R80CLE Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 (edited) Hey chaps, I'm relatively new here. Used to own a Cooper S but thought I'd bite the bullet and purchase the car I've wanted for the past three years now. This particular touring is the 330i, 150k however lots of service history. I picked it up from Gloucester area the day after Download a few weeks back, upon viewing the car the Emissions light was on, however that has been cleared by myself since and it's not come back - the previous owner has the car for eight years, and told me that it had been standing for a few months as he'd bought a Discovery for commuting (lol). First photo - stopped in Strensham for a coffee break on route home! I was eager to get started with this one, after a week or so I purchased coilovers, only TA Technix but for the price I cannot fault them personally. (I must add here, this is a good reason for having to buy coils - when a friend of mine fitted them, he showed me that the rear standard spring had snapped, and that there was no rebound whatsoever in the standard shocks!) By the time they arrived my retention document had returned from the DVLA so I also was able to get my plate on there, which meant ordered the recess blank from Sytner BMW in Cardiff. Yesterday I picked up some 15mm hubcentric spacers so that the MV1's would clear the front struts, their now fitted and b Monday or Tuesday I should receive another pair for the rear wheels. It's surprising how much spacers make a difference on stock wheels! That brings me to where I am now - next on the list is a Pipercross panel filter - unless you have any recommendations? - and amber indicators for the front. Thanks for reading so far Edited January 18, 2016 by R80CLE The Laird and The_Judge_ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddybrown23 Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 Welcome mate! £900 is an absolute steal! Car looks cracking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted July 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks mate I'm loving it. Getting 4 wheel alignment done on Monday so I'm trying not to drive it until that's done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dsport Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 Wow what a bargain well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 nice price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEVIL 666 Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
touringking Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 Welcome to the forum! Like paddy said bargain at 900 notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted July 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the warm welcomes! Had a play about with the kidneys this evening, previously left the netted chrome but it looked awful! So I've redone them, this time the inserts too. It's not a particularly good finish but they are much closer better than before! Now I look at that picture I can see me doing the lower grill next... Edited July 25, 2015 by R80CLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted July 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 So yeah here's more with the fronts fitted, now I'm running 15mm hubcentrics all around and it really does improve the aesthetics. It catches, but only over dips in the road or if the car is fully laden, which is rarely is - so later this week I'll roll back the rear arches a touch. Next up: Alignment and a clean! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Awesome mate. Seriously good price for that. Looks so much better with the spacers on too! Only thing I'm not keen on is where you've put the front plate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted July 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Thank you mate, with it being shortened it looked odd on the black recess and it looked even more odd on the side! I'll leave it for now ? Next up.. This was much needed and has transformed the front end. I thought the lower grill had faded but upon looking closer I noticed it was overspray from a previous bumper repair. Before: After: Love this photo ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddybrown23 Posted July 29, 2015 Report Share Posted July 29, 2015 Looking good mate. You've done pretty much exactly all the things I did with my touring at some point! Had to take my spacers off though as I always have my dogs in the bag so it rubbed all the time! I also got a plate delete and stuck my plate like yours but I was never happy with it. Looked better completely off but I was too chicken to drive round like that can't count the amount of times I've changed the grills from black to chrome as well Dsport 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted July 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Haha thank you mate. Are you the chap with the red touring on Instagram? It looks super clean! Had some spare time this morning so I took the opportunity to freshen up behind the wheels, here's what I was dealing with: And this is how each turned out: Super happy with the finish! I also took the opportunity to close the wheel/arch gap on the front, it's looking much better now in my opinion! I also bought an aux cable that plugs into the headunit, I've since found after removing the unit that it's not compatible. Can anybody shed some light on this? Thanks ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das_flo Posted July 31, 2015 Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 Da Iawn! Much better for the drop & spacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted July 31, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2015 (edited) Dioch. Newport is it? I have family there, it's been a while since I was there last mind. Scrubbed up the headlights this evening.. with toothpaste! I didn't expect it to work that well but it's actually loads better. I don't have a before photo which is annoying but imagine it being really hazy and oxidised! lol Edited July 31, 2015 by R80CLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R80CLE Posted January 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) Not particularly big updates as such, I've been setting money aside to spend on the BMW and end up buying other things. One thing I've always wanted is a suede OMP Targa, that's some thing I did manage, I also disagreed with the short plates so had some pressed plates for my birthday. I've got a Pipercross panel filter on the way and I'm also now looking for wheels ? Edited January 11, 2016 by R80CLE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Looks much better with the new plates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley_e46 Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 On 11/01/2016 at 10:20, bennno2005 said: Looks much better with the new plates! +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeBee Posted January 14, 2016 Report Share Posted January 14, 2016 Hi. Car looks very tidy. Just a quick question. What's the best way to blacken the front lower grill. Mine has just slightly faded so just want to tidy it up a bit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley_e46 Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 17 hours ago, PeeBee said: Hi. Car looks very tidy. Just a quick question. What's the best way to blacken the front lower grill. Mine has just slightly faded so just want to tidy it up a bit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I just masked it off with newspaper and got a can of satin black spray. Worked a treat on mine PeeBee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeeBee Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 Cheers. I've actually got a tin of black. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley_e46 Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 Its surprising how much it can actually improve the front end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
