AMPowerJ's F80 M3 Journey

[DocWeatherington]

Originally Posted by Lups

This will be an interesting thread! I had to make a note to follow this.

+1 Lups

[Maddict3]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Thanks everyone ...

We will see if I made the wrong choice and if I did, I will be the first to admit. It's another reason I'm glad I'm leasing. If I don't like the choice I can fix it in 30 months or so.

thats true

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by W///

I'm curious as to why you didn't really seem to like the second E9x as much as your sedan. Was it the transmission?

If you have time after you are doing the PC, might be able to meet up for a couple of beers and we'll bring our E9x out.

I think it was the transmission to a certain extent plus I've always thought the sedan looked better. I personally like two door cars to have two seats and anything with front and back seats to have 4 doors.

I'd love to get together over a beer someday.

[VMRWheels]

Wow.. excellent line up of past/present vehicles! Looking forward to seeing what you think of the F80

[Money2536]

Awesome man! That LMB E90 was my inspiration for a while during the agonizing wait for my E92. FYI, PSI finished up my KW HAS install today, and they said it's a real pain to do the front. I've always done the work myself. I'm glad I decided to let the pros do the job this time.

[W///]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

I think it was the transmission to a certain extent plus I've always thought the sedan looked better. I personally like two door cars to have two seats and anything with front and back seats to have 4 doors.

I'd love to get together over a beer someday.

PM me any time you want to go. There's a couple of us here in Greenville.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by W///

PM me any time you want to go. There's a couple of us here in Greenville.

I was just there for pcd

Fail :/

[W///]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

I was just there for pcd

Fail :/

Damn, that sucks. Would have been fun to meet more members. I for some reason thought you were a couple of months away from receiving yours.

[DCT OFF]

Great write up! Can't wate to see ride.

[AMPowerJ]

Here is a quick update ...

I get my car on Tuesday!!! I can hardly wait. I've been pretty patient up to this point but I am READY.

Thanks to IND I have some parts ready and waiting to install ... I think the CF spoiler with the SS CRT stripe is going to look great. I also wanted a rear diffuser but didn't really want to spend $1200 on that piece so IND was kind enough to grab an OEM diffuser and paint it gloss black for me.

I had the 12.5mm spacers already and I bought F80 specific extended wheel bolts.

I also have KW HAS kit on the way and I have my V1 with Savvy ready to take with me.

I'm waffling between wheels/tires or an exhaust as the next mod.

I can't wait to start post pictures and my impression of the car. It's going to be a long weekend.

[W///]

So much for a stock car haha. Really liking the mods. I'll probably see your car before you when I pass by the PC Tuesday morning

[dawgdog]

Never say you are not going to modify a car because just the opposite happens! I said this with my e92 M3 and all hell broke loose. No such pledges on my F80 M3. Of course will need a second set of wheels for track use and pads and brake fluid but no more. At least not right now.

[Carl L]

Great choice! You will love the F80. My favorite M car to date. My only mods have been 35% tint and front reflectors, though the reflectors are an absolute pita to do compared to the E92.

Thanks for the interesting read and congrats again- you are gonna be delighted.

[AMPowerJ]

Originally Posted by W///

So much for a stock car haha. Really liking the mods. I'll probably see your car before you when I pass by the PC Tuesday morning

Yeah I don't know why I even try to tell myself otherwise.

[Alen E90]

Hey man thanks for sharing the pics of your previous M's. I'm still a huge fan of your LMB E90 especially when you were running the pressed graphite SL's with blue stickers... Can't wait to see your F80 along with all of your mods!!

[Money2536]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Yeah I don't know why I even try to tell myself otherwise.

I knew that wouldn't last long. I'm trying very hard myself to resist getting an exhaust. I'm want to be patient as a dozen other options will be coming out in the next six months.

Something about the Eisenmann sounds weird to me. I'm waiting for Dinan to see what it's like.

[mtechnik3]

Ashley - enjoyed your write up. Have fun picking up the new M3 this week. Nice little bundle of mods. I'm waiting for pics!

-Misha

[m3rxn]

Nice journal..looking forward

[kitw]

I'm kind of thinking about doing the same with my diffuser. I'm not happy with losing the kick-to-open function with the CF diffuser.

[AMPowerJ]

The day FINALLY came and I took delivery on Tuesday (10/28). The PC staff as expected did a great job. I put 500 miles on the car over the past three days and I can echo many of the glowing reviews that countless journalists and enthusiasts have written ... In an effort not to repeat many of the same things here are my initial random impressions.

- The car is stupid fast and the torque is intoxicating
- Feels as fast as my supercharged E92 M3 or my F10 M5 whether it is or not I don't know
- Sound is not bad but I don't love it like I did the E90/E92/M5
- It makes weird noises ... two random dog barking/scraping sounds so far for no apparent reason
- The rev-match downshift feature is awesome. Works great and there was no learning curve for me. Push the clutch, pick your gear, release the clutch. It's that easy
- Steering is fine on comfort mode and still requires effort. This is no Buick steering. No need to use sport or sport plus to increase effort even more. I believe this is how the BMW PC instructors prefer the steering too.
- The car is so planted. The term 'corners like it is on rails' is over used but this car corners like it is on rails. Turn in, no need to fiddle with the steering ... just hold the wheel and the car stays exactly on line.
- Seats are comfortable but hot. This car really needs ventilated seats
- 6spd is much better than the E90's
- LED lights are a feature I'm glad I got
- Basic stereo sounds fine to me
- I miss comfort access but nothing else from the exec package
- Why did BMW remove the sync button for driver/passenger temp settings?

Now for the pics ...

BMW PC Delivery Process:








The drive up to Asheville to spend a couple days at the Grove Park Inn with my better half ...





Inside the GPI parking garage (no valet for me )




Tail of the Dragon












On the way back to Asheville via Hwy 28






I've got the car home and a week from tomorrow I'm going to Augusta to @karussell 's shop, RSAugusta, to have my KW H.A.S kit installed, have the car corner balanced, coded, and have my cosmetic mods installed. I'll be sure to document the process along the way.

[Black Gold]

I love it!

Perfect options and the color looks sick! (Should have gone silver interior )

[mikeyr0x]

Beautiful car and scenery
Enjoy it.