Hi All

[330Purplefrenzy]

Hi,

Been a proud owner of this purple 330CI for 9 months, felt it is the point to treat it with more respect, a few question for the pros..

Upgrade questions
1. Gruppe M or K & N CAI?
2. Remap recommendation (i.e CA/SSD/DMS/UKCHIP)?
3. Exhaust - (purely for sound - desire more deep aggressive but non-tacky noise)
4. Light - Been hunting and research around, a little confuse, there is this really amazing bulbs SS offer, and angel eyes, the problem being I am not very experience in fitting, would it be better if I get one of those off the shelf one (i.e essex race)? would people say the bulbs (teddys) will do just fine?

5. Front bumper/splitter, my current front bumper look awful, 21-12-01 reg, pre facelift 330CI, donno what to do with it, neither sporty nor aggressive enough....thinking of just quick fitting a splitter from hamann/Lima/ or is there any nice splitter will fit my bill?


Service, I think my brake fluid mainteince is overdue, as I bought it from a trader last year, now there is 5xxx miles left before next service, as I do quite alot of mileage, wanna make sure everything is in safe order....would people recommand anywhere for a full inspection 2 + full mainteinance? cheap and cheerful maybe?

I have PMed CA and SS for a quote to see if they can offer me a bulk discount with budget of around 2k.....obviously I wanna do as much as possible for the money, any PRO advice on what I should do with my car?
purple 330CI with cream leather, chrome window, 60k on the clock.

Final question, is it stupid to throw all these money into a 330 rather then actually getting an M3?

How comparable is a 330CI with 5-6k mod to a stock M3? both performance and styling...thanks all in advance

[Afif]

welcome man,

just some visual ideas:

http://tuning.free.fr/050506_330/02.jpg
http://tuning.free.fr/050506_330/11.jpg
http://tuning.free.fr/050506_330/06.jpg

[Moe]

Lovely base car to start from and the colour is nice, the car afif posted is a very nice looking 330, you can get the hole m kit of ebay for about £800 then obviously spraying costs, that will make teh most visual impact on your car.
I wouldnt go for the whole light just go for bulbs teddy will do fitting on a pre-facelift for not a lot. Tunning wise no one better than ca automotive.
M3 will be a better car obviously but you have a lovely base car and if you mod it will be indiviual.

Hope to help teddy and co, will be here to explain in more detail

Regards Moe

p.s welcome to the forum

[Pontio]

an M3 is a different car, if you are looking to spend that much money on performance and exterior mods it'll look better and it'll be quicker but it still wont be as quick as an M3 or look like one. if you want it to look and perform like one then buy 1.
If you want advice on where to get the work done tell us roughly were you live and we'll advise whats local.

[MistaSmiff]

Welcome, happy modding :D

[330Purplefrenzy]

To all

Firstly, really appreciate the informative and kind reply, to be honest I am pretty new to the whole Car community thing, but would end up being cool hobby meeting up and stuff, track day and other group cruising.

Afif: Very nice body, is that a re- spray or just amazing valet work? nice alloy too...would people recommand un-spray vorsteiner-carbon hood with my body? and carbon boot lid? it is too tacky the whole unsprayed carbon vs body color thing? too Jap?

Moe318: I will do that with Ted then, just the bulb and angel...I live around Birmingham area...hopefully could get somebody to help or will give it a go myself. Refer to the body kit...tbh, I like those wide body kit, floss-man or something....the one example on CA...iceblue one? one that seems too expensive, but I'll love that to bits....the M3 body is cool....but I am not sure I want a M3 looking car, cos otherwise I'll end up making it an M3, but without the high Rev which isn't much point. Performance moding, agree...no one better and more reliable then CA from the extensive research online, just need some real confirmation from people. thanks

Pontio: I live around north east of Birmingham near Sutton Coldfield, could you advice place for relible service and workshops? I have pretty much decided to spend around £2000 this time, including (full service + maintenance, minor bodywork + CAI and remap and possibly exhaust/Exhaust tip? It would be nice if you can list me somewhere that offer most for my money...I really hope to squeeze as much into the car...I know 2k is not much on moding scene, but this money would hopefully inspire me to even greater thing (SC, EIBACH, FLYWHEEL+CLUTH/BRAKES) and able to keep my wife silence.

It be nice to get some answer for the following:

CAI, Gruppe M or AA? according to CA AA gives more performance while GM gives better sound? it that correct?

exhaust - no clue.....cos i am not into Squeezing a few horse for alot of work just yet....a sound improvement is welcome tho

Body, I ain't got a garage yet, it is worth until I get one before I add the Floss-man wide kit? it will seems almost stupid to put in on a open private car park...

Thank you all and look forward to seeing you....r CAR ha ha.....

