[MrBucket]

I'm relatively new to this forum and to BMWs in general and I never got around to posting any photos of my Estoril Blue M235i with the 6 speed manual transmission. Its a really awesome car both to drive and to look at. I'd only driven my first BMW in June 2013 at the Greenwich Concours d' Elegance, and I have to say that I started off pretty well. The first one being a 760Li with lots of BMW Individual goodies followed up back to back with an Alpina B7. I was also supposed to drive a M6 that year but they messed up my appointment and I wasn't going to wait 3-4 hours just to drive it.

This year I was determined to not let the same thing happen with the Competition Pack M5 with the carbon ceramic brakes. There was a little bit of a line for the M5, and one of the workers suggested that my friend and I take the M235i that they had for a drive instead of just standing around and waiting. It didn't take very long for the M235i to impress me, and I knew that I wanted to get one. I went down to my local dealership a day or two later and left a little bit of a deposit with them so that I would be the first person they called when a 6 speed came in. I got really lucky that the car they got in was configured almost exactly how I would have done it if I ordered one.

The specs on it are as follows:
2014 M235i
Estoril Blue
Black Dakota Leather
6 Speed Manual Transmission
Cold Weather Package
Driver Assistance Package
Premium Package 2
Technology Package
Alarm System
Moonroof
harmon/kardon Stereo

I've also installed the BMW M Performance Exhaust and a BMS Intake, which has really made it sound a lot more like it should have from the factory. I picked it up with 10 miles on the odometer and made sure that the dealership left the shipping protection on so that I could have my detailer do the new car prep starting with the best possible situation for him, my car, and myself, ending with Opti-Coat Pro so it should keep looking great for a few years at least.

So here are some photos of it that I've taken since I got it.

After a wash
















Installing the M Performance Exhaust (and looking around underneath while I had it up on the lift)
























How I picked it up


BMS Intake


Interior


I still have to install the matching BMW M Performance pedals, I got them the day after I picked up the car but haven't got around to it yet for whatever reason.

I now have a little bit over 2,200 miles on it and I did my first oil change last week now that its broken in well enough.

Car always feels special wen going out for a drive to anywhere.

[VMRWheels]

Looking good, congrats! Great start with the mods

[NY10]

Gorgeous car

[brhon]

Looks awesome, miss my EB-that is a special color. How do you like the intake?

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by brhon

Looks awesome, miss my EB-that is a special color. How do you like the intake?

The intake really changed the sound of the car a lot, possibly more than the exhaust. You hear a ton of induction noise as well as the diverter valve going off all the time even just driving around town. The car finally sounds like it should have from the factory. Maybe good for a couple hp, I think it spools a little bit faster but its hard to say without having done any actual dyno runs.


Estoril Blue definitely is the way to go on this car I feel, it just looks amazing when the sun catches it just right. It really highlights all of the different curves and creases in the body.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Nice!!

[Gate7]

Wow beautiful!
How much does opti-coat cost approximately?

[Anderw]

First , Nice car
Second what drives better/ is more fun that yellow b7 RS4 on your driveway or your 235

I would be interested in a youtube video of them doing a 40 roll (closed course of course)

eitherway ! good stuff. The break In period is already killing me and I haven't even taken delivery yet

[Johnnohoff]

Yoshimi!!! Gratz on car!

[MFLTPRZ]

Very Nice! Congrats!!!

[mvallido]

Welcome aboard! She's gorgeous.

[Glassjaw047]

Congrats man!!! Hope you're loving the car!

[Vervain]

Congrats! great idea to ask the dealer to leave the protection on before you opticoated.

[hoppy6698]

Very nice car! Can't wait for my EB to get here as well.

Originally Posted by Gate7

How much does opti-coat cost approximately?

CQuartz from a local detailer cost about $450. My wife's Q5 has had it for about 5 months now, no washes, and water just cannot stick to it. Great stuff and looks slick. Planning to coat the M235 once I get it.

Plan an extra $150-200 for a 2 step polish before applying though. Putting it over scratches will only highlight the flaws. Once on, its nearly hard as nails.

[Exotics Tuning]

Looks great !!!