Anyone else a purist with there e9x?

[leemik]

Not a purist here but I do buy a spare part and store the original if a mod can't be reversible like drilling holes in trunks and bumpers.

[brettcp]

I hear you... I prefer minimal cosmetic changes - like the OEM gloss black kidney grills and fender grills, keyhole delete, and LUX 180 angel eyes.. I did install an Eibach Pro Kit - minimal drop and helps the look of the car. I think the 220 style wheels are the best looking wheels for the E93 M3.

[MechEngineer408]

I've never owned a car (or motorcycle) that I didn't mod in some way. It's fun and lets you add your own personal touches.

[LuckiSevens]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

You're definitely correct to an extent, it is human nature indeed.

I made the OEM+ changes within the first 2 months of driving the car. I loved it out of the box for approximately 2-3 weeks, lol. After that I had to dial it in to my tastes and tilt the M3's luxury/sport balance more towards the sport side of things.

Test pipes, tune, and lowering were my immediate performance mods to uncork the M3 out of it's docile stock nature. Splitters, mirrors, painted trunk lip, diffuser were the visual changes to set it apart a bit more than every other white E92 on the road.

I think y'all have standard M3's in standard colors so you feel the need to put carbon everywhere... individual options make it very special, no need for changes, she's perfect 😁 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[kerrit]

If it was a DD mine would be way more purist.

I think it's more important that you keep the car balanced, no matter what mod path you go down. For instance, after supercharging, the car desperately needs brake and bushing upgrades at minimum.

[SAMM3Y]

<whistling whilst I push this cart through this thread> "don't mind me guys..." lol

I wouldn't mod my car if It was my daily, but
I purposely bought an older higher mileage m3 so I could ruin it..

Aesthetically I think the ZCP m3 is a great looking car stock with the wide fenders bbs rims and ZCP suspension stance. The factory splitters are also nice but I'm against any stick on aesthetics that aren't functional and needed.

There's a reason there's so much aftermarket for the m3 I would say the majority of owners like to mod and make it their own. Especially now they're getting older and cheaper. So you purists are definitely a rare breed and definitely the people I want to be buying used cars from. In the end you can't beat OEM for fitment on anything apart from maybe Rod Bearings

[Siajoon]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

<whistling whilst I push this cart through this thread> "don't mind me guys..." lol

I wouldn't mod my car if It was my daily, but
I purposely bought an older higher mileage m3 so I could ruin it..

Aesthetically I think the ZCP m3 is a great looking car stock with the wide fenders bbs rims and ZCP suspension stance. The factory splitters are also nice but I'm against any stick on aesthetics that aren't functional and needed.

There's a reason there's so much aftermarket for the m3 I would say the majority of owners like to mod and make it their own. Especially now they're getting older and cheaper. So you purists are definitely a rare breed and definitely the people I want to be buying used cars from. In the end you can't beat OEM for fitment on anything apart from maybe Rod Bearings

You sir, are dead on!

[L1FHR]

When i bought my M3 i specifically looked for a low milage (less than 15k, i got mine for 13K) and stocked everything (even the tires was stocked when i bought mine).

I'm happy the way the car looks. Luckily i got the ZCP, CF roof and everything.
I'm definitely keeping mine stock until it hits around 100K (which is probable 5/6 years from now) then I'll do some Exhaust and etc mods.

For now I like the OEM looks and enjoy it.

[carenthuziast]

Originally Posted by Siajoon

I personally think carbon fiber atleast inexcess starts to make our cars look cheap

especially fake carbon fiber.

The only mod that I'm considering is red brake calipers which look great with the space metallic gray body.

[Montaver]

The problem with most mods is they are expensive and don't add any value. By the time I add up all the mods I would actually like, I may as well just buy an F80.

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by Montaver

The problem with most mods is they are expensive and don't add any value. By the time I add up all the mods I would actually like, I may as well just buy an F80.

But then you'd want to mod that out cuz it's kinda mundane. So by that point you could of bought a...

and so on

[Siajoon]

Originally Posted by Montaver

The problem with most mods is they are expensive and don't add any value. By the time I add up all the mods I would actually like, I may as well just buy an F80.

