[RealJ22]

Well I was able to pick up a cheap E90 from my aunt. It had a few underlying issues and has probably been washed once in the past 4 years. So far though, I love it.

After a week of ownership I have already done quite a bit. I've owned an E46 for about 7 years, so BMW is not new to me.

Have a few things that I need to do / work on. It'll take some time, but they will get done. It is an auto 325, but its perfect for a backup daily.
Currently working my life away and going to school leaves very little free time.

Got some M-pars for the E46 for only $75. Fixed them up a bit and threw tires on them. Decided to try them out on the E90 because the other one just sits as well. I think they look pretty good! I am not a fan of chrome, but these work for some reason.

No idea what I am doing with the car yet. I'm gonna fix it up in the mean time!

Last week when I first got it





How it currently sits

[skyview]

Looking good, you've done a lot in just the first week of ownership! Congrats on the new ride — enjoy!!!

[NitroKing]

Very clean! Good job fixing her up.

[troy2003]

WOW! Man great job in your beginning stages of saving a car. Time to get under the hood and under the car to see what other life saving procedures you need to perform. Great job though so far man, it is so clean!

[CTinline-six]

Looks clean!

[dakine_surf]

Did you respray the bumper?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Congrats

[RealJ22]

Thanks guys. No, bumper was just touched up. I will be ordering an M-Sport this week. Had to do a few mechanical things.

There was a serious fuel leak right at the rail. The hose was shot. It was leaking quite a bit. The tensioner right under that part had the bolt head broken off. The belt was eating away at the metal. Spark and fuel could have easily gone BOOM!

I did a charcoal delete and put in a performance filter. Made a world of difference. Have new motor mounts and Oil pan gasket and control arms to do now!

Also bought a used sport seat for $40. Still have to grab the passenger from the junk yard. Just need to dye it now.

[George M]

nice color, good luck!

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by George M

nice color, good luck!

Thank you!

Got some Vinyl ordered for the roof. For my birthday I figured I would order myself a front bumper.

Also have some time on the lift in the next 2 weeks. Had a head injury so it sort of put things back a bit. Control arms, Oil pan gasket and motor mounts. Also going to check out the tranny and swap the fluids. Eventually I will do the solenoids or swap it. Haven't decided yet. The Auto is not HORRIBLE in this car, like the E46. Also, it's fairly serviceable.

I am wondering if I should facelift the car? I can get the front bumper for the same price, the hoods look to be only around $150 or so. I have found trunks available for $100 as well. My good friend owns a body shop and I do the work out of it, so paint is not a problem.

I am going with the M-Rep, if that makes a difference.

Also, has anyone split the headlights? I keep seeing mixed reviews. I have done a few sets in the past, but I would like to change the lens due to a hairline crack. I also NEED to get rid of the ugly ambers. If not I will paint the outside of the lenses similar to the covers.

[dakine_surf]

Dude love the look of the m parallels, kinda even digging the chrome, I dunno, not normally a chrome fan but it looks damn good on the AW.

I dunno about the lci thing... I kinda like the pre-lci m sport... but I'm probably in the minority, I do like the lci trunk and tails. If you are not self conscious about the age of your car the pre-lci m-sport has a bit of a cult following.

[Nardoninety]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Thank you!

Got some Vinyl ordered for the roof. For my birthday I figured I would order myself a front bumper.

Also have some time on the lift in the next 2 weeks. Had a head injury so it sort of put things back a bit. Control arms, Oil pan gasket and motor mounts. Also going to check out the tranny and swap the fluids. Eventually I will do the solenoids or swap it. Haven't decided yet. The Auto is not HORRIBLE in this car, like the E46. Also, it's fairly serviceable.

I am wondering if I should facelift the car? I can get the front bumper for the same price, the hoods look to be only around $150 or so. I have found trunks available for $100 as well. My good friend owns a body shop and I do the work out of it, so paint is not a problem.

I am going with the M-Rep, if that makes a difference.

Also, has anyone split the headlights? I keep seeing mixed reviews. I have done a few sets in the past, but I would like to change the lens due to a hairline crack. I also NEED to get rid of the ugly ambers. If not I will paint the outside of the lenses similar to the covers.

