After giving our E36 M3 more power and a cosmetic overhaul, it's time to make the cabin more comfy.
In Part 3 (et 3/08) we updated our Project M3 with Max Velocity front splitters, Umnitza angel-eye headlights and a set of LED tail lights. This month we go after the interior.
Most cars with 130k miles on the odometer start to show cracks in the leather interior. Ours wasn't quite that bad but we wanted to enhance the interior without splurging on some expensive racing seats.
We had installed Wet Okole seat covers on a different M3 (et 2/07) and were so satisfied with the results we decided to contact them again. This time, we ordered them in all-black with red piping to match the exterior. However, we stopped short of ordering red center panels because we felt it would be too much.
Not only do they update the look, the covers protect the leather and don't slip. Additionally, their high quality neoprene rubber construction means they don't get cold in the winter or hot in the summer. They're also extremely durable and can be washed as often as you need.
We ordered covers for the front and rear seats, which took about three hours to install, including removal of the seats. The total cost was around $575 - about the price of one decent racing seat without mounting brackets.
Fishing through Bavarian Autosport's catalog we discovered the company has practically everything you could ever need from maintenance to a plethora of upgrades for your BMW. One item that caught our attention was the $70 armrest.
When it arrived, we realized our car had a rare factory cupholder console, so the armrest would not fit. However, Bavarian also stocked the more common factory console so that the armrest eventually fit perfectly. The swap took about 10min.
Bavarian Autosport also sells floor mats with custom embroidery. For $120 we got all four with a red border to match the seat covers and red "M3" embroidery in the fronts.
Interior LED lighting is another popular upgrade Bavarian offers. It wasn't a complicated install, really brightened the interior at night and still surprises us every time we get in the car.
We took care of the dome and C-pillar lighting with 24-bulb LED units. These cost $20 and required about an hour to install. For an extra $30, you can also add six-bulb LEDs to both vanity mirrors.
Finally, we installed UUC Motorwerks' RK6A-L black leather 'n stainless steel shift knob, as well as its matching e-brake handle. Together they retail at $265 plus $10 for the factory Motorsport shift pattern insert.
We topped off our interior with UUC ultrasuede shift and e-brake boots, which retail for $179 as a combo package and include Motorsport color stitching (but you could save a few bucks by opting for silver or black stitching).
Project M3 now looks like we want it to inside and out, so we're back to fishing for more performance parts for the next installment. Stay tuned.