upgrades

[spiff325is]

I know stuff like ths has been posted before, but I cant recolect that much, so please read and help, its really appreciated over here..

Okay, I estimate a good 2000$ by the end of the summer(2 weeks before school starts), I would like to do things to my car right before school just so it is running and lookin good for everyone to see.

Anyways, what, with 2000$, would be some good quality upgrades to do, without doing any body work.

Not one thing that costs 2k, but a few things, that are good upgrades makin the car nicer.

My thoughts(I know 2k wont cover all of this, its just a list of things that I want to do), tell me which ones you think I should do. And there are prices near them after research,:

Rims/Tires(16-17'', plus 1 wide) 1000 (Kosei 16's or 17's, I forgot though w/tires)
Shocks/Springs ???$/230 (HR/HR)
Exhaust 300(superspringt),850(B&B Tri Flow), more...just forgot em..be nice if you listed some too.
Lights ???$
Seats/Harnesses Seats:219-299$(sparco) harnesses 95-195(sparco)
Pedal Set Carbon Fiber Set(49$)
Steering Wheel 175$-215$(sparco)
Intake ???$

Please help me with other brands and upgrade options, I know it may seem like I have everything already set, but there are tons of manufactorers and prices and parts out there that I probably dont even know of, I just learned of B&B stuff today and same with Brullen, so any info or comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

-Dan

This pic was takin on the way to the Norcal Meets Socal event by my dad at 100mph, you can see some of the ricers infront and around me, it was a really cool experiance. I am really pissed it isnt blurred... , still fun though

[sean]

if you are looking for something that everyone would notice the most out of your list there rims definetely cover that, i can't stand my car with the stock rims on, but can't get enough of it when my aftermarket rims are on. Exhaust is another more noticable modification, but not for looks but sound. many people at my high school told me how much they loved the sound of my car when i got my exhaust on it.

[Aether]

I'd get some 215/55R-15s on K1s, if that's possible, then some Eibachs to drop the car around them. H&R is way more expensive - I was looking for coilovers a while ago. I'd leave the seats the way they are, I don't really see much use in spending the $6-800 racing seats can cost just to have..well, seats. Muffler's a definite must-have

Aesthetically, If you're going to do the carbon fiber pedals, I'd say to get a shifter and steering wheel to go with them. I've always liked the idea of visual continuity with everything the driver touches, and it'll be a whole lot classier than whatever the Civics and Neons are doing these days. Ichiban makes a lot of cool interior stuff.

Don't rush a decision, it won't hurt to sock some of that two grand away while you deliberate.

[spiff325is]

yeah, understood about continuity in things, I wanted to stay with sparco stuff for interior because I like their products.

If i got carbon pedals, Id get some more carbon around, it would be cool to get a carbon dash, but I cant find any, and the price of it wouldnt help at all, it end up bein like 600$ and it wouldnt really help at all.

BUt Rims and exhaust I think seem to be the thing, I really wanna get a new steering wheel because I dont really like the one I have, its sorta slippery, and that isnt good when I need instant response(slippery meaning the leather material is slippery, not the steering).

[Fox]

you seem like more of a " i look cool " person. All the mods you listed are for outside opinion and status. I cant help you there I dont know what to do.

I think 2k is a lot of money to waste on a car if its not gonna be in the engine and especially since its your first car. Save the 2k, your paint is already nice and car is in good condition. If your gonna do anything maybe spend some cash and get the wheels you have now repolished and painted, that chrome is ungodly ugly.

['85 318i]

I'm with fox. I'd drop 2G in my engine if my car aleardy looked as good as yours does. But I need new fenders and paint. So thats where my money is going now. But as soon as my body is straight my money going to the engine.

[e30_driver]

I am with fox on this one, I think at least half of your budget should go into performance such as exhaust, intake, and CHIP (surprised it was not yet mentioned). You could probably get a set of nice used rims (anything by BBS or maybe Koning) for the other half of your budget if you looked hard enough. Many good deals can be had by offering people who are selling their cars 1K for the rims because the rims won't increase the whole price of the car by much and they stand to profit from selling them separately. Anyway that was my two-cents worth...



Chris.

[spiff325is]

thanks, it really did help a lot, I do actually want to do performance upgrades, though it may not have seemed that way, those were just a list of SOME of the things I wanted to do, its hard for me to do a lot of performance stuff with my car because my dad doesnt want it to be too aggressive, although he already understands how I drive it now, he thinks that I should use the money on just maintaining and replacing tires and saving for track time more than anything.

But right now, after I replace my Radiator, Water Pump, and Rear Shock Mounts, I need to purchase new shocks, Imthinking Tociko, my dad said they are pretty good for the price, any comments?

What would you guys recommend for performance upgrades?

[MrM3]

if it were me, i wouldnt put any money into engine upgrades. alot of times a slower car can make a faster driver, so i would put my cash towards some shocks (Koni SA's), sways, sparco strut brace, 25mm MC, and good pads. i really think the kosei wheels will look great on your car, but they may be too expensive for you to get right know when you want so much other stuff.

[spiff325is]

Who or what brand would you recommend for sway bars?

[MrM3]

Originally posted by spiff325is@Apr 21 2004, 06:09 PM
Who or what brand would you recommend for sway bars?

ST (Suspension Techniques) 22f, 19r
Ireland Engineering 25f, 22r
Eibach ???

all need rear reinforcements installed, which are included with IE and ST

[Fox]

Though I live and die by Ireland Designs this is probly the only case where i would recommend not getting their sway bars. They are so stiff they put most formula cars to shame.... To much for a street car.

[1985bmw325e]

I need to purchase new shocks, Imthinking Tociko, my dad said they are pretty good for the price, any comments?

bilstein and only bilstein imo

[spiff325is]

Okay, the 25 f 22r, I take it that means some sort of Measurement for the front and theback? I was checking out Bilsteins and they are nice, I am considering those over tokico because tokico seems to be fore more like pure street stuff, and I dont just drive on the street.

[spiff325is]

Fox, so your saying that the Ireland Engineers sway bars make almost no roll, they keep the car very stable?

Would sway bars make going straight a rough ride?