New M3 Owner: E90 ZCP

[Blindside_137]

Well, it finally happened.

My obsession started in 2006. I was 16 and it was December. My dad went to the Performance Center for delivery of his E60 M5 and I was fortunate to participate in the teenage driving program. What an absolute blast that was for us both. It made me very comfortable with knowing limits of these cars as a young driver learning the ropes and helped build quality defensive driving skills. The best part, seeing those beautiful E46 M3's around the tracks that the instructors had. They were getting phased out to make room for the incoming E9X generation they told us, so they weren't going to be around for much longer.

I feel very lucky to have been exposed to some pretty awesome cars. My dad is a nut, although not as bad as some people on the forums haha, and he has been a firm believer in life's too short to drive boring cars. He's had about 6 corvettes, most recently a '15 C7 Z06 that was just traded in for an '18 Austin Yellow M4. But growing up, it was a lot of V8 corvettes with roaring exhausts that got me hooked. When the E9X initially came out, I actually hated them. I thought they were ugly compared to the E46, especially the pre-LCI sedans with the tail lights. But as time went on and the more I thought about it, the E9X M3 is just about the only car you could get that was both sporty and luxurious, with a high revving V8 (I know I'm preaching to the choir here). But by 2009, I knew that my next car was going to be an M3. It checked every single box that I had on my dream car list.

Fast forward to 2012 and I graduated college. I remember seeing a few classmates around campus during my four years had had some E92 M3's. Aspirations to attend medical school made it difficult to find 40k on a used M3 let alone try to go in on a brand new one. At the time, my dad had leased a 328 E93 and I bought that from him for a very good price. The big advantages were since he is meticulous with his cars I knew the condition was immaculate, and the price with fuel economy made it the smarter choice. I thoroughly enjoyed driving the E93, and had it for the next 7 years. Each year adding some new pieces to make it unique (and look more aggressive like an M3). But it never filled the void of not owning an M3, and I was always browsing M3post, cars.com, etc... for the next car.

At this time in my life I have completed medical school, currently in my second year of residency training, happily married, and drove up to visit family at a nearby lake last weekend. I took a route we haven't taken in years due to construction. On our way we drove through a small town near my parents house that has a tiny Chevrolet dealer. I happen to glance over at all the new Silverados, mesmerized by how unattractive they are (sorry Chevy), when something familiar catches my eye. I can't believe it, but there is a Silverstone E90 with M359 wheels. My wife was driving and says should we stop to check it out!? I brush it off because we have our 4 month old pup in the car with us and didn't want to have to stop in the mid day heat. So I check online to see the specs, and it's not listed. At this time I see the dealer is closed Sundays when we would be heading back down from the lake so I know I won't be able to discuss it at that time. I decide I should just give them a call.

The sales rep answers and stated the M3 just arrived on the lot earlier that day. He isn't sure of the price so he asks the owner. They tell me 60k miles and list price at 29k. I feel like the mileage is higher than I like. I had always thought I would get a Melbourne E92 with about 20-40k miles and plan to keep it forever. Having a higher mileage made me think it would be less likely to stay in my garage long term. But regardless, we checked it out the next day when they were closed. It really looked immaculate although it had just rained. Water was beading well on the paint and even the wheels. Very minimal curb rash on one wheel. And about 2-3 nicks in the paint (one on hood and two on back left passenger door).

I continue to talk with the sales guy and see on Tuesday last week it's online listed for 28k and has 62k miles. The more I thought about it, the more the idea of an E90 felt right. There was a time when I was dreaming of a silverstone E90 and if I'm being honest, there was a time where almost every color had been on my want list. These cars look great no matter what. So I said the heck with it, I can place a refundable deposit to hold the car until this past weekend. And if I don't like it I can get my money back. I had recently missed out on an EAG Melbourne Red E92 that I was kicking myself for being too slow on. But I think it was all a blessing in disguise.

So on Saturday July 13, I showed up in my 10 year old 2009 E93 with 122k miles. Mind you I am working nights this month, and finished up an 18 hour shift Friday night, and got about two hours of sleep before heading to the dealer. We wanted to get there by 4PM. When we arrive, they thought my E93 was brand new with how well taken care of it was, and the paint still looks great with how often I clay/wax the car. My dad had gone up to test drive the E90 earlier in the week for me and raved about it, liking many aspects more than his M4 even. I will never forget the shine on the Silverstone when I turned into the lot. They had it outside the showroom and the way the sun was hitting it reminded me of shaved ice crystals or the way the sun makes snow shimmer. Soon after, it came time for my test drive and I was a bit underwhelmed at first. I didn't get on it too much with the sales rep in the backseat with me and my wife up front. But I just thought it should have been faster. Well that was before I realized it had the power button not engaged, and the DCT shift settings were on the lowest one. I bumped up the DCT shift speeds, and pressed the power button. And OH MY GOD, it was more fun than I could have ever even imagined. The car felt perfect and while the interior is something I never would hav spec'd myself, I thoroughly enjoy the two tone black/silver interior. The silver interior is much darker in person and provides some nice contrast to the black leather and carbon leather trim.

We go inside to talk numbers and find out it will actually be under my budget, even with adding the 3 year 36k mile warranty. I said goodbye to the E93 on trade in, and welcomed a hopefully life long four door race car. I truly think I will keep this car forever. I had an aggressive OEM + look when it came to modding my E93. I am going to only do spacers and reflectors on the E90 for now. But wish list would be KW or Ohlins coilovers, and Eisenmann race exhaust. Those will have to wait however.


Now onto the pics!!
2011 E90 M3
ZCP
DCT
Silverstone exterior
Black/Silver two tone interior
Carbon leather trim
Navigation

[Blindside_137]

Some more pics after cleaning it up a bit. Also started an IG for it. @zcpe90

[Blindside_137]

The old E93

[derbo]

Welcome to the E90 Club.

[BimmerMan33]

Your e93 is really very clean and like the OEM+ look!
The M3 is completely on another level... just make sure you have access to some back roads without much traffic, keep the revs over 5K & marvel at the induction sound & sharp throttle response... among other performance aspects. Eventually, take it to a race track, that's where this generation of M3 truly shines!
Enjoy & best of luck!

[Aktavate]

Congrats and welcome, obviously you made the right choice putting off the car until after school

I felt the same way when I first test drove a E92 M3 years ago because I try not to 'abuse' cars that aren't mine but they really need revs to get going which is part of the fun of driving them anyway. Enjoy!

[Deebo]

Congratulations man! I remember you from the E90post forums years ago, I made the same move to a ZCP E90 and it’s hands down the best car I’ve ever had. Silverstone looks awesome and it looks to be in great shape!

[m3jala]

Beautiful car!

[Drifter2090]

Great story! The M3 looks very clean, I'm super jealous of the silver-stone! I have the standard Alpine White on Fox Red haha.

Also your E93 is almost exactly like my old E92 335i just with black M359s and a vert. (You got good taste )

[derbo]

Originally Posted by Deebo

Congratulations man! I remember you from the E90post forums years ago, I made the same move to a ZCP E90 and it’s hands down the best car I’ve ever had. Silverstone looks awesome and it looks to be in great shape!

Your username is close to mine and we both drive AW 11 E90s.

[MikeM5]

So happy to see you snagged one—it's been a long time coming!

Huge congrats to your new garage acquisition and achievements...enjoy it

[Timujin]

Welcome

[JDAURIA]

Welcome and congrats!

I want those seats! I've been looking for Black/Silver two-tone seats to swap into my Interlagos Blue E90 M3

[AC/DC]

Congrats on your E90 M3!

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by JDNY516

Welcome and congrats!

