This might look like little more than a nicely tuned F80 M3, but this is actually Australia’s fastest S55-powered car, and it’s a huge-horsepower monster that demolishes the quarter mile in under 10 seconds.
When the F8x M3 and M4 models were launched, BMW’s first-ever turbocharged M car, the F10 M5, had already been on sale for a couple of years and showcased the incredible performance offered by turbo power. However, that doesn’t mean that the move to forced induction for the M3 (and newly launched M4 Coupé) was any less controversial, especially when the duo arrived with just 11hp more than the glorious V8 E9x M3 model that preceded them.
But any fears that this latest M incarnation might be in any way disappointing were quickly dispelled when people got to drive them and experienced the performance of the twin-turbo S55, along with the sharp chassis and everything else that makes M cars so great. And while it’s 10 years since the F8x duo was launched, they remain awesome cars, especially with the vast amount of performance upgrades available for them.
Australia’s Fastest S55-powered car
While there are countless modded F8x M cars out there, there are clearly defined levels to the performance upgrades that owners fit, and there’s a very big difference between one running downpipes and a map, for example, and a car like Ozzy Toks’ Yas Marina Blue M3.
This car is Australia’s fastest S55, and is, as far as Ozzy and the team at EuroWerke, the Euro servicing and tuning centre he owns and runs in Sydney, are aware, the second-fastest unopened S55 in the world, and has run a 9.74 quarter mile at 145mph. Not that you’d know to look at it – yes, it’s been lowered, had some carbon addition and a set of wheels added, but so have 99% of F80s out there. You’d never call an M3 a sleeper, but you’d certainly not expect quite that level of performance, and wrapping it in a sensible saloon body makes it all the sweeter.
Ozzy’s car history
You would, however, expect a build of this calibre from Ozzy – this is a man for whom BMWs are a lifelong passion, and he’s had Bavarian metal on his brain since he was a teenager. “The quality and fun when driving one makes them special,” he enthuses. “Whether it’s a 318i or an M5, they give you a unique experience,” and we all know he speaks the truth.
“My first BMW was an E36 318is. It was all I could afford at the time, and I loved the fact that it looked like an M3,” Ozzy tells us, and this was followed by many more BMWs and many modified BMWs. “The list would be too long if I tried to name them all. Let’s just say a lot,” he laughs.
Building the fastest tuned F80 M3 in Australia
We very much doubt this is Ozzy’s first M car, or his first M3, or his first modified M3, and he went into this F80 with a plan. “I bought this car to promote our shop and show what we are capable of achieving,” he explains.
“We found it in Melbourne, and it was nearly new, it was only two years old. The plan was to make it the fastest F80 in the country,” Ozzy grins, and we know for a fact it was mission accomplished.
Engine modifications on the F80 M3
Of course, that is no small feat, and achieving that goal took some serious work. “Everything has been done to the motor other than opening it up. We fitted EU5 direct injectors, which flow more fuel, allowing us to run E85, a bm3 flex sensor, which allows us to run flex fuel, and an in-house low-pressure fuel pump upgrade, allowing more fuel flow to the HPFP.
We also fitted a Pure Turbos Stage 2+ turbo upgrade, which uses stock frame turbos that boost well beyond 3000hp without any issues, a Gintani crank hub, which is the only true crank hub fix, O-Spec downpipes which are full stainless steel and our own product, our own O-Spec forward-facing intakes, and an SSP Spec R DCT Clutch Upgrade Kit, which we need so we can launch at full torque at 5000rpm,” Ozzy grins.
That is a serious selection of performance mods which has resulted in some serious power. This F80 M3 is now pushing out a massive 789hp along with 811lb ft of torque, monstrous outputs that make it very easy to see just why this is Australia’s fastest S55 and how it’s capable of running nines.
Chassis upgrades on the tuned F80 M3
Of course, one does not simply give their M3 almost 800hp and call it a day, so the rest of the car has been upgraded to suit namely the chassis. “The car is running MSS height-adjustable springs, which keep the original shocks while still allowing height adjustment and a smooth ride, and Powerflex dual-mount diff bushes, which add that little bit more stability,” says Ozzy.
These are joined by front and rear SuperPro anti-roll bars and custom upgraded driveshafts from The Driveshaft Shop to help get all that power and torque to the tarmac. There’s also a line-lock kit on board, which allows Ozzy to lock the front brakes to light up the rear wheels at the drag strip for longer to get more heat into them.
Wheels
Speaking of wheels, this tuned F80 M3 is wearing a sexy set of those. In the photos, it’s running 20” AME Shallen VMX splits, but Ozzy’s changed them since the shoot, and it now sits on 19” HRE FF01 FlowForm wheels finished in Tarmac satin black and wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres. “They were on a friend’s car, they looked great, and I always liked them,” reasons Ozzy. “When they came up for sale, we swapped my original 666 wheels for his,” and you can see how aggressive the HREs look on the EuroWerke Insta.
Exterior modifications on the tuned F80 M3
As you can see from the photos, this M3 has been treated to some styling enhancements, but it’s all been kept quite subtle. “I wanted to keep the factory lines and look, but also a little bit more aggressive,” reasons Ozzy and that’s exactly what he’s got.
The M3 wears M Performance carbon fibre mirror covers, carbon fibre lower front splitters and gloss black kidney grilles, along with carbon upper front splitters and a carbon CS-style front lip. Carbon side blades sit beneath the sills, while at the rear you’ll find a CS-style boot lip spoiler and an extended rear diffuser. All this combines to give this M3 more presence and aggression, but all without going over the top, and these sexy carbon additions just serve to perfectly enhance the car’s looks.
Interior mods
Finally, we come to the cabin, and here Ozzy’s approach was to keep it all as close to factory as standard as possible, just making the cabin a nicer place to be without taking things too far. To that end, the interior has been treated to a healthy amount of carbon fibre, which instantly enhances the experience.
The M Performance catalogue has been raided for the carbon DCT gear selector and surround, handbrake handle, as well as floor mats, and then there’s the Alcantara steering wheel with carbon trim, which has since been further upgraded to a custom carbon and leather item complete with digital display and shift lights, and there are also carbon fibre shift paddle extenders. The finishing touches are the red steering wheel and start-stop buttons, as well as an upgraded iDrive screen with Apple CarPlay.
Tuned F80 M3 verdict
What you’re looking at here is nine years’ worth of work, and Ozzy has accomplished exactly what he set out to do, which was build a car that would show off what EuroWerke is capable of and a nine-second F80 M3 running a stock block is most definitely that. We love the combination of mods across the exterior and interior, and the whole package is just top-tier.
And as for Ozzy’s top mod, well you just knew it was going to be about the engine; “It’s the turbos – the sound and the way they come on boost is awesome,” he grins. At this point, the F80 M3 project is complete – Ozzy’s goal has been achieved, and he’s looking for the next build, with that most likely being a G8x M3 or M4 or a manual M2. Whatever Ozzy picks, looking at this tuned F80 M3, you know it’s going to be an awesome next-level performance machine that will, once again, really show off what he and his team are all about.
Photos: Aaron Lam.
Love modified BMWs? Don’t forget that we’re hosting our German Car Festival event at Goodwood Motor Circuit on October 5th where you’ll get to see cars like this F80 M3 in person and on track. Head over to the German Car Festival event website for more information and tickets.
