My Slow Burn (E46 M3)

[eforty6_m3]

Took the wife and boys out for breakfast recently. Donuts for the kids, and had to snap this photo while waiting:





At the coffee/bagel food truck, we had a nice view during breakfast:










Got another cool reflection shot of my car after leaving my barber:




Gave the M3 a much overdue wash last week:





















And brought it the shop last Friday for some dry ice cleaning, finally:














































After some partial cleaning...can you spot the differences?:

[eforty6_m3]

Recently did something I've wanted to do for a while now. Swapped out my worn black armrest for an OEM Imola Red one:



















Next up (I think) is polishing the carbon fiber CSL style front lip that I had removed last year, then ceramic coating it, then reinstalling.

I'd also like to ceramic coat my Karbonius intake and strut bar, and some of the plastic bits in the engine compartment. Haven't worked with ceramic coating before, so I feel as though this is a good way to get my feet wet.

[eforty6_m3]

Man the rolling shots are epic. Car looks stellar. Love the blurred pavement lines.

Thank you!! They sure did a fantastic job.

[Casa de Mesa]

Man the rolling shots are epic. Car looks stellar. Love the blurred pavement lines.

[eforty6_m3]

And the rest of the best:

[eforty6_m3]

Got some rolling shots taken for the first time ever. Until I get all the finished/edited photos, this was one the photographer sent me as a sneak peek:

[eforty6_m3]

Yesterday afternoon, I got the M3 dyno-tuned to help address a sporadic check engine light/fuel bank code I'd been receiving since getting the car tuned after installing the Karbonius intake.

So I had my laptop plugged into the OBDII port, while my tuner was remote connected to the laptop from his location (California, I believe). Was my first ever experience at a dyno...pretty happy with the numbers she put down considering she's 17 years old and only modifications are the intake and the muffler/rear section:
































And now for the fun stuff.....noises:

https://flic.kr/p/2nimkk5

Man, 6 individual throttle bodies + the Karbonius intake sound utterly amazing!!!!

https://flic.kr/p/2nimxdv

https://flic.kr/p/2ninyAu

https://flic.kr/p/2nimrp4

[eforty6_m3]

Although I have yet to get her up on the lift for a full undercarriage cleaning, I spent a few minutes last week spot cleaning the M3 with dry ice. Did the wheels, gas filler and a few spots in the engine bay:



BEFORE






AFTER






On Sunday, a buddy and I rode down to the first Audrain Museum Cars and Coffee of the season at Fort Adams in Newport,RI:



















And after a nearly 3 month wait, a little more carbon fiber arrived for the engine bay. I was convinced it was going to be destroyed based on the condition of the box...alas, it was not:


















BEFORE



AFTER

[eforty6_m3]

Finally had some time to address some of the items on my To Do list. Got my Karbonius Strut Bar installed (which involved flipping the positive terminal in the engine bay), coils 2-6 swapped, swapped out the CSL dipstick for a non-CSL version, mounted the 'BMW M Power' decal on the Karbonius box and I think that's about it. Hoping to get her out of the garage by the end of the week (assuming we get more rain to wash any remaining salt off the roads) for the first time. Need to get her up to my Dry Ice Detailing garage for some hardcore cleaning!

https://instagram.com/enticedgarage

[eforty6_m3]

My latest gift for the M3 came in recently, and it's glorious:













Over the next few days, my plan is to remove the CSL box so I can swap back to a non-CSL dipstick and plug up one hole in the back of the box that I forgot about that may be contributing to an occasional CEL. While I'm in there, I'm also going to swap out the 5 remaining ignition coils. I'll also slap the "M Power" decal on the box and reinstall everything while I wait out the last few weeks of "winter" before driving season is upon us.

Then this old girl is heading straight to my new business (entICED Garage) for a thorough, dry ice detail!!!!

[eforty6_m3]

Not much going on in M3 world (she's hibernating), but I did get a great Blackstone Oil Analysis and figured I'd share. I do have a pretty cool purchase (or 2) planned for the car once I get my bonus at the end of January. I'll share those once they're official, because things can always change. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year!

[eforty6_m3]

Starting to make my 2022 maintenance list, which will probably be led by new rotors and pads. I'm also planning on a full paint correction come springtime, as I have yet to deal with the paint. I also need to remove the Karb box for a few reasons, namely:

• Swap back in a replacement OEM (non-CSL) dipstick
• Apply the M Power decal to the box
• Plug a hole in the back of the box that I missed during both previous installs 🤦♂️
• Replace the remaining 5 coils

As we head towards winter weather, I took advantage of the decent weather lately and filled her up with Shell V-Power (and Stabil), a fresh oil change with Liqui-Moly 10W-60 with Liqui-Moly MoS2 additive, and the final wash of the season:

[eforty6_m3]

You took better pics of my car than I did lol

Was a good turnout, hopefully we can schedule more of a sit down lunch operation next time.

Ha, I didn't take all those photos! But absolutely, I'd be down for that. Maybe even visit a brewery or something.

[Sharocks]

You took better pics of my car than I did lol

Was a good turnout, hopefully we can schedule more of a sit down lunch operation next time.

[eforty6_m3]

September

Yet another wash:



































9/12/21 - E46 M3/1 Series Owners of New England Meet @ Audrain Automobile Museum & Fort Adams, Newport,RI: