Should I lci my front end?

mowflow · 03-11-2011, 11:07 AM

I was going to get my front bumper resprayed at the end of winter as it's got a terrible rash from driving past gritters.

Thing is, I've been offered a perfect condition (and in the correct colour) front bumper for half the price of a respray but it's lci. I do prefer the lci front end but would need to wait for a bonnet to come up as well to do the full conversion so it could take a while and I dare say cost slightly more than the respray.

Do you think people would think the car had been stuffed at some point when I came to trade/sell? Is this generally a bad idea for what amounts to a couple of ridges on the bonnet and a nicer grille?

Baby Dave · 03-11-2011, 11:18 AM

It's all up to you but I'd leave it as stock as some people might wonder why you've changed the front of your motor

DavS1 · 03-11-2011, 11:59 AM

Could always keep the original parts to prove its not been smashed!

lemans 330d · 03-11-2011, 01:05 PM

i am considering doing it but its the fact that the car will be no faster or fuel efficient and i will have a chunk out of my bank account.
Also the next thing is like you say selling the car people will no doubt ask questions and i think it will lose the selling point.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

this car in the link is a 330d se and although looks well its still a 56 plate se.

Desmondo · 03-11-2011, 03:58 PM

If I were a buyer I'd be very cautious of an LCI front end.

mowflow · 03-11-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemans320d

i am considering doing it but its the fact that the car will be no faster or fuel efficient and i will have a chunk out of my bank account.
Also the next thing is like you say selling the car people will no doubt ask questions and i think it will lose the selling point.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p

this car in the link is a 330d se and although looks well its still a 56 plate se.

That seems pretty cheap. I don't ever really check the prices of models similar to what I've got, only what I might get next. So is that cheap?

I'm looking at that ad and I'm thinking "why is that car so cheap and why is it an lci conversion?" Maybe that answers my question.

Maybe i'll just buy it and save myself some work

lemans 330d · 03-12-2011, 03:07 AM

you have to think that the same question will be asked if you do the conversion and looking at that car it must affect the residual value even though it looks well.

03-11-2011, 11:07 AM	#1
mowflow Colonel 62 Rep 2,472 Posts Drives: Golf 7R Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (2)	Should I lci my front end? I was going to get my front bumper resprayed at the end of winter as it's got a terrible rash from driving past gritters. Thing is, I've been offered a perfect condition (and in the correct colour) front bumper for half the price of a respray but it's lci. I do prefer the lci front end but would need to wait for a bonnet to come up as well to do the full conversion so it could take a while and I dare say cost slightly more than the respray. Do you think people would think the car had been stuffed at some point when I came to trade/sell? Is this generally a bad idea for what amounts to a couple of ridges on the bonnet and a nicer grille?
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03-11-2011, 11:18 AM	#2
Baby Dave Lieutenant Colonel 24 Rep 1,872 Posts Drives: E90 320d m sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sunny Lancs iTrader: (0)	It's all up to you but I'd leave it as stock as some people might wonder why you've changed the front of your motor __________________ E90 Msport, black leather, front seat heating,6Fl, bluetooth,sun protection glass,Alpine upgrade,non rft's
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03-11-2011, 11:59 AM	#3
DavS1 Major 53 Rep 1,272 Posts Drives: Emfree Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Could always keep the original parts to prove its not been smashed! __________________ Monte Carlo Blue M3 Comp
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03-11-2011, 01:05 PM	#4
lemans 330d Colonel 167 Rep 2,445 Posts Drives: 330d M sport Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Secret Location U.k iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 335d [0.00] 2006 330D M Sport [0.00] 2012 320d sport [0.00] 2006 Bmw 330d M Spo ... [6.66] 2007 320d M sport l ... [10.00] 2006/56 320d m spor ... [0.00] 2005/55 M Sport 330 ... [0.00] 2007 320d m sport ( ... [0.00] 2005 320 Cd m sport ... [0.00]	i am considering doing it but its the fact that the car will be no faster or fuel efficient and i will have a chunk out of my bank account. Also the next thing is like you say selling the car people will no doubt ask questions and i think it will lose the selling point. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge/1?logcode=p this car in the link is a 330d se and although looks well its still a 56 plate se.
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03-11-2011, 03:58 PM	#5
Desmondo Lieutenant 14 Rep 461 Posts Drives: E90 330i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Braintree, Essex iTrader: (0)	If I were a buyer I'd be very cautious of an LCI front end. __________________
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03-12-2011, 03:07 AM	#7
lemans 330d Colonel 167 Rep 2,445 Posts Drives: 330d M sport Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Secret Location U.k iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 335d [0.00] 2006 330D M Sport [0.00] 2012 320d sport [0.00] 2006 Bmw 330d M Spo ... [6.66] 2007 320d M sport l ... [10.00] 2006/56 320d m spor ... [0.00] 2005/55 M Sport 330 ... [0.00] 2007 320d m sport ( ... [0.00] 2005 320 Cd m sport ... [0.00]	you have to think that the same question will be asked if you do the conversion and looking at that car it must affect the residual value even though it looks well.
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