For any of you black cars wondering Silver, Black, or Gunmetal....

[Rovert]

...here is a comparison. :pimp

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4785218751_33ca35b8bc_b.jpg

[danewilson77]

Great pic.........

[gr330zhp]

Awesome pic!! Silver is my favorite though!

[danewilson77]

2 of those are preface and 1 is facelifted?

All three are ///M3's?

Ride height on far one is just about perfect. It also looks as though they get progressively higher as they come closer. Wheel gap FTL on close one.

[gr330zhp]

The closest one is the only M3...

The middle is a non-ZHP 3 series Coupe with ZHP bumper, judging by the mirrors and prefacelift face and long driver window

The furthest...Trevor's ZHP maybe??

Am I right Trevor??

[pyreguy]

I'm loving the gunmetal.


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[mimalmo]

I'm loving the gunmetal.


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If you get the silver ones, they will look like gunmetal after you get some brake dust on them. :)

[danewilson77]

If you get the silver ones, they will look like gunmetal after you get some brake dust on them. :)

:rofl

[pyreguy]

I have that now.... :biggrin

[kayger12]

I'm loving the gunmetal.


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+1 on the gunmetal.

[Rovert]

The closest one is the only M3...

The middle is a non-ZHP 3 series Coupe with ZHP bumper, judging by the mirrors and prefacelift face and long driver window

The furthest...Trevor's ZHP maybe??

Am I right Trevor??

Well done!! Haha

Right to left: 330i, 325Ci, M3

My front is still too high for my tastes but I cannot lower it. Functionality over looks. I don't want to be a "slammed statistic" not being able to make up into a restaurant driveway with a date in a hot dress sitting in the passenger seat and rear seats. :D

[gr330zhp]

Well done!! Haha

Right to left: 330i, 325Ci, M3

My front is still too high for my tastes but I cannot lower it. Functionality over looks. I don't want to be a "slammed statistic" not being able to make up into a restaurant driveway with a date in a hot dress sitting in the passenger seat and rear seats. :D

Cool :)

I think yours is PERFECT ride height! And the wheels are perfect as well!

[mimalmo]

Functionality over looks. I don't want to be a "slammed statistic" not being able to make up into a restaurant driveway with a date in a hot dress sitting in the passenger seat and rear seats. :D

Agree. That's why when my coilovers went in, I went for a little tire tuck at each corner versus the slammed look.

[Mtnman]

+1 on gunmetal. i want my beyerns to be gunmetal.....that would be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. I and have ceramic pads all around now, so no more blackness!

[adb1028]

Black on black is just blahhh. Not my taste. Silver or gunmetal is the way to go, but like Eli said, the silver will look like gunmetal pretty quick with OEM pads

[jjcools]

Very cool picture Trevor

[Rovert]

Thank you sir. Give all the credits to my fellow E46er who takes incredibly professional pics. Even more so than mine. :D I'm but a hatchling in a nest!

[mikeyb74]

Cool pic. I'm planning on mirror finish TSW Nurburgrings.

http://www.tsw.com/showroom/pictures/TSW/z4nurburgrin1g.jpg

[gr330zhp]

Cool pic. I'm planning on mirror finish TSW Nurburgrings.

http://www.tsw.com/showroom/pictures/TSW/z4nurburgrin1g.jpg

Really nice! I will buy em when they make them in plain silver finish. I'm boring :cool

[johnrando]

LOVE the pics. Always wondered what would look best on my black ZHP... surprisingly like the gun metal in this pic... was never too sure about that color but seeing it side by side helps. Keeping my chrome for now, but now I know for future, maybe gun metal vs silver will be a more viable choice. I too am not so into the black on black.

[Rovert]

For anyone interested in VMR V710 wheel weights:

18x8.5 ET35:
http://www.wheelsto.com/images/weight_comp_50.jpg

18x9.5 ET45 is 24.5lbs
19x8.5 ET35 is 25.0lbs
19x9.5 ET45 is 25.5lbs

So for anyone wanting to compete in AutoX and want to have a quicker reacting response. Get a lighter rim. My setup feels about the same as my heavier stock ZHP 135 wheels with a bit less lag in turning in.

[danewilson77]

What a baller!

[johnrando]

For anyone interested in VMR V710 wheel weights:

18x8.5 ET35:
http://www.wheelsto.com/images/weight_comp_50.jpg

18x9.5 ET45 is 24.5lbs
19x8.5 ET35 is 25.0lbs
19x9.5 ET45 is 25.5lbs

So for anyone wanting to compete in AutoX and want to have a quicker reacting response. Get a lighter rim. My setup feels about the same as my heavier stock ZHP 135 wheels with a bit less lag in turning in.

