Sparking Graphite BMW E90 M3
Discussion
Hello PH! I've been a forum lurker for many many years, and always enjoyed reading other peoples ownership stories. With a few PH worthy cars in the back catalogue, I thought it was about time I contributed properly.
Like most of us, cars are a deep-rooted interest that'll never fade away for me, and once I'd dabbled in the world of BMW's, it's been hard to stay away since (despite some minor deviations). Before I get to the most recent car, a little bit of history...
After relocating to Melbourne after some backpacking, I eventually ended up in a Mk7 Golf R. 2.5 years of fun, spent a fortune on modifying it during this time. Predominately engine, brakes and chassis upgrades. Was enjoyable on weekend runs, point to point very capable but lacking some drama. Managed a track day at Philip Island where it went well. I eventually felt it was time to get into something I'd wanted since I was in my teens that felt a little bit more special.
Cue, an E46 M3. This was a manual UK car that'd been imported back in 2007, initially to Tasmania and then eventually landing in Melbourne. I bought it off another Brit who barely used it. Eventually the golf went, and I subsequently started to go through it mechanically - Inspection 2, rear diff, water pump and a suspension refresh front and rear, including B6's and all new bushes & arms. A 330d shifter and zhp knob tightened up the shift. It was a more engaging drive compared to the golf, and felt much better for the refresh. Chasing a mate up the Reefton spur in his Exige being a particular highlight! I spent 3-days one festive break paint correcting it, and it came up lovely.
I ended up changing jobs and moving house, which introduced a commute (when we weren't in lockdown, which was often) that meant I needed to drive more often than just cycling. I didn't really want to use the M3, and with the market going crazy during Covid (this was 2021), I thought i'd put it up for sale. My phone immediately went hot. The first guy who came to see it bought it straight away, and I ended up making a decent amount of money in the end. The search had already commenced for a newer daily. After test driving a GR Yaris, I ended up seeing an M140i - the owner was known to a friend of mine.
He'd factory ordered the car with a LSD, an M performance steering wheel and no sunroof. A deal was done, and a daily was bought. These don't really have the same appeal/image (or at least didn't) like they do in the UK with few around at the time. I ended up fettling, fitting a downpipe, Eibach springs and spacers. Some tuning later saw it manage 300 rear wheel kilowatts on the dyno - it certainly felt quite potent (too much so for Melbourne roads). XHP gearbox software and it proved to be a nice companion. About 5 months into ownership, my partner and I decided that we'd move back to the UK the following year, and I ended up selling this just shy of a year into ownership right before we left.
After about 6 months back in Blighty, endlessly looking at what to buy, and viewing/driving a few things, including another E46 M3 and a Cayman S, I took the plunge and bought another manual M car.
I absolutely loved this. I took it on many Wales trips, did 2-weeks in Europe across the Swiss alps and Italian lakes and back through the Black Forest. I tried to get to many events and any excuses to drive it. Had it properly detailed, and fitted 255/275 tyres. Was a lovely thing! That being said, living in West London, insurance was a nightmare (especially without much history here), I was constantly worrying about it being parked on the street, and it was a fair bit of cash tied up in something that was a weekend toy. I was working on the business side of a well known car auction platform at the time, and ended up running it on the site thinking it'd be good to exit as the market might move. Looking back, that was an error and it went a bit too cheap, especially when you look at prices today. It's the car I should've kept. Then came an impulse purchase...
A friend had recently bought one of these, and I'd always liked the idea of a french hot hatch. This was very clean, with great history. Went for a look, and ended up driving it home. It survived a day at Bedford (bar a sticky caliper), but was ultimately compromised as a one-car solution. I'd ended up buying a flat in London, and whilst the Trophy was good on the right road, I knew I needed something that'd be better on long trips. It went quickly to someone a friend knew. Still see it from time to time, it's been used as intended. I then started looking at E9X's, as I'd always wanted one, and then bought...
Thought I'd give Porsche ownership a go. I chose this as it'd had an engine rebuild with a sleeved block, and Mahle pistons & rods. Despite being a boring colour, it was pretty clean. Ultimately though, I didn't really get on with it. Wasn't overly comfortable on long journeys, and I always found myself looking at M cars. So what did I do? That's it, sold it. Lovely chap who works for an F1 team came for a viewing and took it away. Being an M car fan, I had something else in mind.
Not quite an M car, but something I'd admired, and thought it'd be a sensible purchase. Turned out to be great, especially for guilt free motoring and perfect around town. Whilst the use case was good for it, we realised we didn't actually need a car for London trips, and it sold to the first viewer for a little more than I'd paid for it. Now for the actual M car i'd always wanted to try!
I'd caught wind of this and put a deposit down before seeing it. It's a 2008 DCT car, with 68k Miles. All important rod bearings are done, TA's too. For some reason, a prior owner had decided black double slat kidneys and a black rear M3 badge was needed.
The car presents really well for 18 years old, bar some minor blemishes. The centre caps were completely gone, so I ordered a set of those, rear M badge and LCI kidneys.
Looking much better!
I'm so glad I've finally landed in one! Different to everything else, albeit similar to the Porsche in that it's best when you're into the revs. Plus, the sound. It's had a 2.5 pipe mod, which definitely let's that S65 sing! Plans are to carry out paint correction, and steering wheel by Royal in alcantara. I've also got a KW HAS kit in Melbourne that's mine if I want it, which is something I'm weighing up to drop the nose a little, especially as it's on spacers. GTS gearbox software is also on the list for improved shifting and drivability.
