Discussion
Glad you are (mostly) enjoying the brilliant 340i.
I have the same engine (M140i) and it's just incredible after a tune.
I do have some very slight cabin rattles but nothing that I can hear with music on, and the door rubbers creak a bit too, which I can cure for a few weeks with rubber/plastic trim treatment, but they come back after a while.
I love my car though, can't think of anything in the price range that could replace it. Maybe an M2CS if I win the lottery.
I have the same engine (M140i) and it's just incredible after a tune.
I do have some very slight cabin rattles but nothing that I can hear with music on, and the door rubbers creak a bit too, which I can cure for a few weeks with rubber/plastic trim treatment, but they come back after a while.
I love my car though, can't think of anything in the price range that could replace it. Maybe an M2CS if I win the lottery.
Looks like a good trip.
I kind of know what you mean about the itchy feet...the child in me wants something with a bit more something about it (looks / drama / noise) than my M140i but it’s more than fast enough for public roads and it does the dull stuff well. Also, it doesn’t cost me a fortune to run considering the performance on offer.
I kind of know what you mean about the itchy feet...the child in me wants something with a bit more something about it (looks / drama / noise) than my M140i but it’s more than fast enough for public roads and it does the dull stuff well. Also, it doesn’t cost me a fortune to run considering the performance on offer.
I wanted some smaller plates but don't like the look when they're cut right down to the bare minimum so didn't go too mad, I think they strike the right balance. The front one is fitted with a Magna Plate kit which I'm thoroughly impressed with, I was worried that because the plate bends a bit it'd struggle to hold the ends on but it's spot on.
I also played about a bit with sticking the magnet parts onto the back of the number plates. The front bumper where the plate goes on points down a bit so if the plate is put straight on it looks a bit silly. I added a few layers of 3M tape on the bottom of the magnet bits so it levels it out a little. It's not 100% but it sits well enough that it doesn't look out of place.
Pulls off easy and snaps back into place perfectly. It's a bit overkill, it'll have the plate on most of the time but for cleaning, photos, car shows and stuff it's nice to be able to pull it off.
I also played about a bit with sticking the magnet parts onto the back of the number plates. The front bumper where the plate goes on points down a bit so if the plate is put straight on it looks a bit silly. I added a few layers of 3M tape on the bottom of the magnet bits so it levels it out a little. It's not 100% but it sits well enough that it doesn't look out of place.
Pulls off easy and snaps back into place perfectly. It's a bit overkill, it'll have the plate on most of the time but for cleaning, photos, car shows and stuff it's nice to be able to pull it off.
Small mishap with a rear wheel last week 
They weren't perfect when I got them, the black has marks and the diamond cut faces had been redone but they were presentable so I put them on and thought I'd wait to refurb them. After the small incident last week the mrs offered to get them sorted for my birthday.
So after a bit of thinking I've decided to go for good old silver. I know black and grey are fashionable at the moment but you lose the detail with black, my other car has grey wheels and they just don't quite hit the spot after a good wash. I reckon silver will make a comeback, they look fresh and I reckon they'll accentuate the concave on the rear wheels.
Thankfully I still have the stock wheels so I've put them back on for now. I'm tempted to flog them afterwards and grab a set of 18" M Sport wheels for winter tyres. Part of me wants to keep the original wheels but another part of me realises I don't have infinite space to store wheels.
Anyway they've been sent off to be powder coated and should be back next week. I'm excited, you can't beat a set of fresh wheels, I'm going to coat them in some C5 before putting them on, after seeing how easy it is to wash my mates wheels after he coated his I was sold on it.
They weren't perfect when I got them, the black has marks and the diamond cut faces had been redone but they were presentable so I put them on and thought I'd wait to refurb them. After the small incident last week the mrs offered to get them sorted for my birthday.
So after a bit of thinking I've decided to go for good old silver. I know black and grey are fashionable at the moment but you lose the detail with black, my other car has grey wheels and they just don't quite hit the spot after a good wash. I reckon silver will make a comeback, they look fresh and I reckon they'll accentuate the concave on the rear wheels. Thankfully I still have the stock wheels so I've put them back on for now. I'm tempted to flog them afterwards and grab a set of 18" M Sport wheels for winter tyres. Part of me wants to keep the original wheels but another part of me realises I don't have infinite space to store wheels.
Anyway they've been sent off to be powder coated and should be back next week. I'm excited, you can't beat a set of fresh wheels, I'm going to coat them in some C5 before putting them on, after seeing how easy it is to wash my mates wheels after he coated his I was sold on it.
RammyMP said:
Do you need the tyre pressure sensors if you get another set of wheels?
I’ve got a set of winter wheels for my old A5 in the garage but they are a different size for BMWs. I need to get them on Ebay really but can’t be bothered!
Mine uses the sensors in the wheels so yeah, I bought a set for the M3 wheels so I can use the set from the original wheels for the winters. I’ve got a set of winter wheels for my old A5 in the garage but they are a different size for BMWs. I need to get them on Ebay really but can’t be bothered!
Pizzaeatingking said:
Just realised I managed to sneak out to the 'ring in september between all the lockdowns and chaos of this year. Looking back now we totally lucked out getting there and back but I'm glad we done it! Long drive there by myself as I had other commitments in the morning of us going but the car made the 600+ miles and 11 hours on the road a pleasure. Queuing for the train
Late night autobahn blast was very enjoyable and the active cruise made life easy when not doing vmax runs.
