Luna—The 1-of-1 Moonstone Metallic and Extended Rust Brown 2011 E92 M3

Love it. You just need to get rid of that front plate

0-60Motorsports wrote

Love it. You just need to get rid of that front plate

Haha I wish the bumper wasn't drilled. To preserve originality, I plan to leave it alone.







[header=UPDATE #19: Darkness Awaits These Angel Eyes][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

Project Luna continues her journey with more relationships built.

This update takes place in July 2024.



[header=Is It Plumber or Palmer?][/header]

After returning from my family vacation to Europe, I arranged a photoshoot with a talented local photographer named Christian. Funnily enough, I screwed up his name when I reached out to him on Instagram; his IG is @christianplmr, and I thought his last name was Plummer/Plumber (correct is Palmer).
After a good laugh with Christian, we arranged a photoshoot for Project Luna.

Prior to the shoot, I needed to get my car cleaned. After inspecting it, the wheels were the only thing dirty with the car. The guys at Kodawari Collective did a great job cleaning the wheels!

Enjoy the before and after shots:















Now that Project Luna is clean, it was time to meet with Christian.
We arranged to shoot the car in the town of Oakville, a beautiful suburb outside of Toronto.

Christian’s friend named Corben, a first-time photographer, tagged along to get a few pointers from Christian while shooting my car.

We hit up a few locations throughout the Oakville area…I took a few behind the scenes shots:













Now, for your enjoyment, please enjoy Christian’s shots of Project Luna:





























After the shoot, I took Christian and Corben out for some gourmet pizza at 7 Enoteca. We got a picture together with my buddy Raf, the head chef of Hexagon (sister and neighbouring restaurant of 7 Enoteca).
Fun facts: Raf and his team earned a Michelin star in September 2024, and a month later, I started working leisurely there as a host. I am writing a book on what I've learned about the Michelin experience and how it applies to the business world. The book will hopefully come out in 2026; let me know if you want a copy.









[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
More photoshoots coming for Project Luna, stay tuned.

[header=UPDATE #20: Forward Unto Dawn][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

Project Luna is getting more camera love by some great up-and-coming Toronto photographers.

This update takes place in August 2024.



[header=Early Bird Gets The Worm][/header]

Early in July 2024, I received an Instagram message from a young guy named Shivraaj (IG: @clutchklicks) who goes by “Shiv.” Shiv was impressed with my car collection and wanted to shoot either of my M3s. With Project Sky off the road, Project Luna was the prime candidate for the photoshoot.
The E92 is one of his dream cars and he was really excited to shoot the car.
We locked in a date for August 04, 2024 at 5:55am.

We met up on a forested escarpment nestled in a local township called Waterdown, Ontario.
The sunrise was perfectly captured and made for some nice shots…a necessary price to pay for an early morning. To make Shiv’s morning/day, I let him drive Project Luna around the block, as we needed to reposition the car for a few different shots on the escarpment. He was surprised of my generosity in driving a 1-of-1 car, especially not really knowing me and my character. One of the things I want to be known and remembered for is being a good person, treating others the way I want to be treated, and inspiring others in a positively impactful way. It only felt right to give him the keys and give him some motivation to one day own his dream car. It also made it even easier of a decision with how well-mannered, professional, and care-driven he was…a true testament to how well-raised he was.

Enjoy the photos:
































We decided to switch up the location to a nearby open field where we got some more cool shots…please enjoy:
























A very special thank-you to Shiv and his friend, Charlie, who tagged along for the morning.



[header=Is The E92 A Classic Yet?][/header]

After the photoshoot with Shiv, I headed to a classic car meet called The Vaulture. This meet is organized by a few guys who curate the meet to Euro classics. They pick particular locations that fit the vibe they are curating. For this meet, they chose to host it in Oakville, a bougie town located just outside of Toronto.

I brought Project Luna to the meet, met a few cool individuals, and drooled over a bunch of classic Euros.

Enjoy the photos:












































After the Vaulture meet, I grabbed a smoothie in Oakville and continued my departure back home. I managed to snap this cool shot while waiting for my smoothie to be made.






[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, some rules were broken.

[header=UPDATE #21: Cordially Uninvited][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

Boy am I happy to share this update with you all; Project Luna was shown more love, both mechanically and emotionally.

This update takes place in August 2024.



[header=One Last Dance][/header]

Project Luna was having some leaking issues with the DCT and it was time to get that fixed. I took the car to BMW specialist, Rocco@RMP.

The car stayed overnight, as Rocco believes that to optimally do the DCT service, the car needs to be very cool. The following morning, the RMP team efficiently performed the necessary DCT service, and I was on my way.

I appreciate all the service that RMP has performed on both Project Luna, as well as Project Sky. Moving forward however, both cars will have all servicing performed by my friend Matija@DP Automotive & Electronics.

Enjoy the pictures:




















[header=Risk It For The Biscuit][/header]

I linked up with my good friend AJ McNish, to shoot a fun video for Project Luna. A fashion designer by day (Classfull TM) and local Youtuber by night, AJ is someone who naturally has this glowing aura where people simply want to be around him. AJ carved his own niche in VHS vlogging and cinematography, and recently moved to Japan over 6 months ago (Spring 2025) to pursue a media opportunity while embracing a new culture. If you’d like to see more of his content, follow him on IG @mcnish_ .

Him and I have similar creative minds, so with us connecting, you know we’re going to cook! Me co-directing this short film, I wanted to create something that could tell a story of Toronto — my home — in a summarized way of what the city has to offer, all while featuring my one-of-one BMW E92 M3.

Coincidentally, I was at a Roc Marciano concert here in Toronto and heard a local artist named Bozack Morris, perform as one of the openers. His music and style was really interesting, but I fell in love with his beat selection; so I made a note to research his music later that night.

Here's a photo of me, and one of my best friends, Josh, with Roc Marciano after the concert:






When I got home, I opened my laptop and began searching Bozack’s music. I stumbled upon a recent album titled, The Toronto Tape, which had the PERFECT intro song for my short story video. This intro song, titled “Old Toronto,” features a retro television broadcasting of Toronto’s history....all I can say is, “There’s a new feeling in the air.”




I told AJ that we will be using this song to tell the story of Toronto, featuring various locations of Toronto that I believe encapsulate what makes this city in a special and unspoken way. If you are from this city or have visited it before, you will know that these spots hit HARD with the intro song’s descriptive storytelling.

Please enjoy this VHS short film, co-directed by myself, Alex Rei, and my dear friend, AJ McNish:




The final location for the video features a waterfront spot with Toronto's skyline in the backdrop. When capturing some shots here, I noticed a sign that discouraged any sort of filming/photography without a permit...you better believe that rule was broken. Enjoy some of the photos during the video:








































[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, we’re crossing the border!

I'm sad I didn't come across this thread sooner. This thing is absolutely gorgeous! It all flows together so well!

DinanFeighty wrote

I'm sad I didn't come across this thread sooner. This thing is absolutely gorgeous! It all flows together so well!

Thank-you for the kind words, DinanFeighty (not sure what your name is).






[header=UPDATE #22: A Meeting of the Minds][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I’m super excited to share with you all a meet recap like no others.

This update takes place in August 2024.



[header=BMWs EVERYWHERE!!!][/header]

Over the years, I have built very strong local connections in the car community. With the help of the Internet, be it through Instagram, YouTube, and even forums like M3Post, I have been able to make friends around the world. The interactions that my M3 journals get is surreal, and I do try to get to know you all, especially those who comment, on a personal level.

