Though BMW has always had a notable following among status-seeking yuppies savvy to image-conscious trends, it can be said with some confidence that the majority of these buyers who adopt the emblem don’t go beyond the casual assortment offered at their dealership.
Michael Correa is no stranger to BMWs. While stationed in England, the former Air Force airman had dreams of purchasing an M3 but settled for the lesser, though still respectable, BMW 318i. Correa’s passion for modified BMWs crested when he discovered that the German company had a special program that offered custom packages for owners.
Dressing up his 318i with the Euro M package, Correa soon joined a number of fan sites, including E46Fanatics, and was immediately turned on to the addictive BMW aftermarket world in 1998.
Correa’s next significant purchase was a BMW E46 M3, on which he installed a wide body kit and supercharger. But when he saw the new 2008 BMW E90 M3, and after a test drive, he reasoned it was time to move to the next level.
In the past, Correa had opted for extensive modifications to his BMWs, trying to outdo his fellow enthusiasts. This time around, however, Correa said he wanted to keep it clean, classy and make a less aggressive visual presentation. Correa started by removing the chrome accents that came with the factory setup on the turn signals. The roundels were changed to black and white, and the windows were tinted. Working with friends at DPE Wheels and Active Autowerke, Correa purchased a full Active Autowerke upgrade package, which included connecting pipes, ECU upgrade, X-pipe, pulley and signature exhaust, all of which helped increase total horsepower from the factory-rated 415 to 450.
Next, Correa moved to the suspension and lowered the frame a few inches. The wheels were custom-designed to create a special brushed aluminum finish complete with chrome shadowing on the lips of the wheels. The headlight bulbs and halo system were replaced with 3K HIDs, creating a natural yellow hue that Correa said was “easy on the eyes during driving.” Correa noted that putting in the new HID was a toilsome task, since the compartments were better suited for smaller hands. Yet such small obstacles proved not to be the impasses he had faced with other projects.
“I usually meet challenges during most of my builds because they get complicated,” Correa said. “This one was a ton easier since I kept it to major parts, and easy ones at that.”
What do you drive? A 2008 BMW E90 M3.
Why do you drive it? I drive it because I have always been a fan of BMW and drawn to the styling and power of the car. It is an excellent platform for comfort, sportiness and clean design. It’s just a great car to drive.
What makes this car so special? I had a design in my head of how I wanted the car to look and I wanted it to be different than any other car that is out there. This is the concept I have every time I build a car, and I feel I did it again with this one. There are very few people out there with the full AA system, and my exterior/interior combo is also rare in that it is a sedan, while it is mostly the coupes that are modded. The wheels are a total one-off design, so that also sets me apart from the community.
What was your most memorable driving experience? I took the car to Chicago for the Hot Import Nights show, which turned into a vacation. The ride back was incredible and a ton of fun. I also had the chance to drive up to Connecticut this year for the [American Le Mans Series] race, which was incredible. I was able to see the BMW ALMS race cars run on the track, which was insane.
What was the first car you owned? The first car I bought on my own was a Geo Storm. I even modded that a little with some wheels and at the time cool multipin striping on the windows and taillights.
What music are you currently listening to in your car? I just got a mix CD from my fiancee’s cousin, which is excellent … he DJs and mixes such great music seamlessly, so my car always has something cool being piped through the system.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I think my first ticket was for speeding. It was on my bike instead of the car.
