Hood options?

[usinjin]

Hello all,

As some of you are aware, I had a small run-in with a silly pole and an even more silly tree (in my opinion neither of them belong on a sharp exit curve of a low water crossing..) .. anyways, my car will very thankfully be fine, but I am considering different hood options now that I have a real reason to get a new one. I wouldn't mind considering something slightly sportier.

I did some light research, and now I'm not even sure if there actually exist any other options for a 330i ZHP. I'm seeing a few different carbon fibre ones, but they're all made by random aftermarket manufacturers and seem a little--shoddy, and maybe a little flimsy compared to OEM. Not too sure about those.

My mechanic said "stay away from carbon fibre", but added he could install an e46 M hood on instead. I do like the lines on those. However, the fit seems to be terrible, according to a few forums.

Are there any real alternatives to the OEM hood, or all they all pretty much cheap aftermarket options? TIA

[prowlerflyer]

Stock E46 hoods are heavy and if you live somewhere hot, they retain a lot of heat under them when you park. I really looked into the CF/vented options a while ago, but optioned out for aesthetics.

While there are lots of CF or GRP options of GTR hoods, or similar, of varying quality, there were a couple of reputable brands that are prized . Vorsteiner stands out in my memory, and I believe are now out of production. All will need a certain amount of fettling to get to fit.

I would still like a CF hood, for the weight, but mostly to vent under hood heat, but the massive GTR louvers put me off (plus they all a notable amount of rain water into the top of the engine.

Pluses and minuses, but there are quality options.

Cheers,
Steve

[usinjin]

Stock E46 hoods are heavy and if you live somewhere hot, they retain a lot of heat under them when you park. I really looked into the CF/vented options a while ago, but optioned out for aesthetics.

While there are lots of CF or GRP options of GTR hoods, or similar, of varying quality, there were a couple of reputable brands that are prized . Vorsteiner stands out in my memory, and I believe are now out of production. All will need a certain amount of fettling to get to fit.

I would still like a CF hood, for the weight, but mostly to vent under hood heat, but the massive GTR louvers put me off (plus they all a notable amount of rain water into the top of the engine.

Pluses and minuses, but there are quality options.

Cheers,
Steve

I'm in Texas with a black car--it gets up to 120 some summers. I had not even considered the heat aspect.

[BADCLOWN]

I believe the M good requires the fenders and bumper also to fit properly.

Cheapest route is to find someone parting a ZHP andthen have it painted would be my guess. A CF hood would be more expensive and then add in painting it to match as well.

[fredo]

The hood can be from any e46 sedan, years 2002 to 2005.

[az3579]

M3 hood won't fit as is - requires a complete front end retrofit, or an E46 sedan hood with an M3 power dome cut and welded in.

You're best off finding a stock facelifted sedan hood.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[Fenrir]

I run an aftermarket carbon GTR rep hood. I'll see if I can find the manufacturer for it. The fit is good and the louvers do allow rain water in. I do an under hood detail once a week and have yet to find any issues with rain water. The under hood temps stay very low and it can look pretty good if done right.

Mine came with the car but I've messaged the original owner to see if he still has the paperwork for it. I'd second the stock facelift hood if you're worried about fitment issues and painting.

[usinjin]

I run an aftermarket carbon GTR rep hood. I'll see if I can find the manufacturer for it. The fit is good and the louvers do allow rain water in. I do an under hood detail once a week and have yet to find any issues with rain water. The under hood temps stay very low and it can look pretty good if done right.

Mine came with the car but I've messaged the original owner to see if he still has the paperwork for it. I'd second the stock facelift hood if you're worried about fitment issues and painting.

Awesome, appreciate it. Is it light enough that you're ever worried about structural integrity or the hood blowing open?

[Newjack]

Awesome, appreciate it. Is it light enough that you're ever worried about structural integrity or the hood blowing open?


I run an aftermarket carbon GTR rep hood. I'll see if I can find the manufacturer for it. The fit is good and the louvers do allow rain water in. I do an under hood detail once a week and have yet to find any issues with rain water. The under hood temps stay very low and it can look pretty good if done right.