I want those seats! I've been looking for Black/Silver two-tone seats to swap into my Interlagos Blue E90 M3

Thanks! Like I said I don't think I ever would have selected this two tone combo, but after having them I think it's perfect with the Silverstone. I also think it would look great with the blue. Hopefully you can find a set! Here are some pics although the silver is more like a dark gray in person.

I'll have to take some more pics since the only interior shots I have are what the dealer sent me.

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by derbo

Welcome to the E90 Club.

Thanks Derbo! It's definitely some good company!

Originally Posted by BimmerMan33

Your e93 is really very clean and like the OEM+ look!
The M3 is completely on another level... just make sure you have access to some back roads without much traffic, keep the revs over 5K & marvel at the induction sound & sharp throttle response... among other performance aspects. Eventually, take it to a race track, that's where this generation of M3 truly shines!
Enjoy & best of luck!

Will do! And thanks for the kind words. I loved the black wheel setup on Space gray, but something about Silverstone tells me silver/white/polished wheels only. It's such a bright and inviting color, I love it.

Originally Posted by Aktavate

Congrats and welcome, obviously you made the right choice putting off the car until after school

I felt the same way when I first test drove a E92 M3 years ago because I try not to 'abuse' cars that aren't mine but they really need revs to get going which is part of the fun of driving them anyway. Enjoy!

Thanks my friend. Those were my sentiments exactly when test driving. I also knew that no matter what I wanted to take it home so I wanted to just head right back to the dealer and sign the papers lol. I am glad I found that power button though.

Originally Posted by Deebo

Congratulations man! I remember you from the E90post forums years ago, I made the same move to a ZCP E90 and it's hands down the best car I've ever had. Silverstone looks awesome and it looks to be in great shape!

Thanks! Yup it all started over there. I think one of the first posts/mods was changing the kidney grilles to black. It was my fathers car at the time and I did it as a Father's Day surprise when he was out of town. He loved it! Now we just put some black side marker accents and painted reflectors on his M4. While I have only ever had a 2003 Is 300 and the E93, the E90 certainly takes the cake!

Originally Posted by Drifter2090

Great story! The M3 looks very clean, I'm super jealous of the silver-stone! I have the standard Alpine White on Fox Red haha.

Also your E93 is almost exactly like my old E92 335i just with black M359s and a vert. (You got good taste )

I agree! Very clean car. You really can't beat the look of 359's. And hey AW/FR is popular for a reason, it looks amazing. I thing white is always at home on the E90!

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by MBimmer2011

Congrats on your E90 M3!

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Timujin

Welcome

Thanks!

Originally Posted by MikeM5

So happy to see you snagged one—it's been a long time coming!

Huge congrats to your new garage acquisition and achievements...enjoy it

Man, I really appreciate that coming from you! I can't tell you how many views from me are on the YouTube videos of red death and the silver IND E90 with Eisenmann lol. It's been a pleasure to see your car transform over the years and to say that it's been a source of motivation is an understatement. Now to honor your TE37 setup, I always wanted to replicate it with a Melbourne Red. However, since I wound up with Silverstone I'm not sure I want graphite or black wheels. I was thinking one day to go with white TE37 although my wife cringes at that idea lol.

[Deebo]

Originally Posted by derbo

Your username is close to mine and we both drive AW 11 E90s.

Haha yep thought the same thing when I saw your build thread. Nice car!

[Siajoon]

Congratulations sir! welcome to the club.. like many of us here.. this platform will not let you down.

enjoy the miles per smiles that this machine gives you!

Cheers,

and happy motoring!

[6ixSpd]

Congrats man and welcome to the fold!

[Blindside_137]

Plenty of smiles per gallon. I'm on nights now so my wife came home for lunch yesterday while I was sleeping, and she took the M back to work in the afternoon. She is absolutely hooked and as addicted to the experience as I am. Now she wants one lol.

Added the painted reflectors today. Next on short list is angel eyes and spacers. Do most of you go front/rear 12/10 or 15/12?

[Atomicteal_M3]

Hey bro! The car looks phenomenal! Looking forward to seeing it in person!!