Several friends I’ve made here happen to live on the East Coast (NY, NJ, PA). They always talk about the biggest BMW show on the Northeast Coast — MPACT. MPACT East specifically, is a BMW show that takes place in Mount Pocono, PA. A destination spot in the 80s for honeymooners that is nestled deeply in the valleys, with a climate as unpredictable as a meteorologist’s predictions, the Poconos are a truly unique place to visit.

Its name “Poconos” originates from the Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands called The Leni Lenape, who called the area Pokawachne, meaning “The Creek Between Two Hills,” which we now call, "The Poconos".

I notified my friends that I had purchased my MPACT East 2024 ticket with VIP Access, and that I was excited to meet them for the first time in-person. Joining me was my dad, who may not be a car enthusiast, but wanted to spend some father-son bonding time together.

Prior to heading out, I brought Project Luna to my friends at Kodawari Collective to give the car a good cleaning.







I then loaded up my detailing supplies and we were off on the 366 mile (589km) trek from Toronto to Mount Pocono, PA.



]













We safely arrived on the Friday evening (the day before the Saturday MPACT East show) and decided to rest for what was going to be a fun and jam-packed show tomorrow.


We woke up super early to ensure that we had enough time to clean the car from all the dirt accumulated from the road trip.













After washing Project Luna, we headed over to the show where our VIP experience was awaiting us.
Some of the many perks of splurging for the VIP experience ticket(s) at MPACT East include:
[*]Early show access
[*]Priority parking
[*]Private covered lounge area to relax
[*]Catered meals for breakfast and lunch (incl. snacks throughout the day)
[*]Afterhours parade laps with on-track photos and videos


I highly recommend opting for the VIP experience when attending MPACT; it is a truly memorable experience. Please enjoy my highlights from the event:

























































Aside from the photos of Project Luna, here were some of my favourite cars from the event:














































































[header=The Big Apple (Not the one in Colborne, ON)][/header]

After MPACT East 2024, my dad and I made the trip to NY to visit my buddy Mitch Jdm4eva. Unfortunately, a personal matter came up last minute and Mitch was unable to join my dad and I for dinner. Mitch has been a family friend since we first linked up over 6 years ago (back in 2019) when I went to NY to buy a Dinan rear exhaust for Project Sky from my buddy Rawson Senpai (Post reference: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1579930&page=2). On that day 6 years ago, Mitch joined my dad and I for some food in the Bronx, and showed us his 1-of-1 Neptune Blue E90 M3.
While we weren’t able to reunite with him this time, my dad and I still made the most of our short time in NY.

























[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, some more out-and-about moments with Project Luna.

[header=UPDATE #23: The World Is Your Oyster][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

Project Luna and I have been busy taking advantage of the beauties life has to offer.
As an almost 33 year old man who has a tireless work ethic and is involved in so many things outside of my 10-12 hour/day job that have a positive impact on others, I need to ensure that the extremely limited time I have available is best invested with loved ones.
I work so hard to give myself a better life and am graciously supported by my family, and so it is important to smell the roses and create lasting memories with those I want to invest my time and energy in.

That brings me to this update.

This update takes place in September and October 2024.



[header=D-List Celebrities][/header]

My buddy, AJ McNish, who did my "Old Toronto" video for Project Luna, is an up-and-coming talent who is currently exploring life as an influencer in Japan. He loves basketball, JDM cars, and owns a fashion company called CLASSFULL — No Entry. He carved his niche as a Content Creator by staying true to his vintage vibes through the use of VHS filming…yes, he’s the guy that will bring out the old school VHS TV Reporter camera and will get tons of attention doing it!

He is a dear friend of mine and asked me to come out and support his pop-up event. You may recall that AJ drives a MKIV Toyota Supra and has built lots of friendships through the car. I met him earlier in 2024 at a Sunday Cars & Coffee event in Mississauga at Financial Drive, and funnily enough, we still reflect on the story and how I don’t think he remembers me actually coming up and introducing myself, and then bumping into him at The Vaulture Oakville meet later on…Oh well, sucks to suck for him, because I remember it vividly.

At the event, I was able to see my buddies that you all are now familiar with, Christian and Corben. We got a picture altogether with AJ, whom they too are friends with. I directed the photo/video and asked everyone to read AJ’s Supra’s license plate…aside from AJ, we read it as “NON-TRY.” Sadly for AJ’s brand, it is NO ENTRY…meh tomato tomahtoe.
Here are some pictures captured from that evening:














[header=BMW Bronsolini][/header]

I, along with my buddies Alex and Josh are Action Bronson fans, for a variety of reasons. The lax raps that are metaphorically genius, yet confusing sometimes to know what he’s talking about, to him being a culinary expert, a world-traveler, and a BMW enthusiast, are why he’s special to me.

The three of us went to an Action Bronson concert in Toronto and had a blast! Conway the Machine also performed as an opening act to Action…super cool!

After the show, Alex and I popped over to The Burger’s Priest for a bite, while Josh went home:






I also popped by my sister’s house in a very nice area of downtown Toronto that is a mature neighbourhood with beautifully aged trees:





[header=Early Bird Gets The Worm][/header]

One Sunday early morning, my good friend, Jordan Crowder, decided to meet up and grab breakfast.

If you recall, Jordan did that magnificent photoshoot for Project Sky:



To see this post, click here:
M3Post link to Jordan's Photoshoot for Project Luna


Jordan has always loved the E9X M3 platform, and originally, when he performed that photoshoot for Project Luna, I wanted him to experience the Ultimate Driving Machine — Project Luna, in her rare, low mileage stature. Unfortunately, the timing did not work out, and so I promised him that we’d get together again and he could drive Project Luna.

Being a person of their word, I upheld my promise, and coordinated with Jordan to come by my parents place (which is two blocks from where he lives), park his car, and then pilot Project Luna to my dad’s local golf club for a nice breakfast together.

Enjoy the photos:
















[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for another great upcoming update.

[header=UPDATE #24: M-emories][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone, Happy 2026 New Year, and welcome back to my journal!


This update takes place in October and November 2024.



[header=It’s A Car Meet, Not a Bird Meet][/header]

The Vaulture, not Vulture, is a Euro-classic car club in Toronto that features some of the finest examples of European cars that are curated to the vibe they try to create. Having posted several times of The Vaulture meets in my journal, this time I am sharing the Season Closer — located in a posh, hipster area of King West/Liberty Village area in downtown Toronto.

I brought Project Luna by, and had a great time meeting fellow enthusiasts, and photographers/cinematographers.

Enjoy some photos from the event:













One of my all-time favourite cars was there in a beautiful spec — the C216 generation of the legendary grand tourer, Mercedes Benz CL 63 AMG. I will one day own a pre-facelift version of this car, mark my words, friends. Funnily enough, this year there was a 1-of-40 40th anniversary model with low mileage that was on BaT, which didn't sell...let's see what the future holds:










After The Vaulture meet, I popped by to see my sister Stephanie, and snapped a couple shots of Project Luna street-parked. My eyes were peeled on the car, as street-parking on Steph’s street requires only the best parallel parkers, and sadly there are very few skilled drivers here, so I needed to make sure I did have any hit-and-run drivers take my most prized possession out:









[header=Back To Old Stomping Grounds][/header]

To finish off car meets for 2024, I visited Financial Drive’s Sunday Cars & Coffee unsanctioned event, and had a chance to see some friends. Recall, this is where I first met my now good friend AJ McNish. My buddy and fellow condo neighbour, Matt, who owns the LSB E46 that I’ve featured on my YouTube channel several times, coincidentally was in attendance. Had I have known he was going, we would have cruised down together from our condo building in the heart of downtown Toronto!



















[header=Another Year Under The Covers][/header]

What a true joy it has been owning Project Luna. It is surreal to believe that a few years ago I discovered this car from a local M3 owner WhatsApp group chat and said that I’d own that exact car one day, and now actually having it and creating lasting memories with the car…I am very fortunate and blessed.

Project Luna will continue getting the pampered treatment of a garage queen, not winter-driven, only nice days during the remaining 3 seasons, and on occasional road trips to seeing my friends across the continent.

Sleep well, Project Luna…2025 will have a series of great memories to create.








[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

I wholeheartedly want to thank all of you for the continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.

We are nearing 1,000 subscribers, and continue to create special moments and leaving our positive mark on the world.

I look forward to sharing the next update.

[header=UPDATE #25: Beauty is in The Eyes of The Beholder][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

This is a fun update, and one I never thought I would ever have the opportunity of posting…seems like a common theme with obtaining unobtanium things.

This update takes place in May 2025.



[header=15 Years Ago, This Was My Dream][/header]

I remember back when I was 16 (2009), I was somewhat interested in Jordan high-tops. I remember my dad and I going to our local mall’s Foot Locker retail store and him generously buying me a brand new pair of size 12 Air Jordan 1 High-Top HOF 'Hall Of Fame' shoes.

Around that time, I discovered probably the most unique shoe I had ever seen. It was a Jordan 7, but not just any 7 silhouette, this one was inspired by the late Spanish artist, Joan Miró. A quick Google search of his work and biography will leave you in awe with how astonishing his legacy was. Legacy, is an increasingly important word that I constantly think about on a daily basis. The legacy we create is based on the impact we have on others in the world. Anecdotally, I have a pair of beautiful Christian Louboutin dress shoes that I wear to work, with the famous painted red bottoms. Some people repaint, or add red sole protectors to preserve that red-look. The reason I share this story is because my red-bottoms are no longer red, they are worn down to the base, with minimal red showing. The unofficial purpose of the red-bottoms is to leave your footprint on the world.

Having said all that, Miró’s legacy was felt by people of all kinds, even Michael Jordan. Jordan took inspiration from Miró’s, Dona i Ocell (Spanish-to-English translation to: Woman and Bird), a sculpture in Barcelona. Jordan paid homage to Joan Miró by creating this Jordan 7 silhouette, where he honours his time winning the Gold medal with the Dream Team in Barcelona in 1992.


Respectively, a photo of the late Joan Miró with his art, a photo of the Dona i Ocell sculpture in Barcelona, a rare photo of Michael Jordan holding his Jordan 7 shoe alongside Larry Bird, Chris Mullin, and Scottie Pippen, and a final photo of Jordan, Pippen and Clyde Drexler championing their gold medal in the win against Croatia (pay attention to the colourway of the gold medal ribbon, as it's inspired in the Miro 7s):














I love art. Art is subjective; it is personal; it evokes emotion; and it is expressive. For me, the cars I have built and own, along with how I carry myself through fashion, express how I currently see or want to see my future self. It’s the same reason why my mom always questions why I spend money on the best of the best parts, or why I have to have the most expensive, rarest versions of things, and why I am finding unobtanium things — aside from life being short and #YOLO which still applies for most of my life (jokingly but seriously, thanks mom and dad for making life easier for me), I believe that these material objects culminate who I am — a lover of the arts, and one who appreciates the detail, the history, and the beauty of these very unique things.


So, fast-forward 15+ years later to early 2025. I was able to find a deadstock pair of Jordan Miro 7s in size 13 on eBay (verified authentic)! For those of you unfamiliar with sneaker-terms, deadstock means old, discontinued stock that is brand new. Who in there right mind would do that? Typically, collectors or resellers. These shoes were never really a priority of mine to purchase, especially given the big price tag. Having said that, I am in a really good place in my life where work is going superbly, my side-hustles in teaching insurance to adults across Canada is going well, and so I said, "Why not?!" I immediately grabbed my credit card and made it rain $$$. A real juxtaposition: this purchase hurt my wallet, but mended my heart after all these years of patiently awaiting a pair of size 13s; keep in mind, there were only 1,000 pairs ever made (I wonder of those, how many were created in size 13)?!






A part of me wanted to keep these hidden from the world in perfect condition, stashed away in my future office/mancave, but I decided life is too short, and that I can carefully indulge in bringing them out on the rare occasion for the upcoming The Vaulture Season Opener 2025 Meet. In the future, I will buy another pair of Miro 7s so that I can enjoy one pair and let the other be a glorified version that collects dust in my office.

I also had a Youtube video come out earlier in 2025 showcasing the shoes and the meet:




Enjoy the photos captured respectively by my friends, Christian Palmer, who I asked to create a vintage look in his photos, and a new friend named Sean Thomas, owner of AutoLux Imagery Inc:
































[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Stay tuned for next update. Look carefully, or you just might miss it:

[header=UPDATE #26: Fortune Favours The Bold][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I’m super excited to share with you all an update that features Project Luna, but is actually for Project Sky, my 2008 BMW M3 E90 Racecar.

This update takes place in May 2025.



[header=A Polarizing Figure Trying To Live A Simple Life][/header]

Akira Nakai is the founder of Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB), a Porsche tuning company based in Japan, famous for its vintage 911 RS-esque riveted fender-flared widebody designs.

Rauh-Welt Begriff is a German phrase that translates to "Rough World Concept." The coined phrase embodies the meaning of creative freedom, aggressive, raw and futuristic aerodynamics, and passion brought to life through a Porsche 911. Fellow Youtuber Hunter's Moon further elaborates that the name RWB, "Is a reflection of their raw aesthetic, aggressive driving style, and carefree attitude."

Over the years, I would always show my dad featured films from prominent Youtube automotive cinematographers like Krispy Media, Woyshnis Media, and more. Our favourite part of these videos is the story behind the owner, and how Nakai-san curates the build to his understanding of his client and names the car accordingly.

Nakai-san was in Toronto at my friend Billy’s shop, T1 Motorsports, building a 997.1 911 for a customer. In March 2025, I had ordered a Recaro SPA Pro Racer XL HANS Seat from T1 Motorsports, for Project Sky. The seat finally arrived and I decided to pick it up at the same time of the event. I brought my dad and one of my best friends Josh, who also likes the RWB brand.

I thought it would be cool to have Nakai-san sign the Kevlar-backing of my Recaro seat. Nakai-san signed it and finished it with a unique ending caption, “One Love.” Super cool!!

Enjoy some of the photos both Josh and I were able to capture (Josh had the professional shots, whereas I took the noticeable iPhone pics):





























I then packed the seat up in Project Luna, and headed back home to drop off the seat.
I got some interesting looks on the highway, with people seeing a seat on another seat.











I even filmed a Youtube video recapping the event and an evening meet-up thereafter.
Watch it here:








[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, it’s a meeting between two V8 legends.

[header=UPDATE #27: Frenemy?][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I’m happy to share a short, yet fun update with a very dear friend of mine that happens to own a rivalled V8 weapon!

This update takes place in May 2025.



[header=A Battle of The V8s][/header]

Garry and I both work in Toronto’s insurance industry, and we’ve been friends now for a few years. He is a fellow “young gun,” and is amongst the smartest minds I know, with one of the biggest hearts too. Over the years, we have bonded over our tireless work ethic, relentless attitude towards excellence, and love for cars.

