My Alpine White 135i build, keeping it clean

comtrang · 06-04-2014, 06:36 PM

I've posted a couple other threads individually for the few mods that I do have but I'd like to have one for everything.

For some background, this is only my second car. Through high school and college, I drove a '97 Saab 900. For the better part of that, it had a turbo off of a Dodge Ram Cummins and was making north of 400whp. I learned a lot about tuning, turbocharging and engines in general but it was what it was: a project car. It didn't handle well, it had a limited aftermarket, and it just wasn't pretty. It served its purpose but I told myself once I graduated and got a job, I would get a car that was more aesthetically appealing. One that would make me do a double take every time I walked away from it.

This is what I pulled the trigger on. Here's some shots from the first few days:

Then came the Blackline LCI's. I just knew that these had to come before anything else, they are truly a work of art.

Next, the factory spoiler had to go. So it did. And I actually liked the car with no spoiler for the 30 minutes that it was spoiler-less

I love the shape and subtlety of the new.

Lastly, the stock rear skirt wasn't living up to the beauty of the tails and spoiler. In that last picture, it just looks out of place. I didn't have any intention to replace it anytime soon but so of course, an iCarbon unit that looked exactly like what I had in mind pops up in the for sale section.

This is how she sits currently:

From here all that is left are some bigger items such as wheels, suspension and some sort of addition to the front end. I'm not looking to make this car into a project which means everything must fit well. There will be no zip ties and no ghetto-rigging. I intend for this car to stay functional but look as classy as an Alpine White 135i can come.

Cheeze1 · 06-04-2014, 06:47 PM

Looks great! I'm in the same boat as you, my first 'nice' car that I'm going to do 'right' from the start. GL to you sir.

e90Nick · 06-04-2014, 07:58 PM

Blacklines make the rear of that car incredible...

Gray_Panther · 06-04-2014, 08:35 PM

This is not really a build thread yet....Nevertheless, beautiful car!!

Wonderful pictures, do you use photoshop to edit them?

comtrang · 06-04-2014, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

This is not really a build thread yet....Nevertheless, beautiful car!!

Wonderful pictures, do you use photoshop to edit them?

I totally agree. To ME, a build thread is swapping turbos, updating the fuel system, needing a new MAP sensor etc. etc. Believe me I feel weird even calling it that just because I haven't done a single thing for power

Thanks though! I upload everything into Lightroom and can usually accomplish a good chunk of the edits in there but will open Photoshop as needed.

comtrang · 06-04-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90Nick

Blacklines make the rear of that car incredible...

Agreed! But I couldn't just get them by themselves, they all had to come as a package

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheeze1

Looks great! I'm in the same boat as you, my first 'nice' car that I'm going to do 'right' from the start. GL to you sir.

Yes exactly! You know just what I mean then.

hova00 · 06-04-2014, 09:36 PM

This is a build thread for sure!! This is just the beginning. Iam sure the OP has many more mods to come.

Car looks great!! Those new blacklines really changed the rear of the car along with the spoiler and rear diffuser.

dt20011 · 06-05-2014, 10:29 PM

Very nice!

ilikebmxbikes · 06-05-2014, 10:47 PM

as per the title of this thread you are keeping very clean. very nice looking car and I will be waiting for more updates. nice photos too.

comtrang · 06-06-2014, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikebmxbikes

as per the title of this thread you are keeping very clean. very nice looking car and I will be waiting for more updates. nice photos too.

Thank you, I really appreciate the input.

believe me I've been waiting for the chance to play with a car this beautiful. Lots of thought will go into each and every mod.

3002 tii · 06-07-2014, 10:43 AM

Very nice, I think we have similar goals in mind for our cars, the subtle OEM+ look. Great photography skills by the way.

comtrang · 06-11-2014, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Very nice, I think we have similar goals in mind for our cars, the subtle OEM+ look. Great photography skills by the way.

More like OEM++..hehe. And thanks!

MarkkyyMan · 06-12-2014, 04:51 PM

Nice car. Something about the clean look that never gets old..

CAVU · 06-13-2014, 08:59 PM

Welcome to the forums! Car looks great, and your photos are fantastic!

