Azuka widebody allows generous...
Azuka widebody allows generous 345/30-19 rear tires to help control up to 900whp, although HPF programming ensures you don't get all the power in lower gears
Lightweight Widebody
With 600-900whp from a HorsePowerFreaks turbo kit, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know traction will be a huge issue. To address this problem, you need the widest tires you can fit under your car - the larger the footprint, the more grip you will have for acceleration and cornering.
The stock rear tire for an E46 M3 is a 255-series, although up to 285s will fit with some fender rolling. So the next stage is to extend the bodywork to allow wider tires.
Asuka Designs engineered a ten-piece widebody kit to address the E46 M3's need for more grip. The package consists of the front and rear quarter panels, both bumpers, side skirts, trunk and hood. It was built with HPF in mind, so there would be no rubbing or fitment problems. The front and rear fenders are 5.5" and 9" wider, allowing the use of 295 and 345-series tires, respectively.
Not just about tire width, the body kit is made from vacuum-infused carbon fiber, as opposed to hand-laid carbon. The vacuum-infusing process optimizes weight by removing excess resin while still keeping it extremely strong.
Parts of the widebody were designed with vents to help cool the car. For example, the hood extracts air from the engine bay. The front bumper was designed to house an HPF intercooler, while also providing large openings for either oil or transmission coolers. The rear bumper has a vent above the exhaust to alleviate heat from this area. While down the flanks, vents remove heat from the brakes.
"The heat from the brakes, exhaust and engine has to go somewhere. We're generating massive amounts of it, so why don't we let it out? All these vents keep things cool," said Oscar Trevizo from Karwerkz Automotive Spa, the main distributor and retailer for the kits which fit E46 M3 and 330ci (the carbon hood and trunk will fit any E46).
And here's what you're waiting for...The entire carbon body kit will run you about $14k. If that's too much, Karwerkz offers a different version in hand-laid carbon for $8k (www.kautospa.com).
Tech Spec
2002 BMW M3
Owner: Chris Bergemann
Location: Portland, OR
Occupation: President, HorsepowerFreaks Inc
Engine: BMW S54 3.2 liter six cylinder 24v with HPF stage 4 turbo kit including Precision HPS76 dual-ball-bearing turbo, two external Walbro 255 lph fuel pumps, Aeromotive EFI fuel filter, Edelbrock fuel filter, two HKS blow-off valves, 1200cc RC Engineering low-impedance injectors, AEM ten-channel peak-and-hold fuel injector driver, HPF/AEM engine management system, Denso Iridium IXU27 plugs, HPF-spec forged pistons and rods, ARP main and head studs, polished intake plenum, 4" turbo-back exhaust
Drivetrain: six-speed manual transmission, OS Giken R Type triple-disc clutch and flywheel
Brakes: Brembo GT six-piston calipers and two-piece 15" drilled front rotors, four-piston calipers and two-piece 13.6" drilled rear rotors, braided lines
Suspension: KW Variant 3 coilovers
Wheels & Tires: 19x10" front, 19x13" rear Enkruez HS10 wheels with 285/30 front, 345/30-19 rear Nitto Invo tires
Exterior: Azuka Design carbon fiber bumpers, fenders, trunk and hood, Sparco gas cap, Umnitza stealth grille, tinted corners and Predator Orion LED angel-eyes, factory HIDs, IS350 white paint
Interior: AEM six-in-one UEGO wideband, AEM boost gauge, race-fuel switch, methanol switch, traction control adjuster
Audio/Visual: Kenwood KVT512 head unit, MBQuart Premium 12" subs, PV1216 and PV1210 speakers, PV line tweeters, crossovers, DSC2000.1D subwoofer amps, DSC480 mid-range amps and DSC280 tweeter amps, Savv rear monitors, Knuconcept distribution blocks and main power wire
Thanks: HorsepowerFreaks (www.horsepowerfreaks.com 503/256-5600), OS Giken (www.osgiken.net), Performance Box (www.vboxusa.com), Karwerkz Automotive Spa (www.kautospa.com)