Newbie here - United Bimmer Community

**billycuth** · 04-28-2005, 01:25 PM

Hey folks,

I am brand new to this site, found it on cardomain, and I am an e36 nut. I just recently made some small time mods to my silver 97 e36 328i. I am looking for some fat upgrades for my baby - thought this might be the place to check out....

anyways, I'll have to get some pics of my girl when I get a chance. I recently has to take off my new 18" m-parallels due to some serious bends from potholes. Does anyone know if the AC Schnitzer type 3's have any problems with this? I am probably going to get a set of those. The stock 10 spokes are okay, but I want something a little bigger than 15".

Just installed a sub (my first even sub installation) and I gotta say I am pretty happy with it.

I like how some guys have colored out the side trim to match the paint of the car. Its a nice upgrade.

Any tips on how to make the e36 purr?

**komodo** · 04-28-2005, 02:05 PM

Hum, a fellow 1997 328i'er. Is your car arctic silver by chance? haha
Welcome to United.

As for the ACS Type 3's... a member on the boards (woobie) has them. I've never heard of any problems with them bending very easily... and being ACS, I'd expect top of the line quality. (you get what you pay for, heh)

Congrats on the sub installation, what kinds did you put in? And what kind of box?

Hum, as for making her purr.... if you have no engine mods yet, I'd suggest a Dinan Cold Air Intake (personal preference) and Conforti Shark Injector Software. Together those are usually the first engine mods recommended to people, and the software/chip works well with the intake. If you want sound, get a catback exhaust (i like the uuc system u).

What all have you done to it so far? And again, welcome.

**billycuth** · 04-28-2005, 02:24 PM

Thanks Komodo. Yep, she's artic silver. looks exactly like yours from the side. I don't have any window tint yet (thinking of going mirror) and I don't have angel eyes or the front light lips. I am about to install all new rotors and pads with stuff from Bavarian auto. I saw dinan's site... they have some nice stuff.

The suspension in my ride is a problem. The rotors I put on late last year are already worn and squeal like a pain in the ***... So I am going with better stuff this time. I am going with bilstein shocks and I am going to get the tower braces.

The intake and chip were on my mind, and I will definitely check them out. Thanks for the welcome. I simply love this car. Had it for 3 years now. Mileage is at 108,000...

I went with an infinity basslink sub for its protability. I don't use the bimmer's trunk too often, but I need to be able to get at my spare, as I have a long commute to work and things go wrong frequently. Despite numerous threads and board messages against it (not here, but other places) I was pleased enough with the upgrade.

I have added a new head unit (pioneer), the alarm system, clear tails and sides as well as clear parking lights. Need to upgrade to glass headlights. I also updated the wheels, but they have since come off because a few of the rims wouldn't hold air due to bends in them.

I haven't done any engine mods yet, but I am really looking forward to doing some.

**jrhaile** · 04-28-2005, 02:35 PM

Like Harry said, Intake, Chip and exhaust are always everyone's first upgrades. I have a 2.8l engine swap in my 95 and let me tell you with some of the mods I've done, this thing hauls balls! Another mod to look at for topend along with a CAI is getting a 3.5HFM and M50 Intake Manifold/Throttlebody. This is one of the best upgrades that can be done on a OBD2 car. Good luck and welcome!

**billycuth** · 04-28-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhaile

Like Harry said, Intake, Chip and exhaust are always everyone's first upgrades. I have a 2.8l engine swap in my 95 and let me tell you with some of the mods I've done, this thing hauls balls! Another mod to look at for topend along with a CAI is getting a 3.5HFM and M50 Intake Manifold/Throttlebody. This is one of the best upgrades that can be done on a OBD2 car. Good luck and welcome!

3.5hfm means what?

**jrhaile** · 04-28-2005, 04:13 PM

Replace your Mass Air Flow w/a 3.5" HFM from a v8 BMW. More airflow is always better.

**B_w.** · 04-28-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

3.5HFM and M50 Intake Manifold/Throttlebody. This is one of the best upgrades that can be done on a OBD2 car

i thought this was not a very effective mod for the 2.8 because it does not have enough power to make use of the extra air flow.

**billycuth** · 04-30-2005, 08:04 PM

working on a major brake upgrade now, got the euro headlights coming (with angel eyes)... once I get that shit put on I'll post some pics...

it'll look very similar to Komodo's ride, until I find a set of rims to replace my 18" m-parallels that are bent...

**xxxbimmer** · 05-01-2005, 04:50 AM

u can prob get them repaired for cheaper than it is to buy new rims..........

**billycuth** · 05-01-2005, 04:05 PM

i'm hoping, but the guy where I got them looked at said they were bent laterally and didn't think they were fixable. we'll see.