Discussion
Hello Folks,
My names Luke, been on here in the back ground for a little while. I'm 26 and from Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
i sold my Clio 182 to get a new work van back in 2016, focused on my business, new house and married life.
Finally got round to getting myself another car to enjoy.
Here are some of my old cars:
The work Van
Decided i would like something comfortable with a little power and ticking a V8 off of my car list. So i went for a BMW e90 M3. i much prefer the e90 saloon from the e92 and this came up locally with just 39k miles, EDC, low owners and FSH, Manual, fox red leather, sat nav, DAB. The car was a dealer Launch car so came with quite a few options.
The leather was looking a bit dirty so i used the evenings after work to bring it back to a more prefered satin finish and the same with the steering wheel.
Because the car is pre-lci i tinted the rear reverse light to give a slighty newer look to the rear. The centre caps on the wheels needed replaced too and gave it a clean.
The paintwork had seen better days, it looked as if it had only ever been washed at a drive thru car wash. So decided to tidy up the paint. Its no where near perfect but im happy with it for now.
Took it a run over the Cairn. I love the noise of the V8 but it sounds a little muted. I purchased a modified exhaust with 2/4 internal pipes replaced with straight pipes from DJ Autowerks to allow a bit more note from the car but without the drone at cruising speed, i will hopefully get this fitted this weekend. Coded quite a few features on the car and quite like the US side markers for now.
Plans for the car are to transfer my plate and get a new one for the work van. Spacers and eibachs, mainly to bring the front down. Then remove the primary cats and get it mapped. Carbon front splitter, Alcantara steering wheel and probably just a few other subtle mods.
I have Thule wing bars, snowboard carriers and wind deflector to go on once i buy the correct footpack.
I took today off to fit the 2.5pipe mod exhaust to the M3.
The e92 exhaust tips are longer so i had to remove the 8 tips and swap 4 of them onto the modified exhaust.
The old exhaust was missing a heat sheild and the other was only held on by 1/4 bolts which rattled (can be heard in video).
I gave the new exhaust a lick of paint to freshen it up and swapped over the mounts.
I was having issues with the DAB radio and after looking at the exhaust i noticed 2/2 earth straps were broken. These are there to stop the static from the exhaust interfering with the radio. So i replaced those whilst i was there. I also recieved two new bmw exhaust clamps with the exhaust which were needed as the old ones didnt want to budge.
These videos's are cold start with the standard exhaust then with the new exhaust. I hate reving a cold car so its mainly idle noise.
Standard:
https://youtu.be/FsfEaMzCeuE
Pipe mod:
https://youtu.be/gFY4mK_U9pQ
I took the car out afterwards and i wish BMW made the standard exhaust like this from factory. Nicer ide noise, sounds completely stock at cruising speeds but sounds deeper and louder when accelerating.
I will try and get a proper video up soon to hear the new exhaust.
My names Luke, been on here in the back ground for a little while. I'm 26 and from Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
i sold my Clio 182 to get a new work van back in 2016, focused on my business, new house and married life.
Finally got round to getting myself another car to enjoy.
Here are some of my old cars:
The work Van
Decided i would like something comfortable with a little power and ticking a V8 off of my car list. So i went for a BMW e90 M3. i much prefer the e90 saloon from the e92 and this came up locally with just 39k miles, EDC, low owners and FSH, Manual, fox red leather, sat nav, DAB. The car was a dealer Launch car so came with quite a few options.
The leather was looking a bit dirty so i used the evenings after work to bring it back to a more prefered satin finish and the same with the steering wheel.
Because the car is pre-lci i tinted the rear reverse light to give a slighty newer look to the rear. The centre caps on the wheels needed replaced too and gave it a clean.
The paintwork had seen better days, it looked as if it had only ever been washed at a drive thru car wash. So decided to tidy up the paint. Its no where near perfect but im happy with it for now.
Took it a run over the Cairn. I love the noise of the V8 but it sounds a little muted. I purchased a modified exhaust with 2/4 internal pipes replaced with straight pipes from DJ Autowerks to allow a bit more note from the car but without the drone at cruising speed, i will hopefully get this fitted this weekend. Coded quite a few features on the car and quite like the US side markers for now.
