325xi Exterior Mods

Don't do angel eyes if you're not touching the bumpers, especially on an xi (ridiculously high/goofy ride height.) Blue angel eyes are one of the riciest trends in this car community, I don't get why every new person wants them. I got them too, don't get me wrong, but I'm just telling you this because I grew out of them in about a month and seriously regretted spending so much time with them installed. Once I realized how lame it looked I just threw everything away. I was 17 at the time too, which should say a lot, because all the other teenagers loved it and got pissed at me for ditching them because of how 'dope' they looked.

Step 1 - lower the car and it will look WAY WAY better. Put decent wheels on in the summer and it jumps up yet another level. Wheels and drop are the 2 most important things you can do to a car. I always say that if you don't do both, don't bother with anything on the exterior. Period. It's better to be stock than ugly... period.

Step 2 - xenon headlights. you can do this first if you want, but this is something that makes everything look nicer no matter what. blue eyes make xenons look tacky.

Step 3 - miscellaneous (black grills, clears, tint, black window trim, painted moldings, whatever the hell you want to do.)




But since I've dedicated pretty much my whole life thusfar to modifying cars, I can tell you with some level of certainty that wheels + drop + xenon is the formula for a car that looks really great.

Originally Posted by hi its me alec

Step 3 - miscellaneous (black grills, clears, tint, black window trim, painted moldings, whatever the hell you want to do.).

He's got black window trim already

Originally Posted by ATF

He's got black window trim already

Damn you 325s.

If you really want to improve your car performance wise, invest in tires. Nice tires on nice rims will do more for you than any cheeseball spoiler, plastic trim piece, or chrome 6" muffler. Watch out modifying the suspension on the xi; dont change too much geometry or you may end up with problems. Just keep it clean and remember that some of the smallest details really make a car unique and impressive.

I've been looking at angel eyes with a stock bumper. Haha holy **** it looks so goofy thanks for telling me. And the problem is I don't know if i want to drop b/c of fitment issues with the 18" vb3. If i do a drop I want rims that fit without cutting fenders or rolling fenders to make it sit good. I'm gonna do some research on it so don't yell at me for not using the search bar this time.

Start with clears then get h&r springs. They gave me a pretty decent drop.....then wheels and a bumper for sure

Originally Posted by hi its me alec

Don't do angel eyes if you're not touching the bumpers, especially on an xi (ridiculously high/goofy ride height.) Blue angel eyes are one of the riciest trends in this car community, I don't get why every new person wants them. I got them too, don't get me wrong, but I'm just telling you this because I grew out of them in about a month and seriously regretted spending so much time with them installed. Once I realized how lame it looked I just threw everything away. I was 17 at the time too, which should say a lot, because all the other teenagers loved it and got pissed at me for ditching them because of how 'dope' they looked.

Step 1 - lower the car and it will look WAY WAY better. Put decent wheels on in the summer and it jumps up yet another level. Wheels and drop are the 2 most important things you can do to a car. I always say that if you don't do both, don't bother with anything on the exterior. Period. It's better to be stock than ugly... period.

Step 2 - xenon headlights. you can do this first if you want, but this is something that makes everything look nicer no matter what. blue eyes make xenons look tacky.

Step 3 - miscellaneous (black grills, clears, tint, black window trim, painted moldings, whatever the hell you want to do.)




But since I've dedicated pretty much my whole life thusfar to modifying cars, I can tell you with some level of certainty that wheels + drop + xenon is the formula for a car that looks really great.

he pretty much nailed it.

if dont want to go the clear corners/sides/tails route, you can go the smoked/tinted route.

for bumpers you have choices of:
M3
M3 CSL
MTechI <- not very common unless it came stock with the car (330i sport package)
MTechII <- stock on 330 ZHP (Performance Package)

For BMWs it seems pretty general to do drop+lights+wheels.
For lights people replace the amber lights with either clear or smoked (and/or tinted in my case). They also install angel eyes.
If you car did not come with xenon projectors stock, I would go with the P46s... which is aftermarket xenon projectors that have angel eyes installed.

Later on, you can get exhaust, or just do a muffler/resonator delete which is way cheaper and still sounds great.
There arent much performance mods you can do that yield serious hp... so people tend to focus on looks and handling. For the most hp per $ spent you need to go FI, in my experience and opinion.

Congratulations on your new car, and happy modding!!!!

PS. besides modding, keep in mind to keep cash for maintenance... which is way more important.

Originally Posted by neversummer

I've been looking at angel eyes with a stock bumper. Haha holy **** it looks so goofy thanks for telling me.

