M3 bumper or no...

Alanstrainor

Well what do we think of this style front bumper? Hate the SE spec bumper on my car at the minute, was looking for standard MSport, but came across this last night. Would probably cost about 200/250 painted and fitted.

biko

I'm very much a "stock man" so in my view it's hideous.
Hope this helps

renofan

I wouldn't put the M3 bumper on, the car in your pic looks half finished. Get the MSport bumper though as I agree the SE one isn't the best looking.

ants09

biko wrote: »

I'm very much a "stock man" so in my view it's hideous.
Hope this helps

It looks hideous on a car thats not a M car imo

If i was you i would buy a M Sport front bumper as it would look nicer on your car Alanstrainor

Mr Benevolent

Looks a bit silly on a standard 3. Makes the car slab fronted.

MuppetCheck

M-Sport kit ftw.

Alanstrainor

Yeah, i kind of liked it last night when i was looking up pics online...bit this morning i had some doubts...and now ill probably just go msport! Very hard to find decent MSport bumpers...and even harder on a budget!

challengemaster

ants09 wrote: »

It looks hideous on a car thats not a M car imo

Well then surely it must look crap on M cars too then? Aside from the arches which are slightly wider, there's no difference...

:rolleyes:

Eoin

Don't do it! The only M3 body parts I'd put on a non-M3 car are the mirrors.

Are there any bumper trims that you could get - e.g. Alpina or AC S?

listermint

challengemaster wrote: »

Well then surely it must look crap on M cars too then? Aside from the arches which are slightly wider, there's no difference...

:rolleyes:

Emmm, and the bonnet....

Rolls eyes....

MugMugs

MuppetCheck wrote: »

M-Sport kit ftw.

+1

Just make sure it isn't black :pac:

challengemaster

listermint wrote: »

Emmm, and the bonnet....

Rolls eyes....

Yeah, but that doesn't really have any bearing on how the bumper looks or fits does it? That's why I didn't mention it...

ciarsd

Emmm, and the front wings

Another vote for M-Sport kit here.

listermint

challengemaster wrote: »

Yeah, but that doesn't really have any bearing on how the bumper looks or fits does it? That's why I didn't mention it...

Well the Bonnet most definitely has an immediate bearing on the balanced design of the whole front end of the car so yes it has a bearing on how it looks.

Very surprised this comes into question tbh

Supergurrier

Whatever suits yourself Alan, just do your research first.

conzy

Does your car have colour coded or black rub strips?

One of the things "missing" from the M3 style bumpers is the rub strips which can look a bit odd on the standard car.

When I got the M-Sport Bumper, I just clipped all my trim off (including the number plate holder) and it fits the M-Sport bumper. Another thing to be aware of is that if you're getting one You need the brake ducts and the alternator duct to match. Make sure you get some fog light covers too, they are cheap from the dealer.

I don't think the M3 rep bumpers look bad on a standard car but the M-Sport bumper just fits in a bit nicer I think

ants09

challengemaster wrote: »

Well then surely it must look crap on M cars too then? Aside from the arches which are slightly wider, there's no difference...

:rolleyes:

If its a M car then its made for that car.

What i mean is imo a front bumper from a M car doesnt suit a non M car and thats just my opinion i think a M Tech or M Sport bumper looks much nicer on a non M car.

On a another note a Alpina or a AC Schnitzer looks nicer

Alanstrainor

conzy wrote: »

Does your car have colour coded or black rub strips?

One of the things "missing" from the M3 style bumpers is the rub strips which can look a bit odd on the standard car.

When I got the M-Sport Bumper, I just clipped all my trim off (including the number plate holder) and it fits the M-Sport bumper. Another thing to be aware of is that if you're getting one You need the brake ducts and the alternator duct to match. Make sure you get some fog light covers too, they are cheap from the dealer.

I don't think the M3 rep bumpers look bad on a standard car but the M-Sport bumper just fits in a bit nicer I think

Colour coded rub strips all round.

Didn't realise I'd have to get the brake ducts and alternator duct, cheers man.

They definitely don't look bad. I don't think it's terrible skangerish, it looks fairly stock, but more aggressive looking. But I do like the MSport kit too. Anyone have a titan silver MSport kit going for cheap :P

Matt Simis

challengemaster wrote: »

Well then surely it must look crap on M cars too then? Aside from the arches which are slightly wider, there's no difference...

:rolleyes:

What do you mean aside from the arches!? Its the arch to front bumper transition that makes it "wide body". The front bumper on its own wont physically (or aesthetically) align with the arches, which is why it looks "crappy" and half finished.


The front bumper blends in as it should on an actual M3:



I would have no issues with it on a non-M, but only if doing the whole package (arches too).

Idbatterim

Hey op, I put m3 front bumper on mine and it did look better than m sport bumper, the se ones look crap. Will post up photo of car that I fitted m3 bumper shortly...

challengemaster

Matt Simis wrote: »

What do you mean aside from the arches!? Its the arch to front bumper transition that makes it "wide body". The front bumper on its own wont physically (or aesthetically) align with the arches, which is why it looks "crappy" and half finished.

I would have no issues with it on a non-M, but only if doing the whole package (arches too).

OEM bumper won't fit if you just lash it on, no, obviously. I've looked into this extensively as I will be fitting an m3 bumper in the future. OEM can be made to fit by a number of different methods, one being fitting the oem CF reinforcement bar. Best /easiest option for a good fit is just to use aftermarket one designed for non-M cars. Either works though, and fit both physically and aesthetically.