[MARTY]

Hi 330purplefrenzy,

Welcome to the forum dude. the whole 330vsM3 question comes up often and IMO, it's not really worth going big on performance when you can pick up a decent example for 20k now. I'm quite happy to carry out visual stuff, mainly stuff i can take back to normal when i sell the car, but the sort of money you would need to put into it to get m3 performance would be hefty, and for me the better option will be just to sell my 330 with the engine as standard and use the money i would have saved on engine mods to get the genuine article.

Personally, i'm not a big fan of the full unsprayed look, like you say, for me it's a bit too jap for a BM. Sprayed showing a bit of carbon seems to be the way to go, for both the bonnet and the bootlid.

Teddy has a very nice way of painting the bootlid, i hope he won't mind me using one of his pictures
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/martynheywood/CSLtwwithcarbondetail1.jpg
This is a look i would have loved to achieve myself but as i'm paying all the bills for the next two years while my missus goes back to uni my mods have to be very carefully budgeted for!

I think generally, the popular method for the vorsteiner bonnet is colour code and leave the vents in carbon, although i've seen variations on leaving the centre colour coded and the outside edges of the bonnet in carbon, the other way round with the centre in carbon, sharp lines, faded lines, it's really down to personal choice, and how well it looks with the colour of the car.

I have a gruppe m replica CAI on my 330 and it sounds the nuts. To be honest unless your wallet is seriously thick, i don't see the point in going for a gruppe m item as you wouldn't see much difference in terms of performance. the sound on the rep units is well worth the money.

Exhaust - generall opinion seems to be eisenmann is the way to go for overall sound and performance. Gruppe m will definately improve the sound but it all depends on how much you would like it improving. I've read a number of threads on here where people have fitted and then removed almost immediately as it is too loud.

And finally i'd say a garage is a must if you are attempting something like a wide arch kit. as it certainly won't be a one day thing and the car will be off the road for the duration of the fitting.

Hope some of this helps, plus these are only my opinions, i'm sure you will get plenty of other peoples as the week goes on.

Marty.

[MEGA]

Nothing wrong with carbon, but it looks better with either white or black.

If you like it thats all that matters :)

Re the workshop a forum sponsor maybank motorsport is based in reading just down the M40 from you... Itd be a couple hours but we can all rate him as being excellent. Your call.

Dont get Gruppe M. Its too loud and sounds tacky.

With the exhaust, the choise is obvious really.. But I will let someone else fill you in on that :)

[Y1 4MER]

welcome m8 sweet ride

[alexsh1]

Welcome mate!
Nice car, I would deff do spoilers and alloys
Ask Roy at CA to get 55W Xenon and Angel-Eyes for you.
If you are after the remap then Roy is the man to talk to.

And get rid of those mudflaps they do not look nice on 330Ci :D

I think the best for would be budgeting and then giving Teddy/Roy a buzz and see what they say

[mr sideways]

here are my recomendations.

1. SSDD CAI (good value for money)
2. CA automotive live remap
3. EISENMANN race backbox
4. SSDD or CA for the lighting

and as for spending money on your car, i say DO IT!
iv spent 10x the amount on mods than i did on the car(but im probibly insane)

[arkenphel]

Eisenmann exhausts are fantastic quality, but i have the 'Road' version and it's pretty loud from around 1700 to 3000 rppm, which is where i do most of my daily driving (?resonance). Above 3000rpm, it sound luuuurrrrvvvly....:D

[Black Sabbath]

Welcome along,enjoy the forum

[SJD]

Welcome to the forum. You'll be able to spend plenty from now on ;) :D

Mr. Sideways had pretty much listed out as I would have.

Enjoy!

[SYE]

welcome fella nice colour motor

[Mah_c180]

Lovely car to start of with mate. Few extorier ideas will make your car just hot.

Welcome to the forum

[330Purplefrenzy]

Nice to meet everyone again, just have to wait till what Roy and Teddy got to say about my PM...if my budget fit in, I think I am pretty down for the mods, the Car wise, I donno plan to sell it at all.....run it till ..well when it become a classic....ha ha...I am hoping this is be my weekend joy for many years to come....

is the CA - CAI not same as a gruppe M? is a replica? I am not a BHP nuts, so if it serves it purpose then is alright.....DOES any of you remove your sound proof underbonnet? would it take longer for your engine to warm up in the winter? and would it be way too loud?

Exhaust wise, I am reasonbly happy with the OE....would love to hear some Live demo before I decide if it is necessary, I don;t want to distress my neigbour and my new BOSS at work liking like a tacky racer.....anyway....should be all cool meeting you all in the future and gain some insight into a true BMW world,

Personally have a little suggestion...if anyone live around derby,(peak district) there are some shit hot country raod around with hair pin.....!!

