[Needsdecaf]

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Hello all!

Very excited to document my first M car (second BMW) and it's progress as I lightly mod it.

I've wanted an M car for a long time, but my first BMW was a 2011 F10 535i with all the goodies...and it was not a good experience. I'll find the link to that saga and post it here but it was a very early build F10 and it was rife with issues. One issue we could absolutely not solve was the terrible throttle response at low speed that made driving smoothly absolutely impossible. After trading that car in on our Cayenne Diesel, I was convinced my wife would never let me buy another BMW.

Surprisingly when the F80 M3 came out she was fairly positive about getting it. We spent a bunch of time checking them out, configuring it, looking at colors, but at the end of the day it was just...too....stiff. It got a little better as it was developed and the LCI came out, but the power delivery was still spiky, the DCT wasn't for me in low speed traffic, etc. I went a different direction...a 911 for the weekends and a daily driver GTi, which was swapped for a Model 3 when I picked up a hellacious commute.

Fast forward to the G80 and it's like all the things I wanted in an M3 were finally in one package. Super fast, composed, enough space for my family of tall people (aside from my 13 year old daughter who is 5'4", the next smallest person is my 5'10" wife, and my son is pushing 6'5"). Great tech, ability to put the power down, a pretty damn good auto...it was the complete package. As the looks grew on me, it kept calling my name louder and louder.

Eventually I sold my Turbo S and traded the Tesla and ordered a G80 in the following specs:

Competition xDrive
Aventurine Red
Ivory White Full leather (standard seats)
Exec Pack
Driving Assistance Pro Pack
Parking Assistance Pack
Carbon Fiber Trim
Drive Recorder
Vented Seats
Laser Lights
825M Bicolor Wheels
Red Calipers

I considered my spec hard. I love San Marino and considered ordering it in that but for a few things. First, I had two Model 3's in Blue. Kind of needed a change. Second, didn't want to wait the additional time (probably needn't have worried given my time frame). Also, even more $$. But finally, my GTi was my first Red car and....I kinda liked having a red car! Arena Red is my favorite Porsche color and Aventurine reminds me a lot of it so...that was it.

I initially wanted the Ivory, but the allocation that Day Laborer found for me was already 112 status, so I chose the Silverstone / Black combo. But when I went to the dealer and looked at Aventurine next to SS, I found that it was too blue for the look I wanted. Plus, I really liked the solid colors, not the black centers. So I asked the dealer to check with their local rep, and he was able to push the allocation back to 111 status so we could switch to Ivory......little did I know that would cost me 3 months. Bumping me from week 29 to week 38, plus waiting 5 weeks for a ship and 2 weeks in Port Galveston. Other Houston deliveries from week 29 got their car the end of August. I got mine the first week in December! But it was worth it. Here is the full time frame:

7/1 - allocation secured for dealer inventory order at 112 status / week 30
7/5 - Order changed to meet my specs (required BMW Rep approval as car was Base MT) - Could not add Ivory individual
7/6 - Deposit processed, Order changed to customer, moved to Week 29
7/8 - Requested BMW rep to change the order to add individual Interior
7/11 - Interior changed to ZBEW - Ivory Individual. Moved to build Week 38. Status back to 111
7/28 - Status 112 - Scheduled for Production
9/12 - Status 150 - Production Begins; VIN Acquired, Build date 9/21.
9/17 - Status 150 - Production Begins; Build date changed to 9/22
9/19 - Status 151 - Exterior Body Assembly Begins
9/20 - Status 152 - In the Paint Booth
9/21 - Status 153 - Entering Production Line.
9/21 - Status 154 - Assembly in Progress
9/21 - Status 155 - Quality Check
9/22 - Status 176 (?) - Final Assembly
9/22 - Status 180 (?) - Ready For Transport
9/22 - Status 182 - Awaiting Carrier Assignment
9/22 - Status 190 - Dispatched from Factory
9/25 - Status 193 - At the Port
10/30 - Status 195 - In Transit
11/20 - Status 196 - At the Port
12/5 - Released to Transit
12/6 - Arrived at Dealer
12/7 - Delivery!!!!

Here are pics from delivery day:

[Needsdecaf]

I purchased the car from Burt Ogden BMW in McAllen TX. That's about 380 miles away from where I live North of Houston. Great way to get rid of some break-in miles and get to know the car. Immediately I am so happy I got the Driving Assistance Pro pack. Having used it in Germany on the Autobahn in a rental X5, I didn't regret it in the least. It's fantastic, very smooth, and really takes the edge off long trips. Some pics from the drive home with my gigantic son taking a stint!

[Needsdecaf]

Have already started mods! The dealer was kind enough to order the center console replacement. We removed using the wood screw method. It was super easy, came out easier than people made it out to be. Perhaps it's because we used two screws, two hammers and two people pulling on it but it popped out pretty nicely. A welcome change!

This morning I did two other cosmetic mods. IND front painted reflectors are a MUST on Aventurine Red. I followed this video:

but for a few changes.

