[bahasad]

Originally Posted by ATLBlue

Finally, I coded the audio/nav systems so that it turns off when the ignition is off and that you open the driver door (this one was not documented in the usual cheat sheets and is straightforward: FEM_BODY/3020 TcMaster/TCM_LOGIC_R_OFF_DOOR/aktiv)

Nice E46 M3! How does it compare to your F30?

[ATLBlue]

Originally Posted by bahasad

Nice E46 M3! How does it compare to your F30?

I do not mean to sound cliché, but it is a completely different animal. Especially since we (my son and I) worked on the suspension: PSS10, camber plates, PU bushings, sway bars and changed a few other things (blue stuff pads, louder exhaust...). It is undoubtedly more planted and more raw than my F30, but I do not think it is much faster considering the F30 has the Dinan tune a slightly firmed up suspension. I will not know until I try the F30 on the track. The F30 should do well in a straight line, but the E46 will probably still allow (much) higher cornering speeds. The only downside to the E46 is that it is an SMG. I would have liked a manual better, but this one was a bargain. The SMG is quicker than a manual at the track and you learn to briefly lift when you shift on the street to avoid breaking your passenger's neck.



As far as track experience is concerned, nothing will come close to our previous E36 M3 (project car with my other son). It certainly did not have the oomph of the E46, but it was light, nimble and tossable like no other. Again, nothing new about this.



We sold the E36 last summer to replace it by a softer E46 330 ZHP -in Imola red like the E46 m3- when my son left home:



So does my F30 M Sport feel like the older M3's (or E92 M3's I drove at the M school): nope, but it is more versatile and still plenty quick. In fact, it is as close as it gets to what the E46 ZHP would be today (which I consider a compliment), if it wasn't for the stock suspension that was too soft.

As a sidenote, and unlike too many ///M owners, my feelings are not hurt by all the M badges on my F30. It is BMW's call to decide what they do with the brand and the ///M logo always looks nice

[ATLBlue]

Stopped by at the dealership today and saw a Yas Marina Blue M3. We took a couple of pictures of my Estoril Blue F30 next to the Yas Marina F80. I always thought that Estoril Blue was a rather bright color but did not realize Yas Marina Blue was a lot brighter until I saw them side by side.





I love Yas Marina, but EBII definitely looks faster

[f30luxline]

Nice comparison! Not sure which I prefer more now seeing them side by side, lol.

What were you doing at the dealer?

[ATLBlue]

Originally Posted by f30luxline

Nice comparison! Not sure which I prefer more now seeing them side by side, lol.

What were you doing at the dealer?

Nothing exciting, just buying a few new clips for the trim of the two E46's.
Always risky though, paying a visit to a dealership is like being in a candy store...

[PCR0303]

Originally Posted by ATLBlue

Nothing exciting, just buying a few new clips for the trim of the two E46's.
Always risky though, paying a visit to a dealership is like being in a candy store...

I know the feeling... btw beautiful car, sometimes I regret not getting a bolder color like EBII, looks really good

[DG20]

Hey, I wanted to do the same DIY for the charger but I have 2 questions:
1. How do you unplug the female USB connector from the trim?
2. What step do you do with the cable first?

And also for the trunk spring, is the second picture the updated spring tension position or is it the factory original position?

Thanks!

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by ATLBlue

Nothing exciting, just buying a few new clips for the trim of the two E46's.
Always risky though, paying a visit to a dealership is like being in a candy store...

That's an understatement. It's like going to the grocery store hungry. Except I'm always hungry at the dealership. I have to stay far away.

Great build so far!

[ATLBlue]

Originally Posted by DavidRbibo

Hey, I wanted to do the same DIY for the charger but I have 2 questions:
1. How do you unplug the female USB connector from the trim?
2. What step do you do with the cable first?

And also for the trunk spring, is the second picture the updated spring tension position or is it the factory original position?

Thanks!

The female USB connector is simply clipped and easy to remove.
Regarding the cable, you should start running it from the upper dashboard. The cable is always longer than what you really need and you can easily tuck it in under the armrest compartment.

