I need help with some ideas...

I own an Orient Blue '01 325i and I'm trying to come up with ideas for modding...

Currently, I've painted the stock rims black (can't afford new rims, yet). Got 20% tint. Did a muffler delete and replaced the stock tips with Borla tips. Just ordered smoked LED tails and I'm waiting to order smoked corners/side blinkers.

What are some good ideas on what I should mod/add/delete, next? I'd go for performance but, as many of you know, the M54 is expensive to mod if you want big gains.

m3 hood. Mtech parts (front, rear skirts). M3 mirrors (oem, reps suck...i have reps..they suck). lower the car (h&r cupt kit, springs, coils, w/e you want). Trunk lip spoiler (about $40 on ebay). Clear/smoked corners. Intake (not considered a performance mod on our cars, actually a possible performance loss, but sounds good ).

Interior mods?: euro-tray, cf vinyl on trim, new steering wheel, change emblems?

Whats your spending limit?

If your money is limited, then I'd recommend spending it on maintenance first. You have to want to maintain car first, then search for maintenance items, and I think after reading a few threads on it, you'll realize that the money you'll need to keep your car on the road will be all the extra you have. Also, nothing personal, but you need to have a contingency fund too, unless you can do without your car for a while. Many things that fail cost a lot, and they cost a lot more if you're not up to doing the work...so a $50 vcg job for me might cost $500 at a dealer...just heard of a $1200 for pads/rotors at dealer...when I could do it for $300...etc, etc.

Be careful OP...the modding force is a strong one, I know...but the power you get from maintaining car is even stronger--you'll stand a better chance of picking up that girl on your first date with her, instead of saying, "yea, uh, I have to fix some sensor on my car."

Just saying...as I often do!

Doug

Originally Posted by Blu325i

I own an Orient Blue '01 325i and I'm trying to come up with ideas for modding...

Currently, I've painted the stock rims black (can't afford new rims, yet). Got 20% tint. Did a muffler delete and replaced the stock tips with Borla tips. Just ordered smoked LED tails and I'm waiting to order smoked corners/side blinkers.

What are some good ideas on what I should mod/add/delete, next? I'd go for performance but, as many of you know, the S54 is expensive to mod if you want big gains.

You have an s54 in there???

Anyway i was on the same boat as you for a while, i did smoked corner-lights, fender-blinkers/smoked led tailight. (I forgot to add the resistor and most of the LEDs died, dont make the same mistake) i got an m3 lip trunk spoiler witch i regret, should have gotten a csl one, i added halo lights, and then i found a good deal on craigslist for an m3 rep bumber with a cf lip, hannman inserts and projector foglights and regular foglights for 350, so i got that as well. But because of the lip the bumper scrapes a lot.

Pretty much what i am trying to say is that your car is pretty good right now, and modding it might ruin it. Save up for a s54 swap or a new car. and your better of fixing your car. I have a rule that when something breaks i fix it within a week, and i can actualy say that mechinicaly my car is perfect .

Definately do maintenance items as the above posters stated. If you cannot afford wheels, I'm not sure you will be able to afford the repair bill the first time she goes into the shop.

Originally Posted by dreyo27

You have an s54 in there???

Typo my bad. M54

Guys, I'm asking for advice on mods. No disrespect but you have all pretty much recommended that I do maintenance when that is not an issue for me. If a problem occurs, I have the money to pay for it. However, I'm limited on how much I spend on mods so I was asking for people's opinions on mods.

Oh, and I'm going to be adding Angel Eyes soon.

As far as my budget goes... In a month, I could have around $400 (more or less) to spend on mods.

Originally Posted by alwaysbored786

m3 hood. Mtech parts (front, rear skirts). M3 mirrors (oem, reps suck...i have reps..they suck). lower the car (h&r cupt kit, springs, coils, w/e you want). Trunk lip spoiler (about $40 on ebay). Clear/smoked corners. Intake (not considered a performance mod on our cars, actually a possible performance loss, but sounds good ).

Interior mods?: euro-tray, cf vinyl on trim, new steering wheel, change emblems?

Whats your spending limit?

Thanks for the advice, I really like... well, all of your ideas. haha

Originally Posted by alwaysbored786

M3 mirrors (oem, reps suck...i have reps..they suck)

LMK if you ever wanna sell them OB Stuff is hard to acquire.

Originally Posted by Blu325i

Typo my bad. M54

I hate to ask the obvious, but why not save your money and get some good rims and tires, then continue on with the other stuff after that?

You will get far more benefit from good rubber than you will from M3 mirrors. Mirrors are not gonna help the car go, stop, or corner any better than it does now.

