2002 Jet Black BMW M3
Owner: Rick Ko
Location: Fremont, CA
Team: Europrojektz
I met Rick when he had a heavily modified Audi S4. The S4 is long gone, but now he has had time to play with his 2002 Jet Black BMW M3. As expected, Rick wasted no time in customizing it to his liking. Read on to find out what he's done to it so far.
| What do you do for a living? | | 
I'm an electrical engineer by trade but then after a few years working in that field, switched totally and now work as a financial planner doing investments and insurance.
| Why did you choose an M3? | |
The E46 M3 has always been my dream car and before that was the E36 M3, but I never could afford either one. At the time I owned a highly modded S4 and didn't want to sell it, but when the opportunity to own one presented itself, I decided to sell my S4 for the Jet Black M3. Only problem was the car was in Virginia, and I was 2800 miles away in the Bay Area so it took weeks to arrange payment and transport details. I had to first wait for the check from my buyer, transfer titles, and Fed Ex the new check to the dealership in VA. Then finding a nice enclosed transport company took some time since one cancelled and one couldn't make my time schedule. It was very hard after paying for and receiving the title to your new car and not being able to see or drive it. I was carless for about a month. I either rode my motorcycle or got rides from my brother and roommate. Quite a test of patience for me.
| What is your favorite part of the M3? | |
Besides the awesome 333 hp inline 6 motor, I gotta say the rear seats and trunk. What good is a nice car if you can't share it with friends or take it on trips? I love the fact I can take 3 passengers and luggage on any short outing or just a trip to the mall. Originally I was going to buy an NSX but then realized all the shortcomings of having no trunk space and only one other seat! For me, the car has to be as practical as looking good thus the M3 is perfect.
| Is this your daily driver, or show car only? | |
This car does triple duty as my daily driver (besides the motorcycle), transport vehicle, and also show/demo car for our shop. It's amazing the car stays in the shape it does...haha
| Tell us a little more about the custom dash area. It looks totally OEM. | |
The entire center dash area has been totally customized and redone to give the car a more OEM look and even fooled the dealer techs on my last service call. With the E46, any flip out deck has two major issues. One the vents are blocked and the other is the motor mechanism breaks down eventually. With this setup, the screen is the biggest at 8" and can function as the center for DVD, NAV, CD, Radio, and AUX inputs. It's controlled in 3 ways by either steering wheel controls, the master remote custom mounted on the center console or an individual third remote. The system is full Dolby Digital 5.1 of course with a center channel mounted behind the rear view mirror. Definitely not the cheapest method but is the BEST method to doing an aftermarket video/audio system.
| Has it ever been out on a track? | |
This car has never been tracked due to lack of time
these days on my part.
| What other cars/transportation do you own? | |
I have a 1999 Yamaha R1.
| What's the craziest thing you've ever done with any of the cars you've owned? | |
Each car I've owned I take "crazy" to a new level but also tone it down a bit in terms of looks. The S4 I had a full police strobe light package, and I continued the theme with the M3. It's quite convincing since I added even more blue/red lights hidden all throughout the car. To give it a realism effect, I carefully studied undercover police cars since I always got pulled over by them...hahaha!
- UUC short shift kit, shift knob, e-brake handle
- Custom 90 mm exhaust system with straight piping
- KW variant II coils
- BMW STB
- Maya 19" STM 3-piece rims with Pirelli P-zero tires
- Painted brake rotors
- Hamann Roof spoiler
- Hamann Sideskirts
- AC Schnitzer 3-piece rear wing
- AC Schnitzer carbon fiber front lip spoiler
- Custom rear diffuser
- Hamann kidney grills & eyelids
- Imola Red shift and E-brake boots
- AC Schnitzer race pedals
- OEM Matte Chrome finish
- A/C inverter plug system
- Custom switch panel
- Push button starter
- Neon interior accent
| In-Car Entertainment (I.C.E.) |
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- Pioneer AVM-P9000 5.1 Dolby Digital Brain
- Pioneer DVD changer
- Pioneer 8" Screen
- Pioneer 6-disk changer
- Pioneer Master Remote
- PPI 2 and 4 channel amps (x2)
- JL Audio 10W0 Subwoofers
- MB Quart Component speakers
- Pioneer Center Channel
- 2002 BimmerFest 1st Place (Santa Barbara)
- Eurotuner Fest Best of Show
- Extreme AutoFest 1st Place
- Evowerks Best M3 1st place
- Import Life 1st Place
Special thanks to Ernie at Sound Innovations, George/Elizabeth at Creative Kustoms, Eric/Manu at SPP, Euro Boutique, Europrojektz, Reese, Mikey, Curtis, Judy and the rest of the Purdue Crew, and my lovely g/f Van for all her help and support.
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