I got my trunk liner last week. There isn't much to say about it. It fits like a glove and looks really nice. You lose a little bit of usable space. It is harder plastic than I thought it would be.

http://www.suncoastparts.com/product...S_Interiormats



This is before I wiped it out. The main reason I got it is to through my sweaty shirts in after Crossfit.












My friend with the GT3 gave me this sweet calendar that he had laying around. I may hang it up in the garage.

 

I was thinking about getting an M5 to replace the S4 instead of an M3. I drove one and absolutely hated it.

Here is my post on F80Post:

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=957672

 

Usually I wouldn't mess with the interior until I've owned the car for a while. Just basic touch-ups every other wash, and I'm fine. After getting the windows tinted I had some streaking on the dash that wasn't coming out of the leather with normal interior cleaner, so I decided to give the front of the car a cleaning. I did the doors, front seats, center console, shifter/boot, and dash.

I've been using this Leather Master System for several years now. The other I've read good things about is from Leatherique, but I haven't tried it. I'm getting low and Leather Master isn't perfect, so I'm open to suggestions.

I have this kit with the addition of Soft Cleaner, which I didn't use today.

http://www.detailersdomain.com/Leath...Kit_p_548.html





As you might imagine, my interior is always pretty clean. I didn't need to clean up before starting the process. If the leather was dirty, I'd just spray on the interior cleaner. If you're more abusive than me, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe stop eating McDonald's in your car and buy a steamer. I started with Strong Cleaner. Just put a little on the blue pad and squeeze a few times to get a little foam. I always wipe it on in small sections and follow-up with a microfiber interior towels right after to remove excess and any dirt that might be there.







After cleaning the door, I follow-up with Leather Vital. This takes about 45 minutes to dry, so I always clean a panel and add Vital right after the cleaning. This stuff is tricky. I learned my lesson the hard way. Vital can be very streaky, so you want to make sure to apply it evenly on a small section of the panel and then wipe of the excess evenly. It you don't, you'll see the wipe lines or low spots. You'll get what I'm talking about if you try it and let it dry unevenly. The first time I used it, I put it on thick and figured it would seep in and dry. It wasn't permanent, but was annoying to have to redo the entire interior.







So my process was, driver's door Strong Cleaner and Vital, then dash cleaner and Vital, then wheels/console/dash cleaner/shifter cleaner and Vital, then passenger's door cleaner and Vital, and then front seats cleaner and Vital. By the time I get back around to the driver's door the Vital has dried. Now I can use the Protection Cream. The Vital won't look perfect no matter how hard you try, but the Protection Cream will make up for most of the high and low spots. It just won't cover a bad Vital application. You don't have to be as careful with this last step. Just put it on one panel at a time and wipe off the excess.



It took me about three hours to do the leather. I took my time and was watching Dexter Season 3. After the leather, you'll need to clean up the trim. I use Griot's Interior Cleaner.



Lastly I cleaned up the windows again just in case I had any residue from the leather care. I really like the cheezy window tool I got from Griot's years ago. It really helps with the front and back windows.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ortby=ourPicks







Done! I'll touch up the leather about every month with some Lexol, and I love this interior scent from Griot's. Just spray it directly on the carpet under the seat every month or so. You could also spray it on a sponge and throw it under the seat.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ortby=ourPicks

I didn't do the rear mainly due to laziness and lack of use of the rear. I usually repeat this process once a year using Soft Cleaner.

 

I know this isn't Porsche related, but I need a new "practical" daily driver. I thought you all might be interested. I went and drove the M5 and disliked it very much. I decided to go with my original plan. Trade the M3 Coupe (my love) for the C2S (my life's pursuit). Then get back into a more useful 4 door for the family when the S4 lease is up.

The B8 S4 is certainly a nice car, but the numb steering and nose heavy understeer machine that it is needs to go. Owning the 911 makes me want to rid myself of the S4 even more. I don't even want to drive it. I would probably like it much more if I had gotten a manual. The DSG annoys me. I learned some valuable lessons from this car. One, I'm going to keep driving a manual as long as I still can. The double clutch experiment, although much faster, takes the fun out it for me. The kid in me wants to be able to rev the engine in a tunnel. The other thing I learned is that I don't want all the cool gadgets that I bought on this car: side assist, back up camera, parking sensors, keyless, memory seats. I just don't use any of it.

