Author Topic: New to the world of m42. (Read 5693 times)

Torque · « **on:** August 03, 2009, 02:00:07 PM »

Not new to the world of BMWs though by any means. My first car was a 1990 525ia, then I briefly left the world of BMWs and bought a Subaru Impreza. Then I bought another e34 (this time a 535i/5), and now a few months ago the 318i.

It's a 1995, 5 speed, and approaching 185k miles, but it's very nice.

Here's what it started out as when I got it:

Here are the pics as it sits right now:

Mods/upgrades, as it sits at the moment:
- Staggered 17" DS2s
- M3 solid control arm bushings
- Smoked corners/side repeaters, clear tails
- Front license plate delete strip
- Yellow fog bulbs; pure white low beam bulbs (might eventually go HID, but I had so many headaches with HIDs on my e34, I decided to hold off).
- Clarion mp3 head unit with adjustable display color, perfectly matched to the stock amber lighting.

Only thing I eventually want to do to it is maybe lower it a little, although I'm alright with the way it sits right now.

DesktopDave · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2009, 05:36:39 PM »

Looks good. Welcome back to the fold. I have an '89 e34 525i myself. How'd you attempt the HIDs on that car, H4 re-based bulbs?

Torque · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2009, 08:06:33 PM »

They were the 9005 base bulbs you can buy anywhere now .. I didn't have to modify them at all.

The problem I had was startup though ... the right wouldn't fire sometimes. After replacing 2 ballasts and 2 sets of bulbs, and 2 LKMs, I realized the problem is in the cars wiring or something not letting power go to both sometimes ... and then I tossed the whole thing. I've seen other few people with the same issue; most don't have it though, so I dunno.

HATER-PROOF · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2009, 07:15:49 AM »

Welcome home Torque, she looks good.

Sean_318is · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2009, 08:22:59 AM »

Sweet. amazing what some TLC can do

Torque · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2009, 02:53:09 PM »

Thanks for the warm welcome guys.

iamcreepingdeath · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2009, 08:08:10 PM »

very clean E36. i say go for lowering it! i recommend H&R sport springs. Even H&R OE springs look good. Here is a pic of my wife's E36 on H&R OE springs:

Torque · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2009, 11:09:43 PM »

That looks excellent!

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do suspension wise: keep it stock until I need to replace the shocks/struts and then buy springs as well, or change it all now.

Torque · « **Reply #8 on:** August 11, 2009, 06:33:39 AM »

Ok, update on my dilemma ... I ordered coilovers.

This is the stance I'm shooting for ... got the pic from a guy over on bimmerforums

I can't wait.

Torque · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2009, 06:47:12 PM »

Alright, some stuff went down this Friday ... if you get what I mean. Here are the pics.

I would appreciate it if a mod could move this thread to the member profiles section.

iamcreepingdeath · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2009, 05:34:42 PM »

that looks awesome!! i love the stance!

Torque · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2009, 12:14:43 PM »

Heh, bringing my thread back from the dead, huh?

Here's some better pics from last weekend (in case anyone cares):

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Sometime this week I'm putting a new thermostat in (been heating up very very slowly all this time and winter is near ... i think the old one is stuck open), and I'm supposed to be getting my hands on a steering wheel to replace mine which has ripped apart at the top of the rim.

1991318is · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2009, 05:42:47 PM »

Looks really good w/ the new stance. I've got a friend w/ an alpine e36 4 door that's almost identical but running K1's and has an s52, love the sleeper look of the grey bumpers. Moved thread for you.

Torque · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2009, 07:36:45 PM »

Thanks for the move.

We all know m42 is far superior to the s52.