Edit 3/3/21:
It’s clear to me now this build thread has gotten way out of control due to my obsession with this car! If you want to just see pics of the latest my IG is updated weekly with the new mods:
@328CSL
Also, to make it easier to sort through here’s some quick links to newer mods not mentioned in this original OP...
Weight Reduction Mods (M3 Carbon Roof Swap, M3 Crash Bars, Carbon Hood and Trunk, Recaro Seats, Antigravity Lithium Battery, etc)
Start Post 105 (page 5)
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...1579797&page=5
Chassis Bracing Mods (M3 Chassis Plate, Cusco Rear Strut Brace, E93 Convertible Front Bracing)
Start Post 243 (page 12)
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...579797&page=12
...Also more bracing (page 19)
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...579797&page=19
Unusual Suspension Mods (Fr/Rr Monoballs, M4 Front Spindles and Hubs, etc)
Start Post 533 (Page 25)
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...579797&page=25
Underbody Aero Mods (A90 Supra Control Arm Covers, Simple DIY Aluminum Aero Rear Panel, DIY Cheap Ebay Diffusers)
Start Post 331 (Page 16)
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showt...579797&page=16
———————Original Build Thread Below———————
Did you ever wonder what if BMW had built a more performance targeted version of the 328i, like a “328is” or “328csl” model? Probably not lol... but if they had then I like to think it would have come out something like what my car has become today.
I have modded my 328i using many take off parts from other BMW models and significantly enhanced its performance in all aspects and yet I believe not compromised its reliability or utility in any way. Please enjoy my build thread...
This all started in April 2017 when I decided that I wanted a second car to daily 20-25k miles a year and I had a budget around $12k. The original idea was to keep the miles from piling up on the current daily at the time, a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon highly modified but only getting 8-10mpg.
At that time I realized if I financed a car around $12k that got 20mpg average, well then the gas savings would make the payments on the car and it would be in essence a “free car” under my current spending. Also if the car lasted long enough then after it was paid off I would be putting an extra $300/month into my savings account. (In 2016 I averaged spending $550/month on gas on the Jeep driving 25k miles a year, and getting 20mpg would cut that spending to $250/month.)
After lots of researching and test driving I found the 128i/328i with a manual transmission would offer the best compromise between price, reliability, driving enjoyment, comfort, and could deliver the gas mileage for what I wanted.
Note... I had zero plans of modding the new car having spent $30k on mods for the Jeep I just wanted a reliable and fun daily.
My Jeep is a manual, and the new car had a be a manual also. Spending so much time driving I wanted to enjoy the car and a manual is just way more fun for me. Unfortunately, finding a manual 1 or 3 series car in my area was not easy. Maybe 1 out of 100 cars I found was a manual and they were never local, so when one popped up on a local carmax lot after 3 weeks of me checking the internet daily... well it would be an understatement to say I acted fast.
I had this car on hold before the pictures even went live on their website. Once I saw the car in person I felt like I had really lucked out, it was pretty much perfectly optioned for me...
Manual Transmission
Manual Sport Seats
Euro Mirrors
Sunroof
Comfort Access
No I-drive
Carfax shows it was a Euro delivery purchased in Georgia in 2009 but it didn’t come to the US until 2012 with 27k miles on it. It then spent 4 years in the Florida Keys where the mileage climbed to 57k. In 2017 it was sold to a carmax in Miami and then yours truly snatched it up. Here is is the day I purchased with 57k miles on it:
