My path to the M3. What was yours?

[termigni]

saw a white M4 on the highway and that's all it took.

[M3JetPilot]

This popped up again in my notices as a reputation award. Thought I would use this as an excuse to list what I’ve modded since this post, along with some pics.

1. OEM CF splitters
2. OEM Front lip
3. Black intakes
4. Black side vent
5. RW CF side skirt
6. OEM CF mirror caps
7. Severl inside CF pieces
8. Burnt blue CF exhaust tips
9. OEM CF diffuser
10. Bootmod 3 stage 2 93
11. AST lowering springs

The car is so much better looks and performance wise with these mods. If you can, all of these are worth every penny.

[m3rxn]

looks amazing my friend

[M3JetPilot]

Originally Posted by m3rxn

looks amazing my friend

Thank you! It’s been an incredible journey and so much fun. Going to all the car shows and cars and coffee is one of the best parts. Next I might change out the wheels with these…

[drew310]

Originally Posted by F80RN

While a Porsche is my ultimate dream and next car purchase, an M was a bucket list car. I had a 2018 WRX, which was full FBO. One day, I decided to sell it and wasn't planning on replacing it. Till I started seeing more and more M3s on my day to day commute. Started looking up the prices, and spoke with my wife about it. Next thing I knew, a deal was made with Sterling BMW in Newport Beach, CA. The problem was I couldn't make it there because of work. Sooo the salesman delivered it to my house and took in my wife's trade in (since I was driving her car after buying her an X3).


To top it off, my wife bought me a CS style hood AND TE37s for me as an Xmas gift!

I meet a lot of people who come from a WRX to an m3/m4. Same for me!

-> 2007 mazda 6 (first car i owned. had it during college)
-> Bought a WRX my senior year with money from an internship
-> After saving for a couple years in my first job out of college, I bought a 2020 f82 m4 comp a couple weeks ago. So crazy to buy a car youve wanted since highschool.

[Humdizzle]

i went from e36 m3 > e46 m3 > GTR > 458 + f80 M3 > GT3 + M2c. Spanning from age 17 to 37 now.

M cars... well at least from F-series and before just strike that perfect blend between daily luxury and sports car. i've tried more luxurious cars but they dont do what i ask with traction off and 9/10ths.

[kfresh]

Drove a 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 (purchased new) for 11 years as my DD. Even after I got a good gig where I could comfortably afford a luxury sedan like 335i , I still decided to forgo that car with my sights set for the ultimate dream car - the m4. I made the financial decision to not have monthly payments and lower insurance payments for years to be able to comfortable afford my dream car. In 2019, that dream came true and all my struggles and wishes came true!

[M3JetPilot]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

i went from e36 m3 > e46 m3 > GTR > 458 + f80 M3 > GT3 + M2c. Spanning from age 17 to 37 now.

M cars... well at least from F-series and before just strike that perfect blend between daily luxury and sports car. i've tried more luxurious cars but they dont do what i ask with traction off and 9/10ths.

Wow! I’m really envious of this path. Such a great group of cars. You’re very fortunate.

[M3JetPilot]

Originally Posted by kfresh

Drove a 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 (purchased new) for 11 years as my DD. Even after I got a good gig where I could comfortably afford a luxury sedan like 335i , I still decided to forgo that car with my sights set for the ultimate dream car - the m4. I made the financial decision to not have monthly payments and lower insurance payments for years to be able to comfortable afford my dream car. In 2019, that dream came true and all my struggles and wishes came true!

Love stories like this! I tell people all the time my M3 isn’t just a car. It’s dreams, hard work, and dedication. How about some pics?

[NealfromNZ]

Mines been a progression and at times based on financial priorities like first home , marriage, second home , rental property , child etc. M3s where really first and second midlife crisis.

I’ve always used the BMWs as a daily and did think of keeping e46 as a Sunday car. But garage space was won with small circuit oriented car and a motorcycle that would have needed to go.

Something like
E21 323i … owned 2 years , drove 30,000km ( 1988)
E30 323i … owned 14 years, drove 280,000 km (1990 )
E36 325i … owned 13 years, drove 180,000 km ( 1999 )
E46 M3 …. Owned 11 years, drove 140,000 kms (2011 )
F80 m3 … Owned 6 months driven 6,000 kms ( 2022 )

Wife had my e30 for a while , then e36 318i and 328i and drove those for about 300,000kms.

[slowturbo]

Rather than list all of my previous cars, I will talk about the more recent path to get here. In 2018, I bought my first 911, a mint one owner 2003 C4S. After about a year, I decided to get rid of it because of large maintenance bills and wanting more space as we were trying to start a family.

I bought a 2017 focus rs. Absolutely fantastic car. After the stage 1 tune, it was quick, handled great. cheap to maintain, and virtually trouble free for 2.5 years. During this time, I placed a deposit on a 2022 mk8 golf r to stay in the hot hatch segment.

I sold the RS in early September 2021 after getting a killer offer from Carmax. The golf r kept getting delayed so I started looking at the c63, alfa quadrifoglio, etc. One morning while browsing, I saw my m3 for sale online. Good service history, immaculate condition. It was a DCT car but I figured I would try it since all of its competitors werent manual anyway. I impulsively bought it that morning and it came a week later. Havent regretted it once, I love the car.

As for the golf r, we took delivery in Feb 2022 and my wife dailies it. It'has the manual trans so we have the best of both worlds at home.

[b_w.]

This is my 4th bmw, first m car. Started out with a 86 325e, 92 325is then a 98 328 is. The 328 was my intro to modding. Did a built motor and turbo setup on that one.

Ruined that car when I crashed it and left the bmw scene for about 15 years. Got into toyota trucks and had a 5th gen 4 runner, and 80 series landcruiser. The cruiser is heavily modded and I still have. Daily drove a qx80 for a few years before settling on a lx570.

I bought a house with a 3 car garage a few years ago so decided last spring to start looking for a fun summer car. Had a deposit in on the manual supra but with 2 kids and another on the way the wife was not having it. Urged me to look at an m3 for the practicality. Glad I did. Ended up picking up last June a 6mt 2016 lci mineral Grey f80.

I rock 2 car seats in the back for the boys and we have a blast driving around.

No mods the first summer but it's going to emerge as a summer daily weekend track warrior

Mcs 2 way coilovers with camber plates
Bronze Apex vs5rs with 275s up front and 315 out back
Gt more sway bars
Turner carbon lip and adjustable front splitter
Aluminum oil cooler skid plate
Rear carbon diffuser
Carbon duck tail csl style trunk spoiler
Matt kidney grill
Matt side markers
Matt trunkemblem
Mad single mid pipe connected to mpe
Silicon charge pipes
Bmc filters
Bm3 stage 2 tune
Vargas cbc
Powerflex bushings
Turner thrust arm monoballs
Autosolutions ssk

Full fluid flush and spark plugs from bimmerworld.
Vacuumed 6 Years of leaves and debris from engine bay and radiators

Probably a bunch of other things I can't remember.


Still snow on the ground so can't wait for it to melt and get it out in a week or two.

[GregW / Oregon]

Well, I'm a more "mature" guy. Got my first new BMW, a 1973 Inka Orange 2002, right out of college. Had it for 10 years until it got T-boned. Had a '74 2002 for a while then no more BMWs (GTI, one of the first Acura Integras in the country, and a couple Pathfinders) until the late '90s. Then I had a string of M3/4 coupes, always preordering to have the first from my dealer. '01 E46, '08 E92, and current '15 F82, all manuals. Passed on current G82, but have a G87 M2 on preorder.

[Kevinl]

I have always loved Bmw’s even when i was a kid an e30 was my dream car my first Bmw was an E36 328i i almost bought a E36 M3 at the time but i ended up getting a 2004 Subaru WRX Sti

I then had trucks for a while i got a 2007 Bmw 335i in 2014 and owned it for 6.5 years when the F80 came out i was in love but was buying a house so it wasnt the right time when i sold the 335i i was kinda done with bmw’s and bought a Lexus RCF but it wasnt really me and i sold it to carmax a few months later it i decided it was now or never so i began my search for a F80 6mt found 1 a couple months later and here i am i love the car so much

[spidy512]

Yo!

