OEM M3 Mirrors (56k Stay Away)

zhp pilot · 01-10-2010, 07:19 PM

Updates:
Photos with splitters - post 38
Photoshop of silver gray mirrors with black bases - post 44
Photos with splitters and painted kidneys - post 49
Photos of black roof - post 84

I recently picked up a set of OEM M3 mirrors with Euro split glass. Currently, the mirrors are painted jet black. I can't decide if I want to leave them black or paint part or all of them silver gray. I installed them today to see how the jet black looks. I have ribbon motors so to properly do it, I need to transfer my motors to the M3 housings. However, I need to make a decision on paint first so I installed them with no power.

As far as paint goes, I'm leaning towards silver gray mirror housings with jet black bases, similar to the non-M paint scheme. Then there's always the option to paint the housings and bases silver gray as it would be on an M3. I don't think the jet black looks bad but I don't know if it works. Other items that are black are the rear diffuser, shadowline badge, shadowline window trim, silver/black cf roundels and 28% tint. I also will have jet black painted kidney's and OEM carbon fiber splitters, which need to be installed. Maybe a black roof would help pull it off. I've had a roll of gloss black vinyl for ages but I never installed it.

Let me know what you think.

BTW, check out the color of my sheets. The official color is silver gray. When I saw that I had to buy them.

southpaw · 01-10-2010, 07:27 PM

What a difference.

I love the EuroSplit thing. I have it on my drivers side. I never have to look over my shoulder anymore.

Team_Persia · 01-10-2010, 07:39 PM

looks great but paint those things!

Born Again · 01-10-2010, 07:44 PM

i would of waited to get them painted - though it's an easy swap -

djnekkon · 01-10-2010, 07:46 PM

At least vinyl them

zhp pilot · 01-10-2010, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Again

i would of waited to get them painted - though it's an easy swap -

True. I just wanted to see what they looked like. I've had the mirrors for over a week and my glass just came in yesterday. So I was anxious to get them on. The swap without transferring the motors only took 15 mins.

Fluxe46 · 01-10-2010, 07:54 PM

leave them black

and save some money
its not like they look bad

koven · 01-10-2010, 08:50 PM

definitely needs to be painted... but nice mod!

BartenderPlease · 01-10-2010, 11:08 PM

Paint them for sure. It will improve the look of the car more than it already did.

ZimZimma328Ci · 01-10-2010, 11:32 PM

Needs paint, no question

FromM3toE55 · 01-10-2010, 11:35 PM

everything silver gray

uhhhmeeer · 01-10-2010, 11:56 PM

so much better

congrats

Studdly_Studright · 01-11-2010, 12:18 AM

instead of painting the mirrors, paint other things black to match

aggieE46 · 01-11-2010, 07:06 AM

I think they look good black. Spend the money elsewhere.

phat///M3 · 01-11-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Studdly_Studright

instead of painting the mirrors, paint other things black to match

+1 will look good with some black kidneys, and a black vinyl roof. Then some rims and it will be looking fresh.

///OSS · 01-11-2010, 10:30 AM

paint the housing SG and leave the base JB

InLoveWithE46 · 01-11-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phat///M3

+1 will look good with some black kidneys, and a black vinyl roof. Then some rims and it will be looking fresh.

This.

HodgesJ300 · 01-11-2010, 10:44 AM

Op they look terrible period.. sell them to me and I will put them on my car and give you some nice stockies to replace them with....

J/k looks sweeet.... personally I'd color match em to the car

zhp pilot · 01-11-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///OSS

paint the housing SG and leave the base JB

If I remember correctly, I have you to thank for that idea. Were yours painted like that at one point in time? I thought there was a pic with that paint scheme in your rotating sig but it might have just been the lighting.

snowcatxx87 · 01-11-2010, 11:14 AM

Shadowline includes jb bases. I'd keep the bases black and paint the housing. Or try to swap?

View Poll Results: To paint or not to paint?
Silver gray housing with jet black bases	18	18.37%
Everything silver gray.	52	53.06%
Leave them jet black.	28	28.57%
Voters: 98. You may not vote on this poll

