[Butch]

Ok, so it may not be the most exciting e90 on these forums, but it's the first time I've had chance to take a couple of pics, so here they are:









Not sure which are standard features, and which are options but mine has:

Steptronic
Black leather
Bluetooth
Armrest
Aux In
Voice input
Brushed aluminium trim
Anti dazzle mirror
Cruise control
Rear PDC
Headlight washers
Exterior light pack

[NFS]

looks great - get some blacklines though

[Butch]

Yep - deffo need to put them on the 'to do' list !

[Rushall]

Looks great - def black lines and maybe some bigger rims!

[Dr Dave]

and black grilles?

[dxb335d]

Looks cool mate mate. A clean looking example. What is the mileage like? Lovely clean pipes.. Do you use Autosol?


Carlos

[Butch]

Originally Posted by Rushall

Looks great - def black lines and maybe some bigger rims!

Yep - these are definately on my list of things to do... I'm sure I will be asking questions about new rims over the coming months. On my shortlist at the moment are 18" - Dotz Mugello, Team Dynamics Equinox, Cades LM style, Elipsoid 162 Reps or CSL Reps ???

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

and black grilles?

I do like the black grille look, I think I would then have to do the chrome window trim though... and I actually quite like a bit of chrome to contrast the black, so thinking of leaving that as is !

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Looks cool mate mate. A clean looking example. What is the mileage like? Lovely clean pipes.. Do you use Autosol?

It's an 05 with 40k on it - only picked it up 4 weeks ago. Actually the paintwork is a bit of a mess when you get close up - lots of fine scratches and swirls, am slowly detailing it all by hand.

And the pipes... they had NEVER been cleaned, they were actually proper black and rusty (was thinking about getting new tips welded on), I spent a good couple of hours cleaning with tar remover and wheel acid and a scourer and actually scrubbed some of the chrome off the tips (but only noticeable close up). Used a silver/chrome polish after that, waxed and then used an alloy wheel sealant - now they just need a bit of a wipe when I clean the car and they come up all shiney.

[SiKkBaSs]

Reminds me of my car when it was stock. You do tend to like the chrome strip at first, gives it a real classy look. But when you start modding it (tints, blacklines, grille) you'll see it looks out of place to you (not other people who still maintain it looks great ).

Also see you have the halogens...one of the first things I noticed, and didn't like, when buying. I'd reccommend an upgrade on these since there has been a lot of modding on this part lately, see relevant threads.

Good luck with the modding.

Black Sapphire FTW!

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by Butch

Yep - these are definately on my list of things to do... I'm sure I will be asking questions about new rims over the coming months. On my shortlist at the moment are 19" CSL Reps in silver which will compliment the chrome window trim.
I actually quite like a bit of chrome to contrast the black, so thinking of leaving that as is !

Job done then, carry on

[SiKkBaSs]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

Job done then, carry on

Agreed. Feck the rest

[foxy-367]

NIce car mate, I thought the tips were aftermarket until I read what you put. Will you do mine?!

[rabble]

pretty decent!

[beemerbird]

Car looks fine and keep at the paintwork, will be worth it.

Doesn't matter what the car is, it's your pride and joy. Besides you've got a 'creamy' straight six which sounds lovely - I had one a while back. Enjoy!

[Snooky]

Looks great. I really like those wheels tbh (I know you fancy changing them).

Enjoy the new motor!!

[Butch]

Thanks for all your comments, please keep the feedback coming, its helping me make decisions about what to do and not to do... Am really deliberating whether to go for 18" or 19" wheels, see comment below?

Originally Posted by SiKkBaSs

Also see you have the halogens...one of the first things I noticed, and didn't like, when buying. I'd reccommend an upgrade on these since there has been a lot of modding on this part lately, see relevant threads.

Yeah, I was planning on changing all the bulbs for the Xenon look but read on here what a pain in the arse it is to change them all, at the moment I'm just thinking "I've got lights and they work"...

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

19" CSL's - Job done then, carry on

I didn't want to get in to the whole 18" vs 19" debate just yet, but while we are here and it's been mentioned... I am not planning on changing my suspension, therefore wondered if 19" wheels on stock suspension might look odd? Also worried about bending them on my daily commute (pot holes, back lanes, speed humps) and don't want any firmer ride than what I've got with my 17" rims and RFTs ??? Any comments would be useful.

