I like my car. I like photography. Here we are.
10-Jan-2013. I finalize my build and order the car at East Bay BMW.
23-Jan-2013. DOB, assembly completed in Leipzig
2-Feb-2013. Bought BMW seat covers, never (to this post) used 'em.
16-Feb-2013. My car's RORO, the Gentle Leader, in the Gatun Locks, Panama Canal around 0600.
16-Feb-2013. The Gentle Leader in the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal locks around 1058.
26-Feb-2013. BMW Performance SSK arrives.
4-Mar-2013, 10 miles. Delivery. In actuality the car has probably at 36 miles in this photo as I live 26 miles from the dealer and went straight home.
5-Mar-2013, 88 miles. America's Tire installs Michelin Pilot Super Sports 215/45-17 F, 225/45-17 R
6-Mar-2013. Installed BMS clutch stop. No pics.
16-Mar-2013, 1912 miles. After round-trip to my parents' in Washington State for break-in, I have an oil change done and the CF spoiler I ordered with the car is installed by East Bay BMW.
28-Mar-2013. Installed BMW Euro intake.
29-Mar-2013. Installed BMW Performance Short Shift Kit, BMW Performance Black Kidney Grilles, and installed US Millworks Front License Plate Bracket.
30-Mar-2013. Installed BMS 12mm F and 15mm R wheel spacers.
1-Apr-2013. Put the OE M-Sport Shift knob and boot back on.
2-Apr-2013. Bought WiessLicht Smoked LED side marker lenses. No pics.
21-Apr-2013. Installed E93 M3 FSB and CDV delete. No pics.
8-May-2013, 2871 miles.
13-May-2013. BMW F30 Brake Backing Plates arrive.
8-Jun-2013. Some goodies arrive.
28-Jun-2013, 3905 miles. M3 RSFBs installed by Performance Technic. No pics.
2-Jul-2013, 3960 miles. 113°F.
11-Jul-2013, 4013 miles.
12-Aug-2013. Bought BMW Performance Exhaust. No pics.
14-Sep-2013. Installed M3 front radius rods & M3 rear wishbones and guide rods. Also installed the forward trunk tie-downs.
17-Sep-2013, 4839 miles.
20-Sep-2013, 4915 miles. Performance Technic installs the front wishbones, Rogue rear toe arms, and does an alignment. I also pick up and install my TIMYOYO license plates.
21-Sep-2013. Installed the BMW Grocery Bag Hanger. Also bought and sold a BMW Performance CF Strut Brace around this time.
21-Oct-2013, 5374 miles.
12-Nov-2013. Installed the hpashop.com modified BMW M3 strut brace.
30-Nov-2013, 5873 miles. Installed BMW 1M instrument binnacle.
19-Dec-2013. Installed BMW Blackline tail lights.
17-Jan-2014. Installed BMW F30 Brake Backing Plates and an Apex stud kit.
18-Jan-2014, 6509 miles.
27-Jan-2014. First painted engine beauty cover installed.
17-Feb-2014. Some suspension parts arrive.
12-Mar-2014, 7050 miles.
19-Mar-2014. Installed first painted intake beauty cover.
28-Mar-2014, 7449 miles. Complimentary oil change, wipers and inspection at East Bay BMW.
6-Jun-2014, 8622 miles.
27-Jul-2014. Installed BMW E46 M3 trans mounts.
30-Jul-2014, 9533 miles.
1-Aug-2014. More suspension stuff arrives.
13-Sep-2014. Suspension is finalized.
19-Sep-2014, 10338 miles.
3-Oct-2014. Bought first set of BMW Sunshades.
7-Oct-2014. Installed BMW Performance Intake.
12-Oct-2014. Installed modified stock diffuser done in "Rat Rod Satin Black".
3-Nov-2014. Installed lowered suspension, Swift/Koni, et al.
6-Nov-2014, 11231 miles. Performance Technic aligns suspension.
30-Nov-2014. Bought BMW Oil Storage Bag.
8-Dec-2014. Bought BMW roof rack. At some point I also got the "correct" BMW Storage bag. Does that surprise anyone?
16-Jan-2015, 13379 miles. Complimentary oil change, brake bleed, microfilter, and inspection at East Bay BMW. They also re-install a new rear CF spoiler.
7-Mar-2015. 335i caliper fail in powder coated gloss black with E89 Z4 348x30 rotors and "Hyper-Silver" anti-rattle clips. They wouldn't clear the stock 207M wheels (even with 12mm spacers).
24-Mar-2015. Bought BMW Warning vests. At this point I decided to get the stuff that was "standard equipment" elsewhere.
29-Mar-2015. Installed hard-wired radar detector.
6-Apr-2015, 15917 miles.
7-Apr-2015. Installed warning triangle on trunk lid.
24-Apr-2015. Installed BMW Euro light switch with rear fogs.
8-May-2015. Bought BMW E46 Strut Housing Dust Covers and BMW First Aid kit. The dust covers fit perfectly and clear the Koni adjusters.
18-May-2015, 16807 miles.
25-May-2015. Bought BMW Headliner Sunglass Holder. Crappiest picture in the group.
5-Jun-2015, 17085 miles.
8-Jun-2015, 17110 miles. 111°F.
3-Jul-2015, 17457 miles. Changed trans fluid with Redline MTL.
