E90 M3 6MT | Le Mans Blue + Speed Cloth + Single Hump + Slicktop

[spazzyfry123]

This has been a long time coming for me. I've been looking for this car for the better part of a decade with my last E90 M3 "Stripper" being a near perfect spec sans color (Jet Black). That one took me about three years to locate (its story and ultimate demise can be seen HERE) with this new-to-me one hopefully being worth the wait. With 185 LMB E90Ms made for NAM, never mind spec, it's understandable why it took as long as it did when I needed a specific spec. I haven't owned a BMW since the last E90M, but have continued to be active on the forums and active on the hunt. Came close on an Interlagos Z4MC. Nearly picked up a Laguna Seca Blue F80 (and E46M). Couldn't bring myself to it - missed the S65 too much.

While this one isn't a full stripper (no options) like the black one, it checks the boxes I needed checked. This thread won't be a show stopper as not a tremendous amount will be done to the car. A few upgrades and a lot of maintenance - and that's the show. If anything, a place to park my thoughts and document the journey.

2011 E90 M3
6MT
Le Mans Blue exterior
Speed Cloth interior
Slick top (no sunroof)
Single hump (no navigation)
Electronic Damper Control
Heated seats
Folding rear seat
Sycamore Anthracite Wood Trim
Rear Park Distance

I enlisted a specialized dealer to source me a car when they were able to find this car unintentionally and unrelated to my alternate search. I put down a deposit within the hour, wife and I flew down the next weekend and made a trip of it, and then drove it back this past weekend. We had a blast checking out a city we've never been to, and it really made the trip great - the car really became secondary which was surprising with all of the build up over this many years to this. My (now) wife was in love with the Jet Black E90M. We had made a ton of memories and friends with that car, so she is over the moon that I found "the one" and we get to relive some of our earlier years through this new car.



The car received a paint correction and full detail as well as new tint for me to take delivery. New window rubbers and replacement shift knob are in the mail. +1 tires will be put on this Thursday - Continental Extreme Contact 2 in 255/40 & 275/40 for the 18" 219 BBS wheels.

My favorite part will be tomorrow heading to the tax office. I still have the license plate from the black E90. A call today confirmed that I will be able to transfer that same physical tag to this new blue E90 6+ years since it was totaled. I won't believe it until it actually happens, but she assured me that since I still have the physical tag that it can definitely be done.

I've got a list of items that will bring this car to where I want it to be. Consider OEM+, but it's in incredible shape with good maintenance history. So like I said, the thread may be boring. The car is already what I want it to be aside from some minor tweaks.



More pictures inbound. More updates soon. Glad to be back.

-Tyler

[Helmsman]

Read your stories. You and your wife have clearly earned your new car, and what a car it is, looks absolutely gorgeous!

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Read your stories. You and your wife have clearly earned your new car, and what a car it is, looks absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks Helmsman!

[MSYm4]

Love the back story on this. Congrats on the find!!! Thanks for sharing.

[rcracin]

Welcome back. I see you still have the 80.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by rcracin

Welcome back. I see you still have the 80.

Still got the 80! Took it for a ride for the first time in a few weeks a couple days ago. Lots of fun things done to it, but she's due for some maintenance.

Went through a fair amount of maintenance as well as a minor lift for the 200 just yesterday.

Next in the queue is to run through the 290k+ mile LS400. I've got probably 15 years of maintenance in a folder for it, but I'm considering making that a more daily cruiser.

[spazzyfry123]

Slow updates!

I’m putting the county’s kids through college. Annual property taxes last week and taxes/registration today for the Blue Car. Good news is I was able to transfer my old tag from my Jet Black E90M! Seems trivial, but I have been waiting for the day I got to do this for 6 or so years. Pretty stoked. Insert dirty car action.





My new tires finally showed up after some logistical hiccups at Discount Tire. I may have to call it Arby’s. We’ve got the meats. Big fan of the larger tire on 18”. Disregard the under-felt popped out. Looking for alternate undertray options to tie this in. We've been having fun with the car!

255/40 + 275/40 Continental Extreme Contact Sport 02

[spazzyfry123]

Rennline magnetic and charging phone mount. Tried a vent mount and it was garbage. Liking it so far. Only option out there I liked that was specific to the E9x without navigation.





Never mind the shift knob. Replacement is in the works...

[Sp00nFedFilms]

Love the ATD! Keep it coming.

[spazzyfry123]

[spazzyfry123]

Exciting update!

Not really

She got a bath, but cleaner is faster, so got her dirtied up again with a couple laps of The Suches Loop today. Really liking these new Continentals in a +1 size.

Trunk struts felt a bit tired, so replaced those. What a difference! Trunk is holding my new Nespresso for the office nicely. Also topped off with BMW windshield washer concentrate and distilled. Manual calls for 6 liters. Overfilled with under a gallon mix despite low level indicator.

Yeah I know, the garage is a disaster. Just built up a 12x12 deck for a shed to get some junk out of here. M3’s bay is loaded with what’s going into the shed, so Land Cruisers stay parked outside for now.







