[lemans_e91]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd share my new daily which I've had a few weeks now.

It's a 2006 320d Sport, in Le Mans Blue with Style 194 wheels and the dreaded runflats. It's a relatively low-spec model, but it's tidy and has all the basic bits you want for a daily.

I've got a few mods in mind, including:

• Style 162 alloys and conventional rubber
• Eibach Pro springs
• Debadge
• Tints
• Gloss black front grilles
• And a few discreet performance mods (here: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1626390)

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

[lemans_e91]

Also, any advice on how to resize the images within the forum so they fit on a normal page size would be much appreciated...

[mashurst]

Nice looking Motor Mate

I use paint and resize the image to about half, which normally works. Maybe a bit of trial and error is called for?

[Tambohamilton]

Nice car. Best BMW colour, in my opinion! I don't think you need to change much to make it a really nice drive. Just get a set of pilot sport 4 non-rft all round, max out the front neg camber (pull the alignment pins out), add a remap if you must, and call it done. Tidy.

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Nice car. Best BMW colour, in my opinion! I don't think you need to change much to make it a really nice drive. Just get a set of pilot sport 4 non-rft all round, max out the front neg camber (pull the alignment pins out), add a remap if you must, and call it done. Tidy.

Thanks for the compliments.

What's the idea behind maxing out the front camber? Won't that just chew through the tyres (and PS4's aren't exactly cheap...)

[Tambohamilton]

These cars are set with not much negative camber at the front, which makes them understeer when pushed (along with a few other things). By increasing the negative camber, you increase front grip for free! You should find that it actually evens the front tyre wear a little - they normally chew the outside edge of the tyre up. Also have a trustworthy alignment shop set the geo all round. Factory specs at the rear are decent; but get as much negative camber at the front as you can, and set the front toe to zero. Michelin rubber has awesome wear life compared with its competitors - another reason for choosing them!

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

These cars are set with not much negative camber at the front, which makes them understeer when pushed (along with a few other things). By increasing the negative camber, you increase front grip for free! You should find that it actually evens the front tyre wear a little - they normally chew the outside edge of the tyre up. Also have a trustworthy alignment shop set the geo all round. Factory specs at the rear are decent; but get as much negative camber at the front as you can, and set the front toe to zero. Michelin rubber has awesome wear life compared with its competitors - another reason for choosing them!

Thanks, I'll keep that all in mind! At the moment I'm planning on running the runflats for a while, until I can afford to replace them with new wheels and tyres, but I'll have a chat to my wheel alignment guy about sorting out the geo.

[Tambohamilton]

No point in replacing the current tyres until they're worn out, agreed! But at least you can bear in mind that you'll be able to improve it drastically when it's new tyre time

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

No point in replacing the current tyres until they're worn out, agreed! But at least you can bear in mind that you'll be able to improve it drastically when it's new tyre time

Any idea if fitting a set of Eibach Sportline springs (I've realised that the Pro springs aren't really a worthwhile modification for a Sport-spec model...) will cause increased tyre wear?

[Tambohamilton]

They shouldn't do, so long as you have the alignment set after they're fitted. BMW have specs for how the car should be loaded, and what the (standard) ride height should be, when setting alignment. The loading is something like 70kg in each front seat, 50kg in the middle rear seat, and 30kg in the middle of the boot...never seen anyone actually doing it though!

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

They shouldn't do, so long as you have the alignment set after they're fitted. BMW have specs for how the car should be loaded, and what the (standard) ride height should be, when setting alignment. The loading is something like 70kg in each front seat, 50kg in the middle rear seat, and 30kg in the middle of the boot...never seen anyone actually doing it though!

Interesting! I'll get my trusty alignment guy to sort it. Springs, then alignment. Then, once the bank balance allows, 162's and proper rubber.

[lemans_e91]

Just got back from about 800 miles of touring from Ringwood in Hampshire, to Tavistock in Devon, to Gorran Haven in Cornwall, and back via Exmoor National Park in North Devon. An epic trip with stunning weather the whole time and some brilliant roads (and some insanely tight Dartmoor roads!).

