The History
“This is my 1997 BMW M3 — a car that’s been with me for over a decade and has evolved just as much as I have. I picked it up in December 2013 as a little Christmas gift to myself. I traded in my 2002 IS300 for it at a local dealership where it had been sitting untouched for about a year.
It was my second E36 but my first real M car, and I’d always been drawn to the E36 body lines. I had totaled my first one before I ever got to really enjoy it, so this M3 felt like redemption.”
Digging Deeper
“When I bought it, the car was nearly bone stock — a blank canvas waiting to be built. The first version was simple: slammed on coilovers and BBS wheels. My family, friends, and I decided to give it a color change to High Voltage Yellow. The paint job wasn’t perfect (actually, it was pretty bad), but it gave the car some personality. Originally, the car was Dakar Yellow — and while many love that shade, I’ve always thought it was BMW’s worst yellow.
The next stage came with more attitude. I added DTMFiberwerkz fender flares, Work XD9s, an M5-style front bumper, and started tuning the suspension properly — chassis reinforcements, SPC rear control arms, AKG poly bushings, Whiteline sway bars, and Garagistics conversion bushings with modified knuckles. I had it repainted Daisy Metallic Yellow, which was an improvement, but still not quite the finish I wanted.
Eventually, the engine gave up — a blown head forced me to tear everything down. I took it to Apex in Bensenville for a full rebuild with a few small upgrades. While the motor was out, I added the classic E36 performance essentials: an M50 manifold, upgraded injectors, 540 HFM, and a Kassel Performance tuned ECU. The engine bay got a fresh respray, and for the first time, I was in a place where I could finally do things right.
That’s when I decided it was time for the dream — the Rocket Bunny kit. I’d wanted one ever since it was revealed in 2014, and this time, nothing was going to stop me. Fast Eddie’s Hot Rod Shop in Joliet handled all the bodywork and laid down a perfect coat of Lamborghini Giallo Orion — the color I’d always envisioned. DTMFiberwerkz supplied the carbon accents, while Xtreme Graphics brought the old-school Rocket Bunny/Trakyoto-inspired livery to life. The finishing touch was a set of 1-of-1 custom wheels designed by Augment Wheel Company, wrapped in Advan AD09s. It’s aggressive, wide, and loud — exactly how it should be.”
The Dream
“From day one, my inspiration has always come from JDM car culture — the creativity, the passion, the individuality — but I’ve never stopped loving BMWs. This M3 represents the best of both worlds. It’s been through every phase with me: the mistakes, the rebuilds, the late nights in the garage, and finally, the vision realized.
Ten years later, it’s more than just my car — it’s my story on wheels.”
