Six months in I've finally got this where I want it to be so thought I'd put this post together so it's all in one place.
Couple of things first, this isn't a "build" thread, no megamods here, mostly cosmetic, some functional.
If you like some, any or all of it, that's great, and if you don't like some, any or all, that's great too, world would be a boring place if everyone liked the same things or if there was a catalogue of mods that everyone put on that means everything the same. (But if you don't like things, try not to be nasty about it, the internet is toxic enough, a simple "not for me" is fine
)
The Car
2023 M240i xDrive in Thundernight
Doesn't have adaptive suspension or the super dooper driver aids package that's got adaptive cruise.
I've always found stock suspension fine for my needs and the cost for the last package was to high and couldn't justify for something I'd barely use but did spec:
- Comfort pack
- Tech plus pack
- HK audio
- Alu trim
- M Tech pack
- Illuminated accents
- 19" 893s
Ordered April 2023 for Jun delivery, finally collected October, lot's of commentary on that elsewhere.
Also had the dealer fit some M Performance carbon bits:
- Front splitter and wings
- Grill surround
- Winglets
- Rear spoiler
- Rear diffuser
Pickup
After the long wait, it was a relief to finally pickup. Thankfully the dealer followed instructions to not fit plates as I bit obsessive about plates! The prep was very poor, lots of marring but as I knew it was going in for ppf and ceramic, I new the prep for that would restore so didn't make a big deal about it.
Couple of pics later that day that confirmed for me that I'd made the right decision on the MP CF, love it.
Protection, plates and badges
After a very long, sedate and nervous trip home, it was of to
Autobath Detailing near Edinburgh, I would highly recommend them, it was agreat service from initial enquiry to pickup. (
Check out their IG if you like exotics)
I got "track pack" expel ppf (front, bonnet, mirrors, lower doors, a pillars, rear quarters) plus boot lip, door shuts and id8 screen, Titan coatings all over (one for paint, one for ppf, both with topper) and they also removed all the badges and replaced with oem black and oem anniversary as well as fitting my shorty plates.
Back home the sun was out and highlighted my favourite part of the car's looks - the split personality paint, in dull light it's like a flat aubergine colour but when the sun hits....
This was the beading a couple of days later after the first rain.
Other MP Parts
While I was waiting ages and spending hours in forums admiring other people's and the things they'd done, I accumulated a bunch of stuff, mostly from BMW Direct on ebay as they frequently participate in the code offers and some from further afield. In no particular order:
- MP floor mats, I like these but grudge having to pay to replace the nasty ones supplied, my F40 had great stock mats but costs get cut everywhere seemingly
- MP sill strims. I wasn't sure about these but love them and wouldn't go back
- OEM Anniversay centre caps. Would be nice if they were floaters but not paying for the aftermarket ones that have been grafted onto the floating caps. Really like the anniversary theme even tho it's not strictly an anniversary car.
- OEM Anniversary dust caps. Got lucky with these, friend of a friend works in a dealer and had a set.
- MP CF shifters. I'm not a big manual shifting guy but I do like these.
- MP CF wheel trims. Having the shifters, jsut had to get the trims, was a proper PITA to get, let down by a few shops but eventully got what I wanted, upper without adaptive buttons, lower with clear section and heating button.
- MP wheel bags. Wasn't going to get these but the handles make it very easy to manouvre spare wheels.
- OEM boot liner. I don't like this, floats about and a bugger to clean, it'll get replaced when there are options in the marketplace.
I fitted the easy stuff, got the real spannering done at a locally recommended specialist.
Lighting
I've always thought the OEM puddle projectors were poor after having excellent version on a Merc, I transferred mine from my F40 but quickly replaced with a bright set off Ali and also replaced the boot lamp with an RGB set to purple, just because I like it.
Winter Wheels
I like to have winter tyres regardless but got a great deal on OEM wheel and tyre set from the local dealer on these so went for it. Thought about winter 19s but decided this was a better proposition for me. I've got the bigger brakes so was a bit concerned about fitment of 18s but assured by the dealer, went ahead. They actualy fit great, don't look like it from outside but there's a rim/lip that makes it look like no gap but you can see from the inside there's a few mm.
I like that these are black, kind of diminishes the fact they're 18's but as they're matt, I think I'll get them colour changed for something glossy next year (but probably black again.I think they suit the car well but looking forward to getting 19s back on again.
18" 796M Double Spoke Matt Black - Continential Winter Contact TS860S run flats
AP Arch Guards
A few folks have got these and I like the look but the screws are really bad and they don't offer much protection tbf.
I ike them but have replacement screws waiting to go on, quite disappointing for a £100 product to be saving pennies on cheap screws, spoils the look too.
Custom Exhaust Tips
I'd never liked the look of the OEM tips and thought they's look more at home on a mercedes suv than a sports coupe but took a while to decide what I wanted.
This ended up being quad outlet, round, slash cut, holes, black, clamp fit so I got these custom made.
Turns out the steel and finish wasn't great and the clamps didn't hold very well so I was always nipping them up.
Loving the style but not wanting to have one fly off on the motorway and kill someone, decided to remove, have them cerakoted locally then welded on. Extremely happy with them now.
Initially very happy:
Finish didn't last:
Cerakote a million times nicer.
Auto ID Mirror Caps by TRE
I really, REALLY wanted the CF caps but no way paying retail for them and the reps have still been pretty expensive so when a deal came up on these, took a punt and they are brilliant. The weave matches great and the fitment is excellent, the tech that fitted them commented how good they were to fit, zero issues.
Final Bits
CF vent surround
Having alu rhombo trim, I'm not keen on the last bits of piano black so got this cover from Jogon on Ali. Not usually a fan of stick on trim covers but this is wafer thin and fits great, maybe one of my favourite additions.
Seat back covers
Frequently having mucky gold clubsin the boot with the seats down I wanted somethign to protect the carpet backs that are a pain to clean so got some PU backed canvas, in purple of course, and cut to size. Not very elegant but effective.
OEM MP Fuel cover
I wasn't going to get this but was a gift from family and actually love it.
Boot Floor pull
I only lift this to hoover but made it a bit easier with some webbing and chicago screw. Never see it but I like it a lot, mostly because I made it.
Exhaust
Last but not least, an actual mod
Took a trip to PCW and could not be happier, if I'd started with a blank slate, this is what I'd have arrived at for exhaust sound.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5dxpEuoPpH/