Vehicle: 2005 BMW M3
Exterior: Matte Silver
Interior: Black
Engine: BMW 3.2L I6 “S54”
Drivetrain: Front engine, rear wheel drive, 6-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG)
Purchased: June 2014

BMW’s E46 M3 has been my dream car for some time now. I had been shopping for one for years but for one reason or another never pulled the trigger on a purchase. In the summer of 2014, a long vacation suddenly fell into my lap on short notice. Three days later I had a 2005 M3 ZCP sitting in my garage. What followed was a grueling two weeks of preparation for a 10,000-mile road trip / motorsports pilgrimage which included track days at Road Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Carolina Motorsports Park, VIR, and Laguna Seca.

By the time I left for the trip, I had installed a full vehicle vinyl wrap, Bilstein PSS10 suspension, new brake rotors and pads, new brake fluid, new connecting rod bearings and ARP rod bolts, new rear control bushings, a new rear control arm to replace a bent one, and I performed a valve adjustment and suspension alignment. The vehicle prep would never have been possible in such a short period of time without the help of my friends in the final few days. I also need to thank Andrew Lang of Lang Racing Development for helping source parts quickly as well as providing access to the special tools and equipment that allowed this build to happen.

Modifications

Suspension: Bilstein PSS10 coilovers RTAB limiters

Wheels/Tires:
19×8.5 front, 19×9.5 rear
255/35/19 Michelin Pilot Super Sports (front and rear)

Brakes:
Competition package rotors
Hawk HT-10 pads

Engine:
ARP rod bolts

Cosmetic:
Matte taupe/gray metallic vinyl wrap
Replica CSL carbon fiber diffuser