Longboarder's M3 - Back to Stock

[Longboarder]

So I've been here for 4 years now. Ordered my 2013 M3 in June 2012, picked it up in September and gave it up to MRF Engineering for a supercharger/catless exhaust with less than 1,000 miles on the odometer.

Spent years and over 100 dyno pulls dialing it in. Tried all sorts of stuff - different fuels, meth, pulleys, catted/catless exhaust etc. Posted it all here. Best configuration for kicking ass is simply the base ESS 650 kit and a supplemental 5 gallon intercooler water tank with a good free flow exhaust. Car was absolutely bullet proof. Hundreds of airstrip passes, dozen of track days....car just ran and ran and ran. Had only one issue where my intercooler pump power wire came loose at an airstrip event which caused zero water circulation and the car was way down on power that day. But otherwise perfection.

You always think you are going to keep a car forever but that's rarely ever the case. You get older...things change...I've been intrigued about the BMW i8 since it came out and now I thinking about trading in the M3. I'm running out of garage space and something's got to go. Plus I have an interesting tax situation and makes it more advantageous to trade the M3 than any other car I have. So all that said, I dropped the car back off at MRF and three days later I got it back...bone stock except running 255/275 PSS and have to keep in the solid MRF subframe bushings.

On my drive home from MRF that day, I took the scenic, windy route. To my surprise I found myself enjoying the stock M3 much more than how I had it before. How is this possible? Well, I can actually drive the car full tilt now. Sure it feels slow but the power delivery is still fantastic and I can finally hear the awesome induction noise which is not present with a supercharger. Also, I just floor the car all the time because well I can - the car is really quiet with the stock exhaust and I don't have to worry about being in the triple digits in mere seconds and worrying about getting pulled over. What is weird is that now I'm thinking about keeping the M3. I dunno. Never had a connection to a car like this one.

In the mean-time, I'll just reminisce about how it used to be from my last airstrip events -

NFZ Bakersfield 1/2 Mile:

NFZ Arizona 1/2 Mile:

[elim11]

Say it ain't so. I'll always remember as one of the fastest, most reliable m3 that actually gets used the way it is meant to. Thanks for constantly pushing the envelope.

I'll miss those airstrip vids. Now I guess we'll have to 'settle' for your 911 turbo runs...

[nholmes]

Just kidding, man! Thanks for everything you've done for this community, we really appreciate it!

[ASBSECU E93]

Originally Posted by nholmes

Just kidding, man! Thanks for everything you've done for this community, we really appreciate it!

This!!

[L4ces]

It could be a sad day for this community. DSLJ, Longboarder, Malek to name a few pushed the car to interesting new heights. Who going to take the reign and do something interesting?
So far, Squartus and SVH have had my interest.

[Lucrecio84]

I guess the decision to go back to stock isn't very tough when you have a 700wheel hp turbo sitting in the garage

[Denk]

I always loved the e92 in stock form, still do. It's easy to throw everything at her and go crazy but she's such a sweet machine in stock form, that's the appeal for me.

[SYT_Shadow]

Longboarder, you have been a great member of this community. I have thoroughly enjoyed your spectacular videos.

I drove in a friend's 650hp ESS car this weekend back to back with mine, which has HFC, Evolve catback and the Dinan airbox.
The ESS car was stupid quick, but it lost the marvelous induction noise which is one of the things I love about this car. I must also say even with 414hp I do not get to floor it all that much.

I'm also intrigued with the i8, but that type of car is only going to get better. It's a 'v1'.
The S65, however, represents 'peak engine'. It will never be built again. One day we may all have 1000hp electric cars yet yearn for the incredible sound and response you could only get in a NA engine.


If you decide to keep the car you may want to pm me in the future. I am working with Karbonius to build a full carbon plenum for this car which will make it sound even more incredible than it does

Whatever happens I hope to keep reading of your exploits! Cheers!

[STooK]

Wow, can't believe you are parting with your e92. I agree the i8 is fascinating but it will only get better while e92 M3 will be the last of its kind.

Either way, I enjoyed watching your videos of you spanking higher end cars and I hope the i8 treats you well! (Love video 7 of the first video, vs the M4)

[cmo_93]

I'm impressed at how reliable the car has been for you. This makes me want to S/C. How many miles does your car have now?

