What a great idea. Heck, I'd enjoy getting to meet you guys.
I have an engine support bar and a couple of 6-ton jack stands, four 3-ton jack stands, wheel chocks, etc, some cheap torque wrenches but will likely be buying higher end ones, some Torx sockets, some reverse Torx sockets (E sockets), oil filter sockets (27mm, 36mm), topside oil extractor, wooden ramps good for oil changes (can't compete with lift!), torque angle gauge,
windshield wiper pulley, BMW brake pad thickness gauge, a creeper, and a lot of detailing supplies (buffer, hex pads, various polishes, etc.), pressure washer, electric impact wrench, pancake air compressor, angle grinder, a full set of plastic trim removal tools, and two unopened New Car smell trees.
I also have a 14 year old Jack Russel that had a stroke during surgery years ago, falls over while trying to pee, and now sheds a pound of hair a day and tries to speak like a human, and he now weighs something like 50 lbs. Yeah, a 50 lb Jack Russel. No, really. Take a white seal pup, replace seal head with Jack Russel head. That's our dog.
I've heard good things about several indy shops around Charlotte. I initially used Nick Brenner for awhile at Lake Wylie Euro near Lake Wylie (close to home and he does BMWs and MINIs), but I started doing more and more of my own work. I also found a guy up near Lincolnton that is really good. He worked with Raj of Besian Vanos fame to help him prototype some parts, and Raj recommended him. His name is Eric Sultanov and he has a website called doctorbimmer.com. I worked with him to do my S54 vanos complete overhaul, which is a lot more involved than the M54 vanos service. He also has a couple of low mileage E46 M3's for sale for cheap, but they are verts. He also buys wrecked cars and parts them out, but I don't think he has any E46 stuff at the moment.
If any of you need to borrow anything, or if I can help you out in any way, just give me a shout.
Salty (John)