Plans for the car are to transfer my plate and get a new one for the work van. Spacers and eibachs, mainly to bring the front down. Then remove the primary cats and get it mapped. Carbon front splitter, Alcantara steering wheel and probably just a few other subtle mods.
I have Thule wing bars, snowboard carriers and wind deflector to go on once i buy the correct footpack.
I took today off to fit the 2.5pipe mod exhaust to the M3.
The e92 exhaust tips are longer so i had to remove the 8 tips and swap 4 of them onto the modified exhaust.
The old exhaust was missing a heat sheild and the other was only held on by 1/4 bolts which rattled (can be heard in video).
I gave the new exhaust a lick of paint to freshen it up and swapped over the mounts.
I was having issues with the DAB radio and after looking at the exhaust i noticed 2/2 earth straps were broken. These are there to stop the static from the exhaust interfering with the radio. So i replaced those whilst i was there. I also recieved two new bmw exhaust clamps with the exhaust which were needed as the old ones didnt want to budge.
These videos's are cold start with the standard exhaust then with the new exhaust. I hate reving a cold car so its mainly idle noise.
Standard:
https://youtu.be/FsfEaMzCeuE
Pipe mod:
https://youtu.be/gFY4mK_U9pQ
I took the car out afterwards and i wish BMW made the standard exhaust like this from factory. Nicer ide noise, sounds completely stock at cruising speeds but sounds deeper and louder when accelerating.
I will try and get a proper video up soon to hear the new exhaust.
Thanks guys.
Not much of an update, Just really enjoying driving the car. I love how it can be loud and fun when you want it to be and comfortable and quite the rest of the time. Definitely seems to be ticking all the boxes.
Took it a run along Glenesk this afternoon an took some iphone pics.
Also ordered these. The sills are in good condition but to keep them that way i got these little pucks to keep in place for jacking the car up in future. My pistonheads stickers came and i decided to put them in the rear windows to keep it subtle.
Not much of an update, Just really enjoying driving the car. I love how it can be loud and fun when you want it to be and comfortable and quite the rest of the time. Definitely seems to be ticking all the boxes.
Took it a run along Glenesk this afternoon an took some iphone pics.
Also ordered these. The sills are in good condition but to keep them that way i got these little pucks to keep in place for jacking the car up in future. My pistonheads stickers came and i decided to put them in the rear windows to keep it subtle.
Gooly said:
Love these, rare to see the E90s. Is it manual? Cool car history too, how do you compare the E90 to the E36s you had in terms of handling / fun / feel? What do you think of the weight and size of it? Curious to see what someone with a similar car history to me thinks of these
Thanks. Yes it’s Manual. It was a dealer launch car so came with quite a few extras too for an early M3. The e36’s were definitely a lot nimbler but I don’t think they felt anywhere near as good as the e90 does.
The builder quality of the e90 feels far better so it’s comfier and a nice car to be in on a long journey but just as lively and fun like the e36’s were. Both were 328is and the blue one had a welded diff. Although the e90 feels like a heavier car the power makes up for it and doesn’t feel too different to the e36’s when the back end is out.
On the steering wheel and seats I used a Magic eraser sponge. They can be purchased from most supermarkets or on amazon for about £3.
Be very careful though as they are abrasive. It was all I had at the time so just lightly went over each section and then dried with a microfibre. Then I applied autofinesse hide conditioner afterwards (again all I had at the time).
I’m really pleased with how they came up and it didn’t have any effect like dye transfer etc because I went over it lightly.
Be very careful though as they are abrasive. It was all I had at the time so just lightly went over each section and then dried with a microfibre. Then I applied autofinesse hide conditioner afterwards (again all I had at the time).
I’m really pleased with how they came up and it didn’t have any effect like dye transfer etc because I went over it lightly.
What a cracking project, some nice little touches you have made along the way. I am a huge fan of the E90/E92/E93 M3 and notice more and more the dwindling numbers for sale in the classifieds - can only be a good thing for you owners.
Keep the thread updated - interested to see what you do with it based on your VAG history?!?
Si
Keep the thread updated - interested to see what you do with it based on your VAG history?!?
Si
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