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My ride's most recent pix:
These are my car's current pix. I made various subtle changes to the car but nothing serious yet.
Well, it's been fun having a car slammed to the ground and tires almost tucking inside the fenders for the past few years. However, things have changed. I am no longer a kid and I now desire a more comfortable ride for my car. I no longer like having bumpy rides and driving like a grandma just to avoid all the potholes and scrapping my front end when exiting curbs. Therefore, I had to sacrifice my H & R springs in favor of the more comfortable 328 sport package springs. The 328 springs raised my car by a few inches and allowed me to have that extra clearance much needed for daily driving. In addition, I also replaced my stock struts/shocks and rear shock mounts with a set of Koni adjustable struts/shocks and Turnermotorsport's JT Design rear shock mounts to complement my 328 sport package springs and further improve the ride comfort of my car. So here they are, pictures of my car after the suspension swap. Enjoy! IF THE PICTURE IN THIS PAGE DO NOT FULLY LOAD, PLEASE CLICK ON THE SAME LINK (MY BMW'S GALLERY 3) TO YOUR LEFT AGAIN. DO NOT HIT THE RELOAD BUTTON
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Just pulled out from the garage
This is one of the last few pictures of my car before the suspension swap. Notice that there's no fender gap whatsoever, which is perfect for cosmetic purpose. However, also notice my front end is too low for me to go anywhere. |
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Most recent interior shot
This is how my interior looks now. Ignore the two tiny black spots on the seat, it's the scanner's flaw. I now have carbon fiber speaker grill surrounds to accent my MB Quart QM series speakers. I've also installed M3 interior door sills and black mats to make the interior more colorful.
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AC Schnitzer rear roof spoiler
I was going to paint the AC Schnitzer rear roof spoiler when I purchased it a while ago. However, many body shops quoted me at least $150.00 to paint this little piece. In my opinion, it's too expensive for me to paint the roof spoiler and have it not match my car's color correctly. Therefore, I have a black ACS roof spoiler. Not so bad looking, huh? |
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ECIS (East Coast Induction System) Intake
Here's a picture of my ECIS intake with optional ECIS metal cover to enhance the intake's appearance. I had to slightly modify the metal intake cover by cutting off a portion it to fit over the orange airbag sensor located by the edge of the engine bay.
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German license plate
This is the German license plate from the city of Aachen, Germany. As many of you enthusiasts know, Aachen is the town where AC Schnitzer is located. Therefore, having an ACS' home plate makes my car even more special. Notice I also have a BMW dealer license plate frame from Munich, Germany. |
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My car being lifted for suspension swap
This pix was taken when I first arrived Star Tech in Rowland Heights. The new sway bars, Koni shocks and 328 springs were still sitting on the ground for installation.
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Right rear tire/rim off the car
This is how it looks like with rear tires unmounted. Notice the H & R springs were still intalled on my car, as well as my old shocks. |
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Koni front struts/328 springs and strut hats intalled
This new setup definitely looks a lot better than my previous, aging setup. What I like the most about these Koni struts is that they're adjustable. Thus allowing me to fine tune my ride comfort. |
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The exhaust is still hot
This picture was taken after I ran over a plastic bag on the road. There was still some residues on my exhaust as shown in the picture. I wonder why my exhaust bracket was missing... hmm... |
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Koni shocks being installed
The mechanics at Star Tech were busy installing my rear Koni shocks as shown in the picture. The dusty parts are my original struts/shocks and springs. The X brace was sitting next to them before it's installed. |
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Final check up before the car's ready
This was the final check up before my car left the shop. The mechanics were going through everything just to make sure that all the components were installed correctly. |
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Posing with Caddy
This is how my car looks like now. Notice the stock looking gap in the front fender. Oh well, at least my front end doesn't scrape now. Besides, I think the new setup makes my ride more mature and comfortable. |
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Another shot with Caddy
Despite being a few more inches taller up front, my car still looks considerably lower than my dad's Caddy. Comfort wise, the Caddy definitely wins my vote. |
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AC Schnitzer front bumper looking good
I had a similar picture taken at this angle back in 1998. The differences between now and then are apparent. New mods. shown in the pix are the German license plate, bracket, and frame, AC Schnitzer sport mirrors, blacked out front grills, carbon fiber BMW emblem, In Pro smoked front corners and AC Schnitzer windshield decal. |
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Side view of my car
My car definitely looks considerably taller than before. Even though the front view is unchanged, the side view is certainly compromised. I now have to put up with the fender gap that I used to hate so much. |
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Race Marque System exhaust with engraved RMS logo on the tips
