Hello BimmerWerkz

[christian e36]

Hello Bimmerwerkz, this is my first post actually, Just joined. A little bit about myself, I’m 18, live in NJ bordering PA, used to drive an e36 4dr 318i, finally lost it a few weeks back ending its life at around 225,000 miles after inheriting it as “my mom’s old used car,” luckily from my parents, and I am now very excited to share that I’ve finally decided on a new car and have the financing. It’s a 1999 328is coupe (e36), I’m getting to pick it up this Monday and handing over the check. After driving the 318i I fell in love with BMWs generally but more specifically the e36 90s models. I loved the car but as you all know felt the lack of engine when it came to my 95’s small I4 1.9L, and know that I’m finally getting a car with less than half the mileage of the old one, I’ve chosen the 328is because of its bigger m54 engine. I think I got very lucky with the buy as well because the woman is leaving the country for her job and had 2 other buyers right after me so I closed on the deal. Its near mint condition, if you’d excuse the sorry excuse of a single photo, but where I really lucked out was that it only has 75,000 miles on it and the woman had it serviced at some Bavarian specialty shop somewhere in the West Chester PA area every 3,000 miles.

My plans are as follows. Being that I’m only 18 and have to fund everything that I might have to change the car, my personal savings are limited to what I’ve saved from when I had worked. When I first thought of what I should change on the new 328is, the idea of M badges all over the car flourished in my head but what I realized after buying and discarding a bunch of cheap lame M badge trinkets off ebay, was that being a poseur M-badge holder is one of the biggest BMW etiquette violations there is. Luckily I didn’t add any of it because I don’t get the car ‘til Monday. I pretty much threw out $50 on it ha. All my newer ideas are of small ways I can improve 328is car and being proud of it without trying to show off and be something that it’s not. So I figured the best way to do this would to just basically swap out a lot of the light housings to the “European Clear Look”. The car is in beautiful condition and I already have my old Depo Angel Eyes I had bought and fitted on my old e36 that will fit, although there is one major problem with them which I’ll get to in a moment. Other than that I’ve purchased matching slightly tinted clear corner light houses as well as clear side markers with yellow bulbs included. On the rear I’m swapping out the stock e36 orange infested tail light houses and replacing them with a clean white and simple red tail light cover. The clear fogs that came stock, I’m swapping for yellow “Euro Fogs”. These are just small things I can afford to clean up the cars appearance to make it look the best it can without making it something it’s not. Everything I’ve said so far I’ve already purchased, the only M badge items I will keep for the car are the cute little M badge tire covers that I bought and the legit BMW M badge 5speed manuel shift knob I bought off Amazon that I like for its synthetic leather feel which I much prefer over plastic covered wood one that came stock. Maybe a few years after college when I’m older may I be able to afford such things like an AA supercharger but I think I’m pretty lucky to have this car at 18, just stock and I’m really excited on it.

The only photo I currently have, unfortunately, of my new 328is

As I mentioned above, the big problem I’m going to have to overcome is being able to install my new clear corner lights I ordered on a set of Depo Angel Eyes with broken side clips. So I come here with hope of getting some advice on how to solve my problem, worst comes to worse I going to have to simply glue the corner light onto the headlamp which I don’t want to do because this car is coming perfect to me and I don’t want to make it too ghetto.


The problem with my left depo angel eye headlamp housing unit, the three clips that hold the corner light soklely are missing and broken off.

An upclose look of exactly how much of each clamp is missing on the end of the front left headlamp housing

And finally, a direct comparison between my right headlamp housing which maintains all its clips with the housing with the broken clips in comparison

Note that those orange corner lights I showed in the pictures arnt actually the ones I'm installing on my new car. I just used them to help display as an example of what my problem is. I had to order new corner lights that fit the e36 2dr because my old e36 318i was a 4dr and had different fitting corner lights.

[witeshark]

Thanks for not putting the ///M badges on the car!

[johnnyBgood]

Welcome to the Werkz...... sounds like a plan.

johnny,

[christian e36]

well thanks for the welcomes, does anyone have help towards the topic of my headlamp/cornerlamp housing problem??

[marti5]

You could either get a new rear casing or make up the clips out of aluminium and self tap
screw them to the housing, if you glue them and the indicator bulb goes you will have to remove the whole unit to change the bulb, I thought you were going for the euro clear indicator lenses ?

