Click on thumbnails below for larger pics....
This M3 was a pre-owned BMW that was purchased from Maxie Price Chevrolet-
The original owner traded it in on a new Corvette ZR1. Our sales consultant, Lou Estevez, was great during the test drives and sale. We had taken new
M3s for test drives and were underwhelmed, on the new car test drives we kept the tach under 5k RPMs out of respect for the future owners and salesman,
these cars are typical M and really have most of the power near redline. Being able to drive this pre-owned M to it's full potential sealed the deal, my
wife and I both felt the car was better than our modded 335 which surprised both of us.
This 2008 BMW M3 was equipped with all available packages and options and was practically new (OK, just broken in),
and we decided to trade my wife's 335 in for this. The 335 had H&R sway bars and M suspension parts, but the M test drive proved that a car designed and
built by the factory is superior. The M seemed to ride and handle better and the exhaust note is......
The S65 motor in this M is made in the same factory that produces BMW F1 engines and is a first for the M 3-series cars, a V8. All of the things we bought to personalize the
335 were transferred to the M3, including the euro delivery road hazard triangle and first aid kit:
This car came
with the USB iPod or flash drive port, we elected to use a Kingston 32GB Flash Drive. Works great, just copy MP3 folder to flash drive and
iDrive allows you to scroll through folders and songs within folders- very functional and sounds great:
Valentine 1
hard wired, not easily noticed looking in from outside- (manual here). There are two approaches to hard wiring the detectors: one is to use the
Homelink power wire in the upper front console as detailed HERE or to run a wire to
the fuse box and use a tap as detailed HERE. I decided to use the Homelink
power wire to avoid running wire under the a-pillar airbag. Since our M3 had the carbon fiber roof, I also had to drill a small hole in the metal support
to allow for a small ground screw- be careful NOT to drill through your roof and lightly sand around the drilled hole for a good ground...also use a short screw that does not touch the CF roof
European light switch (P/N 61316932796) from Tischer BMW Parts installed.
This switch is all that was required to activate rear fog lights. These lights are BRIGHT and should only be used in reduced visibility conditions. I assembled a DIY guide
HERE:
OEM BMW Alarm System (P/N 65120403658) from Tischer BMW Parts installed.
The E90/92 comes pre-wired from the factory for the alarm which consists of a hood switch (already installed on the M3), an interior ultrasonic intrusion sensor, and a LOUD siren (I installed in that order as well). I used the DIY guide
HERE to install this and the BMW instructions HERE. The alarm
may require activation by your BMW dealer to fully function. Mikey335i filmed this video of how the alarm sounds HERE :
Keyhole cover purchased from M3POST member- added security and enhanced aesthetics.
The keyhole cover comes painted to match your paint code. To remove the lock cylinder, the rubber seal at the corner of the door has two rubber nubs that are press fit,
can be removed by carefully pulling out until the bolt hole for the lock cylinder is accessible. A 4mm HEX wrench is used to loosen/remove the HEX bolt and
the lock cylinder can be pulled out. Installation is reverse of removal.
Generic Bimmian installation instructions HERE in pdf format.
Windows Tinted 35% by Mr. Tint (aka Barry Wood, H:(770)963-7924 C:(404)392-8007) :
BMW All Weather Cargo Liner (P/N 82110399159)- purchased from e90post.com classifieds, protects trunk carpet and
acts as non-slip mat:
Mods4Cars
Remote Key from EAS (European Auto Source) installed- allows
remote operation of power windows/sunroof/folding mirrors using existing key fob.
Coco Mats
installed to replace OE mats. These mats are superior in every way: thick and stable with more coverage, I'm sure they will last a long time as well.
S&B Air Filter
from APE Performance installed. Intake noise/acceleration seems to be a little more agressive and
gas mileage went up 1-2 MPG.....compared to OE the pleats seem deeper and the filter should last for a long time. DIYs I found to install this are
HERE and HERE. Takes about 15 minutes using a T25 Torx
driver for the lid screws and socket driver or standard screwdriver for the clamp:
Looking for replacements for the Michelin PS2s that were at the tread wear
indicators, I came upon these threads on one of the M3 forums: M3 Post- VREDESTEIN Ultrac Sessanta?
and M3 Post- Economical 19" Tires.
