Bank Holiday weekend perma-grin

[Ade_7]

Hi Everyone

Firstly apologies for taking this long to get to this post and secondly for the pictures. The weekend got a lot busier than it first looked so time was precious and no decent photos were obtained

Well I seem to be having issues uploading more than a few photos at a time so I'll try and do this in short instalments

Firstly I have had a great weekend! The car is awesome and the weather was a lot better than was forecast.

I'll start with collection.

Short and sweet. I ended up having to take my daughter with me so there was only a limited time before boredom was achieved (on her part of course ). The salesmen and I get on quite well, so he knew I was keen to get through it all and get gone. So he got on with paperwork and sorting my old car while I checked over the new one etc.

My first drive thoughts.

I'm loving my interior, bright and comfortable I couldn't be happier. I started to worry it might seem too bright but I'm really pleased with it.

I've run almost the whole time with the car in sport damping and think it feels very good. Very comfortable not harsh in any way. The car feels very stable and manages to stay soo much flatter than my 330d it is simply ridiculous!

The first few times of getting into the throttle the car felt a bit reluctant and tight. I think having driven a fully run in demo car and come out of my 330dppk the bottom end felt a little underwhelming to start with. However a very short time later and a small change to driving style and
It really is a very rapid car and has donne nothing but shock and passengers I've taken to a short run even while in the running in stage!

I wasn't completely offended by the noise as standard but there is of course room for improvement.

So at this stage I snapped a few std car pics with my iPhone.

[Ade_7]

So after dropping the little one off with Grandma it was time to visit a few people and have some fun then get home and start the alterations


Well this shouldn't take too long.....



We started with the back end. After whipping off the diffuser it was a good time to fit the CG valve controller and the Cyba tips. Then straight into the spacers. 15mm rear and 12mm front.





It looks so much better than stock

Also the noise is much louder! cold start really is almost offensively loud

And considering mine is running the stock exhaust with controller, I was on my way out and was let out of the junction near my house by a man in white van, who was then following me through the 30mph area near were I live. We get to the roundabout at the end of the road and he pulls up along side me with a huge grin waving and smiling and gesticulating that the car sounds great that hasn't happened to me for a long time so I guess it mustn't be too bad

[Ade_7]

Then it was onto the front end.

Grilles on the front and sides changed (super quick job took about 25 minutes for all of them!) I'm thinking it wasn't worth the £300 odd for fitting them that the dealer wanted!!



Wow this looks high after being just dropped after jacking!!

[Ade_7]

Unfortunatley my brother then invited us to an impromptu BBQ so my time was cut short and the splitter remains in the garage

However when I was there for the BBQ he ran out of gas so we had to pop out and grab some more. Of course we took the M and on the way back were chased by a new Audi RS3. It was a bit gutting as not being able to give it the full beans I couldn't really see how it went but was still able to pull away reasonably convincingly, so fun times

Then on Sunday we had a family trip down to see friends in Leigh-on-Sea. Again the car proving that it can do motorways comfortably as a sensible family car

I managed a single picture of the car with the decent camera but as we'd just got back from the beach I was on borrowed time so just a quick snap.



It really needs the height addressing and I am looking into options at the moment...

The worst part of that whole trip was that when I arrived at both tunnels on the M25, both on the way there and back, the wife and daughter were asleep so no windows down and fun

I'm actually pleasantly surprised by the economy too.... My first tank (which has had plenty of enthusiastic driving but some motorway cruising too) returned just over 300 miles

Anyway that's all for now, i'll try and get some better pictures when I have the splitter on and the car is detailed

[CazuaLLUK]

Lovely car man, I bet you love it!

[M5essex]

nice one Ade. great combo. you certainly picked a good weekend to collect your new toy!

the rear looks great, especially with the spacers but you're right, the front end needs a drop. just 15mil I reckon. but then you'll have to be really careful with the splitter.

did you opt for Continental tyres over Michelins?

[M5essex]

i have found that my suspention has got better and better over time with more miles i do. i'm only 2 months in but the ride is noticeably better than when i first picked it up. I find Sport suspension just perfect all round. the springs will settle a little too and the front will drop a bit and not look like the blocks are still in...

she will definitely loosen up and get quicker too. just vary those revs and give it the beans before the break in service

congrats again mate,. the wait is finally over and you can enjoy the car over summer. not that it's particularly summery today!

you will now have to live your anxiety and excitement vicariously through others on here who are waiting for delivery of their new toys

looking forward to seeing your front splitter when added. do you have a spoiler coming too?

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by M5essex

nice one Ade. great combo. you certainly picked a good weekend to collect your new toy!

the rear looks great, especially with the spacers but you're right, the front end needs a drop. just 15mil I reckon. but then you'll have to be really careful with the splitter.

did you opt for Continental tyres over Michelins?

It was a cracking weekend! I am super happy with the car. It's funny when I've been out with friends as passengers, they all commented on how many looks the car get. Funny as I hadn't noticed at all!