Before we left I fitted gloss black grilles and debadged the rear door - gives it a much more modern look.

The roads through Dartmoor and Exmoor were stunning. A couple pics below from both.

[RajB]

Nice purchase and lovely looing example.

Like the couple of bits you've done already.

That's a good run too and nice pics. Scenery looks good. I'd like to get mine out for a nice touring drive so need to get organising.

[mashurst]

Originally Posted by lemans_e91

Just got back from about 800 miles of touring from Ringwood in Hampshire, to Tavistock in Devon, to Gorran Haven in Cornwall, and back via Exmoor National Park in North Devon. An epic trip with stunning weather the whole time and some brilliant roads (and some insanely tight Dartmoor roads!).

Before we left I fitted gloss black grilles and debadged the rear door - gives it a much more modern look.

The roads through Dartmoor and Exmoor were stunning. A couple pics below from both.

Looking good Mate I swapped my grilles out for black ones, and it definitely looks better. Like the de-badging too, I've been humming and harring on that.

Nice trip too I go down Dartmoor way whenever I get a chance, and know the road over the top really well, fabulous scenery and great roads. The bit of the B3212 from the A30 to Moretonhampstead is particularly interesting eh ?

I'm not too far from you in Cranborne if you fancy a cuppa sometime

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by mashurst

Looking good Mate I swapped my grilles out for black ones, and it definitely looks better. Like the de-badging too, I've been humming and harring on that.

Nice trip too I go down Dartmoor way whenever I get a chance, and know the road over the top really well, fabulous scenery and great roads. The bit of the B3212 from the A30 to Moretonhampstead is particularly interesting eh ?

I'm not too far from you in Cranborne if you fancy a cuppa sometime

That bit is actually the only bit of the B3212 we didn't do! We drove up from the south (Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead, then across the top).

If I'm ever that way I'll give you a shout! Likewise if you're ever around Ringwood ways.

Do the debadge. Simple and so effective!!

[nomiS330d]

I do like a sport touring in a good colour. I wish my E92 was that colour instead of boring Monaco blue!
I once had an E46 sport touring in topaz which looked great like yours does.

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

I do like a sport touring in a good colour. I wish my E92 was that colour instead of boring Monaco blue!
I once had an E46 sport touring in topaz which looked great like yours does.

Thanks! Nothing wrong with Monaco blue - it looks damn good after a decent polish and wax session! The right wheel combination brings Monaco blue to life. What's on yours?

[nomiS330d]

Originally Posted by lemans_e91

Thanks! Nothing wrong with Monaco blue - it looks damn good after a decent polish and wax session! The right wheel combination brings Monaco blue to life. What's on yours?

It does need a good polishing to be honest, just haven’t found the time. I’ll try and find some and get the da out. Like you say, it’s probably a nice colour polished.
When I bought it, it had some awful Halfords specials then got offered some 18” style 124’s which fitted well but then fitted some grey mv4’s with run flats. It looked good but I couldn’t live with the ride and then they cracked so I’ve gone back to the 124’s. I wondered why the offset on these was so right but the mv’s needed spacers. Turns out they’re off an E60! They need a refurb tbh but the car sits just right on them.

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

It does need a good polishing to be honest, just haven’t found the time. I’ll try and find some and get the da out. Like you say, it’s probably a nice colour polished.
When I bought it, it had some awful Halfords specials then got offered some 18” style 124’s which fitted well but then fitted some grey mv4’s with run flats. It looked good but I couldn’t live with the ride and then they cracked so I’ve gone back to the 124’s. I wondered why the offset on these was so right but the mv’s needed spacers. Turns out they’re off an E60! They need a refurb tbh but the car sits just right on them.

Got any pics? Sounds like a nice set-up.

[nomiS330d]

[lemans_e91]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

Looks nice! Quite subtle and not too aggressive-looking. Could do with a de-chrome around those windows!

[lemans_e91]

So I decided to take the plunge, drive a five hour return to Coventry and pick up a mint set of Style 162 wheels. I fitted them on Sunday night, and I'm thrilled with the result. They look perfect (in my eyes!), and the ride feels epic now the run-flats are gone!