2009 E90 M3 - a long journey ...

[soundofspeed]

Finally I got an e90 M3. I never expected to own one. It is a long story.

It actually started 2014 in Germany when we were looking for a decent vehicle for my daughter after she got here licence.
For €4500 we bought a 98 Z3 Coupe with 270k Kilometers.
This was actually the first BMW I purchased, so I started to gain interest in older BMWs.

My wife and my daughter (still) love the car. It is still used as a daily driver, my daughter took it also to the Nurburgring and all kind of trackdays. At this time I used my 911 for trackdays and all kind of roadtrips.

[soundofspeed]

Surprised by the great drivability of the Z3, I decided we need a another track car instead of the Porsche.
So I bought a beat up 1992 e36 325i. The seller already removed the interior, equipped the vehicle with a KW V1 and a LSD. It looked horrible. We fixed the car, made it street legal and after a while it was good for trips to Salzburgring and Nurburgring.

[soundofspeed]

still a long way to the M3 with S65, but we are on the way.

After a while the green e36 was done. We used it hard, but sometimes you want a safer car, decent seats and a roll cage. We decided to stay with the e36 chassis, but built a new one and use all the parts from the 325i.
So we bought a 318i for Eur450 in Oct 2017, which was actually built in 1990 and since 2000 off the road.. We didn´t care about engine, we just needed the shell.I was a lot of work. My son and I disassembled the car totally down to the pure metal, we also removed the whole wiring. The green e36 was disassembled and was picked up.
In the new car we put in Recaro seats, a roll cage, CAE shifter, E46 330i performance brakes. We used the whole drivetrain and suspension, engine and LSD from the green 325i.
We got the car painted and started putting the puzzle together. It took some time since I had to rewire the whole vehicle.
As an additional parts car, I bought an Avus-Blue, one owner 316i wagon. But instead of using it for parts, we fixed it during the time the other car was at the paint shop. My daughter used it as a winter car (other story...).
In March 2018 our new 325i was ready to go back on the road.

[soundofspeed]

we got the new car ready for the track.
Nurburgring of course, always worth the drive up there. Especially when you have a nice hotel where you can stay.
Always great to sit on near the track and watch the other cars.
Another great trip is Sachsenring, where you can do drift sessions.
They water all turns on the track, and you can drift the whole day.

The built of the car was worth the effort.

[soundofspeed]

but things change fast (and E90 M3 gets closer)
I company offered me a position in New York, so we parked all the cars in a shed and left Germany.

I made a deal with my wife, she wanted to move over: I can purchase a fun car (or two). My youngest son agreed as well, since he can get his licence with 16.
One week after arrival I bought the first car.
A one owner Z4M with around 100k miles. A good car to start. I originally was looking for an e46 M3 manual, no sunroof. This was hard to find and I thought this is a decent option instead. And very reasonable priced as well.
At least, I got something to work on again. Needed some repairs after years as a daily driver.
Took it to Lime Rock and some autocross events instantly.

[soundofspeed]

The Z4 was extremely appriciated in the family. Unfortunately by my wife. Getting bored of automatic transmissions, she decided the batmobile will be here daily driver instead of here F31. She said I just should look for another car, this one is her's now. I had to agree. The trunk is smaller so it may have advantages in shopping expenses ...
I searched for another fun car, dived again in the e46 M3 world, but it didn´t happen. Found a 97 e36 M3 with high miles, but rust free. It needed some work. We had to replace the radiator, rebuilt the calipers but the car was good to go on the road after a short period of time. Of course we did the M50 manifold swap and installed monoball bushings for the trailing arms. We put a bluetooth receiver into the original radio, so we can keep the original look but are able to use the phone in the car. From Germany I brought over some European headlights, which you get basically for free over there. We also purchased a second interior with perfect Vader seats. Furthermore we installed an oil cooler using an e46 M3 filter housing, cooler and lines from the EU e36 M3.
My son just turned 16 and he was doing a lot of work on the car on his own. He already had experience from our car in Germany how to work on this model. This made me nervous ...

[soundofspeed]

Of course my son took possession of the e36.
On January 2nd 2020 he woke me up early in the morning.
He found a 2009 E90 M3 near by, without sunroof, first owner.
I called and we drove by. It came even better. The car didn´t have a navigation as well, but PDC rear which I somehow like.
80k miles, throttle acuators replaced, good condition, DCT.
I bought it and in the evening it was in our garage.

[soundofspeed]

When buying the car, there came a terrible noise out of the engine. Didn't sound mechanical, but it could cleary be heard inside and was increasing with engine speed.
It was said the belt drive has already been checked and the noise may come from the power steering pump.
At home, I started checking again. Removed the belt, speed up the engine to 4000rpm.

Finally I got closer the the source and checked every pulley. At the idler puller I could feel a light resistance and some clicking when turning it.
Bought the part, installed it, noise was gone.

[soundofspeed]

The rod bearing change was also on my to do list. Oil analysis gave perfect results so I decided to skip it first. Anyhow, with all the Covid restriction around I decided to spend the saved vacation money on the vehicle. I well known shop offered a great deal for the replacement, so it was done.