23-Jul-2015. Failed Z4 57/24/330 aluminum calipers in powder-coated wrinkle black along with Z4 330x24 rotors and 9097 carriers. The anti-rattle clips are electroless-nickel plated. Didn't clear the stock wheels. Again. You'd think I'd learn, but it's about the process. I gave the aluminum calipers to a forum member that autocrosses.
30-Jul-2015. Installed BMW ZHP shift knob.
17-Aug-2015. Re-installed stock instrument binnacle. I've come to the realization that (for this car) I'm not a fan of Ultrasuede/Alcantara.
18-Aug-2015. Re-installed stock M-Sport shift knob. Snapped right back together.
6-Sep-2015, 18657 miles.
19-Sep-2015. Installed BMW High-Gloss Interior Trim.
29-Sep-2015, 18864 miles. America's Tire installs (2) new Michelin PSS 225/45-17s for the rear.
12-Oct-2015. Installed the E89 Z4 330x24 F disks with 9097 carriers and the stock calipers (basically 130i spec set-up) and the 8697 42/20 R calipers from the BMW Performance Brake Kit (or a 328i) plus Bimmerworld solid guide pins and Techna-fit stainless lines all around. Yes, I checked clearance this time. I spent some time on the carriers with a die grinder and bead blaster (actually, I did this before I powder-coated them wrinkle black), followed by zinc plating. (So, strip-and-plate.)
24-Oct-2015, 19446 miles.
6-Nov-2015. Installed BMW Performance Pedals and BMW All-weather Floor Mats.
21-Nov-2015. Installed BMW Retrofit Snap-on Drink Holder.
8-Dec-2015, 21848 miles. America's Tire installs (2) new Michelin PSS 215/45-17s for the front.
13-Dec-2015, 21872 miles.
16-Jan-2016, 22564 miles. Complimentary oil change, wipers, coolant check, and inspection at East Bay BMW.
29-Feb-2016, 23021 miles.
20-Mar-2016, 23151 miles.
15-May-2016, 23845 miles.
13-Jun-2016, 24269 miles.
17-Jun-2016. Bought BMW sound insulating engine hood liner.
22-Jun-2016. Installed Diffsoline 3.64 3-clutch diff with 35/60 ramps and E60 finned diff cover. I have the mileage written down somewhere. I have notebooks stashed all over the house, but I haven't found the one in which it is written.
24-Jun-2016. Bought BMW Fitted Lugage Compartment Mat.
27-Jul-2016, 24978 miles.
Changed diff break-in oil after 1200 miles
17-Aug-2016. Hotchkis 16mm RSB arrives.
7-Oct-2016, 26223 miles.
15-Oct-2016, 26331 miles. Complimentary oil change, brake bleed, microfilter, and inspection at East Bay BMW.
10-Dec-2016. Installed BMW Performance Brakes.
12-Dec-2016. Installed BMW 1M mirrors.
22-Dec-2016, 27161 miles.
13-Mar-2017, 28430 miles.
20-Mar-2017. Installed V2 painted engine beauty cover with Ti fasteners and V2 intake manifold beauty cover. Bought Depo smoked LED side marker lenses to replace the Wiesslichts.
27-Mar-2017, 30000 miles. Under controlled conditions.
30-Apr-2017. Installed Hotchkiss 16mm RSB and (2) intermediate stainless brake lines.
15-May-2017. Bought BMW ///M Mobility Kit.
2-Jun-2017, 31261 miles.
2-Jul-2017. Installed BMW Euro Halogens and Stealth turn signal bulbs.
19-Jul-2017, 32251 miles.
16-Aug-2017. Shifter upgrade stuff arrives.
14-Sep-2017. Installed hard-wired Blackvue dashcam and Blendmount bracket.
6-Oct-2017, 34542 miles.
21-Oct-2017, 35482 miles. Oil change, inspection, and airbag recall done at East Bay BMW.
30-Dec-2017. Installed AKG DTM selector rod and shifter housing bushings. I gave the "old" SSK to a forum member.
6-Jan-2018, 36206 miles.
21-Jan-2018. Installed Ozmo Engineering Ti lug nuts.
22-Jan-2018. Installed folding rear headrests.
10-Feb-2018. Installed a set of (4) Bimmerworld 17x8.5 ET 40 TA16 wheels and MPSS 225/45-17 tires
13-Mar-2018. Cee Bailey's Window Shades
1-Apr-2018, 36973 miles.
21-Apr-2018. Installed red Start-Stop button.
6-May-2018. Installed E46 M3 CSL 345x28 rotors with Tro-nik caliper mounting brackets.
20-May-2018, 37721 miles.
25-May-2018. Bought BMW Driver's Utility Set. It's actually a pretty damn good and useful set of tools.
19-Jun-2018. Installed modified PS reservoir bracket with some more Ti bits. I didn't like the stock bracket.
14-Aug-2018, 38879 miles.
30-Aug-2018. I get a spare 17x8.5 ET 40 TA16 wheel and MPSS 225/45-17 tire. Yes, it got its own center cap.
23-Sep-2018. Installed fire extinguisher.
17-Dec-2018, 40857 miles.
22-Dec-2018, 40891 miles. Oil change, coolant flush, and PS flush at East Bay BMW.
04-Jan-2019