Right Place…Wrong Side Of The Dashboard?

No Photoshop Magic Here…We Swear

Reality Bites

There won’t be a cute lead-in to this one…Other than that positively brilliant title of course.

No, this post exists to accomplish only one purpose – to properly track the progress of one of the most rare and extensive builds we have ever taken part in.

Over the coming months, we’ll be documenting a full-scale project, the likes of which most of you have probably never seen. It will require well-planned custom fabrication, copious dyno testing, and hours of fine tuning in order to ensure the level of quality and finish that our customers have grown accustomed to. Active Autowerke is on the brink of beginning a journey to rival anything Tolkein, Martin, or Rowling could possibly dream up.  And you won’t believe where it will take us.

Of course, like any good story, this one requires a bit of a prologue…

Not So Mellow Yellow

What you see before you is a 1999 UK-market E36 M3. That’s right, that means this is the “real” M3…the one that was never available in the U.S. The “real” M3 with over 300 base horsepower. The “real” M3 with individual throttle bodies, high-performance head, lighter crankshaft, and an entire list of other differences that can really throw U.S.-spec owners into a deep depression, should they dwell too long on it.

The “real” M3 without the extra displacement, electronic nannies, airbox baffles and….air conditioning.

Space For Rent: Seeking Single Belt Supercharger That Doesn’t Mind Close Quarters

Which brings us to why this pristine example has arrived at our doorstep. Up until recently, the lack of A/C had not posed much of a concern to the owner of this vehicle. Why? Notice the unadulterated Dakar Yellow paint job. This beauty has spent the last 15 years hidden under lock and key, at a warehouse in Europe.

“Blasphemy!” You cry. “Outrageous!”

Relax. We’re about to make up for all that dormant time. Not only will we be fabricating up an entire HVAC system for the M3, we have also been given full license to throw our complete catalog at it…We’re talking software, exhaust, drivetrain, suspension, and of course, the signature Active Autowerke Supercharger Kit.

Along the way, there will be pictures, videos, dyno plots, and some head-scratching frustration, no doubt. Keep an eye out as we take you through this process step by step, ultimately achieving the impossible…perfecting the “real” M3.

Zak’s Excited…Actually, That Might Just Be Gas.