Mod Regret?

This post is a reason I've remained stock from new, but - I do like many of the tasteful mods people do on their ///M3's.

I'm not against doing mods, the serious $$ I would spend makes me cringe though.

If I could I would do the following:

Harrop or VF Super Charger
Akrapovic (full exhaust)
BBS FI or rare LM series
OEM carbon fiber mirror caps
OEM splitters
Recaro/BMW OEM race seats

simple2010 wrote

I replaced the kidneys with jet black. I sometimes miss the chrome since it brings out the classic shape. I was going to replace the amber side markers with black but I decided not to since the contrasting color helps maintain the lines for me. I think the black kidneys maybe look better on the AW cars than an already black one. I dunno.

Black kidneys are a must mod for any color imo. Car looks weak without them.

BOOF-M3 wrote

The wife refused to drive it. She was fine at first, but she loves throttle blips and this exhaust would explode on each downshift. One day she said "I'm not driving the car it's too loud and embarrassing" which happens to be the E93. I couldn't get my hands on the E92 anymore so I had to make a decision based on self preservation. Do I want to only drive the E93 while she enjoys our superior E92? I still have the OEM muffler sitting in storage, waiting.

Edit: I would have kept the OEM muffler mod and removed the test pipe but I have a stage 2 tune and therefore the test pipe had to stay.

Ah, got it Boof. Thought you could have tune without test pipes but not the other way around. Sounds like de mod around the corner or no more sex going forward.

The only mod I "regret" was going completely catless in combination with the OEM modded muffler. It was just too raspy. It lost its V8 grumble. This was easily fixed with a new unmodded OEM muffler.

My only mods will be a BBK. I've already purchased Stoptech Trophy front and rear. I was going to spend a bunch of money on mods.

Spent the money on a high end precision rifle instead. Going to keep the car stock.

I saw a bone stock e46 M3 in the parking lot at my local gym recently. It was cool to see this stock e46 that was super clean.

I can't believe you guys mod your cars.

Raek wrote

I can't believe you guys mod your cars.

Yea you should try it Raek, that stock beater you have could use some modding.

So far the only one that I somewhat regret is the Dynavin in-dash. It works great, but it has developed a rattle in the dash while going over bumps. If the rattle wasn't there...I got nothing.

Dr. Dre wrote

My only mods will be a BBK. I've already purchased Stoptech Trophy front and rear. I was going to spend a bunch of money on mods.

Spent the money on a high end precision rifle instead. Going to keep the car stock.

I saw a bone stock e46 M3 in the parking lot at my local gym recently. It was cool to see this stock e46 that was super clean.

There's a guy that works down the street from my office that drives his super clean (and stock!) red E46 M3 every day. I secretly hope we are M3 Bros since he has to pass my E90 parked at my office every day.

BOOF-M3 wrote

The wife refused to drive it. She was fine at first, but she loves throttle blips and this exhaust would explode on each downshift. One day she said "I'm not driving the car it's too loud and embarrassing" which happens to be the E93. I couldn't get my hands on the E92 anymore so I had to make a decision based on self preservation. Do I want to only drive the E93 while she enjoys our superior E92? I still have the OEM muffler sitting in storage, waiting.

Edit: I would have kept the OEM muffler mod and removed the test pipe but I have a stage 2 tune and therefore the test pipe had to stay.

swap the exhausts

Patrón wrote

I should have stayed with stock suspension springs vs H&R sports. i felt the ride and handling were better stock.

same dilemma im going through right now. my last M3 had H&R sports and i love them when i had them. now that i had to pick up another M3, the stock suspension feels amazing, obviously a little looser than the H&R's...

took a corner a little quick other day and the finance actually mentioned that this M didnt corner as well as the last one did, and asked if there was something missing ? told her suspension, and she instantly said you need to get that back on here... needless to say i was a little shocked, she doesnt know much about cars..


cant stand the wheel gap as well, probably going to with KW sleeves or B&G springs this time

BOOF-M3 wrote

Yea you should try it Raek, that stock beater you have could use some modding.

I could never even think of changing what the M Motorsports division gave us the opportunity to drive. When I think of all of these people out there changing even the most minute detail that was bestowed upon us by the gods that are BMW engineers, I shudder.

These cars are clearly the epitome of supercars in sportscar's clothing and really should never be altered.

*I must admit, I DID put a sticker on it. Egads!

Raek wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

Yea you should try it Raek, that stock beater you have could use some modding.

I could never even think of changing what the M Motorsports division gave us the opportunity to drive. When I think of all of these people out there changing even the most minute detail that was bestowed upon us by the gods that are BMW engineers, I shudder.

These cars are clearly the epitome of supercars in sportscar's clothing and really should never be altered.

*I must admit, I DID put a sticker on it. Egads!

Hmmmm. Looks like the sticker covered the whole car, lol.

I Change With The Seasons http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1389870

BOOF-M3 wrote

Hmmmm. Looks like the sticker covered the whole car, lol.

I Change With The Seasons http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1389870

Damn that car looks nice, must be the best looking OEM i've seen so far.

Helmsman wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

Hmmmm. Looks like the sticker covered the whole car, lol.

I Change With The Seasons http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1389870

Damn that car looks nice, must be the best looking OEM i've seen so far.

Yea, Raek and I have been modding it for some time. Very low mileage and will be for sale when "show season" is over.

Just got in my car and heading to work. Could the driving experience be any better than this?

Helmsman wrote

BOOF-M3 wrote

Hmmmm. Looks like the sticker covered the whole car, lol.

I Change With The Seasons http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1389870

Damn that car looks nice, must be the best looking OEM i've seen so far.

Straight from the factory, fellas.

Every modification involves a compromise that differs from the compromises settled on by BMW, and if you can live with the compromise you have made that's great. A lowered suspension lowers the center of gravity and helps control air flow under the car, but it also reduces suspension travel and makes scraping the pavement much more likely. It also changes the suspension geometry in any car that doesn't have parallel upper and lower wishbone suspension. For a car that spends its life on the track this may be beneficial in terms of lowering lap times (or not, depending upon how knowledgeable you are). But for a car that lives most of its life on public roads I am reminded of a comment made in Road & Track magazine in the early 1970s when testing the 2002 tii. They mentioned that the BMW was faster and better handling than the majority of the low-slung 2 seat sportscars on the market because you didn't have to slow down to traverse railroad tracks or struggle to maintain grip cornering over rough pavement with the more supple suspension.

I find myself going back and forth with certain details.
I tend to find myself torn between the "OEM+", "classic" look versus the "aggressive", "tastefully modded" look.

I've gone back and forth with black & chrome kidneys.
With wheels, it's had TE37SL, TE37RT, and Black OEM 359s.
I recently switched all the exterior bulbs back to OEM, including Halogen Angel Eyes.

Currently, it's got OEM gloss black kidneys, OEM halogen angel eyes, and OEM black 359s, with every other M Performance accessory (sans interior trim since I have CF leather) except for exhaust, which has had Akrapovic Evo (which i love).
I still have my TE37RT and chrome kidneys should I ever want to change it up again.

I just have the Active Autoworks exhaust, and the following carbon fiber parts: mirror caps, high kick spoiler and rear diffuser.

I love them all!

I just have the Active Autoworks exhaust, and the following carbon fiber parts: mirror caps, high kick spoiler and rear diffuser.

I love them all!

Getting an aftermarket exhaust. Then came an x-pipe. Then it was too loud, then too raspy, it's a constant battle of finding the perfect x-pipe and exhaust combo.

I'd think the most regrettable mod or reversed mod would be exhaust (cat-less test pipes or loud exhaust) or springs.

There are many days I wished my exhaust was quieter . In the pursuit of power/performance there's always sacrifice