Just bought an M3
Discussion
After 3 months of pondering what to get next - going between TVRs, 350Z, Z4s etc etc I've plumped for an M3. Only got it last weekend and given it a quick wash. Everyone like pictures rather than waffling so:
(I haven't put any wax or anything on it, just a valet pro pre-wash and Supernatural Shampoo wash and dry.)
Smile!
Watch a little tv when doing the interior lol
Stainless tips polished up well:
This one makes the rear arch look huge!
Some HDR ones:
Forgot to take any engine bay pictures, but it's the same as this one I found on the net:
Oh, and picked these genuine BMW M3 18" alloys for £175 this morning!
It's a 2005 M3 coupe with just under 51,000 miles. Lots of toys (not that I'm that bothered to be honest as went on condition and history) like sat nav / tv / bluetooth / electric memory seats etc etc.
And I can confirm it has working indicators and will drive in lane 1 of the motorway!
Comments welcome especially as to what products I can use to make it look it's best! Also - what colour should I get the 18" refurbished in?
Thanks for looking.
(I haven't put any wax or anything on it, just a valet pro pre-wash and Supernatural Shampoo wash and dry.)
Smile!
Watch a little tv when doing the interior lol
Stainless tips polished up well:
This one makes the rear arch look huge!
Some HDR ones:
Forgot to take any engine bay pictures, but it's the same as this one I found on the net:
Oh, and picked these genuine BMW M3 18" alloys for £175 this morning!
It's a 2005 M3 coupe with just under 51,000 miles. Lots of toys (not that I'm that bothered to be honest as went on condition and history) like sat nav / tv / bluetooth / electric memory seats etc etc.
And I can confirm it has working indicators and will drive in lane 1 of the motorway!
Comments welcome especially as to what products I can use to make it look it's best! Also - what colour should I get the 18" refurbished in?
Thanks for looking.
No cracks in the floor so no, it's not been strengthened. Seems to have had quite a cosseted life by the look of it so hopefully not many hard launches that seems to mangle the floor. Could all be just a matter of time though.
I'll get it checked again before it's 10th birthday just in case it has them appear, then BMW can fix it for free.
In the future if it gets the cracks, I'll head down to Redish in Bristol to get it done if BMW won't pay.
I'll get it checked again before it's 10th birthday just in case it has them appear, then BMW can fix it for free.
In the future if it gets the cracks, I'll head down to Redish in Bristol to get it done if BMW won't pay.
Thanks for all the kind words 
Finding a non black / silver / grey car that was as well cared for as I wanted was the first tricky bit, then finding my ideal colour with a manual gearbox (yes, I know SMG is manual technically, but you know what I mean) was quite a challenge!
It'll be a Friday / weekend car mostly so I hope to keep it in great condition for quite a while to come.
Finding a non black / silver / grey car that was as well cared for as I wanted was the first tricky bit, then finding my ideal colour with a manual gearbox (yes, I know SMG is manual technically, but you know what I mean) was quite a challenge!
It'll be a Friday / weekend car mostly so I hope to keep it in great condition for quite a while to come.
The main reason for getting the 18s was to have a decent spare for road-trips seeing as the 17" space-savers are ridiculously priced!
But another set is always good if I ever need to get the 19s refurbished in the future (not now, they're virtually unmarked). Might go for a darkish anthracite - might look good.
But another set is always good if I ever need to get the 19s refurbished in the future (not now, they're virtually unmarked). Might go for a darkish anthracite - might look good.
This one wasn't actually on a "for sale" advert. The owner had replied to a "wanted" post on m3cutters saying that it would be for sale soon. Started chatting about it and ended up buying it.
I agree though, finding a decent low mileage manual car in good condition is quite hard at the moment. I think I was pretty lucky to be honest.
I agree though, finding a decent low mileage manual car in good condition is quite hard at the moment. I think I was pretty lucky to be honest.
My front plate is a standard length fortunately so will try it "normal" at least to start with. Looked ok on my previous car and was only a thought as to a mod to do without breaking the bank..lol
Need to get one 4" section of one of my 19s touched up a bit - need to find somewhere local to east midlands - any suggestions peeps?
Don't think I can afford a CSL type inlet just yet - nice though!
Need to get one 4" section of one of my 19s touched up a bit - need to find somewhere local to east midlands - any suggestions peeps?
Don't think I can afford a CSL type inlet just yet - nice though!
paul383 said:
A lot of money is a 1k air box on a 7.5k car. I have heard the CSL and absolutely love the noise. Is there not one available for 500quid?
Cost me a bit more than £7.5k lol piggy bank is a bit empty now any way lol£500 and I'd be interested! Gave it a good spanking this afternoon ; sounded lovely even though its standard.
New genuine M3 rear badge and alloys centre caps. I now realise the little M is on upside down so new ones on order (as the sticky won't work twice I'm guessing)
Decided to keep the OEM front grilles as you can see. The black ones just didn't do it for me.
Bought a 2nd hand engine cover and sprayed it with primer followed by Imola Red rattle can. It'll be coming off again shortly to lacquer it as I didn't have time before the show.
