M3 Road Trip Car Suggestions

[Blackhawk2914]

Hey Everyone,

I have had my daily driven 10' E90 M3 for almost a year now and have been having a great time with the car. I use the car for my trips between Orlando and Miami every few weeks and have felt that the car is lacking in some features that could make travel over longer distances enjoyable. I want to turn it into more of a grand tourer and plan on a few mods from a Wifi hotspot to simple coding for the DVD player. do you guys have any suggestions or some advice for features/devices to install to make the journeys more comfortable?

[E36dude420]

horchata first, then empenada. done and done

[AggieZig]

If you're looking for a GT car, sell the E90 and buy an M5. While the M3 is a comfortable DD, the limited rear seat space and smaller overall size will keep it from being a great GT car.

Who are you making the mods for? Surely not for yourself as WiFi and DVD mods are really unsafe choices for the driver to participate in.

[LostPanda]

Originally Posted by E36dude420

horchata first, then empenada. done and done

I thought I was the only one..

[anerbe]

Some extra quarts of 10w60 in the trunk for the long highway drives

[notouching]

^ + a code reader, a couple spare throttle actuators, and tools.

[Ink09]

I've driven my 08 E92 M3 from Raleigh, NC to Key West and from Raleigh to north of Syracuse, NY. I think its great on long distance trips, but if you are looking for more comfort a 5 series is the way to go as a second car.

[330ciprem]

Not m3 specific but in general I keep the following -
1. Oil change kit from FCP Euro - it’s a neat way of carrying oil.
2. Nova Jump Starter
3. Wet tissue - couple of them.
4. Hand sanitizer.
5. Multi purpose charging cable

And for the m3 I plan on getting the DVD in motion coded soon so that my gf can enjoy some friends while I enjoy that V8

[Blackhawk2914]

Originally Posted by AggieZig

Who are you making the mods for? Surely not for yourself as WiFi and DVD mods are really unsafe choices for the driver to participate in.

No I have a few friends that I take trips with so I want to have something for them. I also have Android auto installed in my idrive so I tend to use Spotify and will have low cell reception in some areas of travel, so I would like to get wifi for those situations of if some friends use their computers.

[Jmags41]

Oil change kit with enough for one change plus a quart per 1k miles to be safe,
windshield wiper fluid (I have a heavy hand),
Maybe a spare if you have room... oh also steal someone’s AMEX for fuel.

I just did Portsmouth NH to Key West and back with stops in:

Boston
N NJ
Virginia Beach
Charleston
Miami
Key West
Palm Beach
Savannah
N NJ

Unfortunately the S65 didn’t make it north of palm beach and had to finish with a loaner but it was a blast before shit hit the fan!

[AggieZig]

Originally Posted by Jmags41

Unfortunately the S65 didn’t make it north of palm beach and had to finish with a loaner but it was a blast before shit hit the fan!

I'm afraid to ask what happened...

[Jmags41]

I’ll know a bit more tomorrow. I had it towed to nearby shop. Sounded BAD. Preliminary thoughts are either bearing or oil pan issue. I posted in SE forum about it a little bit. Thread “SOS”.

[supercoolnerd]

I have an E93 M3. It's good when it comes to comfort (not great). I would suggest the extra oil quart, and def do the DVD. I am looking to do that as well as my wife and I go back and forth from Atlanta to Orlando.

If you get it done, let me know how it works out.

[DSilk]

Setting the EDC to "comfort" mode smooths out the ride. Aside from that, use Spotify.

[Mr. BMW]

Originally Posted by notouching

^ + a code reader, a couple spare throttle actuators, and tools.

Don't forget a spare short block in the trunk just in case the rod bearings fail...

[thkfast]

I had ALEX do some coding on my M3. He added satellite radio and DVD in motion. Every summer I do a 700 mile trip from IA to OK and it's basically 4 of my favorite movies! Really makes time fly. You can still play DVDs without the coding, but you have to pull over and stop to navigate through the menu and who has time for that!

[Flying Ace]

18 inch 219M style wheels and a subscription to XM radio are all that you would need.

[dreamspeed]

Watching movies in the idrive screen sucks. The res is crappy and the screen is small. And iirc you have to use actual DVDs.... there's no way to play movies off of a thumb drive.

Realistically your passengers are much better off bringing their iPads.

[thkfast]

Sure, the screen is small, but the SOUND is big.

[dkracing]

Originally Posted by anerbe

Some extra quarts of 10w60 in the trunk for the long highway drives

+ 1

I drive like 80 miles a day for work with no loss in oil, but if I drive like 100 miles in one day for a day trip somewhere oil magically disappears.

[OzCoE92]

Originally Posted by dkracing

+ 1

I drive like 80 miles a day for work with no loss in oil, but if I drive like 100 miles in one day for a day trip somewhere oil magically disappears.

Mine does the exact same thing, I guess it's just the nature of the beast!

[Ngilbe36]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk2914

I tend to use Spotify and will have low cell reception in some areas of travel, so I would like to get wifi for those situations of if some friends use their computers.

I have a problem with this statement. Please rethink how Wifi reception gets to your car.