[Teh Prof]

I had your clip problem on my 97 E36 M3. I wound up drilling screws at an angle from the top into the sidemarkers. The tops of the screws wedged in the sidemarkers.

You could just get the seller to give you a new set of Depos, but even with the side clips there, your turn signals will still pop out all of the time.

My suggestion re: things to do to the car is not to do anything but rather to save your money for a maintenance fund. Save enough to replace the water pump, thermostat, radiator, fan clutch, wheel bearings, and tie rods all at once--then put that money away somewhere until something breaks. After that money is saved, then you can start saving for mods. My suggestions would be cold air intake, exhaust, software, springs, shocks/struts. These are usually the best bang for the buck items.

[BMWides110377]

welcome! sounds like you have a great plan...keep us updated and with pics

[christian e36]

Originally Posted by marti5

I thought you were going for the euro clear indicator lenses ?

I am it's just they haven't arived yet so I used my stock orange corner light housings from me e36 318i 4dr to show in demonstration of my problem.

Originally Posted by Teh Prof

My suggestion re: things to do to the car is not to do anything but rather to save your money for a maintenance fund. Save enough to replace the water pump, thermostat, radiator, fan clutch, wheel bearings, and tie rods all at once--then put that money away somewhere until something breaks. After that money is saved, then you can start saving for mods. My suggestions would be cold air intake, exhaust, software, springs, shocks/struts. These are usually the best bang for the buck items.

Yea well I have like $700 in that fund which is the rest of my money I just started ha but it'll grow,
As far as Mods like that. I already stole off my old car my whole cold air intake arm, and mass air sensor and am installing that in a couple weeks when a friend of mine gets home to help me with it.
Seeing how I'm not actually thinking I'm going to get to race around a track the struts are fine as is, and I'd probably be more likely just to buy a set of springs to have the lowered, quick feel. Ha I dunno I just prefer it. Um an AA supercharger would be stuff of dreams but I dont think that'll ever happen.

Thanks for everyone's input so far, as well as the welcomes!

- Christian

[jmo69]

[QUOTE]I'd probably be more likely just to buy a set of springs to have the lowered[/QUOTE
If I'm not mistaken, they don't recomend putting lowering springs on stock struts and shocks. Maybe set of Apexcones from DDM Tuning might be the answer for your headlights. Car definately looks good, how about a license plate delete strip if your laws allow it. really cleans up the front end. +1 on the M stuff, maybe a front bumper.

[vincentmb615]

welcome keep it up nooo with m/// badge keep up the good work im 18 too i recently did yellow fogs pain a body kit projector headlights euro tails shocks struts yadadad the list goes on that car will run forever if maintaned properrly i got 195k on mine now what happend to the 318?

[fabcal]

welcome and congrats on your now toy, it's really clean. Smart move not putting the M signs by the way.

[PhatCat]

Hey man, welcome! I have to be honest, my attention span to read your intro this morning is far too short...although there are some more edumacated and focused individuals in here that can be a virtual spring of knowledge to help you out(just don't step in the bullshit! jk)

[Montizzle]

Welcome to werkz! The broken clips are a bizznitch to get around. It is WAY easier to pick up a set of apexcones or DEPO from DDM, trust me.

It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to do with the car. Good luck, and remember...post pics of anything you do. Nothing like sharing your baby with everyone.

[christian e36]

Originally Posted by Montizzle

Welcome to werkz! The broken clips are a bizznitch to get around. It is WAY easier to pick up a set of apexcones or DEPO from DDM, trust me.

It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to do with the car. Good luck, and remember...post pics of anything you do. Nothing like sharing your baby with everyone.

Well I already have the Depos, I just wish there was a way to replace the clamps. I haven't swapped them in because I'm afraid of putting them in and then not being able to attach the corner light at all and not having a drivable car ha. The only thing I think I can really do is use large amounts of plastic glue and hope for the best, but that sounds awful, you know. Any advice without buying new headlamps?

[christian e36]

In the last 5 months are so I havent done a lot but I thought I'd just show an updated picture. I met a bunch of people from CCA and have learned a lot, and got these sweet umnitza's put in just lastnight.