One doesn’t go racing with the intent to be mediocre. This BMW E46 M3 GTS was specifically built to the fullest extent of the rules to compete in NASA's German Touring Series.
Going to the track and driving without inhibition in a controlled environment translates into one of the most enjoyable experiences for a car enthusiast. Competing on track in a wheel-to-wheel race takes that driving experience to the next level.
For Ayed Alnajjar, going to the track is a family affair as well as a social gathering, since he and many of his friends hang out at the track. Spending countless hours behind the wheel on some of California’s famous racetracks inspired him to build a dedicated race car for competition. This odyssey began in 2013 with the purchase of this 2002 BMW M3. Ayed chose to build an BMW E46 M3 specifically to compete in the German Touring Series with NASA.
Competitive Edge
For some people, the thrill of competition is everything; competitive nature is deep seeded and courses through their veins. The goal then is the top of the podium or even a spot in the record books. To be competitive, Ayed studied the rule books to enhance his BMW E46 M3 to the allowable limits. This included reducing weight, increasing traction, optimizing handling, improving aerodynamics, and making more power.
Putting the M3 on a Diet
Removing anything unnecessary (and permissible per the rule book) was the first thing that Ayed worked on. After gutting the interior, he replaced the heavy factory steel doors with lightweight fiberglass units. The headlights were removed and replaced by a set of carbon-fiber headlight deletes.
Once the M3 had been reduced to the bare essentials, a custom cage was welded in. This cage not only creates a protective framework around the Sparco Ergo driver’s seat it also stiffens the chassis for improved handling and feel.
From behind the OMP removable steering wheel, the driver gets a clear and concise reading of the engine’s vitals thanks to an AIM Dash display.
After removing unnecessary components and the use of lighter parts, this translated into a feathery new curb weight of only 2,800 pounds; a significant weight loss of around 600 pounds compared to stock.
Pressure on the Pavement
When attacking the corners or going flat out on the straightaways, keeping the Pirelli slicks planted firmly to the tarmac was paramount. Ayed’s strategy for doing so included a suspension upgrade while enhancing the aerodynamics of the E46.
The stock dampers and springs were upgraded with a set of Moton adjustable coilovers with remote reservoirs. This new suspension not only adds flexibility to spring preload along with compression and rebound adjustment, but it also increases the fluid capacity and improves heat management.
Running wider (than stock) 18x10-inch and 18x11-inch Apex wheels with an aggressive offset warranted a custom GTR widebody kit to cover the massive Pirelli slicks mounted to those Apex wheels.
Don’t Waste the Downforce
To help the Moton suspension maintain optimal contact between the tarmac and the tires, Ayed implemented several aerodynamic elements to increase downforce on the chassis while mitigating turbulence and lift. A carbon-fiber splitter adds downforce at the front of the chassis, while a chassis-mounted APR GT500 wing keeps pressure over the rear wheels.
Since the trunk lid is prone to flexing when any pressure is applied, chassis mounting the wing risers ensures that not a single psi of the downforce generated is wasted. This is especially important since adding downforce also causes drag, which must be compensated for with more horsepower.
To further clean up the airflow around the chassis and lend to downforce, several additional measures were taken. Venting the front fenders relieves pressure built up in the wheel wells that could lend to turbulent airflow and lift. A critical, yet often overlooked, area of vehicle aerodynamics is the underside of the chassis. Ayed installed a belly pan that reduces turbulence under the chassis as the air flows under the car. Now necessary with the addition of the belly pan,, a diffuser at the rear smooths the transition of the airflow under the chassis to further lend to downforce while minimizing lift.
Pumping Up the Power
The E46 M3’s 3.2-liter, naturally-aspirated engine, known as the S54, came from the factory with 333 brake horsepower (assuming a 15% driveline loss puts the S54 at roughly 283 horsepower at the wheels.) This high output inline six-cylinder engine features a cast iron short block, aluminum cylinder head, an 11.5-to-1 compression ratio, variable valve timing on the exhaust camshaft, and individual throttle bodies controlled by a drive-by-wire system.
The first step toward increasing the output was to raise the compression of the engine to 12.5-to-1. A custom intake with a carbon-fiber airbox supplies clean, ambient air to the higher compression engine’s cylinders. Once combusted, the spent gasses leave the cylinders by way of an Epic Motorsport exhaust manifold and a custom downpipe.
Epic Motorsports calibrated the engine management system with 100-octane race fuel in the Fuel Safe fuel cell. The M3 spun the rollers of a Dynojet dynamometer to the tune of 360 horsepower, just shy of 80 additional horsepower compared to stock.
Recognition, Racing, and Records
The build of this E46 M3 was completed in time to be displayed at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. It garnered such attention that it caught the eye of BMW Performance Magazine’s photographers, who ran a story on his E46 build in 2015. Ayed went on to compete in various racing series, with his most successful year being 2017. That year, he not only earned the NASA championship for his class, he was also the VARA champion, overall points winner, and driver of the year. Along the way, Ayed collected several track accolades; setting the E46 M3 record at both Buttonwillow (clockwise 13, 1:48) and Willow Springs (1:26).
Future Generation, Future Builds
Did we mention that going to the track is a family affair? Ayed and his wife both have a love for the race track (his wife tracks her E90 M3), and he is instilling this same passion into his sons. He’s been teaching them the rules and protocols of the track and road racing, grooming them for a future behind the wheel. Ayed is anxious to get a build started for them, excited for the time when they’ll be ready to compete in their first track car, potentially alongside him.
Story by Richard Fong
Photos by Antonio Alvendia
