1M/// the car I have been working on.

[Eric]

I know it's not registered in the TUV system but it still has to pass the on base inspection. We were not allowed to remove any Cat if the car was equipped with them oem.

Technically, yes, but the guys at spang were overly anal about inspections. I had cars inspected at a few other bases (baumholder, stuttgart, ramstein, and Heidelberg) and none of them were nearly as strict as spang. Remember, the fat one was failing cars and sending them to his brother in law in spangtown, Heinz.

Is this a US Soldier?
Not knocking our armed services, but how the hell does a soldier afford this car, let alone all of the modifications? All the friends I had in the Marines and Air Force barely made money at all.

Car is sick as hell though. Nice work.

It's very easy to rack up some serious change if your collecting COLA and utilities allowances while deployed for 12+ months. Plus if he's an officer he's not doing to shabby. When I was deployed for 4 months as a lowly E3, I came home with over $10k in my bank account and I was blowing money while deployed!

Lets do a little example:
Single 03 captain with 8 years time in service stationed in Stuttgart for the month of November 2011 who is currently on a 12 month deployment to shitkanistan
-Base pay:$5449
-Housing: $2274 (not pocketed, it's either used for rent, or not given out)
-Utilities: $691 (most can be pocketed if used smartly
-COLA: $616
-BAS: $224
--total: $6980 (not including housing since it's use or loose type of contract)

possible special pay: Jump ($150) HALO ($225) Pilot (up to $1000)
Hazard duty: $100
Hostile fire: $225
Per-diem: 105
Total: 580-1430

Total possible: $7560 - 8410 per month, so annually $90720-100920 and your only taxed on over $90k of non allowance type income, aka base pay and special pays

Now add the above up over 12 months and you can see how Army guys are getting back from deployments and buying some wicked cars. I'm not saying this is what Mikes friend is doing, I'm just showing how you can make pretty good money if you play your cards right (don't die).


Mike - I have a very very slim chance of being stationed in Stuttgart someday. If that happens, me an you should become friends!
Edit: I thought you hated 1 series, why does this one change your mind?

[brutus87]

Ballin

[btober]

this is one hell of a build,thumbs up!

[mikeedler]

Dang. This is cool! but it also makes me sad because all that M-group R&D is being thrown off for aftermarket parts. Whatever probably wicked as all hell to drive!

there really isn't much R&D in the 1M, it is all just parts stolen from other cars, nice parts, but a few of the things I agree with that were changed, some not.

Nice. I would love to be able to tear into a brand new car like this.

actually, it's kinda nerve wrecking at times.

i did something similar to this in 1998 with an S10 ext. cab of mine when I was in the Army. I cut the whole thing apart, Monster C-notched the frame, 18" Boyds wheels and hydraulics--all before the first payment. man was that fun but expensive.

Hey Mike, can halfcages like that be sourced for E30s?
Great job btw. The 1M will be my next BMW.

every part from this build-up is coming from the U.S. except the center section of the exhaust. So I have no idea --but I imagine e30 rollbars are not to hard to find over there.

[Fusion]

Hey Mike, can halfcages like that be sourced for E30s?
Great job btw. The 1M will be my next BMW.

[Mlarsen]

he is still planning more, parts just seem to show up at my doorstep weekly, this was orig. only supposed to be "hey mike, do you think you can throw some H&R springs on my car?"
I unfortunately replied, I can do anything you want............

Nice. I would love to be able to tear into a brand new car like this.

[ainadude]

"owner is an officer in the Army, special Forces and is always gone on different "missions"
said he has been saving for quite some time."

God bless your client and let's all hope he comes back in one piece to enjoy the great job you're doing for him. Really looks like really top-notch work. Props!

[CabbE30]

Dang. This is cool! but it also makes me sad because all that M-group R&D is being thrown off for aftermarket parts. Whatever probably wicked as all hell to drive!

[mikeedler]

your attention to detail as you work on it is impressive. I like the towels tucked in as you're installing the roll cage. Props, man.

thanks alot. After working on brand new BMWs everyday for years, you seem to try to be as careful as possible whenever possible.

Amazing! Great work... Drop that bitch

rear is on ....... waiting on AST or whoever to get their head out of their ass and getting me the correct parts, it's been a real hassle.

Few questions Mike. You moonlighting at dealer? Because I am very surprised that the dealer would allow the exhaust modifications to the car. I know it's not registered in the TUV system but it still has to pass the on base inspection. We were not allowed to remove any Cat if the car was equipped with them oem.

I hope he kept all the original parts? If he were to sell it in the future, having the oem stuff would make it more desirable.

Frozen Grey huh that must have been a tough order through the system.

all the orig. stuff is being wrapped in airtightplastic and being kept.
we will put anything on at the dealer, just won't give warranty on shoddy stuff, I have done a few AST suspensions at work on E90.. M3s

It's a new car, it has inspection for 3 years, he will be gone by then, plus they still don't do exhaust tests--- they don't look either if they like the car and it's tasteful- they close an eye.

car is wrapped with oracle foil, I had it done down the street from me.
his plans are to track the crap out of the car at the ring for the next 2 years, pull the foil off, and sell it for an M5 before he goes back.

not afraid of getting a CEL? (assuming this car started it's life with a diverter valve) this guy sequential?

the CEL is already on due to no cats, the software is on its way from the states from a company called COBB-- supposed to take care of all of that.

Damn, I wish I could buy a brand new 1M and dump a shit load of awesomeness in it. Is the guy wanting to do anything anything else to the car or is this it?

he is still planning more, parts just seem to show up at my doorstep weekly, this was orig. only supposed to be "hey mike, do you think you can throw some H&R springs on my car?"
I unfortunately replied, I can do anything you want............

[Mlarsen]

Damn, I wish I could buy a brand new 1M and dump a shit load of awesomeness in it. Is the guy wanting to do anything anything else to the car or is this it?

[Butler]

incredible build, but I would have wanted to enjoy the car in its stock form for a little while at least to get to know the car.

It must be nice to have that kind of money to throw at a brand new car.

[Julien]

not afraid of getting a CEL? (assuming this car started it's life with a diverter valve) this guy sequential?

[mikeedler]

It seems as though all the video clips of the car you shot where taken when the motor was still cold, hence why its very loud. Is there a vid of that exhaust/DP once the motor is warmed up?

Not to knock you but that sounds like my 135i with performance exhaust and stock DP/midpipe when cold. Not much different.

not knocking anything. it is what it is, no cats, and no rear muffler. Its a shit ton louder than stock, and the mid pipes are in the works

the vids of the sound are for the owner, he hasn't seen the car since he took delivery of it, and I have been trying to keep him updated.

I will try to get a vid of it warmed up and a little of the blow off valve whistle- I just don't like it idling too much in my yard- neighbors already love me.

[mikeedler]

the work isn't being done at the dealer, been doing it at home, and at my buddies bodyshop.

like posted here^ the car is a black car, with a wrap.

owner is an officer in the Army, special Forces and is always gone on different "missions"
said he has been saving for quite some time.

the car still only has about 40 miles on it, so I really haven't been able to "test" it out, I drove a few of them in the schooling I did in Leipzig, awesome!

[samiam3356]

Props on the e30m3 and the 1m. Love both of them.