SchwarzOrBust - 2004 Jet Black M3
Figured I'd start digitally recording my build, approaching year 1 of ownership after 8 years with my e28. Sad to have sold the 5, but excited to get this car to be my perfect M3.
E28 for reference (if anyone cares, 88' 535is alpine white/llama). Restored this car for a while, and just started to run out of projects haha.
Alright, onto the M3.
Factory Specs
Mods
Plans
December 2024
Purchased the car in Maryland with 168k. PO has a Topaz(?) 46M that he is keeping. Got the car with black grilles & LED interior lights. Those were replaced immediately. Car also was set up with a very thorough Sub/Amp trunk set-up and an older Alpine headunit (HVAC re-location done for me). I had no use for the sub so I sold that off clear up some trunk space and made some money as well. Also went ahead and grabbed an AVIN AVANT 4 unit. First pic of the car after getting it close to home.
April 2025
Went to Rogue for a baseline after effectively storing the car over the winter, had Ben go through the car to make sure there wouldn't be any major surprises for me to start my stewardship of the car. Car needed a little more than I was hoping (RB was the initial appointment). Left with the car in a much safer spot, and a list of a few items I will begin tackling.
P.S. if anyone knows how I can rotate photos, would love to hear it!
July 2025
A/C never seemed to be functional, started exploring potential issues and dye tested the car. Couldn't have been a a bigger PITA, evap core was leaking. Replaced the AC Seals, and then sent the car to StudioR in NJ and Raf made quick work of the issue. Had the Expansion valve and Drier replaced at the same time - wanted to make sure AC was crispy. This was the best decision I made, NYC temps stayed in the high 90s all summer long.
October 2025
Well, so long A/C. My compressor decided to die on me, but thankfully things have cooled off, and I'll pick up an OE unit from FCP hopefully on a Black Friday deal. Also scored a deal on some freshly powder coated APEX ARC-8s in the same spec as the POs Enkei's. Didn't dislike them, but wanted the car to feel a bit more like my own, and until I can find
November 2025
Stored the car for the winter. No major plans except the below:
That's all for now, check back in soon, hopefully with some fresh caliper pics.
E28 for reference (if anyone cares, 88' 535is alpine white/llama). Restored this car for a while, and just started to run out of projects haha.
Alright, onto the M3.
Factory Specs
- Production date: 2004
- Body Type: Coupe
- Transmission: 6MT
- Exterior Color: Jet Black
- Interior: Powered, non-heated, Cinnamon
- Exterior: LED Tails, Sunroof, Shadowline Trim
- 1st owner
- Diff Flush: (66k)
- Coolant Temp Sensor: (71k)
- Ignition Coils: (71k)
- Washer Pump: (71k)
- Inspection 2: (82k)
- Spark Plugs
- Fuel Filter
- 2nd owner
- Fuel Jet Transfer Pump: (100k)
- Pass. Door Weather Strip: (120k)
- Coolant Exp. Tank: (120k)
- Front Brakes: (120k)
- Fog Light Covers: (130k)
- Parking Brake Shoes: (130k)
- Diff. Side Seals: (133k)
- Fuel Pump & Sender: (133k)
- Coolant Flush: (142k)
- 3rd owner
- No Known Service
- My ownership
- Beisan VANOS rebuild: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- ACL Rod Bearing Service: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- ​Valve Adjustment: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- Motor Mounts: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- Front Tie Rods (inner/outer): (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- High Pressure Power Steering line: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- OFHG: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- CPV: (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- Exhaust hangers (2 of 3): (170k) - Rogue Engineering
- RE FCAB (170k)
- Front Control Arms: (170k)
- Post Cat O2 Sensor (B1): (170k)
- AC Seals: (171k) - BMW
- Driver & Passenger Airbag Recall: (171k) - BMW
- Wheel Studs: (171k)
- Evaporator Core, Exp. Valve & AC Drier: (171k) - StudioR
- Last Oil Change: 171500
Mods
- Apex ARC-8 18x10 ET25 (+12mm rear spacer) with 275/35 R18 Kenda's
- AVIN AVANT 4 (8gb RAM, 256gb ROM, I-BUS, Adv. DSP, CarPlay)
- BC BR Coilovers
- Unknown Angel Eyes
Plans
- Rear Window Seals
- Subframe Reinforcement
- Re-seal Differential
- Diff Bushings
- RTABs
- Adjust mis-aligned Passenger door window
- Coby:
- Steering wheel
- Ebrake Boot & Handle
- Passenger Seat Mount Fire Extinguisher
- Section 3 exhaust & Section 1 rasp elim.
- Sunroof fix
December 2024
Purchased the car in Maryland with 168k. PO has a Topaz(?) 46M that he is keeping. Got the car with black grilles & LED interior lights. Those were replaced immediately. Car also was set up with a very thorough Sub/Amp trunk set-up and an older Alpine headunit (HVAC re-location done for me). I had no use for the sub so I sold that off clear up some trunk space and made some money as well. Also went ahead and grabbed an AVIN AVANT 4 unit. First pic of the car after getting it close to home.
April 2025
Went to Rogue for a baseline after effectively storing the car over the winter, had Ben go through the car to make sure there wouldn't be any major surprises for me to start my stewardship of the car. Car needed a little more than I was hoping (RB was the initial appointment). Left with the car in a much safer spot, and a list of a few items I will begin tackling.
P.S. if anyone knows how I can rotate photos, would love to hear it!
July 2025
A/C never seemed to be functional, started exploring potential issues and dye tested the car. Couldn't have been a a bigger PITA, evap core was leaking. Replaced the AC Seals, and then sent the car to StudioR in NJ and Raf made quick work of the issue. Had the Expansion valve and Drier replaced at the same time - wanted to make sure AC was crispy. This was the best decision I made, NYC temps stayed in the high 90s all summer long.
October 2025
Well, so long A/C. My compressor decided to die on me, but thankfully things have cooled off, and I'll pick up an OE unit from FCP hopefully on a Black Friday deal. Also scored a deal on some freshly powder coated APEX ARC-8s in the same spec as the POs Enkei's. Didn't dislike them, but wanted the car to feel a bit more like my own, and until I can find
November 2025
Stored the car for the winter. No major plans except the below:
- 996 BBK
- Sourced Calipers and Front CSL rotors
- Need to machine, rebuild, Pcoat the calipers
- Need to order RallyRoad Adapters/Lines and rear rotors
- Pads, and associated hardware too
- AC Compressor
- Sagging Angel Eye
- Sunroof fix
- Grabbed a Cassette off of MParts, will see about installing
- Likely will wait until I want to redo the headliner
That's all for now, check back in soon, hopefully with some fresh caliper pics.