[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by research

I think you're ditching a lot of plastic beige for black parts. wonder how far you'll go, since it sure isn't cheap. I bet you're putting black seat backs as well. Good on ya, nice to get this done, the beige is really overwhelming.

Actually, you'd be surprised how reasonable these parts are. My local dealership is helping me out with the project (most of them are my clients), but even at standard list prices, this project (which will really transform the interior) will be under a grand (except for the trim). There is some custom leatherette work being done and those costs will vary, of course.

I will list the part numbers and list prices (from RealOEM.com) when it's done in case anyone else wants to do this.

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by SDeFranco1

God I love that blue. I sometimes kick myself for going with an 'internet special' and getting space grey...sigh..

Space gray was my first choice over the three years of researching this E9X project, all along waiting for the right time and car to come along. I love that color, especially in the M3 with CF roof.

But then...along came Sapphire, and she swept me off my feet. I had to figure out how to deal with the interior before getting her, tho. I knew I didn't want black interior in the vert; gray interior just didn't turn me on; red was out with the blue( for me, at least), and saddle - as much as I love it - got really negative reviews with Montego Blue from my non-motorhead friends and family (too European for them, I guess).

So...beige it was. And now that I can see how the interior is coming together, I am very happy with the choice.

Hey - Like I told myself when I was signing the paperwork on this car: You can always trade it in and get what you really want.

[Isaiah5411]

Got the SPP front perches installed yesterday. And...

The first thing I noticed was when I sat in the car to drive away, I could see more of the road. Hard to believe, but...I was not looking for this change. It just hit me...like the front end had shrunk. A friend who drove the car said the same thing. I love this 'cause, coming from an E46, the E92 seemed a little big for me. It just got a bit smaller feeling (like my E46 did when I had it lowered).

I drove the car pretty hard the evening I picked it up so that things would settle. And they did. I took pics this morning from the same place I took before pics - coming out of my driveway - and the results are just as advertised: It is 0.5-0.6" lower (and even a little lower from the front edge of the aero front to the road).

Overall, I am happy with the results. I wanted to drop the car more but it is impractical in my area. (I'd already scraped leaving a typical driveway). As it now sits, the car has a more aggressive rake and that little drop does make a significant difference to the "trained" eye...the ones from us motorheads, who spend waaay too much money for such a minor (but really kickass) change.

***More pics tomorrow from a better (previous) location showing the drop on level ground.***

Before:


After:



Before:
Note: Car is at a slant coming out of driveway. This is NOT the distance from the lip to a level road.



After:

[Isaiah5411]

Had the aluminum window trim blacked out as well as the big strip going around the back deck (package tray) on the trunk lid. They used a matte black vinyl that was perfect...has a very fine metal flake in it that made it look exactly like the OEM window trim. Came out great. No more "Hey...look at my big ol' window" look. Makes the car look much better when it's disguised as a coupe.

[monkawekrue]

cars looking good.

[natelam]

coool

[lesha]

sounds expensive,, i personally would have taken the money of car + mods and gotten a nicer car, even 335 or better,, but i guess to each its own

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by lesha

sounds expensive,, i personally would have taken the money of car + mods and gotten a nicer car, even 335 or better,, but i guess to each its own

Actually, it's been much less expensive to do than most think. I'll be giving part numbers and prices when it's done, especially the interior project (which is being completed as I write this).

After doing 3 years of research on the E9X, driving them, and talking to mechanics (like my best friend), I decided on the 328i E93 over the 335 or a coupe. It's plenty fast for my type of driving and it likes ethanol a lot better than the 335.

And...most of what I've done I would do to any E93 (unless I was able to get a good deal on a low mileage car with saddle interior). The deal I got on this car was just too good to pass up...'08 with only 5K miles. It was truly a "used new car".

The one extravagance was the trim. But...not ready to show that off yet.

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by monkawekrue

cars looking good.

Thanks! She has undergone a pretty extensive makeover in a short time....and on a reasonable budget. They charged me $150 for the trim blackout that took them quite a while and is perfect. The guys at my dealership were amazed. Now gotta decide whether to tint or not. Waiting to finish the interior project to see how dark to go.

Originally Posted by natelam

coool

Thanks. Man I love the E93. A vert really is a life-changer. I highly recommend them.

[Sherwood]

Looking good. It's amazing how much better it looks with black trim.

[remmib]

Looks so much better with the black window trim.

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by remmib

Looks so much better with the black window trim.

Thanks! Your car was one of my inspirations to get a blue car, especially in that shoot you did with ParamedicX5s Montego E93. That changed everything I had been thinking for 3 years.

[Isaiah5411]

Interior project is getting close to completed. Still waiting on a few parts from Germania. There will be no more pics til it's done (and the rims are on), but...I think you can see where it's headed. Then, a full photoshoot...and with a real camera.

[whn]

interior updates?

[NJ330i]

Really nice!!

[allerena]

are you going to change the entire dash?

[Isaiah5411]

All of the parts are finally in. Just waiting for a good time to do a better shoot using a real camera. But...since you asked ....


Spec Dock Installed



Interior Project - Nearly complete

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by allerena

are you going to change the entire dash?

Nope...at least not yet. I changed out the beige package tray (rear deck on the vert), the covers for the rollover protection system and front headrest mounts, and the tops of the rear panels to black and had the tops of the doors covered with black Dakota leatherette. It now looks sorta like the oyster two-toned interior except with creme beige. I also had the aluminum trim blacked out. I then put in the BMW Performance CF trim. I had black floor mats in but actually like the clean look of the beige ones now. But...I may ultimately do all black carpets (when I get weary of cleaning the beige ones).

Better photoshoot soon...when the rims get here.

[Masheen]

Nice car and projcect

[bluefly]

Nice work. I like how you are "working with" the car's spec but taking it to where you want it with strategic swaps of interior bits. The seats pop now with the black bits to set them off. Also really like how much the black window trim changed the car's look... Combined with the subtly lowered front it looks tidier, squat, more compact. SPORTIFIED!

[whn]

please post part numbers

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by Masheen

Nice car and projcect

Thanks! I like your ride, too. Alpine white was at the top of my color choices, but...when shopping for used cars...you take what you can get, especially when a deal like this one comes along.

Originally Posted by bluefly

Nice work. I like how you are "working with" the car's spec but taking it to where you want it with strategic swaps of interior bits. The seats pop now with the black bits to set them off. Also really like how much the black window trim changed the car's look... Combined with the subtly lowered front it looks tidier, squat, more compact. SPORTIFIED!

Thanks! "Sportified"...I like that! I planned it all out in Microsoft Paint but then saw pics of a LeMans Blue 335iS E93 with oyster and knew that was the way I wanted to go. For now, I like it with beige carpets, especially with the top down...nice, clean look. But, I may end up doing all black carpets so that the "carpets match the drapes".