Singletrack's M3

[Dare]

Originally Posted by Singletrack

That's how I was feeling! ; ) That's the old ride on the left waiting for its lucky new owner. 04 (Aug 03 purchase) STi with 73k miles on it.

Damn, form an STi to an M3, NICE move!

[Turbo>NA]

Nice rims, your going to get tired of it in less than a week.

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by Turbo>NA

Nice rims, your going to get tired of it in less than a week.

Thanks. Get tired of what - the wheels or the car?

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by Dare

Damn, form an STi to an M3, NICE move!

Thanks. It was a slippery slope. I started looking for GT cars for a friend of mine, got interested in the S5 - couldn't get one....test drove an M3 and that was game over : )

[Gmt_M3]

nice upgrade....i went from a 07 sti to a 08 graphite m3.....i miss the sti at times....especially the awd!

[Singletrack]

Originally Posted by Gmt_M3

nice upgrade....i went from a 07 sti to a 08 graphite m3.....i miss the sti at times....especially the awd!

I bet you do in BC! Our winters a more mild for sure, but still "interesting" at times. The STi's a great car, I'd love to own an S204 one day or perhaps a new one if they change their philosophy. I just don't dig the 2008 for many reasons.

[Jaypod]

Congrats on the ride! Really like the winter look, those might look good on my SG........

[09E92M34ME]

Holy Shit! I love the wheels and the clears look fine.

[Singletrack]

Thanks guys. Yah I like the clears, but I really want to fill the bumper...maybe as a present to myself next year. I already have some gnarly paint chips. Actually one on the hood gauged the aluminum - thank you penn dot!

[Singletrack]

I finally got around to ordering and installing some ultimate pedals. This is their shiny finish that matches the dead pedal well with the rubber inserts. I used two screws each for the clutch and brake, and three for the gas. I then modified the remaining rubber nubs with a razor and crazy-glued them onto the screws. I'm happy with the results.

[lazyassand1balla24]

nice

[datbimmerdoe]

Sweet, I really like the wheels.

[Ryan@IND]

Rims are hot and so are the pedals! I know there is more coming...

[Daya]

looks awesome - what mods do you have planned?

[Singletrack]

Thanks fellas. Julius has fabspeed catted downpipes and a resonated x-pipe on the way. I hit a stray catalytic converter on the pa tpk which dented the crap out of my stock cat - huh? Anyway, I'm replacing it with a full fabspeed setup.

The plan, although I still need to discuss logistics with my local shop, is to drop the exhaust, put in a UUC short shifter, ceramic coat the stock muffler satin black, and then reinstall with the fabspeed. I have to schedule tint at some point as well. I've been slacking on that...

[Singletrack]

I added the fabspeed 200-cell cats and x-pipe. The stock axle back was also powder coated black. With the exhaust dropped, I installed a UUC short shifter as well. RPM in Warrandale, PA did all the work in one day with the powdercoat - that's service. I'll report back in a week with reviews. I need to give everything a fair shake before endorsing or changing anything ; )

Initial impressions:

Are the resonators in the fabspeed actually glasspacks? If so, the sound is going to change, and it seems like it's still changing. I don't want to review the sound until it has stabilized. I can still smell the new exhaust burning off, so it isn't there just yet. There is a noticeable increase in power at 6k+ RPM. There may be a slight decrease in power below 2k, but the only time I noticed it was going up a steep hill from a dead stop; not exactly racing ; )

UUC is notchier, but in a more ergonomic position and is much less vague. Truth be told, I liked the stock shifter and it had become very smooth. However, over the past 5k miles or so (about 16.5k on the car), it seems to have become a little looser. The shifts were still very smooth, but it seemed a little rubbery. The UUC feels very similar to how the tranny was brand new, but with a 30% reduction in throw. It became smoother as well over a couple of days of driving.

[TwinTurboXI]

Your car looks amazing.

I'm glad you listed the names of the shops you use around town, I will be sure to check them out.

Keep up the good work

I'm in the North Hills BTW

[zuggerat89]

Looks good!

[bavarian19]

I would have gone painted reflectors as well

[10M3MAN]

Looking good, congrats, keep the mods coming

[Singletrack]

Thanks guys. Car is back at RPM getting Solargard 35% tint all around (no windshield). Hopefully I'll get some pics this weekend if it stops raining.

[Singletrack]

I've done a lot since the last time I updated this. Let me see, I installed the Active Autowerke EU-adapted filter:



Comparo next to stock filter:



The adapter AA fabricated is extremely robust and I'm sure it will hold the filter in place as well as any OEM mold. It's hard to notice intake changes with your butt-dyno. I should have used dynolicious at a minimum, but oh well.

RPM had their tint guy come in and do 35% solargard:



I had RPM install the UUC short shifter as well. It is much more precise and ergonomic for me personally. Initially it had the feeling of the stock shifter at delivery - very clunky. But over the course of three days or so it became very smooth. I don't know that it really allows you to shift faster, but it certainly allows a more precise engagement of gears and removes the slight, rubbery feeling that the stock shifter had. It's a step closer to the STi 6-speed that I still miss and love ; )

Some clean car pics - shine compliments of Meguiar's #21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0). This is probably one of the last nice days we will have in Pittsburgh for a looooong time:





A couple of the wife's ride (09 328i xdrive):





...and finally, by way of IND and Germany ; )






I wasn't 100% satisfied with the fabspeed + stock muffler combo in terms of sound. So the Akra will hopefully solve that. I haven't had a chance to test drive it. I just threw the tips on there and fired it up after the Steelers destroyed Denver : ) It sounded bassy and mean...

I'm going to double check for leaks etc, then take it on a nice backcountry drive to work tomorrow. I have a few days left on the summer rubber, then it's time to switch to the winter setup with a small twist : )

I will report back with a full review on the exhaust later. I can say that in 10 years of modifying cars, this exhaust is the single finest piece I have ever seen - OEM or aftermarket. From the fit and finish, to the instructions, to the included materials - everything is perfect. Nate and Ilia at IND made the ordering experience totally painless and I had the exhaust in four business days if I'm not mistaken. I'll put positive reviews of all the vendors up in the appropriate forum.

Later!