[-Keith-]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

All of the mods should give it a nice more aggressive look whilst still looking fairly factory.

That's the aim

Originally Posted by Digitalize

I'd personally look at changing the bulbs for ones that more evenly like the rings though.

Do you mean 'light'?

That is just the picture. It's like trying to photograph a TV screen - they lights seem to refresh constantly and each picture I took is different with some bits brighter and other duller! All OK to the eye I assure you

[chris b.]

All your cars are insane!

[JM85]

looking good Keith, the spacers look good I need to look into these once I get the 313's back on after the winter as the ones I have on my winter set up (15 & 20mm) are too aggressive

Your E46 keeps making me think about getting back into one

[Digitalize]

Originally Posted by -Keith-

Do you mean 'light'?

That is just the picture. It's like trying to photograph a TV screen - they lights seem to refresh constantly and each picture I took is different with some bits brighter and other duller! All OK to the eye I assure you

Yeah I did, I did wonder if that was the case but usually the shutter speed is long enough to capture both. It's video where it becomes a nightmare.

[-Keith-]

Originally Posted by chris b.

All your cars are insane!

Wow, praise indeed. You're very kind, thank you

I have always been particular when it comes to my BMWs, and try to pick the best I can afford very carefully, and then steadily perform subtle modifications. It's a great hobby too!

Originally Posted by JM85

looking good Keith, the spacers look good I need to look into these once I get the 313's back on after the winter as the ones I have on my winter set up (15 & 20mm) are too aggressive

Your E46 keeps making me think about getting back into one

Yes I read you need to be careful with spacer size. I heard 12mm can rub on the rear of an LCI, so went for 10mm there, and hopefully 12mm with give me the aesthetics I want up front without issue.

Very kind about the E46. I loved that car and it was modded exactly as I wanted. But E46s are getting old now and as great as they are, I was ready to move to the E90, which was epic even in totally stock form. M3s are just great cars!

[-Keith-]

Decided against even trying the BMWP black grills. After looking at more pictures of other peoples cars that have fitted them, they just don't work on Space Grey. So they are going to be sold.

I think the classic chrome outers match with the headlight detailing, chrome tailpipes and silver alloys to bring it all together. However I have never liked too much chrome, so today modified my existing grills to have black inner slats (as per my E46).

All I did was sand off the chrome with wet and dry, and then polished them up by hand to a glossy finish:






Finished and fitted:

[JM85]

The colour really suits the black inners, looks good!!, although I went from Black inners to all Chrome but each to their own

Is it the photo or is your number plate at the front about 1 cm too low?? knowing you I am sure its just the photo! lol

[chris b.]

I put 15mm on rear and 10mm on front lowered about an inch and dont rub at all.

[-Keith-]

Originally Posted by JM85

The colour really suits the black inners, looks good!!, although I went from Black inners to all Chrome but each to their own

Is it the photo or is your number plate at the front about 1 cm too low?? knowing you I am sure its just the photo! lol

The height is the same as the dealer mounted plates I removed. It looks all good to me! About the same height as my M3 which had a factory plate mount fitted:

Originally Posted by chris b.

I put 15mm on rear and 10mm on front lowered about an inch and dont rub at all.

Thanks for the heads up, although I am thinking maybe the E91 and E90 are slightly different?

I used this post for reference: CLICKY.

See post #28 by Member Doughboy: LCI E91 and running 12mm on the rear was catching on MV3s and OEM tyre size. My Pilot Sports are pretty chunky so I imagine I will experience the same rubbing with 12mm, hence choosing 10mm.

Not sure how you are able to get away with 15!

If you look at post #24 Doughboy also states that he runs 12mm up front with a occasional bit of rub. I suppose if I can get away with a touch more at the rear (like you) then I can run the 12mm at the rear and 10mm front.

I guess I need to get the car lowered, allow it to settle and aligned first, then experiment. Lowering introduces natural camber, which always give a bit more grace when spacing. Maybe thats how you are getting away with 15mm rear come to think of it.

[JM85]

Originally Posted by chris b.

I put 15mm on rear and 10mm on front lowered about an inch and dont rub at all.

