The Post-Car-Crash ***BLUE...***

As some of you know 3 months ago, a door was closed on my ZHP. But another door was presented which I finally got the time to open after some international travel. It's been a long wait but also a wait that I was willing to make to find something special that would fit into my life. I am so grateful and blessed that I have access to other family vehicles. When I needed transportation, there was never a time where I was stuck without a car after my ZHP went to heaven to live among BMW giants. I can already feel her playing on a canyon road with a twist, corner, bend, hairpin, chicane, or dip every few seconds. She's been set free to do what she honored me with for 10 years of ZHP ownership. But now was the time to up my game and challenge myself to the next step. Something outside of my box, something I fear, something that I respect, and something to be more responsible with. Most of all, something that will become an extension of who I am now rather than 10 years ago when I bought my ZHP.

My close friend (E92 335i owner) said that the next car I find will fall into my lap with no difficulties.

After an amazing trip to Guatemala where I had the intimate honor to be a partner in country transformation with leaders of their beautiful country, that became a reality when I landed back into Vancouver airport. I received an email to a Craigslist ad with a vehicle for sale locally. I've been planning to set sail for something in America where the car I want is more plentiful but as my friend said, it'll come easy. And that it did. Within 24 hours of contacting the seller, seeing the vehicle, test driving it, and getting an extensive 2 hour pre-purchase inspection....the money was withdrawn and this blue unicorn was deposited into my ownership. That missing ZHP extension will always be a scar in between my newer extension of who I'd like to introduce to my ZHP family....

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/...0e2256e5_b.jpg

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She was 100% OEM when I bought her. Born as a 2004 with only 52K miles. The interior: a 9/10 with little wear marks on the black nappa leather. To my knowledge, she is the only Estoril Blue M3 Coupe in Vancouver...maybe in the province along with another convertible in the city somewhere. She's a BMW Individual and for most of her years she lived a rockstar life driven by Biff Naked. Since I'm no rockstar like her previous owner it's my job to make my car look like one. It'll be a process that I'm looking forward to making her individual to me as her colour is individual to the BMW community.

First she needed some coloured shades to show how hot she is at special angles while making a new friend in the background:
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Then I needed to match her BMW Individual shadow line window trim:
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BEFORE /// CHANGING TO

NOW:
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Now I'm trying to decide on the front signals. I need them to be smoked to match the grille but not sure if I get the OEM look but smoked, or crystal smoked version of the signal housings. I'd like to get glossy black side gills too! I've already got clear reflectors on order to replace the amber which already look OK against blue.

Well since I got her she wanted to get down and dirty already. These ///M's are a bit kinkier than the ZHP!! Because she's still OEM ride height I agreed...LOL.

Not the most flattering angle but dat ass...... :eeps
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This is my dilemma....smoked front corners or smoked crystal front corners as OEM clear is too bright and contrasty with the grille:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/...26999d3f_b.jpg

She wanted to play in the dirt with the big trucks and dirt bikes but I told her maybe another day....LOL
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As the relationship goes on we are already making new friends as this next part of the journey goes on...
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I can for sure say this decision has opened doors that has already inspired others to dream bigger and share why I am so in love with the BMW brand. I hope that as BMW introduces an extra 10,000 new models to their lineup, they remember who they were 10 years ago so that their customers do not just become a selling volume statistic but rather someone who can help carry on the legacy of what we E46 owners feel towards the brand.

Comparing this ///M3 to my ZHP?

The ZHP in it's OEM state is just super amazing. It's street quality ride to handling ratio is near ideal for that sporting driver who doesn't want a race car harshness. The M3 has great dampening on dips but a sharp rebound which you will instantly feel in the cabin, for example bridge separations and sharp bumps on the street. I'm sure the bushings are more firmer on the ///M. It's directional confidence is just a tad more quicker than a ZHP but both cars instill a confidence that is easy to turn into over confidence. The S54 likes to rev higher to feel smoother. It's much more raw sounding than the M54. The S54 has a more metallic machine sound to it compared to the smooth refined M54. The S54 sure can rev match in an eye blink compared to the heart beat of the M54 and the scream at 8000RPM is rockstar music quality!

