My First V8. BMW E92 M3 Log
Discussion
Hi all.
Firstly, it's been a weird year for me car wise, having had 5 in the space of 6 months. Don't ask, but I seem to have turned into a serial car buyer. But over the last few years, its been a fair few company cars, hot hatches, mainly Renault Sport Meganes, an E46 M3, some very boring things, and an M135i Hatch which was very nice, did everything, apart from look or feel special in any shape or form.
Fast forward to Covid Lockdown.... I had recently sold my Forged Megane RS250 Track Car for business reasons, and my friend wanted to buy my E61 520d, so I let him. This left me without a car and I just wanted something of equal value to the BMW to jolly around in whilst I went through the process of being self employed. A friend let me know of an Audi A3 with a full S3 conversion that was 400bhp and of equal value, so I went and got it. It was great, drove like a normal car, but was silly fast when you wanted it to be.
So that was me set for the next 6 months until I took the plunge to buy something i've always wanted to treat myself too.
I say 6 months, it was actually 6 weeks and I sold it! I'd worked so damn hard to become self employed this year with my own business that I just had a Man moment and went for it. Truth is, I now work from home, don't have to worry about travelling anywhere and I had built up a good sum of savings during lockdown... So i went for it.
I wen't back and fourth with the idea of the M3, or a 987.1 Cayman S.... and eventually the BMW won. I've had a lot of BMW's over my 10 years of driving, and I just can't keep away. The Cayman's horror stories eventually did put me off...yes, the BMW can have its issues, thankfully on this car they have been rectified.
So, the purchase of the M3. I put it out on an M3 facebook group what I was looking for and I received a fair few messages but one stood out in particular, mainly because it was the colour I wanted, looked immaculate and had the things I wanted done, done. I managed to sell the A3 very quickly, and went to see the car the next day with plans to pick it up the weekend after the A3 had been collected. I wasn't worried about the bodywork, as who I bought it from owned his own detailing studio for the last 15 years and he had flatted the entire car back when he bought it and brought it back to life over 14 days! It was immaculate when I saw it and a deal was done.
I then went to pick her up, first stop was obviously Fuel!
Took it to my friends unit for a quick wash the day after, we both couldn't get over how clean the car is being as its 13 years old.
Had a delivery of some carbon fibre mirrors, so got to getting them on straight away too.
Apart from that, I've just been driving it, A LOT, 3 full tanks in 7 days actually. It is incredible. The noise is ridiculous, and the way it goes is addictive. Spec list attached below.
2007
Silverstone ||
Black Novillo Leather
Manual
EDC Suspension
Darkened Rear Glass
Adaptive Headlights
Heated Seats
Front & Rear Sensors
Electric Folding Mirrors
Full Service History
Fully Ceramic Coated
Modifications:
Rod Bearings and Throttle Actuators done at Evolve Automotive
Pre Cats Removed
Eisenmann Exhaust
BMC Filter
Evolve Stage 2 440bhp with raised rev limit to 8700rpm
M359 Wheels
Carbon Front Lip
Carbon Side Blades
Carbon Rear Lip
M5 Illuminated Short Gearknob
I have a few bits on the way for it so i'll update as I go along.
Thanks,
Christian
Firstly, it's been a weird year for me car wise, having had 5 in the space of 6 months. Don't ask, but I seem to have turned into a serial car buyer. But over the last few years, its been a fair few company cars, hot hatches, mainly Renault Sport Meganes, an E46 M3, some very boring things, and an M135i Hatch which was very nice, did everything, apart from look or feel special in any shape or form.
Fast forward to Covid Lockdown.... I had recently sold my Forged Megane RS250 Track Car for business reasons, and my friend wanted to buy my E61 520d, so I let him. This left me without a car and I just wanted something of equal value to the BMW to jolly around in whilst I went through the process of being self employed. A friend let me know of an Audi A3 with a full S3 conversion that was 400bhp and of equal value, so I went and got it. It was great, drove like a normal car, but was silly fast when you wanted it to be.
So that was me set for the next 6 months until I took the plunge to buy something i've always wanted to treat myself too.
I say 6 months, it was actually 6 weeks and I sold it! I'd worked so damn hard to become self employed this year with my own business that I just had a Man moment and went for it. Truth is, I now work from home, don't have to worry about travelling anywhere and I had built up a good sum of savings during lockdown... So i went for it.
I wen't back and fourth with the idea of the M3, or a 987.1 Cayman S.... and eventually the BMW won. I've had a lot of BMW's over my 10 years of driving, and I just can't keep away. The Cayman's horror stories eventually did put me off...yes, the BMW can have its issues, thankfully on this car they have been rectified.
So, the purchase of the M3. I put it out on an M3 facebook group what I was looking for and I received a fair few messages but one stood out in particular, mainly because it was the colour I wanted, looked immaculate and had the things I wanted done, done. I managed to sell the A3 very quickly, and went to see the car the next day with plans to pick it up the weekend after the A3 had been collected. I wasn't worried about the bodywork, as who I bought it from owned his own detailing studio for the last 15 years and he had flatted the entire car back when he bought it and brought it back to life over 14 days! It was immaculate when I saw it and a deal was done.
I then went to pick her up, first stop was obviously Fuel!
Took it to my friends unit for a quick wash the day after, we both couldn't get over how clean the car is being as its 13 years old.
Had a delivery of some carbon fibre mirrors, so got to getting them on straight away too.
Apart from that, I've just been driving it, A LOT, 3 full tanks in 7 days actually. It is incredible. The noise is ridiculous, and the way it goes is addictive. Spec list attached below.
2007
Silverstone ||
Black Novillo Leather
Manual
EDC Suspension
Darkened Rear Glass
Adaptive Headlights
Heated Seats
Front & Rear Sensors
Electric Folding Mirrors
Full Service History
Fully Ceramic Coated
Modifications:
Rod Bearings and Throttle Actuators done at Evolve Automotive
Pre Cats Removed
Eisenmann Exhaust
BMC Filter
Evolve Stage 2 440bhp with raised rev limit to 8700rpm
M359 Wheels
Carbon Front Lip
Carbon Side Blades
Carbon Rear Lip
M5 Illuminated Short Gearknob
I have a few bits on the way for it so i'll update as I go along.
Thanks,
Christian
fastraxx said:
Never driven one - how well does it carry its weight through twisties?
Personally I find it grips well but you do feel the weight, though I’m used to a FK2 Type R and only had mine 2 weeks so wouldn’t say I’ve had it anywhere near its limits yet. Long sweeping high speed corners is where it’s probably at its most comfortable..
Very nice indeed, i keep swaying between an m140i and an e92 m3 for my next car, i have a family now and may be doing less commuting going forward but im not sure i would want to daily an m3 as it may lose its shine over time. Looks like it has a nice list of mods with the exhaust etc
Jcwjosh said:
Very nice indeed, i keep swaying between an m140i and an e92 m3 for my next car, i have a family now and may be doing less commuting going forward but im not sure i would want to daily an m3 as it may lose its shine over time. Looks like it has a nice list of mods with the exhaust etc
The M140i is a great car, but imo just a very quick and capable 1 series.The E92 M3 can do the daily stuff easy with no fuss and totally transform its character when you start to push it.
M3 FTW lol
fastraxx said:
Never driven one - how well does it carry its weight through twisties?
Tbh, with the EDC on the stiffest, it really does carry it's weight well. I was adamant I would get coilovers, however after driving it, its more than stiff enough for what I want, so I have just purchased H&R Springs instead to bring it down a touch.TheAngryDog said:
Looks nice and has had the big ticket job done. I hope you enjoy it for a while to come.
Btw, couldn't you afford to buy the front number plate?
Haha, I was pulled for it on the way home but they let me off. I've purchased a private plate for it so will sort it when it comes. Btw, couldn't you afford to buy the front number plate?
Jcwjosh said:
Very nice indeed, i keep swaying between an m140i and an e92 m3 for my next car, i have a family now and may be doing less commuting going forward but im not sure i would want to daily an m3 as it may lose its shine over time. Looks like it has a nice list of mods with the exhaust etc
No comparison in my opinion, the m140 is 'just' a 1 series... and they're absolutely everywhere lol
ChapmanC said:
TheAngryDog said:
Looks nice and has had the big ticket job done. I hope you enjoy it for a while to come.
Btw, couldn't you afford to buy the front number plate?
Haha, I was pulled for it on the way home but they let me off. I've purchased a private plate for it so will sort it when it comes. Btw, couldn't you afford to buy the front number plate?
I'd maybe consider one of them static plates, as the plinth has been removed so would be a shame to refit it. The static plate can be removed and re-applied whenever you want.ChapmanC said:
Gouki said:
The car looks lovely, honest question - is 8700rpm a good idea?
It's been done by evolve, who have been working on these cars for years... if it wasnt a good idea, i'm sure they wouldn't do it. Blanchimont said:
TheAngryDog said:
I know that increasing the rev limit on the V10 from 8250 to 8500 rpm isn't advised, so not sure if that may apply to the V8.
I've had mine done by AReeve who upped it to 8600rpm, and they map them all the time.
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