Garry and I met up for a business meal, and we decided to bring our babies out. While I can appreciate an American muscle car, I am not usually a fan. Garry’s car however, which is among the 6th generation of Mustang (S550 chassis), is hands down my favourite Mustang gen. His car specifically is not your usual Mustang; rather, you will notice a snake decal…but not just any snake…a Cobra!










That Cobra means something in car culture. The name came from Carroll Shelby’s AC Cobra. The Cobra design is one that has been used for over 60 years with the introduction of the signature Cobra emblem found on the 1965 Shelby GT350.












Garry’s 2022 Shelby Cobra is of the top-tier spec — the GT500 Heritage Edition. This beast has a 5.2L V8 packing 760hp and 625tq, was only offered in a 7-speed DCT, RWD drivetrain, and reaches 0-60mph in under 3.5 seconds! By no means is it a wolf in sheep’s clothing; this thing looks just as aggressive as it sounds. In a beautiful Brittany Blue Metallic with Wimbledon White racing stripes , which is an exclusive colour to the Heritage editions. This colour reminds me almost of a Silverstone I Metallic finish, it’s a magnificent colour choice!

We got some nice pictures together of this friendly V8 rivalry, although, I think it’s safe to say, this angry Cobra would kick Project Luna’s a** any day of the week!

While we can appreciate both cars separately for what they offer, if I were to compare the two, I feel that the GT500 would compete directly against the M3 GTS/CRT, while the regular M3 would likely compete against the GT500's younger sibling, the GT350.



















“Garry, move out of the way!”








I may have had to risk my safety to get this shot:







Garry’s like, “Alex, what are you doing?”










Hope you all enjoyed this update with my pal, Garry, and his beautiful 2022 Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition. This S550 generation of Mustang is one I would love to add to my collection one day; for now, there are other cars I will be adding to my collection soon...stay tuned!



[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, where I relive my passion and add an additional direction for my Youtube channel.

[header=UPDATE #28: A Once Closed Chapter, Reopened][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I’m beyond thrilled to share this update with you all, as I will be taking an additional direction for content creation on my Youtube channel.

This update takes place in June 2025.



[header=Reliving My Passions][/header]

Fun fact: My first word as a baby was not “mom”, nor was it “dad;” it was actually “car.” Being a difficult baby for my parents, I would not fall asleep in conventional ways like in my cradle. Instead, I indirectly commanded my dad through pouting and crying to take me out and make me fall asleep. My dad decided to drive me up-and-down the 401 Highway in my mom’s early 90s Honda Accord.

Now establishing that context, and growing up in the Fast and the Furious, Gran Turismo 3, and Forza Motorsport era, I fell in love with modifying cars. Going to local car shows with my dad — I will preface he’s not a car enthusiast and would take me for my enjoyment and to bond together — and seeing all the modified cars and how pristine some of the cars’ paint jobs were, I started getting interested in detailing and how to upkeep a car’s paint to achieve a mirror, swirl-free finish…I learned the hard way however. I learned how to do through osmosis in my early actions of doing everything wrong…let me explain the context.

In 2009, I turned 16, I got my drivers license, and was going to inherit my mom’s company car that was coming off a lease. Her company had a great deal for executives where after the 2-3 years of usage, the lessee (my mom) could purchase the car outright, the kicker, for a wicked deal (we’re talking a quarter of the MSRP new)!! So it was a no-brainer to buy this mature-driven (my mom won’t like me calling her that fancy word for old person ), low mileage (30k kms // 186xx miles), and a $50k CAD vehicle for like $15k CAD.






So anyways, that car was a 2008 B8 Audi A4 Quattro, which to this day, I believe is the best looking and most timeless generation of Audi A4s ever created! Like most car enthusiasts, I had an Excel spreadsheet of mods planned for the A4 like a Rieger body kit, Euro headlights (clear reflectors), an RS4 honeycomb grille, some Vossen Concave wheels (remember those back in the day?!), and some APR engine bolt-ons:










So with my mom being the original lessee of the car in 2008, and timing approaching that 2-3 year window, this would have been my first car when I graduated high school, as a 1st year University student. Leading up to that, I “assumed ownership” by demonstrating ownership tendencies, like filling up the car with gas, and most importantly, keeping it clean!

Remember I said above that I did everything wrong? Well we pick back up here now. So to keep that B8 A4 clean, I would usually take it to the local coin-op self-serve car wash. I had no detailing tool arsenal and so I utilized what was available at those wash bays…and so those of you who can gather what’s coming next, YES, you are thinking correctly…I used THE BRUSH OF DOOM!!

I know, I know, but spare me the tomatoes and pitchforks, because I was inexperienced and uneducated like many who first start taking an interest in detailing.

The A4 would always look spotless from afar, especially being an Arctic White Metallic paint, however in the sunlight close up, you would see these cobweb-like scratches, and even deep grey scratches all over the paint?! I was dumfounded to say the least. How is it that those individuals at the car shows are able to have mirror finishes with no cobweb fine scratches (I eventually learned these are called “swirls”), and I’m struggling even seeing the true Arctic White paint that my soon-to-be Audi A4 has?!

I took my curiosity to the drawing board and started my homework on researching everything there is to know about detailing.

Sadly, in late 2010, my mom and the A4 were t-boned (she’s OK) nearby our family home by an individual on their cellphone. Keep in mind that we were only a few months before the B8 A4 was off the company lease, and she'd buy it out and gift it to me for my first car, while she would then get her next company car. What a shame that day was; as glad as I was to hear my mom was OK, I embarrassedly admit that my 17-year-old self was first concerned with the car (I guess my excitement and selfishness initially overpowered the love and wellbeing for the person who brought me into this world…major SMH).

Anyways, in 2011, she ended up getting another B8 A4, a 2012 model, identical spec, as her company car, and another 3 years had to pass before I got that car (FYI we still own this car in our family).

I then got a brand new 2011 VW Jetta 2.0 as my first car, and really learned detailing on that car first.








I spent 100s of hours researching detailing websites like AutoGeek and AutoGeekOnline, Autopia, etc., looking at tons of threads on product reviews, client car detailing jobs, and how-tos, and slowly built up my detailing arsenal with some of the best products money could buy.

If you recall in Update 3 in my journal, I reference my good friend, Wes Robles, owner of Orion Detailing, who really inspired me to get interested in detailing, become an entrepreneur and start my own detailing business called Shined and Refined Detailing, and build out my detailing arsenal with the best available tools and products at the time.

I love detailing so much because of the attention to detail it requires, the understanding of risk management for minimizing the instilling of swirls, and preserving an immaculate finish for a vehicle’s paint. When I started my business, those reasons were magnified tenfold because of the reactions I would receive from my clients, many of whom earlier on were my fellow neighbours, and them saying that (their car), “It looks better than the day I got it!” That was enough for me to endure the long hours, putting my body in weird positions and exposed to cleaning product chemicals.

Enjoy some photos from my very early days of detailing:








































Detailing, and getting really good at it, allowed me to afford modifying and converting my 2013 Subaru STi GRB into a full-blown street-driven racecar.
However, in 2019, I was at a crossroads: I had been doing it leisurely as a sole-proprietor for over 6 years out of my parents garage and occasionally mobile, while still being rooted professionally in the insurance industry for 3 years full-time. I had to decide which career path I really wanted to pursue. I remember my dad mentioning that as cool as it is to be at the detailing skill level I was at, where I would be detailing Ferrari 458 Speciales, 911 GT3RS 997s, track-prepped Subaru racecars, and many other iconic exotic cars, it would be a taxing life on my body, and that I could build a really great life by pursuing an office job in the insurance industry — an industry built on trust and relationships, two things which are very important to me. In hindsight, I sometimes think, “What if,” because the goal would’ve been to scale the detailing business up, where I would lease and one day own a commercial space, hire a team of detailing professionals, and just leverage my people skills and networking abilities to bring the clients and their cool cars in, and have my skilled detailers clean the cars. And who knows if more money would have been made doing that, vs. the great career I am still building in the Canadian insurance industry. I think it’s important to allow these thoughts in for self-reflection, but to allow them to leave my headspace, as life is about moving forward, and the fact that it’s never too late for anything!


