[stevehecht]

Here are some pics of a duded-up 328d. I had my dealership (Tulley BMW in Nashua, NH) paint and install the front lip and trunk spoilers. The spoilers were made by Kelleners Sport out of Merzig, Germany and I purchased them from their U.S. distributor Bavarian AutoSport (BavAuto.com). I'm very happy with how the spoilers look. I chose them because they flowed well with the line of the car and were understated.

Tulley BMW also swapped out my Sportline steering wheel and installed an M Sport wheel with airbag. I asked Tulley to have XPel paint protection film applied as a full frontal application plus rocker panels. The wheels are foursquare 19x8.5 VMR 721 Gunmetal (35 offset). The tires are Max Summer 245/40/R19 Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position. Going with gunmetal on Melbourne Red was taking a risk but it turned out well. So far I like the tires a whole lot--I haven't been able to get them to break grip as of yet.

Soon to come: Prestige PhotoSync tint and Opticoat Clearcoat application. I'm trying to talk myself into installing a Kelleners Sport tuning module (piggyback ECU) to boost hp and lb-ft about 20% but the damn powertrain keeps meeting all of my expectations!

Happy viewing!

PS--My 18" OEM Pirelli Cinturato P7 Summer Performance RFs are for sale. See this thread: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=973361

PPS--My Sportline steering wheel and airbag are for sale. See this thread: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=974352

WITHOUT FOGS


WITH FOGS










(NOTICE THE POINT OF THE SPOILER PULLED AWAY FROM THE TRUNK--BUMMER BUT TULLEY BODYSHOP SAID I'LL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT)

[MassBimmer]

Good looking car, hope to see it around!

[MickAv8r]

Good lookin ride.

Mind if I ask what you paid for the Xpel? I've got an EBII 328ix on order through Tulley.

Kind of surprised the bodyshop didn't fix the spoiler. I assume because its not BMW and they just don't want to deal with removing and replacing the tape.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by MickAv8r

Good lookin ride.

Mind if I ask what you paid for the Xpel? I've got an EBII 328ix on order through Tulley.

Kind of surprised the bodyshop didn't fix the spoiler. I assume because its not BMW and they just don't want to deal with removing and replacing the tape.

Congrats on your EBII! My wife was lusting after one in the showroom. Almost made me as jealous as if she was hot on some other guy. Well, maybe more...

The body shop affixed the spoiler with urethane glue, not tape. There is no way to remove and re-place the spoiler without ripping up the surface of the trunk. Trying to add more glue to that tip would just leave the glue visible-- not good. On the other hand, that spoiler is not going anywhere. I can live with that degree of imperfection. The Kelleners Sport is not OEM, so stuff like this can happen. The bodyshop at Tulley is one of the few certified BMW collision shops in the country, and I know they know what they're doing.

I got a good price for the full frontal, including full fenders up to the front doors, plus rocker panels and the front lip spoiler. Most full frontals only go to the middle of the wheel well, and that line doesn't look too good. This way, they wrap it around the edge of the fender and it's invisible. I was told by the finance fellow (Marc Starr) that I was getting his price because they were taking photos of the installation for before and after PR purposes. Tulley uses Rick Jeffries to apply the XPel. He is probably the most accomplished installer in this area and is business partners with Rick Nelson at Unique Car Care in Stoneham. Rick Jeffries own company is called Automotive Elegance.

BTW, Rick is going to follow up and apply XPel to my A pillars when I go in for the Opticoat application on Wednesday at Unique Car Care. That follow up application is because of a good suggestion by Rick Parziale, the manager of the Collision Center at Tulley, a real good guy.

[MickAv8r]

Good to know thanks. I've had a couple of emails to UCC about the initial wash/detail and Xpel but haven't gotten a response yet. Car is currently on its way to Bimmerhaven (should be there by now). Waiting on a boat assignment next. However good to know Tulley might be an option to get it done.

Did you get a full hood wrap or partial in that price? I'm also considering getting the roof done as I have to park under trees quite often.

[NHman]

OP, nice looking 3-series! Rare color for this area but good choice.

