E93 Shadowline Install Done!

Ryan 330i · 10-09-2012, 08:22 PM

I had put it off for a while, but I finally decided to put my BMWShadowline.com vinyl to use. I ordered the matte because I heard it was easier to install, and less maintenance than the gloss, even though gloss was my fist choice. I did the install out of the sun, and over a 2 day period, just because I wanted to take my time, and make sure I didn't get any bubbles or tears. I'm glad I took time with it, as you do have to be extremely patient with the vinyl around all the small pieces and edges on the convertible top.

I ordered the largest width (5 inches I belive) thinking that would be best, but if I was doing it again, I'd go smaller. It was a lot of wasted material, and a big PIA to trim it down. I ordered the largest because my thought was that I would need it for the large chrome piece that the convertibles have behind the rear headrests, and above the trunk lid. Turns out that I didn't, and instead just did it with two smaller pieces. Convertible owners will know what I'm talking about. I forgot to take a picture of this part.

Overall I am very satisfied with the look. It was a lot of work, and patience, but I think it paid off huge in the end. The car looks 100 times better. It's almost hard to even tell it's a retractable hardtop now. It really changes the whole dynamic of the car. I think it's one of the best mod's you can do on the E93. I thought long and hard about shelling out $2k for the factory shadowline, but in the end it wasn't worth it for me. Having some camera problems so I snapped these on my iPhone. The trim has been on about 3.5 weeks now, and had about 3 had washes, and it's holding up perfectly. Still looks as good as when I first installed it.

e90Nate · 10-09-2012, 08:25 PM

what a huge difference looks great

Blindside_137 · 10-09-2012, 08:46 PM

soooo much better, my favorite subtle mod on my car

Saigon · 10-09-2012, 08:48 PM

nice man

gds52 · 10-09-2012, 08:50 PM

Looks really nice on black...nice job.
I tried it on my Red, didnt look that good.

TitanLH8 · 10-09-2012, 08:59 PM

super clean!

tsaulz · 10-09-2012, 10:19 PM

Looks awesome. How often do you put the top down? Are you at all concerned that frequent retracting could mess up the trim that lines rear deck?

Ryan 330i · 10-10-2012, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsaulz

Looks awesome. How often do you put the top down? Are you at all concerned that frequent retracting could mess up the trim that lines rear deck?

I put the top down at least once a day when the weather is okay. So far it's holding up perfectly fine. The only thing that touches the trim is the seals and those are soft, so I don't foresee it causing any damage to the rear lid chrome piece. It's holding up amazingly well everywhere.

datbimmerdoe · 10-10-2012, 04:35 AM

sweet! this's a must

10-09-2012, 08:22 PM	#1
Ryan 330i Major 56 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: '09 E93 335i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco \| LA \| Oregon iTrader: (0)	E93 Shadowline Install Done! I had put it off for a while, but I finally decided to put my BMWShadowline.com vinyl to use. I ordered the matte because I heard it was easier to install, and less maintenance than the gloss, even though gloss was my fist choice. I did the install out of the sun, and over a 2 day period, just because I wanted to take my time, and make sure I didn't get any bubbles or tears. I'm glad I took time with it, as you do have to be extremely patient with the vinyl around all the small pieces and edges on the convertible top. I ordered the largest width (5 inches I belive) thinking that would be best, but if I was doing it again, I'd go smaller. It was a lot of wasted material, and a big PIA to trim it down. I ordered the largest because my thought was that I would need it for the large chrome piece that the convertibles have behind the rear headrests, and above the trunk lid. Turns out that I didn't, and instead just did it with two smaller pieces. Convertible owners will know what I'm talking about. I forgot to take a picture of this part. Overall I am very satisfied with the look. It was a lot of work, and patience, but I think it paid off huge in the end. The car looks 100 times better. It's almost hard to even tell it's a retractable hardtop now. It really changes the whole dynamic of the car. I think it's one of the best mod's you can do on the E93. I thought long and hard about shelling out $2k for the factory shadowline, but in the end it wasn't worth it for me. Having some camera problems so I snapped these on my iPhone. The trim has been on about 3.5 weeks now, and had about 3 had washes, and it's holding up perfectly. Still looks as good as when I first installed it. __________________ 2009 E93 335i \| Jet \| Black Dakota \| Grey Poplar \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| Step \| Paddles \| i-Drive \| CA \| Sirius \| HD \| Logic7 \| 06FL \| 06NF \| PDC \| OEM Alarm \| LUX Retired: 2007 E92 335i Retired: 2006 E90 330i
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10-09-2012, 08:25 PM	#2
e90Nate Colonel 285 Rep 2,146 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Canada iTrader: (4) Garage List 2011 335i xdrive M- ... [10.00]	what a huge difference looks great
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10-09-2012, 08:46 PM	#3
Blindside_137 Lieutenant General 6696 Rep 10,596 Posts Drives: 2011.75 SSII E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (2)	soooo much better, my favorite subtle mod on my car
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10-09-2012, 08:48 PM	#4
Saigon Brigadier General 234 Rep 3,525 Posts Drives: BSM E92 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (47)	nice man __________________ 07' Alpine White E93 335i M-Sport \| BMW Performance \| Beige l Piano Black l Sport l Premium l Heated l Navi \| Steptronic l Comfort Access l Logic7 l iPod & USB \|
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10-09-2012, 08:50 PM	#5
gds52 Colonel 886 Rep 2,720 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe, BMW 328i E93 Co Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Looks really nice on black...nice job. I tried it on my Red, didnt look that good.
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10-09-2012, 08:59 PM	#6
TitanLH8 Captain 144 Rep 776 Posts Drives: 2011 E91 328xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (6)	super clean!
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10-09-2012, 10:19 PM	#7
tsaulz New Member 0 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 6MT e93 335i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e93 335i [0.00]	Looks awesome. How often do you put the top down? Are you at all concerned that frequent retracting could mess up the trim that lines rear deck?
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10-10-2012, 04:35 AM	#9
datbimmerdoe Lieutenant General 1265 Rep 17,493 Posts Drives: like I'M BOUT THAT LIFE Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PARADISE aka CANES COUNTRY iTrader: (0)	sweet! this's a must __________________ #datbimmerdoe #thatbimmertho FOLLOW @datbimmerdoe on INSTAGRAM
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