Ok i'm looking at a 2000 E38 in silver. The front,sideskirts, and rear are in black. Its kinda ugly for a silver car i find. Did you guys get it painted? Are there any problems with painting these panels or do i need to get like AC skirts for painting?? Something else about this car i'm wondering about. In the engine compartment, you know on the engine itself, theres a silver plastic part in the front. Its all scratched and peeling looking. Does anyone else have the same problem?? Or i'm guessing maybe the engine might have overheated and melted the thing. Any help would be greatful, cuz other than these two issues, the car is perfect.

Ok i'm looking at a 2000 E38 in silver. The front,sideskirts, and rear are in black. Its kinda ugly for a silver car i find. Did you guys get it painted? Are there any problems with painting these panels or do i need to get like AC skirts for painting?? Something else about this car i'm wondering about. In the engine compartment, you know on the engine itself, theres a silver plastic part in the front. Its all scratched and peeling looking. Does anyone else have the same problem?? Or i'm guessing maybe the engine might have overheated and melted the thing. Any help would be greatful, cuz other than these two issues, the car is perfect.

M3Cowboy,
That is correct. Only the 2001 E38's were manufactured with the lower valence and side skirts the body color of the vehicle. You can have yours painted to match the body color and you will also have to paint the lower door mouldings as well for the correct 2001 look. Any reputable body shop should be able to prime and color match the paint. The body shop will require the paint code of the vehicle and that can be found on the passenger side shock tower within the engine compartment.

The peeling and bubbling is that the valve cover? If so, it is common and nothing to worry about at all. They used the wrong kind of paint at BMW.

Titaniumseeker, ur 7 is tight!!! its one of the best looking ones i've seen! Is it an I or IL? Also the 7 i'm planning on getting, the front light covers are turning yellow.. is that another problem the 7 has??

Also the scratched and peeling part is where the red circle is. Is this normal here?

Also the scratched and peeling part is where the red circle is. Is this normal here?

Mine has the same peeling/bubbling of the paint in that area. From what I remember, it started after I had a radiator leak that sprayed coolant on the valve covers and other areas. It doesn't look pretty, but it is only cosmetic.

Cody

a lot of 7s have bubbling in that area. nothing to worry about. a good paint shop will probably charge you between $150 - $250 per "side" to paint on the car. i have a '98 and had to pay not only for the paint, but for the actual side skirts and the door moldings too, so you've got it a little better ;)

aaron

m3cowboy, Is that the car that you are looking at or just one that you found a picture of? I ask because I notice the Strong Strut bar and cold air intake.

m3cowboy, Is that the car that you are looking at or just one that you found a picture of? I ask because I notice the Strong Strut bar and cold air intake.
No, that is actually a shot of my car with the DINAN CAI and Chrome Strong Strut Bar.

m3cowboy, Is that the car that you are looking at or just one that you found a picture of? I ask because I notice the Strong Strut bar and cold air intake.
Dave
That is actually a shot of my car with the DINAN CAI and Chrome Strong Strut Bar.

Sorry, i hope you don't mind me using ur pic as an example...

Titaniumseeker, ur 7 is tight!!! its one of the best looking ones i've seen! Is it an I or IL? Also the 7 i'm planning on getting, the front light covers are turning yellow.. is that another problem the 7 has??

M3Cowboy,

Thanks for the props. It's an I Sport model. The light covers can be cleaned with McGuires Plastic Cleaner and Polisher products or equivalent to restore the new look to your lense covers. If you don't want to go that route, then you can purchase the lense covers and replace them. I've notice some slight yellowing on my lenses that I have attributed to the protective covers I've installed on the lenses four years ago.

Sorry, i hope you don't mind me using ur pic as an example...

No. Not at all.