One thing I'm not used to is how quickly gears fly through this machine compared to my ZHP. At WOT, first gear is done so quickly and violently you hardly get to enjoy it! Think of the right pedal as opening the devil's door. It's soooo bad but you want it and crave it. A shift into second gear gets the devil's attention and now he peaks out and you see his eyes. Half way through second you feel a fear as your stare into the devil's eyes while you're thinking you're going to die while feeling happy and excited at the same time. Once into third, you feel your heart throb out of your chest and your breath rate has increased from not breathing to panting. Then it's time to close the devil's door and reflect the emotions that this ///M has shared with you. This all happens in under 5 seconds and you will never forget that virgin euphoric feeling ever again...

Beautiful car. Welcome back :)


Sent from a Secret Location (Lincoln,NE exit 395 on I-80)

Awesome MMM! Love it in unique blue too.

Sent from my pineapple under the sea.

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Originally Posted by gmurphy

Beautiful car. Welcome back :)


Sent from a Secret Location (Lincoln,NE exit 395 on I-80)

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+1

Samsung Galaxy S5...

Welcome back. It seems like the next migration for majority of us is onto the ///M sections. Looking forwards to getting my rear end in and also did you ever get your programming stuff to work Trevor?

Loved the post man. Crappy deal for the Zhp but what a way to make up for it. Awesome pictures btw ...great quality.


Sent from my iPhone 13

Love the description. I still remember my first WOT in my M3. Will never forget it. She's a real beauty. Personally I like the OEM corners. Painted reflectors were my first mod though. Will make a big difference. There is a guy on IG with an estoril M3 that has orange corners. It actually looks pretty good.

http://distilleryimage5.ak.instagram...050f592d_8.jpg

:drool

"Arnold smoking a cigar in the Red Square; your argument is invalid." -Galaxy S5

Trevor, we can fell your love through your prose.

What a car that must be to drive!

I too, like orange corners with this color.

Congrats Trevor! Amber corners and amber LEDs would look amazing

I hope you continue to keep in touch with us here!

sent from Moto X Dev Edition

Absolutely beautiful car and we share the same feelings that you've so eloquently put on paper (well Internet paper).

Looks sharp! Congrats.

Love it! Great write-up.

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Originally Posted by Pip

Absolutely beautiful car and we share the same feelings that you've so eloquently put on paper (well Internet paper).

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+1 He's always had a great way with words and pics. Stunning car.

<3 EB. Get the amber all around!

congrats, and nice car. does this mean i will never got that chock? not that i really need it anymore lol

Congrats again, Trevor. Pretty much as perfect as an E46 M3 can get IMO. I saw a similar one (passed me going the other way) on Ioco Rd recently and it was a looker for sure!

Are you tri-cities (PM) too?

TL,DR

Per the texts we sent forget about the turn signals right now, your first mod should be to fill those North American reflector holes so you have the equivalent of Euro bumpers ;)


Edit: I know how you feel, I lost my factory LSD equipped SWB E32 to an accident that was not my fault. Luckily years later I ended up with my own unicorn(s). You'll be fine, just take it step by step and have fun the entire time :D

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Originally Posted by Tnhl1989

Welcome back. It seems like the next migration for majority of us is onto the ///M sections. Looking forwards to getting my rear end in and also did you ever get your programming stuff to work Trevor?

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Haha nope. Programming was never done. My friend will help me program locally with his setup soon.

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Originally Posted by Oli77

What a car that must be to drive!

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It takes your breath away by making you forget to breathe at times....LOL

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Originally Posted by derbo

Congrats Trevor! Amber corners and amber LEDs would look amazing

I hope you continue to keep in touch with us here!

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I will always post here...having a different car doesn't change what family I keep/disown. haha. My friend just dropped off his amber front corners from his '01 330Ci...but they're clip in and mine are screw on. I wonder if there is a way to make minor mods for fitment.....

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Originally Posted by johnrando

+1 He's always had a great way with words and pics. Stunning car.

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I should have applied for writing speeches for Presidents. LOL

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Originally Posted by sillieidiot

congrats, and nice car. does this mean i will never got that chock? not that i really need it anymore lol

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Hahah I have more chocks now!

