2010 BMW M3 - Project M3 Makeover Part 8

In part 7, we uploaded some GIAC software into our 2010 BMW M3’s ECU to gain a useful 10whp and 5 lb-ft on top of the 10whp and 5 lb-ft we’d previously gained from the GruppeM intake and exhaust that was fitted in part 6.

With MFest around the corner and Bimmerfest a short way off, we decided to make more visual and performance enhancing mods to the M3 in order to have something new too look at.

The parts we selected were a Vorsteiner carbon fiber trunk and front splitter. The trunk would save some weight and its CSL-style rear lip always looks dramatic. The splitter is a one-piece item that fits to the stock bumper and would replace the two-piece BMW Performance parts we current have.

Ideally, we’d paint the trunk but our budget couldn’t stretch to that, so we talked to the guys at Wraptivo about wrapping the roof in the latest 3M carbon-look vinyl to make the trunk look less conspicuous.

after

Finally, we fitted the H&R coilovers we ordered from Turner Motorsport when the car was first delivered. We hadn’t fitted them before because we wanted to enjoy the M3’s optional Electronic Damper Control – after years of rock-hard coilovers, a little comfort was appreciated…

We had fitted some H&R lowering springs back in part 4 of the project build, which gave us a better look and slightly firmer ride without sacrificing very much comfort. However, we always wanted to tuck the tires a little more, so finally decided to fit the coilovers.

Vorsteiner Trunk

The Vorsteiner VRS LCI Aero Boot Lid, to use its full title, harks back to the Europe-only E46 M3 CSL. These cars received a host of exclusive goodies, including the wheels, front spoiler and a raised lip on the trunk lid. BMW has continued to use a similar wheel on the M3 Competition Package, but the trunk lip has never officially returned.

Fortunately, the aftermarket has kept the memory alive and Vorsteiner’s carbon fiber trunks include this element, enhancing the car’s profile tremendously.

The trunk lid is available with either a single- or double-sided carbon fiber construction. We chose the former based on price, getting gloss black fiberglass under the lid rather than carbon top and bottom with the double-sided option. Since most people don’t look under the lid and it’s mainly covered by trim pieces, it didn’t seem like a big sacrifice.

Stripped bare, the VRS trunk weighed 12 lb, which is a significant reduction over the 25.9 lb stock trunk once we’d stripped most parts from it.

The Vorsteiner parts were fitted by Wayne Agus and Abe Nikijuluw from A1 Autobody in Huntington Beach, CA. They’ve apparently fitted hundreds of Vorsteiner parts and were certainly familiar with the procedure. It took them about 20min to remove the stock trunk, strip the fittings and refit the carbon item. However, they spent more than an hour aligning the trunk, loosening the tail lights, locking mechanism and bumper to get it perfect.

This is certainly a part you can DIY at home. The final alignment might not be as precise as A1 did ours but you can get it very close thanks to elongated fixings in each part.

It’s certainly a testament to the quality of Vorsteiner’s parts that it can be made to fit like stock, and we’ve experienced no problems since the fitting. Perhaps the only thing to be aware of is that the lighter trunk can’t be closed with one hand because the OE struts are set up for a heavier lid and require a good push to close.