First, I used a hairdryer. My wife has a salon-grade hairdryer and it was plenty hot. Second, I used a skin wedge from Obsessed Garage ( https://www.obsessedgarage.com/produ...kin-wedge-tool ). These are super useful because the flat metal is VERY thin and can get into places a lot easier than plastic pry tools. Plus it's very stiff and can exert a lot of force when needed without bending. I also used an old tool I've had for 20 years we used to call the "bone tool" back when the Volvo R group was using them. Also super stiff compared to most cheap trim tools. Very handy. I found that the reflectors came out extremely quickly with these tools.

Quick clean up with IPA and the new reflectors were in.


Last mod is an interesting one. As some of you know, BMW has been de-contenting the cars in little ways. One is to change the M3 door sill scuff plate from M3 Competition to just M3 for all M3 models. And the old part is NLA (unless you can find NOS pieces, but it's hard because the new part supersedes the old part with the same part number). I picked these up on EBay and I'm.....generally happy. They are a little more scratched up than in the pictures. I'm going to see what my detailer can do when he gets the car in a few weeks.

But some small cosmetic changes have made some big improvements in my eyes! Next up, finish the break in, have break in service done and then:

Eibach front sport springs
Spacers
Turner front skid plate
Paint Correction / Front PPF / Ceramic Coating
iSweep 2000 Brake Pads (ya'll weren't kidding about the brake dust)

I will probably also add the gloss black front ducts. I'm going for all gloss black on the car's exterior. No carbon fiber save the roof. That's a deep rabbit hole and with the darkness of the Aventurine, I like the contrast of the black trim bits better.

More to come!...

[Needsdecaf]

Pis of the sills:

[chicagofan00]

Congrats on finally taking delivery!!

[g80.py]

Those sills look amazing

[Day Laborer]

Looks amazing! This color is so very underrated and is just as rare attractive as an individual color.
The wait for ivory is so worth it with Aventurin Red!

Congrats again!

[mdr955]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Have already started mods! The dealer was kind enough to order the center console replacement. We removed using the wood screw method. It was super easy, came out easier than people made it out to be. Perhaps it's because we used two screws, two hammers and two people pulling on it but it popped out pretty nicely. A welcome change!

This morning I did two other cosmetic mods. IND front painted reflectors are a MUST on Aventurine Red. I followed this video: https://youtu.be/2yEbVo5_KhA?si=B5FLVHzZrwxwGaVM but for a few changes.

First, I used a hairdryer. My wife has a salon-grade hairdryer and it was plenty hot. Second, I used a skin wedge from Obsessed Garage ( https://www.obsessedgarage.com/produ...kin-wedge-tool ). These are super useful because the flat metal is VERY thin and can get into places a lot easier than plastic pry tools. Plus it's very stiff and can exert a lot of force when needed without bending. I also used an old tool I've had for 20 years we used to call the "bone tool" back when the Volvo R group was using them. Also super stiff compared to most cheap trim tools. Very handy. I found that the reflectors came out extremely quickly with these tools.

Quick clean up with IPA and the new reflectors were in.


Last mod is an interesting one. As some of you know, BMW has been de-contenting the cars in little ways. One is to change the M3 door sill scuff plate from M3 Competition to just M3 for all M3 models. And the old part is NLA (unless you can find NOS pieces, but it's hard [...]

Both pieces come out when you do that? I’ve got one of these waiting but wasn’t sure how hard it was to swap….

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by mdr955

Both pieces come out when you do that? I’ve got one of these waiting but wasn’t sure how hard it was to swap….

What do you mean both pieces? The center console? It's one piece.

[mdr955]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

What do you mean both pieces? The center console? It's one piece.

Yea I guess I thought the square above the logo was a sep piece

[bri1042]

Congrats! One of my favorite G8x colors (not that my opinion about the color someone else chooses is relevant to anything at all).

[gc.g80brg]

I hope you enjoy your first M experience ! Congrats

[Trojan4evr]

Congratulations. Looks stunning.

[MT6]

Beautiful build enjoy your M3

[Vernmeister]

My brother!

Ar with black wheels in production as we speak

[IND-Distribution]

One of our favorite colors! Congratulations!

[Needsdecaf]

Haven't done tint, paint correction, coating or PPF but managed to get a coat of Ammo Skin on her in the meantime.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Vernmeister

My brother!

Ar with black wheels in production as we speak

haha, congrats!

Originally Posted by IND-Distribution

One of our favorite colors! Congratulations!

Thanks! The reflectors are a spot on match, as you can see in the newer pics. I've had them sitting around for a while, glad I finally got to install them.

[DisonKlaud]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Pis of the sills:

nice color and great job! btw, how to get the old door sills down? just with a ton of strength just like pull out the central console? thank you

[Bahn360Photo]

Very nice combo!

Congrats!

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

What a fantastic color combo!

Enough it in good health!

[BadBoostedBMWM3]

You already know that I highly approve.