v3.2mc – Sepang Bronze ///M Coupé Picture Thread

[v3.2mc]

Originally Posted by v3.0si

goodbye, v3.0si


A:\> FORMAT C: /V[:v3.0si]

A:\> INSTALL C: /V[:v3.2mc]



<<<<version update in progress>>>>



A:\> C:

C:\> cd\v3.2mc

C:v3.2mc\> RUN.exe



<<<<loading>>>>



hello, v3.2mc

That post was my 408th. This one is my 409th. It’s my own fault for pigeon-holing my own user name… so I’m going to repeat the mistake. I’ll PM again when I have 5 posts again.
______________________________________

Feb 13th – There I was, minding my own business, when BAM! Out of nowhere I hear a familiar voice exclaim over my shoulder, “what the $#!+ is that?!”

I had been looking at this picture…



…marveling at how the light plays on the surface of an e86 dressed in sepang bronze. Killing time, I had meandered into the FS section and noticed that the first post was Nikki’s coupe. I knew that Nikki’s car had been for sale for what seemed like an absolute eternity (especially from Nikki’s point of view), and was curious why it had made its way back to the top of the thread list again. Had it been any other post that day, none of this would have happened.

As it was, my wife was showing an unusual amount of interest in the above picture. I described the car in detail; explained why and how it was different than the 3.0si coupe parked in the garage. I was not showing interest in the car. No… I had promised when I got the TiAg 3.0si coupe that I would be content with being its owner, and nothing more. Sure I dreamt of owning an ///M coupe, but nothing real… nothing tangible. She was following every word, as is her way, sucking up all of the information like a sponge for later use. I’m quite proud of her knowledge of these cars, even if it isn’t interest based. I treated this conversation like any other… until she said, “if you want it, you can have it.”

Blank stare.

“Are you f’n with me?” I asked.

“No.” she replied, and sat down on couch next to me, stealing the computer mouse from my hand.

She had an interesting look in her eye, to the sorts of curiosity and recognition typically only seen in the eyes of someone who has, for the first time ever, finally seen a z4 coupe in a way that touches their soul. For some that moment was instant. For others, not so, and maybe even gradual. But those of you reading, and that have had this moment, remember what it felt like. I realized as she was scrolling through the other pics in the thread that I had just witnessed that happen to my own wife. Awesome.

Then came the dancing and “hell yeah’s”.



With all speed I then stole back the mouse and sent a PM to Nikki.

From the beginning it was apparent that I would not (sadly) be able to afford the beautiful BBS LM-R’s that the car was being offered on. After working out a great deal with Elliot and Jason at **********s (Truely excellent staff there. Very clear and consise. They catered easily to my crazy time-crunched schedule even during their own internal meltdown of being short-handed.), I was able to get an affordable price on a similarly sized set of wheels and tires so that I wouldn’t need immediate alignment work when the car arrived. Sadly, after some issues with timing the mounting and balancing with shipping, having to pay CA sales tax, and my original oversight at needing TPMS, the overall cost ended up only $800 less than what the car would have been with the LM-R’s on it. I left well enough alone, with the hopes that she could sell the wheels to an immediate buyer. Alas, it was not until after the car was on its way to me that I learned the buyer had backed out. Hopefully, those beautiful wheels will sell quickly!

Regardless of issues, Nikki made this soooo easy. No detail was overlooked. No problems were swept under the rug. No question was unanswered. She was/is the best car salesperson I’ve run into in a sad, long time. If anything, my constant updates, questions, and overexcitement were certain to ruin the deal… but no; she obliged my barrage and weathered my exuberance. I truly believed at one point that I had pestered her to the point just beyond friendly conversation, and that she would keep the car. I quickly shut my over-happy mouth.

Low and behold, she started teasing me! Cruelly sending me pictures of where the car had been, what it had done, what I could soon look forward to. In the midst of her sadness at having to lose her dream car, she recognized her role in helping me attain mine. A truly classy move.

Thank you, Nikki.

Then the car arrived in great company.



It’s amazing how small these cars are compared to a Roller!

I was absolutely relieved when I saw the car in person. I had been really nervous in the days beforehand about the wheel I had chosen. An F10/3 (343M) replica wheel, it was a bit of a gamble as no one else had done this combo on an E85/6 yet. Turns out I like them a lot. They suit the car much better than I could have hoped.


(photo courtesy of Nikki)

Next up was the inspection II.



The entire car was clean. Short of needing rear brakes in a few thousand miles, the only issue the techs found was a leaky timing chain tensioner seal. Since they already had everything exposed for the inspection, a simple $4 seal was ordered, and all was right with the world. All of the valve measurements were spot on. All of the VANOS bolts were still in spec. Everything was perfect!





Nikki was given “mad props” as a previous owner by the master tech working on the car.

Mar 6th - Detailed by the tech’s brother and home, it awaits its first photoshoot as my car.

First impressions: It had been roughly 3 years since the last time I had driven the motorsport division’s take on the Z4, which turns out is long enough to have completely forgotten the differences between the ///M and the 3.0si. I have absolutely nothing poor or negative to say about the 3.0si as it is an incredibly capable car… it’s just… well… completely different. Immediately, the biggest gaps between the two are the steering and throttle response. Both of these “issues” have been discussed at length in other threads, so I’ll leave that out of this treatise. If you are curious about the differences, either read up on it, or better yet, find a local forum member and politely request a ride-along.

I promise you, like it or not, that updates will follow soon as they become available.

