[ouengineer]

After 3 and a half years, I think I've finally got the car exactly where I want it. It's been rock solid reliable, but it certainly should be with less than 35k miles on it. The theme I'm going for is a Modern look. Not quite luxury or sport. I wanted to add lots of gloss black accents but keep the chrome whenever it contrasted with a black surface. Basically, the goal is to add contrast so that it's not just all white. Also, I ultimately decided against engine performance mods. It has just enough power to keep me happy and I've gone down that rabbit hole before with my 240sx a decade ago. Mods are as follows:

• Bimmercode- So that I don't have to pull the door handle twice and turn the car off twice every time I get out of the car

• Koni Special Active Dampers (Red)- Helps the car to handle much flatter and feel like it should have stock (decided against lowering springs due to winter weather, speed humps at work, and occasional off-roading to a trailhead or campsite)

• Gloss Black Dual Slat Grilles- Needed something to differentiate between the thousands of other white F30's in the area

• Gloss Black Vinyl Wrap- Hood, mirrors, and rear chrome trim piece (found a used black shark fin so I didn't have to wrap it)

• Gloss Black Exhaust Tips- These are a little bigger than stock, but only goal here is more contrast

• Jet Black Painted Spoiler- Really adds contrast in the right spot, though gas mileage did drop slightly

• Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ tires- good tires is a must have on every vehicle

• BMW Roof Rack Base Supports- A little noisy at high speeds, but not bad; perfect for the price

• Yakima Frontloader Bike Racks- Awesome racks for easily switching between loading mountain, gravel, road, or tri bike without removing front wheel; car pushes a bit in a hard corner with a bike loaded on top, but can still take some decently hard corners

• Graco Admiral Car Seat- Entire reason I bought a 4 door

• Black/Beige Modern Style Floor Mats- Because the beige/black interior needs more contrast too

Pics go back in time from this week (when I had a clean car and some fresh snow for pics!) to when I first got the car in 2016.

[sspade]

Great job. I respect each one of your decisions and the fact that you made your ride perfectly suitable to your lifestyle and taste. My path and outcome has been very similar.

It's all too easy to follow down the path that 90% of F30 owners take with modifications and try to make your car the next Instagram queen with a slammed ride height and a front lip that's an inch off the ground. That wouldn't work for me either!

[Dreamvillainz]

this is respectable.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Looks great!

[wdeerfield]

car looks great. I like the canyon grail as well! what do you think of the cockpit on it?

[ouengineer]

Thanks All!

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

car looks great. I like the canyon grail as well! what do you think of the cockpit on it?

The Grail cockpit is a bit bulky and awkward at first, but you get used to it quick. It's not nearly as effective as they market it to be, but it does seem to dampen smaller vibrations well (large impacts from extremely rocky trails/roads are unaffected). Overall, I love the bike. Perfectly spec'd from the factory too so no mods have been needed.

[cfm56d7b]

One of the most sensible and practical reviews about modifications which support the intended purpose. Is the bike carbon fiber? It looks like it's ready to tackle any mountain trail.