Back in the game, now with pics

[Dr. Monkeypants]

Heya forum boys and girls! Earlier this year, I made the mistake of trading my beloved 2015 TEP with some mild mods for a 2015 BMW M3. Always wanted one and thought it would be fun to drive one for a bit.

And it was.

And then it wasn't. (Protip: Don't buy a used M3 from a track guy. Maintenance hell ensued while I unfuxxed everything done to it)

To rectify that, I'm picking up a new 4Runner this weekend. Going with a Limited this time because in the 3.5 years I owned it, I did a lot of camping and offroading and realized I'm not a rock crawler and even the basic AWD system will work fine for me with proper wheels and tires. Plus, leather doesn't suck, and I despise the HVAC on the other models, lol.

Anyway, I've been lurking for a couple weeks while I found the truck I want and decided on mods I like and wanted to say thanks to all the people that contribute and experiment here. SO much good info! Pics soon.

Edit 6/23: Picked up a '19 MGM Limited Nightshade Friday afternoon. Already have 500 miles on it. So nice. So very nice.

Just need to fix the anemic wheel and tire situation ASAP. Thinking Enkei RPT1 with BFG KO2 275s.

Build thread to follow...

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[97BlackAckCL]

Welcome back! :thumb3:

 

[Mutant138]

Don't buy a used M3 from a track guy.

Earth shattering information here boys, take it in slowly, and seated.

JK been there done that with the clapped out race cars. Welcome back.

 

[screamoon]

Earth shattering information here boys, take it in slowly, and seated.

JK been there done that with the clapped out race cars. Welcome back.

hahaha!

 

[Dr. Monkeypants]

Earth shattering information here boys, take it in slowly, and seated.

JK been there done that with the clapped out race cars. Welcome back.

I know, I know, I know, lol.

I'm friendly with the previous owner and actually knew the car's complete history and maybe "nightmare" was a bit hyperbolic. The first owner did A BUNCH of mods and the shop he used to return the car to vaguely stock did a crap job replacing the fasteners. I used to work as a fabricator and a mechanic and finding all those mismatched bits set off my OCD in a major way. No real mechanical issues aside from a collapsed cat and the creeping sense of "that sounds kinda loose..."

Aaaaaanyway, I'm stoked to get back to something with capabilities more suited to what I do and more storage capacity than like two jackets and a six-pack.

 

[Bumbo]

Welcome back. I think the choice for a Limited is great for many reasons. We have a 2016 Limited and it’s been great so far, glad we went that route.

That said, you said basic AWD system. For clarification, there isn’t anything basic about; it operates just like it would in a Land Cruiser, GX or V8 4th Gen 4Runners. Just like the other 5th gen trim levels, you can still operate the system in true 4WD when you locked the center diff / transfer case. It’s a great system, and the most versatile out of the bunch.

5th Gen non-Limited
2WD
4WD – Locked
4WD – Low Locked

5th Gen Limited
AWD – Unlocked TC
4WD – Locked
4WD – Low Locked

 

[Dr. Monkeypants]

Welcome back. I think the choice for a Limited is great for many reasons. We have a 2016 Limited and it’s been great so far, glad we went that route.

That said, you said basic AWD system. For clarification, there isn’t anything basic about; it operates just like it would in a Land Cruiser, GX or V8 4th Gen 4Runners. Just like the other 5th gen trim levels, you can still operate the system in true 4WD when you locked the center diff / transfer case. It’s a great system, and the most versatile out of the bunch.

5th Gen non-Limited
2WD
4WD – Locked
4WD – Low Locked

5th Gen Limited
AWD – Unlocked TC
4WD – Locked
4WD – Low Locked

Thanks! Glad to hear you dig the limited! I'm pretty excited for the extra little conveniences over the other models. The dealer I'm going to has a few of them on the lot with the options want (almost none, lol) and I honestly don't even care which color I get so long as I work a good deal.

And I only meant basic compared to the system in the Trail/TRD trucks. It's still super capable, no doubt about it.

 

[a47chuck]

I've had Gen 4.1 ('03), 4.2 ('06), 5.1 ('13) and, currently, 5.2 ('19) Limiteds. No regrets. Not a serious off-roader, but sill need the capabilities of 4WD. We do get "some" snow in the High Desert. Two of the last three years, we've had the "50 year" snow fall. Never got stuck ... once they cleared a path on my driveway so I could get out of the garage to the road. HAH! Go for it!

 

[jspagna1]

I second the Limited. I would not buy anything older than a 2016 and the Limited offers some upgrades and I personally like that body style better. Good luck.

 

[JustRami]

And then it wasn't. (Protip: Don't buy a used M3 from a track guy. Maintenance hell ensued while I unfuxxed everything done to it)

I had a 2015 M4 and tracked the hell out of that car. But I also maintained it well and sold it to someone who hasn't had an issue with it at all. I even ran mine off the track once, funny how that video seems to get more hits than my others.

YouTube

 

[Bumbo]

And I only meant basic compared to the system in the Trail/TRD trucks. It's still super capable, no doubt about it.

Capabilities wise, the only thing you might be missing from those trim levels is a rear locker... which is great to have, but of little use if you don't wheel.

 

[Dr. Monkeypants]

Capabilities wise, the only thing you might be missing from those trim levels is a rear locker... which is great to have, but of little use if you don't wheel.

Yeah, I think that's a little outside my needs for now. But, I suppose this build could go any number of ways...

 

[Dr. Monkeypants]

I had a 2015 M4 and tracked the hell out of that car. But I also maintained it well and sold it to someone who hasn't had an issue with it at all. I even ran mine off the track once, funny how that video seems to get more hits than my others.

Yeah, they're solid cars for track use. The first owner just modded it a ton and his shop did a mediocre job returning it to stock. I went through and replaced probably 20 incorrect fasteners and decided to re-torque pretty much every bolt in the suspension and exhaust just to be safe.