For the trunk spring, the second picture is the updated spring tension position. I think you can notice little dots (1 for the stock position, 2 dots and 3 dots for increased tension).

[ATLBlue]

Perfect Sunday morning

My son and I woke up early this Sunday to go for a quick mountain run with a friend whose new 911 GT3 has just been delivered.



I have owned a few 911's myself, but the 991 GT3 is a real masterpiece. As always, 'purists' will whine because it only comes with PDK, but now they can also go for the new Cayman GT4 that is only available with a MT (now wait, the Cayman is not a true Porsche for those same purists ). It goes around corners at amazing speeds and the exhaust note is great.

We did not have much time and only went to Brasstown Bald where we took a few pics.







We NEVER street race (stupidest thing to do IMHO) and are driving in a responsible manner in the mountains. This being said, the parking lot was empty and I remembered someone asking how the F30 did in comparison to the E46 M3. We did a few (very) short 0 to 60 runs to find out, and here are the results:

OK, to be honest, the M3 could have been launched a bit harder, the F30 has the Dinan tune and we may not even have hit 60 mph . The next round of comparison will be on the track. Both car will anyway be slower than the 991 :

[f30luxline]

Sounds like you had a great time

I also took a mountain run yesterday. Roads were littered with gravel

[ATLBlue]

Next Mod: Exhaust!

A few pages back, I mentioned that I would try to be 'reasonable' in terms of F30 mods. I turns out that I am on a slippery slope and changed my mind since this has been posted: AWE Tuning: BMW line, rounding the final turn

I had an AWE Tuning exhaust on my previous ride and it sounded amazing (civilized around town and race car like when stepping on it or at the track).
Here's a video I recorded at Road Atlanta. I can not wait to hear my F30 sounding anything closer to that

I subscribed to their thread to get more info as soon as AWE releases it.
Meanwhile, I prepped the car with a little decal (+10hp at least) I had from a previous install.



I feel like going with the full system + nice 102mm chrome tips



More to follow soon -I hope-.

[tboooe]

+1. So pumped for the AWE exhaust!

[Jimminez]

Looks like you guys had a great time last week.

I too am anxiously waiting for the AWE system to become available.

[Carolinagirl]

Originally Posted by ATLBlue

Another major mod...

Still busy with the small stuff at this point and replaced the amber corner turn light bulbs with the OEM chrome version. $20 and 5 minutes well spent.

Before:



OEM chrome light bulbs (part# on the box if you are interested):



After:



I am not a hardcore LED fan and incandescent bulbs are still fine for this type of application, especially when it can be a simple swap with no resistor or error code to deal with.

Was this a matter of simply switching out the bulb only? Looks good.

[f30luxline]

Originally Posted by Carolinagirl

Was this a matter of simply switching out the bulb only? Looks good.

Yes. He chose the BMW branded bulb as shown but there are others available.

I chose the different brand

[ATLBlue]

Here we go guys.... this is going to be it: AWE Tuning Touring Edition Exhaust with Performance Mid Pipe and 102mm chrome tips
Sounds great while being quiet when cruising on the highway. Counting days...

[tboooe]

I would be all over this right now bit AWE does not have a cut out template for the M Performance rear diffuser. Ugh.

[Jimminez]

Originally Posted by tboooe

I would be all over this right now bit AWE does not have a cut out template for the M Performance rear diffuser. Ugh.

For the quad exhaust only though.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by Jimminez

For the quad exhaust only though.

I may be mistaken but it seems AWE does not have a template for the M Performance diffuser, only for the standard one. I know the cut out locations and sizes will be the same but I am already nervous about cutting the diffuser so I would prefer to have a template that fit perfectly on the diffuser so it will be easier to modify.

[Moisted]

Originally Posted by tboooe

I may be mistaken but it seems AWE does not have a template for the M Performance diffuser, only for the standard one. I know the cut out locations and sizes will be the same but I am already nervous about cutting the diffuser so I would prefer to have a template that fit perfectly on the diffuser so it will be easier to modify.

+1. Same exact concern here.

[Jimminez]

Originally Posted by Moisted

+1. Same exact concern here.

If you are interesting in hearing the 328i system in person, let me know. You could hear it sooner than you think.