[BMW JAY84]

Hello mate welcome to the site. Nie looking base car. For a remap give simon at emaps a call he did my M3 and I was very impressed. Hes based in walsall so not too far from you. As others hav said go for basic mods on the 330 and save for the M3 you wont regret it

[Raj]

Welcome aboard...:D

[mysticm3]

welcome I have already replied to your PM, let us know if you have further questions

:)

[330Purplefrenzy]

Eisenmann exhausts are fantastic quality, but i have the 'Road' version and it's pretty loud from around 1700 to 3000 rppm, which is where i do most of my daily driving (?resonance). Above 3000rpm, it sound luuuurrrrvvvly....:D


I now understand there is a few option from the eisenmann, first there is the tip size..<--- does that too much, I have notice alot of people went for the 76" instead of 8x"...still puzzle...in term of sound, anyone have link to ROAD, ROAD SPORT and RACE?...I would imagine ROAD would be pretty simalar to OEM or it that not correct? I think I'll go with the flow with Eisennmann, just the matter of which one really....what is the relatistcs gain from it from experience? Also Teddy mention Sebring...they look very well built and have funky shape....!!!anyone use them before?

CAI.....so I am down to final 2.....there is the AA and Gruppe M replica....in theory AA is the best, but on the other hand Gruppe M sound best right? any comment on that? Also anyone use Cold air inlet from the front grill mesh?

Thank you guys

[Vic's 318ci]

Hi,

Been a proud owner of this purple 330CI for 9 months, felt it is the point to treat it with more respect, a few question for the pros..

Upgrade questions
1. Gruppe M or K & N CAI?
2. Remap recommendation (i.e CA/SSD/DMS/UKCHIP)?
3. Exhaust - (purely for sound - desire more deep aggressive but non-tacky noise)
4. Light - Been hunting and research around, a little confuse, there is this really amazing bulbs SS offer, and angel eyes, the problem being I am not very experience in fitting, would it be better if I get one of those off the shelf one (i.e essex race)? would people say the bulbs (teddys) will do just fine?

5. Front bumper/splitter, my current front bumper look awful, 21-12-01 reg, pre facelift 330CI, donno what to do with it, neither sporty nor aggressive enough....thinking of just quick fitting a splitter from hamann/Lima/ or is there any nice splitter will fit my bill?


Service, I think my brake fluid mainteince is overdue, as I bought it from a trader last year, now there is 5xxx miles left before next service, as I do quite alot of mileage, wanna make sure everything is in safe order....would people recommand anywhere for a full inspection 2 + full mainteinance? cheap and cheerful maybe?


I have PMed CA and SS for a quote to see if they can offer me a bulk discount with budget of around 2k.....obviously I wanna do as much as possible for the money, any PRO advice on what I should do with my car?
purple 330CI with cream leather, chrome window, 60k on the clock.

Final question, is it stupid to throw all these money into a 330 rather then actually getting an M3?

How comparable is a 330CI with 5-6k mod to a stock M3? both performance and styling...thanks all in advance

I used to have that bumper lol!

[mysticm3]

there aren't many choices for the SE bumper, most will be from ACS and Hamann and the price you pay for those you will be far better off getting our M-Tech, M3, or M3 CSL rep bumper.

[Fox]

If that was my car, I'd be fitting the Sport front and rear bumpers and a set of ACS wheels - pretty much exactly like the 330Ci shown in the second post. That'll look really nice.

With the exhuast, have you got the same backbox as the Sport model? I've noticed the 330Ci Sports sound more 'sporty' from the outside than my 530 despite the same engine so I suspect the BMW part is a 'sports exhuast' of some sort. If yorus is an SE you could look into that as a subtle alternative.

[330Purplefrenzy]

just thought of a very important question....
although I understand that I'll need to declare modified parts on my car..but the few quotation I got was insane.....

Anyone actual bother updating their mod everytime they add something?
i.e angel light, bulb, CAI, Reamp, Exhaust, front spolier.....how are they to know what I've modified?

My wife crashed her Mr2 last year, she took it to a recommended near by garage by Direct line......they replace £2600 pounds worth without investigating....

what I am saying is, do they check? or how? unless it is a write-off, it is necessary to lay every single details on your policy? they certainly won't be able to find out remapped engine.....- otherwise it wouldn;t be a write off in first place....Please advice? or is there kind specialist which will look after us? still haven;t heard back from Adrian flux....got ...so much trouble modding a car...!

[Fox]

If you are going to change bumpers etc I'd always declare it to your insurers. Don't want to give them an excuse!

Not sure about lightbulbs though!

[Handler]

Its really up to you to declare it to the insurer... But alot of people just say i know nothing about cars i brought it like this. In most cases BMW parts cost more then after market, but if you blow 4k grand on some alloys and didn't declare them you would get OEM price.

Also if any of those modified part caused or played a part in the write off/damage in an accident and you didn't declare it your insurance would be void and you would be liable for all damage and costs plus could then be giving an IN10 by the police to add a lil more happiness.