Ultimate Pedals
gas/clutch/brake/dead pedals installed, shiny anti-slip finish - shop their eBay store HERE.
These pedals are made to order and the fit and finish is great. Installation hardware includes self-tapping
screws for the gas pedal and nylon locking nuts/bolts/washers for the clutch and brake pedals. I opted for the upper left gas pedal heel/toe extension.
These pedals not only offer better aesthetics but also provide more function and feel than the OE heavily insulating (and slippery when wet) rubber pedal
pads.
20 mil Headlight film for headlights from
Lamin-X Protective Films installed.
The installation instructions provided (HERE) worked great, video installation guide
HERE.
The 20 mil film is thicker than the lesser brands but don't let the curves scare you, a heat gun on low can be used to work wonders in
molding the film to the headlight contours, exercise caution so you don't burn your headlight or film. To be honest, I didn't have to use the
heat gun at all for this installation. After positioning the left and right corner and running the squeegee down the middle between these two points, I
just had to go back and sqeegee what was left as per the instructions. Any water haze under the film will cure and disappear after a few days in the sun
if past experience holds true:
After scrubbing in the tires for 500 miles, it was time to head to the
North GA mountains to see how both they and the car would perform- in a word flawless. The route we typically do is the 60>180>129 loop as detailed in a map
HERE that Frank in the Lotus club drew and tagged for us. Pics taken at Chestatee
Overlook (on 60) and on 180 (aka Wolf Pen Gap):
CG-Lock from a past car installed. Provides stability so there is less sliding and repositioning in seat, as seen in
the promotional video HERE.
BMW Oil Travel Bag (P/N 83290144484) purchased to hold extra liter of oil in the trunk.
The bag has Velcro on the back so that it can "stick" to the carpeted trunk surface anywhere you wish to place it- I found a place out of the way of cargo.
Has room for one liter of oil and contains two each of: cardboard funnel, plastic gloves, hand wipes, and cleaning cloths.
UUC Motorwerks
stainless steel RobKnob (RK) 2 installed. At 20.4 ounces it is a bit heftier than the OE knob and the additional weight makes shifting less notchy/easier.
UUC Motorwerks
Evo3 short shifter (P/N USSE9M3) installed. This shifter has shorter throws than OE, but maintains the OE shifter physical height, and is SO much more precise, definitely a worthwhile mod.
I have noticed no additional NVH (Noise/Vibration/Harshness) over OE since installing, and this has been my experience with UUC SSKs in two other cars I owned/own.
Oil Analysis performed by
Blackstone Laboratories
Oil Changed at x miles- OEM BMW Castrol 10w60
BMW 2008 M3 Coupe Brochure
BMW M3 Reviews:
Grassroots Motorsports- 2008 M3 Sedan
Edmunds Inside Line- 2008 M3 Full Test
Edmunds Inside Line- 2008 M3 Suspension Walk-Around
Truth About Cars- 2008 M3 Review
Car and Driver- 2008 M3 Coupe News
Car and Driver- 2008 M3 First Drive and Review
Car and Driver- 2008 M3 Long Term Road Test
Car and Driver- 2009 M3 Lightning Lap Results and 2006-2009 Lightning Lap Results Summary (XLS)
The Car Connection- 2008 M3 Introduction
MotorTrend- 2008 M3 First Drive
MotorTrend- 2009 M3 Long Term Test Arrival
MotorTrend- 2009 M3 Long Term Update #1
MotorTrend- 2009 M3 Long Term Update #2
MotorTrend- 2009 M3 Long Term Update #3
Automobile- 2008 M3 Coupe Test Review
Left Lane News- 2008 M3 Coupe Review
Popular Mechanics- 2008 M3 Coupe
New Car Test Drive- 2008 M3 Review
Canadian Driver- 2008 M3 Sedan and Coupe First Drive
BMW Video:
*High Speed Connection Recommended*
Commercial- M3 S65 Internal Combustion
Commercial- The E92 M3 is Here
Commercial- The Spirit of M. Unleashed by Technology.