I get where you are coming from, but obviously there has to be some reason you're sticking to your e9x besides price of a new f80.. you have something special.. that's why

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

But then you'd want to mod that out cuz it's kinda mundane. So by that point you could of bought a...

and so on

Well yes, that's the point. I'd rather own a car for two years, fit the mods that really make a difference (which in e9x terms is basically exhaust) then move on to experience different cars. Each to their own though..

[Bemo]

No modding here. The car came with a Dinan elbow and I added XPEL XR Plus tint. That will be it. It's perfect the way it came from the factory and I'm not interested in modifying it though I respect those who do.

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by Siajoon

I get where you are coming from, but obviously there has to be some reason you're sticking to your e9x besides price of a new f80.. you have something special.. that's why

It's true that its very difficult to upgrade from an e9x without spending a lot! Still figuring out how to pickup a GT4 without the wife noticing

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Well yes, that's the point. I'd rather own a car for two years, fit the mods that really make a difference (which in e9x terms is basically exhaust) then move on to experience different cars. Each to their own though..

If you change out your car in California every Two years and your buying $60-70k cars the depreciation coupled with the sales tax and fees adds up to a small fortune. That's how I justified modding mine, I figured $20k in mods should keep me entertained for a while.

[Siajoon]

Originally Posted by Montaver

It's true that its very difficult to upgrade from an e9x without spending a lot! Still figuring out how to pickup a GT4 without the wife noticing

With joint accounts, good luck!

[Siajoon]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

If you change out your car in California every Two years and your buying $60-70k cars the depreciation coupled with the sales tax and fees adds up to a small fortune. That's how I justified modding mine, I figured $20k in mods should keep me entertained for a while.

Great point!

[Siajoon]

Originally Posted by Bemo

No modding here. The car came with a Dinan elbow and I added XPEL XR Plus tint. That will be it. It's perfect the way it came from the factory and I'm not interested in modifying it though I respect those who do.

Does the dinan elbow make a noticeable difference?

[jd501]

Originally Posted by Siajoon

I'm wandering if it's just me or not, but whenever any of my buddies ask me if I'm going to "mod" my car I always take a quick look at my car and ask them.. what could I possibly do to make it more stunning than it already is?

Maybe it's come with age, a younger me would probably mod the living heck out of this car, but the older me likes the pure look of my comp e90 M.. I've even considered going as far as taking off my tint because without it I think it just looks much much cleaner, only reason I've held back is because I want protection for my leather... Anyone else in the same boat? Or is it just to hard to resist modifying our platform for all of you fellow enthusiasts?

I think the biggest counterpoint to your argument is the E46 CSL. BMW took a stock E46 M3, and did the front bumper, trunk, roof, diffuser, intake, headers, wheels, and exhaust (among other LTW things), and made one of the most desirable cars ever; in essence doing exactly what you're asking why people mod, but "from the factory".

I will add to the "CF sucks" contingent that the front bumper and diffuser had CF pieces, and the intake and roof were full CF. (I get that I'm oversimplifying your argument, sorry).

Point is; there was no E92 CSL, but a lot of us are modding in that vein; to make a "factory+" M3. And to that point, largely the same pieces. Nobody is *trying* to make their cars worse (although I admit it happens sometimes). And as someone pointed out earlier, there are assuredly compromises BMW made for price / market / whatever with the "base" M3 that they didn't with the CSL.

Along those lines, I personally think the Vörsteiner CSL trunk looks a lot better than the stock trunk, and aligns with the BMW aesthetic per the E46 M3 CSL. Same with the OEM splitters, and aftermarket diffusers.

[MJBO]

I'm loving mine as is, the only thing I'd love to do is fit an Eisenmann Race exhaust. Came with the carbon splitters and lip spoiler.

All I've done since buying it a year ago is rod bearings, refinish the wheels, new tyres and a full detail.

Oh, and enjoy 6000km behind the wheel

[serranot]

Sort of. I’m not a fan of garish (IMO) external add ons. I think visually the car is close to perfect.

Yet I have added LED angel eyes, OEM exhaust mod with OEM modified black chrome tips, a Karbonius intake, and I am agonizing over the MFactory CF driveshaft. So, I suppose I chose those items to “improve” while trying not to stray too far from what the factory produced. Plus those are all reversible (I kept the stock parts).