The Procession of a 128i

[Squiggs]

Hello. I just wanted to make a photo thread dedicated to my 128i showing the transformation from when I bought it stock (April 2011) to the constant modifications that I plan.



First I'll post some stock photos from when I recently purchased the vehicle:

[Squiggs]

Next:


VMR V710 19in. Matte Black


19x8.5 ET45 mm
19x9.5 ET50 mm

Yokohama S.drive tires

[Squiggs]

tomorrow, despite some hesitance on my part and 1addict enthusiasts, I'm having my dealership paint my calipers black. I've decided to opt out of any bright colors and think black will be a nice touch. Tuesday I will be getting my windows tinted. Thoughts on what %?

I have also been in touch with my local BMW service rep. and was quoted this price for the BMW performance suspension:

BMW Performance Suspension: (FRONT AND REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS INC. SWAY BARS)

Sale Price: $1450.00

Retail Price: $2200.00

(8 HRS) LABOR $1130.95


I will post pics Tuesday when the black calipers and tint will be finished. Hopefully I will be going with the performance suspension within a few weeks.

[Sylon]

Car look really good dude. As for the brakes, they will disappear behind the wheels if you paint them black. I would get the BMW Performance BBK and stick with that. But its your car and Im sure you've heard that story a hundred times by now.

[jimmy1990]

looks good

[Focusedintntions]

Doesn't take 8 hours of labor. If they know what they're doing 4 hours max.

[CentralPA E82]

^^^What he said. With a lift and trained techs, 8 hours is a joke.

[The1]

tint will transform it

im running 30% rear 20 front and im happy with it, not too dark

[Squiggs]

sneak peak of black calipers. Tint goes on Tuesday:

[The1]

I can't wait for the tint pictures, will transform the car.

[Squiggs]

Originally Posted by Focusedintntions

Doesn't take 8 hours of labor. If they know what they're doing 4 hours max.

thanks for the response, both of you, really. But what do I tell the guy, "the parts are reasonable but that's a 4 hour job for a trained professional."?


I wonder if there's negotiating as far as labor's concerned, I mean I don't think they'll budge. If I go elsewhere would it void the warranty? Where do I get the parts if I don't go through my BMW rep directly? Are the part #'s universal, as I read somewhere every vehicle may have slightly different parts or sizes, as I don't just want to order it myself and have it be the wrong thing.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by The1

tint will transform it

im running 30% rear 20 front and im happy with it, not too dark

you're backwards from everyone....typically you can go darker in the rear than the front...it probably looks funny with darker front windows than the rest of the car.

[The1]

lol, you should read it again, i just phrased it funnily, but it's saying that my rear windows are 30%

[1SerieStud]

To the OP: find a certified shop/mechanic and you should be able to pay no more than 300-400 bucks for labor at the most.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by The1

lol, you should read it again, i just phrased it funnily, but it's saying that my rear windows are 30%

I know, I read it again, it makes NO sense to have 20% in the front and 30% in the rear....that goes against all logic. So, read it twice, and it still sounds as funny as it probably looks.

The norm is using either the same percentage all around, or some people go lighter in the front for legal reasons and darker in the rear - ie: 30% front windows and 20% rears.

[The1]

Originally Posted by 1SerieStud

I know, I read it again, it makes NO sense to have 20% in the front and 30% in the rear....that goes against all logic. So, read it twice, and it still sounds as funny as it probably looks.

The norm is using either the same percentage all around, or some people go lighter in the front for legal reasons and darker in the rear - ie: 30% front windows and 20% rears.

haha, i wrote it wrong, i'm really out of it today...

it is lighter in the front then rear.

looks fairly even judging by this picture though.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by The1

haha, i wrote it wrong, i'm really out of it today...

it is lighter in the front then rear.

looks fairly even judging by this picture though.

Now we are talking

[jkoral]

I have the BMW Performance Suspension installed by the original owner, so I just looked up what he paid.

$1200 for suspension from United BMW
$1080 installation from BMW of Greenwich
$250 for alignment from BMW of Greenwich

Squiggs, I am also in Boston, what dealer are you using?

[CentralPA E82]

For the suspension I would check with Dan@United. He is a stand up guy and has helped quite a few here.

[Squiggs]

Originally Posted by jkoral

I have the BMW Performance Suspension installed by the original owner, so I just looked up what he paid.

$1200 for suspension from United BMW
$1080 installation from BMW of Greenwich
$250 for alignment from BMW of Greenwich

Squiggs, I am also in Boston, what dealer are you using?

I'm in Peabody, so I went right to BMW of Peabody...know of any certified BMW places to go to to install this? So you're saying purchase the parts from Dan @United and find a local certified shop and save about $500 in labor?

[DriveHard]

all looks great so far....But you didnt paint the rotor hats ???????

[Squiggs]

Originally Posted by DriveHard

all looks great so far....But you didnt paint the rotor hats ???????

I don't know :/ ...I know what you mean now, oh well. It was in the shop all day between painting and drying, I definitely should have told him to paint the hats though, damnit....


tint goes on Tuesday, and I've messaged Dan@United about suspension...anyone know of any places to get it installed as (8 HRS) LABOR $1130.95 seems ridiculous according to other 1addicts and could be done in the half the time?