You do realize if you simply looked around this forum you would discover endless ideas of what you could do to your car. Every thread like this always gets the same suggestions. I think you should get inspired on your own to do things to your car, not set X amount of budget for mods and ask what others think you should buy. That offers no individuality or personality to your car.

Spend it on maintenance. No reason modding a car that will leave you stranded on the side of the road.

Originally Posted by Blu325i

Guys, I'm asking for advice on mods. No disrespect but you have all pretty much recommended that I do maintenance when that is not an issue for me. If a problem occurs, I have the money to pay for it. However, I'm limited on how much I spend on mods so I was asking for people's opinions on mods.

Oh, and I'm going to be adding Angel Eyes soon.

As far as my budget goes... In a month, I could have around $400 (more or less) to spend on mods.

You painted your wheels coz you couldn't afford new rims, you have $400 for mods, but have all the money you need for repairs? I'm not sure I understand that...well actually, I think I do...but that's why everyone said keep your car maintained to keep it reliable and avoid problems.

You have an '01, so probably up there in mileage I'm guessing, and the repairs will be needed and at some point, they'll add up considerably...if you want to be driving a bmw, and not just a car that looks like one.

My son just got a car, and if he came to me wanting to spend his $400 on adding a new front bumper, and then came the week later and said he's got a vibration and needs 2 new wheels, CAs, and motor mounts...which at an Indy might cost a $1000, I know I'd be very proud of him if he said, "I'm sorry I spent money needlessly on appearance, but can you help?" But I'd be prouder if he'd have said, "I don't need the bumper, but will save that money for when the time comes that the car needs repair."

He got a hula dancer for the dashboard...and I hope I've convinced him that'd be pretty gheybe! (Gheybe, my wife actually got him three, so if you want one, let me know!)

Doug

suspension, bilstein sport shocks, h&r sport springs, sway bars.
performance, CAI, Headers, performance catback exhaust or just a performance muffler if you dont want to wake the dead. differential, pullies, engine tune up, and software.
looks, smoked corners all around, m3 hood, mirrors, and front bumper. mtech II bumpers look like crap on prefacelift. and for rims get some lightweight oz rims.

Search!

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

I hate to ask the obvious, but why not save your money and get some good rims and tires, then continue on with the other stuff after that?

You will get far more benefit from good rubber than you will from M3 mirrors. Mirrors are not gonna help the car go, stop, or corner any better than it does now.

Not just saying this, but I had this idea yesterday. Seeing as how I need new tires soon, I'm going to buy a new set of rims and get tires as a birthday present which is coming up in less than a month. Thanks

Originally Posted by delmarco

Search!

Originally Posted by Lusticles

You do realize if you simply looked around this forum you would discover endless ideas of what you could do to your car. Every thread like this always gets the same suggestions. I think you should get inspired on your own to do things to your car, not set X amount of budget for mods and ask what others think you should buy. That offers no individuality or personality to your car.

Spend it on maintenance. No reason modding a car that will leave you stranded on the side of the road.

Apparently, you two don't understand the point of this thread. Yes, you can spend time searching amongst the threads for previously posted ideas but then what is the point of this entire website if it is not for posting a new thread, creating discussion, and possibly creating an even bigger discussion. I posted this thread to see what people would recommend for me to mod my car with. As you can see, that post had lead to this 'discussion', if you will.

Originally Posted by dmax

You painted your wheels coz you couldn't afford new rims, you have $400 for mods, but have all the money you need for repairs? I'm not sure I understand that...well actually, I think I do...but that's why everyone said keep your car maintained to keep it reliable and avoid problems.

You have an '01, so probably up there in mileage I'm guessing, and the repairs will be needed and at some point, they'll add up considerably...if you want to be driving a bmw, and not just a car that looks like one.

My son just got a car, and if he came to me wanting to spend his $400 on adding a new front bumper, and then came the week later and said he's got a vibration and needs 2 new wheels, CAs, and motor mounts...which at an Indy might cost a $1000, I know I'd be very proud of him if he said, "I'm sorry I spent money needlessly on appearance, but can you help?" But I'd be prouder if he'd have said, "I don't need the bumper, but will save that money for when the time comes that the car needs repair."

He got a hula dancer for the dashboard...and I hope I've convinced him that'd be pretty gheybe! (Gheybe, my wife actually got him three, so if you want one, let me know!)

Doug

Yes I do.

Originally Posted by Gheybe

Yes I do.

Little late reading that bat signal there...but I guess that's a good sign!

I'll see what kind of deal I can work out with my son. The hula girls are all over the subbie now...on dash and on front and rear bumper. I was going to take one to stick on my hood roundel, but you're more important!

PM will come if I can get her and she'll dance her way to you...maybe, Gheybe.

Do I have to change the signal for you? Maybe, Gheybe, something with 100 lumens would work better along with the silhouette of a vert?