Body work

[SoCalZman]

In my quest to start my ownership of this ZHP fresh, I am in the process of having very minor body work done. Small door dings removed, new headlight covers, and a new (OEM) front bumper. Hoping to get it back later this week

Besides this, it's actually cracked under there and loose, hence why I decided on just getting a new one.
3966
3967

Dingdingding!
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Also getting a new mirror cover, and new trim pieces for the bumper, new fender liners, etc...
3969

are those Brake ducts or something? Neat!
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Finished work coming soon....

[danewilson77]

Yes. Brake ducts.

Delivered from SIGFest USA

[webster]

nice, she will be factory-fresh after all this work gets done. looking forward to the final results.

[zhp43867]

Very nice! I've got some ugly door dings that I wish I had taken care of immediately.

[sna77]

I'd recommend replacing the fog lights too. Once you have new headlight lenses on there, you'll hate your pitted fogs. I replaced mine with the clear glass ones, not fluted.

Your body shop should be able to order ZKW fogs (the OEM supplier, not BMW stamped) for about $150 for the pair.

[SoCalZman]

Thanks guys. Not fluted...? you mean the little verticle lines on the lens? What are those for, anyway?

Is replacing the fog light lenses something I can do myself though? where did you buy yours?

Dont have the car yet so I can't take. Close look at it :)

[Hermes]

Thanks guys. Not fluted...? you mean the little verticle lines on the lens? What are those for, anyway?

Yes, the lines on the lens

Fluted: non-M
Clear: M3/M5


Is replacing the fog light lenses something I can do myself though?

You can't replace just the lens, you have to replace the whole housing. It's very easy to do

[SoCalZman]

Ugh, you guys! I probably wouldnt even have noticed if you guys didnt say anything! lol. If its that easy I can just pick up some up from the dealer and do it myself.... :roundel

edit: they have them at both Turner and ECS...though they are 100 bucks each....
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1535-right-fog-light-assembly-clear-lens-e46-m3-330-zhp-e39-m5.aspx
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Lighting/Fog_Lights/ES173938/

[SoCalZman]

Update today from the shop!

Biggest door ding pretty much gone. I can live with this result.
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New BMW roundel.
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New headlight covers (be putting on clear fogs myself)
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New fender liners
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Just waiting for her new bumper strips
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[webster]

looking good. if you don't mind...how much did the OEM bumper cost, both parts/labor? in addition to some splitter scrapes similar to what you posted in the pics above, i also noticed some spider-web cracking on the center bottom portion the other day that really drove me nuts...ugh

[SoCalZman]

good question. I dont know yet. I think the bumper was around 500 from BMW. The painting, etc probably was around that much as well.
I should also point out that the guy said that the bumper can be repaired and repainted if the damage is not bad. So you might have that option.

[SoCalZman]

Bumper strips on. All done.
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Emblem or no emblem. He ordered one, I just have to decide if I want it on.
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[JohnnyGraphic]

IMHO, I'd say yes to the emblems.

Looking VERY nice BTW. Totally jealous as my car is getting more and more pitted from living it's life on the hwy. Oh, and be very, very careful with that bumper the first 6 months or so. Since it's plastic/rubber, the paint will flex and the paint can bubble off if you get the slightest damage. (It happened on one of my other cars).

Enjoy!

[SoCalZman]

Thanks! Ok one for the emblem yes column do far. Heh

I will be careful but in all my years of owning sporty, low cars, I have never really hit my bumper on anything always made me wonder how people could tear them up like that.

Case in point, my last car was all chin. And yes that car is all stock. :)
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[midlandtech]

Great job! I added a personal touch and replaced the 330i with ZHP it's totally personal preference


~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sna77]

Someone vandalized my spoiler (ripped it off)...

Just got my car back from the body shop. Insurance paid for the new spoiler and respray of the trunk. I paid for the front and rear bumpers to be painted. I left the car debadged too btw. Love the clean look. Plus I don't have to worry about wax getting in the numbers...

Coming along very nice BTW!

PS: I have my Dinan3 badge sitting in my office... Wondering if I should put that on...

[sna77]

While we're spending your money... $399 for the complete OEM clear lens kit.
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-904-e46-facelift-sedan-2002-2005-euro-clear-lens-package.aspx

Here's how it looks on our silber gray ZHP sedans. Also, I noticed that our cars are twins! Black leather with Nav. Only difference is I have silver cube trim to your black.

http://www.bigpatsfans.com/stella-fanatics/3.jpg

http://www.bigpatsfans.com/stella-fanatics/6.jpg

http://www.bigpatsfans.com/stella-fanatics/7.jpg

[SoCalZman]

Hot hot HOT! Yes the euro lights DO look good on ours. I ordered my set from ECS tuning already :-D same price. *shrug*. So our cars will be even more like twins soon after that, and my intravee and bluetooth. LOL.

Are you doing black grills too? ;)

[sna77]

ECS tuning also has OEM clears--you did good!

