Happy new year, everyone. Hoping everyone has a great year ahead. Here is my build journal update for the winter 2023 season.

Mercedes AMG G63

After a long, long wait, I recently acquired a 2022 Mercedes AMG G63. Though I have not spent much time with the car, it is a different “vibe” than the RSQ8. The first thing you notice is how big the vehicle is. You don’t feel the need to race from light to light but feel relaxed behind the wheel. The road presence is unparalleled, and you feel you are physically above everyone.

  • Full PPF (Paint Protection Film)
    • The first mod for any new car purchase should be PPF. Since this car has matte paint from the factory, stealth PPF is the only option. I had some negative experiences with PPF installation with my RSQ8. I learned that if a place charges too little and finishes the work too quickly, it will be bad work. PPF costs a lot, and when it doesn’t, there is a problem
  •  Dash Cam Hardwired
    • The next mod I have planned is getting a DashCam installed. The camera model I have ordered is BlackVue DR900X. I will connect the camera directly to the car’s battery. As long as the battery is above a specific voltage, the dash cam will run 24/7. I will set up 2 sets of dash cams so I have 360 views of the car at all times. I will probably do this modification myself, so I will make another post detailing how to DIY this.
  • Downpipes
    • I ordered downpipes from Redstar USA. Redstar’s customer service is unparalleled. If you want to order something from them, send me a message, and I can get you a good discount!
    • Downpipes add both power gains and make the car sound better. I am still debating if I should tune the car, as it can void my warranty. If I install downpipes without a tune, I will have a check engine light on, but it will not cancel my warranty.
    • I will likely tune the car soon as I miss how my RSQ8 used to sound.

Lamborghini Huracan

I have a lot of mods planned for my beloved Huracan. I have a love-hate relationship with this car. Last year it caused me a lot of headaches. However, I am hoping in 2023, it will be more reliable.

  • Interior upholstery
    • I am getting the interior upholstered..again. I had the interior re-finished the first time because the car was vandalized while completing my undergraduate degree in the states. Rather than accepting the loss and selling the car, I kept and fixed it.
    • I am getting the seats re-done in Blu Cepheus but in leather this time rather than Alcantara.
    • I will tow the car from Montreal to Toronto sometime this winter using the G63 to get this done. I found a shop out of Toronto that does good work.
    • I drew the design I wanted on my iPad using ProCreate; you can decide if you think this will look better.

  • Repainting my front bumper and fenders
    • This was something I had planned to do for a while. When I first got the car, I was young and naive. I didn’t know what PPF was. As a result, the front bumper has a lot of paint chips, so I wanted to get this done while the car is sitting at the shop.
    • They will re-ppf the car after, of course.
  • VooDoo Design Center Exit Valved Exhaust
    • Since I replaced my rear bumper with the Vorsteiner Novara bumper, I wanted to get the Novara center exit exhaust. The issue was that the exhaust was hard to come by and cost almost $12,000 USD. With import duties and conversion to CAD, the price wasn’t worth it.
    • Due to sheer luck, I found the supplier that initially made the Vorsteiner Novara center exit exhaust (VooDoo Designs, based out of California). They gave me a killer deal on the exact center exit exhaust, but they will add a valve. This means my neighbors will hate me less.
    • The exhaust arrived this week, so it will get installed this winter. I hear this exhaust will make the car shoot flames, so we will see.
  • Engine Work & Maintenance
    • The engine started making a weird ticking noise a while now. This sound is from the high-pressure fuel pump or the engine lifters. Either way, this is something that needs to be sorted out soon.
    • The shop will also do routine maintenance – engine oil, spark plugs, injectors, etc.

BMW M3

My M3 project car is almost done. I have a few more mods left that will make the perfect daily. This year I want to push this car to its limits. I will take it to the track a few times and drift in the summer (legally on closed roads… :P).

  • BMW M4 F82 breaks retrofit
    • I always felt the e9x BMW m3 had terrible breaks. So this retrofit will address this.
  • BMW F Steering wheel retrofit
    • I had a BMW M6 F12 and liked how the newer, more modern BMW steering wheels felt. When I purchased the E93 M3, I was not too fond of the steering wheel design; it felt very dated.
    • This retrofit will make the car feel more modern.

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