I'll aim to keep this updated as I go. Thanks for hanging in there with the read if you got this far!
Like most of us, cars are a deep-rooted interest that'll never fade away for me, and once I'd dabbled in the world of BMW's, it's been hard to stay away since (despite some minor deviations). Before I get to the most recent car, a little bit of history...
After relocating to Melbourne after some backpacking, I eventually ended up in a Mk7 Golf R. 2.5 years of fun, spent a fortune on modifying it during this time. Predominately engine, brakes and chassis upgrades. Was enjoyable on weekend runs, point to point very capable but lacking some drama. Managed a track day at Philip Island where it went well. I eventually felt it was time to get into something I'd wanted since I was in my teens that felt a little bit more special.
Cue, an E46 M3. This was a manual UK car that'd been imported back in 2007, initially to Tasmania and then eventually landing in Melbourne. I bought it off another Brit who barely used it. Eventually the golf went, and I subsequently started to go through it mechanically - Inspection 2, rear diff, water pump and a suspension refresh front and rear, including B6's and all new bushes & arms. A 330d shifter and zhp knob tightened up the shift. It was a more engaging drive compared to the golf, and felt much better for the refresh. Chasing a mate up the Reefton spur in his Exige being a particular highlight! I spent 3-days one festive break paint correcting it, and it came up lovely.
I ended up changing jobs and moving house, which introduced a commute (when we weren't in lockdown, which was often) that meant I needed to drive more often than just cycling. I didn't really want to use the M3, and with the market going crazy during Covid (this was 2021), I thought i'd put it up for sale. My phone immediately went hot. The first guy who came to see it bought it straight away, and I ended up making a decent amount of money in the end. The search had already commenced for a newer daily. After test driving a GR Yaris, I ended up seeing an M140i - the owner was known to a friend of mine.
He'd factory ordered the car with a LSD, an M performance steering wheel and no sunroof. A deal was done, and a daily was bought. These don't really have the same appeal/image (or at least didn't) like they do in the UK with few around at the time. I ended up fettling, fitting a downpipe, Eibach springs and spacers. Some tuning later saw it manage 300 rear wheel kilowatts on the dyno - it certainly felt quite potent (too much so for Melbourne roads). XHP gearbox software and it proved to be a nice companion. About 5 months into ownership, my partner and I decided that we'd move back to the UK the following year, and I ended up selling this just shy of a year into ownership right before we left.
After about 6 months back in Blighty, endlessly looking at what to buy, and viewing/driving a few things, including another E46 M3 and a Cayman S, I took the plunge and bought another manual M car.
I absolutely loved this. I took it on many Wales trips, did 2-weeks in Europe across the Swiss alps and Italian lakes and back through the Black Forest. I tried to get to many events and any excuses to drive it. Had it properly detailed, and fitted 255/275 tyres. Was a lovely thing! That being said, living in West London, insurance was a nightmare (especially without much history here), I was constantly worrying about it being parked on the street, and it was a fair bit of cash tied up in something that was a weekend toy. I was working on the business side of a well known car auction platform at the time, and ended up running it on the site thinking it'd be good to exit as the market might move. Looking back, that was an error and it went a bit too cheap, especially when you look at prices today. It's the car I should've kept. Then came an impulse purchase...
A friend had recently bought one of these, and I'd always liked the idea of a french hot hatch. This was very clean, with great history. Went for a look, and ended up driving it home. It survived a day at Bedford (bar a sticky caliper), but was ultimately compromised as a one-car solution. I'd ended up buying a flat in London, and whilst the Trophy was good on the right road, I knew I needed something that'd be better on long trips. It went quickly to someone a friend knew. Still see it from time to time, it's been used as intended. I then started looking at E9X's, as I'd always wanted one, and then bought...
Thought I'd give Porsche ownership a go. I chose this as it'd had an engine rebuild with a sleeved block, and Mahle pistons & rods. Despite being a boring colour, it was pretty clean. Ultimately though, I didn't really get on with it. Wasn't overly comfortable on long journeys, and I always found myself looking at M cars. So what did I do? That's it, sold it. Lovely chap who works for an F1 team came for a viewing and took it away. Being an M car fan, I had something else in mind.
Not quite an M car, but something I'd admired, and thought it'd be a sensible purchase. Turned out to be great, especially for guilt free motoring and perfect around town. Whilst the use case was good for it, we realised we didn't actually need a car for London trips, and it sold to the first viewer for a little more than I'd paid for it. Now for the actual M car i'd always wanted to try!
I'd caught wind of this and put a deposit down before seeing it. It's a 2008 DCT car, with 68k Miles. All important rod bearings are done, TA's too. For some reason, a prior owner had decided black double slat kidneys and a black rear M3 badge was needed.
The car presents really well for 18 years old, bar some minor blemishes. The centre caps were completely gone, so I ordered a set of those, rear M badge and LCI kidneys.
Looking much better!
I'm so glad I've finally landed in one! Different to everything else, albeit similar to the Porsche in that it's best when you're into the revs. Plus, the sound. It's had a 2.5 pipe mod, which definitely let's that S65 sing! Plans are to carry out paint correction, and steering wheel by Royal in alcantara. I've also got a KW HAS kit in Melbourne that's mine if I want it, which is something I'm weighing up to drop the nose a little, especially as it's on spacers. GTS gearbox software is also on the list for improved shifting and drivability.
I'll aim to keep this updated as I go. Thanks for hanging in there with the read if you got this far!
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