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      06-09-2016, 04:15 PM   #1
rjwojcik
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Drives: 2016 VW Golf GTD
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Essex, UK

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RJW’s MG F80 M3 CP – “Grey”

Some of you will probably know, my previous pride n joy was an E82 LMB 135i, known as “Blue” in the household, which had some amendments sympathetically applied ;-) , see http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30839. Blue had been owned since Nov 2011.

So now to my ramblings, apologies if it goes on a bit ;-)

It was around a year ago that the need to move up to something bigger began, my main objective was the need for a taxi. But I didn’t want to take a step back in terms of performance over functionality, so this limited my choice somewhat. Candidates were the E9x M3, S4/RS4 and also the 340i. The only drawback with the 340i was that once you added the cost of sorting out the suspension/tyres (including an LSD), added some factory options that I would have expected should have been standard and took into account the cost of insurance on a heavily modified car it was just not making sense.

Then came the infamous “Insane F8x Deal” from TRL, around March time I recall. Using a combination of rational and man maths thinking, I reckoned I could just about scrape into one. I would save on not modding, options that I wanted were already standard and insurance on a “standard” car would be a lot cheaper.

So, first I needed to sell Blue as I needed to be confident that I could realise a minimum price. Part exchange, WBAC was not an option as my budget was down to the wire. I think it took around 8 weeks to sell Blue and by that time the TRL deal had sold out. Damn!!! What to do? What to do?
So then the graft began. I started with some of the local dealers to me but also asked some members on the forums, from whom I got some decent contacts. Thank you to everyone who did respond, BTW.

Then came what I call the “dance”. I found there was little point cold calling dealers and asking for a deal. It made more sense to start and build up a bit of rapport first. If possible I tried to meet up face to face or a least start telephone conversations going. Then I would let them get on with their sell but eventually would drop the bombshell of showing them other deals out there, ask why I should go with their deal rather than the better deal and see what they can do? Some were completely useless but a couple were prepared to get close to the TRL deal.

So, on 27-Apr the taxi was ordered (now christened “Grey”). Poverty spec, this is what I went for:
  • ZCP1 F80 M3 Competition Package Saloon S55
  • B39 Mineral Grey
  • LKSW Black Extended Merino Leather
  • 2MK Seven-speed Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) w/ DRIVELOGIC
  • 320 Model designation deletion
  • 3AG Reversing Assist camera
  • 3AP Windscreen with grey shade band
  • 403 Electric Glass Sunroof
  • 420 Sun protection glass
  • 441 Smokers package
  • 493 Extended storage
  • 688 Loudspeaker system - harman/kardon surround sound
  • 7M9 BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line with extended contents
  • 7MA Competition package

Fast forward to today. Here are some pics on collection:



















Short term plans are to get the car detailed and protected but that will probably be it for now. Thank you for reading and hoping for a long / happy relationship.

Dead chuffed to say the least, my first M
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