[drivetolive]

Very interesting read! I'm curious, how do you compare the E90 M3 and Z4M? OF course very different cars, but before I bought my E90 I was also cross-shopping Z4Ms.

[MULLET]

Great stories buddy... keepem comin'

[soundofspeed]

In the summer we made a short trip to our house in Germany again. Beside work, working on our house I instantly started to modify my cars.
At first, the e36 became a new steering rack. I took a rack from a Z3, 2.7 instead of 3.5 turns. Car steers much better on the track, but it is of course a bit more nervous at 140mph (I don't care).

I good friend recognized that we are back in in Germany and came by with his Z1. Needed new brakes and the exhaust manifold gasket was gone. Brakes were easy, but the gasket took a long time (and even more beer). Of course a stud tear off, the other ones we had to cut off. It was a mess. Finaly we made it. Years ago, I already had the car totally dismanteled in my garage ...

It was also time to say good bye to the Avus Blue E36 Touring. Time was over. Sold it. The rust damage was far beyond street legality. We just got my daughter a new winter car, a green e36 Touring (what a change. This one with PDC, aircon, sunroof, trailer hitch and cruise control (quite some rare options in Germany)), and 5HP more!. We upgraded from 316i to 318i (!). We didn't know at this time, but this car needed MUCH more attention as we expected.

Anyhow, we got everything ready and it was time to take the cars to trackdays. My daughter and I went to Sachsenring for a driftday. She can drift circles now with the e36, great talent! We also took the Supra and the e36 to some race practice with many Porsche on an airfield. Big fun and three happy kids ...

[soundofspeed]

Back in the US, finally the KW V3 for the Z4M arrived. This took ages. Was sent over from Germany.
Anyhow, started the work instantly. First was removal of all the trunk components in order to remove the shocks. Working on the rear axle, I also installed monoball bushings. Furhtermore, I used shock mounts that were bolted from the wheel side, so never remove all the interior if some work on the shocks must be done.
Also installed wheel studs. Work went really fast.
Front axle was a bit more work but done fast as well.
Car drives much better now, looks better, handles better. What an improvement.

[soundofspeed]

e90 needed also some attention. Considering the sound of the Z4 and especially the concerto of the 6 single throttle bodies of my 914-6, there must be more with the S65.
After l got approval from my home government, I called Autocouture. eVenturi was on stock. I picked it up on Monday and installed it on the evening. Parts fit perfectly. When starting the engine, pulling out of the driveway and during warm up, there is nearly no difference. But when the throttles open at higher RPM the engine comes to life and the concerto starts. What a sound. Also the downshifts are incredible. Amazing. It is another car on demand. Fuel economy will get worse now. But for savings I will skip the exhaust mod for now.

[soundofspeed]

So, we enjoy the e90 very much. Drives perfect, a really decent car.
We went back to Germany for vacation. First we bought something totally stupid, an e36 Kettcar. Made by BMW. Our first e36 convertible.

After that we made some nice contact with the ADAC, the German version of the AAA. At first, our Volkswagen T3 Syncro Vanagon Westfalia ceased 10 miles from home at the Autobahn. We were picked up.

Two weeks later I wanted to go drifting with my youngest son at the Sachsenring. We just made the 200 mile drive, the LSD died at arrival. Hammering noises from the back. Day over. We drove home in a Renault Twingo. The e36 on a tow truck.

We flew back to the US and my other son tried to pick up the car from a workshop, ADAC just unloaded it. While towing, the front bumper broke off ...

Anyhow, I had a spare LSD (3.38 ratio) which I sent for rebuilt to a shop. They added additional clutches, now with a 60/35 slip and adjusted pre-tension. Also bought a rogue engineering diff cover. So work will continue ...

[M3_Legend]

Great stuff!! You have some great cars. Also love your storyline.

[cdavis93]

Jealous of your collection!

[soundofspeed]

In Germany we fixed the van (axle shaft was broken off), but there is another vehicle around ... bought it 12 years ago.
Somehow quite useless, but fun to drive when it starts. I parked it in our shed 4 years ago. This time I drove by, brought a new battery and some start pilot spray. First disconnected the ignition and turned it for a while. Used the spray and it fired up. The 6 single carburators needed a while to work, but finally it run. Fun car to drive, but somehow useless. 3 people can sit in the front at least.

[soundofspeed]

back here in New York all started normal.
One day I decided to take the Z4 for the commute.
It started, but it run terrible. Misfiring all the time, SES light on. Took another car. Coming back home I checked the error codes. Quite comprehensive. When the car was warm, it run ok and was drivable, SES light still on. Even after deleting all the codes. I checked the secondary air pump, worked. Looked for vacuum leaks, non found. Driving around I saw the live data and recognized air flow was constant at 1kg/h.
Finally, with a testing the air flow sensor of a friends car, this was the problem. The air flow sensor is available on Amazon ...

Also cleaned the eVenturi air filter, it was time.

Got the task from my wife to make the test drive to Stop&Shop. The usability and practicability of the Z4 is amazing.

[zareff]

Very nice. I love the Z4M steering rack, maybe a tad twitchy at high speeds though.

[Drifter2090]

Wow some great cars! Love the stories as well

[soundofspeed]

got new number plates last year. Something absolutely isn't available in Germany. But it will be only for a short period of time ...