[ajvee]

Originally Posted by Nick.CBR

Have any of you guys owned an E46 M3? I'm curious as to how the stereo sounds (the Harmon Kardon). I was listening to some music today (99% of the time on 1500AM lol) and I think I'm going to miss the Logic 7.

Also, why the hell are there so many damn M3 converts? They're everywhere but finding a coupe seems harder. And what were they thinking with the rear windows opening like a caravan?

Nick

If I were you and my eventual plan was to get the F32 M3, I wouldn't spend the money on an E46 M3. I would get a beater that can't depreciate further and wait till the F32 comes out. Based on my research, the E46 M3s worth getting (low mileage and few owners) are still pretty expensive.

You're right about the E46 M3 verts! Seems like there are more of them than the coupes.

[ajvee]

Originally Posted by bkoughan

I just picked up a set of rims and tire from tirerack but I didn't go with the recommended setup - I chose to sacrifice handling performance for snow and ice performance. I went with the rims they had for the M3 but I had them put the Blizzak WS 70's in a 225/45/18. They seem much LESS sloppy than the WS 50's I had on the E46 and they are amazing on ice and snow! Warning - the first 300-500 miles scared me!!!!! SLIPPERY!!!

While your setup is very skinny, I think it is the best for everyday driving in this weather. Are the wheels pretty tucked in?

[BSME90]

Originally Posted by ajvee

I am confused! Are you driving with a bumper with no taillights at the moment?

Is it more difficult to colour match with a "complicated" colour like black sapphire or jerez black?

Hahah, I've been driving my mom's CR-V for the past 2 weeks since the rear end of my car is striped and it's a great parts hauler.

Originally Posted by ajvee

Guys,

I've made a tentative reservation at Pinstripes in Edina for New Year's eve. The spot has good food, bowling, and bacci ball. Please keep in mind that I've only made a tentative reservation for dinner at 8:15 if anyone is interested. If we don't get a group together I will just cancel and we can do our own thing.

http://blogs.citypages.com/food/2010...ripes_comi.php

I chose pinstripes for a number of reasons. It won't be super intensive like the downtown bars and clubs. It has convenient parking, which is important for us car enthusiasts. It is also conveniently located and easily accessible to most people. I can also make the reservations earlier so we can just get together for dinner and head our separate ways if we want to.

Let me know who is in and the number per person and we can try to make this work!

Cheers,
Anvar

This sounds great! I was just looking at pictures and menus on their website. I should be back from Vegas that afternoon and have nothing to do that night.

[ajvee]

Sweet so far we have

1) Ajvee
2) BSME90

[BrianMN]

Originally Posted by ajvee

Sweet so far we have

1) Ajvee
2) BSME90

For Saturday morning??
If it'll allow me to be at work by 10:30, I'm in.

[Reedomn]

Originally Posted by BrianMN

For Saturday morning??
If it'll allow me to be at work by 10:30, I'm in.

think they are talking new years eve....

oh and anvar..I had an '04 S4 V8 that I bought on ebay from Texas and drove it back...fun trip but it was a pig...fat, heavy and maybe worse gas mileage than the M3 but its close. I actually traded it on a Mercedes C230 Kompressor....what a joke of a car, but cheap. Got rid of that in a year and bought an A6 4.2. Then sold that for the E90 M3....

[BSME90]

Anybody know where to throw away my stock rear bumper? I just want to throw it away since it got damaged from a hit and run.

[M3x2]

Originally Posted by ajvee

I have Michelin Alpins. 235s up front and 255s in the back. To be fair, the driveway to my house is horrible in the snow. Steep incline with unplowed snow.

you are paying for going wider in the rear. bmw recommends 235 all around, ahem, for a reason. all the more reason you need some added rear ballast, Anvar! Also, experiment with tc off. the power cutting can upset balance and feel and sometimes a smoother slide is easier to control than a herky-jerky shuttering one. oh, and maybe plow

Finally meet us at the bmw northstar winter car control clinic (click) for added skillz and fun

[IRL-MN]

Originally Posted by ajvee

Sweet so far we have

1) Ajvee
2) BSME90

I'll be in Ireland with my family for Christmas so won't be able to make it.

[IRL-MN]

Originally Posted by BSME90

Anybody know where to throw away my stock rear bumper? I just want to throw it away since it got damaged from a hit and run.

If you have Rogers doing some paint work for you I'm sure that they'd take it off your hands?

