Break The Mold
J’s 2008 BMW e92 M3.
There are many cars that have remained special from the very first day it was unveiled. Some of these cars have held on to their “special” label, and some are considered to become even more special as we see newer tech take over. If we look at some of the best driver’s cars ever made, the only V8 M3 that revs up to 8,400 RPMs comes to no surprise. It produces a wonderful exhaust note that is incredibly intoxicating to the soul and it can definitely turn a non-enthusiast into one. It would be silly not to think that this car would go down as an all time classic.
Thanks to social media, there have been builds out there with the sole purpose to garner internet fame, attention, and likes. The formula is pretty simple: first you pick a platform; the more popular it is, the better. Then, do something totally crazy like cutting it up and putting a widebody. Let it sit on a set of crazy spec’d wheels and make sure the fitment is something that will break everyone’s necks when it airs out. Despite the criteria I just mentioned, this one remains an exception as the real purpose of this build has nothing to do with likes, followers, or any internet fame at all.
This is J’s 2008 BMW E92 M3. I felt a burst of excitement to have stumbled across J’s M3 on Instagram through my explore page and it wasn’t even him who posted a photo of his car. I found his account and it was on private with very little followers and very little activity. The moment I saw it, I figured I really wanted to be able to share his car on this platform, but a part of me felt like he wasn’t gonna see my message, or even just ignore it. I just had a gut feeling that he wasn’t really big on the whole photoshoot and posting his car on the internet kinda thing.
Luckily, he replied and agreed to meet up. I was pretty excited to see a Pandem E92 M3 in person as I’ve only really seen it on the internet. Our first location was in the heart of Yorkville, and he had sent me a message stating that he was running a bit late. About 10-15 minutes after our agreed meetup time, I started to hear an echo of heavy downshifts terrorizing the busy streets on a Sunday afternoon. I’m one to recognize cars just by the sound, and I knew that this had to be him coming.
Right off the bat you will notice everything that’s different about J’s M3. It’s immensely wider as it’s dressed in the Pandem widebody kit. It sits on AirLift air suspension, and is topped of with a beefy tire setup rocking 275/30/19 in the front, and 325/30/19 in the rear. I mean, how much wider can you go?
With an awesome NA V8, it would be a sin to keep the exhaust stock especially when the car looks like this. To match the aggressive stance of the car, J went with an IPE Innotech Valvetronic exhaust which was very suiting. Whether you’re in the mood to wreak havoc or be a good neighbor, you’ve got both options with the press of a button.
While some might go on and argue that bolt-on widebody kits are nothing but show, J does things a bit differently… and I was there to experience a glimpse of it. With the help of the ESS supercharger, his M3 has become far from a regular E92 that we all know.
We went for a drive around downtown Toronto as the sun started setting. With the way J drives his car, there is no doubt that you’ll realize that this car was built purely for his own enjoyment and no one else’s. The saying “drive it like you stole it” was repeatedly playing in my head over and over and I couldn’t stop enjoying every second of it.
As we headed to different locations, J made use of the road whenever it was open and allowed the car to stretch its legs.
Those 325 tires blatantly stick out when you look at the car from behind. I mean… it just sits so well.
The Pandem widebody kit gives you a lot to look at. From diffusers both front and rear, ducktail style spoilers, and some memorable liveries that will help one recognize it from a far.
The interior is a very familiar cockpit with the BMW ethos in check. He kept the same BMW steering wheel and added LED shift lights, a pair of GTR-35 Nismo seats in red to give the interior some vibrancy, and the car is paired with a 6 speed manual transmission.
If you look closely you will see the wear and tear of the car which screams a lot of fun stories behind it. This one’s not a garage queen, and it sure as hell ain’t a show car. This one is purely out of passion and enjoyment of one’s own creation.
It’s cars like these that represent deep roots with the love for automobiles. Build a car the way you want it, and take risks. Go against the norm, and do what makes you happy.
If you want to follow J, you can him on instagram: @tonka278027.