2009 BMW E92 M3 Coupe 2-SoCal Owners LSD Tech & Premium Packages

With over 400hp and 295lb-feet of torque, this BMW M3 is the last of the normally aspirated M3 cars and the only model to get a V8.  They are the “muscle car” of the Bavarian lineup.  I’ve always felt that this generation was the last of an era.  Also, when I look at the values of other M3s, these are still very reasonable for a fast do-everything sports coupe/sedan.

 

This E92 was built on September 30^th, 2008, and sold new on December 22^nd, 2008 by BMW Irvine, California.  It was ordered with the following factory options:

• Premium Package:
  • Power folding mirrors
  • Universal garage door opener
  • Blue-gray brushed aluminum trim
  • Digital compass mirror
  • BMW assist
• Technology Package:
  • Navigation with voice recognition
  • M Drive
  • Comfort access system
  • HD radio
• M double clutch transmission (DCT)
• 19” wheels w/performance tires
• Tire pressure monitor
• Heated front seats
• Park distance control (rear)
• iPod and USB adapter
• Smartphone integration
• Satellite radio
• Enhanced premium sound
• Shadowline trim

The total MSRP was $72,870.

The first owner was an Orange County enthusiast who was into club racing.  He had a dedicated track car for racing.  He purchased this car as a daily driver and occasional driver’s education event.  He owned the car for nearly 7 years and 44k miles.  During his care, he serviced the car at his local BMW dealership as well as Bullet Performance in Costa Mesa, California.  Bullet is one of the most respected BMW independent shops in the area.  Bullet also enhanced the car for more enjoyment on both the street and track.

Highlights of services and modifications include:

• Scheduled routine oil, filters, and fluids services
• Performance modifications at Bullet (5/14 @ 40,366 miles)
  • MCS 3-way adjustable remote reservoir suspension
  • Rear shock mounts
  • Adjustable camber plates
  • EDC Emulation module
  • Sway bar links
  • E9X rear camber arm bearing kit from Rogue
  • Adjustable rear toe arm and wishbone arm set from Rogue
  • Ground control rear height adjusters
  • Apex EC7 wheels anthracite -19×10.5 (extra set available – additional fee)*
  • Akrapovic titanium exhaust system (stock exhaust available – additional fee)*
  • Dinan carbon fiber cold air intake
  • Strom Racing custom ECU tuning
  • Sparta Evo brake upgrade (6-piston front and 4-piston rear)
• Custom limited slip differential (9/14 @ 41,924 miles)

In total, this owner invested over $40,000 in improving the performance of this E92.

He sold this M3 to the current Orange County enthusiast on May 15^th, 2015, with 44,823 miles.  The current owner is a long-time friend of ours who owns a fabrication business.  He purchased this BMW to be a part-time daily driver and to take to Driver’s Education events.  In his 6-years of ownership, he added another 10k miles and only went to two driving schools.  He didn’t use the car as much as he planned.  He took the car to either Crevier BMW or Bullet for routine services.  In October of 2021, he brought the car to us with 55,150 miles and had us help him sell it.

We sold it a week later to a local Orange County collector and a true enthusiast.  Although this owner had full factory Porsche Cup cars in his stable, he wanted something that he could drive to a local track and have fun without all the stuff involved with towing a racecar to the track.  In the end, he only took it out to the track once or twice and added a mere 691 miles from when he purchased the car from us nearly 2 years prior.  This owner has an onsite mechanic who installed a carbon fiber trunk spoiler as well as did a full alignment.  We just had our local BMW specialist perform an oil service, brake flush, and cabin filter set on 4/25 @ 58,826 miles.

The exterior of this M3 looks fantastic with minimal signs of wear.  There is some light road rash on the lower rockers.  The front bumper and hood were recently repainted due to chips.  There are no signs of any prior accidents or damage.  The rear wheel well openings were subtly flared out to accommodate the larger rubber.  The glass is in good shape and wearing the proper factory stampings.  The windshield has been replaced.  The Apex wheels have a few minor nicks and a few spots with light curb rash.  They are wearing 6 to 7-year-old Continental tires with approximately 5k miles on them and just under half-life remaining.  They should be replaced soon.  The front brakes have around 75% life left and the rears have between a third and half-life remaining.

The interior is equally nice and shows light use.  The leather sport seats are in great shape with no tears, rips, or excessive signs of wear.  There is some light wear on the driver exit bolsters.  The rear seats look nearly new.  The carpet, headliner, and door panels are all in excellent shape.  The dash has no cracks.  All the pixels on the displays work.  The gauges all work.  The tire pressure monitoring error message is displayed since the Apex wheels aren’t fitted with the measuring devices.  Occasionally, a check engine light will come on with an O2 sensor fault from the aftermarket exhaust that is not smog-legal.  The A/C system blows cold and the rest of the electric controls throughout the vehicle all work.

This M3 drives with a dual purpose.  It can be as docile as any other street GT car or you can turn the volume up to 11 and rip on any backroad or track day.  The sound of the Akrapovič exhaust is intoxicating.  What it does for these V8 M3s is akin to what a Tubi exhaust does for a Ferrari.  The throttle response is immediate and strong throughout the rev range.  Mild engine tuning and breathing are felt in the broader mid-range torque.  The engine revs with the freedom of something with less displacement.  The brakes are incredible and make the car feel lighter than it is.  Stopping power is confidence-inspiring with no fading or pulling.  The DCT shifts with ease and has a similar feeling as a Porsche PDK.  Shifts are much quicker than a manual with perfect rev matching every time.  It’s no wonder why these transmissions are becoming more popular for track use as they protect from user error.  Handling is crisp and tight, making the car feel smaller than it is.  This could possibly be the perfect 1-car solution for the enthusiast who needs to carry family, commute daily, and still likes to play on a twisty road.

This M3 does not pass CA smog with the current exhaust system and ECU tune.  The owner has the complete stock exhaust system, which will need to be installed to pass smog.  The current owner has a wholesale dealer’s license, so he doesn’t have to smog it.

This M3 includes 2 main keys, a plastic valet key original window sticker (2 copies), most service receipts including modification work done, owner’s manuals with vinyl case, factory air compressor, and factory flat repair kit.

*Available for purchase, is the stock exhaust system and an extra set of identical Apex wheels.  There are no other original parts available.

**Note: VIN and other numbers withheld to protect against fraud.  All numbers including VIN, Engine, and color will be provided to serious buyers.