[CapnCook]

Hi guys,

Having just finished his previous Kawasaki Ninja project, My brother was on the hunt for another.

After seeing my E91 LCI Sport, he also bought a (dirt cheap) 2008 SE Touring (Ex Police) that needs pretty much a full respray. Fortunately enough that's his trade so no problems there.

While doing so he's also going to be doing the Sport LCI conversion. The previous owner had already fitted the LCI Sport front bumper but not the bonnet or anything else.

The previous owner (who bought it straight from the police) had also done quite a lot of untasteful 'modding' and fitted coilovers wound down 120mm, front mounted intercooler and various other mods, all of which are being removed and the car will be returning to look pretty much like a standard Sport touring.

Having spent sub £2000 on buying the car he obviously doesn't want to pay crazy money for the parts, and like his previous projects there is no major rush to get it finished, so at least we can wait for the right (or cheap) parts to come up.

The car is currently 'in surgery' on his front drive with the front end totally removed.

The parts we are currently trying to source are:

-LCI Bonnet
-LCI Wings
-Sport E91 Rear Bumper
-LCI Halogen Headlights
-Front Arch Liners

(If anyone has any of the above please give me a shout)

And now for the questions:

1) How different are the Pre and LCI front wings? (i.e will it look odd or out of place it he re-fitted the original Pre LCI wings?) I haven't noticed any obvious visual difference between the pre-facelift wings and the LCI wings?)

2) We have found a bonnet locally on eBay that is non-genuine but states "thatcham approved - used by insurance co's" - What are the opinions on these? Avoid or generally ok?

3) Can he throw on the LCI halogen lights and the angel eyes etc will just work 'plug and play' or is there wiring mods involved?


Just for a taster, here are a few pics of the car:

This is the very car (same reg as pictured) when it was Hampshire police:



And here is it now: (Looking in a very sorry state)



Of course he's not looking to make money on this project, he is intending to return it to standard-ish and keep the car as his own, this is all about the project

Thanks in advance guys!

[Banners24b]

Interesting thread will keep an eye on the progress.

Was the Ex Police tuned in anyway or did they just run it as standard?

[CapnCook]

I'm not sure, but I doubt it to be honest, pretty much everyone we mention the car to says that it will have been modded by the police, but it's only a 320d so me is seems that if they wanted more performance from their cars they would have just bought a 330d from the start? Can't see the reasoning myself of buying a less powerful car then modding to make it a bit more powerful.

[Dann]

Here are some links that could help:

http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/bmw-3-s...rsion-lci.html

http://www.mstyle.co.uk/acatalog/info_B02MS130.html

[CapnCook]

Originally Posted by Dann

Here are some links that could help:

http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/bmw-3-s...rsion-lci.html

http://www.mstyle.co.uk/acatalog/info_B02MS130.html

Thanks

[dest]

You're going to need the rear lights and tailgate too if you're going for a full LCI conversion

[CapnCook]

Yeah he will also be getting the LCI tailgate at some point, but that will be phase 2 I think, phase 1 is getting a front end fitted

[Digitalize]

You don't need the wings. The lights and bonnet are essentially the same shape, so the wings are identical.

To do full exterior LCI you're also going to need roof rails and mirrors, along with the tailgate, and rear lights.

Interior has quite a few differences too.

Usually police cars are pretty low spec?

And no, the police DO NOT tune cars. It is a myth.

[dest]

Not all LCI have the low rails, I've seen quite a few with the ones.
I think it was an option to have them?

[Digitalize]

There was a crossover period, I think low rails was a late addition, but to me it's true LCI.

[BoondogUK]

I posted a link in the ebay section of classifieds for lci msport kit... was an e90 but was very cheap... not sure how transferrable e90/91 parts are...

[Digitalize]

Front is identical, rear isn't.

Had a look, and the only LCI bit in that kit is the front bumper, rest is identical to Pre-LCI.

[Dann]

There are a few interior changes with LCI such as the window switches moved forwards by 10mm
There is a PDF somewhere that shows every change.

Here's a few of the exterior ones:

Key styling changes include:
- Distinctive precision lines on the bonnet
- Revised kidney grille
- Halogen headlights with twin corona side-lights
(Xenon headlights include positioning lights and LED turn signals) - New front apron including revised fog light profiling
- Larger rear-view mirrors
- Revised side rocker panel
- Restyled rear lights featuring LED light bars and turn signals
- Revised luggage compartment lid including new number plate recess - New rear apron
- Wider rear track
- Revised M Sport body styling
- New alloy wheel programme

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

And no, the police DO NOT tune cars. It is a myth.

Seen and worked on three ex police cars. All of the were tuned FYI.
And tbh shitty remaps as there were plenty of errors recorded for engine module.
In fact we flashed one of them to stock and remapped again with decent remap.

Originally Posted by dest

Not all LCI have the low rails, I've seen quite a few with the ones.
I think it was an option to have them?

Late 2010 cars had LCI roof rails AFAIK.

[Digitalize]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Seen and worked on three ex police cars. All of the were tuned FYI.
And tbh shitty remaps as there were plenty of errors recorded for engine module.
In fact we flashed one of them to stock and remapped again with decent remap.

Doesn't prove they were mapped whilst under police use.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

Doesn't prove they were mapped whilst under police use.

FYI, one of them was written off after the accident and was auctioned. The guy who bought it, repaired it and he did not remap the car.

And I do not see why their cars should not be remapped

Equally what reasons you have to believe that their cars are no remapped?

[CapnCook]

Thanks for the help guys!

Re the roof rails, mine is a factory spec E91 2009 LCI Sport (you can see it in the background in the pics at the top of the thread) and it has the same roof bars as my brothers one, TBH I much prefer the high rails to the newer style.

With regards to the interior, the plan is to buy a complete LCI leather interior, fit that in mine, then fit my old sport (cloth) seats into the project car Everyone's a winner!

Bonnet now purchased and test fitted also:

[Greg330]

Very interesting, I've been thinking about LCI conversions so will keep an eye on this...

[CapnCook]

A few update pics!

(The front bumper is of course only balancing in place and not bolted on, just as a test, but the wings and bonnet are a perfect fit)

[Digitalize]

Oh man I am tempted to LCI mine.

[CapnCook]

Do it!

[Digitalize]

It's just finding the bits cheap enough really.