There's an event in late June for other BMW owners to meet and drive through the roads in the White Mountains. This is not a race. Rather just an opportunity to meet other enthusiast and drive on some good roads including to the summit of Mt. Washington. The event is called "Climb to the Clouds". Some of the attendees make this a day trip. While others make it a weekend event. The only requirement is that you drive and bring a BMW. Roughly 80% of the group is some form of 3-series for either the E9x or F3x platforms. If interested, the website is www.climbtotheclouds.org.

If I don't see you at the event, perhaps I'll see you on the roads. Look for another Melbourne Red BMW.

[NHman]

Originally Posted by MickAv8r

Good to know thanks. I've had a couple of emails to UCC about the initial wash/detail and Xpel but haven't gotten a response yet. Car is currently on its way to Bimmerhaven (should be there by now). Waiting on a boat assignment next. However good to know Tulley might be an option to get it done.

Did you get a full hood wrap or partial in that price? I'm also considering getting the roof done as I have to park under trees quite often.

The best way of contacting Rick @ UCC is via his cell phone. It is not uncommon for a slow or no response to e-mails. I'll send you a PM with his cell number. I'll be bringing my car to him mid to late May (once I receive the new rear spoiler and perhaps front lip).

[.BMW.]

Looks great with slightly taller tires, fills the large wheel housings!

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by NHman

The best way of contacting Rick @ UCC is via his cell phone. It is not uncommon for a slow or no response to e-mails. .

x2. I always reach Rick right away on his cell.

[MickAv8r]

Thanks NHman. yeah I figured that's the case. I'll give him a call.

I was planning on doing the MWAR event. Pretty sure its not limited to just Bimmers, as I had heard about it from a friend with a GT-R. I was going to ride with him if I didn't have mine yet. That or maybe different car clubs are doing it on different weekends. I'll doublecheck.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by MickAv8r

Did you get a full hood wrap or partial in that price? I'm also considering getting the roof done as I have to park under trees quite often.

I got the full hood, full front fenders, front grill and front lip spoiler.

[mtbkid]

Wheels look amazing dude, keep it up!

[Bleser]

Very nice upgrades! Love the Melbourne Red, but then again I'm partial as I own it as well.

Did the dealer upgrade the steering wheel without question? Curious how often they do that kind of work.

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by Bleser

Very nice upgrades! Love the Melbourne Red, but then again I'm partial as I own it as well.

Did the dealer upgrade the steering wheel without question? Curious how often they do that kind of work.

They definitely had to do their homework before they did it. I don't think they had done that swap before. I know the asst. service manager sat down with my CA (who rebuilds E30s) to figure out which parts they needed. The fact that they had to order parts at all tells me that they were "playing by the book"--i.e.,BMW's service regs--as opposed to the DIYers on the forums who just yank out the Sportline and plunk in the MSport in under 1/2 hour using all the same switchgear.

[DrivenByE30]

Congrats OP on finally pulling the trigger !

You are lucky to have an understanding wife ! Keep treating her well that way.
Seems like she is sharing your passion for cars too.

Did you get to keep your E30 ? or did you let it go like you were wondering last year ?

[Joseph@x-ph.com]

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

Congrats OP on finally pulling the trigger !

You are lucky to have an understanding wife ! Keep treating her well that way.
Seems like she is sharing your passion for cars too.

Did you get to keep your E30 ? or did you let it go like you were wondering last year ?

My wife is NOT into cars (except hers), but she's doing her best. We now own four cars, which is a bit over the top. The 2007 V6 Accord is going out to New Mexico with us for seven weeks in the fall and we'll leave it out there when we come back to MA. We'll be moving to NM early next year and I'll be transporting the 328d and the E30 to go with us when we move. We'll be selling my wife's Atlantic Blue Pearl 2005 Subaru 2.5 GT Limited wagon when we leave MA and she's not happy about that at all! It's a beauty, I have to admit. We'll be selling the V6 Accord when we get the two bimmers to NM. That will leave us with two cars, like normal people.

[super-f20]

wow~~~nice shooting!!!!!!!!!

[bcl0328]

where did you get that front lip?

[stevehecht]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

where did you get that front lip?

It's made by Kelleners Sport (Germany). You can get it from www.bavauto.com.

[jonsy21]

Hi Steve, do you happen to have photos of your car with the kelleners front spoiler with the stock wheels? I'm curious to see if they go well together. Thanks! Your car look great!