[Torgus]

I thought he died. I was just sad I could not get in on the inevitable sale/part out.

JK

Glad to see you posting again. My buddy has those coilovers and they have been on for 5 years and 100k miles. Still ride good. You will be happy with them. Might consider a large front sway bar while you are in there. Also a good time to upgrade to all M3 arms etc if you want to drop even more money into your suspension. If your rear subframe bushings are stock switch to solid ASAP given the power you will likely be putting down.

[KnighTT]

So, now that I have gotten other things taken care of, and finished renovating a room in my house, I am going to get back into full FINISH THE %$@% CAR mode.



Dropping in the ST XTA coil overs. Got the fronts on last night.
New end links in place.
Yanking off the calipers to paint.
I'm going to clean up the entire wheel arch area and suspension. Make it look nice.
I'm painting the brake rotors black as the hub is a shiny silver color.
New brackets and bushings for the sway bar.

Power bleeder on the way so I can install the SS brake lines and then bleed the system with new fluid.

I'm going to move to getting the rear coil overs in next week as I ordered all new rubber boots and mounts from ECS for the rear. I figure while I'm in there I should replace any of the older reused suspension rubber. The rubber seat for the spring and the seat for the damper.

I've yanked off the front bumper and the headlights. I'm going to go ahead and bake the headlights and see if I can separate the lens. If I can't I'll order new lenses so I can knock out the angel eye install and custom housing.

Once the headlights are back in the car, the coil overs and brakes are done, then I'm getting it over to a 4 wheel alignment then in the paint shop.

With summer in full force, it's time to get this thing done ASAP. I'm hoping to have it done by the end of May and on the road next month. I'd love to get it into Caffeine and Octane for July.

[KnighTT]

Getting there.

[KnighTT]

Turned out nice. Now the other three to do. It is actually a bit of a drawn out process. 1st coat, wait 24 hours, then a second coat, 24 hours, and then you really want to do some touch ups right before or after install.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by KnighTT

Turned out nice. Now the other three to do. It is actually a bit of a drawn out process. 1st coat, wait 24 hours, then a second coat, 24 hours, and then you really want to do some touch ups right before or after install.

Did you not use a clearcoat after the base paints multiple coats?

and yes painting calipers is a PITA

[KnighTT]

I'm using the POR-15 product. You clean and prep and then just brush this stuff on. Self levels. Kind of looks concerning at first but then levels out and tightens up after 24 hours. Cures into a hard glossy smooth surface. Looks like a ceramic coat when cured.

I can't argue with the results but I think if I did this again I'd try the VHT spray prep-base-clear. It would just be easier to apply. If you use a fine bristle bush with the POR-15, which I did not at first, it goes on smoothly.

That being said, the POR-15 may last a long time because of how thick it goes on.

[KnighTT]

I had been debating just ordering a new set of lenses for a while as I could find no solid evidence you could bake the LCI headlights and open them. I'm glad I waited and just gave it a try.



It wasn't as easy as the gooey stuff but I got it apart. You have to use the panel spreader pliers or you will probably crack something. These worked great.



225 degrees for 15 minutes. That got some of it apart. I baked it three times and got it all apart without an issue.

[KnighTT]

Back at it again.

I got the rear ST coil overs in. It's actually very easy to do the rears.

These are the parts you have to reuse.


I did replace both the upper lock nuts for the dampers, the lower rubber damper mounts, as well as the lower rubber cup for the coil springs.







I also got the other brake calipers finally painted and fitted. The Por15 brush on product looks great when it is done but I think if I did this again I'd get a solid spray on solution.







SS brake lines are in. All I have left to do is the rear upper SS lines which are a bit of a chore.

Next is to put each corner under load and torque back up the control arm bolts. Then drop it and start to look at what I need to do with the ride height.

I said screw it and ordered a CF hood instead of investing in stripping and repainting a stock hood that needs a bit more spicy sauce to fit the car.

I'm going to just drop off the new front bumper at the paint shop next week and then the body work will be done.

Goal is to get this back on the road within the next month.

[KnighTT]

Rear upper brake lines are in. I used the below wrench, which I can attest is the only way to get these lines out without extreme rage. Once you break the nut loose, this thing makes it easy to back it out and back in.

[KnighTT]

Some engine bay candy.





Finally reskinned the steering wheel, put in the NRW shift paddles, and added the custom BMW emblem.

[NoGuru]

Looks fantastic! What is the power steering res? Never seen that one before.

[KnighTT]

It is the PS res from On3Performance. It usually comes with their full single turbo kit but you can order it separately if you contact them.

I am still planning on buying a custom res from Spool'n Motorsports that incorporates a black powder coated aluminum res that houses both the coolant and power steering res in one unit. Very minimal and clean.

I decided to cancel my order through Throtl for the CF M3 hood. I realized that the look wasn't really what I was going for to compliment the 335is. I think the M3 hood goes rather well with the pre-lci e92 and M3 rep bumpers. IDK, sometimes you just look at something and don't love it.