Which is why, I am very excited to share with you all this.

So hanging up my detailing business in 2019, and having moved out of my parents home and now living in downtown Toronto for over 6 years, finding the time to detail client cars, heck, even cleaning my own cars, is a big challenge, given how busy and involved I am in various things of giving my time to helping others. So usually, I would have my cars detailed by other professionals, and maybe the odd time, I’d wash my cars myself at my parents house…again very rarely did this happen. Every time I did wash the cars, it evoked so much nostalgia and joy from those golden era days where I would be man-and-mitt, unified by soapy water and pruned fingertips.

With Project Sky taking a break due to the significant big costs required at the current stage (approx. $20k rollcage, $20k paint job, $30k carbon widebody kit) and with Project Luna remaining indefinitely stock, I realize my Youtube channel content will be limited.

That is why moving forward in 2026 and onward, I will be taking an additional direction to content creation by bringing my detailing skills back and sharing Steven-Spielberg-esque detailing content with you all…how cool right?! I will elaborate further:

This idea was inspired by my friend Mike@Chromatic Garage, who makes in my opinion, the best produced automotive detailing content in the world, oh and the fact that he’s a 1-person team makes it that much more impressive. When he detailed and filmed a video for Project Luna (see Update 5), I thought to myself, “How cool would it be if I was the one washing my car, and having someone film in a similar, Steven Spielberg-esque way?!” Well, I reached out to my buddy Justin Liu @Chuio Media (see Update 15 Link), who has shot several great videos for Project Luna, pitched him the idea, and got his buy-in.

The idea initially was just to recreate Mike@Chromatic’s video but have me washing the car. That shortly evolved to us actually doing a masterclass video on how to properly wash your car, where I share with the world all of the various skills I have learned over the years. It then further evolved, to where we are currently exploring, which is to also do cleaning videos of some of the coolest and most unique Euro cars in the Toronto and surrounding areas, but to make it more personal, they are owned by my friends! Doing it this way adds a more personal touch, because I have a MASSIVE network, thanks to my insurance career, but also my genuine approach to being a good person, and immersed in the local car community. I will credit building my 2013 Subaru STi named Project Gabby, as well as Project Sky and Project Luna, because those builds have inspired others and created so many friendships through, that it has allowed me to build a wicked reputation and personal brand for myself, as one of the good and kind people in the local community…so yes, I have some friends that have some very sweet cars, and I will be thrilled to wash them in an aesthetically appealing way that will be perfectly captured by my good friend Justin.

To make the detailing video series even more personal, I will be co-directing and co-producing the series, which means I have full control over the audio selection. Why that is important is because I love hip-hop and rap music…but don’t worry, you will not be hearing any of that in these videos. Instead, what you will be hearing is what inspired my love for hip-hop and rap music, and that my friends is jazz music. Jazz music saved my life. It has allowed me to be a calmer individual; it has allowed me into places and experiences, as well as conversations I would not have been privy to; and it has allowed me to appreciate how beautiful the 60s to 90s really was...God only knows what I'd have been doing if music wasn't as big of a part of my life as it is (don't worry mom, I was always a good kid). Jazz has also opened my music palette to Motown, R&B, and other great genres, where the messaging was built on meaningful concepts like love, compassion, and being a hopeless romantic.

Over the past decade, I have built my music collection through buying songs to this date on iTunes, and scouring discogs for the rarest CD jazz albums from artists around the world, especially Japanese musicians like Ryu Fukui.

I do not plan for my channel to be monetized, mainly because I do not wish to disturb my viewers’ experience with an ad, but also because these videos will utilize copyrighted music that will prevent me from generating revenue.

For those of you who like hip-hop and rap music, many of the beats you hear today by legendary producers like Kanye West, The Alchemist, Hit-Boy, Daringer, Conductor Williams, etc., are sampled by original works from the 60s-90s eras where those groups had live bands create those melodies. In this detailing series, you will be hearing my curated selection of beautiful original songs, where you likely will say, “Hey, I know that beat?! Isn’t that from 'insert newer version of song'?” And the answer will be, YES, you’ll hear songs that were sampled by Jay Worthy, Westside Gunn, Kanye West, Larry June, Premo Rice, and many more artists.

The purpose of me doing this is because I want to share my love and taste for quality music with you all to broaden your musical palette, and show some love to the originals who paved the way for much of the music we listen to today. These songs will invoke goosebumps and all kinds of emotions, and will be nice to keep on in the background while you work…at least that’s what I plan to do.


Anyways, I appreciate you all taking the time to read my above monologue where I poured my heart and got really personal with you all about my love for detailing, jazz, and the life journey they have brought me on.

Now, I am proud to share with you all the first video of my Detailing Series — A Masterclass of How To Properly Wash Your Car — followed by some photos captured from the video shoot.

Be sure to subscribe to my channel, and share my channel with anyone you know who are interested in detailing content!



























It’s surreal that this next photo was taken at the same location (University of Toronto Mississauga Campus by the library) over 13 years ago:









Finally, the list of cars owned by my personal friends that will be featured in my Detailing Series include, but are not limited to, the following:





[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, Luna is going nowhere, FAST.

[header=UPDATE #29: Always In Good Company][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

Well, this is probably one of the first few times I haven’t been overly thrilled to share an update with you all.
That’s ok, we’ll make the most of it!

This update takes place in June 2025.



[header=Bone-Stock, Yet Custom?][/header]

The odd time, especially for a big meeting downtown, I will keep the company car parked with valet and bring out Project Luna…this was one of those days.

Quick, throw on the power suit and tie, call valet to have the M3 ready, head down two elevators, and we’re in business.

The commute to the office is basically 1.5kms from my condo, so it’s a short drive. In the work parking garage, there are some pretty nice parking spaces, case in point where I usually park.








As I was backing into my spot, I noticed in my 11 o’clock view an Alpine White E90 M3 in bone stock battle form. Upon closer look, I noticed it too had a custom license plate — TRI ING // Trying...super cool. This plate has vintage font, so it’s likely a mature owner.












I have respect for this owner in keeping the car bone stock, fishbowl, and on stock 220Ms even. There is a reason why I have two and hopefully 3 E9X M3s…they are timeless cars that will soon be a future classic.




[header=Punctured Ego][/header]

It was a nice Saturday afternoon in June, and I felt like taking Project Luna out.

I’m driving around downtown Toronto just north of Bay and Carlton, and all of a sudden I see the tire pressure monitoring sensor light come on…I immediately panic. I panic because you may recall, I am not mechanically-inclined, nor do I own any tools, NOR…oh boy…do I share this…do I know how to change my tire and oil…wait, I don’t even know how to jack up my car!

Hmmm, maybe some things are best not shared, c'est la vie.

Anyways, I pulled over, got out, and did not notice any tires flat. I then reset the TPMS, and continued driving around.

