Trying to make my car a little more edgy

[Mp0wered]

I'm currently working two jobs as a teenager, and I want to do a few things to my car but don't know where to start. lol angel eyes? performance software from active auto or save up for suspension. any ideas? haha Much appreciated

[mimalmo]

Edgy? So, are you trying to make it handle a little stiffer and more aggressive or are you looking for appearance? You list some aesthetic mods and some go faster mods in your list.

[Mp0wered]

I'm thinking aggressive but will a performance chip do much? if not maybe I will just stick to handling and looks for the time being

[Mp0wered]

[URL="http://http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g419/andrewxnguyenx/mycar.jpg"]

[Gheybe]

Save your money for a good coilover set up. Makes the world of difference.

[mimalmo]

OK, thanks for clarifying. I'd start with simple stuff like black kidneys and save up for some coilovers.

EDIT: Gabe beat me to it.

[Gheybe]

OK, thanks for clarifying. I'd start with simple stuff like black kidneys and save up for some coilovers.

EDIT: Gabe beat me to it.

:thumbup

I'm currently saving for an AST 4100 set up. Since I got my wheels I've been wanting them. They are absolutely perfect.

[Hermes]

although i do agree with gabe and eli you might want to start with the rings around your fog lamps, looks like they're missing in the picture

left: 51117893067
right: 51117893068

the next thing i would get as it seems like we're coming to the end of the supply is the BMW Perf. Intake if ECS ever gets it off backorder - $296.14 + s/h
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Engine/Intake/BMW_Performance/ES35341/

http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/125745_x600.jpg

grills, coilovers, etc. will always be available. this intake won't (we already have no supply of the strut brace, only used ones)

[az3579]

I say skip EVERYTHING and do a few Driver's Schools with your local BMW CCA chapter at a track near you. I would learn the car and max about my abilities with the current setup before changing anything with the suspension or engine. The best money you can spend is the money on your skills, and these are the skills that you can take with you from car to car, from year to year. Plus, these skills could just save your bacon one day, like it did for me many times over.

I also recommend car control schools, if your local chapter hosts them.

[cakM3]

I say skip EVERYTHING and do a few Driver's Schools with your local BMW CCA chapter at a track near you. I would learn the car and max about my abilities with the current setup before changing anything with the suspension or engine. The best money you can spend is the money on your skills, and these are the skills that you can take with you from car to car, from year to year. Plus, these skills could just save your bacon one day, like it did for me many times over.

I also recommend car control schools, if your local chapter hosts them.

Very good advice BP :thumbsup

[static667]

I say skip EVERYTHING and do a few Driver's Schools with your local BMW CCA chapter at a track near you. I would learn the car and max about my abilities with the current setup before changing anything with the suspension or engine. The best money you can spend is the money on your skills, and these are the skills that you can take with you from car to car, from year to year. Plus, these skills could just save your bacon one day, like it did for me many times over.

I also recommend car control schools, if your local chapter hosts them.

^This. The best mod is investing in the driver. Bring yourself up to the level of the car, then work on the car.

But a few visual mods like angel eyes and black kidneys won't hurt either.

[MrMaico]

although i do agree with gabe and eli you might want to start with the rings around your fog lamps, looks like they're missing in the picture

left: 51117893067
right: 51117893068

the next thing i would get as it seems like we're coming to the end of the supply is the BMW Perf. Intake if ECS ever gets it off backorder - $296.14 + s/h
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Engine/Intake/BMW_Performance/ES35341/

http://c1552172.r72.cf0.rackcdn.com/125745_x600.jpg

grills, coilovers, etc. will always be available. this intake won't (we already have no supply of the strut brace, only used ones)

I'd bet that they won't be able to get any more. It's probably gone the way of the Performance strut brace and brake rotors and suspension package........NLA. They did have a scratch and dent one on their site yesterday for $100. The clips on the snorkel were broke.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0l/Engine/Intake/ES2162750/

[echo46]

Are the clips repairable? I'm dying for one of these.

[kayger12]

Are the clips repairable? I'm dying for one of these.

Yep-- they're essentially unnecessary. From what I can tell, they just hold the two halves loosely together.

They can simply be glued or epoxied. I'd jump on it.

[Rustyh]

I say skip EVERYTHING and do a few Driver's Schools with your local BMW CCA chapter at a track near you. I would learn the car and max about my abilities with the current setup before changing anything with the suspension or engine.

Not that there's anything wrong with "tasteful" aesthetic mods to the car, you're spot on as far as any focus on performance improvements. Even for those of us that have done a few track days and autox excursions, the ZHP is far more capable than most of our capabilities. For the average driver, much moreso.

Suspensions, chips, exhausts, intakes, etc are great. But only in a state of mind kind of way. If the car already exceeds the driver's capabilities, not to mention if you don't really push the car on a track or whatnot, then the argument could be made that it's not really a wise financial move. And if expendable income is part of the equation, seems like a no-brainer.

Just my .02,
Rusty

[jreyes19]

hmmm good deal on that performance intake ......

listen to the people here they know what they are talking about
basically get to know your car so that once it grows with mods and performance, you can grow with it :)

[MrMaico]

Are the clips repairable? I'm dying for one of these.

I'd jump on it then. You could figure out something I'm sure. Like Keith said, it will work just fine as is. It doesn't affect the filtering at all if that snorkel isn't clipped together.

[johnrando]

If you check out the my "Jet Black mini mod-a-palloza" in the Projects thread, I comment on the small mods I've made to make my car more "edgy", but I haven't yet done Angel Eyes (next), nor suspension (considering an H&R sport cup kit). But, what I've done adds some small visual cues and some minor performance gains. I agree with everyone's comment about improving the driver, but nothing wrong with adding straight-line performance too. Anybody can drive a car in a straight line, no lessons needed for that part. :) Especially the little improvements I've added. Serious power comes from FI (forced induction).

So, decide if you want visual or performance, and work your way through them.

[Mp0wered]

Thanks on the feedback everyone! ill post up some pictures when i get everything completed!

[URL="http://http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g419/andrewxnguyenx/mycar.jpg"

[Hermes]

I say skip EVERYTHING and do a few Driver's Schools with your local BMW CCA chapter at a track near you. I would learn the car and max about my abilities with the current setup before changing anything with the suspension or engine. The best money you can spend is the money on your skills, and these are the skills that you can take with you from car to car, from year to year. Plus, these skills could just save your bacon one day, like it did for me many times over.

I also recommend car control schools, if your local chapter hosts them.

+1. completely forgot about the age/experience factor since I've been driving a while now. Get some education on how to use your car, worth every penny spent on it.

[UdubBadger]

I'm currently working two jobs as a teenager, and I want to do a few things to my car but don't know where to start. lol angel eyes? performance software from active auto or save up for suspension. any ideas? haha Much appreciated

My company is now handling all the tuning for Active Autowerks SC systems. :)

[az3579]

+1. completely forgot about the age/experience factor since I've been driving a while now. Get some education on how to use your car, worth every penny spent on it.

Doesn't matter the age. Most people I know twice my age still can't drive for crap...

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[Hermes]

True, luckily I grew up with twisty/mtn roads so I learned young

[webster]

Doesn't matter the age. Most people I know twice my age still can't drive for crap...



depending on your age, that's to be expected. everyone knows seniors can't drive for crap.

[Hermes]

This thread is making me want to take the next handling clinic cca puts on

[aurelius]

Think long and hard about the fact that next to nothing can be done, outside of turbo or supercharger, to make these motors noticeably more powerful.

Even with performance software like Conforti/Shark, Dinan, etc., most of what you end up actually noticing is the faster throttle response. Which is nice but be honest with yourself about what you're getting.

As for suspension, these cars are arguably the best-handling, sub-$50k car on the road today. Therefore, unless your suspension is worn, stick with it for a while. (your mileage is what?)

As a former full-time high performance driving instructor, I agree with the suggestions above to mod the driver. It is by far the best return on investment. Start with some local BMW Club events like autocross and on-track instructional events.

[danewilson77]

I'm currently working two jobs as a teenager, and I want to do a few things to my car but don't know where to start. lol angel eyes? performance software from active auto or save up for suspension. any ideas? haha Much appreciated

Drop it like its hot, VMR's/BBS, and Orion V2's = Done.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Hermes]

Drop it like its hot, VMR's/BBS, and Orion V2's = Done.

Hahahaha... Im guessing you're cool with him looking like you since his car is not IR?

[Mp0wered]

http://http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g419/andrewxnguyenx/1911-with-trunk-lights-white.jpg

[Mp0wered]

Ill post up pictures when i install them tomorrow! =D

[danewilson77]

Hahahaha... Im guessing you're cool with him looking like you since his car is not IR?

I'm cool with him making his car look "edgy", which honestly, is the question he asked.

[danewilson77]

http://http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g419/andrewxnguyenx/1911-with-trunk-lights-white.jpg

Perfection.

[az3579]

Some LED turn signal bulbs would go grrrrrreat with that! :biggrin

[iZHP]

^ +1! grilles, and you're done!

[jjcools]

As everyone has said, driving classes, then some visual, then sus, then performance.

[Hermes]

you've got a lot of good ideas from everbody BUT back to what i said in post #8, first thing you need before the "edgy" happens is get back to factory spec, your fog lamp rings are missing... unless the pic is old and you got them already

left: 51117893067
right: 51117893068

[danewilson77]

you've got a lot of good ideas from everbody BUT back to what i said in post #8, first thing you need before the "edgy" happens is get back to factory spec, your fog lamp rings are missing... unless the pic is old and you got them already

left: 51117893067
right: 51117893068

I agree with this as well.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[SC4ME]

I say skip EVERYTHING and do a few Driver's Schools with your local BMW CCA chapter at a track near you. I would learn the car and max about my abilities with the current setup before changing anything with the suspension or engine. The best money you can spend is the money on your skills, and these are the skills that you can take with you from car to car, from year to year. Plus, these skills could just save your bacon one day, like it did for me many times over.

I also recommend car control schools, if your local chapter hosts them.

Best advice you could ever receive. Plus its fun!!!