Unlike other exhausts I've seen before, including AA, Supersprint, Tri Flo and Remus, this RMS exhaust feature staggered tips, just like the stock M3 exhaust. Of course, the RMS exhaust not only looks good, it sounds great as well. |
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M3 style rear diffuser installed
I really did not feel like spending $350 for a M3 rear bumper that looks too similar to the 325's. I also did not want to spend $250+ on cheap fiberglass rear bumpers or $450+ on genuine aftermarket rear bumpers. Therefore, buying a M3 diffuser solved this dilemma. |
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A close up look at the M3 diffuser
Despite keeping my original 325is rear bumper, the M3 diffuser still makes the car stand out from the standard 325s. |
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One of the most recent pix
Notice my AC Schnitzer front bumper is now sitting considerably higher than it was before. My car also has the stock lookalike gaps in the front fenders. But it doesn't matter, as long as I don't scrape my front bumper, I can sacrifice that low-rider look anytime. |
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Another view of my new ride height
I pretty much have most of what I need for my car by now. I don't think I will ever add a trunk spoiler or wing to ruin my car's smooth surface lines. My last exterior mod. would probably be installing those M3 Lux. sideskirts which are still sitting in my garage. |
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A close up shot with John's M3
John and I both have AC Schnitzer roof spoiler on our cars. I think this piece really makes rear window less boring in terms of appearance. |
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Another picture with John's M3
Interesting, my car used to sit a lot lower than John's M3 because of my old H&R springs. John had since upgraded his suspension to AC Schnitzer ones and I, on the other hand, had swapped my H&Rs with a set of 328 sport package springs. See the difference these changes made? Thanks to my AC Schnitzer front bumper, my car still doesn't appear to be too tall compare to the M3. |
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Head to head comparison with John's M3
Unlike the rear, the differences in the front sides of these two cars are more noticeable. John has kept his M3 pretty stock looking up front (except for deleting his front plate) while I had blacked out my front grills, added a German license plate, AC Schnitzer front bumper and badge to the front end. |
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Last shot with John's M3
One of the coolest mods. John has done to his car is his personalized license plate, M3 Evo. I am still deciding which name I should go with for my own personalized plate. Want to contribute some ideas? Feel free to email me. |
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Bavarian Autosport burlwood ebrake handle
Bavarian Autosport definitely did a good job by designing this piece. It looks just like the standard, BMW OEM M3 Luxury burlwood ebrake handle! My Samsung Uproar phone and stereo remote sit tightly in the BMW OEM cupholders, which are totally useless for American sized cups. |
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Updated driver's cockpit
I've always loved burlwood trims, especially in a car with tan interior. Even though I am a BMW enthusiast, I can never forget the look of those classy Jaguars in British Racing Green with cream interiors that are filled with wood trims. Therefore, I tucked as many wood pieces as I could find on my car's interior panels. I kept black panels intact only for the surface areas of my stereo equipments, Kenwood KRC-PS955 headunit and Alpine 3342 sound field processor. |
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Installing BMW M3 Lux. sideskirts
This is what was like when my friend John helped me install the BMW OEM M3 Lux. sideskirts in a hot, summer day. Even though the sideskirts should be a direct fit, John did have to drill holes in the bottom of my car in order to screw the sideskirts in place. These sideskirts do look much better than my original painted rocker panels. |
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Lining up with John's 325is
The black 325is next to my car is John's project 325is. So far John's car is equipped with AC Schnitzer style front bumper, sideskirts, and rear bumper. It's also fitted with a set of coilover suspension, giving it a nice drop compare to the higher ride on my car. Notice the blacked out grills on John's car. They certainly make his car look a lot more aggressive than the stock chrome grills that I now have on my car. |
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Rear ends shot
John's 325is certainly looks a lot lower than my car from this rear ends shot. His M3 exhaust with DTM tips also goes well with the AC Schnitzer style rear bumper. I wish I had the same rear bumper on my car. It would've made my 325is' rear end a lot more Schnizy and less edgy. |
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Raised front end
Now my 325is' front end is considerably raised with the 328 sport package springs. Even though there are now less eye pleasing wheel gaps up front, the added ground clearance of the front bumper does give me a peace of mind when I drive my car around in the city. No longer do I have to worry about entering and exiting curbs like an old man. |
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Last look at my 325is
It's really too bad that my car doesn't have that "forward slanted" look with my old H & R sport springs. I guess driving convenience and safety do give up something--> The looks. Hence, I have since purchased a set of AC Schnitzer springs and Bavarian Autosport springs to play around with my car's ride height. Hopefully, I can eventually achieve that perfect drop without letting my front spoiler hang too low some day. |