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Originally Posted by kerunt

Congrats again, Trevor. Pretty much as perfect as an E46 M3 can get IMO. I saw a similar one (passed me going the other way) on Ioco Rd recently and it was a looker for sure!

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I was on Ioco a few days ago seeing off my best friend driving his E92 335i to San Diego! He said he was having so much fun even at 35MPH in my car...LOL

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Originally Posted by Stewbie

Are you tri-cities (PM) too?

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I'm in Coquitlam! Us Vancouverites need to meet up sometime soon. Time to make more friends and memories!

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Originally Posted by Hermes

You'll be fine, just take it step by step and have fun the entire time :D

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Day by day until it's all done within 60 days. LOL. Hopefully I have to patience to stretch it out. I'm enjoying the comfy OEM feel when I'm just cruising but I do want to lower it a bit and get rid of some of the suspension becoming a tad unsettled under heavy throttle when there is a quick/firm direction change.

Trevor,

I was referring to the rears.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...2-02155123.jpg

Imagine that on this...

http://i.imgur.com/ntGrG2f.png

http://i.imgur.com/I4F9dB9.png

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Originally Posted by Rovert

I'm in Coquitlam! Us Vancouverites need to meet up sometime soon. Time to make more friends and memories!

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I'm up for Tims on Barnet, but it'll have to be later in the summer. My car is currently off the road because I screwed up my back and can't drive. Fortunately my back is getting better so I hope to be driving again in a month or two.

That is so Dam Clean!! Congrats Trevor, good to see you found a Gorgeous M3!!

:like

Congrats. She's a beauty. I'm surprised Charlie hasn't commented ;-)


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

That blue with ambers looks perfect. Love the new ride.

Got to say ambers on that blue does look quite nice :)

Trevor, what is your headlight setup? Looks great.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by derbo

Trevor,

I was referring to the rears.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...2-02155123.jpg

Imagine that on this...

http://i.imgur.com/ntGrG2f.png

http://i.imgur.com/I4F9dB9.png

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Dude, that would be perfect on this color

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Originally Posted by johnrando

Trevor, what is your headlight setup? Looks great.

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He has stock M3 HID with yellow bulbs in the inner beams

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rovert

I was on Ioco a few days ago seeing off my best friend driving his E92 335i to San Diego! He said he was having so much fun even at 35MPH in my car...LOL

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Must have been you car I saw! I think it was a Thursday evening... ?

Wow it's beautiful. Congrats Trevor, can't wait to see the progress!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Hermes

He has stock M3 HID with yellow bulbs in the inner beams

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I love that look. Wonder where I can snag some yellow bulbs for mine.

If ever I were to get an e46 M3 it would be that color combo


taptalk + Note 3

My friend just dropped off front amber corners. :D But they're 2001 clip in and mine is screw on. I'll have to find the correct part. I might have to go back to OEM chrome kidneys...I'll see how it looks with the black chrome & amber though.

On another note today, have you ever been on a date with a new girl and she opens up her personality to a side you had no clue of? Well this happened today with this car and she really showed how naughty she can be. I wanted to try launch mode since OEM SMG only launches at around 1500 RPM which seems nothing compared to what I had to do in my car (3000 RPM) for anything exciting to happen. I got it all ready and made sure there were no officials around to see me take off like an elephant scared by a mouse. I was at a red light that put me on a 1/4 mile long onramp merge to the highway. I put the throttle down and the engine held at 1500 and waited for me to release the shift lever held at "minus". When I let go of the gear shift the clutch was disengaged and the party started. All the sudden this S54 turned into a hybrid. But it wasn't like a normal hybrid.... The tires instantly lit up and rocketed me forward at a rather slower pace than a proper launch. Now my car is burning premium gasoline and rubber at the same time. The car accelerated at a very slight angle and my subconscious took over to not pull off the throttle quickly or I could unbalance the car so I lightly counter-steered and stayed on the throttle easing back ever so slightly. I hit the "plus" paddle early, which banged me into 2nd gear in "S6 mode" and then into 3rd to merge leaving behind a party that I didn't even intend to start! Within that party included a black rubber "11" across the intersection and a rubber smoke cloud. I think I left more than just a skidmark on the ground from this ///Moment because I knew that this girl has the ability to turn from beauty into beast faster than you can imagine.