BMW M3 GTS Teaser Video from BMW TV
BMW M3 GTS Video 1 from BMW TV
BMW M3 GTS Video 2 from BMW TV
Top Gear:BMW M3 vs Mercedes C63 AMG vs Audi RS4 in Spain
Best Motoring International:BMW M3 vs Lexus IS-F - Touge Test & Track Battle
WebRides TV Shootout:BMW "Sibling Rivalry"- Dinan 335i vs. Stock M3
2008 BMW M3 Coupe
Uniden Beartracker BCT-12 scanner (manual here) also hard wired,
allows you to listen to police bands and alerts for transponder signals within 3-mile radius- acts as a pre-radar detector and programmable by state.
I mounted the detector above the rearview mirror, using soft Velcro on the bottom to prevent rattles from contact.
When the windows are tinted I may go ahead and get a strip across the top of the windshield to better conceal these....
A good radar detector/speed detection counter measure forum: www.radardetector.net
The installation and operation instructions are HERE. Note that there are multiple twisted pairs of green/green-orange and
multiple brown wires in the harness- I just picked correct colors where multiples existed at random. I did not undo any tape or have to pull the wire loom off
the metal bracket- pulling the wiring loom up I installed the taps as close to the bottom of the wire loom as possible.
Once wiring is complete/connected and unit/wiring tucked away, unit is not noticeable.
Folding mirror demo video HERE,
Power window demo video HERE.
Mercedes Benz Magazine wrote an article about the company HERE.
I did some research and found that for several European tests the Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas were in the top.
Equally impressive was the price for 245/35/19 & 275/35/19 set of four tires from Performance
Plus Tire of ~$850 shipped. Tires installed at Kauffman Tire in Suwanee (770-614-5650)
More information about these tires in a video HERE,
tires designed by Vredestein and another name you might be familiar with- Giugiaro.
After about 500 break-in miles, I headed to the North GA mountains and the tires were GREAT, I find them to be as good or better than the old PS2s in the dry,
and maybe a bit better in the rain. The wheel protector is also nice to have and a little beefier than the Toyo T1Rs (although not quite as good as
the wheel protection on the GY F1s). You may also notice these tires are asymmetrical so they can be rotated side to side without breaking them down off the wheel
if desired:
Installation guide is HERE. I opted to use a Dremel with a small 1/8" bit in place of the center punch to
dimple the metal and/or start the hole in the plastic pedals- it is kind of tight and this was easier to both line up and use. The plastic clutch and gas pedals
are quick and easy, the metal brake pedal takes a little more time. Once the Dremel is used to make the initial dimple with the 1/8" bit, use the same 1/8" bit
in the drill to drill a pilot hole and then the larger screw sized bit. Paper placed under the pedals allows for quick cleanup of the plastic and metal drill
shavings.
Install instructions HERE, install video HERE.
I also decided to not cut up the OE shift boot/knob and ordered new boots for the shifter and parking brake
from Redline Goods.
The leather is higher quality, both thicker and softer. The OE boots have to be
removed from the plastic bases and the bases glued to the new boots.
The shift and parking brake boot DIY I assembled is HERE.
I assembled a DIY guide for the UUC shifter installation on the M3 HERE. I did not drop the exhaust or heat shields but worked around them
for access:
BMW DIY Guides/Installation Instructions:
BMW OEM Alarm Installation Instructions
BMW 335i Sunroof Switch Panel Removal and Radar Detector Hardwire by e90post.com's sfbmw
BMW E90 Radar Detector Fuse Box Hardwire Installation by e90post.com's bilbarstow
BMW E92 Door Panel Removal by e90post.com's installmd
BMW E90 Euro Light Switch (with Rear Fog Light Provision) Installation
BMW 3 Series Shift and Parking Brake Boot DIY Guide
Wheel Paint and Light Scratch Repair by AudiWorld.com's NASAracer
BMW M3 Documents/Files/Links:
Real OEM: OEM Part Numbers and Diagrams Online
BMW Fans: OEM Part Numbers and Diagrams Online
BMW Product Knowledge on Demand
BMW 2008 E92 M3 (with iDrive) Owners Manual
BMW E92 M3 Aftersales Training-Product Information
BMW 2008 E92 M3 Ordering Guide
BMW Navigation: Adding Points of Interest (POI)
BMW M3 SIBs:
BMW Operating Fluids: Manual Transmission
BMW Operating Fluids: Final Drive (Differential)
SI B13 05 08 -Rough Idle, Rough Running, Misfiring and Loss of Power
SI B33 01 02 -Grinding Noise from the Differential during Slow Cornering
BMW/M3 Forums/Links:
