Finally!! Euro Delivery Done, the Perks and the Perils: A Blog with Pics

[BMW269]

Mark, you M3 is the BEST stock M3. Congrats.

Very nice how you got your M3 Individual. I like the M badge on the Piano inserts, and how you got your exhaust tips, grill and side vents in shadow-line like M3 Edition. Did you think about getting you ZCP rims also shadow-line? They would look perfect in black.

BMW World should be amazing, so many "strange" things. Did you see the M3 GTS or even the latest M3 GTS-R?

[Mark's M]

You know Levi, that's one car I didn't see. I was not allowed to take pics outside where the two M5 prototypes were parked (along with a bunch of other normal M cars). There were a bunch of offices and garages on the opposite side of the M Studio that were no doubt filled with really interesting stuff. That's where the guy emerged from when he got into one of the M5 mules with his laptop and drove away. But again, no photos and no access.

As for the wheels, I am fortunate enough to be getting the black GTS wheels but as I explained, they don't go into production by BBS until June. BMW's gonna ship me a set as soon as they come off the line. It was a part of the Individual order but they asked for a little patience with the wheels. No problem in my mind!!!!

Regards, Mark

[sig5x]

Mark,

Those are amazing pics and you had access to some very interesting places that I haven't others had during their ED experience.
Your car looks great and driving it in Europe must have been sweet!

You mention the GTS wheels won't be built by BBS until June. Does that mean the standard (silver) ZCP wheels are made by them?

Congrats on the new car and I hope it gets to you soon!

[GuyOh]

that was a very great read

[GewoW]

Originally Posted by sig5x

Mark,

Those are amazing pics and you had access to some very interesting places that I haven't others had during their ED experience.
Your car looks great and driving it in Europe must have been sweet!

You mention the GTS wheels won't be built by BBS until June. Does that mean the standard (silver) ZCP wheels are made by them?

Congrats on the new car and I hope it gets to you soon!

I believe all BMW wheels are BBS

[NagoC50]

That is a sharp looking car -- I should know, as I parked my alpine white M3 right next to yours at Log In/Log Out on 5/20. Spent some time checking it out as I picked it our straight away in the lot recalling your pre-delivery description of it here and on the 'Fest. BTW, Don't worry -- plenty of room between the vehicles!

Anyways, I will try to post a picture that I took of the cars in the lot.

[wea]

Great post, thank you for some good laughs.

Cheers

[RichB]

Congrats on delivery of an absolutely beautiful car. Love the color combo. I took ED of my M3 in Nov. Matt was also my delivery specialist. I put 1000 KM on my car before I dropped off at Harms. I stayed in Germany/Austria where the roads and drivers are a bit better than those in southern Europe.

I am ready to go back. It is quite an experience.

[msile]

Wonderful pictures and write up.

[montreal red]

wow... thats an amazing interior color...great choice!

[AMMZING]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

You know Levi, that's one car I didn't see. I was not allowed to take pics outside where the two M5 prototypes were parked (along with a bunch of other normal M cars). There were a bunch of offices and garages on the opposite side of the M Studio that were no doubt filled with really interesting stuff. That's where the guy emerged from when he got into one of the M5 mules with his laptop and drove away. But again, no photos and no access.

As for the wheels, I am fortunate enough to be getting the black GTS wheels but as I explained, they don't go into production by BBS until June. BMW's gonna ship me a set as soon as they come off the line. It was a part of the Individual order but they asked for a little patience with the wheels. No problem in my mind!!!!

Regards, Mark

Hey Mark, awsome, awsome ED writeup, prolly one of the the best if not THE best ive read so far. Regarding the M Studio, its like you were at the Area 51 of BMW...who knows what is tucked away in those offices and garages . I think i would be scared about the finish on the ED as well, but in the end its a car so its meant to get a bit roughed up out there.. .

[NL-J]

Congrats on the awesome car! Great photos and blog too!

[ooowowizstev]

Wow! Looks like you had a great time! I will have to do an ED someday myself..

[Bubbles]

Congrats Mark. Good to see you made it over. Great review and Pics. Looks like you ha d a bit better weather than I did

[marwol]

Your M3 is really beautiful Have fun

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by NagoC50

That is a sharp looking car -- I should know, as I parked my alpine white M3 right next to yours at Log In/Log Out on 5/20. Spent some time checking it out as I picked it our straight away in the lot recalling your pre-delivery description of it here and on the 'Fest. BTW, Don't worry -- plenty of room between the vehicles!

Anyways, I will try to post a picture that I took of the cars in the lot.

Hey that would be just great!! Forgot my camera that day, the weather was crappy and I was just bummed out that it was "over".
And your comment about the room between the vehicles....guess I had it coming Good one!!!!

So we're probably going to be boat mates. Are you going to track yours for fun?? If so, I'd appreciate any information you get 'cause Canadians can't for some reason.

Anyways, glad you had a great trip. Don't know about you but I saw only 1 M3 on the road the whole time I was there. Surprising considering the number of M3's I saw on the delivery deck over the few times I visited The Welt. Then again, most of them were NA spec cars and probably headed off in a hundred different directions.

Thanks again, you're the best!!!

[Money2536]

Originally Posted by Mark's M

Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated. Been a long time but finally.......

Now how do I go about bribing the ship captain to get her over here before mid June?????

Oh, and I forgot. I complained to BMW about the skinny tires on the Comp Package rims. They are out of place and look stupid. They're going to get back to me. We'll see......

I'm with you on the tires. One of the reasons I continue to sway back and forth about competition package is due to the look of the wheels with the stretched front tires. I want to like the wheels. I saw someone on this forum that pulled the new PS2's off and put wider Advan's on the front and rear. The taller sidewall on the Advan's did look much better, but those are much heavier tires than the PS2's.

I'm guessing one reason BMW kept the tires narrow was to retain the nimble steering feel. I've put wider tires, front and rear, on my S2000 that everyone else seemed to love. At limit handling definately improved, but the steering was heavy and the car seemed less agile than before. I would have that same concern with the M3. Another reason they may have used those tires could be left over inventory.

By-the-way, I love your car. You may have inspired me to use the competition package. I just can't make up my mind.

[mkoesel]

ED MCB ZCP E92 M3 FTW!

Great to see the car in the flesh finally. Epic car, epic story (including the backstory on this forum from months back).

Hey, if you got that second set of wheels for no-upcharge, that goes a decent way toward covering some of the Individual stuff. I know you said winter tires, but given your apparent perfectionism I can't see how you would possibly drive this in the winter? Just sayin - you can probably get $2k USD for those if you sell on this forum.

[Yes2m3cs]

Amazing car man....Great write up..wish I was there

[JasonCSU]

Cool photos and story. It brought back some memories from my ED trip, but unfortunately the museum was closed when I went. Seeing that you got to visit the M Division, was that a perk of picking up an M car, or was it because you ordered through the Individual program?

[Mark's M]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

Cool photos and story. It brought back some memories from my ED trip, but unfortunately the museum was closed when I went. Seeing that you got to visit the M Division, was that a perk of picking up an M car, or was it because you ordered through the Individual program?

Hey Jason, it was because of both I suspect. Christine was my M Div contact from Day 1 and she was also responsible for overseeing the Individual side of the house. I guess because I got to know them so well, the visit was a natural request...and was granted. My lucky day I think....but I WANTED to see what was under the cover of that M3 in their studios!!!! Damnit.

[BMWDEMON]

Mark

Great write-up and pictures! I really would love to take the wife out in Europe and drive many of the routes designed by BMW one day. I think ED will be in future at some point and I hope to make it an individual as well.

Thanks again!

M