01-10-2010, 07:19 PM	#1
zhp pilot Falling from 14k ft. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,020 My Ride: is totaled :( View My Garage	OEM M3 Mirrors (56k Stay Away) Updates: Photos with splitters - post 38 Photoshop of silver gray mirrors with black bases - post 44 Photos with splitters and painted kidneys - post 49 Photos of black roof - post 84 I recently picked up a set of OEM M3 mirrors with Euro split glass. Currently, the mirrors are painted jet black. I can't decide if I want to leave them black or paint part or all of them silver gray. I installed them today to see how the jet black looks. I have ribbon motors so to properly do it, I need to transfer my motors to the M3 housings. However, I need to make a decision on paint first so I installed them with no power. As far as paint goes, I'm leaning towards silver gray mirror housings with jet black bases, similar to the non-M paint scheme. Then there's always the option to paint the housings and bases silver gray as it would be on an M3. I don't think the jet black looks bad but I don't know if it works. Other items that are black are the rear diffuser, shadowline badge, shadowline window trim, silver/black cf roundels and 28% tint. I also will have jet black painted kidney's and OEM carbon fiber splitters, which need to be installed. Maybe a black roof would help pull it off. I've had a roll of gloss black vinyl for ages but I never installed it. Let me know what you think. BTW, check out the color of my sheets. The official color is silver gray. When I saw that I had to buy them. __________________ '04 Silbergrau Metallic ZHP 6MT Recent Photos of das Auto: A Damn Dam Photoshoot; A Day In The Park; Custom Sub Install Cartoon Cars E46Fanatics Stickers Beemer Evolution Last edited by zhp pilot; 01-24-2010 at 06:45 PM.

01-10-2010, 07:27 PM	#2
southpaw Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sun Diego Posts: 15,284 My Ride: E36 M3 and E36 318ti View My Garage	What a difference. I love the EuroSplit thing. I have it on my drivers side. I never have to look over my shoulder anymore. __________________ -Brandon 239whp/227wtq @2700lbs

01-10-2010, 07:39 PM	#3
Team_Persia Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 4,971 My Ride: '05 ZHP 'Vert - SOLD View My Garage	looks great but paint those things! __________________ -Amir

01-10-2010, 07:46 PM	#5
djnekkon Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Paterson, New Jersey / Orlando Florida Posts: 15,667 My Ride: MB3ci Regensburg Bav View My Garage	At least vinyl them __________________ Hip hop southstyle vol 2

01-10-2010, 07:54 PM	#7
Fluxe46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Minnesnowta Posts: 2,966 My Ride: is low and slow View My Garage	leave them black and save some money its not like they look bad __________________ -Chris

01-10-2010, 08:50 PM	#8
koven Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Jose Posts: 21,350 My Ride: 330Ci View My Garage	definitely needs to be painted... but nice mod! __________________

01-10-2010, 11:08 PM	#9
BartenderPlease Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charleston Posts: 8,801 My Ride: 328i Sport View My Garage	Paint them for sure. It will improve the look of the car more than it already did. __________________ Gottalovethexi: thx for the old p-chopped sig \| BBS CH \| FK coils \| RE Bushings/Mounts \| K&N Intake \| ZHP box/no resonators \| \| 330i brakes \| FX-R + Orion V4 \| Full Exterior LED kit \| JL Audio in trunk \|

01-10-2010, 11:32 PM	#10
ZimZimma328Ci Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 2,213 My Ride: Mopar View My Garage	Needs paint, no question __________________

01-10-2010, 11:35 PM	#11
FromM3toE55 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: W. Sacramento CA. Posts: 10,814 My Ride: W211 E55 AMG View My Garage	everything silver gray __________________ My Old ///M3 \| TNT Autobody \| DTM-SPEC \| My E55

01-10-2010, 11:56 PM	#12
uhhhmeeer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,526 My Ride: E36 M3 View My Garage	so much better congrats __________________

01-11-2010, 12:18 AM	#13
Studdly_Studright Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Morgantown WV - Stockholm Posts: 5,771 My Ride: 325xi - Mustang GT View My Garage	instead of painting the mirrors, paint other things black to match __________________

01-11-2010, 07:06 AM	#14
aggieE46 Keep it clean Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Royse City Posts: 8,011 My Ride: Evo, 330Ci, Xterra View My Garage	I think they look good black. Spend the money elsewhere. __________________ ^No longer looks like this Buy my:: 3.46 Differential Coolant hard line European Head Unit

01-11-2010, 10:30 AM	#16
///OSS Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: MIA Posts: 10,341 My Ride: "The.. 325CI" View My Garage	paint the housing SG and leave the base JB __________________ Europrojektz \| Director Miami, FL DPE \| OSSDESIGNS \|BIMMERBRAKES \| OSS \| MySpace \| Facebook \| PUSHMP

01-11-2010, 10:44 AM	#18
HodgesJ300 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: FLa (850) Posts: 321 My Ride: Ferrari, I'm sorry View My Garage	Op they look terrible period.. sell them to me and I will put them on my car and give you some nice stockies to replace them with.... J/k looks sweeet.... personally I'd color match em to the car

01-11-2010, 11:14 AM	#20
snowcatxx87 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 2,459 My Ride: 04 330CI View My Garage	Shadowline includes jb bases. I'd keep the bases black and paint the housing. Or try to swap? __________________ My Car \| Why Projector46 Suck \| Fix Crappy P46 w/ F1 Autohaus FXR \| Coupe One Touch Close Vents

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