Titanium/black leather, the car is total stock; I'd like to pimp it up a bit, without it becoming a ricerocket-look-a-like. Can't decide, so help me out here:
Chip. I drive in the city, need pick-up in low RPMs, I never go over 85 mph. Do I need a chip, or should I stay with stock? I like to be the first one off at a green light.
Taillights.Red/smoke, Red/clear, blackout, or stock?
Corners. Clear, smoke, chrystal, or stock?
Headlights. A bit of angel eyes, complete new halo unit, new HID unit, or just HID kit? Stock??
Wheels. Got BBS-style 16"s. Can't spend more than $5000 on 'em. Get newer ones, or leave stock?
I'm not messing with expensive figerglass work, maybe a lip spoiler... And tint is gonna be there, no discussion. Let me know what ya'll think. Ebay a good source, those 100 tails any good? Thanks.

Chip. I drive in the city, need pick-up in low RPMs, I never go over 85 mph. Do I need a chip, or should I stay with stock? I like to be the first one off at a green light.


EAT Chip. I may even pick one up, myself. This chip is advertised and raved to pick up your low-end power.

I'd also love to hear more about 525i-ers and their reviews of the EAT chip with regards to low-RPM acceleration. /bump

$5,000 on wheels? You must be joking... your car is only worth $5,000 if you're lucky.

Sounds stupid but really make sure its running 100%. Things like cleaning and R&R-ing your intake manifold and ICV can make a huge difference to how your M50 will run. I'm still working on getting the car back to full health before plumping for the performance goodies.

I'm speaking from a performance minded owners view though, so the cosmetics are less important for me. Hell, these cars look so good and clean out of the box what else do they really need?

Tasteful drop (M-tech) and some basic tweaks (euro trim, blackout chrome if you like) and a bit of tint and bang, your set.

Let me put it this way, all my buddies have newer and more expensive cars, and they still drool over my 5.

I'd keep your money for performance upgrades, since those give you the most smiles per dollar.

Definitely get a chip, TMS or EAT works great. I have a TMS (Jim Conforti) chip in my '93, and I would never take it back to stock. Its final output is 211, but yes it really does increase your low-end grunt.

Maybe after that some new shocks 'n' springs.

As for wheels...2 common ones look great on e34s...Style 5's (17" or 18") and M-Parallels (18" staggered or not)

is that 5K your budget? Pictures would help, especially if you have an idea at all about what you wanna do to the outside. You say pimp it up, but what dont you like about it? I almost dont need pics for this one, but if you have titanium with black leather, look into shadowline, unless you like chrome, then theres a few other things you can add on.


As far as performance, first thing I would think would be an LSD with different gearing. Im not sure what your car has maybe someone can chime in. A chip (but then your using higher octane/more expensive gas dont know if that bothers you or not), some wheels, (again what is your budget for these, and what style do you like).

rule of the thumb: drop, wheels, tints

Sounds stupid but really make sure its running 100%. Things like cleaning and R&R-ing your intake manifold and ICV can make a huge difference to how your M50 will run. I'm still working on getting the car back to full health before plumping for the performance goodies.

I'm speaking from a performance minded owners view though, so the cosmetics are less important for me. Hell, these cars look so good and clean out of the box what else do they really need?
.

This guy knows what he is talking about.

www.bmwe34.net

$5,000 on wheels? You must be joking... your car is only worth $5,000 if you're lucky.
OK, I was celebrating the purchase, had a bottle of Chianti (what else can you drink if you're in Northern NJ? The dealer was Italian, too). Point is, I meant 500 dollars, NOT $5000 on wheels. Five HUNDRED dollars on wheels/tires. People buy new cars, discard OEM wheels and tires, and install all kinds of crazy crap on it. I'm thinking of getting some nice(er) OEMs from someone who upgraded.
Just drove the car for like 250 miles. Computer says I'm doing 31.8 miles to the gallon, that's highway only. Then drove for about 20 minutes in the city, it went down to 31.4. That's pretty good if you ask me. If I get an EAT chip, how much my fuel consumption will go up, if any?
P.S. I'm already putting in 93 octane, thought these cars REQUIRE high octane gas. My wife's Land Rover Discovery requires 91 or hight, so the manual says. It also says you can use lower grade, but economy and performance will suffer. I though that compression ratio in an M50, like in most BMW engines, would be higher than that, say, of a Land Rover... ???

Haha...well....$500 that makes a difference. No worries. I'd say with that, keep it light, with a chip and save the rest for some good maintenance and 'pampering'.

Regarding gas....good, 93 is what you should use. If you're fine with running the good stuff, then a chip would be great. The M50's are 10.5:1 compression, I believe, according to the manual, and so using Premium is key.

Since that's your budget, which is very reasonable, I would go with a chip, and hold onto the rest to get everything in tip-top shape.

I think I've decided to hold up on the chip as well as on the wheels. This is not a race car, and I didn't expect it to be. Having said that, the car's current performance kind of exceeded my humble expectations, and the nice premium OEM wheels, though not breath-taking, will do for now. Rotors are showing signs of wear, but are still good. Tires are Michelin and are still good as well. What I really need to do is:
Tint
Angel Eyes (I think I'll try out the cheap inserts, see how they work)
Fix the damn Combo switch (from another post)
Lip spoiler (??)
OEM CD changer, very important, as I only own one tape :)
Smoked (or clear?) corners, Smoked (or clear???) tails...
As you said, maintenance; change oil, do I need to change tranny oil, it's a manual 5 spd?
I'm pretty much in love with the car, though still cautious and looking out for surprises.:confused
:buttrocke34 FOREVER!!! :buttrock
Other than this, I can't think of anything...

check out the e34 registry. There's plenty of nice pictures with all sorts of upgrades/add-ons. Take your pick.