I've decided to take a risk and attempting to order this GTS style hood made for the LCI e92. I think it really compliments the lines of the Msport front bumper of the 335IS and is aggressive but not overly vented.

I'm 50/50 on if it actually gets shipped anytime soon or if it even has the right fitment but this hood just gives me the right feel.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by KnighTT

It is the PS res from On3Performance. It usually comes with their full single turbo kit but you can order it separately if you contact them.

I am still planning on buying a custom res from Spool'n Motorsports that incorporates a black powder coated aluminum res that houses both the coolant and power steering res in one unit. Very minimal and clean.

I decided to cancel my order through Throtl for the CF M3 hood. I realized that the look wasn't really what I was going for to compliment the 335is. I think the M3 hood goes rather well with the pre-lci e92 and M3 rep bumpers. IDK, sometimes you just look at something and don't love it.

I've decided to take a risk and attempting to order this GTS style hood made for the LCI e92. I think it really compliments the lines of the Msport front bumper of the 335IS and is aggressive but not overly vented.

I'm 50/50 on if it actually gets shipped anytime soon or if it even has the right fitment but this hood just gives me the right feel.

Who sells that hood?

[KnighTT]

Right now I only found it on one seller on ebay, with great reviews, but I still know I won't KNOW until it arrives. If it arrives. Truth is, ordering anything large today seems to come with a 50/50 chance if it is honestly even in stock or not.

I also kind of screwed myself because I cancelled my order for the hood I purchased through Throtl and they denied my cancellation. So, I'm going to have both of these at some point. Though being in Atlanta, selling a brand new CF hood should be easy.

I found this hood from this random Youtube video and then tried to track it down.

The only caveat I see is that the F80 style vent hits the upper part of the radiator frame. You have to trim a portion of that off for it to clear. I will assess both hoods, fitment, and quality before I chose which one I'll actually stick with.

IMO, there is just something about the GTS hood that really elevates the front end. Although, in person will be the key. I always thought the stock hood was so bland with just the two subtle body lines. The M3 is a nice step up but obviously it had been done so much.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by KnighTT

Back at it again.

I got the rear ST coil overs in. It's actually very easy to do the rears.

These are the parts you have to reuse.

I think you said you're in Atlanta, so this my not be a concern, but I would recommend painting the metal cup with some good rust inhibitor paint. Those cups rust really bad. I replaced my rear shocks and the originally were rusty and did not think much about it, but with in a couple of years of shock replacement, the stock broke through the cup into the truck, no damage other than the cup being completely rusted through, I just did me rear shock for the second time (190K miles) and the cups were rusted again so i put in new this time and painted them really well. Not sure why BMW would not used treated or painted steel part.

Nice Build I like everything you have been doing.

[KnighTT]

Good point. I'll keep an eye out.

[KnighTT]

This arrived today. Box was trashed but no damage.

Beautiful piece. The clear coat is just as nice as the car paint. Darker than I thought too so I think it really will work with the black. I didn't want the CF to be really noticeable contracted to the black paint. When it isn't bright out it'll be hard to even tell it's CF.

[KnighTT]

I also finished these custom housings last night.

Bavgruppe LED rings, black epoxy housings in matte and textured. As the car is black this was an easy build as I usually do some paint matching when I do custom housings.

The brand new lenses really are the icing on the cake.

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by KnighTT

This arrived today. Box was trashed but no damage.

Beautiful piece. The clear coat is just as nice as the car paint. Darker than I thought too so I think it really will work with the black. I didn't want the CF to be really noticeable contracted to the black paint. When it isn't bright out it'll be hard to even tell it's CF.

Can you link or PM me the vendor for both hoods?

I really like cf hoods on a black car. Like you said looks black at dusk/low light. Even just the shade it looks dark.

[KnighTT]

Torgus
Here is the link to the GTS style hood off eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/291674606876

Here is the M3 style hood from Throtl.
https://throtl.com/products/sei-hood...31475281100848

[KnighTT]

Well, we are finally in the final stages.

I dropped off the new bumper and side skirts at the paint shop this morning. Those should be ready next week. Once I have those back I'll bolt up the front accessories, mount the new panels, and fine tune fitment. Then it's time to install the Flow splitter kit, button up remaining splash guards, and then take a look at the front ride height with the splitters. I have a feeling I'll be dropping the front just a few more millimeters.

We are getting there. I still don't know which hood I'll prefer. I will test fit both and see which one talks to me.

The M3 hood looks good. Very nice clear coat. Silky smooth. Perect finish. No waves or defects. I just don't know what it'll look like completed. It's subtle but functional. I have a feeling the GTS style hood will be more aggressive and make the car look more modern.

[bmw335ie90]

Originally Posted by KnighTT

I also finished these custom housings last night.

Bavgruppe LED rings, black epoxy housings in matte and textured. As the car is black this was an easy build as I usually do some paint matching when I do custom housings.

The brand new lenses really are the icing on the cake.

What was your technique for dealing with the permaseal?