MR e90ZCP 6MT Build

[cvstar9M3]

Ok, finally time to start my own journal/build thread. This will be my first "build" thread ever so I am excited!

First, a little about me. Like many of you I am a car enthusiast and love to drive sports cars. My dream is to daily drive a 911. I think they are the coolest cars on earth. I've had a long list of cars; I've probably had minimum 10 cars for the past 10 years including 3 M3s, 350z, boxster s, wrx, srt, Elise, etc. I've been obsessed with M3s ever since I saw my cousin's white e36 m3 back in the 90s. My first m3 was 10 years ago, a 2006 Jet Black/Cinnamon e46 m3 6mt. That peanut butter interior was sexy! I still remember driving that car for the first time. It was the fastest and most exciting car I had driven; I could do 140 mph in 4th gear; I did 160+ mph once and it felt planted and felt like it lowered itself to go for more. I know it was crazy but I was in my 20s so yeah lol... Unfortunately I had to sell it within a year.

Late 2016 I bought my 2nd m3; Jet black e90zcp dct that I sold April of this year (regretting it almost immediately). Yes, that DCT was wicked and that downshift was out of this world lol but hated the maintenance of the black paint and plus personal circumstances changed so after a year and a half I sold it and bought an 2014 jeep srt (big mistake; how does 8 mpg sound? lol and I ain't ready for SUVs yet); within a few months knew I had to get back into that e9x m3 so sold the srt (along with my beloved Elise).

Around August I began searching for another m3, knew I wanted 6mt this time and also looked for the coupe instead but since I have a 3 year old girl and wife and I likely will have another child in the near future, figured a e90 would be ok as well. Three months in my frustrating search I was starting to give up. Between missing out on some great cars to going back and forth on dct v. manual, high mileage vs. low mileage, and even flirting with some beat up or salvage cars. Shout to BOOF-M3 for being my conciliare through this process LOL. We even considered a 12.5k car that had salvage title and the kicker though.... had been in like 6 accidents. Lol.

Finally found her late October. Found it on Autolist app early one morning while going to the gym in Las Vegas: e90 zcp 6mt in MR w/72k miles fully loaded with pretty much every option other than the rear shade...MR was not my first choice but I couldn't pass up; it was great price; looked mint on pics; and Carfax was clean with only two prior owners and all the recommended maintenance. So I immediately called and put a deposit on it; a week later she was delivered!

After a few weeks with her, I gotta say I am extremely happy. I wouldn't say it's mint but it sure is close to it but front bumper needs respray and comfort access isn't working as it should. I've quickly grown to love the MR color. It's a very dynamic color that changes depending on lighting. And it's Sexy!!! And it was Boof's favorite color.

I've already began modding it. First things first, however, I immediately got an oil change installed the m5 weighted shift knob. Shout out to chiefm3 for installing it for me. I got some great ideas including some carbon fiber bits both interior and exterior as well as some black or graphite wheels (SDC F14s? TE37SL? VMR v810s? who knows?) Super charge it one day? may be. I'll probably won't go too crazy modding in the end. Of course, the dreaded rod bearings will be done soon and. For now though, that V8 engine/exhaust sound has to be amplified asap so the exhaust will be changed next. I won't say what it just yet lol... it should arrive on Friday and I will post pics and quick.review upon installing by next week.... hint... it will be loud but it can also be quiet lol CANT wait! I will use this thread to update my progress...Let the games begin!

[Helmsman]

Another one coming back. Good decision and congrats on a beauty! Looks great for a "higher" mileage car, seats are the first that use to go but even those seem in nice shape. Welcome back!

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Another one coming back. Good decision and congrats on a beauty! Looks great for a "higher" mileage car, seats are the first that use to go but even those seem in nice shape. Welcome back!

Thanks. Yeap couldn't stay away long lol. Missed that V8 sound. Hoping to stick around much longer this time. Liked DCT but loving the manual. And yeah, car is super clean; seats show no sign of wear at all; definitely well cared for and it shows.

[cjpavao]

looks great man, where in MA are you? I’m on the cape.

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

Thanks. Yeap couldn't stay away long lol. Missed that V8 sound. Hoping to stick around much longer this time. Liked DCT but loving the manual. And yeah, car is super clean; seats show no sign of wear at all; definitely well cared for and it shows.

Originally Posted by ayocpavao

looks great man, where in MA are you? I'm on the cape.

Thanks. I'm in Beantown!

[mr_z4mc1m_oz]

Nice story, makes me want one even more.

[asif163]

Welcome back! I too am back into an E90 6MT ZCP this past April after selling my E92 back in 2014. I immediately regretted selling it but now I get the giggles every time I push that start button!

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by mr_130i_oz

Nice story, makes me want one even more.

Thanks. I appreciate it. Get yours ASAP lol

Originally Posted by asif163

Welcome back! I too am back into an E90 6MT ZCP this past April after selling my E92 back in 2014. I immediately regretted selling it but now I get the giggles every time I push that start button!

Thanks. I feel the same way now. I enjoy it that much more now. I listen and smile to every little sounds it makes. Yeap. I guess is what they say: u don't know what u got until she gone lol

[spazzyfry123]

She's a beaut!

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

She's a beaut!

