Boston Gray Build Thread

[HappyDuck]

In 2018 I was working crazy hours and started looking for a fun car. I found the 128i was a nearly ideal balance of design, performance and reliability. I also came to believe that it's a future classic, a spiritual continuation of the 2002, the last NA inline 6 BMW was going to produce.
After months of searching I found this Space Gray 6MT M-Sport Coupe in Seattle. I bought it sight-unseen and flew out to to pick it up. After completing paperwork with the previous owner, I jumped in the driver's seat and drove it straight down to Los Angeles before shipping back to Boston. True to form, it ran perfectly, was quiet, fast and comfortable.
But, it wasn't perfect. I decided that I wanted to turn it into my ideal 128i, using BMW parts, as if it might have come from the factory.

[HappyDuck]

The first thing I changed wasn't difficult or significant. But it was the thing I had to look at over and over every time I drove it.
Besides being quite worn out, the M-Sport badge looks like an afterthought on the OEM steering wheel trim. I replaced it with M-Sport E90/92/93 trim piece.

Old wheel trim:


New wheel trim:

[HappyDuck]

The 128i comes standard with 17" Style 207. Besides being on the small size (which wasn't a deal-killer considering the pot holes and rough roads around Boston) I never thought the design was a great compliment with the shape and lines of the 1-series design.
Wheel shopping took me months and months. I nearly bought a square set of Style 307 from an X3. Then, I found a set of Style 372s. They were in immaculate shape and nearby the Six Flags I was taking my kids to. After getting tires mounted, I couldn't be happier with the way they compliment the 1-series.

OEM Style 207 wheels for reference:



Now with Style 372 wheels

[jdt10768]

Looks good, keep posting your progress! Space Gray ftw

[BMWCCA1]

I could see no difference in your steering wheel pictures until I realized you had a 2011 and by the time my 2013 came out, that's the steering wheel trim piece it came with!

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

I could see no difference in your steering wheel pictures until I realized you had a 2011 and by the time my 2013 came out, that's the steering wheel trim piece it came with!

Not mine DOB 23 Jan 2013.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Not mine DOB 23 Jan 2013.

Well, now that I look at it again, I see the scooped-out area where the M-badge goes. Is that the only change? The worn-out aspect must refer to that rubber coating BMW put on everything back then. That's what is missing from my 2013. Same cover, just not slathered in rubberized coating. I'm gonna try to strip the one on my wife's car, or just replace it with the later uncoated version. Cheers!

[fotontom]

Nice! Identical to mine except for the iDrive. Good luck with it!

[HappyDuck]

That's exactly it!

[HappyDuck]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Well, now that I look at it again, I see the scooped-out area where the M-badge goes. Is that the only change? The worn-out aspect must refer to that rubber coating BMW put on everything back than. That's what is missing from my 2013. Same cover, just not slathered in rubberized coating. I'm gonna try to strip the one on my wife's car, or just replace it with the later uncoated version. Cheers!

That's exactly it!

[HappyDuck]

[Converted1]

Space gray shows off this cars peak Bangle lines exceptionally well, but im biased. I actually really like your stock wheels and think for a smaller size they compliment the car well. I do like what you chose though. I highly recommend the Motorsport CF spoiler and exhaust. I added it tom my Cabrio and it really topped it off nicely. Best of luck and I’ll be watching for updates.

[HappyDuck]

[HappyDuck]

When I first bought the 1-er I wanted a black interior, thinking it went better with the space grey. But after having the car for a couple of years, the black interior became boring and plain for my fun car.
Only after looking on-and-off for about two years I found a red with manual sport seats.
Switching everything out wasn't complicated, although it took a lot longer than I expected and I needed to clear the airbag code.
I love the result. I think the spicier color compliments the fun and sporty nature of the car much better

[parameter416]

When I was searching for my 128i 6-speed, I wanted a black interior too. So when I found one that had everything I was looking for, I was actually disappointed that it had a coral red interior. I was sure I'd grow tired of it before long.

That was 4-1/2 years ago, and now the opposite is true. I love the red interior, and when I see a car with a black interior I think it looks a bit boring - a missed opportunity!

[HappyDuck]

It's the simplest mod I've made so far and has made the greatest impact on the car's look; Euro Blackline Taillights.
I never understood why the OEM tails were so plain and straight. These Blackline taillights really compliment the car's flame-surfacing. The larger light bars have presence, where the OEM are forgettable.

[parameter416]

Completely agree. The blacklines have a depth to them that the NA stock ones lack. It seems like it shouldn't make that much of a difference, but it does.

[HappyDuck]

A euro airbox was another item I had purchased sometime in the last two years, but never got around to installing until now.
The plastic screws were pretty corroded so they were sprayed with black primer to clean them up.

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by parameter416

Completely agree. The blacklines have a depth to them that the NA stock ones lack. It seems like it shouldn't make that much of a difference, but it does.

I upgraded my pre-LCI to the LCI LED taillights but wouldn't mind a set of blacklines at some point. Unfortunately, desires exceed funding at the moment.

[parameter416]

Originally Posted by HappyDuck

A euro airbox was another item I had purchased sometime in the last two years, but never got around to installing until now.
The plastic screws were pretty corroded so they were sprayed with black primer to clean them up.

I did that, too. You might want to consider a silicone air intake boot (Turner or Mishimoto). It eliminates a noise baffle. I installed them both at the same time. It really wakes up the engine - gives you some great intake noise above 4,000 rpm, but stays quiet below that.

[HappyDuck]

Originally Posted by parameter416

I did that, too. You might want to consider a silicone air intake boot (Turner or Mishimoto). It eliminates a noise baffle. I installed them both at the same time. It really wakes up the engine - gives you some great intake noise above 4,000 rpm, but stays quiet below that.

How do the intake boots differ dimensionally from OEM? Or does the material make the difference?

[WrathOTM]

Originally Posted by HappyDuck

How do the intake boots differ dimensionally from OEM? Or does the material make the difference?

It doesn't change the dimensions IIRC, it just eliminates the silencer/baffle which does affect the airflow to a small degree.

I have a Mishimoto one and it was fractionally shorter than my stock tube and made the airbox stretch over a smidgen in order to get it fully seated and clamped down.