Night before Trax:
Simple little mod with an Imola Red engine cover:
Detail:
On stand at Trax:
Shiny bottom:
Sold the 18s and got a set of 19s the same as on the car:
The added bonus was that the front two tyres have 6.5mm remaining of Michelin Pilot Sport rubber compared to the ones on the car that have 3.0mm. The set of alloys and tyres cost less than two new front tyres so it was a no brainer!
The rears are 3>4.0mm bridgestones so OK for a track day.. 8-)
Decided to keep the OEM front grilles as you can see. The black ones just didn't do it for me.
Bought a 2nd hand engine cover and sprayed it with primer followed by Imola Red rattle can. It'll be coming off again shortly to lacquer it as I didn't have time before the show.
Night before Trax:
Simple little mod with an Imola Red engine cover:
Detail:
On stand at Trax:
Shiny bottom:
Sold the 18s and got a set of 19s the same as on the car:
The added bonus was that the front two tyres have 6.5mm remaining of Michelin Pilot Sport rubber compared to the ones on the car that have 3.0mm. The set of alloys and tyres cost less than two new front tyres so it was a no brainer!
The rears are 3>4.0mm bridgestones so OK for a track day.. 8-)
Had a bird poo stain on my bonnet and today finally got around to getting it out. It's hard to capture in pictures but looked like a bubbling of the lacquer and kind of swirly rather than crystal clear.
Had a smart repair guy round a week or two ago to see if it could be wet sanded out as it looked fairly deep to me but he though it might machine polish out with an aggressive pad / compound combination. He didn't have the time to have a go but gave me some 3M compound to try which was nice of him.
Before:
During:
You can just about see it flattening out a bit:
Gone!:
I asked the O/H to come out and try and find it and she couldn't - result!
Had Bartletts in Huntingdon do my MOT today (it passed - just commented on edge wear on tyres) and rear subframe check which was given the all clear so stress free.
Whilst there I met up with a local Imola owner and her vert to have a chat and to get a couple of Imolas together for a change and I wanted to see what her intensive detailing session had done to her car - it did look very nice!
(Not surprising really given how much it cost - mostly swissvax products including 2 coats of Best of Show.)
Had a smart repair guy round a week or two ago to see if it could be wet sanded out as it looked fairly deep to me but he though it might machine polish out with an aggressive pad / compound combination. He didn't have the time to have a go but gave me some 3M compound to try which was nice of him.
Before:
During:
You can just about see it flattening out a bit:
Gone!:
I asked the O/H to come out and try and find it and she couldn't - result!
Had Bartletts in Huntingdon do my MOT today (it passed - just commented on edge wear on tyres) and rear subframe check which was given the all clear so stress free.
Whilst there I met up with a local Imola owner and her vert to have a chat and to get a couple of Imolas together for a change and I wanted to see what her intensive detailing session had done to her car - it did look very nice!
(Not surprising really given how much it cost - mostly swissvax products including 2 coats of Best of Show.)
Took it out the garage for a rare winter outing today to go and get it an oil and filter change as well as get the exhaust clamps sorted:
Luckily for me the chap doing the work is a renowned CSL specialist - people come from all over the country (and Europe) for him to mollycoddle their CSLs. He did the work then invited me out to have a look under. All was still good - no sign of any sub floor cracks - and the only thing he could find was that the rear arm bushes were just starting to go so to keep an eye on them. But when I said how many miles it does a year, he said it'll probably be fine for a few years yet :lol:
Then got a snap of it in the winter sunshine:
Luckily for me the chap doing the work is a renowned CSL specialist - people come from all over the country (and Europe) for him to mollycoddle their CSLs. He did the work then invited me out to have a look under. All was still good - no sign of any sub floor cracks - and the only thing he could find was that the rear arm bushes were just starting to go so to keep an eye on them. But when I said how many miles it does a year, he said it'll probably be fine for a few years yet :lol:
Then got a snap of it in the winter sunshine:
It's one of these from Hamilton Classics:
http://www.hamiltonclassic.co.uk/acatalog/OutdoorC...
It's mean to be an outdoor one but I got it with the car from the previous owner so it's a bit over the top as an indoor dust cover. It's got a nice soft fleecy inner though so no scratchy lol
http://www.hamiltonclassic.co.uk/acatalog/OutdoorC...
It's mean to be an outdoor one but I got it with the car from the previous owner so it's a bit over the top as an indoor dust cover. It's got a nice soft fleecy inner though so no scratchy lol
0836whimper said:
Gareth, who works at Bartlett's Huntingdon. He used to work for Elms BMW Cambourne, and used to work on CSL's almost exclusively.
He once did a running in service, including stamp in the book, in the underground car-park of a hotel in Munich, when supporting the 10 year anniversary trip
Damian, the manager at Bartlett's, also knows CSL's and M3's extremely well. You won't go wrong with either.
That's the fella - bloody nice chap to boot as well is Gareth.He once did a running in service, including stamp in the book, in the underground car-park of a hotel in Munich, when supporting the 10 year anniversary trip
Damian, the manager at Bartlett's, also knows CSL's and M3's extremely well. You won't go wrong with either.
darreni said:
I took my CSL over from Guernsey to Elms last year so Gareth could do the Inspection 2 that was due.
Great guy, worth the trip.
Was talking to Natalie and she mentioned someone comes over from Guernsey - so that must have been you Great guy, worth the trip.
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