Two years ago today, I bought something

"E90M3" (e90m3)
07/28/2016 at 10:47 • Filed to: None

On July 28, 2014, I fulfilled a goal I had since I was 13, I bought an M3. As long as I can remember, so like 3 or 4, I had always been fascinated by methods of transportation, I loved planes, trains, and trucks, but wasn’t really into cars. That was until thanksgiving of 2003. My uncle shows up in a 2001 Alpine White M3 with a 6MT. When had gone out to eat as my dad’s parents didn’t want to cook and we had gone up to North Georgia to visit them. After dinner, my dad asked my uncle to take me for a ride in the M3. I immediately fell in love with it and knew one day I’d have to own one.

I had tried to convince my dad to get a BMW after his 1996 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT died. Wasn’t to be, he got a 2002 Buick Regal. I would have to buy the BMW myself. However, this was going to take some time before I had the means to do it. Doesn’t mean I can’t dream.

Me in a 2009 M3 at the ATL auto show.

I graduated college in December of 2012, with a job. Unfortunately, that job didn’t start until September of 2013, so I still had some time to wait. When I started my career, I started looking in earnest for a car, even though I told myself I was going to wait until I had gotten my first promotion before I bought the car. Basically I had to attend an 8 week school and pass it in order to be promoted, if I didn’t pass it, I’d be let go.

Come November of that year, I see the perfect E90 M3. For some reason I wanted a sedan, I think it’s because my first car was a two door explorer and I always wished it was a four door. You always want what you don’t have. Anyways, a 2011 Alpine White M3 with a 6MT pops up on the market. I can’t wait, I have to have this.

The only picture I have of that M3

I live in Alice Texas at the time, this car is in Houston. Not a problem, one of my pledge brothers lives in Houston. So on my off days I schedule a test drive and drive up to Houston. I get there and the salesman claims he’s busy. So he hands me the keys and is like have fun. I’m 23, did I really just get handed the keys to an M3? This can’t be real. I go on the best test drive ever. I have to own it. So I tried to buy it, but they can’t get me approved for financing. I believe it was the lack of credit history was what kept me from getting approved. I have to walk away, that hurt. So I decided to go back to my original plan I would wait.

That 8 week school I had mentioned took place in Tyumen Russia during April and May of 2014. I passed. Upon my return to the US, it was time to find an M3.

I had some specific requirements: I wanted an LCI (2009-2011) E90 with idrive, leather, and a manual and less than 30k on the clock. I wanted a white one, but I’d settle for one that wasn’t black or red. I couldn’t find one, everyone seemed meet one or two of the requirements, but not all of them. I was starting to consider E92s cause I could find some E92s with everything I wanted.

Then one day, my crew was down cause coil tubing was having issues at the well. Perfect, car shopping all day at the man camp. That’s when this grey M3 at a Porsche dealer pops up on the market; it’s everything I want, but the ad says the interior is cloth. I wait for pictures to get uploaded, it’s not cloth it’s leather. This might be the one, but I live in Corpus and the car is in Dallas. I work in the oil field and there is no way that a frac engineer could get some random days off in 2014, not with how busy we were. So I’d have to wait until my next days off.

I give the dealer a call and explain that I’m interested and that I wouldn’t be able to come view and test drive the car until next month. The dealer is like, well I really want to get the deal done before the end of July, so how about we bring the car to you, for free. Perfect, I’ll take it. Fill out the application for credit, get approved this time. Guess it helps when you’ve got 40% of the car to put down.

I had to attend training on my off days in San Antonio, so we scheduled for the car to be delivered on Sunday night.

Might be one of the happiest moments of my life.

I do some paperwork and the driver hands me the keys. I have my very own M3, I can’t believe it actually happened. I spent the night and the next morning driving it around before it was time for me to go back to work on nights.

Two years later, I’ve put 19424 mostly trouble free miles on it. I say mostly trouble free cause I had a throttle position actuator go out on me, other than that it’s been flawless. I love it, it still makes me simile to this day. Dreams do come true.

DISCUSSION (12)

TylerJ > E90M3
07/28/2016 at 11:04

As someone who does around 20-30k miles a year, someone who has only done 19k miles in two years boggles my mind.

The first two years I owned my tC, I put 60k miles on it. Over the next three years, I hit 135k and sold it.

E90M3 > TylerJ
07/28/2016 at 11:05

I was in the field for 66% of my life without access to it, and I had another car as well.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > E90M3
07/28/2016 at 11:11

That was a touching story. Most likely because I have also wanted an M3 since I was a child and it looks like we’re pretty close in age. And like you, my dream M3 is an Alpine white M3. Even more coincidentally, the first M3 I fell in love with was the e46 M3.

Darn, now I really wish I could have bought that e92 M3 you linked me a few weeks back. I suppose it’s as they say, "if it’s meant to be then it’ll happen"

E90M3 > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
07/28/2016 at 11:17

Thanks. The grey has really grown on me, I actually think it’s a great color for the car. I think we are pretty close in age, I’m 26 now, I’m sure it’ll happen one day for you.

JR1 > E90M3
07/28/2016 at 12:10

Good for you man! Nothing like your dream car. Think you’ll ever sell?

Also what is it like to be a frac engineer that sounds pretty cool

E90M3 > JR1
07/28/2016 at 12:44

I have no plans to sell it now, I like it way too much to think about selling it now. Maybe one day, I’d like to hang out to it for as long as I can. Last naturally aspirated M car.

I got laid off in 2016, it was alight while it lasted. The concept is pretty cool the job itself kinda sucks. This does a pretty good job of describing field life:

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3
07/28/2016 at 13:58

Acquiring my first childhood dream car was both a deep source of pride and also a turning point in my hobby. How long do I keep this thing while it continuously leeches off my bank account? What do I do after this car?

Great story and I’m sure you feel that sense of accomplishment as well. Sorry to hear about your job; hope you land somewhere good soon.

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
07/28/2016 at 14:39

I got it paid off and it’s been more reliable than my explorer was. It hasn’t tried to eat all of my money, I think getting one with low miles on it helped. Had a second car until I lost my job, gonna get another second car once I get a new job. Had two interviews, both seemed to go really well so hopefully something comes along soon.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3
07/28/2016 at 17:51

Did you get your oil analysis like all the other worried E9X owners?

E90M3 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
07/28/2016 at 18:10

Nope, I've never been that paranoid

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > E90M3
07/29/2016 at 03:17

Yeah. Silver grey is a very close second for me on the M3. Next up would probably be Carbon or Jerez Black. I love those metallic flakes. Yep, I’m 23 haha. Thanks man, I hope so too.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
08/09/2016 at 15:03

A love story.