[IRL-MN]

Originally Posted by M3x2

you are paying for going wider in the rear. bmw recommends 235 all around, ahem, for a reason. all the more reason you need some added rear ballast, Anvar! Also, experiment with tc off. the power cutting can upset balance and feel and sometimes a smoother slide is easier to control than a herky-jerky shuttering one. oh, and maybe plow

Finally meet us at the bmw northstar winter car control course for added skillz and fun

Too right Anvar, I'll lend you a snow shovel

Art, when is the winter car control course?? I have not seen any mention of this in the magazine or on the website.

[M3x2]

Originally Posted by IRL-MN

Too right Anvar, I'll lend you a snow shovel

Art, when is the winter car control course?? I have not seen any mention of this in the magazine or on the website.

bmw northstar winter car control clinic (click) Feb 13

[airwolf878]

Originally Posted by M3x2

bmw northstar winter car control clinic (click) Feb 13

Hey Art, how does this compare to the advanced control clinic from the summer? Have done that one but might be interested in the winter version too.

[MNm3]

Here is another winter car control clinic in case you don't want to wait...

Find an empty parking lot during or after a snow storm and have at it. Watch out for the 5-0

[MNm3]

Originally Posted by ajvee

Nice story! I didn't find anything in Minnesota either so I ended up buying my car from Isringhausen in Springfield. Prior to this car, I had an irrational mental block against buying from out of state, and like you I was pretty specific about what I wanted. In the end, I ended up driving my 135i to Springfield and driving the M3 back. It was a great trip

I got mine down in Florida. I have found that Minnesota sucks for buying cars. Especially used ones. Its nice to find cars that haven't been salt blasted their entire lives.

That sounds like an excellent trip Anvar...

[M3x2]

Originally Posted by airwolf878

Hey Art, how does this compare to the advanced control clinic from the summer? Have done that one but might be interested in the winter version too.

its very similar, actually, just on slippery terrain. no longer need to add water for the skid pad. it's fun. i did it last year in the E63, and plan on it this year in the e90

[IRL-MN]

Originally Posted by M3x2

its very similar, actually, just on slippery terrain. no longer need to add water for the skid pad. it's fun. i did it last year in the E63, and plan on it this year in the e90

It must only have been added to the website recently? Anyway, I'm going to sign up for it. Thanks.

[IRL-MN]

How are all you lowered guys getting on these days? I'm having issues with clearance all over the city with my stock sport suspension. I avoid most of the worst streets, but every so often a big pile of icy snow is unavoidable. It's torture hearing the scraping sounds from the underside of the car

I was thinking about the BMW Performance suspension in the spring, but after this past few weeks I don't think I'll bother...

[M3x2]

unavoidable contact, unfortunately. The M is kinda low. i have sort of ignored it and focus my attention at avoiding ICE chunks, since powdery snow probably wont do any harm. its part of the whole winter driving experience, unfortunately, and for me its the worse part (worse than having rwd or worrying about salt and such). the e63 had air suspension you could raise 1-2" - no such luck with the E90. still, i prefer it in every other regard.

[BSME90]

Originally Posted by IRL-MN

How are all you lowered guys getting on these days? I'm having issues with clearance all over the city with my stock sport suspension. I avoid most of the worst streets, but every so often a big pile of icy snow is unavoidable. It's torture hearing the scraping sounds from the underside of the car
I was thinking about the BMW Performance suspension in the spring, but after this past few weeks I don't think I'll bother...

You saw my consequence of having a lowered car. Lost my motorized hideaway license plate and my vanity plate. When there is 3 or more inches on forecast, my car will stay in garage.

[BrianMN]

Originally Posted by IRL-MN

How are all you lowered guys getting on these days? I'm having issues with clearance all over the city with my stock sport suspension. I avoid most of the worst streets, but every so often a big pile of icy snow is unavoidable. It's torture hearing the scraping sounds from the underside of the car

I was thinking about the BMW Performance suspension in the spring, but after this past few weeks I don't think I'll bother...

Surprisingly I haven't had many issues at all. Granted, my car is raised as high as it can be on the coilovers, but still lower than stock. If there were 10 inches of snow obviously I would scrape, but hopefully it'd be soft fluffy stuff. The past week or so hasn't been that bad at all with snow tires and careful. However, the roads by me are near perfect condition.

Originally Posted by BSME90

You saw my consequence of having a lowered car. Lost my motorized hideaway license plate and my vanity plate. When there is 3 or more inches on forecast, my car will stay in garage.

Yeah that really sucks, seems almost inevitable if you ran into any clearance problems with snow. At least it didn't rip more off.

[BSME90]

Originally Posted by BrianMN

Yeah that really sucks, seems almost inevitable if you ran into any clearance problems with snow. At least it didn't rip more off.

Yeah, most of it is my fault since I'm too lazy to raise my car.