My car just hit 100k and I've been torn to sell and get a 335i or drive this til it dies.... I'm keeping the IS, don't want a payment again..... since I'm sticking with the car, just curious on some other mods that are practical to keep the car fresh/exciting to me

My situation:
I put on 33,000 miles last year, so I do a lot of driving.... having a slammed car cannot happen for me.... also live in Wisconsin so we have the potential for some rough winters (although last year was awesome), so again slammed isn't going to happen, I don't want to be a snowplow.

What I have so far:
Red out tail lights
Trunk spoiler
roof spoiler
front lip (only to protect my bumper from curbs/parking stalls)
tinted windows
aftermarket rims (car is not lowered though - and I won't do it, no matter how silly the 4x4 looks)

....things I am thinking about doing and hoping to get input on them from those with experience, and/or more suggestions on what to do (that is practical for a daily driver)
HID fogs
exhaust (my current one is looking a little shotty)
blackout badges
ISF bumper (fitment?)
add side/rear lip


Thanks for any input or ideas.

 

Sway bars for sure

 

I'm not sure you're using the word practical in the same way I'd think of it... practical to me means mods that make a functional difference to the car.

Just about all the mods on your current and future list are cosmetic mods, they have no practical value at all (exhaust, maybe the rims if they're lightweight, and maybe HID fogs, being the exceptions).


Practical mods would be things like sway bars or an intake

(though in the case of the exhaust and intake the practical value is relatively small)

 

sway bars for sure maybe some HID fogs

 

How I'll define practical in this sense:

- Something I can add to the car that will improve fit, form (e.i my cosmetic changes), function without negatively effecting my daily driving abilities.

.... the only big one I can think of that I'm sure everyone in the back of their mind would say (including me) is drop the thing.... but I drive some pretty ****ty roads so low = no.

 

if your car is a 250 get the 335i instead

 

HID definitely. I would look at F-Sport sway bars, intake, and exhaust. No payments right? Splurge.

 

You could still do a coilover upgrade and just not slam it. This way you'll be able to stiffen the dampening and spring rates while retaining the 4x4 look if you want.

 

+1

 

I have been torn on what to do.... the car has been paid for, for some time now and I've kind of got the itch for a new car.... I'm guessing my trade in value is around 14-15k and to get a 335xi (all wheel for the winters) will run me 25k-32k depending miles, options, etc.... I have 10k in the bank just sort of sitting that I could buy the 335i outright.... or pay off my school loans (which is probably what I'll do).

Between having the IS2 paid off and then paying off my school loans, I'm putting an extra $700 a month in my pocket.... odds are it'll just end up going to "the wedding fund" but at least it keeps the Mrs. off my back.


I thought coils for awhile and then just raise/lower as the season change.... anyone know how much drop it takes for the awd vibration issue to pop up?

 

HIDs for sure!

 

A mild drop on a set of good coilovers and you should avoid any issues.

A mid-pipe and exhaust would give you some more power and a better exhaust note.

Hit us up if you want some help with that stuff

 

double.,,,,

 

more power... lol

Get the exhaust upgrades if you want the great sound they provide, not for the marginal power gains.

I have the F-sport exhaust, Joe Z intake, and the hole in the air box and love the aggressive sound.

 

hids and a nice drop definitely