I kept her tame for the rest of the day/night as that's how I normally roll. I feel that people who actually do this constantly with their car should have bought a Mustang or RWD pickup to beat on. This doesn't seem right for a BMW to act like this...LOL. I just learned that the SMG can be put into launch mode or burnout mode using the same action. Burnout mode is engage if I am too quick with the throttle which I accidentally did. I've put on over 1,000 miles within a couple weeks and this girl's personality it freakin' awesome although I would never bring her home to Mom to meet. I'm glad these little moments come out safely as this stuff can really bite back if you fully disrespect such a chassis and engine at it's limit. I want to put the car on the track after I bulletproof certain engine components so I can better understand it's limits in a more controlled environment. What a day.......what A day.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rovert

My friend just dropped off front amber corners. :D But they're 2001 clip in and mine is screw on. I'll have to find the correct part. I might have to go back to OEM chrome kidneys...I'll see how it looks with the black chrome & amber though.

On another note today, have you ever been on a date with a new girl and she opens up her personality to a side you had no clue of? Well this happened today with this car and she really showed how naughty she can be. I wanted to try launch mode since OEM SMG only launches at around 1500 RPM which seems nothing compared to what I had to do in my car (3000 RPM) for anything exciting to happen. I got it all ready and made sure there were no officials around to see me take off like an elephant scared by a mouse. I was at a red light that put me on a 1/4 mile long onramp merge to the highway. I put the throttle down and the engine held at 1500 and waited for me to release the shift lever held at "minus". When I let go of the gear shift the clutch was disengaged and the party started. All the sudden this S54 turned into a hybrid. But it wasn't like a normal hybrid.... The tires instantly lit up and rocketed me forward at a rather slower pace than a proper launch. Now my car is burning premium gasoline and rubber at the same time. The car accelerated at a very slight angle and my subconscious took over to not pull off the throttle quickly or I could unbalance the car so I lightly counter-steered and stayed on the throttle easing back ever so slightly. I hit the "plus" paddle early, which banged me into 2nd gear in "S6 mode" and then into 3rd to merge leaving behind a party that I didn't even intend to start! Within that party included a black rubber "11" across the intersection and a rubber smoke cloud. I think I left more than just a skidmark on the ground from this ///Moment because I knew that this girl has the ability to turn from beauty into beast faster than you can imagine.

I kept her tame for the rest of the day/night as that's how I normally roll. I feel that people who actually do this constantly with their car should have bought a Mustang or RWD pickup to beat on. This doesn't seem right for a BMW to act like this...LOL. I just learned that the SMG can be put into launch mode or burnout mode using the same action. Burnout mode is engage if I am too quick with the throttle which I accidentally did. I've put on over 1,000 miles within a couple weeks and this girl's personality it freakin' awesome although I would never bring her home to Mom to meet. I'm glad these little moments come out safely as this stuff can really bite back if you fully disrespect such a chassis and engine at it's limit. I want to put the car on the track after I bulletproof certain engine components so I can better understand it's limits in a more controlled environment. What a day.......what A day.....

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Great story. Glad you are getting used to your new girl!

LOL @ "///Moment" - that's a classic expression! :)

peter

Awesome story.. and your ///Moment has inspired me to leave the ZHP in the garage this morning, and drive the S54 to work today.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/images/s...worshipbmw.gif

Haha that's awesome! I drove my friend's Z4M and ripped it around curves/corners within my familiar hooning ground. It's quite a different vehicle to drive because you sit so close to the rear axle while having a long bonnet. It's got a great aggressive look too! He now switched it to a Z4 35is DCT which I have driven around town and is a completely different turbo monster. It's low end torque is perfect for the city and it's aggressive performance exhaust burbles, pops, and bangs just enough to enjoy it's symphony without alerting people of your arrival 3 blocks down. Now it's chipped to be a 400hp mini-monster!