Chandon · 06-14-2014, 08:18 AM

Is it just me or the is exhaust tips really off center?
Nevertheless, a very nice car

06-04-2014, 06:36 PM	#1
comtrang Workin' hard 17 Rep 162 Posts Drives: '08 135i in AW/Terracotta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (1)	My Alpine White 135i build, keeping it clean I've posted a couple other threads individually for the few mods that I do have but I'd like to have one for everything. For some background, this is only my second car. Through high school and college, I drove a '97 Saab 900. For the better part of that, it had a turbo off of a Dodge Ram Cummins and was making north of 400whp. I learned a lot about tuning, turbocharging and engines in general but it was what it was: a project car. It didn't handle well, it had a limited aftermarket, and it just wasn't pretty. It served its purpose but I told myself once I graduated and got a job, I would get a car that was more aesthetically appealing. One that would make me do a double take every time I walked away from it. This is what I pulled the trigger on. Here's some shots from the first few days: Then came the Blackline LCI's. I just knew that these had to come before anything else, they are truly a work of art. Next, the factory spoiler had to go. So it did. And I actually liked the car with no spoiler for the 30 minutes that it was spoiler-less I love the shape and subtlety of the new. Lastly, the stock rear skirt wasn't living up to the beauty of the tails and spoiler. In that last picture, it just looks out of place. I didn't have any intention to replace it anytime soon but so of course, an iCarbon unit that looked exactly like what I had in mind pops up in the for sale section. This is how she sits currently: From here all that is left are some bigger items such as wheels, suspension and some sort of addition to the front end. I'm not looking to make this car into a project which means everything must fit well. There will be no zip ties and no ghetto-rigging. I intend for this car to stay functional but look as classy as an Alpine White 135i can come.
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06-04-2014, 06:47 PM	#2
Cheeze1 Private First Class 28 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Looks great! I'm in the same boat as you, my first 'nice' car that I'm going to do 'right' from the start. GL to you sir.
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06-04-2014, 07:58 PM	#3
e90Nick Enlisted Member 1 Rep 45 Posts Drives: White e46 M3 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Blacklines make the rear of that car incredible...
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06-04-2014, 08:35 PM	#4
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 1555 Rep 3,234 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	This is not really a build thread yet....Nevertheless, beautiful car!! Wonderful pictures, do you use photoshop to edit them? __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
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06-04-2014, 09:36 PM	#7
hova00 Major 1191 Rep 1,360 Posts Drives: G80 M3C Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: EAST COAST iTrader: (7)	This is a build thread for sure!! This is just the beginning. Iam sure the OP has many more mods to come. Car looks great!! Those new blacklines really changed the rear of the car along with the spoiler and rear diffuser.
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06-05-2014, 10:29 PM	#8
dt20011 Lieutenant 262 Rep 528 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: May 2014 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Very nice!
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06-05-2014, 10:47 PM	#9
ilikebmxbikes Banned 1518 Rep 4,744 Posts Drives: S65 1M Clone & E92 M3 4.6L Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (42) Garage List '08/13 1M Clone 4.0L [10.00] '11 e92 M3 4.6L [10.00]	as per the title of this thread you are keeping very clean. very nice looking car and I will be waiting for more updates. nice photos too.
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06-07-2014, 10:43 AM	#11
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2282 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	Very nice, I think we have similar goals in mind for our cars, the subtle OEM+ look. Great photography skills by the way. __________________ Follow for latest mods
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06-12-2014, 04:51 PM	#13
MarkkyyMan Captain 38 Rep 701 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 128i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Indiana, U.S. iTrader: (0)	Nice car. Something about the clean look that never gets old.. __________________ http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=968996
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06-13-2014, 08:59 PM	#14
CAVU Captain 151 Rep 929 Posts Drives: '16 F87 M2 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Welcome to the forums! Car looks great, and your photos are fantastic! __________________ *F87 '16 M2 ...* Mineral Grey, 6MT, Exec, MPE Gone: E82 '13 135is 475/586 ... Mineral Grey / Oyster, DCT, Premium, Tech, HK, Michelin PSS, BMW Performance Suspension
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06-14-2014, 08:18 AM	#15
Chandon Major 99 Rep 1,102 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (1)	Is it just me or the is exhaust tips really off center? Nevertheless, a very nice car
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