I like it on mine.....

Edit: And also, this is your car...do what you think looks good and be happy with it. Don't just follow the trends because everyone else has already done it and you want to fit in with the cool kids. Now don't get me wrong, some mod's look like complete crap -- but i am not going to be the one to tell somebody they can't do something to their car b/c it isn't what I would do. just my .02, good luck with the new car

angel eyes on stock bumper look good to me.

but yeah, most of the mods have been done already... theres not a huge variety. basically, only a few things look good on our cars, and all of the combinations have been done.
just choose one and do what u gotta do lol

lol don't listen to them, they don't know what they are talking about. This is the route you should be taking

Originally Posted by Illogical_Mind

lol don't listen to them, they don't know what they are talking about. This is the route you should be taking

wow thas sick yo. what body kit is that? JDM eclipse styles yo DSM

Originally Posted by hi its me alec

Don't do angel eyes if you're not touching the bumpers, especially on an xi (ridiculously high/goofy ride height.) Blue angel eyes are one of the riciest trends in this car community, I don't get why every new person wants them. I got them too, don't get me wrong, but I'm just telling you this because I grew out of them in about a month and seriously regretted spending so much time with them installed. Once I realized how lame it looked I just threw everything away. I was 17 at the time too, which should say a lot, because all the other teenagers loved it and got pissed at me for ditching them because of how 'dope' they looked.

While I agree on the sentiment about angel eyes without a bumper, I'm not sure where you get the blue angel eye thing from.

Originally Posted by mujjuman

wow thas sick yo. what body kit is that? JDM eclipse styles yo DSM

Hey... I like my DSM, Don't bash the whole community because of clowns that watch fast and furious

to make things easy. Clean up all the amber lights, springs/coils, wheels, bumper.

Originally Posted by wat3rbug

While I agree on the sentiment about angel eyes without a bumper, I'm not sure where you get the blue angel eye thing from.

I dunno, it's more of a personal preference thing. I thought it just looked tacky and 'HAY LOOK AT ME!!' They never came blue from the factory.

Here's a picture of my car with stock bumper, stock suspension, and bright blue angel eyes. When I consider what I think looks good now, I myself for having a car that looked like this. I stunted all around town until an hour after dusk with just the angel eyes on. Gheyness





I replaced them with nice xenons and amber stock-like angel eyes that you can't even see during the day.

Originally Posted by neversummer

I've been looking at angel eyes with a stock bumper. Haha holy **** it looks so goofy thanks for telling me. And the problem is I don't know if i want to drop b/c of fitment issues with the 18" vb3. If i do a drop I want rims that fit without cutting fenders or rolling fenders to make it sit good. I'm gonna do some research on it so don't yell at me for not using the search bar this time.

There's no fitment issue, just don't get oversized tires. Buy the wheels, fit them on the car, take pictures, and ask me what size tires to get with whatever suspension you're getting. If you get 265/45/18 then of course it will rub like a motherfvcker. I have pretty aggressive 19x10s on my car without rolling the fenders, so anything can be done.

I just hate the look of the angel eye and then the black plastic bar that's under the headlight. I was looking at all angel eyes with aftermarket front bumpers so I didn't realize it until you guys brought it up. Still undecided on front bumper but clears and replacement headlight lenses are a definite. You guys think I should order the drop first or rims first? I think drop would make more sense b/c I can install it, see how it rides all winter and then when March/April rolls around order the rims. Suggestions?

I would start with the drop and do the rims later, wheels can look very odd if the car is not dropped- especially since you have an Xi.

Originally Posted by Illogical_Mind

Hey... I like my DSM, Don't bash the whole community because of clowns that watch fast and furious

my bad dude.

Originally Posted by neversummer

I just hate the look of the angel eye and then the black plastic bar that's under the headlight. I was looking at all angel eyes with aftermarket front bumpers so I didn't realize it until you guys brought it up. Still undecided on front bumper but clears and replacement headlight lenses are a definite. You guys think I should order the drop first or rims first? I think drop would make more sense b/c I can install it, see how it rides all winter and then when March/April rolls around order the rims. Suggestions?

drop first

Originally Posted by hi its me alec

I replaced them with nice xenons and amber stock-like angel eyes that you can't even see during the day.

I see your point on Halogens. I've always had xenons, and the bumper and spoiler was done before the drop. I guess I don't notice because the AE's are the same color as my headlights and they are offset by the fogs and the turn sigs that have the soft yellowish light to not make it so much garish at night.

I had DRL on and it looked like crap in the day with yellowish light surrounded by white.