Mine came with the car but I've messaged the original owner to see if he still has the paperwork for it. I'd second the stock facelift hood if you're worried about fitment issues and painting.

Seibon is the company I've heard of that makes the hood for the E46. I think they make one that doesn't have the slots in the hood which saves a pretty sizable amount of weight.

As long as the hood is shut, the clamp will hold it down. The hood won't just blow open lol

One thing I've heard, is that because the hood is so light, you only need to run one hood strut because if you run two, it will eventually start to crack because of how light it is. The hood struts were designed to hold up much more weight and apply too much force.

[usinjin]

Seibon is the company I've heard of that makes the hood for the E46. I think they make one that doesn't have the slots in the hood which saves a pretty sizable amount of weight.

As long as the hood is shut, the clamp will hold it down. The hood won't just blow open lol

One thing I've heard, is that because the hood is so light, you only need to run one hood strut because if you run two, it will eventually start to crack because of how light it is. The hood struts were designed to hold up much more weight and apply too much force.

Agreed on the "blowing open" part, my mechanic seemed to think this was a possibility--I probably didn't understand him correctly. Any idea what the build quality of these is?

[Newjack]

Agreed on the "blowing open" part, my mechanic seemed to think this was a possibility--I probably didn't understand him correctly. Any idea what the build quality of these is?I don't have any personal experience with them but I've heard they are built well.

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[az3579]

Seibon is the company I've heard of that makes the hood for the E46. I think they make one that doesn't have the slots in the hood which saves a pretty sizable amount of weight.

As long as the hood is shut, the clamp will hold it down. The hood won't just blow open lol

One thing I've heard, is that because the hood is so light, you only need to run one hood strut because if you run two, it will eventually start to crack because of how light it is. The hood struts were designed to hold up much more weight and apply too much force.

The only aftermarket hood I've seen was the GTR style with the vents in it... which hood doesn't have the slots in it? Link?

[Newjack]

The only aftermarket hood I've seen was the GTR style with the vents in it... which hood doesn't have the slots in it? Link?

http://seiboncarbon.com/products/oem-style-carbon-fiber-hood-for2002-2005-bmw-e46-4dr.html

[johnrando]

So are there any manufacturers of new hoods with slots?

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[Fenrir]

Awesome, appreciate it. Is it light enough that you're ever worried about structural integrity or the hood blowing open?
Agreed on the "blowing open" part, my mechanic seemed to think this was a possibility--I probably didn't understand him correctly. Any idea what the build quality of these is?I'm away from the house right now so I can't check the hood currently. But I'll look it over as soon as I get home.

I've always run two struts with no pins. No cracking issues or blowing open. I've had the car north of 150 during many top end runs at the track with no issues. That is NOT me saying don't run hood pins or check your latches. That's me being fortunate and never having any issues with this hood.

Build quality is very good with no structural worries. Would I let someone crawl on it for a shoot? No I wouldn't. But, no one should do that. I have leaned on it, sat on the nose, stacked my lunches, and other light duty shenanigans with it with no issues. And it's an old hood. The original owner had it on the car for a few years before I bought it from him and it's never given me any issues. It is very very light but has been very strong.

Pics for reference. Sorry for the heavy stylization on the first two. I don't take too many direct shots of the hood so I dug up some older photos. One directly front, one side, and one above and angled.

This hood is easily 7-8 years old and may not be made anymore. But I'll try to track down some info on it and find a maker's mark or company logo on it for ya. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180511/30966671515651a6faece6f01240b6b6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180511/d7003ee632fb96af620b86d3871b413c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180511/be68ce53f5d12587ed44dee73038e720.jpg

Sent from the missing 10mm

[Newjack]

So are there any manufacturers of new hoods with slots?

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http://www.duraflexbodykits.com/2002-2005-bmw-series-e46-4dr-duraflex-gtr-hood-piece-duraflex-108631-p-548637.html

[az3579]

http://seiboncarbon.com/products/oem-style-carbon-fiber-hood-for2002-2005-bmw-e46-4dr.htmlSweet, didn't know that existed. Now if only someone would make a hood with an M3 power dome on it without those slats...

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[WOLFN8TR]

VIS XTS CF Racing Hood. It's approx 2lbs lighter than the stock M3 hood. Cost approx $1600 new. Really helps reduce engine temps in hot climates.

When installing any aftermarket hood make sure the hood latch is adjusted properly. Also both OE hood struts were used on my CF hood with no issues.

Not sure why your mechanic is anti CF hood? Love mine.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/f97f2943e8392eec49290253a2843c47.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/b0292b621dbfe8350d6648845d457994.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/3e97eb703720065643c5696be829798f.jpg

[usinjin]

VIS XTS CF Racing Hood. It's approx 2lbs lighter than the stock M3 hood. Cost approx $1600 new. Really helps reduce engine temps in hot climates.

When installing any aftermarket hood make sure the hood latch is adjusted properly. Also both OE hood struts were used on my CF hood with no issues.

Not sure why your mechanic is anti CF hood? Love mine.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/f97f2943e8392eec49290253a2843c47.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/b0292b621dbfe8350d6648845d457994.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/3e97eb703720065643c5696be829798f.jpg

That hood is :drool :drool

[cakM3]

VIS XTS CF Racing Hood. It's approx 2lbs lighter than the stock M3 hood. Cost approx $1600 new. Really helps reduce engine temps in hot climates.

When installing any aftermarket hood make sure the hood latch is adjusted properly. Also both OE hood struts were used on my CF hood with no issues.

Not sure why your mechanic is anti CF hood? Love mine.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/f97f2943e8392eec49290253a2843c47.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/b0292b621dbfe8350d6648845d457994.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/3e97eb703720065643c5696be829798f.jpg

I have seen Gary's hood up close and the quality of this hood is amazing. I like this much better than the "GTR" racing hoods that are out there...

[WOLFN8TR]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180512/5b544c504cb421c9356412bbfc9e6c41.jpg

[usinjin]

Oh, forgot to ask--are you using hood pins?

[rkneeshaw]

http://seiboncarbon.com/products/oem-style-carbon-fiber-hood-for2002-2005-bmw-e46-4dr.html

In the notes it says hood pins required, but I wonder if that's just for liability


Sweet, didn't know that existed. Now if only someone would make a hood with an M3 power dome on it without those slats...


Exactly!!!

[Fenrir]

Iiiiii'm back. No manufacturer markings on the hood sadly. The original owner doesn't remember which company he purchased it from. One of the vendors on this site used to sell a hood very similar to this one but, I haven't seen his website up in forever.

Also, Wolf. That hood is amazing.

Sent from the missing 10mm

[usinjin]

Iiiiii'm back. No manufacturer markings on the hood sadly. The original owner doesn't remember which company he purchased it from. One of the vendors on this site used to sell a hood very similar to this one but, I haven't seen his website up in forever.

Also, Wolf. That hood is amazing.

Sent from the missing 10mm

Thanks for checking anyways though!

I'm going to see what my options are through my mechanic. He may very well have an OEM hood that he's pulled off of a Jet Black sedan in good shape. In that case that would be the much cheaper route. Otherwise, I'll consider the more expensive carbon fibre options. Thanks all for weighing in.

[Fenrir]

Thanks for checking anyways though!

I'm going to see what my options are through my mechanic. He may very well have an OEM hood that he's pulled off of a Jet Black sedan in good shape. In that case that would be the much cheaper route. Otherwise, I'll consider the more expensive carbon fibre options. Thanks all for weighing in.

You're very welcome! Sorry I coulnd't nail down a manufacturer for ya. And that's very good to hear! I hope that option works out for you!

[WOLFN8TR]

Oh, forgot to ask--are you using hood pins?

No hood pins. You have to properly adjust the locking mechanism so it latches securely.


Also, Wolf. That hood is amazing.
Thanks...[emoji106]

[usinjin]

Now, if only they made that hood style for the sedan, as opposed to just the GTR style..