My new ulti[///M]ate 4-door baby shuttle...

[buffstocover]

After many months of scouring CL and Autotrader, and years of living without my e46 M3, and having a baby, I'm finally back behind the wheel of the ultimate daily driver. I just picked up the 2008 e90 pictured below and strapped in a baby seat in the spacious back seat.

Unlike the recent poster who was considering a former track demo, I absolutely had to have a lightly used, completely (documented) maintained e90 with a 6-speed manual. They're hard to find. Only you guys will appreciate the following.

Mine has--get this--23,000 miles, and damn near every option including extended black leather with the carbon trim, EDC, premium sound, and cold weather. The inside is flawless. Car was sold new locally, serviced at dealer, documented tranny and diff oil changes at 1200 miles, oil changes never once more than about 6000 mi (most at 4-5k), and came with every service record. Even the front underbody felt is barely scratched. The dealer who did the PPI said the original brake pads are at like 80%.

As if that wasn't everything I dreamed I'd be able to find, seller just had a Dinan free flow exhaust and Dinan cold air intake put on at local BMW Dealer. I wanted a completely stock car, but the mods are pretty basic and the sound is killer.

I figure, who gives a shit if it's an '08. It's only as old as its 23k miles, and just today I slapped a 4 year 50k mile warranty on it. I could care less about the updates to the taillights and the iDrive.

Here is a pic of the M in its natural habitat--attached to the gas pump. I couldn't figure out how to post more than one pic.

[buffstocover]

Another pic:

[buffstocover]

Gone but not forgotten...

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by buffstocover

Gone but not forgotten...

You'll miss that at times

[1MOREMOD]

Hey I'm in seattle area also. Mines a track car so don't have those problems.

[buffstocover]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

You'll miss that at times

I know. I do. While this one sounds better, is more practical w 4 doors, and the tranny shifts much more smoothly (the 6MT in the e46 was cantankerous), the old car zipped around town more easily because it drove as a lighter, smaller car. Here in Seattle, where traffic is fukked, that was a bonus. I will not miss all the little shit that went wrong--trim pieces, RTABs, alternator, belt tensioners, window regulator, auto-dimmer, door handles that required a clean and jerk to yank open, etc....

[buffstocover]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Hey I'm in seattle area also. Mines a track car so don't have those problems.

Right on. I found both cars on local CL. The newest one was a a Seattle BMW car, sold by orig owner last fall to a really nice guy who bought it and was transferred overseas shortly thereafter. He hated to sell it, but insisted it go to an enthusiast (like me) committed to obsess over it. We actually became friends. Super cool guy. Had to promise to let him come back and drive it from time to time!

[1MOREMOD]

Well congrats. If you are ever interested in track days let me know.

[buffstocover]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Well congrats. If you are ever interested in track days let me know.

Well, thanks man. I'm incredibly psyched. I've been looking FOREVER for the right e90.

And I will let you know--I don't know the first thing about track days.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by buffstocover

Well, thanks man. I'm incredibly psyched. I've been looking FOREVER for the right e90.

And I will let you know--I don't know the first thing about track days.

Yep love the e90. Had a 2008 in jerez that was a track car also.

[buffstocover]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Yep love the e90. Had a 2008 in jerez that was a track car also.

Where do you service your cars around here? Do you do it yourself? Do you drive an M or just track them?

[1MOREMOD]

I have an e46 m3 track car and a x5d tow rig. I do my own service on the m3 and use seattle bmw for other needs under warranty. Also have used kd motorsports in bellevue, Noah at cohesive garage and I always go to trueline bellevue for all alignment and tire mounting needs.

[Flying Ace]

Just a Seattle lovefest in here, we'll leave you two alone, let s know when you're done in there

[1MOREMOD]

Not what your used to as far as love fests in the bay area I bet.

[FormulaMMM]

^^^
Ha. Well played.

Nice pickup op. Had an '08 6MT for about 3 yrs and loved it. Also didn't care about the pre update Idrive (have updated now, still don't care) and I like the taillights... Remind me of e39, e46, etc. have fun with it.

[GotE46M]

Nice congrats on the new ride!

[Aubie4Pres]

Congrats! But looks like the put the wrong exhaust on, tips stick out like a E92.

[davesaddiction]

Great get! You might have found the finest '08 left in the country... Very similar to my car, except for the miles - ha! As a fellow dad with small kids, I can't think of another car I'd rather own at this stage in my life. Haul kids around on Friday; haul ass around the track on Saturday!



Care to share how much you paid for it?

Which warranty company did you end up going with?

Here's my crew, stuffed in the back of mine.

[Gbiz]

Congrats, she's a beauty, and heck of a deal for the year and mileage!

[buffstocover]

Originally Posted by M3andering Road

Congrats! But looks like the put the wrong exhaust on, tips stick out like a E92.

Really? I find that hard to believe. It was purchased and installed at BMW , and inspected by another BMW dealer....

[buffstocover]

Great get! You might have found the finest '08 left in the country... Very similar to my car, except for the miles - ha! As a fellow dad with small kids, I can't think of another car I'd rather own at this stage in my life. Haul kids around on Friday; haul ass around the track on Saturday!



Care to share how much you paid for it?

Which warranty company did you end up going with?

Here's my crew, stuffed in the back of mine.
/////////////////////////////////////





Cute kids!

Thanks. I think I found a good one. They're out there, if you're patient. The guy who owned this car drove it ~3000 miles/year. Can you imagine? I suppose if I had a nice X5 the M would get driven less.

I don't really want to talk $$, but price was in the mid thirties.

I got a warranty thru Zurich--the only company I could find after extensive research that would issue a warranty on a car with modifications. I know there are quite a few opinions on this site concerning warranties. Trust me, I've read most of them (I did my forum searches so as not to be scolded). Buying from a private party also makes it somewhat tricky.

I called 3 different BMW dealerships, and all told me they would not issue--this includes the dealership that sold the car new and maintained it throughout its life--because of the Dinan parts. This dealer even self-insures. Another BMW dealer's finance manager told me that it would be impossible to find one that would allow for preexisting modifications.

Finally, I went to a friend who runs one (or possibly more) Ford dealerships in the area, and he found one of their preferred providers (Zurich) that would issue and cover engine and other problems even with the Dinan parts. It's a comprehensive warranty, and covers pretty much everything.

Zurich is a large, international company, so that's a plus.

BTW, every single source with whom I spoke told me this is the last year you can buy a warranty for an '08 car. Next year, it will be the end of the line for '09's. So, i got a 4 year this year, but next year you won't even be able to buy a 1 year warranty for an '08.

[landoflui]

Originally Posted by buffstocover

Another pic:

Holly fuck nice find I personally like the 08 tail lights a lot more.