i got it! - BMW Forum

ProjektMayhem · 02-25-2006, 06:43 PM

i couldn't help it. i saw it and fell in love. after my buddy said $2k and it's mine, and after viewing the condition of the car (with the slight exception of the little transmission issue)... behold! my new 1995 bmw 325is...

the only thing i'm wondering about now is whether or not to switch the entire transmission (originally, i was told it was a manual, but it's actually an automatic) to a manual since it has the slight issue that stops the car from moving in any direction but reverse... i've heard that the swap isn't rocket science, and i've already sourced the manual tranny for a mere $400, so if i do all the labor myself (a labor of love!), i can have myself a 5-spd mini-rocket of my very own. or... just fix the automatic and drive it. either way, i'd be happy. although, i'm a manual transmission guy at heart, and i would feel guilty for not loving it as much because it's an automatic.

tomctx · 02-25-2006, 07:08 PM

Manual transmission swap will probably be cheaper than fixing the auto. No one actually fixes them anymore, they just swap them out. $3000 or more dollars. Unless you know someone, that is. GREAT BUY! If that is all that's wrong with it. Is that a green or a blue? My old eyes can't tell.

ProjektMayhem · 02-25-2006, 07:43 PM

that's a forest green. i was originally going to have the car repainted black, but my favorite color is green and this color really does it for me, so i think i've decided against the color change. yeah, that's all that's wrong with it. i trusted my friend, but i told him that after doing all the research on this particular car, that i had to go ahead and "check everything out" as was directed in one of the threads on the board. it's been a good day.

my first bmw...

bimmer3214 · 02-25-2006, 10:06 PM

yea its boston green type deal. its what mine is just convertible. i love the color it changes from blue to green by what way yuo look at it. great buy

Cruzin 323is · 02-25-2006, 11:36 PM

congrats dude... best of luck, u plan on doing anything to it? or just leave it stock?

ProjektMayhem · 02-25-2006, 11:58 PM

there's no way i can leave it stock. i have to make it "mine". i was thinking some new rims, although i don't want to "ghetto" it out, so i'm trying to be very choosy in what i get for my precious bimmer. i really want the m-technica body pieces, because i love the look. other than that, maybe some interior accessories (lol, no neons) and what not. for the future, maybe next summer, maybe as a next winter project... m3 engine and tranny.

tomctx · 02-26-2006, 12:06 AM

What color is the interior?

ProjektMayhem · 02-26-2006, 12:14 AM

grey leather. very good condition. very little wearing or cracking of the leather, if any at all. floor is the same as well as the door and rear panels. exceptionally good interior. matches the quality of the outside. unfortunately, i was a dumbass and forgot to get pics of the interior, so you'll have to wait for those.

bob318 · 02-26-2006, 01:06 AM

oh man, bmws your are like drugs. Its amazing. Hes totaly gonna dump a shit load of money into that thing. Congrats man. best of luck!

tomctx · 02-26-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProjektMayhem

grey leather. very good condition. very little wearing or cracking of the leather, if any at all. floor is the same as well as the door and rear panels. exceptionally good interior. matches the quality of the outside. unfortunately, i was a dumbass and forgot to get pics of the interior, so you'll have to wait for those.

I would go one of two ways on the interior. Maybe three. One would be aluminum trim, especially if it's dark gray. Two would be carbon fiber, real or false, especially if light gray. The third would be, gasp!, shock!, heresy!, wood trim.

ProjektMayhem · 02-26-2006, 04:19 PM

lol, i'm already looking around. i've been hitting up ebay just to catch a glimpse at what i can find on there. i'd like to convert all the interior panels to black m3 versions as well as finding black leather m3 seats, if possible. like i said, i don't want to do anything crazy to the car, but just make it unique to me. i want to keep it clean, inside and out, and just make it my "home away from home". lol.

one of the more intriguing items i've had my eye on is the switchblade keys. i've been sworn that my 325 doesn't come with a chip in it, so the switchblade key would be possible (although i'd give it a shot anyways, even if it did). i'm just not too excited at the prospect of trying to find a bmw dealer who will laser cut my key for me.

i've sourced out a manual transmission, but i'm not sure that it comes with everything i'll need, including the clutch assembly. does anyone know of a write-up (lol, probably not likely) that illustrates the conversion process? if not, i may just be the first to write one up.

i'm definitely going to be going for some angel eyes. i've heard that the depo ones are of great quality at a good price. i know there's a section just for this stuff, but if anyone would like to give me their recommendation on a set of angel eyes, i'd be thrilled. this is one of those parts that i will NOT be using ebay for. i'd rather make sure that i get it from a reputable dealer, respected by the community. a company's reputation does carry a little weight with me.

again, i really appreciate all the strong feedback and support from you guys.

Teh Prof · 02-26-2006, 04:36 PM

JLevi is a sponsor of this forum and has quite a few angel eye options available. I'd suggest you go with him; every order I've ever placed with him arrived both quickly and accurately. I got my angel eyes from umnitza.com, but had some trouble with the order.

ProjektMayhem · 02-26-2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3UOND

JLevi is a sponsor of this forum and has quite a few angel eye options available. I'd suggest you go with him; every order I've ever placed with him arrived both quickly and accurately. I got my angel eyes from umnitza.com, but had some trouble with the order.

i've been over to that site and i think that's where i'll go through. they seem to be a respectable company and i've seen a lot of bmw owners, not only on this forum, but others as well, use that site to get good parts. i haven't heard of umnitza.com, so i'm not sure what their pricing/service is like. if anyone else has had a bad experience with them, that'll pretty much decide me right there.

i was browsing tirerack.com and i found these... asa ar1 w/machined lip, less than $1000 for all four (without rubber). 18x9 in the back, 18x8 in the front...

clicky.

uber e36 · 02-26-2006, 05:29 PM

I got those wheels in 17x8 and 17x9 for my car and love them... I went with the 17s for 3 reasons:

1. lighter
2. cheaper
3. I had new rubber for 17s already

Regarding headlights, I've ordered ZKW Projector Headlights (came stock on our cars in Europe) and 6000K Prolumen HID from Matt @ Umnitza.com and was happy with both transactions...

Congrats on the purchase!