Where you finding hoods for $150? Looking to finish my lci conversion but cant really find anything under 400 so far

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Dude love the look of the m parallels, kinda even digging the chrome, I dunno, not normally a chrome fan but it looks damn good on the AW.

I dunno about the lci thing... I kinda like the pre-lci m sport... but I'm probably in the minority, I do like the lci trunk and tails. If you are not self conscious about the age of your car the pre-lci m-sport has a bit of a cult following.

Thank you. I got the wheels this way and ALWAYS hated chrome. For some reason they just work! They were nearly free and in excellent shape.

I think I might color match the grill first to see how "It looks". I have a spare set of kidneys and some alpine white paint. I will spray them just to test it out.

Originally Posted by Nardoninety

Where you finding hoods for $150? Looking to finish my lci conversion but cant really find anything under 400 so far

https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...saAusYEALw_wcB

On Ebay I have found them even cheaper. Locally, even less. Offer on Facebook marketplace and craigslist.

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Thank you. I got the wheels this way and ALWAYS hated chrome. For some reason they just work! They were nearly free and in excellent shape.

I think I might color match the grill first to see how "It looks". I have a spare set of kidneys and some alpine white paint. I will spray them just to test it out.

https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts...saAusYEALw_wcB

On Ebay I have found them even cheaper. Locally, even less. Offer on Facebook marketplace and craigslist.

If you do color match might I suggest you leave the chrome trim around the kidney to break it up a little or vice versa leave the chrome slats and do AW on the trim... if it's all AW it just gets lost. I personally like the gloss black with AW the best.

Considering the chrome on the wheels, a bit of chrome in front will look good I think

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

If you do color match might I suggest you leave the chrome trim around the kidney to break it up a little or vice versa leave the chrome slats and do AW on the trim... if it's all AW it just gets lost. I personally like the gloss black with AW the best.

Considering the chrome on the wheels, a bit of chrome in front will look good I think

That's exactly what I was going to do. Just the top grill and leave the bottom chrome.

Wrapped the roof today. Quite happy with the results. Still have to put the antenna on. Got a bunch of maintenance parts coming this week.

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

That's exactly what I was going to do. Just the top grill and leave the bottom chrome.

Wrapped the roof today. Quite happy with the results. Still have to put the antenna on. Got a bunch of maintenance parts coming this week.

Looking very clean, I like it

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Looking very clean, I like it

Thank you! Front bumper should be ordered this week! Sick of looking at the current one! Also *Hopefully* have some lift time this weekend

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Thank you! Front bumper should be ordered this week! Sick of looking at the current one! Also *Hopefully* have some lift time this weekend

Nice, I am right at that point with my wagon. Mtech and a respray was on the list until things got shaky at work... big cuts to my department so not super sure my budget is safe. So any projects are on the back burner for now.

I really really want to do the full mtech kit when it's feasible on my wagon but the rear bumper is stupid expensive. No decent reps are available that I know of.

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Nice, I am right at that point with my wagon. Mtech and a respray was on the list until things got shaky at work... big cuts to my department so not super sure my budget is safe. So any projects are on the back burner for now.

I really really want to do the full mtech kit when it's feasible on my wagon but the rear bumper is stupid expensive. No decent reps are available that I know of.

Well, plans have changed. I picked this car up for $2,900. Needs paint bad, but I do paint and body. My friend owns a shop. Only 112k on the clock.



For an extra vehicle, the turbo and coupe were very appealing. Not to mention the price

[dakine_surf]

Originally Posted by RealJ22

Well, plans have changed. I picked this car up for $2,900. Needs paint bad, but I do paint and body. My friend owns a shop. Only 112k on the clock.



For an extra vehicle, the turbo and coupe were very appealing. Not to mention the price

Damn sounds like a steal, wish I could find a project like that... how'd you find it/where?

[chrisg]

So Clean

[RealJ22]

Originally Posted by dakine_surf

Damn sounds like a steal, wish I could find a project like that... how'd you find it/where?

Thank you. I found it on craigslist for 6k asking. I knew it was rough looking, but the miles were low. I started another thread on it. Doing an M3 conversion.

Originally Posted by chrisg

So Clean

Thank you sir! It's actually for sale now! Wheels included for E90 post members I will do $4200. Tires are BRAND NEW on both sets of wheels.


Updates on new car!