I will spare y'all the 40+ cars it took to get here (thats in another thread). I was a heavy Subaru and Audi guy as I lived at 6k ft for most of my driving life. I am so glad I found BMW and continue to adore the brand.

My first BMW was a 1989 E30 M3. It was dreamy, and I adored the car. But my lifestyle (pro ski and bike bum) at the time did not support a car culture life. So I took advantage of the rediculous frenzy and FOMO for the E30 M3, and sold it for double what I paid in one year.

Fast forward to my M240ix. That was the car that convinced me I was going to need to make the move to an M. I spent a fortune trying to make that car into an M2, but realized I was never going to achieve what I was looking for in that car. By the time I was done it has a full B16 suspension, BBS CHR's, carbon for days and a few engine mods. It was a perfect AWD daily. Super quick and hoot to drive.

Then the car trade in value frenzy started and I took advantage of the situation. At the time. the cheapest F80 M3 in the country that had a clean title was local to me. I went and checked it out, and here I am. The car needed a *ton* of detail work, but was very mechanucally sound. The high miles was a bit scary, but after researching these tanks, I took the plunge.

She will turn 100K soon, and I continue to struggle to find anything that I want to trade it in or sell it for. I have had the itch lately, but I keep finding myself justufying keeping this one, and maybe putting another 100k on it. Go full ham, and restore the car as I go.

love the stories here...

josh

[karguy95]

I love this so much, I’m currently on the hunt for a higher mileage F80, since yours is at 100k what are some maintenance issues you have faced? Or preventative maintenance you’ve done? It’s hard to find these 100% stock nowadays I don’t modify my cars at all if anything just cosmetic and oem plus. Really interested to know what you’ve replaced or have failed on you. I’ll be using mines as a daily a road trip car hope she can go from Texas to Florida and California with no problems lol

Originally Posted by spidy512

Yo!

I will spare y'all the 40+ cars it took to get here (thats in another thread). I was a heavy Subaru and Audi guy as I lived at 6k ft for most of my driving life. I am so glad I found BMW and continnue to adore the brand.

My first Bmw was a 1989 E30 M3. It was dreamy, and I adored the car. But my lifedstyle (pro ski and bike bum) at the time did not support a car culture life. So I took advantage of the rediculous frenzy and FOMO for the E30 M3, and sold it for double what I paid in one year.

Fast forward to my M240ix. That was the car that convinced me I was going to need to make the move to an M. I spent a fortune trying to make that car into an M2, but realized I was never going to achieve what i was looking for in that car. By the time I was done it has a full B16 suspension, BBS CHR's, carbon for days and a few engine mods. It was a perfect AWD daily. Super quick and hoot to drive.

Then the car trade in value frenzy started and I took advantage of the situation. At the time. the cheapest F80 M3 in the country that had a clean title was local to me. I went and checked it out, and here I am. The car needed a *ton* of detail work, but was very mechanucally sound. The high miles was a bit scary, but after researching these tanks, I took the plunge.

She will turn 100K soon, and I continue to struggle to find anything that I want to trade it in or sell it for. I have had the itch lately, but I keep finding myself justufying keeping this one, and maybe putting another 100k on it. Go full ham, and restore the car as I go.

love the stories here...

josh

[2016 M3 Comp]

My journey started out with Audis, owned 3 b5's, one A4 and 2 S4's as well as an audi allroad. Bought my first BMW a 99' e36 328is and immediately fell more in love with BMW's.

Fast forward 10 years or so, I now own 0 Audis, still have the 328is although it now has widebody, fully built motor, and turbo as well as a 97' M3.

A buddy of mine bought an F80 after selling his supercharged E92 and let me drive it, cant tell if it was a bad idea or great idea as I really didn't need another vehicle, but a week later I went out and purchased 2016 M3 Competition with 40k miles.
I've now owned the F80 for a month and fall more in love with it everyday.