[BzsBimmer]

Well at least the i8 sounds better than the F8X ///M
I've always admired your car and what you've done to it and the community by posting those kick ass video's. I think a lot of us live vicariously through you.

Sucks to hear that you may be leaving us for the i8 forum but I hear they're buzzing with electricity in anticipation of you joining.

[Hujan]

Heard about this from the man himself. Such a bummer, but everything comes to an end. I had the pleasure of seeing the car in person at MRF last summer. Such a sweet machine. M3 or no, I really hope to get to meet you in person one of these times when I am in OC, Longboarder.

[Helmsman]

Longboarder, sorry to hear you potentially will separate with your beloved E92. Really enjoyed your video dusting everything out there. Should you part with the car, I still hope you visit us man!

[digitalpersona]

Sounds to me you just need a bigger garage
My vote is to keep her. She served you well until now.

[Richbot]

I have heard more than one person say this after going back from a supercharger.

Don't sell it.

[8600RPM]

I have,always,believed in enjoying a car for why its,designed purpose,was. In this case,it is balance it is,a high revving naturally aspirated engine. It wasn't meant to have FI. I also believe in squeezing out the maximum out of any design. In this case going catless with a tune,really brings out the epitome of the power this engine, unadulterated by emissions, can produce.

I had a tuned f80 went back to a catless e92 m3. I 2ont ever super charge. Enjoy for what it is which sound is a huge component . I certainly would not give up induction noise for power in this platform

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

I'm running out of garage space and something's got to go.

Get a lift or 2. They're cheaper than an i8.

Originally Posted by L4ces

Who going to take the reign and do something interesting?
So far, Squartus and SVH have had my interest.

heh-heh-heh....

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by L4ces

It could be a sad day for this community. DSLJ, Longboarder, Malek to name a few pushed the car to interesting new heights. Who going to take the reign and do something interesting?
So far, Squartus and SVH have had my interest.

Haven't stopped my friend, and still going. The evolution is far from over.

[buddalun]

Longboarder Always enjoyed your posts, vids, and insights; you are an invaluable forum contributor.

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by buddalun

Longboarder Always enjoyed your posts, vids, and insights; you are an invaluable forum contributor.

Curious: Why i8?

He talked about it in another thread that I feel too lazy to search for right now

[Longboarder]

Hey guys thanks for the kind words! Being part of this community is fantastic and you are making it hard to leave

I have decided to wait for a while before making any new decisions. Just gonna drive the car the way BMW meant it for a few weeks/months I dunno. I am really digging it. Getting 10mpg right now lol.

All my mods are sitting at MRF and I am not selling anything at the moment. If I keep the car I will likely do something very different - keep it NA and keep it quiet for the moment. I'd put the Stop Tech brakes back on...do some experimental e85 blend tuning with max timing advance. See how much power I can get through the stock exhaust. But then maybe drop the Akra exhaust back on and hit the 400 club. So maybe the blower goes...but I have $16K+ invested in it with the intercooler system...better almost to just sit on it if I keep the car just in case. Used prices for these kits have come down.

So there it is. Feels nice to be in this position. No pressure to change just see how it goes and take it slowly one step at a time.

Cheers.

[X5-User]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Hey guys thanks for the kind words! Being part of this community is fantastic and you are making it hard to leave

I have decided to wait for a while before making any new decisions. Just gonna drive the car the way BMW meant it for a few weeks/months I dunno. I am really digging it. Getting 10mpg right now lol.

All my mods are sitting at MRF and I am not selling anything at the moment. If I keep the car I will likely do something very different - keep it NA and keep it quiet for the moment. I'd put the Stop Tech brakes back on...do some experimental e85 blend tuning with max timing advance. See how much power I can get through the stock exhaust. But then maybe drop the Akra exhaust back on and hit the 400 club. So maybe the blower goes...but I have $16K+ invested in it with the intercooler system...better almost to just sit on it if I keep the car just in case. Used prices for these kits have come down.

So there it is. Feels nice to be in this position. No pressure to change just see how it goes and take it slowly one step at a time.

Cheers.

These kinds of posts what tores me down. Supercharge it or not!
I like my car very much in stock form but I do feel "sometimes" I am driving a boat specially when passing through some high powered cars so this debate will never end for me until I supercharge it and see how it does with FI..but it is such an expensive experiment for me