What do I do?

amancuso · 09-20-2011, 01:35 PM

OK I have a bit of a decision to make here. I have some $$ to spend on the 1er. I'm thinking about respraying the hood and front bumper, then applying the clear bra to protect it in addition to Lamin-X for the headlights and fogs, then having my 1 wheel repaired due to curb rash, and black sport grills

Other option is to just do the Lamin-X on the lights and replace the tails with LCI's, and refinish the wheel, and black grills.
I'm not sure I want to go with the 2nd option because I feel that the LCI tails with out the headlights don't flow as well and my car is a 2008 year 1 of the 1 model. Should I keep it as is?

Here's the 1er as it currently sits:

Thanks for your opinions.
Al

zkeeper · 09-20-2011, 08:52 PM

I hope I read this right...or better I hope I understood what you mean. It seems you would not be even thinking of a re-spray of bonnet and bumper if it did not need it. To option out of that, and put money somewhere else on a mod that might look only OK at best, and still have the bonnet and bumper looking like it NEEDS a re-do would bother you...would me anyway. I would always feel it a good refreshing, and then protection. The wheel? of course, no question it seems in both options. My 4 cents?, and I have a 128Msport, would be to keep it in as new and sharp look as possible. When that is corrected, and protected, [I also have the 3M auto bra on whole front end, clip & bonnet, and love it--no rocks chips] then other neat little mods could be added like the grill or whatever...you will always appreciate a better looking vehicle; nothing wrong with its original look, especially when done right and protected....end of counsel. BUT good luck with whatever you choose...you are the one who has to look at it each morning-and decide what pleases you the most.

amancuso · 09-21-2011, 08:31 AM

Thanks for the opinion Zkeeper. I could live with the front as is, but I know it will only get worse with time. Still have plenty of time to decide what to do, so I'm not in a rush or anything.

bozola · 09-21-2011, 08:42 AM

Perf exhaust, m3 sway.

1speedbike · 09-21-2011, 07:35 PM

I don't really like the LCI tail lights. They're too Lexus-wannabe. It's even worse on the 7, it doesn't just have the same shape but it just LOOKS the exact same!

But my advice to you is to do your first option. I am so dumb for not installing a clear bra the day I got my car. When I got into an accident and got a new bumper, I wanted to put a clear bra on but it was the only car I had to drive for a while and since the paint wasn't from the factory, I couldn't put it on for a while during the outgassing.. and even days later it was dimpled with imperfections. I got it repainted, and it still happened. BMW paint sucks. It chips, it soaks up all the dead bugs, and now my bumper is permanently scarred and chipped and it sucks. In the future I will be repainting it when I have time and another car to use regularly and putting protection on. It pains me when I see the rest of the car so nice and clean and the front just mucked up. But that's just me.

infinitekidM2C · 09-21-2011, 08:11 PM

I'd get some Black wheels..Arc-8's or something.

Pangloss · 09-22-2011, 01:17 AM

I don't really like the LS460 tail lights. They're too BMW-wannabe.

09-20-2011, 01:35 PM	#1
amancuso Lieutenant Colonel 724 Rep 1,756 Posts Drives: 330it, 428ix, 430i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lawrenceville, GA iTrader: (1)	What do I do? OK I have a bit of a decision to make here. I have some $$ to spend on the 1er. I'm thinking about respraying the hood and front bumper, then applying the clear bra to protect it in addition to Lamin-X for the headlights and fogs, then having my 1 wheel repaired due to curb rash, and black sport grills Other option is to just do the Lamin-X on the lights and replace the tails with LCI's, and refinish the wheel, and black grills. I'm not sure I want to go with the 2nd option because I feel that the LCI tails with out the headlights don't flow as well and my car is a 2008 year 1 of the 1 model. Should I keep it as is? Here's the 1er as it currently sits: Thanks for your opinions. Al __________________ 2016 428ix, r, 2018 430iC, 2018 330it Last edited by amancuso; 09-20-2011 at 01:40 PM..
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09-20-2011, 08:52 PM	#2
zkeeper Captain 208 Rep 602 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 & 08 Z4 si Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: BimmerHaven iTrader: (0)	I hope I read this right...or better I hope I understood what you mean. It seems you would not be even thinking of a re-spray of bonnet and bumper if it did not need it. To option out of that, and put money somewhere else on a mod that might look only OK at best, and still have the bonnet and bumper looking like it NEEDS a re-do would bother you...would me anyway. I would always feel it a good refreshing, and then protection. The wheel? of course, no question it seems in both options. My 4 cents?, and I have a 128Msport, would be to keep it in as new and sharp look as possible. When that is corrected, and protected, [I also have the 3M auto bra on whole front end, clip & bonnet, and love it--no rocks chips] then other neat little mods could be added like the grill or whatever...you will always appreciate a better looking vehicle; nothing wrong with its original look, especially when done right and protected....end of counsel. BUT good luck with whatever you choose...you are the one who has to look at it each morning-and decide what pleases you the most.
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09-21-2011, 08:31 AM	#3
amancuso Lieutenant Colonel 724 Rep 1,756 Posts Drives: 330it, 428ix, 430i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lawrenceville, GA iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the opinion Zkeeper. I could live with the front as is, but I know it will only get worse with time. Still have plenty of time to decide what to do, so I'm not in a rush or anything. __________________ 2016 428ix, r, 2018 430iC, 2018 330it
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09-21-2011, 08:42 AM	#4
bozola Unloved BMW Addict 86 Rep 1,185 Posts Drives: Z3 Coupe, 3 318Ti Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: King County WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 Z3 Coupe [10.00] 1998 318Ti [0.00] 1998 318Ti [10.00] 2008 128i [9.00]	Perf exhaust, m3 sway.
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09-21-2011, 07:35 PM	#5
1speedbike Brigadier General 732 Rep 3,274 Posts Drives: 2022 X4 M40i, 2008 135i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MKE iTrader: (15)	I don't really like the LCI tail lights. They're too Lexus-wannabe. It's even worse on the 7, it doesn't just have the same shape but it just LOOKS the exact same! But my advice to you is to do your first option. I am so dumb for not installing a clear bra the day I got my car. When I got into an accident and got a new bumper, I wanted to put a clear bra on but it was the only car I had to drive for a while and since the paint wasn't from the factory, I couldn't put it on for a while during the outgassing.. and even days later it was dimpled with imperfections. I got it repainted, and it still happened. BMW paint sucks. It chips, it soaks up all the dead bugs, and now my bumper is permanently scarred and chipped and it sucks. In the future I will be repainting it when I have time and another car to use regularly and putting protection on. It pains me when I see the rest of the car so nice and clean and the front just mucked up. But that's just me. __________________ 2022 X4 M40i - 2008 135i - 2015 F700GS On Order - 2024 i4 M50 Scruffy's gonna die the way he lived... Mmhm.
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09-21-2011, 08:11 PM	#6
infinitekidM2C Major General 4207 Rep 5,728 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2019 M2 COMPETITION [9.50] 2008 135i (my old car) [7.39]	I'd get some Black wheels..Arc-8's or something.
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09-22-2011, 01:17 AM	#7
Pangloss Lieutenant 28 Rep 563 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	I don't really like the LS460 tail lights. They're too BMW-wannabe. __________________ 2012 135i convertible, DCT, Black/Beige, HK, Prem, M sport, no nav.
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