of progress i have made, school started again so i have less time to work on the car, but i will be working on it.

some things to get out of the way before i start:

Keep going!!

I know you personally have been following this thing since back in its bimmerforums days, just thought I would let you know I really appreaciate the support

if you dont like the e36 lines then buy something else

cool. I'll make sure to completly disregard that comment.


Okay. Now that that's done here is what little progress i have made:

I got about 1/2 the hood shaped and primed, will have to go over it a couple more times but you can start to visualize what the finished product will look like:







and finally a little something to help look at the proportions and lines on the car:

often times when drawing it helps to hold up your picture to a mirror to check perspective, it gives your eyes a "fresh" look to your drawing because your eyes don't recognize it a first. So using the same technique i will try to show you how my lines are actually turning out:





scroll through that a couple times to get a better grasp on how it will look.

and just quick heads up, the bumper and fender are not finished at all, there are still gaps and shapes to correct.


Finally, I would just like to give input on my rational on this front end conversion:

(note: Try to keep in mind that this is not your car, it is my car, and i have decided to convert the headlights on my car. That being said, you don't have to like it. I did it because I liked it, not because you liked it...keep in mind when commenting..esp you E36 guys )

-I **** the E36 front end, there is a reason it never went down as an "iconic" bmw like the E30 and E46

-If you don't think E46 and E36 stying work together, look at your nearest Mcoupe roadster

-last point: I AM NOT TRYING TO CONVERT MY FRONT END INTO AN E46! I am simply trying to re-design my car to make it more modern, I want people who don't know a lot about cars to not be able to guess the decade in which my car was built..this was the whole point for this entire build.

so let me just restate that: I'm not trying to make E36 LOOK LIKE E46, i would have just gone and bought an E46, I am trying to use lines and stying cues that made the E46 such an appealing car, and integrating them into my car in such a way that IT ENHANCES THE APPEARANCE, aaaand i end up with a really unique one of a kind car that is exactly what i wanted.


Sorry about the caps, i just tried to highlight main points since reading is apparently a lost art..