Slightly lonely drive but Deezer and the eclectic mix of cars on the roads kept me entertained. Once onto the twisty roads I made the most of the MPPSK soundtrack. Arrived about 11pm I think with the orange paint looking menacing in the low light.
Got a quick shot of the car outside the M testing centre for scene points.
Last shot of the trip, driving home was much more fun in a group. Lots of traffic on the way back but google maps saved our arses and we made the train no bother. I did get fully questioned by the UK border guy on the way in for some reason, lots of car questions, perhaps he was a PHer?
The track was full of Germans and Dutch, I'm guessing they were making the most of the lack of brits getting in the way! My mates both done a couple of laps but I wasn't fussed, it was super busy and very hot so I enjoyed cold beers and sunbathing trackside.
I've got everything crossed we can get a couple of trips in next year!
Sounds like a lovely trip that - glad you enjoyed it. Nice to have a different mix of cars too. I bet there was 1 or more friendly rolling races involved to the national speed limit Late night autobahn blast was very enjoyable and the active cruise made life easy when not doing vmax runs.
Slightly lonely drive but Deezer and the eclectic mix of cars on the roads kept me entertained. Once onto the twisty roads I made the most of the MPPSK soundtrack. Arrived about 11pm I think with the orange paint looking menacing in the low light. Got a quick shot of the car outside the M testing centre for scene points.
Last shot of the trip, driving home was much more fun in a group. Lots of traffic on the way back but google maps saved our arses and we made the train no bother. I did get fully questioned by the UK border guy on the way in for some reason, lots of car questions, perhaps he was a PHer?
The track was full of Germans and Dutch, I'm guessing they were making the most of the lack of brits getting in the way! My mates both done a couple of laps but I wasn't fussed, it was super busy and very hot so I enjoyed cold beers and sunbathing trackside.
I've got everything crossed we can get a couple of trips in next year!
peetee7 said:
Sounds like a lovely trip that - glad you enjoyed it. Nice to have a different mix of cars too. I bet there was 1 or more friendly rolling races involved to the national speed limit
Until a couple if years back I'd never been, since then I've done at least 6 trips and loved them all. The drive home was a good laugh, a few little runs up the motorway together and traffic meant we went a different way so saw some slightly different views. So the wheels are back from the powder coaters. They look good, still not 100% sure how they'll go with the orange but we'll see. Managed to fit them into a VW Fox
The the usual car cleaning delivery arrived
The coating went on nice and easy before the wheels were left to bask in front of the heater. They're going to have 72 hours to cure but I stuck them in the warm for a bit anyway. I'm putting them on sunday so I'll update with some pictures when they're on.
The the usual car cleaning delivery arrived
The coating went on nice and easy before the wheels were left to bask in front of the heater. They're going to have 72 hours to cure but I stuck them in the warm for a bit anyway. I'm putting them on sunday so I'll update with some pictures when they're on.
Wheels are on, obligatory photos
I'm really pleased with them, nice and fresh, bit of contrast against the darker paintwork. It'll be interesting to see how it looks in the sunlight as the paint really changes in the sun. The concave profile of the rears in particular look even deeper now.
I gave the car a quick wash, I'm chuffed with the Wet Coat, similar to the Car Pro Hydro but worked even better and it's in a funky orange bottle. The Purestar drying towel is fantastic too, easily up there with the Klin Korea towel I had before. After I'd rinsed off the Wet Coat I run a watering can over it then the few bits of water left I dried with the towel, just patted it and it sucked up all the water, bone dry afterwards.
I'm really pleased with them, nice and fresh, bit of contrast against the darker paintwork. It'll be interesting to see how it looks in the sunlight as the paint really changes in the sun. The concave profile of the rears in particular look even deeper now.
I gave the car a quick wash, I'm chuffed with the Wet Coat, similar to the Car Pro Hydro but worked even better and it's in a funky orange bottle. The Purestar drying towel is fantastic too, easily up there with the Klin Korea towel I had before. After I'd rinsed off the Wet Coat I run a watering can over it then the few bits of water left I dried with the towel, just patted it and it sucked up all the water, bone dry afterwards.
Pizzaeatingking said:
Wheels are on, obligatory photos
I'm really pleased with them, nice and fresh, bit of contrast against the darker paintwork. It'll be interesting to see how it looks in the sunlight as the paint really changes in the sun. The concave profile of the rears in particular look even deeper now.
I gave the car a quick wash, I'm chuffed with the Wet Coat, similar to the Car Pro Hydro but worked even better and it's in a funky orange bottle. The Purestar drying towel is fantastic too, easily up there with the Klin Korea towel I had before. After I'd rinsed off the Wet Coat I run a watering can over it then the few bits of water left I dried with the towel, just patted it and it sucked up all the water, bone dry afterwards.
Perfect colour & finish IMOI'm really pleased with them, nice and fresh, bit of contrast against the darker paintwork. It'll be interesting to see how it looks in the sunlight as the paint really changes in the sun. The concave profile of the rears in particular look even deeper now.
I gave the car a quick wash, I'm chuffed with the Wet Coat, similar to the Car Pro Hydro but worked even better and it's in a funky orange bottle. The Purestar drying towel is fantastic too, easily up there with the Klin Korea towel I had before. After I'd rinsed off the Wet Coat I run a watering can over it then the few bits of water left I dried with the towel, just patted it and it sucked up all the water, bone dry afterwards.
Suit the car to a tee
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