I always assumed the M3 Lightweight was one of those cars you'll only see in a museum, but it's cool that at least one is at least being partially driven.
Photography by David S. Wallens
Didn’t we use nearly the same title for an update on our Garage Rescue Miata?
Yes, yes we did.
But Ace Café’s schedule doesn’t just welcome Miatas on the last Monday of the month. The motorcycle-themed eatery also hosts BMWs the third Tuesday of the month. In fact, the schedule contains something different for every day of the month: JDM machines, Swedish cars, Subarus, Porsches, Corvettes, Fords, etc.
So we took our M3, making the hourlong drive into Orlando.
We spent the previous few evenings cleaning up our E46-chassis M3, basically following the same formula used on our Garage Rescue Miata and Porsche 911 projects.
This time, though, we topped the finish with something new, trying out Griot’s Garage’s new Ceramic Speed Shine. (Tip: Buffing it out with a dry microfiber towel really does make the paint pop.)
What’d we find once in Orlando? Lots of BMWs–including a legit, never-raced 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight. It was the real deal.
The rest of the field covered different food groups, including some drift machines. The big thing: People coming together over the love of cars. Yes, the moment was that sweet.
Check out the photos, and more M3 updates to come. We still need to tell you about our brake refresh. And we have some hardware from BimmerWorld to install.
I always assumed the M3 Lightweight was one of those cars you'll only see in a museum, but it's cool that at least one is at least being partially driven.
In reply to Colin Wood :
It was there. Just sitting there. No ropes, no "do not touch" sign. And the owner was happy to chat about it.
That's what I like about these kinds of events: You never know what will show up, and if you're there, then you can take it in.
Colin Wood said:I always assumed the M3 Lightweight was one of those cars you'll only see in a museum, but it's cool that at least one is at least being partially driven.
Paddocked next to one at a track event (believe it was Putnam) 4 or 5 years back. Young guy was beating the heck out of it and said it was a goal of his dad's so he carried the torch. Just amazing to watch such a rare car get modified and abused.
In reply to Olemiss540 :
That's an interesting topic: Is there a point where these rare, competition-ready cars should be retired from track duty and thus preserved? See also: Cobra R, Integra Type R, Viper ACR, Neon ACR and, before them, cars like the Shelby GT350, Yenko Stinger, etc., etc.
David S. Wallens said:In reply to Olemiss540 :
That's an interesting topic: Is there a point where these rare, competition-ready cars should be retired from track duty and thus preserved? See also: Cobra R, Integra Type R, Viper ACR, Neon ACR and, before them, cars like the Shelby GT350, Yenko Stinger, etc., etc.
That one is, and has always been, tough for me.
On one hand, I get sentimental about things and want things preserved. On the other...well, they were built to be DRIVEN.
I think of a friend of mine, a BMW guy actually. He's had a M coupe featured in BMW Performance mag and some other stuff with his 70s era 6 series (with ITBs etc). Anyway, here is with these rarer cars, but he just does what he wants. Nothing that radically changes them, but he mods more than I would feel comfortable with at times. But he loves it. Maybe Im too conservative with my cars.
Anyway, to your question - I dont know ha
In reply to hybridmomentspass :
It is a tough question to ask, and I can look back at my own past. I modded an EG Civic Si, Rabbit GTI, CRXs and more. Today, you'd want those cars to be stock or nearly so. Where does the switchover occur in our own minds? Or is there even one?
And sorta to tie this back to last night, I had several people stop to chat about the M3. I didn't hang around the car all evening, but as I didn't know anyone there, I did circle back to the car just to move around.
People seemed to dig that it's well preserved but modded just a touch. It's not cut up, it's not ratty. But the main mods--mainly the stance and suspension--give it some presence, too. I think one dude called it stock-plus.
Is that the sweet spot for cars that are kinda rare--not nearly Lightweight rare but still a bit special?
David S. Wallens said:And sorta to tie this back to last night, I had several people stop to chat about the M3. I didn't hang around the car all evening, but as I didn't know anyone there, I did circle back to the car just to move around.
People seemed to dig that it's well preserved but modded just a touch. It's not cut up, it's not ratty. But the main mods--mainly the stance and suspension--give it some presence, too. I think one dude called it stock-plus.
Is that the sweet spot for cars that are kinda rare--not nearly Lightweight rare but still a bit special?
I think the beauty is in the execution! If it's well done I think modifications that enhance the ownership experience are a road worth traveling. Now, I have also torn many a modification off once I realized how much they negatively impacted the fun/reliability/comfort of my intended use case.
In reply to Olemiss540 :
A related question: Just how many of us have de-modded our own mods as a car has gotten older/rarer/more valuable?
David S. Wallens said:In reply to Olemiss540 :
That's an interesting topic: Is there a point where these rare, competition-ready cars should be retired from track duty and thus preserved? See also: Cobra R, Integra Type R, Viper ACR, Neon ACR and, before them, cars like the Shelby GT350, Yenko Stinger, etc., etc.
I would absolutely LOVE to have a 718 GT4RS.
I do not think I would change my driving habits from my current Cayman. Daily in the summer, across country trips, trips to the Dragon from NH, canyons in S. CA...
I am a firm believer in driving. My whole collection will be driven as intended.
I passed up a $16k e30 m3 and bought a Tacoma instead. I hate myself.
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