I'm currently looking at ACS springs again. They have decent reviews regarding handling etc. the drop isn't too severe and then there's the warranty situation aswell. I may hold on a few more weeks to see if the BMW ones are released and how much etc....

As for tyres i'll be honest I was hoping for MPSS but as yet have no complaints about the Conti's. They seem to grip well in the dry, there's not too much road noise etc

It's chucking it down with rain at the moment and I need to pop out soon so I'll get an idea of if they are horrible in the wet very shortly......

[M5essex]

I thought Conti's were better in the wet than others... but just surprised to see them on your new car as my dealer told me all new M3/4s would have MPSS... what do they know eh!?!

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by M5essex

i have found that my suspention has got better and better over time with more miles i do. i'm only 2 months in but the ride is noticeably better than when i first picked it up. I find Sport suspension just perfect all round. the springs will settle a little too and the front will drop a bit and not look like the blocks are still in...

she will definitely loosen up and get quicker too. just vary those revs and give it the beans before the break in service

congrats again mate,. the wait is finally over and you can enjoy the car over summer. not that it's particularly summery today!

you will now have to live your anxiety and excitement vicariously through others on here who are waiting for delivery of their new toys

looking forward to seeing your front splitter when added. do you have a spoiler coming too?

Beans are definitely being given don't worry there which is why I was so surprised about the mileage from the first tank!

I'm really keen to get he splitter on too. I think it'll finish the front off nicely

Yes I have a spoiler coming too. After a slight mistake I have a std style M3 carbon one here at the moment.... It's awaiting return but boy is it tempting to pop it on
But I will be patient (should only be a few more weeks. After the wait for the car that should be a piece of cake ) and wait for the M4 style on I'm after as I think they look great.

I won't miss the anxiety of the wait at all! It was a nightmare that I don't want to repeat anytime soon all worth it now though

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by M5essex

I thought Conti's were better in the wet than others... but just surprised to see them on your new car as my dealer told me all new M3/4s would have MPSS... what do they know eh!?!

Oh good nothing to panic about then....

I had thought I heard that they'd all have MPSS too but then keep hearing about shortages of Michelins for a few different car companies and assume that they have to have a back up. Ultimately they seem ok and will most likely be replaced in the not too distant future anyway

[d4springer]

Looks the dogs mate! Those cyba exhaust tips looks fantastic, where'd you get them from? I will obviously need them as well! Roll on Friday....

[rjwojcik]

Awesome colour (and car of course). His many miles have you done now?

[JustChris]

Great car there Ade and cool write up. No messing straight to the mods, good man!

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by d4springer

Looks the dogs mate! Those cyba exhaust tips looks fantastic, where'd you get them from? I will obviously need them as well! Roll on Friday....

Thanks buddy, for the tips you need to PM Cyba on here, thread below.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1219553

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by rjwojcik

Awesome colour (and car of course). His many miles have you done now?

Thanks, i'm only at around 350 miles so far. Planning a few trips to see friends soon though which should help to bump it up....

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by MCarChris

Great car there Ade and cool write up. No messing straight to the mods, good man!

I think its pretty necessary TBH. In my opinion stock they look much better than a normal 3 series but they don't make the best of what they have. A few tasteful/subtle mods and they can look amazing

[PeteRock]

Cool review, you are making me want to get some carbon bits ready for my car 😝

How do you find the difference in power delivery between this and the 330d?

[ajfoggy]

Looks frickin awesome!!! Great colour on an f80!!

Where is the diffuser from??

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by PeteRock

Cool review, you are making me want to get some carbon bits ready for my car ��

How do you find the difference in power delivery between this and the 330d?

It is very different to be honest. Initially I was letting the DCT do its thing while I just got a feel for the car, it defaulted to efficient mode and changes up the cogs very quickly so the first few times I started to want to make progress I was in far too high a gear without realising. Hence was a little underwhelmed. As soon as you start taking charge of the gears as you should it is an animal. Trying to catch gear shifts before it gets past 5500rpm is trickier than you'd think!

For me there is no comparison, it feels so much more lively in every aspect it's difficult to believe it is the same base (some way off in the past) car.

Ironically I was trying to avoid carbon parts but it seems that very few places sell parts that aren't carbon for them..... So I've taken the carbon parts on the chin with a view to just getting them painted if they start to bother me (hence not going mad for OEM Mperformance parts).

[Ade_7]

Originally Posted by ajfoggy

Looks frickin awesome!!! Great colour on an f80!!

Where is the diffuser from??

Thanks very much, I've always like MG on the M3 it just looks a great mix of classy just aggressive

As I mentioned I was trying to find a non carbon diffuser but no one does them oddly (or they do but they're about 3 x the price of carbon ones?!?! ).

So I got a cheap one from Ebay with a view to painting it if it wasn't any good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2721466926...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The fit is very good IMHO and it looks pretty reasonable. The weave could be more even etc but considering where it is and the fact that it may still end up being satin black I wasn't going to argue about saving £600 over the OEM carbon one

[gatsojon]

Looks amazing and the mods really enhance the sense of occasion

I'll be following your experiences against a 330d with interest.