Another year, Another M3

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Second time around in this section. Boy, these M cars are a vicious cycle.

Quick backstory, my first M3 was a 2009 JB on FR w/ 52k miles. Lived that car. But I got the itch for a newer car a year later and picked up a 2018 MW on SO competition with 13k miles. Welp, a year later I told myself I NEEDED a flat 6, so I got one. 991.1 C2S to be exact. That car had about 60k on it. That love also lasted a year as I really missed a sedan with having a family of 4. So up for sale the 911 went. Another year later and I had my most recent E90 which was also AW but on black this time and the mileage was a touch under 100k. A real drivers example. None the less another year went by and I got the itch to have something newer. So the hunt began. I wanted a really desirable spec for it took a while to find the exact car in OG condition like I’d wanted.

2018 competition, AW on SO with ALL the boxes ticked. Even the M performance package (more on that later). Build sheet was about $91k. The car was everything I wanted.

Here’s some photos of all the recent acquisitions

[9M71]

Besides the 2 doors and lack of space, how did you like the 911.1 against the f80? So many friends swear once you go 911 from a m3 you’ll never go back. But unless it’s a GT or another special model I’m not convinced the 911 is more fun than a f80…

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Originally Posted by 9M71

Besides the 2 doors and lack of space, how did you like the 911.1 against the f80? So many friends swear once you go 911 from a m3 you’ll never go back. But unless it’s a GT or another special model I’m not convinced the 911 is more fun than a f80…

It was certainly more analog and engaging to drive. But really the space was an issue for me.

[swagon]

I don't understand how one can switch between so many cars.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Originally Posted by swagon

I don't understand how one can switch between so many cars.

It’s like Pokémon. I want to catch em all.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

All settled in. Awaiting paint correction and coating. Had to re-up on a few products to get going on my process.

[X5-User]

Congrats on the new car. You had a great example of AW e90 M3 and now you have even perfect spec F80.

I wonder how you can switch cars fast but maybe you are in one of states that benefit from no tax on used cars

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Originally Posted by X5-User

Congrats on the new car. You had a great example of AW e90 M3 and now you have even perfect spec F80.

I wonder how you can switch cars fast but maybe you are in one of states that benefit from no tax on used cars

I wish I could say that. Taxes are a bitch here in CT. Unfortunately it just comes with the territory. I plan to keep this one a while though.

We’ll see how that plays out.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Completed my paint correction this weekend. Here’s how it looks for some of you that haven’t seen my last threads.

Decontamination.

This is done with a strip wash using some sort of a tunnel wash or if you’re feeling frisky, OG decon wash. That’s followed up with a physical decontamination using clay. I choose the synthetic auto scrub - fine.

Then, I’ll let it dry overnight and tape her up in the am.

Polishing.

Most of the time my cars aren’t that beat up to need more than a single step correction. I use yellow Rupes pads and Sonax Perfect Finish. This generally gets out most imperfections in the paint and when need be, I’ll toss on a microfiber cutting pad to tackle an area. 5” for most of the car, 3” on the bumpers and trunk.

I’ll be coating the car next weekend. For this I choose to use Crystal Serum Light & Exo V5. Easy to apply and has a great look with killer protection. Here’s a few photos from the results.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Silly but needed. Just something I do on all my cars right along with a set of new OEM floor mats.

Bosch on the right. OEM on the left.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

My coating came in from OG today. Will try and make some time this weekend while watching the games to get it done. Usually takes me about 3-4 hours to knock it out if I do the full 2 coats of EXO.

[attbimmer]

Originally Posted by 9M71

Besides the 2 doors and lack of space, how did you like the 911.1 against the f80? So many friends swear once you go 911 from a m3 you’ll never go back. But unless it’s a GT or another special model I’m not convinced the 911 is more fun than a f80…

I've had just about all M3 generations and 987, 991.1 and 997.2. back and forth between them over the years. Lots of positives with both, but each are different experiences. Biggest thing is newer cars in general are more capable but also more isolated. I actually went to the 997 after the 991 and preferred it overall, but very much depends on what you are doing with the cars and what you are looking for. All have more good points than bad. Experience as many as you can and drive what gives you the most joy overall.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Sp00nFedFilms

Silly but needed. Just something I do on all my cars right along with a set of new OEM floor mats.

