MAT ARMSTRONG HELPS REBUILD MY WRECKED BMW X3M COMPETITION

Summary

The video follows a car enthusiast as he begins to restore his BMW X3M that was significantly damaged in an accident. After having major repairs done on the chassis and bodywork, he takes on reassembling the stripped interior and disconnected engine components himself. Despite struggling to remember where everything connects, he perseveres, reattaching wiring, installing new turbos, and fitting a new carbon fiber steering wheel. Though the X3M still needs further engine work before it can run again, the interior is now nearly complete, transformed from a bare shell back to a customized performance car interior.

Takeaways

• 😀 The BMW X3M has finally been repaired after a major accident and overhaul
• 👷 The interior was completely stripped and the engine removed for repairs
• 🛠 Fitting a new chassis leg was the biggest part of the repair job
• 🔧 Reassembling the interior has been challenging due to lack of recollection on how it was originally put together
• 🚗 The engine repairs are still a work in progress but the turbos have been upgraded
• 🎥 Referencing previous repair videos has helped jog memory on reassembly steps
• 🙌 Having help from friends has been invaluable in making progress on repairs
• 🧰 Custom carbon fiber steering wheel installed as first interior upgrade
• 🚦 Interior is now nearly complete and functional, still needs some final touches
• 🚀 Major engine work still needed before the BMW can be driven again

Q & A

What repairs and modifications were made to the BMW X3M?

The car had major repairs including replacing the chassis leg, stripping the interior, removing the engine, upgrading the turbos, replacing broken engine parts like coolant lines, replacing the seats, and installing a new carbon fiber steering wheel.

Why did the creator have trouble reassembling the interior?

He had trouble because it had been weeks since he originally removed everything and he couldn't remember where all the parts and wiring went back together.

What happened to the original seats in the BMW?

The original seats got twisted on their frames during the accident so they were no longer safe to reinstall.

Where did the creator source replacement seats from?

He found replacement factory X3M seats in the back of his van which were the perfect spec to match the originals.

What was the issue with the dashboard frame?

The original frame was bent in the accident. The creator bought a replacement frame but it was missing some tabs needed to mount the heads up display screen, so they had to weld those pieces on.

Why did they upgrade the BMW's turbos?

They installed upgraded hybrid turbos that will produce more power, but other supporting mods will be needed soon to handle the extra power.

What interior parts still need to be fixed?

The knee airbag, curtain airbags, and some vent ducting still need to be repaired and connected.

What is the next step for getting the BMW running again?

The engine still needs to be reinstalled and connected along with all associated wiring in the engine bay before the car will start again.

What steering wheel upgrade was installed?

A custom carbon fiber steering wheel cover with Alcantara sides and M stitching was installed to match the race seats.

What work still remains on the project car?

Lots of engine bay work remains including reinstalling the engine, sorting wiring, replacing broken coolant parts, and upgrading supporting mods to handle the hybrid turbos' extra power.