Thanks bro. Just picked up exhaust too pics coming very soon... stay tuned! Sneak peak...

[Van]

Congrats Man!!! Great looking car. I know that feeling ur experiencing. I just got mine last month and still grinning ear to ear every time I get into to it. I live in Florida, so I'll get to enjoy it year round!! Just wished we had curvy mountain roads

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

Thanks bro. Just picked up exhaust too pics coming very soon... stay tuned! Sneak peak...

Sweet! Can’t wait to hear it

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by EJT86

Sweet! Can’t wait to hear it

Originally Posted by Van

Congrats Man!!! Great looking car. I know that feeling ur experiencing. I just got mine last month and still grinning ear to ear every time I get into to it. I live in Florida, so I'll get to enjoy it year round!! Just wished we had curvy mountain roads

Thanks. Yeah man. It's an amazing feeling. We stay chasing that high lol. I'll be driving mine through the winter. Sometimes I wish I lived I. FL too ( in-laws down there).

Originally Posted by EJT86

Sweet! Can't wait to hear it

Yes sir. Just unboxed the thing. Wow man! Definitely some high end stuff.

[cvstar9M3]

So I just unboxed my exhaust. And Wow! Before we get to that though, another 'short' story about how we got here:

so yeah for me exhaust on a sport car is a must; no may be or buts about it; gotta do it. So I knew I'd buy an exhaust and in fact I was shopping for it as I was shopping for the car lol. My last e90zcp I ended up picking up a used Gintani valved sport for it (it was actually was delivered w/ the car as the seller from here ended up living in Atlanta where the car was delivered from). Liked It but thought it wasn't loud enough. So I later paired it with fabspeed hfc xpipe; was louder but i still wished for louder. But I always liked that I could turn it on/off for quiet or louder.

As I was looking for this car I knew I wanted loud and valved. So a couple months, I came across locally an e92 zcp 6mt that had IPE exhaust paired w AFE hfc xpipe. I drove that car once and OMG I was in love w that sound. I ended up not buying that car but kept my eye used sets of IPE. Ipe we all know cost a grip even used. After searches and you tube videos I also came across other valved loud options Armytrix, Greiseg, and Frequency Intelligent (FI). I actually found a used Armytrix and paid for it but seller back out because of shipping issues. I was ok w that particularly since those had blue tips that I wasn't crazy about. Then I saw the CF tips that came with the FI exhaust and realized that their price new was pretty much same as a used IPE. And since all those valved loud exhausts pretty much sounded the same to me I decided to pull the trigger on the FI. I texted AR_Motorwerkz and within a week or so I bought this bad boy: Full catless FI w/ CF tips. Those tips were a big sell for me. Thought they'd look sexy against the Melbourne red. Plus they seem less common than the others so why not something more "unique!"

Now on to the exhaust. I just opened the box and will install it next week. As soon as I opened the box I knew I had bought high end stuff. The padding to protect the exhaust, the little pretty boxes with the CF tips inside; the pretty remote box with authenticity card. I felt like when I buy a $200+ bought of blue label or high end Gucci sneakers. Half of the trick w such purchases is the presentation! The exhaust looks to be extremely well made and welded. It's sick looking and again... those CF tips though. They are sexy!!!Here are some pics! I'll unwrap everything and take better pics of the full system once I get to the shop. Can't wait for the sound but first I plan on dyno on Monday to see the output stock and then take one after to see what gains are.[IMG][/IMG]

[cvstar9M3]

I've always wanted black wheels and the MR is a perfect car for it. Question is should I keep the classic zcp look or should I try the F14s? Tough choice! This will likely be done for the summer but figured I start looking now.

BTW, exhaust should be installed tomorrow! Can't wait!

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

I've always wanted black wheels and the MR is a perfect car for it. Question is should I keep the classic zcp look or should I try the F14s? Tough choice! This will likely be done for the summer but figured I start looking now.

BTW, exhaust should be installed tomorrow! Can't wait!

I personally think the ZCP fit the look better... however, if you go the other route I'd be happy to take those ZCPs off your hands!

[EJT86]

Do both. Paint the ZCPs and get another set for summers

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by EJT86

Do both. Paint the ZCPs and get another set for summers

I personally think the ZCP fit the look better... however, if you go the other route I'd be happy to take those ZCPs off your hands![/QUOTE]
Thanks. I'll prolly keep my zcp either way as I'm running them in the winter.

Originally Posted by EJT86

Do both. Paint the ZCPs and get another set for summers

You vote zcp look then? As a matter of fact there is a set a zcp for sale near us right now. Looks like it needs quite bit of work though and painting of course. Rather get a better set and black. GTS perhaps?

[spazzyfry123]

If you're talking of keeping your current ZCP wheels in addition to another set, then I vote for a different style wheel in place. No real reason to get two sets of the same thing if you're spending the money, right?

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

If you're talking of keeping your current ZCP wheels in addition to another set, then I vote for a different style wheel in place. No real reason to get two sets of the same thing if you're spending the money, right?

True. Makes sense. Another suggestion EJ made is BBS CI-R. For some reason they don't seem very popular even though they pretty much are FI look alikes

[cvstar9M3]

Can't wait! Driving to the shop now!

[spazzyfry123]

That's pretty!