I have a real problem keeping my cars stock so current mods are:
BM3 ACN91 Stage 1 (waiting for crank hub next month, then going with a custom Flex Tune)
GTS DCT Tune
BM3 Flex Fuel Kit
19" Volk Racing TE37 ultra M spec with 275/35 up front and 305/30 in the rear
Motorsport Hardware Stud Conversion
CSF charge cooler
CSF Heat Exchanger
Dinan Axleback
CTS Downpipe
CTS Intakes
CTS J-Pipe
Mishimoto Charge Pipes
Tractive EDC Suspension (Hyperco 700 lb/in rear, Swift 504 lb/in Front)
Carbon Rear Diffuser
Gloss Black CS Lip
Turner Skid Plate

[M3JetPilot]

Such great stories! I love reading these. Keep them coming. Here are a couple shots from my recent C&C adventure. Everyone has a story about their car and it’s interesting to see how much personal investment is put into each car. Something I’ve learned from each C&C I’ve been to.

[spidy512]

Originally Posted by karguy95

I love this so much, I’m currently on the hunt for a higher mileage F80, since yours is at 100k what are some maintenance issues you have faced? Or preventative maintenance you’ve done? It’s hard to find these 100% stock nowadays I don’t modify my cars at all if anything just cosmetic and oem plus. Really interested to know what you’ve replaced or have failed on you. I’ll be using mines as a daily a road trip car hope she can go from Texas to Florida and California with no problems lol

Yo!

Issues I have had:
- Rear diff bushing. Replaced it with a Turner dual bushing plate and poly bushings. Should not be an issue for a while if at all. This also tightned up the rear end a bunch.
- When new to me, changed just about all the fluids. I am due for a DCT service as I hit 100k.
- When new to me, changed the plugs and coils.
- Just replaced the valve cover. I knew going in it was going to need to be replaced sooner than later.

Needs:
- New suspension.
- Louder midpipe.

Other than the above, the car is rock solid. GST+ BM3 engine tune, plus the GTS diff and tranny tune.

josh

[UndeniablyT]

I didn't get a car until I was 21 , I was picky but knew I wanted a 2000 Honda Civic Si, picked it up with 18% interest . The car ended up getting totaled by a city cement truck. I added an OEM wing, Mugen lip, AEM 3in CAI built for a Type R, coilovers, and a comptech axleback exhaust. Never have been big into body kids so it was very sleek and in black.

2nd car was a 2004 RX-8 GT, AMAZING! No Mods... always was jealous of the Gen 2 Speed3's with the power. I ended up having a second kid, RX8 was to small so went with a 2011 Speed 3. Currently still have at 164K miles, full bolt-on, exhaust mani, upgraded turbo, and tuned. I would consider it my daily at this point.

Had been looking for my next car but wasn't sure, I looked at tons of cars but always liked the BMW, the 335i, E90 M3 because of the 8cyl and of course the F80. I checked the our the IS-F but ehh too old, I checked the ATS-V, which I still like to this day but knew I wanted an F80. I didn't get my dream color but I did get my '18 in Avus Blue in May of '22 and Love the car!!!

Mods:

_ RW Carbon CS Wing
_ OEM CF Diffuser (Bimmerpost)
_ M Performance Exhaust with OEM Carbon Tips (BimmerPost)
_ OEM Carbon Splitters (BimmerPost)
_ OEM Lip (BimmerPost)

Next:

_ CS Hood
_ Kies Carbon Side Skirts

and who knows what else!

[m4pat]

Went from Civic SI to ISF to GTR to F82 M4 to 991.2 C2 to Macan S + Gen 2 R8 plus (current) but going back to an F80 cause I need a 4 door car for a daily. Been searching for a while hoping a nice one pops up in classifieds

[luthers4]

Too many cars too list, but I was VW kid.. modded GTIs and favorite (maybe all time) was my Corrado VR6. BMWs started when I bought my dad's E46 330ci, followed by E46 M3, 911 996, F80 M3 and now 2021 M550 (for family reasons). I will go back to an F80 in a few years.