A disclaimer to other drivers...
A disclaimer to other drivers on the road. Unless you have 500whp, don't even bother messing with Eric!
The rear featured an OE CSL trunk and molded CSL rear diffuser, while down the sides you'll notice the moldings were shaved. You'll also find carbon fiber accents in the front splitter, roof spoiler, side mirrors and Hamann air ducts.
The E46 in Balloon white was essentially a blank canvas, so vinyl graphics were envisaged. And proud of the car's show 'n go ability, Eric obtained his supercharged dyno graph and plotted it across both sides of the car. The vinyl outlined the horsepower and torque curves, and even includes the baselines curves as well.
For the chassis, Eric mastered it first time around so left it alone. Now discontinued, the 20x10" front and 20x11" rear Kinesis wheels were custom finished in a glossy black with blue anodized lips. Wrapped in Falken FK-452 tires for plenty of traction on the street, the M3's chassis employed Brembo Gran Turismo brakes all around for outrageous stopping power. Eric mentioned the fronts were extremely rare being 15" Le Mans GT rotors, while the rears utilized 13.6" drilled rotors. As for the suspension, KW Variant 2 coilovers appropriately slammed the M3 and gave it improved handling along with Ground Control sway bars.
Inside Edition
Just when you thought the M3's overhaul was complete, the interior contains more incredible innovation. The trunk setup and front seats remain essentially as before but with some slight modification. Retaining the Status Ring seats with carbon backs, the upholstery was changed to black and blue alcantara with new five-point harnesses securing Eric and his passenger.
The trunk setup built by Street Jamz accommodated four Diamond Audio amps, plus two 12" subs and three caps. You'll also notice the trunk lid now has a pair of Diamond components and a small screen.
The backseat was where the interior shines. The rear houses a painted rollcage with two more 10" subs plus three video game consoles... a PS3, Xbox360 and Wii. That's easily more than the average gamer!
No more back seats, but there...
No more back seats, but there are two additional subs, an amp, three game consoles and nitrous bottle
A nitrous bottle takes center stage in the rear between the subs, while a motorized 22" monitor drops down from the roof. Yes, you read that correctly! Two actuators rotate the TV up and down via a switch in the glovebox. Still not impressed? When Eric shifts the car into reverse, the screen switches to a video feed from a rearview camera in the license plate.
Also new inside was a suede-wrapped dash and CSL door panels. The fiberglass gauge pod in the center of the dash was also fresh. Four gauges are switchable to read air/fuel, exhaust temp, water temp, oil temp, boost, vacuum, oil pressure and air intake using OLEDs. Finally a Mac Mini rests in the glovebox in place of the former PS2 console.
Eric's M3 has come a long way since he started, joined car club TWCompetition and competed at shows around the US. He's proud of building a car that's top-shelf on the show circuit, but just as menacing on the street and Eric continues to daily-drive the blown M3.
"I compete with the car at shows but all show and no go defeated the purpose. I always wanted a car that wins and had proven power, and now I have it all."
Tech Spec
2003 BMW M3
Owner: Eric Homshao Shih
Location: San Jose, CA
Occupation: business manager
Engine: 3.2-liter straight-six 24v with VF-Engineering stage 2+ supercharger kit, air-to-water chargecooler, custom manifold and chargecooler, Bosch injectors, Hitachi MAF conversion, Supersprint headers, X-pipe and Y-pipe, GIAC software, Dixis titanium race exhaust, carbon Xenon controller, computer and cabin filter covers, blue carbon engine cover, brushed aluminum oil cap
Drivetrain: six-speed manual with BMW Motorsport 3.91:1 differential, UUC Motorwerks stage 2 clutch and lightweight flywheel, Rogue Engineering short shifter and weighted selector rod
Brakes: 15" front and 13.6" rear Brembo Gran Turismo big brake kits with blue four-piston calipers, silver hats, custom Le Mans GT front rotors