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Car people: BMW 325xi mods?

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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I've been saving up, talked to my parents, and it looks like I'm going to buy my moms 2002 325xi doing a long term payment type of deal. The car is awesome to drive and is pretty good looking, but as dumb as it sounds the color throws is off a little. Its a silver blue sort of color. My question is what can I do to make this thing look/feel a little more bad ass? Should I just go ahead and re paint it or are there some mods and stuff I could do that would be cheaper? What are some of the mods that make the biggest differences?

stupid thread is stupid but I've got nothing better to do and most likely wont change anything for a while, but it will give me something to think about. I dont have pics of the actual car but this one from the interwebz will work for now

[IMG]/http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/07/29/00/49/2002_bmw_3_series_325xi-pic-23461.jpeg/[IMG]

Mar 28 2012 9:15PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
just put some newer year oem bmw wheels on from one of their x-drive cars, maybe lower it an inch and be done with it.
Mar 29 2012 10:31AM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
will somebody explain to me the logic of an awd beamer?
Mar 29 2012 10:38AM
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Big.L
Posts: 703 - Karma: 15
You can drive it through the snow
Mar 29 2012 10:41AM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
some people don't want to take the time to learn how to drive rwd in not-dry conditions.
Mar 29 2012 10:46AM
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Cufe.
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 262
Improved handeling in corners, better traction off of paved roads?
Mar 29 2012 12:47PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
lol riiiiight...
Mar 29 2012 12:49PM
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rudager
Posts: 11336 - Karma: 4,634
Gotta love that understeer. OP, don't mod it, don't paint it. Put some new rims on that car. If you want a Beamer to mod, find an old one, or something like a M3
Mar 29 2012 12:51PM
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Cufe.
Posts: 1950 - Karma: 262
Mar 29 2012 12:54PM
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GDC
Posts: 199 - Karma: 50
coilovers,notched frame, staggered wheels, clear corners
done.
Mar 29 2012 12:57PM
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skiRay
Posts: 7558 - Karma: 926

well not too many easy and inexpensive options to make it faster since its an xi and naturaly aspirated but:

headers back exhaust, intake, and a tune will be a solid way for a better flow of the car and of course make it sound better

there are supercharger kits out there for that motor, but its expensive to do all around

id do some coilovers and a nice like 18x8.5 wheel setup all around for sumemr and still have snows for winter so you can fuck shit up

roof racks make sedans and cars in general look sexy so do that first

Mar 29 2012 1:04PM
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grnwd
Posts: 421 - Karma: 90

throw on lowering springs, or coilovers if you want to dish out the cash, but seeing as you have to pay off the car i dont think you will have the extra 1-1.5k. and do a cheap exaust or straightpipe.

Apr 2 2012 1:04PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I think I'll throw a roof rack on and call it good. Maybe plasti dip the wheels if I get board just to see what it looks like, tint if I ever get a real job source of income
Jul 29 2012 1:50AM
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jibjunkie
Posts: 3807 - Karma: 191
please dont paint those wheels. go on craigslist and find a pair of 17 inch bmw wheels that look good im thinking style 32 maybe something mesh or m3/roadstar. you should be able to find a nice set for less than 500. paint the kidneys black. get some hids with clear corners. replace tailights with later ones that dont have orange. lowering springs would prolly be your best bet for lowering on the cheap but dont expect your car to perform any better than stock. small tint all around. and yes it will be expensive but pretty much any color will be better than that like red black silver or white. also dont forget to get a sick roof rack for that euro look. some inspiration:

Click for larger image

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Jul 29 2012 8:34AM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,057
Thats a great choice! i had a 2002 325xi. I would recommend joining the e46fanatics.com. You will find all your questions answered there. Steel blue metallic is a nice color, but it is common. I would go with kw v1s if you are going to lower it. Look to get some ZHP bumpers and an m3 trunk lip.

here is my old 325xi
Click for larger image
Jul 29 2012 9:52AM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,057
^ its dropped on H&R springs and Bilstein Shocks.
Jul 29 2012 9:52AM
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diphalic
Posts: 37 - Karma: 30
In expensive exterior mods being your key, here's a few things I did to my e93 that were cheap. 1st tint windows (legal limit unless you know someone who will pass its inspection for you) 2nd black grille 3rd black exhaust tips 4th Roundel stickers. You can basically turn the BMW symbol into any color you want. I just did carbon fiber on mine bc it's a white car. 5th black vinyl trim. If you couldn't tell already, I hate chrome and BMW loves putting it everywhere. By blacking out all these things you'll not only make the ride look better (IMO obviously) but will distinguish it from all the other 3series on the road.
Jul 29 2012 10:25AM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
sounds terrible
Jul 29 2012 11:29AM
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diphalic
Posts: 37 - Karma: 30
Yeah blacked out BMW convertibles are awful.
Jul 29 2012 12:04PM
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49566738265
Posts: 0 - Karma: 7,704
Why buy that piece at all? That car is notoriously awful to maintain, you are going to owe on it immediately, and you would rather give it some silly mods that no one but you will appreciate?

Why not buy a cheap Corolla or something that gets 40mpg, and then go on an unreal ski trip for a week. Or you could have a shitty BMW just to say you have a BMW.
Jul 29 2012 12:10PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Spot on, ol' chap!
Jul 29 2012 12:32PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37638 - Karma: 123,030
Make it hella flush with da stanced out dubs and sick as fuck muffler
Jul 29 2012 12:38PM
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Where-am-I
Posts: 1635 - Karma: 281
there are plenty of much more reliable german cars with tuning potential. i have an audi a4 1.8t it gets 26mpg, over 100k and has had no maintenance issues in the past year. plus its awd so it gets you to the hill. i just got mine chipped and is already feeling sportier
Jul 29 2012 12:56PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,057
jealousy sucks doesn't it.

I had an e46xi for over 4 years and just did regular maintenance and it was lovely. I then stepped up to the E90xdrive and its much better than the e46. I still did the same things.. All cars are going to have quirks but with regular maintenance and taking care of things at the specified intervals, you've got nothing to worry about.
Jul 29 2012 12:57PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
dumbest. shit. ever.

And I kinda agree with Dustin. Spend your money on life now, not some car that you're trying to primp up. When you've got the income, get something that truly fits you. If you've been eyeing this car for a while, then go for it, but if it's just a spur of the moment thing, consider travel or adventure before the money dropping begins, nah mean?
Jul 29 2012 1:05PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9221 - Karma: 5,421
how about, leave it at the height it is so if it snows you won't be any more of a snowplow than it already is?
Jul 29 2012 1:06PM
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Where-am-I
Posts: 1635 - Karma: 281
most coilovers have adjustable ride height so you drop the car in the summer and lift it in the winter
Jul 29 2012 1:17PM
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