M3toSVT
Full Access Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2015
- Posts
- 232
- Reaction score
- 181
Good day gentlemen. I recently have taken ownership of my first truck after much deliberation on what to get for my next vehicle.
Coming from nothing but German cars for the last 14 years I was in the market for a new vehicle to replace my E46 M3. It just was not practical anymore to DD this car with the growing family. So I started my search a year ago for my next vehicle.
I had many different cars in mind and even an SUV. It first started with a 4 door E90 M3. Sticking with the German brand I love and am familiar with. Then it was maybe a 335xi four door. Even thought of going american with a SRT-8 Jeep. But then i started to think even more into it and thought maybe a truck so I can haul stuff when needed (no more borrowing trucks from friends). It would also be great to tow my M3 to the track for some HPDE.
I have never been much of a truck guy and for anyone that knows my style, no truck has ever really appealed to me. Lets just say I like things that stand out. Given my Laguna Seca Blue M3, I have never been one to blend in with the crowd.
I previously have seen the raptors years ago and thought it was nice looking but never looked much deeper into them until recently. After many youtube videos later, I was hooked. Everything from comparison videos to the infamous raptor jump fail I was ready to start looking for my own.
After many hours of research of what fails on these truck, their pros and cons, and what to look for in a used one. I was ready to embark on my raptor journey.
While looking online for months and just waiting for the perfect time to purchase I was able to drive a brand new 2014 in Blue Flame, fully loaded with all the bells and whistles. After that drive I was ready to buy one. Bad thing was, the one I drove is being raffled off for charity and is not for sale. Probably a good thing anyway because I couldn't afford it with the ridiculous markup these trucks are demanding.
Months go by and I am looking everyday at used ones close to me. Which were still hours away. Until one day one showed up at the dealership that I thought was a brand new Blue Flame Screw. So I at least just go to look at it and I find out it is used. Now I'm thinking "I may have a shot at getting one finally."
I end up doing a couple days of research on the truck and go to the dealership prepared. After some haggling back and forth I ended up with a 2011 Blue Flame Metallic that has 60k miles from a own owner 55 year old guy who took excellent care of it and has only been offroad with it a few times. (Mostly Beach Fishing) I wasn't looking for one with so many miles but it was a decent price and an excellent condition truck and couldn't be happier.
Anyway, 2 months later I have installed a S&B Intake with a 5 star tune, replaced all the interior and exterior lighting to LED bulbs as well as started getting ready for my headlight retrofit project.
Needless to say, I have been enjoying this truck a lot so far, as shown below with the attached pictures.
I will end my spiel now and I look forward to seeing everyone around here and hopefully in person in the near future. ON TO THE PICS!
First Night Home:
After its first bath:
Its first paint correction:
Before:
After:
50/50 Shot:
Not the first time offroad:
After a good pressure washing:
Everything ready to tackle this retrofit:
And for anyone interested in the BMW:
Coming from nothing but German cars for the last 14 years I was in the market for a new vehicle to replace my E46 M3. It just was not practical anymore to DD this car with the growing family. So I started my search a year ago for my next vehicle.
I had many different cars in mind and even an SUV. It first started with a 4 door E90 M3. Sticking with the German brand I love and am familiar with. Then it was maybe a 335xi four door. Even thought of going american with a SRT-8 Jeep. But then i started to think even more into it and thought maybe a truck so I can haul stuff when needed (no more borrowing trucks from friends). It would also be great to tow my M3 to the track for some HPDE.
I have never been much of a truck guy and for anyone that knows my style, no truck has ever really appealed to me. Lets just say I like things that stand out. Given my Laguna Seca Blue M3, I have never been one to blend in with the crowd.
I previously have seen the raptors years ago and thought it was nice looking but never looked much deeper into them until recently. After many youtube videos later, I was hooked. Everything from comparison videos to the infamous raptor jump fail I was ready to start looking for my own.
After many hours of research of what fails on these truck, their pros and cons, and what to look for in a used one. I was ready to embark on my raptor journey.
While looking online for months and just waiting for the perfect time to purchase I was able to drive a brand new 2014 in Blue Flame, fully loaded with all the bells and whistles. After that drive I was ready to buy one. Bad thing was, the one I drove is being raffled off for charity and is not for sale. Probably a good thing anyway because I couldn't afford it with the ridiculous markup these trucks are demanding.
Months go by and I am looking everyday at used ones close to me. Which were still hours away. Until one day one showed up at the dealership that I thought was a brand new Blue Flame Screw. So I at least just go to look at it and I find out it is used. Now I'm thinking "I may have a shot at getting one finally."
I end up doing a couple days of research on the truck and go to the dealership prepared. After some haggling back and forth I ended up with a 2011 Blue Flame Metallic that has 60k miles from a own owner 55 year old guy who took excellent care of it and has only been offroad with it a few times. (Mostly Beach Fishing) I wasn't looking for one with so many miles but it was a decent price and an excellent condition truck and couldn't be happier.
Anyway, 2 months later I have installed a S&B Intake with a 5 star tune, replaced all the interior and exterior lighting to LED bulbs as well as started getting ready for my headlight retrofit project.
Needless to say, I have been enjoying this truck a lot so far, as shown below with the attached pictures.
I will end my spiel now and I look forward to seeing everyone around here and hopefully in person in the near future. ON TO THE PICS!
First Night Home:
After its first bath:
Its first paint correction:
Before:
After:
50/50 Shot:
Not the first time offroad:
After a good pressure washing:
Everything ready to tackle this retrofit:
And for anyone interested in the BMW:
