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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > throwing my hat in the ring



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      02-21-2014, 02:57 PM   #1
vwman
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throwing my hat in the ring

Hello fellow BMW enthusiasts. I've been lurking on the forum here for awhile and decided I would at least introduce myself since I was able to use this forum as a great research tool and read some pretty interesting opinions out there about all the different versions of the E9x.

As you can see my username is vwman which I have been a classic air-cooled vw collector and restorer for almost 20 years. Hard to give up old loves. I have a small stable of old and rare VW's and was looking to venture into the new all wheel drive Golf -R. I rolled down to the VW dealer and test drove one. Man, I have to tell you what rocket that thing was just stock. I was nearly sold right then and there. It was just such a blast to drive. Then something tapped me on the shoulder and made me look right across the street of the auto mall at the BMW dealer. I was driving an old 2001 Acura CL type-S which I bought brand new and although I really liked the car after I modded the hell out of I was thinking to myself I have always wanted a rear wheel drive sports car and I have always wanted to check out a BMW. First thing I did was head over to the M3, but the cost was prohibitive and my wife gave me the "you are not getting that thing" look. She didn't even want me getting the Golf-R for fear that I would wrap that thing around something or go broke paying traffic tickets. Happy wife happy life right? Anyway, even though the new '14 335i's were out I just wasn't feeling the sedans and I didn't want to dive into the 4-series this soon.

Then I saw it. A 2009 335i x-drive. exactly 40K mi. It was immaculate. Whoever owned this thing previously babied the hell out of it. There seriously wasn't a flaw and being a car guy I went over this thing with a fine tooth comb. Took it for a test drive and within 3 hours I was driving this thing home. I have without a doubt drank the BMW Kool-aid. I fricking love this thing and as a bonus the wife is satisfied with the decision.

I knew I wanted to mod it and knowing virtually nothing about BMW's other than car magazines, I started looking and found this forum. Found my info and went to work. First thing I did was get the tint, the tail lights and reflector on the front bumper smoked. Then it was time for some minor cosmetics. I thought it needed a chin implant and an ass lift so I gave it some plastic surgery with the m-tech front spoiler and the M3 style rear spoiler which my body guy matched flawlessly. I knew I also wanted a larger rim than stock. The dealer had these nice M3 chrome rims sitting in the boutique and when I inquired about them, the parts manager said that they had ordered them for another customer and the customer argued that they had ordered the wrong wheels and backed out on the deal. He wanted them gone so he made me a slammin' deal on them.

I was noticing that even after the larger wheels the x-drive was still sitting like a 4x4, so once again I turned to the forum and proceeded to fit my new child up with a set of KW v1 coilovers. What a difference! Absolutely the perfect choice. Last, but not least I wasn't that happy with the yellow angel eyes and so once again back to the forum. Installed the LUX angel eyes H8 V4 set at 5700K. Another perfect choice. Thanks forum users for all the great info. I'm really happy with the performance of the car as is. I'm looking to see about some performance mods, but don't want to get crazy. I'm thinking about the GAIC software update and would like to hear your thought plus any other thoughts about useful, but not too extreme mods. I get the impression that an air intake is a waste of time and I'm not going to track the car. I live in Northern California so this will be used on nice twisty mountain highways along with the occasional stomp of the pedal down the I-5 or the I-80.

All the best, Brian
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      02-21-2014, 02:58 PM   #2
vwman
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sorry for the giant photos. I'll resize next time
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      02-21-2014, 03:08 PM   #3
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Get ready to hear it for those wheels.

Everything else looks good.
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      02-21-2014, 03:12 PM   #4
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As long as you like it :tup:
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      02-21-2014, 03:15 PM   #5
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Nice looking car! The wheels aren't my taste, but if you like them that's all that matters.

Most people tend to go with JB4 or Cobb for a tune on the N54 motor. You might want to take those into consideration.
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      02-21-2014, 03:16 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AddictedToBavarian View Post
Get ready to hear it for those wheels.
^ this.

Congrats still.
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      02-21-2014, 03:17 PM   #7
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Great ride man, love the mods.
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      02-21-2014, 03:20 PM   #8
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Arent those e46 330i ZHP style 135 wheels? lol
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      02-21-2014, 03:45 PM   #9
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the wheel style is ok... the chrome part... ehhh, not for me. Great looking car otherwise though!
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      02-21-2014, 03:59 PM   #10
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I figured most people wouldn't be crazy about the chrome. Maybe it's that I've been in the older vintage cars scene too long where chrome was the thing. I like it though. They were far better than the stock painted 17" 10 spokes that were on there originally and I couldn't turn down the price. They practically gave them to me for free. Now I know why lol.

