Yesterday was a good day for a proper flogging through the hills which was much needed in order to test my newly adjusted Dinan suspension according to their specs. (Thanks to Diamond Dave especially for helping me get this all straightened out!) Now my feels the way it was meant to feel. Firm and controllable. There is still a hint of bounciness but that's usually associated with adding firmer shocks. I feel that this is a small price to pay because it was followed by incredible control in the twisties!
I figured that this would be a good time to combine two things. One is a writeup on the suspension and the other is about my get together with Z3 owners.
Many thanks goes to RedmondRoadster for arranging this detailing/lunch/drive get together and DaneM for inviting me to this event! (See
here for DaneM's writeup).
The Z3 get together started off around 9:30 am for me as I arrived at RedmondRoadster's place. He was nice enough to extend the use of his HUGE driveway for all of us folks providing the use of his hose, bucket, wash mitts, soap, etc. Most of us brought our own waxing/polishing supplies. Some even brought the Porter Cable orbital buffer such as myself and Jim (Green M roadster). We're both professionals I say! Jim also brought with him a full complement of Griot's garage supplies such as a washing bucket, finger mitts, a whole slew of liquids, brushes, PC buffer, etc. I think I know what to get next!
Finger mitts! Can't live without them once you've tried using them! They work well in getting to all those tight nook and cranies all over the M5.
My M5 is now freshly washed and ready to be waxed!
Around 11 am we had quite a number of Z3's parked all over the place! Passing folks would find themselves doing double takes! Kids would pass by once, twice and even a third time just for a better look. Dogs howled, mothers held their children, and real men shuddered as the sheer number of horsepower made its presence known! (just kidding about that part.
My beast freshly washed, glazed and waxed. Doesn't she look good?
Jim's beautiful Oxford green M roadster complete with its newly installed Dinan suspension! I could tell that he was ANXIOUS just like me to try it out.
One of the nicest ladies I've ever had the honor of meeting just happens to be a car fanatic! She drives one of the most beautiful cars I've ever seen, a 2001 Imola red M roadster!
How can anyone not love the "M?"
She was just as capable as us boys in showing her baby some loving care with a throughout detail job. I like her already! Look at her license plate!
One of the other guys brought with him a '99 Arctic silver M roadster. Beautiful! I'd never seen one in this color before.
After the detailing session was finished, the supplies put away, lunch served and the driving gloves put on, everyone was READY for some driving! A number of the other Z3's couldn't join us.
"C'mon, let's go already!" I thought...RedmondRoadster gladly obliged as he pulled out of his now empty driveway!
Now this is what it's all about! I wasn't sure if my M5 would be able to keep up with those nimble Z3's in the twisties so I put myself behind the first two. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I was able to do pretty well! I stayed on their tail throughout the routes. Even "ZOOM" was having fun too. She was chasing RedmondRoadster down with aplomb!
I had a very nice Estoril blue M coupe riding up my tail most of the way. This M coupe had a "surprise." More on that later.
You have no idea how much grief this pickup truck in front caused for us folks.
About halfway through the drive we all made an impromptu stop when a "tire defect" message popped up in my onboard display. I radioed ahead to ask the otheres to please pull over. Turns out that I had forgotten to reset my Tire Monitor because of the changed tire pressure in my M5 brought on by the Dinan spec'ed adjustments. Strange thing is that this message came after I'd already driven the car about a hundred miles since picking her up.
Later on, we made a final stop which was much needed. This was when everyone said their goodbyes before driving a bit further and splitting. I knew at this point that my M5 was now performing the way I wanted her to! Now my M5 needs new brakes! Then she truly will be complete!
My M5 was "lost" among a sea of Z3's!
And now for the surprise! Popping the hood of the M coupe.
Upon closer inspection, I found this. Yup, that's right, that's a Dinan supercharged M coupe! 360 hp! No wonder he was able to keep up with me!
I think I like this car already!
On the way back, it was now my turn to do the catching up! I wonder what "No 6" means though.
A nice parting shot...my newly cleaned beast!
Dinan suspension M5 + a slew of Z3 roadsters + supercharged M coupe! (LONG!)
Nice Write up J! 
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