The light came back on about 10 minutes later, as I was on the phone with my buddy Pedro. I pulled over and noticed that the passenger front tire was not fully flat, but it was gradually losing pressure. Pedro told me to come by his house, as our mutual friend Alex was also coming by, and he definitely had the tools for the job.

I drove over to the nearby Casa Loma neighbourhood, and safely arrived at Pedro’s. Alex also arrived at the same time in his black pickup truck, and quickly got out his tools to perform the tire patch job. Alex mentioned that getting punctured tires is a common occurrence on construction job-sites, so rest assured, he's a puncture patching pro. #alliteration

I am so lucky to have friends I can always count on, especially for the rare occasion like this when I’m in a pinch. Thanks Pedro and Alex.

Enjoy the photos:





















[header=Soul Food][/header]

The following day, I decided to hit up my usual spot downtown for some comfort food…after all, my ego was just bruised.

On the way to my comfort food spot, I was spotted by my buddy, Zlad, who was walking the streets of King St. W.. He quickly pulled out his phone and snapped a spotted photo and sent it to me on Instagram:






I spun the block, and arrived at my go-to spot — Wilbur’s Mexicana. Wilbur’s serves fresh tacos and are managed by a personal friend of mine, Randall. Randall’s dad, Roger, is a BMW collector and has an E92 M3, amongst other cool cars. I remember when I first brought Project Luna to Wilbur’s and parked alongside the glass windows, I entered the restaurant, and Randall, whom I didn’t know at the time, came up and asked if that was my BMW out-front. We started chatting, and I made a friend out of the conversation. Now, every time I visit Wilbur’s, Randall’s team always ensures I am well-taken care of…the power of meaningful relationships.









[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, let’s just say, we made our own rules.

Man that E90 M3 looks so good......Thats the only one i'd buy.....in blue LOL

0-60Motorsports wrote

Man that E90 M3 looks so good......Thats the only one i'd buy.....in blue LOL

Agreed, the E90 M3 was far too clean!!



[header=UPDATE #30: The Nice Outlaws][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

I am excited to share with you all an update that I had lots of fun with.
This update was fun because when you’re genuinely nice to people, they tend to show more grace, even when you’re doing something you aren’t supposed to (don’t worry, I’m not a criminal).

This update takes place in July 2025.



[header=Impromptu Photoshoots Are Always The Answer][/header]

Tell me something better than getting all the boys to wake up at 6:30am on a Sunday and cruise in together for a classic Euros car show?

You really see who your friends are when they show up for moments like that, especially when some of them drive 1.5hours out and still arrive on time, shoutout to m3_ultra, Miguel, you’re a real one.

So my condo neighbour Matt who owns the LSB E46 M3, myself, along with my good friend Eddie who also works in the insurance industry and owns a Fern Green E36 M3, and my good friend Miguel who owns a JDM-inspired E92 M3, all decided to cruise down together to The Vaulture summer meet.

We snapped a pic outside the condo:








We were planning to meet up at the event with my other buddies, Marvin, who too is in the insurance industry and owns a beautiful Aston Martin V8 Vantage, along with my buddy Connor who owns a Moonstone F10 M5.



Matt wanted to grab a coffee (terrible timing) and would head over afterwards, so Miguel, Eddie, and I made our way out to Yorkville for The Vaulture show.

On an early Sunday morning in downtown Toronto on an arterial road, you just might have an open stretch where you can park in the middle of the road for maybe 10 seconds, before someone either questions you or the road sees some traffic…well we had 30 seconds, so you know I had to seize the moment:












I jumped back in Project Luna and we continued the short journey to The Vaulture meet, where we met up with the rest of the guys. Keep in mind, all of these people I referenced above are all friends of mine who do not know each other. One of my proudest qualities is my ability to build meaningful relationships, bring together people who may be strangers to each other, and ensure everyone gets along. That truly is a reflection in two ways: one being the high quality social circle I have built over the years; and two being they are solid individuals in their own merits…needless to say, we are all blessed to be around each other, as all of them are high value, ambitious, and generous individuals, which is why everyone always gets along, because they just get it.
























After spending over 4 hours at The Vaulture meet with lots of old and new friends, some of us parted ways, while the others continued our Sunday side quests. Connor, Miguel, and I, were heading out together (me leading the pack first out the event), when I noticed a friend named Nick, outside the event. Nick is a local photographer who’s known for snapping the nicest Yorkville exotic passersby. His Instagram is @toronto_exotics_rev and he’s really talented.

I asked him, along with the guys if everyone would be down for another impromptu photoshoot like the one in the street this morning, only this time, we’d have a professional photographer capturing the moments.

Of course the guys were down! I introduced Nick to everyone (again, another new contact for everyone), and we then discussed locations.















Me living downtown for the last 5+ years, I know a few casual spots that could make for nice photos. I won’t gatekeep (no pun intended) these locations, but yes, we had to enter places where gates did have to get opened (pun intended). The first spot, we blocked an entrance way of a ritzy condo building for all of 2 minutes, only to have the condo security guard come and yell at me as to why we are blocking the entrance. Keep in mind, we had a game-plan organized to be as quick about the process as possible (Nick across the street ready to snap a couple pics, and Connor and Miguel ready to position their cars accordingly). Funny enough, the next picture you are about to see shows the security guard yelling at me because he thought Connor was a resident, likely because he’s driving an M5, and the two brokies Miguel and I are driving crappy 3-series, and so he said, “You need to move these cars, can’t you see that this guy is trying to leave?!” I politely said, “Hey man, you don’t have to be so rude, there is a way to talk to people. I warmly greeted you, and mentioned that we’re here for all of 30 seconds, there’s no need whatsoever to yell.” Keep in mind Miguel just sat in his car and watched through his rear view mirror (zoom in closely to the picture) of this guy yell at me…yeah, thanks Miguel.
Needless to say, the security guard did not care about me or my rhetoric, enjoy my entitled a** getting yelled at in the pictures (we did get the picture we wanted ):











The next spot, we had people coming up and saying how cool the cars were and that they were BMW fans, only shortly after to be told off by a cyclist that we can’t park there and that he’s calling campus police. I politely looked the guy in the face and explicitly said, “Hey man (dramatic pause), there is a way to talk to people (long, cold stare). We will gladly move out of the way, but I’d encourage you to rethink your attitude.” He probably had a quiet ride back on his bicycle to wherever he needed to go to. Needless to say, the photos were well worth it (you’ll know my photos vs. Nick’s photos):


























It even went so far that at the next location, I befriended the local security guards to allow us to open the church gates and allow us in the most peaceful and quietest manner to snap a few pictures inside for 3-5 minutes and we’d be on our way. He politely looked the other way, and we went inside the space, only shortly after to hear that the priest called security to ask us to leave or he’d call the police. I definitely said my prayers that night. Jokes aside, I did pray and thank God for allowing the day to go as smooth as possible, and having the ability to positively influence others. When you are kind to people, they tend to not give you too hard of a time…it is all about respect, and that’s something my loving parents taught me. No matter what job you have or who you are, we are all people and should be treated with respect.


















We headed back to location #2 and got some additional shots in an iconic spot…you’ll know why when you see the photos. Believe it or not, we had problems at this location with campus security advising that cars are not supposed to park here and if we had a permit to take photos. I politely said that we were not causing any trouble, and would be very respectful of the space and be leaving within the next 10 minutes. The guy I was speaking to was very understanding and let us continue; he restored my faith in humanity, while still communicating effectively in a peaceful manner that we were not supposed to be conducting such activities. Clearly my privilege is something I need to be mindful of, which is why I try to maintain my character and be as nice and respectful as possible, no matter how rude someone is to me (within reason).

