Just picked up first E90 M3 6MT

[DanMpower]

After selling my last E92 M3 about a year ago, I was on the hunt for my desired spec E90 M3.

It took me a year, but I settled on "close enough"

My search was for an 09+ LCI E90 M3, 6MT, Slicktop, No Nav, No EDC, manual speed cloth, a stripper in Alpine White, or Melbourne Red. Basically the fewer options, the better.

I found this car in Texas and immediately knew it was as close as I was going to get and didn't want to wait any longer. It had everything I was looking for except no speed cloth but damn near my dream spec. Scheduled a PPI with the buyer(PPI mechanic said it looked and drove like it had 600 miles and not 60k), money wired, 5 days later and it's here.

Shout outs to Montway and Professional Auto Transport, amazing companies with fantastic follow up and super accurate shipping times. I was originally looking for enclosed but they said it could possibly take a few weeks to book and I was impatient, plus I saved a few hundred going open. The car arrived in perfect condition, she just needs a good wash as lots of bugs hitched a ride on her journey from TX to CA.

[DanMpower]

My two previous E92 M3s, both DCT. While the DCT transmission is absolutely brilliant, I knew I wanted my next E9x car to be a 6MT after finding out the Autosolutions shifter can fix that rubber box.

Link to my "build" thread on my previous E92s.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1532679

Also if curious, here is my maintenance/restoration thread for my E39 M5 over on M5board.
https://www.m5board.com/threads/new-...to-her.602834/

[DanMpower]

My F80, which will be her new stablemate.

[wyatth]

Congrats, cool spec! What plans do you have for it?
Clean F80 too.

[StripclubDJ]

In for moar pics
Congrats

[reidetailing]

Such a nice spec! Congrats on finding the dream M3...also, I'm not the biggest F80 fan (they're alright) but man I LOVE what you did to yours it looks incredible!!!

~Alex

[PYE46M3]

nice pick up. very hard to find a 6mt without navi and with speed cloth. did you fly in to see the car?

[Drifter2090]

Congrats! Can't wait to see what you do with it

[Conzyo]

Congrats, looking forward to the build thread.

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by PYE46M3

nice pick up. very hard to find a 6mt without navi and with speed cloth. did you fly in to see the car?

With everything going on I didn't want to fly so I hired a mobile PPI service, they came and did a full inspection on the car and sent me the results afterward. My first car purchased out of state and sight unseen.

[jiggz]

Very nice - was this the same one listed FS here by another forum member a couple weeks back?

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Very nice - was this the same one listed FS here by another forum member a couple weeks back?

Yes sir.

[M3_Legend]

Nice find and that F80 is so clean love the setup!!

[Richneerd]

Originally Posted by DumbAS55

After selling my E92 M3, I was on the hunt for my unicorn.

It took me a year, but I settled on "close enough"

I was initially looking for an 09+ LCI E90 M3, 6MT, Slicktop, No Nav, No EDC, manual speed cloth, stripper in Alpine White or Melbourne Red.

Found this baby in Houston TX, immediately knew it was as close as I was going to get. It had everything I was looking for except with power leather but damn near my dream spec. Scheduled a PPI with the buyer, money wired, 5 days later and it's here. Shout out to Montway and Professional Auto Transport, amazing companies with fantastic follow up and super accurate shipping times.

Will get her all washed up, full paint correction, ceramic coated in the next few days. A lot of bugs still stuck to her on her journey from TX to CA.

Oh sheeet congrats, we have the same car, but mines 08, congrats!

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by Richneerd

Oh sheeet congrats, we have the same car, but mines 08, congrats!

Hey me too car was built exactly the same as the OP’s E90, but with Jerez and and it’s also an 08. I’ve had it since it was new and it’s been awesome. And the idrive works exactly the way it should

[Drifter2090]

Damn maybe i'll sell my Dinan SSK and get his kit!

[DanMpower]

Took a trip out to Lake Forest to meet the famous Malek at MRF Engineering for rod bearing service. I'm really OCD with my cars and I have trust issues with who works on them, it seems Malek is really thorough and meticulous so I felt better leaving my car with him. It also helped that he has several hundred of these jobs under his belt.

Arrived bright and early for 1-day service, left the car to cool before he showed up.

Fantastic service and finished earlier than anticipated. Glad I had the RB service done, a couple of them already had exposed copper, good thing Malek said my crank journals were still perfect.

Got the standard MRF special
Clevite/Mahle Extra Clearance MRF spec bearings
ARP connecting rod bolt set
New motor mounts
LiquiMoly 10w60 Oil Change
Power steering fluid flush/exchange
Coolant flush/exchange
4 wheel alignment

[DanMpower]

Got a great deal on a Corsa E90 system from a forum member, only a couple thousand miles!

Everything people said about this system paired with test pipes/x-pipe on the forum is true. Perfect volume, no drone, and it has a very unique exotic sound to it.

Unfortunately the part about people saying it's ugly as sin is also true. I'll definitely need to upgrade the tips eventually.

[derbo]

Good set of updates man!

[wyatth]

Nice work!

[E46NYBMW]

Wow, I've heard of the N55 guys replacing the plastic valve cover when addressing a valve cover leak when replacing the valve cover gasket, but replacing the valve cover on the S65 is a first.

[swagon]

Always nice to see older cars getting the right treatment!