Bosch on the right. OEM on the left.

I only buy original wipers. They last the longest. I've yet to try the bmw windscreen fluid though.

[TheRealMccoy24]

Great find, great car, and great thread. Subscribed. 🏎️❤️

[Sp00nFedFilms]

The correction and coating are finally complete. The paint liked the yellow Rupes and Sonax Perfect Finish as I’d imagined so that was the prescription as it was on my Mineral White F80.

I cranked up the heater in the garage and went to town.

CSL topped with Exo V5. This coating is as slick as they come. After the CSL, while applying the Exo the towels just fall off the car. I’d call this one about 90%. I wasn’t chasing perfection here.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Had a few minutes on my day off today to get in the garage and tinker. Another petpeive of mine is dirty pedals and used floor mats, especially someone else’s. This meant cracking open a fresh set of OEM floor mats then getting on my hands and knees and scrubbing. I grabbed some P&S interior cleaner and a Rag Company Edgeless and went to town. I forgot how greatly this car was specced and already had the MP pedals on it.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Scored this Kith x BMW plate frame from an eBay auction a few weeks back. I find it very fitting.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

It was time to code the car to my liking. Having not even driven the car a mile yet, I didn’t really know what I’d find in there, if anything at all. To my surprise, a few of my favorites were already coded. I added a few things like tail lamps on with DRL, shut off iDrive when door is open, a couple convenient opening options, euro spec corner lights and disabling off the seatbelt chime.

My choice of weapons here is BimmerCode and the VPEAK adapter.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Another cool OEM accessory I found BNIB in the trunk. Has to install it as my last F80 I sourced one of these and couldn’t install it as it wasn’t built from the factory for it so it didn’t have the hooks. Wasn’t worth my time or money to get it installed on that car so I was weirdly excited to use it here.

[BigFatRaccoon]

Originally Posted by Sp00nFedFilms

Another cool OEM accessory I found BNIB in the trunk. Has to install it as my last F80 I sourced one of these and couldn’t install it as it wasn’t built from the factory for it so it didn’t have the hooks. Wasn’t worth my time or money to get it installed on that car so I was weirdly excited to use it here.

Congrats on the new build man! Excited to see the progression over time, and yes the trunk cargo net is a huge plus, extremely useful to tie things down in my ‘15 F80.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Congrats on the new build man! Excited to see the progression over time, and yes the trunk cargo net is a huge plus, extremely useful to tie things down in my ‘15 F80.

Yeah, you're not kidding.


I have a Leatherique kit I never used from my E90 that I plan to use on this car this weekend. Super simple process and most of the work is wait times. I'll be sure to post the after shots but here are some before.

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Unfortunately I came home to a dead battery in the car last night. Grabbed the keys off my bench and went to unlock the doors to begin the Leatherique process to find no response from the fob. Hmm, I grabbed my second key thinking maybe it was just dead from being in the cold garage but that one did nothing either. SHIT. Used the inside cut key to get inside the car and the car just had no power. I attempted to use my little handheld jump pack under the hood and I was able to get the alarm to sound after adding power but still no power inside the car at all. I decided it was time to invest in the proper lithium ion battery charger. I've used my amazon no lithium charger on all my M3's and 911 to this point but figured this one may need to be bypassed from safemode. I picked up the NOCO Genius5. Being OEM obsessed I tried to find the BMW branded one I've seen around the interwebs but really needed it by today. We'll see what happens tonight...

The only thing I can relate to why the battery could be dead was coding. One of the items coded was turn off idrive after driver door opens, I'm wondering if I never actually second pressed the power button and I just thought the car was off but in reality it was still in accessory mode. Once the car is started again I'll investigate this. Probably code that back to stock.

I did manage to get the driver seat done with Leatherique.