[Malbolge]

I know you guys like the befores and afters, so here's mine. Progress is minimal, but I'll get there eventually.

First, my old car, 2006 TIAG E90 320d, sold in December last year as I got a great offer for it. Nice car but not as refined as the 325i.



Then almost a week later I got my hands on the proper 6 cyl E90. It's the entry model - 325i Montego Blue 2007. It has very low milage and is in great shape mechanically. It has sports seats and generally well specced. No Idrive though, but has xenons, part leather, sports steering wheel, cruise control, heated seats, etc.

BEFORE
Here it is in winter mode.


Car also came with 17s from factory for summer. Condition of paint as you can see from this pic is pretty poor - swirls etc, looks like mechanical wash was the preferred choice of the previous owner.



So, a wash, clay, polish, and wax. Also debaged it for a good measure.



Here’s what I’ve done the car since I bought it:

• 193M 18in rims with Michelin Pilot Sport run flats - swapped with a friend who took my 17s as his winter set. Win-Win.
• M3 lip spoiler
• Debadged trunk
• Removed plastic license plate frames for that clean look
• Installed chrome OEM exhaust tips (didn’t come on 325i)

AFTER






And few moving pics:








interior (all stock):


Future plans:

• Piano black or CF fabric wrap (currently burl walnut trim)
• Alpina lip or OEM splitters (thoughts?)
• BMW Performance Exhaust
• Retrim steering wheel into alcantara (like on CRT) or retrofit Msport (thoughts?)
• tint windows and smoke tail lights
  

All comments welcome!

[AWBimmer]

Clean! Always love a Montego Blue - it's a beautiful colour! Nice job!

[Alen E90]

STUNNING e90 you've got there!!!!! e90's in montego look gorgeous when there modded, very nice upgrade from the 320, btw i love the pics, thanks for sharing

[MARIO K]

Very nice!!!

[Schm]

Very nice, the wheels make a huge difference!

[wdeerfield]

nice! you need some blacklines added to your list! love the color! you polished it up nicely! mine is due for a severe detail

[Chuck]

Beautiful car. Congratulations!

[JL328i]

First off lovely car!! If it were mine I would black out the grills and window trim, and maybe do a black roof. Definitely de-badge if you haven't already.

[Slow_335i]

Looks good! you choose a great color!

[Malbolge]

Originally Posted by AWBimmer

Clean! Always love a Montego Blue - it's a beautiful colour! Nice job!

thanks!

Originally Posted by Alen E90

STUNNING e90 you've got there!!!!! e90's in montego look gorgeous when there modded, very nice upgrade from the 320, btw i love the pics, thanks for sharing

Thanks, I see you also have a TiAG sedan. I think that color also suits the car well.

Originally Posted by MARIO K

Very nice!!!

thanks, you got one of the most unique montegos here!

Originally Posted by Schm

Very nice, the wheels make a huge difference!

I haven't seen 193Ms on Montego so maybe it's a first or one of firsts, usually they are on Msport cars, so LeMans. I think they look great on non-msport as well. Ride is great as well, they seem to be rather light for OEM rims.

Originally Posted by e90Elvis

Beautiful car. Congratulations!

Thx man!

Originally Posted by JL328i

First off lovely car!! If it were mine I would black out the grills and window trim, and maybe do a black roof. Definitely de-badge if you haven't already.

On Black trim... Really thought about it, but I only like gloss black, and that look to be OEM needs a lot of $$$ - even if you wrap window trim and grilles, the fact that mirror surrounds are still matte black plastic and not like OEM would bother me. If the chrome trim gets into poor shape and gets discoloured - may be I'll do a matte black wrap, even though I'm not that big of a fan of matte black on Montegos. For Black Roof - not with my stock ride height etc. Car needs to be more agressive to pull it off.

Originally Posted by Slow_335i

Looks good! you choose a great color!

Thanks, can't complain! But sure shows dust and dirt. Never an issue with my old TiAG.

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

nice! you need some blacklines added to your list! love the color! you polished it up nicely! mine is due for a severe detail

I might just tint the rears like on EAS M3 in . They used tinted clear coat I believe. I don't mind the stock lights that much for some reason. Blacklines here cost me 400 dollars.

[rickysahota]

"Condition of paint as you can see from this pic is pretty poor" You can't really tell from your pics.

But love the color.

[Malbolge]

Originally Posted by rickysahota

"Condition of paint as you can see from this pic is pretty poor" You can't really tell from your pics.

But love the color.

If you look on the rear arch curve, the reflection is dull. I didn't take close up pics on purpose - it looked really bad. After polish same place, it looks almost liquid. I think it's a big improvement, though it's by no means perfect.

I still have some cosmetic things to attend to - one side skirt has been repainted and I see color difference. Front bumper I scratched when parking on bottom right corner - hence the idea of putting on splitters.

[bastiN54]

i like it.
Montego Blue ftw

[remmib]

Very nice progress.
But I'd do something to those taillight, either go with blacklines or some kind of tint.

[E90Company]

Clean and classy

[Donia330i]

looks great and great start! I agree blacklines are a must and a mild drop would do wonders!

[Malbolge]

Originally Posted by MitziBostwick

support

Originally Posted by bastiN54

i like it.
Montego Blue ftw

Originally Posted by E90Company

Clean and classy

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by remmib

Very nice progress.
But I'd do something to those taillight, either go with blacklines or some kind of tint.

Cheers! I agree on tails, they need work. I don't know if it's going to be Laminx which seem like a cheap way to go, or smoke clear coat - but I'm afraid to make them too dark with smoke clear... Watching Youtube vids for DIYs, seems like it involves sanding them down so once you start - no way back.. I've updated one pic of rear - better light, and this red contrast to blue is something I'd like to keep. On previous pic it was affected by polariser.

Originally Posted by Donia330i

looks great and great start! I agree blacklines are a must and a mild drop would do wonders!

I drive it in winter, so if I drop it, I'm afraid I'll have problems with it. Shocks are still good, but I have decided that if I need to replace current ones due to wear or whatever - I'll go with Msport or BMW Performance. I heard ride on Performance is actually better than Msport, so I'm kinda eager to try that. Other option is to go for something similar to what Alpina uses (Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks).