New gal from Asheville, NC

[Ryans323i]

After much prodding I've joined. I was reluctant because I don't own a ZHP but I know a ZHP owner, and have touched a ZHP, so I figured it was ok. On a slightly serious note, I'm a BMW enthusiast and own a 99 323i, known as "Lucy". Lucy is my pride and joy. I've had her for over 6 years, and began customizing her about 3 years ago. The biggest and most obvious custom mod is her paint job. Nearly all of it was DIY'd in my garage. The paint scheme was inspired by the 135tii concept, and the overall look is to create a 4 door e46 M3 concept that BMW failed to put out.

Exterior parts:
M3 CSL rep front bumper, M3 rep side mirrors, M3 CSL rep trunk lid, M3 (fronts) wheels Style 67, HID xenons, smoked signals all around, and black kidney grills.

The interior has been fully customized as well, with a touch of girlie-ness.
Interior Mods:
Custom sparkly trim, two toned doors (black & tan), black headliner, short shift knob, M3 arm rest and console, red interior bulbs (match instrument cluster), hardwired V1, red (sharpied) needles, and Pioneer media player.

There's not much in the way of performance, but
Performance:
Eibach Pro-kit Springs, dual acting shocks, cone filter, and 330i brake upgrade parts on going on next weekend.

Pics:
The best place to see pics and read more of the mods and process is here. (http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3875239/1999-bmw-3-series-323i-sedan-4d)

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/1014/1635/40033317018_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/1014/1663/40033331226_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/501/4789/38752394038_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/501/4789/38752394041_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/501/4789/38752394031_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/501/4789/38752394034_medium.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/501/4789/38752394022_medium.jpg

[mimalmo]

Welcome. I like the black and tan theme on your interior.

[Alphatek45]

Very nice. Welcome!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I've seen your car on other forums (and even commented on it before). Welcome to the site!

[Mtnman]

Bout time!

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

[Ryans323i]

^^Ha, ha. :)

Thanks for guys. Hey Marcus!

[danewilson77]

Respect! Good having you as part of the family.

Droid X! Srs Legitness!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

^^Ha, ha. :)

Thanks for guys. Hey Marcus!

Heya, Ryan. Thanks for clearing up the name thing with me.

[Ryans323i]

No problem.

[Ryans323i]

Oooo, and I should have added. Got my brake upgrade parts from BRAKE YOUR SELF!! woot! Can't wait to write a review. Thanks again Ray!!!!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

EDIT: good. I got the name right. Thanks, Ryan.

[danewilson77]

Good deal.

[pyreguy]

Welcome Ryan! David was telling me about your car this weekend. Glad you made it to the forum. Your car is stunning


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

[Dotpage]

Nice car, I put stripes and wheels on my wife's Yaris, was planning to supercharge and drop it, she took the stripes off.. Nice car!

[Ryans323i]

^^Wha?? Are you messing with me?

Thanks Pyreguy.

[Dotpage]

Sorry, did I offend you? If I did please forgive me.. I just meant I like stripes..

[SkrApUNB]

After much prodding I've joined. I was reluctant because I don't own a ZHP but I know a ZHP owner, and have touched a ZHP

This made me laugh :spit

Welcome to the boards. Personally i Love everything about your car except the stripes. But if thats what you like then thats what counts!

-Brandon

[Ryans323i]

Sorry, did I offend you? If I did please forgive me.. I just meant I like stripes..

Oh, well then, thanks. :)

[kayger12]

Welcome, Ryan.

Love the car.

Glad you joined up.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[Johnmadd]

I like the black offset stripes, nice ride. Much respect to women that love their cars and actually take care of them, and you mod, sooooo....even more respect to you.

[static667]

Welcome aboard!

Your car is awesome. I wish I was handy enough with a spray gun to do something that amazing to my car.

[billschusteriv]

:hi

Hey Ryan! Welcome! There are lots of non-ZHP owners here...so hope you feel right at home and jump into the mix with the rest of us!

[Crickett]

Welcome to the family!

And WOW! That's a schweeet 3'r! That CSL trunk :drool . . . Serious über-respect for the DIY skills!

[mikeyb74]

Hey welcome!

[Ryans323i]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I definitely don't feel outed in any way for not having a ZHP, which is awesome.

Just a note: Although I did (and do) DIY nearly everything on my car, I did not spray the color. I did spray the primer (because you can't really mess it up), but the red, black, clear were painted by a pro. I was there to help prep (taping off and wiping down) and I laid out the stripes (which are paint not vinyl), but spraying actual color, and getting it to look as good as it does takes someone who really knows what they're doing. I'm also not the kind of person to take credit for something I didn't do.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yep. We don't discriminate here. If you're a fan of BMWs, this is the place for you.

