Starting to put money into the 540, what theme?

Started by FlatBlackCaddy, March 04, 2009, 06:49:03 PM

What theme should i pick?

M Theme
6 (33.3%)
No theme
2 (11.1%)
Alpina
10 (55.6%)

Total Members Voted: 16

FlatBlackCaddy

Well i've found myself a frequent customer of a few online BMW part suppliers over the last few weeks.

I've put about 1300 dollars into it over the past month, fixing some serious(to me) issues just due to age.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my cars, so the whole "buy a cheap car just to drive" situation rarely turns out to be just that. My 540 was a "cheap" alternative to my EVO. Selling the EVO and paying cash for the 540 was nice since it freed(sp) me from a car payment and the neurotic behavior that one has when they have a brand spanking new car with not so much as a scratch. Well that lasted all of 6 months, now the list is long and it seems i'm picking this poor 12 year old 540 apart for it's few(expected) flaws. Just last week it saw 700 dollars worth of brand new OEM suspension pieces. I replaced both control arms on the front(2 per sid) as well as new tie rods. Next i have my eyes set on rear wheel bearings and control arms as well as a fresh set of shocks and lowering springs(probably bilstein sports). After i sort the suspension out and fix a few other age related issues i'll be looking to freshen up the exterior.

My choices are simple and neither has a cost or IMO image advantage(well maybe the alpina look, the m look is as common as "moded" civics).

So, what do you think.

M look.




Alpina(my favorite)




Or just a mix and mash(some bbs wheels and leave the rest stock)



2o6


68_427

#2
Neez QD7 rims and leave the rest stock.

Quotewhere were you when automotive dream died
i was sat at home drinking brake fluid when wife ring
'racecar is die'
no


sportyaccordy

Get the 740i sport wheels, lower it, some kind of Eisenmann exhaust... that's it, anything else and ur doin too much

Raza

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
If you can read this, you're too close


2006 BMW Z4 3.0i
http://accelerationtherapy.squarespace.com/   @accelerationdoc
Quote from: the Teuton on October 05, 2009, 03:53:18 PMIt's impossible to argue with Raza. He wins. Period. End of discussion.

Eye of the Tiger

Quote from: sportyaccordy on March 04, 2009, 07:06:48 PM
Get the 740i sport wheels, lower it, some kind of Eisenmann exhaust... that's it, anything else and ur doin too much

Eisenmann exhaust = $LOL
Just find a good exhaust shop that bends their own pipe, pick out the muffler you want, and be done with it for around $300 installed.
2024 Mitsubishi Mirage ES


FlatBlackCaddy


FlatBlackCaddy


FlatBlackCaddy

The MRR's that chris has(i believe) are nice too.


FlatBlackCaddy


TBR


Those would be a major pain in the ass to clean, keep that in mind with the Alpina wheels too.

I do like them though.

Payman

Alpina all the way. Dentists with bad toupees drive Ms.

Enthusiasts drive Alpinas.

FlatBlackCaddy

Quote from: TBR on March 04, 2009, 08:06:03 PM

Those would be a major pain in the ass to clean, keep that in mind with the Alpina wheels too.

I do like them though.

It's getting hard to wipe my ass too but you don't see me being lazy.

TBR

Quote from: FlatBlackCaddy on March 04, 2009, 08:07:32 PM
It's getting hard to wipe my ass too but you don't see me being lazy.

Just wanted to make sure you had thought of that, I know I wouldn't buy those wheels for that fact alone. I get pissed off enough just cleaning the ones I have and the opens in them are about as easy to clean as it gets (http://www.finishlinewheels.com/prodimg/ALY63743L.jpg).

FlatBlackCaddy

Quote from: TBR on March 04, 2009, 08:11:21 PM
Just wanted to make sure you had thought of that, I know I wouldn't buy those wheels for that fact alone. I get pissed off enough just cleaning the ones I have and the opens in them are about as easy to clean as it gets (http://www.finishlinewheels.com/prodimg/ALY63743L.jpg).

I wax my wheels, and if you wash often most of the cleaning can be done with a pressure washer and then a quick wipe down with a MF towel.

sportyaccordy

Quote from: NACar on March 04, 2009, 07:28:48 PM
Eisenmann exhaust = $LOL
Just find a good exhaust shop that bends their own pipe, pick out the muffler you want, and be done with it for around $300 installed.
True true. I have had 4 custom exhausts done too, altogether I don't think I've spent $1000

But yea



These

Rupert

Alpina wheels, at least. I would probably stop there.
Novarolla-Miata-Trooper-Jeep-Volvo-Trooper-Ranger-MGB-Explorer-944-Fiat-Alfa-XTerra

13 cars, 60 cylinders, 52 manual forward gears and 9 automatic, 2 FWD, 42 doors, 1988 average year of manufacture, 3 convertibles, 22 average mpg, and no wheel covers.
PRO TENACIA NULLA VIA EST INVIA

FlatBlackCaddy

I like the M wheels, the problem is that everyone and their brother has them on a E39. I saw a silver 530 today with those wheels. I like them but it gets alittle old.

Cookie Monster

RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

FlatBlackCaddy

Quote from: thecarnut on March 04, 2009, 08:26:28 PM


Lowered on those (BBS RX).

Which are actually reasonable as far as BBS wheels go. I'm glad i don't like alot of their designs(or i should say i find their designs all very similar). A set of BBS wheels and some good performance rubber costs prostitute money. I don't think i could hit the local street corner and make that kind of money.

TBR

The ones I posted are $375/piece, which isn't too bad for BBS wheels.

FlatBlackCaddy

Quote from: TBR on March 04, 2009, 08:31:04 PM
The ones I posted are $375/piece, which isn't too bad for BBS wheels.

I know, i was looking at them earlier on Tire Rack. For BBS wheels they are cheap. I don't need no 2 piece 900 dollars a piece crap.

TBR

Quote from: FlatBlackCaddy on March 04, 2009, 08:32:48 PM
I know, i was looking at them earlier on Tire Rack. For BBS wheels they are cheap. I don't need no 2 piece 900 dollars a piece crap.

Yeah, they would have to be made out of gold for me to spend that much and I would never buy gold wheels.

Rupert

For $900? Hell yeah, I'd buy a gold wheel or more. You could sell one for, like, 1000 times that. :lol:
Novarolla-Miata-Trooper-Jeep-Volvo-Trooper-Ranger-MGB-Explorer-944-Fiat-Alfa-XTerra

13 cars, 60 cylinders, 52 manual forward gears and 9 automatic, 2 FWD, 42 doors, 1988 average year of manufacture, 3 convertibles, 22 average mpg, and no wheel covers.
PRO TENACIA NULLA VIA EST INVIA

Soup DeVille

Quote from: Psilos on March 04, 2009, 08:39:24 PM
For $900? Hell yeah, I'd buy a gold wheel or more. You could sell one for, like, 1000 times that. :lol:

At $1020 an ounce? Fuck yeah.
Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator


FlatBlackCaddy

Quote from: TBR on March 04, 2009, 08:42:21 PM
I wasn't being literal.

Well then you shouldn't have said it.

We are very formal around here, no room or time for shenanigans.

Soup DeVille

Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator

SVT666