More so than the bumper, lashing on m3 arches with the side grilles is impostery and actually stupid IMO. Only way to do it for a non-M is break out the welder and respray after... A lot more expensive though

And I wouldn't go as far as calling an m3 wide body... It's wide relative to a coupe, but its not running 11J wheels. The rear arches are much more important and again, require welding on ALL non-M.

Matt Simis

challengemaster wrote: »

And I wouldn't go as far as calling an m3 wide body... It's wide relative to a coupe, but its not running 11J wheels. The rear arches are much more important and again, require welding on ALL non-M.

Yes, its a wider-body relative to the stock.
You can fit 315 width tyres and 11" rims on an M3 btw.

"Stupid" impostery or not, the M3 bumper looks far better with wide arches. Surely there are better fitting and looking bumpers for vanilla-e46s if you arent going to get the whole body?

challengemaster

Matt Simis wrote: »

"Stupid" impostery or not, the M3 bumper looks far better with wide arches. Surely there are better fitting and looking bumpers for vanilla-e46s if you arent going to get the whole body?

I never said it doesn't look better, it does. But calling the bumper hideous on non-M makes no sense because its the same bumper just brought in to sit flush with the arches.

Personally I don't think any other bumper looks better. Alpina stuff is legitimately hideous, I reckon they were all blind. Dont like any others really bar mtec, And on top of that the Hamann lip ill be fitting sits much better with an m3 bumper rather than mtec .

I'm also not prepared to go chop up my arches and attempt to have m3 ones welded on just yet, and then respray it... For one its too expensive at the minute. The fact I've a facelift doesn't make it any easier either.

listermint

challengemaster wrote: »

I never said it doesn't look better, it does. But calling the bumper hideous on non-M makes no sense because its the same bumper just brought in to sit flush with the arches.

Personally I don't think any other bumper looks better. Alpina stuff is legitimately hideous, I reckon they were all blind. Dont like any others really bar mtec, And on top of that the Hamann lip ill be fitting sits much better with an m3 bumper rather than mtec .

I'm also not prepared to go chop up my arches and attempt to have m3 ones welded on just yet, and then respray it... For one its too expensive at the minute. The fact I've a facelift doesn't make it any easier either.

Buy an M3

Matt Simis

challengemaster wrote: »

But calling the bumper hideous on non-M makes no sense because its the same bumper just brought in to sit flush with the arches.

I never said it looked hideous, just quoted the "crappy" from elsewhere.

Idbatterim

there are two images, and I belive your car is also the pre facelift in titan silver op, so a good comparison...

Alanstrainor

Idbatterim wrote: »

there are two images, and I belive your car is also the pre facelift in titan silver op, so a good comparison...

I like. Looks well! How much did the whole lot set you back?

BillJ

I like the m3 bumper I think it looks well.

I was just on the verge of buying an after market one myself in clare two weeks ago and then I spotted an m-sport oem bumper for €120(good bargain I reckong, included fogs). Needs respraying to black.

Either way I think they are both a huge improvement on the se bumper.

I'd hold out for the m-sport though.

Alanstrainor

Where did you find yours? And how much did it cost you to respray?

Thanks for the input fellas

BillJ

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Where did you find yours? And how much did it cost you to respray?

Thanks for the input fellas

Found it in adverts, getting it sprayed next week hopefully. 180-200 to spray it.

The m3 one on donedeal might still be there, he was selling the side skirts aswell. Can't link I'm on the phone sorry

ShadowHearth

M-sport kit, yes. M3 bumper, feck no. Next step is fake m3 badges...

thecomedian

Please don't go for the M3 bumper, but I do like the M sport one.

Gary ITR

Go for M3 bumper, wings and rear quarters, actually feck it, sell the car and buy an M3 :pac:

Alanstrainor

Ah here! Not making a rep. Just thought the m3 bumper looked quite cool!

Sobanek

M-Sport will be better. Buying an M3 bumper for a 325ci is like putting ///M badges all over it!!!!

challengemaster

Sobanek wrote: »

M-Sport will be better. Buying an M3 bumper for a 325ci is like putting ///M badges all over it!!!!

Except it's not really.

Do whatever you like Alan, its your car at the end of the day

ShadowHearth wrote: »

M-sport kit, yes. M3 bumper, feck no. Next step is fake m3 badges...

I find this quite funny, you're against someone else doing something different with their car, but will defend your spoiler-less subaru to the end of earth

L-M

Alan if you're getting the gun out you might as well facelift it!

ShadowHearth

challengemaster wrote: »

Except it's not really.

Do whatever you like Alan, its your car at the end of the day



I find this quite funny, you're against someone else doing something different with their car, but will defend your spoiler-less subaru to the end of earth

I am not suggesting him taking off the bumper all together, don't I?

Alanstrainor

Have sourced an Msport bumper in Titan silver in a scrappy. He's going to send me pictures on Tues, might not be in the best of nick, but if it's reasonable, and the price ain't too bad I'll probably buy it.

rebel.ranter

Are you doing rear bumper & side skirts too? I think it will look odd with only the front bumper done.

Alanstrainor

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Are you doing rear bumper & side skirts too? I think it will look odd with only the front bumper done.

Had no intention of doing the side skirts, money doesn't allow for the rear bumper at the minute, but eventually yes.

The one in the scrappy is a 318, which would mean I'd have to source a different diffuser for the rear bumper to fit.

bmstuff

M3 bumper would not fit anyway without custom molding, sides would be sticking out since it is meant for the M3 with larger side wings.