Originally Posted by foxy-367

NIce car mate, I thought the tips were aftermarket until I read what you put. Will you do mine?!

It would be cheaper to get a local aftermarket exhaust company to cut the old ones off and weld some new ones on rather than hire me !

[Swiller]

Best bit about yer car by a mile, whatever you stick on it afterwards, is that 3.0l straight six petrol engine. Bootifuwl. Its fine as it is.

Great choice , im with you on the "i have got lights". Personally i think things like blacklines, spoilers, retrofit xenons are just accesories that add nothing to the driving experience or the resale value of the car.

I bought a very similar car to yours and went for 162 alloys + non runflats and a professional paint correction detail. Cost £1000 all in. The paintwork is as good, if not better than comparable brand new showroom cars and the interior looks in good shape.

Great choice m8,i love mine.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by Swiller

Best bit about yer car by a mile, whatever you stick on it afterwards, is that 3.0l straight six petrol engine. Bootifuwl. Its fine as it is.

You are absolutely right the 330i engine is a wonderful thing.

I agree on the paint correction as well. I had mine done a while ago and it makes a HUGE difference on black paint, which is really prone to swirl marks etc..

I would do the blacklines though, they look great on a black car.

[Butch]

Swiller - Your car looks mint, I want to do something similar, keeping it relatively stock looking. I actually remember reading your review of your experience at Cambridge Autogleam, the day after I bought my car... relaistically couldn't afford it otherwise that's where I would have taken mine.

I love the 162 style alloys, are they OEM or replicas - If reps would you mind telling me where you got them from? I have found some on performancealloys.com but was hoping to try and get a staggered fitment.

Blacklines is a must on a black car, deffo on the 'to do' list.

Loving the engine - had a V6 before, but this is something else.

[SiKkBaSs]

Originally Posted by Butch

Swiller - Your car looks mint, I want to do something similar, keeping it relatively stock looking. I actually remember reading your review of your experience at Cambridge Autogleam, the day after I bought my car... relaistically couldn't afford it otherwise that's where I would have taken mine.

I love the 162 style alloys, are they OEM or replicas - If reps would you mind telling me where you got them from? I have found some on performancealloys.com but was hoping to try and get a staggered fitment.

Blacklines is a must on a black car, deffo on the 'to do' list.

Loving the engine - had a V6 before, but this is something else.

Those ellipsoid rims are OEM.

Looking at your to do list, it seems to me you're drifting a bit far from keeping your car stock looking...

[Swiller]

Originally Posted by Butch

Swiller - Your car looks mint, I want to do something similar, keeping it relatively stock looking. I actually remember reading your review of your experience at Cambridge Autogleam, the day after I bought my car... relaistically couldn't afford it otherwise that's where I would have taken mine.

I love the 162 style alloys, are they OEM or replicas - If reps would you mind telling me where you got them from? I have found some on performancealloys.com but was hoping to try and get a staggered fitment.

Blacklines is a must on a black car, deffo on the 'to do' list.

Loving the engine - had a V6 before, but this is something else.

Glad yer enjoying it and cheers for compliments.
The 162s i bought from here 500 sovs wiv rubber. they are oem. Seek and ye shall find, but i have seen em for a lot more than 500 without rubber.
You can get a 1 stage polish detail which will make improve it lots for a lot less. Gloss enhancement i think it is called. Do the interior yourself etc. TBH any detailer would do similar, so may be worth a shop about. I went for the full monty.

btw how much did you pay for it and whats the mileage, reg etc.

[Butch]

Thanks for all the kind comments folks !

Picked up my 330 in November - 2005, 39,000 miles for just over £13k - from car supermarket, but got good price trading my old motor in !!!

Blacklines will deffo go on at some point, prob need wheels first though - gotta save some pennies before my rubber runs out...

£500 for those 162s is a real bargain - I've set my mind on 19" CSL's or 19" M6 alloys, but can't decide which will look best?

[raf555]

what sort of mpg u gettin from 330i?