Again… Nikki… Thank you! Eternal respect.

[v3.2mc]

updated 03.10.12

first pics are in!

[dubsesd]

congratulations! those m5 reps look good on the car as well. you could have asked the mods to change your username though....lol

[beta]

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the sepang bronze club.

[Nikki]

Wow! What a great write-up! I must admit I am getting emotional again, but in a happy way for both you and your wife. Thank you so much for giving my M a well deserved good home, and I'm glad it found it's way back to the midwest again so it has lots of room to stretch its legs! No more LA traffic! Enjoy it, and looking forward to your updates and photos!

[fitchesbass]

Car looks great!

Though M6 style wheels were never something I liked... on any car. LOL

[txz4]

i knew you would be the buyer as soon as i saw a post in that thread!

[3002 tii]

Congrats!

Side question - Nikki what are you driving now?

[v3.2mc]

thanks, all, for the comments!

Originally Posted by dubsesd

congratulations! those m5 reps look good on the car as well. you could have asked the mods to change your username though....lol

rick hunter's picks gave me the courage to try the reps, but i wanted something a bit different. i do think they turned out great. they'll certainly be easy to keep clean!

i haven't had the greatest luck in feedback from the mods, and this certainly isn't a critical issue. plus... it adds a radar vs sonar drama quality... only without all of the women piled in. (did we ever find out what was in "the box"?

Originally Posted by beta

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the sepang bronze club.

glad to be here! it's a great color!

Originally Posted by Nikki

... I'm glad it found it's way back to the midwest again so it has lots of room to stretch its legs! No more LA traffic! Enjoy it, and looking forward to your updates and photos!

zero traffic here in the monks. planning a trip to louisville, ky in june... lots of pics planned. stay tuned!

Originally Posted by fitchesbass

Though M6 style wheels were never something I liked... on any car. LOL

is all good... i still like your rgr's (< i think... i'm squinting from the back of the room looking at your sig... they are rgr's, correct?)

Originally Posted by txz4

i knew you would be the buyer as soon as i saw a post in that thread!

whew! thanks for not blowing my cover. good sleuth work!

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

Side question - Nikki what are you driving now?

a sweet little del Sol! looks like it's in good nik too, judging from her photos in the FS section.

[ZStig]

very nice writeup. I loooove my sepang bronze. I mean look at my signature picture, it looks like a completely different color in sundown

[XMetal]

Great write up Some would think that we're all nut jobs being so excited and passionate about a car

[l4zy]

Ah so you're the lucky buyer! Congrats!

[Z4MLover2012]

Congrats! Welcome to the Sepang Bronze Club. I think our cars may be twins! Enjoy the new ride! Nikki is indeed awesome!

[esqu1re]

Nice. The car you have gotten is like a mini celebrity around here...it's been on insideline.com twice, and everyone's been following the for-sale thread.LOL.

I don't think you needed to change your name though. Congrats on the new ride!

[v3.2mc]

Originally Posted by Z4MLover2012

Welcome to the Sepang Bronze Club. I think our cars may be twins!

i saw yours! the pics you have in your "garage" are great! i think the only noticible difference between the two cars is the interior trim options. i do like the wood trim, but i prefer the more sporty carbon leather option on my own cars. two of the 3'ers i've owned came with the wood... i ended up trading out for brushed aluminum in both of them. you have significantly lower miles on yours as well.

[v3.2mc]

post #5!

[v3.2mc]

Originally Posted by esqu1re

The car you have gotten is like a mini celebrity around here...it's been on insideline.com twice, and everyone's been following the for-sale thread.LOL.

hopefully i'll live up to the car's expectations... what with living in malibu and all. since there aren't any red carpets around here, it'll just have to make do with the wide open plains.

Originally Posted by esqu1re

I don't think you needed to change your name though.

yeah... i thought about keeping it, continuing the post count, but ultimately i decided that i wanted to give the 3.0si the respect it deserves and let it live here on zpost. not forgotten, nor lost. i get attached to vehicles easily, so moving to the new user name is good way for me to pay homage to each car.

[v3.2mc]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

very nice writeup. I loooove my sepang bronze. I mean look at my signature picture, it looks like a completely different color in sundown

i'm looking forward to seeing the color at sunset in person... it's supposed to be sunny here the next few days, so hopefully the chance will come shortly!

[Z4MLover2012]

Originally Posted by v3.2mc

i saw yours! the pics you have in your "garage" are great! i think the only noticible difference between the two cars is the interior trim options. i do like the wood trim, but i prefer the more sporty carbon leather option on my own cars. two of the 3'ers i've owned came with the wood... i ended up trading out for brushed aluminum in both of them. you have significantly lower miles on yours as well.

Thanks! I will post more pictures and my story next week once my car arrives. Enjoy it!

[gferil]

Great write up! Beautiful car and the wheels look awesome, can't wait for a real photoshoot.

[Nikki]

Also, I still believe that this is absolutely THE BEST car ever made. Not the M Coupe, but this EXACT car. It just has this incredible aura about it. I will buy this car back from you if you ever decide to sell it in the future. You have my number.

[v3.2mc]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Also, I still believe that this is absolutely THE BEST car ever made. Not the M Coupe, but this EXACT car. It just has this incredible aura about it. I will buy this car back from you if you ever decide to sell it in the future. You have my number.

huh oh! here we go again!

trust me... if in the unexplainable and inconceiveable event that i decide to part ways with "THE BEST car ever made"... you will be the first person i contact with the news. haha!