2011 e90 M3 ZCP Interlagos Blue Journal

[akkando]

2011 E90 M3 ZCP DCT Slicktop in Interlagos Blue

Wanted a place to spam my pics of the car and update with any mods.

Finding the Car and History

I was specifically looking for an e90 M3 ZCP DCT slicktop in Interlagos Blue and I found exactly that in early September with 75k miles in the for sale section of this forum from another member (who bought it from a member before that). PPI was done, deal was made, car was delivered to me from Florida to California on Sept 24th. Only issue from PPI was alignment. Previous owner had done a lot of maintenance including BE rod bearings. The only thing it doesn't have that I really want is rear fold seats.

VIN has these odd codes S925A S902A
Supposedly this means the car was an executive car or a demo car. One of the first 2011 cars made.
That's not great, and I wouldn't have bought it off the lot, but the previous owner had it for like 50k miles, I figure if it was a dud, he would have known, and the PPI would have shown it.

Previous owner had done the below recent maintenance

• New Motor Mounts
• New Value Cover Gaskets, Spark Plug Tubes, and Bolts
• New DCT Fluid, Bottom Pan Gasket, Mechatronic Gasket, Main and Suction Filters
• New Rear Differential Fluid
• New Spark Plugs
• New Engine Air Filter

Car being loaded up in Florida


Car arrived in California

Modifications

• New BE Rod Bearings with ARP bolts
• Delrin & Brass Throttle Actuator Gears
• ESS Tune (no max speed, basic engine tune)
• Euro MDM
• GTS Transmission tune
• Mirrors fold on lock
• APEX EC7 19 x 10 Front and 19 x 10.5 Rear Wheels
• MPS4S 255/35/19 front 275/35/19 rear
• Bimmerworld Precision Front Upper Control Arm Bearing Kit
• Powerflex Purple Rear Differential Bushings
• Turner Motorsports Aluminum Subframe Bushings
• Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines
• 1M Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
• Corsa Muffler with matte tips welded on
• Eventuri Carbon Fiber Plenum
• Eventuri CF Intake
• Eventuri CF Lid
• Bilstein B6 Dampronic shocks with ZCP springs, new oem strut mounts
• Matte Black Kidney Grills
• Wrapped side Gills black and LED lights with tinted vinyl
• Wrapped hood vent matte black
• Matte black badge
• OEM CF front splitters
• OEM CF mirrors
• Carbon Express CF spoiler (e9x m3 group buy guy has the hookup)
• iND Painted Side Marker Reflectors
• The headlights look like they have been updated as they are bright white and not the off white orange like others, but I don't know what they are? Does anyone know?
• Carplay box from Carsara
• Backup Camera
• Antigravity h6 60ah Battery (Saves 38 lbs)

Possible Future Mods

• Refresh interior trim
• Chase down rattles
• Lower springs or coilovers... or do nothing?
• I think the drive shaft has some play. Need that looked into.
• Upgraded TAs
• Bumper and hood need repaint. Maybe someday.
• After seat swap seats are heated but only driver side works with new HVAC controls. Need to do some wiring/coding.
• Door card swap for better condition leather

[GoodTime]

Beautiful! Love Interlagos on Palladium. Biased though.

[Drifter2090]

Congrats!! Love the blue and actually think the colour combo is quite nice

Angel eyes don't seem bright enough to be Lux, maybe just some ebay LED bulbs.

[akkando]

Went on some back roads at lunch today and took a bunch of pics.

[JDAURIA]

Congrats again brotha! My twin on the west coast (even though I may be joining you on the west coast in a few months )

Send me a message, those seats needs some TLC and I know just the process to bring it back to its former glory.

[BayE30]

very nice, see you around the bay!

[akkando]

Originally Posted by JDNY516

Congrats again brotha! My twin on the west coast (even though I may be joining you on the west coast in a few months )

Send me a message, those seats needs some TLC and I know just the process to bring it back to its former glory.

Yea I'm working on it. I will send you a PM.

Cleaned off some gunk and stains on the driver side bolster then applied Colourlock on it. I probably got a little too excited and applied slightly more than I should have, but I have not cleaned up the rest of the leather and I think it will look better after I do that.


Before


After



Also took care of some rock chips with Dr Colorchip. Color match is good, but the chip isn't completely filled in. Might do another coat but I am just trying to get a base layer in on all of them so they are not so obvious.

[JDAURIA]

Check this out. I did this the day I bought the car from previous owner. At first glance, and to the non-enthusiast, the seats looked okay. Before and after on 50/50 comparison.

Products:
AmmoNYC Interior Cleaner
AmmoNYC Conditioner

[akkando]

Originally Posted by JDNY516

Check this out. I did this the day I bought the car from previous owner. At first glance, and to the non-enthusiast, the seats looked okay. Before and after on 50/50 comparison.

Products:
AmmoNYC Interior Cleaner
AmmoNYC Mouse Conditioner

That looks amazing! I have leatherique to clean which I see you got rid of and also some Lexol which I don't like much. I also have BMW's conditioner which I used on the steering wheel, handbrake, and DCT leather "shift boot" which was very dry.