I leased it for 36 months. The lease is up on Februrary 1st, but I'm able to sell it to BMW and lose nothing. A win, win in my book. Pre-order the M3 and get rid of the Audi.


















FYI, this was my M3 coupe that I parted out and traded to Porsche when I ordered the C2S. It really was not a bad deal for me. I bought it for $65,000 out the door, drove it for two and half years, and traded to the dealer for a tax-equivalent trade of $52,000. The cost of ownership wasn't bad at all. I also got about 80% of my money back from the aftermarket parts. It just didn't make sense to have a two door M3 and a 911, so I let it go. It was bare bones. No heated or powered seats, no Nav, 6MT, no fluff.





















After spending a week shopping online and weighing all of my options and after test driving the M5, I'm certain the F80 M3 is the daily driver for me. It is much more heavily optioned standard that I would prefer, but it's definitely the car. I'm going to lease it for a few reasons. I don't want to own the first year car. I would rather let BMW work out the initial issues and buy one in a few years if I love it. I'm looking at about $830 a month for my low-optioned version. Here is what I'm ordering:







F80 M3 Sedan $62,000
Mineral White $550: I really wanted to get something different than white, but the other options don't appeal to me. Plus, how can you argue with those photos above.
Sakhir Orange/Black Extended Merino Leather $950: I've always chickened out on wild interiors. I'm going to give this a shot since it's a lease.
19" Black 437 M with Performance Tires $1,200: I'll probably put aftermarket wheels and suspension on the car, but for $1,200 the black 437s look good.
Harman Kardon surround sound system: $875
Destination $925

MSRP: $65,500.

I'm getting it for $63,500, which is a deal for a car net yet released. I'm also getting the very first allocation at my local dealer behind their two launch cars. Let's hope I get it in mid to late summer. The 911 becomes a daily driver until it shows up. I'm taking delivery and the Performance Delivery Center in Columbia, SC like I did my E92.

 

Congrats. Allthough I'm a Porsche fan, I do have an appetite for M3/M4 cars !

 

Agreed. Great call, Money. The new M3/M4 look amazing. Local Bimmer dealer should have the launch cars soon and I'm excited to drive them.

 

Wonderful thread, I came across it this weekend and I must say that its been a pleasure to read through it. Congratulations on the nicely specd 991 s and the nice house with the magnificent garage. It looks like you got a decent deal on the m3 as well. Keep us updated on the porsche and the f80 m3 progress. Great choices

 

Thanks for the kind words. I was hoping my neuroses would be helpful/entertaining to others like me. This journal gives me an outlet as I don't have any car guy friends that live anywhere near me.

 

Have to say, the M3 looks really sweet in mineral white.

 

I hear there's quite a convertible Sebring following up there in the Villages.

 

I was going to save the $550 and get Alpine, but Mineral looks so sweet and is a bit different than the white C2S.

 

Ha...ha... You guys won't believe this, but I live just outside of The Villages, FL. It's the 2nd largest retirement community in the country. My office is in one of the town squares. As you might imagine, I park way out in the back of the parking lot. As I'm walking, I see a bunch of Chrysler Sebring Convertibles. I look down the row and realize there are like 50 of them rocking top down. Then I realize there is a SEBRING CONVERTIBLE meet happening!!!!! I was like you have got to be sh#%$ing me!!! That is the biggest POS car on the plane,t and these people are hanging around their cars like they are a bunch of Ferraris. Only in The Villages.

 

They're preparing for the golf cart drag race later

 

I don't use it often, but it makes me feel better having a few towels and other essentials with me at all times. I decided to put it behind the driver's seat. You can't see it, and no human is going to fit behind me. I have Griot's Waterless Wash for the heavy stuff, Speed Shine for the light, Interior Cleaner, and Window Cleaner. I can pretty much clean anything with those 4. I also always have a microfiber towel under the passenger seat for quick access.

 

I had a very similar e92 M3 to yours (LMB with Morr vs8.2's) and sold it when I ordered the 911 C2S but have got myself on the list for the new m3 when it arrives in Australia.

I'm always surprised by the cost differential between AUS and USA for our cars. We are normally more than double (and our dollar is pretty much even). If the price is ridiculous on the M3 then I'll wait a year or so.