From what understand I guess not M3 although I've seen some older M3's with these wheels. These were supposed to be off a 5-series

Last edited by vwman; 02-21-2014 at 04:06 PM..
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      02-21-2014, 04:08 PM   #11
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The wheels probably would have looked better if it weren't chrome but the car is definitely very clean. Congrats!
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      02-21-2014, 04:13 PM   #12
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Congrats. You still haven't experienced the true bavarian nature of this breed until you own a RWD model. The driving experience is totally different [more fun].
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      02-21-2014, 04:17 PM   #13
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Car looks very nice the wheels are a bit blingy some 20mm spacers in back and some 15 in front would make it look a lot better imo
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      02-21-2014, 04:18 PM   #14
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get ready to spend$$$ on coils, sparkplugs, walnut blast and injectors if your planning on tuning your ride, those go out like nothing
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      02-21-2014, 04:22 PM   #15
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Welcome aboard guy, Grats on the car. I just joined the club too trying to soak up some information to make sure she stays healthy for a long time.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 924er View Post
get ready to spend$$$ on coils, sparkplugs, walnut blast and injectors if your planning on tuning your ride, those go out like nothing
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      02-21-2014, 04:26 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by e92_enthusiast_1 View Post
Welcome abord guy, Grats on the car. I just joined the club too.

Sorry for threaddjack but do the plugs, coils, injectors generally wear out around the same times? Like is there any reason not to maintenance them all at once? What's all that if you plan on DIY like $500 all together?
DIY runs around $350 ECS tuning sells kits that will save you some money and to have that extra reassurance on your new purchase yes I would change them all together for peace of mind imho. Just a heads up these motors need oil so start of with the 6.5quarts and top off with the 7th if needed.


http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-335...gine/Ignition/ for you ignition
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      02-21-2014, 04:28 PM   #17
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Thx Coils and plugs seems reasonable but gd injectors look pricey O_o

Quote:
Originally Posted by _Sinister_ View Post
DIY runs around $350 ECS tuning sells kits that will save you some money and to have that extra reassurance on your new purchase yes I would change them all together for peace of mind imho. Just a heads up these motors need oil so start of with the 6.5quarts and top off with the 7th if needed.
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-335i-N54_3.0L/
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Last edited by e92_enthusiast_1; 02-21-2014 at 04:33 PM..
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      02-21-2014, 04:31 PM   #18
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Welcome aboard! There is a wealth of knowledge and opinions here. I was once a VW guy too. Doubt I'll ever be back...

There's a couple cracks on here who get offended at the slightest joke or provocation. Best ignored of course.

We welcome new people/knowledge/experience. I'm sure you will be a great contributor. Your first post reads real well. Also, great first BMW! What are you going to do with your VWs now?
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      02-21-2014, 04:49 PM   #19
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Hey man, your car looks awesome! Haters can all get AIDS for what they think about a car that isn't theirs.. I like the taillights a lot!
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      02-21-2014, 04:58 PM   #20
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Congratulations! Yikes....chrome.
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      02-21-2014, 05:31 PM   #21
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Welcome man...
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      02-21-2014, 05:39 PM   #22
vwman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GB-335xiCoupe View Post
What are you going to do with your VWs now?
Well I've had them for a very long time and you don't just get rid of the ones I have so I'll continue to drive and enjoy them.

I have a '56 bug (oval window w/ sliding ragtop=not convert) with a 2.2 L dual 44 carb turbo. about 240 hp for a car that weighs less than 1800lbs. Now that's an 11 sec car

the next is a '64 Karmann ghia convert (wife's car)

then there's the '61 23-window microbus. Cool doesn't even begin to describe this rig

last is a rabbit pickup that I have modded, is a good 12-13 sec car and is actually pretty solid on the track for a FWD. Again, very light weight with a lot of juice.

Looks like the JB4 setup is the way to go for me. That'll be my next mod. The forum comes through again especially that sticky thread in the tuning section. Big help there.

As far as the coils, plugs, walnut shell cleaning, injectors etc... I bought a CPO. shouldn't that all have been taken care prior to my purchase?

Took me forever to learn one German manufacturer now I have to learn a whole new one

I don't mind being the only guy to rock the blingy rims. Although some 19's in a different flavor might be in the future, but only after I wear these out.
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