15's on the back of my E90 LCI with MV3's stuck out too far, not sure how you have managed that

[JM85]

Originally Posted by -Keith-

The height is the same as the dealer mounted plates I removed. It looks all good to me! About the same height as my M3 which had a factory plate mount fitted:

:

I was referring more to the 10mm gap above the number plate as mine sits flush with the line across the bumper

Think this makes sense

[-Keith-]

Originally Posted by JM85

I was referring more to the 10mm gap above the number plate as mine sits flush with the line across the bumper

Think this makes sense

Yes that was deliberate - I thought it would look weird flush with that line. DO you have a pic?

[JM85]

I do but the problem is my car is White so you can't really tell, i think thats why it caught my eye on yours



Can't belive I've started a full on conversation on number plate alignment, how sad am I

[-Keith-]

Both look good to me mate so all is well

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by -Keith-

Decided against even trying the BMWP black grills. After looking at more pictures of other peoples cars that have fitted them, they just don't work on Space Grey. So they are going to be sold.

I think the classic chrome outers match with the headlight detailing, chrome tailpipes and silver alloys to bring it all together. However I have never liked too much chrome, so today modified my existing grills to have black inner slats (as per my E46).

All I did was sand off the chrome with wet and dry, and then polished them up by hand to a glossy finish:



Finished and fitted:

She looks sharp! Very nice.

[-Keith-]

So a few bits done but a few bits still to do.

First if you look at this photo (CLICKY) taken when I first bought the car, you can make out rusty wheel hubs. This is a common problem, no doubt exaggerated by the cars previous visits to car washes that use wheel acid - the alloys also displayed dulling of the lacquer coat.

So the wheels came off, and both the brake disc bells and calipers were cleaned up with a couple grades of scotchpad, to remove all oxidisation and leave a nice uniform surface for paint. No photos of that, but doing this vastly improves the look once sprayed. I used Halfords caliper paint:




Masked up the car and used a card template to cover the friction surface when spraying. And finished:








Lovely smooth, uniform finish achieved by spraying . But as the last photo above shows, wheels desperately needed a refurb so this was next.

Car on stands and wheels off, ready for collection by BJV engineering, who I've used over 10 times now and get a nice discount with.




I preparation, I also bought new Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 rubber, ready to be fitted on the new wheels to save clumsy fitters down the line marking them. I chose the tyres as I previously put Asymmetric 2s on the wife's Audi S3 and was impressed - the 3s are meant to be better still.




Back from BJV and with new OEM centre caps fitted:








I was going to fit these along with the H&R 10+15mm spacers I bought ages ago, but apparently on the LCI models (wider track than pre-LCI) 10mm can be a tight on the back, and the F1 tyres have a fairly broad shoulder, so I didn't bother. I will trial fit them at some point.


Was so pleased with the combination of fresh, clean hubs, new rubber and mint wheels, I gave the car a good clean and went off for a little photoshoot. I really enjoyed this - it's been ages since I indulged my amateur eye behind the camera. Photos had minimal editing except for a slight vignette.

Results:










Always impresses me how much nicer a car drives when on new rubber all around.

All the car now needs is front bumper paint - it has a pea-sized chip and a couple kerb-bumps on the bottom leading edge, which are annoying me. It's just finding the time to drop the car off to my painter. Once this is done the car will be close to immaculate.

Next up after that will be a brake fluid change which is due, plus and interim oil change whilst there (7k to next oil change but now the car is on 62k it wouldn't hurt to do anyway).

Thanks for looking.

[pmmcbl]

You have a nice example there. I much prefer that colour exterior and interior over my old 335i. Have you considered tinting the rear windows?

[pmmcbl]

Sorry they are. One of your last pics doesn't look like it does.

[Greg330]

A man after my own heart! I know what you mean about having BMW in the blood, I've been out for 18 months and will hopefully be back behind the wheel by the end of the week....

The touring is lovely I really like the approach you've taken. Latest pictures look great!!

[MattOz]

Looking sharp Keith.

[JM85]

This is making me miss my E90

[richk84]

I really need to do my hubs and callipers! You've done a top job and the silver looks spot on.