If there’s ever been a German manufacturer that possesses the capability to span different automotive circles with international appeal, it would have to be BMW. Regardless that the majority of our readers are most likely partial to Japanese cars, it’s tough for any of us to deny the allure of BMWs. There’s one key characteristic a BMW needs to possess to have any hope of grabbing our attention, although to be specific. That important detail comes down to one small emblem: the mighty letter M.
Everything started using the now cult-like status from the E30 BMW M3 chassis. Even today, this platform seems to captivate builders of varying backgrounds, including those who may usually pursue cars through the Land from the Rising Sun. Though the modern M cars now produced by BMW are vastly diverse from the iconic E30, the overarching theme of these cars remains the same: a refined and luxurious design for everyday style and practicality, while still offering a distinctive edge from the performance standpoint. The goal is usually to create The Bestone of these brilliant Bavarian beasts. Being Arizona’s premier performance service and shop facility, as well among the larger performance retailers within the States, Vivid serves a huge customer base all over the world. An excellent majority of those patrons are BMW enthusiasts, so it only made sense for Dan and the team at Vivid to set their sights on yet another M car build.
In addition to serving as one of Vivid Racing’s many project cars, this particular M3 is also utilized as Dan’s daily driver. Though the modification list might not be pages long, the M3 doesn’t need to have a laundry selection of improvements. Instead, key modifications are the way to a successful build without sacrificing practicality. I personally wanted to have a powerful daily driver to haul the kids around, go to the store, allow the wife to drive it, and be able to stay informed about my Porsche, Dan explains. Not a bad problem to have! For the family man and business owner, it really is hard to beat what BMW offers.
Hold on-prior to deciding to flip the page assuming this is just another watered-down daily driver with a set of wheels tossed upon it, we beg you to stick around just to hear what’s tucked within the hood with this M machine. Powered with a sophisticated 4.0L V8 from the factory, this particular M3 pumps out a very stout 342 hp at the wheels without having to turn a wrench or flash a computer. With that kind of power on tap, you’d think Dan will be content. But as most of the dads on the market can attest, we’ll find any excuse we can to changea certain amount of extra oomph thanks to a VF Engineering VF620 supercharger kit. The latest models from BMW don’t like to be tinkered with, as German car buffs can attest. A straightforward intake or exhaust modification can leave you with a gauge cluster that lights up like a Christmas tree. Fortunately, VF Engineering has been in the overall game for a long time and contains developed a thorough bolt-on solution that maintains factory driveability while putting down some serious numbers. When combined with an Agency Power axle-back exhaust system, this M3 spun the rollers in triple-digit Arizona temps to the tune of 474 whp, a 132-whp gain over stock!
The Vivid Racing M3 may look very stock-ish towards the average Joe, but any enthusiast will notice the subtle upgrades performed to distinguish itself from other M3s. Dan turned into his friends at Vorsteiner for an injection of carbon fiber that features a carbon-fiber front lip spoiler, diffuser, and light-weight trunk. In addition to the Vorsteiner components, a slew of other subtle CF visual additions makes its way onto the car. Custom-painted mirror caps tie in nicely on the car’s theme, while a ’10 BMW LCI taillight conversion modernizes the rear end.
One thing that BMW has perfected may be the craft of designing a properly-executed interior. You won’t find bucket seats, racing harnesses, or gutted carpeting here-this really is a kiddie hauler after all! Honestly, there isn’t much you will need to address by having an interior as nice simply because this. Although, Dan did put in a custom Agency Power controls with-you guessed it-carbon-fiber trim. A CF emergency brake handle matches the steering wheelBMW has left very little on the table inside the handling department, but there’s always room for improvement, even if it’s minimal. Vivid utilized some Eibach lowering springs to bring the car’s height down just a touch, in addition to front and rear sway bars from the German tuning pros at H&R. KW Suspension coilovers are already sourced to take things one step further and will probably be set up on the car when you check this out.
The one thing most E92 and E90 M cars lack are definitely the brakes, that may tend to fade after track abuse or spirited driving. The folks at Brembo possess a worthy solution that utilizes 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers with large 380mm floating front rotors and 345mm rears.
No matter how far you plan to adopt a build, nothing has as profound an impact in the car’s visual presence as the right group of wheels. This M3 utilized to wear 20-inch Volk Racing G2 wheels before Dan chose to move to a set of 20×9-inch and 20×10-inch MHT Niche Geneva three-piece wheels for any completely different look. The centers in the wheels feature a unique brushed and clearcoated finish, even though the barrels display a rose gold hue that matches the brake calipers and other components under the hood. Meaty Toyo Proxes T1R rubber keeps things as civil as can be to get a daily driver.
If you find yourself in a point in life where a gutted coupe by using a mod list a mile long just isn’t going to cut it, you are able to still have your cake and eat it, too, dan and his team at Vivid Racing have proven that even. Dan is left with a four-door sedan that caters to his every need, whether it be carting the kids around or embarrassing some super cars, through taking an already luxurious and refined platform and choosing to concentrate on several key aspects.custom and fiber-painted engine components
Wheels, Tires & Brakes: MHT Niche Geneva three-piece wheels brushed and clear center with rose gold barrels 20×9 (f) 20×11 (r), Toyo T1S 255/30/20 (f) 285/30/20 (r), Brembo 6-piston (f) 4- piston (r) big brake kit with custom finish
2008 BMW m3 VF engineering VF620 supercharger kit
2008 BMW m3 agency power custom steering wheel with carbon fiber trim
2008 BMW m3 front tow hook
Suspension: Eibach lowering springs, H&R front and rear sway bars
Interior: Agency Power custom controls with carbon-fiber trim, Vorsteiner floor mats with blue piping, window tint, carbon-fiber emergency brake handle
Exterior: Vorsteiner front bumper carbon-fiber lip spoiler, carbon-fiber diffuser, single-sided carbon-fiber trunk; carbon-fiber roof shark fin, hood vents, side indicator covers, front kidney grilles; front tow hook, custom-painted mirror caps, ’10 BMW LCI taillight conversion.