[Dotpage]

Ryan, what color was your car before the paint/stripping? And can you give a ballpark on how much it cost you to do it?

[kpro]

Nice car, I put stripes and wheels on my wife's Yaris, was planning to supercharge and drop it, she took the stripes off.. Nice car!


I like the black offset stripes, nice ride. Much respect to women that love their cars and actually take care of them, and you mod, sooooo....even more respect to you.

Dot, thats funny she took them off!

Welcome Ryan! I like your car :) Its cool to have more ladies on the forum, I think I was solo til you showed up! Hooray!!!

[mr hish]

nice ride am a big fan of red on bmws welcome to the mafia !!!!

[gr330zhp]

Welcome!

Beautiful car, I love the interior color combo!

[Dotpage]

KPro, she is pushing for a bigger car, if that happens I'll paint the stripes back, thinking of doing like Ryan's, offset. It'll then be supercharged, transmission swap and dropped to become my full time track car.

[danewilson77]

Dot, thats funny she took them off!

Welcome Ryan! I like your car :) Its cool to have more ladies on the forum, I think I was solo til you showed up! Hooray!!!

Naaa.....we got more Ladies......MsRN......and......well.....I guess we have one more...lol

She's cool also.

[Ryans323i]

Thanks again everyone. Hi Kpro, ladies on car forums are rare. That makes us even more special!

@ Dotpage: my clear coat was bubbling up (tiny little bubbles) and flaking off like a glazed doughnut. The car was Hellrot to begin with, and I painted it with a "redder" variant of Hellrot. I love Hellro, but just wanted some of the orange in it to recede and the red to stand out more. The red paint was very expensive. $900/gal (I believe), BASF glasurit paint (BMW uses BASF paint), and it took 5 coats to get good/full coverage. The entire paint bill (with the black and clear) was around $1600 (I think, I'll find the receipt and get you a more def answer). My pro that helped me charged $20 (very reasonable) and I think I paid him around $500. The new body parts, and other miscellaneous tools & materials was about $1500. I know my total cost was under $4k. After every thing was done, I asked the owner of the paint shop what he would have charged to do it and he said $8500 (for the paint work, not parts). So, IMO, I made out like a bandit.

[danewilson77]

Yes you deeeeeeeeed...make out like a bandit.

[kpro]

Red paint is more expensive than any other color, always.

[danewilson77]

Thanks again everyone. Hi Kpro, ladies on car forums are rare. That makes us even more special!



We're all special.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDKlZaboGb4&feature=player_embedded

[Ryans323i]

I watched that video the first day I signed up. I laughed for at least 5 minutes. I don't have a ZHP, but the whole situation reminded me of an encounter with a campus rent-a-cop when I was at College. Long story short, I wouldn't put the student sticker on my car, and it's an automatic $5 fine/day. I offered to lay it on the front or rear dash, depending on how I parked. He told me that just because I drive a BMW doesn't make me special and better than everyone else. I replied, "I never said that, I just don't put stickers on my car, period". The argument continued similarly to the video, and I ended up just walking away and leaving. Later, after climbing the chain of authority, I got a written apology and permission to lay the sticker on my dash.

[danewilson77]

You rock. Awesome story. Way to stick to your guns.

[kayger12]

We're all special.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDKlZaboGb4&feature=player_embedded

Approaching 700 views :rockon

[Ryans323i]

Thanks Dane.

It really is a great video, kudos to Kayger.

[danewilson77]

No kidding...that video rules.

My claim to fame....hehe

369,000+ views.....all because someone messed up....Muhahaha.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1281659

[kpro]

I wish my computer had sound, I have to remember to check once I get home.

[johnrando]

A little late, but my .02 on the stripes... love them! Looks great. Wouldn't do it to my own car, but I love it on yours, especially with the black/red. Welcome to the site! John

[Ryans323i]

Better late than never. Thanks for the compliments.

[postitpad]

sparkle trim interior is a unique touch, how did you do it?

[Johnmadd]

I wish my computer had sound, I have to remember to check once I get home.
Gotta hear it gurl, I even showed it to my mother and she laughed and thought it was great, and she doesnt even know the difference. So funny, the best zhp conversation ever and also should be protocol for zhp owners.

[Ryans323i]

sparkle trim interior is a unique touch, how did you do it?

It's a special paint. Other than that I'd like to keep it a secret.

[danewilson77]

It's a special paint. Other than that I'd like to keep it a secret.

Its not "special"

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Ryan, just give them this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/nicesecret.jpg

:biggrin

[danewilson77]

Ryan, just give them this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/marcussandiego/nicesecret.jpg

:biggrin

:rofl

Priceless.

[Ryans323i]

I don't get it. :(

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Means that it's a secret, Ryan. If they can decipher, they will get the secret formula. :biggrin

[Ryans323i]

Gotcha.