2011 Melbourne Red E90 Stripper Build

[Melbourn3]

A little overdue but here it goes.

2011 E90 in Melbourne Red

Slicktop
ZCP
Single Hump
6MT
Manual Speedcloth Seats.

As being considered a "youngster" I have tried to learn from the older crowd and the methods behind modifying a car. My first E46 M3 at 18, to my 1st E92 M3 at 21. I have cheaped out on certain mods early on, and I have overpaid on certain things. But now after 4 E46 M3s and many, many other cars, I have figured it out ( I think LOL).

So here goes my build thread.


After selling my MR E92 M for a decent profit and getting into a Tesla, I noticed something was missing from my life. It took a good while for me to figure it out but plain and simple it was the excitement from owning/modifying a performance car. I thought long and hard about what to buy. IE C7 Z06, CTS-V, M5, M6, GTR, 911 etc. You name it I probably have looked into it. But as I was expecting COVID prices to hurt the car market it did the opposite. Everything I wanted was skyrocketing in price. My original plan was a C7 z06 but those things shot up in value, so back to the chopping block. Months passed by and I was always on the forums reading and looking at every FS ad coming up. Then I started to notice the ZCP E90 community. Extremely tightknit and considered "rare/desireable" to peak my interest. So I kept tabs for a good 6 months on the market trend. Then after a fortunate turn of events in my work, I was able to pony up for something a bit more than I was originally thinking. A "rare E90". So the hunt began.

I knew I wanted something rare and super desirable, but also wanted something nice. So I was on the lookout for a fully loaded E90 in MR, LMB, IB or individual. So after finding an stripper MR E90 in NC, I was thinking about a MR car again. Then it dawned on me that someone else also wanted a MR ZCP E90 and made a WTB thread on it and someone in that chat had one! So I go back 10-20 pages and I find the thread! I send him a PM with my phone number asking for his spec and some pics! A few hours later I get a text! HOLY CRAP its a friggin UNICORN!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes, a fully clean, unmolested stripper e90. I immediately gave a higher offer to get the car and it worked! We had to back and forth a week or two so our schedules would line up but eventually I flew to Denver to pay for the car, sign the paperwork, get the car loaded onto a transporters trailer and hop back on a flight to head home to LA. Well i ended up having a great lunch, and missed my flight as the transporter was going to be a day late as well. So i said F it, im driving home. My E92 M3 I actually did the same thing, fly there drive back in one day. This trip on the other hand ended up much worse. The 70 freeway through CO was shut down due to fire and flood ( go figure) so i had to take the southern route. Going through CO,NM,AZ, then CA seemed easy at first but I was extremely mistaken. I bought a new escort radar detector and hit the road. I got out of Denver for about an hour or two and realized no way would I be able to do this trip in one day, so I ended up going to Phoenix to rest at a family member's house and visit them. So after a grueling trip to Flagstaff i took an 30 min nap at the break of dawn and hit the road again. Did a nice photo op in Sedona AZ and went straight to Scottsdale. I ended up sleeping most of the day and relaxed there a few days so It was pretty nice. Hit the road back to LA after a day and got home safe and sound with the new toy!

Now the dilemma began, keep stock or modify. Everyone told me to keep it stock and I did for a good bit but then I decided, its my car, Im going to do it how i want OEM+ but with a bit more. So now it began. I ordered everything in different "batches" but this is my full list.

OEM M Performance Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps
OEM M Performance Carbon Fiber Front Spliters
OEM M Performance Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler (RIP) long and sad story to this.
OEM BMW M Edition Black Chrome Kidney Grilles
OEM BMW M Edition Black Chrome Fender Grilles
IND Rear "M3" Emblem in Black Chrome
IND Front Painted Reflectos
IND Carbon fiber Hood Vents
Dinan Axle-Back Exhaust
Dinan X-Pipe
Dinan Engine Braces
Dinan Rear Tow Links
Dinan Front Swaybar Endlinks
Groundcontrol Street Camber Plates
Slon "Advanced" 380mm Brembo BBK. 380x34 front, 380x28 rear
Slon Vanos Covers
Ohlins R/T Coilovers with EDC delete
ESS G1 Supercharger Kit
19' HRE P43
18' BBS FI

[Melbourn3]

Here are some pics of the car from the day i got it!

[Melbourn3]

Here are some pics before the modifications started.

[Melbourn3]

After buying the ESS G1 and the first step of modifications done, I decided to do a bit of work while its being installed.

M Power Throttle Actuators
Valve Cover Gaskets
Fuel Breather Valves
Spark Plugs w/ the G1
Injectors w/ the G1
Front Cover Gaskets
Slon Vanos Covers

[DirtyM3]

Welcome back. That is one beautiful MR. Great purchased and your trip sound like a blast minus the fire in Colorado.

In March, I'll hit my one year mark with my e92.

[johmei]

Ahh beautiful car, congrats! I have been looking for something similar for years and never seen a MR E90 in good condition and history. Do what you wish to the car and enjoy.

[Rino924]

Nice pick up! Looking forward to following. I picked up a MR slicktop DCT E90 a couple months ago. Made a thread in here to document my progress as well.

Also I love the 219's on there. I want to get rid of my 220's for a backup set.

[Drifter2090]

Congrats! Nice additions so far, get us some more pics!

[bigjae1976]

Nice!

I would skip the Dinan rear section. Two of the pipes are fake so you'll get two faded tips and 2 black tips afterwhile. Then you can barely tell a difference. Although not seeing the OEM can is a plus.

Would also skip the Dinan rear toe links unless you plan to do a lot of alignments. The Dinan front sway and links aren't very good.

I would get the Dinan springs. They lower the car perfectly. The front is the same as the ZCP but a little lower in the rear. But not sure if that's worth the $$$.

[Melbourn3]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Nice!

I would skip the Dinan rear section. Two of the pipes are fake so you'll get two faded tips and 2 black tips afterwhile. Then you can barely tell a difference. Although not seeing the OEM can is a plus.

Would also skip the Dinan rear toe links unless you plan to do a lot of alignments. The Dinan front sway and links aren't very good.

I would get the Dinan springs. They lower the car perfectly. The front is the same as the ZCP but a little lower in the rear. But not sure if that's worth the $$$.

Hey actually I already have all these parts so a bit too late. I’m going for an OEM or as close to OEM build as possible so the Dinan parts are a bit of a personal choice. The exhaust actually IMO has the best sound of all the exhausts, but I am a Dinan fanboy LOL

[Rino924]

Did you keep the 219's or part ways with them?

[belicowboy]

Love MB red!

[Melbourn3]

Originally Posted by Rino924

Did you keep the 219's or part ways with them?

Nope sold a while ago, kept the 359s, HRE's from my old E92, and the new BBS' i just got

[e90sood]

Originally Posted by Melbourn3

After buying the ESS G1 and the first step of modifications done, I decided to do a bit of work while its being installed.

M Power Throttle Actuators
Valve Cover Gaskets
Fuel Breather Valves
Spark Plugs w/ the G1
Injectors w/ the G1
Front Cover Gaskets
Slon Vanos Covers

Beautiful ride, wish i found a e90 this color but e92 will work for now.

[ilove90m3]

waiting for new update
Love MR E90

[Melbourn3]

Originally Posted by ilove90m3

waiting for new update
Love MR E90

Soon soon! TheSmokingTire shot a short video on my car so I will post the link once its up!

[Melbourn3]

New video is up! It is indeed a F10 shift knob and not a F80

[WWM3]

I recently acquired a MR ZCP E90 DCT. This build is very inspiring! Any regrets with any of your choices? What are the specs on the BBS wheels/tire setup?

[BobS]

Funny , I just saw this vid and when I clicked the thread I thought it was the same car. The S65 is something special and adding a supercharger puts it over the top. Enjoy! I love the look of a MR E90!!

[Melbourn3]

Originally Posted by WWM3

I recently acquired a MR ZCP E90 DCT. This build is very inspiring! Any regrets with any of your choices? What are the specs on the BBS wheels/tire setup?

Thanks!, No regrets at all. I was worried it would ruin the driving dynamics of an E9X M3 but in fact it just amplified the overall feeling of the car. The blower was my favorite mod, but with everything coming together it made the car a complete package

As far as tires I'm running PS4S: 275/35/18 Front and 295/30/18 in the Rear.

Rims are
BBS FI (non RKP)
18x9.5 +22
18x10.5 +25

[ilove90m3]

Originally Posted by Melbourn3

New video is up! It is indeed a F10 shift knob and not a F80

Wonderful i love this E90M3

[Paco1M]

Would you Maybe sell this car?😃