A story of success! My admittance to FI
 

So as any story starts, mine starts pretty simple.

My first car just happened to be a stock Alpine White 330ci with 42k on the odometer.


http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3944/0608081648.jpg


My modding all started when this happened. :facepalm:


http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/5586/052pv.jpg


Not getting into the details, but uninsured motorist. :eek:

I started searching online and came across this wonderful forum. Started searching around, and finally came across what I wanted to do to my car.


http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/686/dsc01781fx.jpg


OEM Mtech II front :excited: Then, the mod bug hit me... I caught the virus. So, obviously the next thing I needed to do was to get rims. I decided to sell my M68's :( I now began my illustrious journey, seeking the legendary CSL replicas. Lol. Originally I wanted matte black, but after seeing this picture, I decided to go for gunmetal.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...unmetalCSL.jpg


I was sold on gunmetal, so I got the rims, and ridiculously dark tint to attract the cops a little bit to make my life a little more interesting...


http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3949/dsc0067hr.jpg


Then, it got serious :eeps: I enraged all my neighbors with the beautiful sound of the UUC TSE3 exhaust system. Then, I decided to get a K&N intake system, along with the shark injector. Me, thinking I was the hot biscuit in town, decided to race my step-nephew (long, long story.. lol) in his B7 A4.. As a result of this tomfoolery, I broke an axle shaft.

But- in every failure, there is success (hallmark card idea, you're welcome.)


http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/777/img0296l.jpg


This would be the first of many times my car would see this tow truck. :banghead:

So, I decided I would go with a 3.46 diff. Oh my... my rate of woman gain increased tenfold. True story. After breaking another axle shaft and the ring and pinion on the diff, I decided to start my search for a 3.38 diff. All of this was DIY thanks to this forum. During all of these wonderful pages in my delightful storybook, I happened to meet my best friend, Anto (TheCalmInsanity), because of this website. Here is our cars back when all these shenanigans were happening:


http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/7161/carso.jpg


So, as this upward spiral continues, I was hit from a lady running a stop sign. Very minimal damage, maximum opportunity to improve my car.

Test fitted:


http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4430/img0568o.jpg


Ice cream paint job? Yes please


http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/6418/img0585n.jpg


I decided my ride height was 4x4 status, and quickly picked up a set of UUC springs ;)


http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5016/img0582mn.jpg


So, for the first car meet I ever went to :excited: I went to the DDM tuning grand opening in Huntington Beach where I just got a taste of what was yet to come. And now for some eye candy:


http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/6986/img0755oy.jpg


Then from there, I was destined to go to Bimmerfest 2010. But the unexpected happened. Opportunity knocked again, at the expense of my BMW's Bimmerfest appearance.


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4...8481614050.jpg

I was rear ended on my way to my final (which was cancelled, on top of everything :facepalm:) MTech II rear? Yes please


http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9279/photo3fe.jpg


So, bimmerfest rolled around. And (lucky me) I recieved a rental... In the form of an Audi A4 :banghead:

I rolled up to Bimmerfest in it... :lmao:

After recieving my car back, I decided that I was going to do the impossible, by myself. With a double din install, along with the M3 steering wheel and ZHP shift knob.


http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/2...1571614050.jpg

Then I went a little crazy for a while.


http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/2706/img0764tg.jpg


I quickly removed one of them as to save the small mammals and humans around my car at the peak of my subs' decibel levels.

So one day I was driving in LA.. and TRAIN TRACKS OMGz. 3 weeks later...


http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6820/img1683r.jpg


Turns out my rims were cracked... Hi opportunity, we meet again.


http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/5...4158035555.jpg


Then, I realized my shocks were blown... I smell opportunity. I picked up a set of controversial Racelands. I'm pleasantly surprised by them, but I wanted more. So I quickly ordered some UUC sway bars :woot:


http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8090/photo3sz.jpg


I figured that I needed a daily driver (and apparently, something to do all my dad's chores with.. :facepalm:). After a long search, I found the right match for me. She was beautiful and curvy, had some knockers on her and the rear end was huge.