Enjoy the photos:



























Very special thank-you to Nick for leaving the meet impromptu, and spending a couple hours with Connor, Miguel, and I. He didn’t want to charge us for the shoot, as his favourite car is the E92 M3, especially my one. For all of these locations, he rode with me, which was a dream come true for him. He’s a younger guy and is inexperienced with business acumen…we have to start somewhere. I gave him unsolicited advice because I was in his shoes and would do things for people free of charge all the time, and while there is a time and place for that, this was something he put a lot of time and investment in, so I felt it was appropriate to be the good friend and make him aware of conducting business. Being a former entrepreneur with my detailing business, I told him, “Your time matters. People need to appreciate your time, and so we are all paying you.” He declined, and I then told him, “It would be different if we were all still at The Vaulture meet, but we’re not. You’ve taken 2 hours of your day to help us out, and we need to respect your time and openness to shoot an impromptu photoshoot for us at various locations in Toronto.” My persistence and assertiveness remained undefeated, and we settled with each e-transferring Nick $75, which he was graciously appreciative of.


A few hours later, Connor invited me to join him for a quick naval excursion on his boat across Lake Ontario, and then settle our stomachs over a nice meal at his clubhouse.

We were able to take some great pics to seal an incredibly MPACTFUL Sunday with numerous side quests:














[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, Project Luna goes on her final road trip before being a lifelong garage queen.

[header=UPDATE #31: Memories > Mileage][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header][header=][/header]

Hey everyone and welcome back to my journal!

For the right people, I am willing to put creating lasting memories at the forefront over my concerns with adding mileage to Project Luna (you will never hear me say that again after this road trip update).

This update takes place in August 2025.



[header=It’s All In The Prep][/header]

Since buying Project Luna back in October 2023 with 35,951 kms (22,338 miles), as of August 2025, I have brought it to a total of approximately 46,000 kms (28,583 miles)…about 6,000 miles have come from me.

It may not seem like a lot, but to me, I have always loved the idea of 20 years down the line still owning a low mileage E9X M3. I would never sell the car, so I’m not saving it for resale value; I guess it’s the clout and prestige that comes with a pristine example vehicle, especially in a spec like this.

Furthermore, in an effort to keep the mileage low for Project Luna, this will be the car’s final road trip for the foreseeable future, so you better believe we’re going out with a BANG!

I messaged my good buddies, Rawson Senpai, Mitch Jdm4eva, and Richy (IG: @Richyyy.E9XM) that it would be cool if all of us got together during the summer and hit up MPact 2025 and Wekfest East 2025. The guys loved the idea and were down to create some memories together.

In prep for the road trip, it was crucial for me to have Project Luna cleaned. Call me crazy for spending money detailing a car before a road trip, but the reason why it makes sense is because the car will be perfectly clean, and being PPF’d and Ceramic Coated, in my mind road debris/elements will have a more difficult time sticking to a clean paint/film.

I took the car to my good friends at Kodawari Collective to help me clean the car. I gave the car a thorough exterior wash, while my friend Hieu@Kodawari Collective worked on rejuvenating the interior.

Enjoy the pictures:




















































[header=Bonding Time][/header]

If you recall from MPact 2024, my dad joined me in what was a fantastic father-and-son road trip. We purchased the VIP Experience tickets and enjoyed a jam-packed fun day looking at BMWs and meeting new people.

To happily continue that tradition, I invited my dad again, who was really happy to join me for the experience. What makes my dad a special person and a great father is the unconditional love he shows me. I have mentioned this many times — my dad is not a car enthusiast, quite frankly, I would say he’s the opposite. Having a finance background, he thinks it’s a waste of money…but I think that the more time he spends with me at various car events, he’ll eventually see that car culture creates so many friendships, conversations, networking, and memories that can only be experienced through that piece of expensive metal that he has firm views on…we’ll give him some more time to warm up.


We packed our bags and headed out early Friday morning to The Poconos, PA.
I made sure we took the shortest distance on Waze, and that we went through lots of small towns and backroads.

We passed through this little town called Warsaw, located in NY. As we were travelling through one of Warsaw’s arterial roads, I saw a beautiful mural, and wanted to take a few pics of Project Luna with it. My dad, God bless him, was super annoyed because we were adding time to the road trip…I sometimes forget the guy is 62 years old and still remains impatient and stubborn…what a Scrooge!

After calming my old man down, I hopped out of the car, and snapped away. While taking pics, I noticed two things: the first being a vintage Z28 Camaro in pretty good shape for its age (I will own a Z28 Camaro one day because I just love the way it looks). The second thing was a beautiful message on the mural, which I felt was pretty MPACTFUL:













Along the way to Mt. Pocono, we stopped to snap pics at some random spots like an old liquor store.











We then arrived at the hotel, and headed out for dinner. My dad found this really cool restaurant called Powerhouse Eatery. The restaurant is located in a former power plant, that has been restored and expanded to house and host a fine dining hospitality experience.

After being seated, we were handed an informative brochure on the power plant. It’s history is very interesting: Dating back to the 19th century, a group of philanthropists identified White Haven, PA, as a suitable area to build an institution for treating people suffering from “consumption” or in medical terms, tuberculosis (TB). White Haven, located in the mountains, was the perfect area for this institution because it could contain the spread of the disease given that it was partly isolated from humanity, along with the area’s climate being dry and cold, which provides a therapeutic effect for those affected by TB.

The White Haven Sanatorium was created in 1907, and rapidly expanded as the TB cases increased. With the construction of additional buildings, the estate needed additional power, and so a dedicated coal-to-steam power plant was created.

Wealthy industrialists like Pierre DuPont even donated to the further expansion of the power plant. In 1956, the Sanatorium went out of business due to medical breakthroughs which reduced the TB cases. Within 1956, the Commonwealth of PA purchased the estate and converted into a caregiving facility for the mentally challenged. Over the following 20 years, they outgrew the space, and moved out to a larger facility in 1976, while the original location sat vacant for 13 years.

In 1989, the power plant was converted into a restaurant, which has been operating ever since.

My dad and I had a really nice time together, and the food was great! I would highly recommend any of you to visit if you’re in the area.





After dinner, we were asked by our server if we had a chance to visit the Monastery up the mountain. We were unaware of said Monastery, and politely asked for more information. This is a Greek Monastery that was founded in 1993 by Elder Ephraim. Elder Ephraim has founded 16 other Monasteries across North America. Interestingly about these Monasteries is that they are all located in very isolated areas, like White Haven, PA, in honour of Athonite tradition for true solitude, contemplation, and prayer, away from any urban distractions…how cool?!

So we took Project Luna up the narrow mountain-pass and reached these beautiful gates with an intercom. This would have been the time to make my Greek mother proud, but sadly, I disappointed by speaking in English to the Sister on the intercom. They were closed, and I believe had I have spoken in Greek and explained that we came from Toronto, they may have opened the gates for my dad and I. We were told to come back the next day, but unfortunately my dad and I had MPact, so the side quest to the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Protection would have to wait for another time…maybe for MPACT 2026, we’ll bring my mom along for the adventure, and schedule some time to visit the Monastery when they are actually open.







We headed back to the hotel for an early night’s sleep, to be fresh for the big day on Saturday! I parked next to some fellow Ontarians who had some nice BMWs:









[header=2nd Time For Good Measure][/header]

MPact — the best BMW meet on the Northeast Coast — was here!!

My dad and I woke up super early because last year, we were fashionably late to the VIP section because of the huge lineup at the nearby self-serve coin-op car wash.
Side-note: For two years in-a-row, I wore a Westbrook jersey (a different one each time) to show my love and support for The Brodie.