New front/rear windshield weather strippings are in; they’re a bit aged.

deansbimmer’s under tray shipped in. Hopefully will be able to get that going here soon.

Some Macht Schnell spacers are in the mail from EAS

Dumping the center console phone tray in favor of an OEM storage tray.

She’s coming together…

[dav9515]

same thing happened to me, windshield washer fluid indicator on so went and got some fluid, thought I was good at 1 gallon but just over 3/4 of the way through the bottle full overflow happened very quickly!

Can I please have some pics of the Speed Cloth interior??? Love it so much and want to find a set for my E90, unfortunately the only set i've been able to locate is in europe on Ebay and they want waaaay too much money for it!

Best of luck with the car, it's gorgeous! I recently purchased my first E90 M3 off this forum and it's a jet black 08', getting paint corrected and ceramic coated next week.

[spazzyfry123]

Thanks to krudmunk for the guidance! Got some more use out of the center console with the OEM tray to replace the phone mount.

Originally Posted by dav9515

same thing happened to me, windshield washer fluid indicator on so went and got some fluid, thought I was good at 1 gallon but just over 3/4 of the way through the bottle full overflow happened very quickly!

Can I please have some pics of the Speed Cloth interior??? Love it so much and want to find a set for my E90, unfortunately the only set i've been able to locate is in europe on Ebay and they want waaaay too much money for it!

Best of luck with the car, it's gorgeous! I recently purchased my first E90 M3 off this forum and it's a jet black 08', getting paint corrected and ceramic coated next week.

Thanks! Love the Speed Cloth for sure! My first was a Jet Black E90. Welcome to the S65 club.

[dav9515]

beautiful and thanks for the warm welcome! I have a love/hate relationship with black paint but I just had one of the best detailers in my area do a full paint correction and ceramic coating and have to say the car looks brand new and I'm in love with the black look on the E90. My first love is Alpine white but this is a great car and I can't wait until the warm weather in spring to really explore what this car can do!

for reference I have a 16' Boxster Spyder, daily and 14' Cayenne GTS, and have had a wide array of cars including an e36 M3/4/5 as well as and E46 zhp but this high revving V8 gets me very excited!

[spazzyfry123]

Productive day in the garage. Also my first time really being under the car. Very clean. A little surface rust on the front hub but pretty dang clean otherwise. It looks like valve covers/gaskets may be in the queue. Detailer did a good job cleaning, so all looked well, but I can see a little bit of seepage south of the covers. Really, other than that, I’m pretty happy. Car spent its life in California, Arizona, and a very short stent in Florida before I brought it to the great North Georgia Mountains.



Finally got around to installing deansbimmer’s under tray. Pretty trick bit of kit.



No better time to install the Macht Schnell spacers from EAS. I went with 12mm front / 10mm rear. Less aggressive than the typical 15/12, but with the oversized tires, I think it’s just right. Ride seems a little higher than normal, but I’ve yet to drive after taking it off the stands. Maybe it will settle a hair.

Before



After

Originally Posted by dav9515

beautiful and thanks for the warm welcome! I have a love/hate relationship with black paint but I just had one of the best detailers in my area do a full paint correction and ceramic coating and have to say the car looks brand new and I'm in love with the black look on the E90. My first love is Alpine white but this is a great car and I can't wait until the warm weather in spring to really explore what this car can do!

for reference I have a 16' Boxster Spyder, daily and 14' Cayenne GTS, and have had a wide array of cars including an e36 M3/4/5 as well as and E46 zhp but this high revving V8 gets me very excited!

I’m actually on the hunt for a Cayenne myself. Nice garage!

[dav9515]

I highly recommend the 958 GTS, not overly powerful but the 4.8 V8 is plenty and very stout engine. I really like how it drives for a big SUV and is actually fun for me when I have to do the mundane daily kid hauling, practices, etc.!

[spazzyfry123]

Ceramic time!

[spazzyfry123]

Great lap around the mountains today. Mid 60s with the windows down. This is my favorite “big loop” here in North Georgia.

[spazzyfry123]

Long time no update. Car has been an absolute riot. Since the last update, I’ve since taken a Borla Atak exhaust from an E92 and lopped the tips off in favor of a custom set of single walled, larger diameter units and positioned in OEM spec. Had the same exhaust on my last E90 and it’s glorious.



Typical maintenance with some brake/clutch fluid flushes, oil changes, air/cabin filters, and such. I’ve replaced the front and rear window trim rubbers with new OEM units.

I just replaced the rod bearings with BE bearings and ARP hardware alongside new motor mounts (despite the ones on it having maybe 15k miles on them). The car has been nothing but fun.

Well, my good friend SIR_BTBAM got a chance in the driver’s seat a few weekends ago. After some arm twisting, it looks like this car has new home effective tomorrow. Not something I had on my bingo card as it wasn’t for sale, but I think this is the only way the car would have changed hands. I, for one, am quite happy of where it is going. I’m certain it will begin to see the miles it deserves. The stoke is high, but I’m already looking for its replacement. S65 is high on that short list…

Cheers,
Tyler