Back in an M3 after 10 years, whoohoo!

[got_s54?]

In March of 2005, I acted on impulse and traded in a MK4 GTI 1.8t for a CPO 2002 Steel Gray/Gray 6mt M3 with CWP, NAV & HK that I would see at a dealership on my way to work every day. I couldn't have been happier to own my dream car. The next month, I installed a set of PSS9's. Then came smoked lights, blackened grills/gills and CCFL angel eyes. In June of 2005, I ordered a set of forged Radergie r10's and installed an authentic stassentech front lip. In August, I installed a Brembo GT kit; 380mm front; 345mm rear.

I thought I was 'done'

[got_s54?]

Then one day while poking around craigslist, I saw a post for a CPO 2002 AW/IR 6mt with CWP, NAV and HK being sold by a private party. It came with 19" SSR GT3's. I went to see it in person and just had to buy it. I ended up transferring the wheels, front lip and BBK over to it, and sold my Steel Gray to my brother-in-law. This AW/IR was to be a keeper. Over the 8 years I owned it, I added the following:
Eisenmann Sport with 83mm tips
RE rasp pipe
RE octane SSK
RE rear shock mounts
Pedalhaus aluminum pedal set
Factory alarm
Factory headlight switch with activated rear fog light
Vorsteiner DVWP CSL bootlid
Vorsteiner CSL diffuser
ZHP knob
Titanium CF interior trim
Shaved front bumper
Powerflex rtabs
Solaris bulbs
Valentine V1 hard wired
DEI 504M
Icelink

It was an amazing car. It looked great, sounded great and drove great. I never thought I'd sell this car, but in 2013 I made the hard decision to sell it to supplement our down payment to upgrade to a new home. So I sold it. Well plans changed. We decided instead to move out of California to Las Vegas and from the sale of our CA home, we didn't need the extra money from the sale of the M3 after all. The person I sold my M3 to did not want to sell it back to me . That was the biggest regret of my life LOL.

[got_s54?]

So I moved on, back to the VAG world I had come from. I got myself an mk1 TT 225 to hold me over until I figured out what I wanted next. I modded it OEM+. I eventually sold it and got into a MK7 Golf R 6MT and have really enjoyed it.

I had no intentions of ever getting back into an M3 simply because I couldn't have my old car back.

[got_s54?]

Then out of nowhere, in Dec 2023, my other brother-in-law who also happened to have a 2003 Silver Gray/black 6mt HK, (2nd owner since 2004, offered me his M3. I couldn't say no. He loved the car, but didn't have the time to give it the care it needed, and he felt it was turning into a money pit. It needs TLC, but has always been mechanically well maintained. So this is where I'm at - a bone stock M3, that will stay in the family indefinitely with the intention of passing it to my son. My plans are to keep it OEM+.

This past weekend, my son and I made a day trip from Vegas to LA; I picked up an Eisenmann Sport with 83mm LeMans tips and a set of Tein springs to try. I'd like to find a CSL trunk and diffuser again, and some ZCP wheels.

[got_s54?]

I don't remember many of the older members from m3forum.net other than obioban and daytona_violet, but I'm glad to be back on an M3 forum and am excited for what's to come with this 'resto-mod'

[Tbonem3]

Nice story, welcome back to the fold.

[OPS]

Pretty much all of your car choices were logical and showed good taste! The MK7 is clean!

[Obioban]

I don't remember many of the older members from m3forum.net other than obioban and daytona_violet, but I'm glad to be back on an M3 forum and am excited for what's to come with this 'resto-mod'

10 years off cycles most people out, sadly.

[0-60motorsports]

Welcome back!