I have not yet cleaned/treated the rest of the leather yet.

How do you like the M Performance exhaust? Right now I have the 2 pipe OEM exhaust mod but it's not loud enough from the driver seat to really notice. Want to keep it legal in California.

[JDAURIA]

Originally Posted by akkando

That looks amazing! I have leatherique to clean which I see you got rid of and also some Lexol which I don't like much. I also have BMW's conditioner which I used on the steering wheel, handbrake, and DCT leather "shift boot" which was very dry.

I have not yet cleaned/treated the rest of the leather yet.

How do you like the M Performance exhaust? Right now I have the 2 pipe OEM exhaust mod but it's not loud enough from the driver seat to really notice. Want to keep it legal in California.

Yeah I stopped using leatherique because of another enthusiast recommendation. He works on leather for a living and mentioned that he doesn't like leatherique as well. Nothing against it, but ill take a professionals experience.

I just bought the exhaust, and waiting for it to arrive! So, I'll let you know shortly. It was another reason I bought it over any other exhaust system, I assume it will be legal in CA being a "dealership" exhaust. I know it's not the loudest and I am cool with that. I want OEM+

[wyatth]

Great resto work! Those seats turned around wonderfully.

[//steve\\]

I may have to pick some of that up from AmmoNYC. I've been following him for years.

I know he's a big fan of nothing that's super harsh so I imagine it's one of the safest cleaners on the market.

[akkando]

My average gas mileage is 13.4 so I tried to be the most efficient possible door to door from work to home and got 19.9 I even saw 20.8 at one point on the highway. I guess that means my O2 sensors are working properly?

Also not happy with the 2 pipe exhaust mod on the car, but trying to keep the car drone free and California legal. Seems like my best options are 4 pipe mod, ACM mod (drone?), Dinan (carb legal CA?), and M performance exhaust. I would like to be able to hear the exhaust from the driver seat.

Pic just because

[Drifter2090]

Definitely do the 4 pipe, I have no drone on the highway and its only loud when you're on it or downshifting. I had the 2 pipe and was so disappointed lol

[derbo]

Local Bay area guy! Sweet pickup!

Hope to see you around.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by derbo

Local Bay area guy! Sweet pickup!

Hope to see you around.

Would love to see and hear your car! I live in SF but work near San Mateo.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Drifter2090

Definitely do the 4 pipe, I have no drone on the highway and its only loud when you're on it or downshifting. I had the 2 pipe and was so disappointed lol

Can you actually hear the exhaust from the drivers seat? I guess if I did 4 pipe I could get the tips swapped to black as well.

I'd like to hear MPE in person before throwing more money at it.

[BayE30]

Dinan is my recommendation if you are looking to have NO drone.

[JDAURIA]

Originally Posted by akkando

Can you actually hear the exhaust from the drivers seat? I guess if I did 4 pipe I could get the tips swapped to black as well.

I'd like to hear MPE in person before throwing more money at it.

Just got MPE today, will be installing on Monday. I can get you a sound clip then.

I was on the fence with DINAN and MPE. I liked both, but DINAN only comes with black tips and I was not about that. My OEM system has black tips from previous owner and I hate them. I ultimate went with MPE because I heard it from local M3 owners, silver tips, OEM+ part and look. I would assume it's legal in California? Being a BMW Dealership part?

[akkando]

Originally Posted by JDNY516

Just got MPE today, will be installing on Monday. I can get you a sound clip then.

I was on the fence with DINAN and MPE. I liked both, but DINAN only comes with black tips and I was not about that. My OEM system has black tips from previous owner and I hate them. I ultimate went with MPE because I heard it from local M3 owners, silver tips, OEM+ part and look. I would assume it's legal in California? Being a BMW Dealership part?

Yes MPE is legal in CA being a BMW part and carb certified and all that. Mostly interested in your impression of the difference from the driver seat going from stock to MPE.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

Dinan is my recommendation if you are looking to have NO drone.

Dinan is a good choice, but my MPE has no drone either

Originally Posted by JDNY516

I was on the fence with DINAN and MPE. I liked both, but DINAN only comes with black tips and I was not about that. My OEM system has black tips from previous owner and I hate them. I ultimate went with MPE because I heard it from local M3 owners, silver tips, OEM+ part and look. I would assume it's legal in California? Being a BMW Dealership part?

I hear you on the black Dinan tips, they aren't my favorite either. And, I think the Dinan tips stick out too far as well. I went with MPE for these reasons, but I do wish the MPE tips were bigger.

Originally Posted by akkando

Yes MPE is legal in CA being a BMW part and carb certified and all that. Mostly interested in your impression of the difference from the driver seat going from stock to MPE.

It's noticeable for sure, much more aggressive sounding than stock. Of all the YouTube videos of this exhaust, I think this one is the best representation of the sound -

[Drifter2090]

Originally Posted by akkando

Can you actually hear the exhaust from the drivers seat? I guess if I did 4 pipe I could get the tips swapped to black as well.

I'd like to hear MPE in person before throwing more money at it.

Yes, definitely can hear it, especially with the windows down a bit!

The 2 pipe I couldn't hear at all haha