So the OEM clears come with amber bulbs. You're going to want to buy these OEM silver bulbs that glow amber (x4)

BMW Part #: 63217160897

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=175459&d=1144954152

You'll need 2 silver bulbs for the side markers. No OEM ones for that so you're stuck with these for $10. I've used them for years w/o issue. Bulb #194:
http://autolumination.com/titaniumseries.htm

http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/194a_sv_wm.jpg


Autolumination also sells the corner light bulbs too. They show less amber through the lenses, but don't blink quite as bright. I actually have 2 of these in my front turn signals because the amber shows through less with the clear corner lenses. I use 2 OEM silver bulbs in the rear because they blink brighter and you cant really see any amber through the taillights when not illuminated. The bulb type you need is type 7507. Notice the pins are offset slightly. The OEM clears have new bases that require these. They change the pin location so you cannot use the clear bulbs from your ambers in the clear headlight lenses. You need to blink amber to be DOT legal:

http://www.bigpatsfans.com/7507.JPG


http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/1156_chrome_wm.jpg

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=175458&d=1144954152

[sna77]

Forgot about this OEM kit that has 4 silver bulbs + 2 side marker bulbs. The sidemarker ones actually stink. they are 90% orange with silver tips. You see amber through all the time. The aftermarket ones are much cleaner IMO:

Part # 63120420391 The individual bulbs for front / rear are (type 7507-for use with OEM clears) part # 63217160897 if you need to replace a single bulb... http://www.bigpatsfans.com/bmw-silver-kit.jpg

[SoCalZman]

Wow thanks for posting that. I would have bought that kit with the awful side markers if you didn't say anything.

Hm, I see what you mean about the little bit of amber showing on the OEM corners vs the silver coated on the aftermarket. Thats a really tough call. The OEM clear bulbs dont look bad in the pic per se...I am really curious about how bright the silver coated corners blink in low light/night (and the side markers for that matter). Would you happen to have any pics?

[sna77]

The silver coated ones are definitely fine at night up front, although a little under powered during the day. The OEM ones are really OK for the front too--I'm just insanely anal...

The only ones you have to repalce for sure are the OEM side marker bulbs which look like $hit.

My car is at the BMW dealership till Monday getting the windshield replaced, so no more pics till then. :)

[SoCalZman]

Ah. Well no worries. I can wait. ECS said it would probably be weeks before the lights arrive from Germany anyway :)

[terraphantm]

Forgot about this OEM kit that has 4 silver bulbs + 2 side marker bulbs. The sidemarker ones actually stink. they are 90% orange with silver tips. You see amber through all the time. The aftermarket ones are much cleaner IMO:

Part # 63120420391 The individual bulbs for front / rear are (type 7507-for use with OEM clears) part # 63217160897 if you need to replace a single bulb... http://www.bigpatsfans.com/bmw-silver-kit.jpg

FWIW these bulbs are the Philips Silvervision bulbs. They're not sold retail in this country (as far as I can tell), but you can get them from a VW/Audi dealer (under part number N 102 564 04) for a bit less than what BMW sells them for. ($10/bulb instead of $15 iirc). Running them in my M3 right now. I like them because they're a lot brighter than most other stealth bulbs (and blink a proper amber color)

[danewilson77]

Great info Terra.

[SoCalZman]

Picking up my car from the body shop right now. It was a bit more than i was expecting but she has alot of new OEM pieces on there/under there as a resut. I am VERY happy! 4155

[webster]

:drool
:drool
:drool
:like

[SoCalZman]

The owners TTS next to it. One of his many cars. Now to hop in the Z and drive her home. 4156

[JupiterBMW]

Looks good homie... Very nice job...

[SoCalZman]

Home safe.
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[danewilson77]

Delish.

Sent from a Thunderbolt

[sna77]

Looks fantastic!

[SoCalZman]

In case anyone in the Bay Area is curious, I had the work done at Kennedy Auto body in Redwood City. Excellent work and attention to detail. They removed a big dent in my Z too, and matched the white pearl paint so well I couldnt even tell (not a easy task).

Anyway, now she is at the BMW dealer getting pre road trip fluids changed and a good spa detailing. :)

[danewilson77]

In case anyone in the Bay Area is curious, I had the work done at Kennedy Auto body in Redwood City. Excellent work and attention to detail. They removed a big dent in my Z too, and matched the white pearl paint so well I couldnt even tell (not a easy task).

Anyway, now she is at the BMW dealer getting pre road trip fluids changed and a good spa detailing. :)

Sounds like a formal writeup is due on our dealer/shop feedback forum.

Sent from a Thunderbolt

[SoCalZman]

Sounds like a formal writeup is due on our dealer/shop feedback forum.

Sent from a Thunderbolt

I can do that. I saw it was "dealership review" so I wasnt sure if it was only for dealerships. I will put a review up soon. :)

[danewilson77]

Naaa...it's for all businesses applicable to our cars.....and probably doesn't even have to be applicable to our cars...if it would be valuable info to someone here in the Family.