Grey pride.

[Jerime]

Hey guys/gals of bf.c...

Just picked this girl up. I've decided I would try and document everything I did kind of like a log.
I do way too much reading so most things I should be able to DIY like I did with the 328.

She's a 2001 325Ci 5-speed and she's got 109K miles and a few dings, but she's mine.
I have lots of plans including upgrading the speakers, headlights, etc.

My main focus is to restore and upgrade, not slam and street race.

I have noticed (some) rust after purchasing the car. Driver's door has some bubbling on the bottom. Not sure if I should just replace or repair.

I will continue to update this thread with pictures. I have lots of parts coming in.

[dreambig]

Looks great! Very clean engine bay right there. Same year and model as my car, but i have the sedan with 107k KMs. I too have found more and more things wrong since I bought it but isn't that half the pleasure - means we will always have something else to do. Quick question - is there a gap between the chrome trip and the back panels of about 1-2cm? Noticed this today - not sure if it is meant to be that way

[Jerime]

^PM'd.
----------------------------
To start things off those rusted lug nuts HAVE to go.

Before:




After:



Short update for today, but I think it makes a world of difference in the look overall.

[THEREDTUXEDO]

While you're busy taking care of rust, you could also look into painting the rotors and calipers silver.

The engine bay looks super clean; pics of interior?

[pottsalot]

Excellent thread title. Looks like it doesn't need much work. That engine bay is bling bling

[Jerime]

While you're busy taking care of rust, you could also look into painting the rotors and calipers silver.

The engine bay looks super clean; pics of interior?

Will be putting on new rotors sometime, calipers are already painted black but I think I will be changing them to a different color. I kind of liked white, will have to see. More important things to worry about.


Here are a few of the inside. Lots needs to be done here.

Back:



Front:



Plan on putting heated sport seats in sometime. Pillars need fixed first though. Priorities.

Edit: There is also the rubber all weather mats in the front and back now.

[auaq]

I'm sorry but I think I read the title of this thread as, "Gey Pride".

[Jerime]

Me too. I didn't think about it until I posted. Oh well... More stuff will be here on Monday.

[daytonatrbo]

I prefer

[dreambig]

I'm sorry but I think I read the title of this thread as, "Gey Pride".

Second that. I like it though, my PM wouldn't let me reply however i saw the exact same car as mine today at the shops and the gap was the same as mine so all is good. Looks good man

[Jerime]

It is ironic you would post that and have a white on white car. What wheels are those BTW?

[Jerime]

Anyway... Another small update just to get rid of the ugly rusted parts and update the look...

Before:


After:


All new bracket, screws, and mounts.
Thinking about painting the new plate screws black to mount my ECS Tuning covers. *Shrug*

[Jerime]

Another update. Just changed the oil and reset the service indicator. I found the cause of my oil leak I've been having.... P/O didn't install a crush washer on the drain plug... Morons
Also replaced a broken hood release (my fault). Was a bit rusty, so the new one was welcomed. I still need to get the bolts for it, though.

Old broken one:



New one instaled:




Other updates: Calipers are painted black. I may paint them white or yellow. Unsure on the color.
Trunk has been debadged and there is now a clutch stop. (No pictures of either)

Next up is either new window trim all around. Not sure what to go with. Stock chrome? Matte or glossy "shadowline". I'm not a fan of the black kidneys on steel grey.

Future plans as of right now:

• New windshield cowl.
• New wheels. Undecided which to get. The CSL reps are starting to grow on me, but I've always been a fan of 9 and 10 spoke wheels.
• Clears and LED tails.
• Interior LEDs in white.
• E60 shift lever and ZHP illuminated shift knob. As well as entire shifter refresh. (Transmission mounts are already in great condition, I checked today while I was under the car)
• Morimoto H1 Mini projector retrofit
• M-Tech II bumpers/Aerodynamics package
• Undecided on M3 mirrors or not *Shrug*
• Euro side mirror glass
• Cooling system refresh; looks great right now
• A/B/C Pillars (fabric is starting to sag/peel)
• Sunroof refresh
• H&R sport springs and Koni sport shocks
• Double Din Nav unit with backup camera

Any suggestions? I have plenty to do, but would like to get everything planned out.

[chet31]

You seem to have some rust residue on your rims near the bolts, probably from the previous bolts - or it may just be the picture. Use a product called CarPro Iron-X, it will get rid of that residue (smells horrible though).

[dotcoms]

Good thing the car isn't brown Might have stirred up some nastiness..

[mdfiasco]

That's a great looking stahlgrau metallic e46 you have there!!!

Mine on the day I brought her home:
221748_118249304921882_100002104398221_155282_7830218_n (1).jpg

[Jerime]

Thanks! I've got some work to do though.

[jrogers416]

Oh hey, we're... eh hem... "gray" brothers lol

20140507_171412_1_opt-1.jpg

[Jerime]

Maybe I should have re-though the thread title. Oh well. Got her registered today... $450 out of pocket. Lame.

[dreambig]

Yuck! What did that include? I got mine trasnfered, annual cost and the tax done for less than $350 when I bought the car and I thought mine was steep

[Jerime]

Most of it is Iowa's use tax. $380 of it.

[dreambig]

Damn that's a lot. Do you have really good roads?

[Jerime]

Not that bad. Unless it rains.

[dreambig]

Not that bad. Unless it rains.

Haha. All our roads near my house are terrible except for highways and main roads

[Jerime]

I stick to the highway.