Funny because I recently PM'ed you about the VMR weight, great timing! So, I don't AutoX, but per your post, I would think an even lighter rim would be better if I'm going to get new wheels. The question is, what is that crossover point in price/performance that makes sense for lighter wheels for street driving/looks? I've seen wheels that are 18 lbs but I imagine some of the real quality/lightweight wheels are a little beyond my budget these days. I like that the VMRs aren't "too" expensive in the big picture.

[danewilson77]

You can get super light rims for $300.00. Imho I wouldn't spend much more than that.

[Rovert]

Oooo example please!

[mikeyb74]

The TSW Nurburgring weight less than the VMRs. I weighed abunch of these about a month ago at work for the Fasttimes. They all were under 20 lbs ea.

[danewilson77]

There's 3 set of Enkei's on Tirerack....PF01 (silver), and RPF1's (Black or silver)....that I would consider. Both around 18lbs for $299.00.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/enkei_rpf1_s_ci3_l.jpg

And the Forgestar F-14's are $1200ish for the set...and I think those are 18's.

That would be roughly 24lbs less rotational mass....and I think you would notice a diff.

[MasterC17]

Great Picture! I think I like the Gunmetal the best.

The best light wheel for an E46 in my opinion are APEX ARC-8's - 18lbs and about $1200 for a set of 18's. They also look good! http://www.apexraceparts.com/3-Series-BMW-E46_c_15.html

They have a group buy going on right now that ends the 28th: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=820060&highlight

If I had the money I would jump in on the Group Buy - but I don't :(.

[mimalmo]

The TSW Nurburgring weight less than the VMRs. I weighed abunch of these about a month ago at work for the Fasttimes. They all were under 20 lbs ea.

I haven't seen a set of those I've liked yet. The lack of the concave face makes them look odd. Especially when directly compared to a VMR V710.

[johnrando]

Great examples, now that's good information! Like the Apex's, wondering it I'd still be alive if my wife found out I bought those when the braces payments are due at the same time. Hmmmm.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Great examples, now that's good information! Like the Apex's, wondering it I'd still be alive if my wife found out I bought those when the braces payments are due at the same time. Hmmmm.

Simple conversation:

John: "Heya, sweetie. I know that the braces need to be paid soon but have I got some great, no, awesome news for you."

Wife: "What's that, honey?"

John: "I'm now the proud owner of Apex wheels!"

Wife: "I'm happy for you. Now what about the braces? How does this tie into your 'awesome' news as you call it?"

John: "Oh, yeah. We will be deferring the braces payment for at least a few months. In the meantime, I'll be breaking the wheels in, getting the alignment done, and just making sure all is well with the setup."

Wife: "John, let me see if I understand this correctly. You've gone out and bought new Ajax wheels. We won't be making the scheduled payment to the ortho. And that's awesome news. Do I that right?"

John: "Uh, yep -- with one minor correction. They're Apex wheels, not Ajax."

Wife: "Sir, you march your little ass onto ZHPMafia.com and tell your little friends there that you have some new wheels for sale. Am I making myself clear?"

John: "But did I tell you that these suckers weigh less than 22 lbs per wheel?"

Wife: "3, 2, 1 ...."

John: "But, but...."

Wife: "NOW!"

[kayger12]

:rofl

[danewilson77]

Lol....nice.

Why do wives have to be all mean like that?

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[Marcus-SanDiego]

I don't know. But ask my wife about the time I bought $14K worth of mods for my E39 -- which I put on my American Express card (and had to be paid within 30 days). Hehe.

[danewilson77]

You musta had to whore yourself out to pay for that....

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[Marcus-SanDiego]

Actually, I had just received a nice check for writing a book (http://www.thestreet.com/tsc/tscbook/kansasexcerptb.html). It was all good. But I think my wife had plans that did not coincide with my car mods. :biggrin

[danewilson77]

Lol...I hate it when that happens.

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[johnrando]

ROFL!!!!!!!!! How did you know that's how the conversation would go? She'd also take away my computer so I wouldn't get any more ideas from my "little zhp mafia friends". Love that line! John

[kayger12]

Oh yeah- my wife blames everything I buy on you guys...

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

ROFL!!!!!!!!! How did you know that's how the conversation would go? She'd also take away my computer so I wouldn't get any more ideas from my "little zhp mafia friends". Love that line! John

Yeah. That's a standard wife line. That's what my wife calls you guys.