We were able to get Project Luna all cleaned up, and met a few new friends in the process.

We then made our way to MPact, where our VIP experience was awaiting us. The VIP experience is great, especially for an older guy like my dad, because it offers a private area with shaded seating, catered food throughout the day, preferred parking section, and photographed parade laps in the late-afternoon when the event ends. If you’ve been on the fence for the VIP experience, I highly recommend, and Jaycent, the founder of MPact, has been trying to make the experience better every year with the help of constructive feedback he receives from the VIPs.

While at the event, I also bumped into some old friends, Frank, who is a fellow Ontarian with a Silverstone E92 M3 (IG: @cruel.whips), and Zohn (IG: @itszohn) who owns an ILB E90 M3 that has the PERFECT wheel setup and fitment:
























I also got a chance to see Mitch and my buddy Wayne (IG: java_e90) who owns a Java Green E90 M3, which happens to be my dad’s favourite car from MPact 2024. I introduced Mitch and Wayne, and we all took some photos together, especially with Mitch’s Neptune Blue E90 M3:




















Enjoy the remaining photos from the event:






























































You can also watch my MPact 2025 recap video and the supporting vlog video on Youtube, which has been doing NUMBERS…good job Alex, aye, aye, aye, aye (Larry June voice):









[header=BMW Boys Brotherhood][/header]


Before heading back to Toronto, our final stop was Edison, NJ, for Wekfest East 2025.
My dad and I safely arrived to the hotel in Edison and we headed to sleep for another early morning.

Early in the morning, and tons of bug splatter later, Project Luna needed to be pressure-washed before it could make its grand appearance at Wekfest East.











The guys Rawson, Mitch, and Richy, as well as a new friend of mine, Jesse (IG: missing.36), who owns a beautiful E36 M3 with some of the rarest parts available, were excited for my dad and I to join for one last day together at a chill, indoor event featuring some of the East Coast’s best builds.

We arrived early and got a chance to hang out together, and I got a chance to see Richy’s Melbourne Red E90 M3 in-person for the first time…what a build.







Rawson then came over and dropped the news that we had to ensure our gas tanks had no more than 1/4 tank of fuel. I overlooked that note in the emailed instructions, but verified that it was in there. Like a bonehead, I fully fueled up along the way from Mt. Pocono to Edison, NJ, and so my fuel reading at the Wekfest venue was 3/4 full…uh oh.

The guys were saying that the fire marshall was very strict and was sending cars out of the line if their fuel gauge exceeded 1/4 full. How the heck was I going to empty half the tank…siphoning was definitely not an option.

I walked over to one of the event support staff, made him aware of my predicament, and he said it’s not going to fly and for me to go drive around until I reach the required fuel level. I said to him, “What happens if I just go in line and see if we can sneak it through?” He said, “Well it’s a fire hazard, so you are wasting your time...I would just go and drive around.”

Well, I wasn’t going to drive and rip it around an unfamiliar area to reduce my fuel level, let alone put additionally unnecessary mileage on Project Luna..no way, Jose. The guys came up with a simple and seemingly ineffective idea, where I would lead the pack of 5 cars, and say that we were all together, surely the marshall would be understanding. I’m thinking to myself, “There’s no way this is going to work...I’m not getting into the show that would’ve built so many lasting memories with my buddies…I’m doomed.” My dad was quite nervous as well because we were definitely screwed. I shook off these negative thoughts, and we proceeded with the plan.







So as we’re approaching the modest line of cars awaiting the fire marshall's thorough inspection before admittance into the venue, who do I see in the corner of my eye walking over to the marshall? The event support staff guy!!!
He literally snitched on me to the fire marshall that my car’s fuel tank was 3/4 full. Here I am, initially trying to do the right thing by being transparent to the event support staff, and hoping to have him put in a good word, especially not being from the area, only to be sold out…sometimes sharing too much information can be counterintuitive. Let me be clear, I was not planning to lie to the marshall, I was just praying he wouldn’t ask me. The way I was raised was to be honest and act with respect and integrity. My dad especially always said, “Don’t ruin the last name, Rei, it means something.”

Next in line, fire marshall fully aware of me trying to sneak in thanks to our friend, he points me to drive up for inspection. He approaches my lowered fishbowl window, and my dad and I go beyond the standard Canadian niceties and give our best Rei salutations. “Good morning, hope you’re having an impactful Sunday so far.” CRINGE. Yes, I said that. He then smiled and said, “Yeah, I noticed your license plate, very positive. I had an older BMW back in the day, an old 6-series in red. Beautiful car it was. I sold it and have been thinking of getting another BMW. This thing is beautiful, do you recommend it?” Surprised to hear he was a car enthusiast, let alone a BMW one, I told him all the great things about the E9X platform and that he’d be a happy camper if he bought one. After that discussion and in a casual tone, he said, “I heard about your fuel issue.” I replied, “Yes, we came from Toronto, and I did a poor job of reading the instructions that I was made aware of today stating that fuel levels could not exceed 1/4 tank for fire concerns and public safety. I am so sorry about that, I am well over that.” He then empathetically said in a very Italian accent, “Ah shoot, you know what, do me a favour, when you get inside, just disconnect your battery and don’t say nothing.” This was probably the only time I did not get annoyed hearing someone say a double-negative in their speech. My Portuguese dad always says double-negatives, “I didn’t do nothing,” quite literally means you did something…instead say “I didn’t see anything;” or, “I didn’t see nothing,” ok dad, so you saw something lol…say “I didn’t see anything.” ANYWAYS, I smiled and said, “Thank-you so much for helping me. I will gladly disconnect the battery.”

Shout out to this gem of a human being; he is someone I will always remember. Him making an exception for me could have been for a lot of reasons, one being that my dad and I were extremely polite, but also that I acknowledged my oversight and foolishness as opposed to lie to his face…again, life is all about respect and integrity. So by looking at him dead in the eyes, and admitting my mistake, hopefully the person has a heart (he has a big one) and can be understanding and accommodating (he was able to).

So needless to say, we got in and could thankfully relax and enjoy the cool cars and good company. My mom’s boss even came w/her now late husband (may he rest in peace) to show their support for my car. Fun fact: I brought my Subaru STi (Project Gabby) to this same venue almost 10 years ago for AutoCon 2017, and Teresa and Bob showed up, which meant a lot.

Enjoy the throwback photos:














Here’s a couple photos of Teresa in Project Luna:








While the cars in attendance were top-tier, the event itself was underwhelming, due to the planning of other events like Gridlife, etc., occurring the same day/weekend. Given the low attendance, they announced during the award ceremony Wekfest East will not be coming back to NJ (not out of malice, just because it’s a costly venture to set up and organize only to lose money)…very sad for the East Coast car community.

Nonetheless, we all still had a nice time. Please enjoy the photos from the event:
















































If you’d like to see some footage of the other cars at the event, be sure to watch my Youtube video with the full recap:







After the event finished, we headed outside to grab some photos with Mitch’s Neptune Blue, as he didn’t get a chance to stay back for those indoor shots with Rawson, Richy and I.















































[header=Concluding Thoughts][/header]

What a jam-packed update from one of the best weekends of my life.

Thank-you all for your continuous support with both my Youtube Channel and my journal here on M3Post.
Stay tuned for next update, Luna’s going to be boding her farewell for a while.

Nice photos & great story man. It's going to take at least 1-2 hours to get through the latest roll. But I'm sure it will be worth it. Cheers!