http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3...7733151405.jpg


Then, OMG ITS A PUPPY. Her name is Samantha.


http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/6...9007501176.jpg


I was with this lovely girl <3 :luv: , listening to a song, parked. Then OMG A CAR PARKED ON ME. :ben:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1728/photo2fn.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9...f7cac2fb5f.jpg


Yay, rental time... This time, no Audi. But a fail Merc :tsk:


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4...1771151176.jpg


But, good times... <3


http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/773...4c18510706.jpg

Stupid mod bug... My truck infected me too.


http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9636/photo3nl.jpg
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/1...27f84d5e55.jpg

Yet again...


http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/7097/photo13nd.jpg
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5635/photo24fd.jpg


I decided to indulge and get myself a present for my birthday.


http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7...2a59ec01ee.jpg


But, before this could go on, I must head to Vegas. I've been on this Earth for 21 years now and decided Vegas would be the optimal place to use my unlimited mileage on my rental.


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8...9327261176.jpg
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/5...4121881176.jpg


Back to the CSL trunk. Business awaits. Best friend, two 40's, and installing a trunk. My installation of CSL trunk > yours.


http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/8277/photo23e.jpg

Which brings me to the main event.


http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/4554/photo42k.jpg




To be continued... :evil:



http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/1516/photoigd.jpg

I'll Update more as it comes!


http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/116...8344511405.jpg

HAHAHAH AWESOME!! I love it!! :D

One heck of a time line...

How many months/years does this cover? Holy crap, 4 accidents?

Hey man... where you get that werewolf new castle.... cool story too!

I love posts like this. I did a timeline of my car once before as well. And this inspires me to create a new timeline since a lot has been done since the last one. Looking forward to seeing your build.

Dude seriously fix those ugly ass mirrors :(

I'm happy with most of this but..........


Racelands & something that uses an intercooler simply don't mix.



Good luck.

Oh sweet jesus I didn't see he put in raceland coilovers lol. Yeah I'll agree with you here then man. Definitely upgrade your suspension before you put boost on that thing.

this was over 4 years lol

thx! I have been planning on doing this for awhile but now have the right incentive to go threw with it ahaha

I know still waiting for the right opportunity! :D

This is an awesome build story!! I love how you left the CF lip of the CSL trunk lid unpainted; very sharp :clap:, I like this a lot cause I'm working on a similar transformation (minus the accidents of course lol) with my 2002 330ci :4ngie:

ahaha =] thx!!!!

AWESOME!!!

Congrats man.
Happy for you.

thx! when I get this up and running i will post a review! also im looking for Schrick Cams possibly

updated pics! detailing the engine bay 2mrw should have some pics up by then!

shrick cams? make sure you get fi cams. and look into wrap your chrome window trim in black make your car look completely different..

btw your aw car was what made me think e46 in aw is the best color and I've been a fan of your car even since i joined here :)

Yeah I attempted at it and failed miserably lol I have been meaning to try it again. Thx so much! I'm glad people like what I have done to my car! As about the cams yeah I need to keep looking but defiantly if cams ahaha my next purchase would be clutch and flywheel :4ngie:

awesome build!

This actually reminds me quite a bit of my story... Not quite so many bumps and accidents, but none the less:

Engine had coolant leak, so did cooling system overhaul.
Still leaking, so let it be.
Tranny lost reverse, though annoyed i let it be.

Cheap engine plus manual tranny for 500$? Sure cant be that bad

Engine + tranny swap = WIN

Diff shattered : 3,38 diff

Rust on hood = M3 hood

Crack in front bumper = M3 bumper

Melted rear bumper with OEM exhaust = Mtech 2 bumper

Needed cheap diffuser = carbon diffuser

Needed matching front lip = hamann carbon lip

Needed matching interior to the M3 front bumper = Imola M3 interior

Needed matching steering wheel = M3 steering wheel with thick leather! (awesome)

Needed sound system to go with the Hamann Kardon in the M3 interior = Dynavin with aftermarket alpina amps in trunk


Aaaand the list goes on!


Loving your car! :) Looks good when you compare it to the stock first pictures! Keep it up!