UK: AW E82 123D - First BMW

[Cording]

Hi all,

So I've been a member of this forum a few months now and picked up my first BMW in November. Just a bit about me, my name is Jon, I'm 22 and live in West Sussex, UK

First impression of the car: absolutely love it. The power for a start is fantastic, it's nice to be able to overtake and not have to really worry when the cheeky whatsit decides to speed up to spite you. Handling is great, you can really feel the 50/50 weight distribution in the vehicle.

So a few of the specs:

Alpine White
123D Coupé
18" Alloys
Xenon package
Smokers package
Auto-dimming interior
Professional Radio + CD
Aux (sadly no USB)
Auto headlights + wipers
Cruise control
Tints all round

I have tinkered a little already and swapped those ghastly yellow ring bulbs to white LEDs which was a great transformation, as well as a full interior LED conversion which is also brilliant, very bright but not garingly so. I've just also received LCI Darkline Rears which I absolutely love, they really transform the rear end. My friends also treated me to some gloss black kidney grills for my birthday, I wouldn't have bought them myself but now that they're on I think they're fantastic.

Lastly, my current plans with the car:

Nexus 7 Tablet install in OEM Housing with JoyCon EXR

Powder coat alloys or VMR 710s (if budget allows)

Rear Carbon and Front Carbon Diffusers

BMW Performance Styled Spoiler

Foglight removal

That's it for now but definitely not the last to be done, now all that's left are pictures! :band:

[Cording]

So I finally got round to fitting my 135i fog light blanks, I hated how the fogs looked and am pleased as punch with how it looks now. Filthy car pics for now as I've been doing trips to and from London all week.

The fitting itself was relatively easy once I figured it out. It required taking off the front bumper, sawing off one of the clips on the bumper and then fitting the new bits. Getting the bumper back on was pretty easy to but I spent about 45 minutes trying to screw in the final screw but it just wouldn't go. Really not sure why so I'll come back to it at a later date.

Rubbish pics but you get the idea

[mike@x-ph.com]

looks good so far, and good luck on your next mods

[vladberca]

Great updates so far! Do you have manual transmission or auto?

[VMRWheels]

Welcome and congrats! Hope to see you on VMR V710 soon

[Cording]

Thanks everybody, definitely wanting some VMR's soon but I think I'm going to wait a month or two for the better weather as they'll be getting some lovely new tyres also.

Oh and it's a manual transmission of course, I couldn't imagine myself in an auto for a very long time

Not any real updates today, some utter numpty wiped out my driver's wing mirror down a narrow country lane so I bought the new glass and am waiting for that to arrive.

I also managed to get a hold of new steering wheel trim as mine is looking ropey, £30 delivered from Germany so very pleased compared with BMW's £90 they wanted.

Hopefully I'll be pulling the trigger on some carbon soon

[Cording]

Only a couple of updates so far. I managed to acquire BMWP gear knob from Germany for a solid £30 delivered so not a bad deal! It felt really weird fitted at first as it's got a much smaller profile than the standard M-Sport gear knob but I've gotten used to it after 100 miles and it makes a really nice difference in changes, especially that pesky 1st to 2nd.

I also picked up my first DSLR, a Nikon D90. It came with loads of stuff and I just bought another lens so the pictures should be good quality now. I've got two pictures I took in a rush just to test the camera, one original and a v. quick edit

_DSC0038 by joncording12, on Flickr

_DSC0038edit by joncording12, on Flickr

[adobeee]

What angel eye LEDs are you using?

[Cording]

Originally Posted by adobeee

What angel eye LEDs are you using?

Just some cheap ones I got from eBay. Had them since October now so 6 months ish and not had a single issue, no flickering or dimming etc.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIZZMO-BMW...ht_3162wt_1399

I just bought them as the yellow dulls bugged me, I'll probably get some different ones at some point

[Cording]

Got a picture of the P Gear Knob, lovely little mod. I also picked up a silver/leather handbrake handle to match for a tenner!

I started wrapping the interior yesterday and did a trial fit on one piece and really like the look so the rest will be done tonight.

Did a quick clean and a few pictures!


_DSC0212by joncording12, on Flickr


_DSC0270by joncording12, on Flickr


_DSC0271by joncording12, on Flickr


_DSC0262by joncording12, on Flickr


_DSC0207by joncording12, on Flickr

[RLighty]

Car looks good man! I need come Blacklines on mine next, they really do transform the rear. Subbed as I'm looking forward to seeing these updates!

[bvmarr]

Very nice! I I just bought my first BMW a couple days ago it's a 09 135i only had 46k miles

[Cording]

Originally Posted by RLighty

Car looks good man! I need come Blacklines on mine next, they really do transform the rear. Subbed as I'm looking forward to seeing these updates!

Thank you very much! I couldn't agree more, I was stunned at how much better it looks for something so simple - I see the standard lights on them now and think they just look pants!

There might be a few big updates on the way

Originally Posted by bvmarr

Very nice! I I just bought my first BMW a couple days ago it's a 09 135i only had 46k miles

Cheers pal, sounds good! I'd love a 135i but I do way too much mileage for the fuel cost. Get some pictures up!!!

[RLighty]

Originally Posted by Cording

Thank you very much! I couldn't agree more, I was stunned at how much better it looks for something so simple - I see the standard lights on them now and think they just look pants!

There might be a few big updates on the way

Cheers pal, sounds good! I'd love a 135i but I do way too much mileage for the fuel cost. Get some pictures up!!!

Where did you get them from by the way?

[Cording]

Originally Posted by RLighty

Where did you get them from by the way?

If you mean the Darklines I got them off eBay.de. I won the auction for £150 + £17 delivery so absolute bargain!

This is what they have at a buy it now from the same people I purchased from

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-1er-E8...item41946f5151

Check their listings, they put them up on auction all the time, they deliver really quick as well

Good luck

[Cording]

So here is an update I have been extremely excited about. I bought some lovely VMR v710 from a member on here last week and finally got some pictures. Only one uploaded for now as my internet is diabolical but you get the jist!

Fronts: 19x8.5" ET45 with 225/35/19 Eagle F1
Rears: 19x9.5" ET50 with 255/30/19 Eagle F1

No scrubbing whatsoever but it's standard M-Sport suspension.


BMW E82//VMR NoFlareby joncording12, on Flickr

[Cording]

No updates just a new picture

_DSC0506 by joncording12, on Flickr

[ShocknAwe]

Car looks great man.

[Cording]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Car looks great man.

Thank you very much, I'm now stuck about what I want to do next - too many choices

[Cording]

So last week I finally got some pressed plates and a performance spoiler. I picked both up from eBay and both are of fantastic quality. The spoiler is naturally an eBay replica but delivered from Taiwan in 4 days flat with enough 3M tape to do the job.

Removing the previous one took less than 10 minutes! I was stunned at how easy it was as in the past adhesive removal took hours.. maybe I perfected the technique accidently. New spoiler is a perfect fitment and looks great.

I had a moment spare so snapped a few new pictures


Night by Jonathan Cording, on Flickr


Sundown by Jonathan Cording, on Flickr


Dusk by Jonathan Cording, on Flickr