Evolution of the Blau

[Mark540i]

Chronicles of my 540i.

Will be updating this as I update my car.

I just needed a place to put my car's progress. Mahalo for looking.




In the Beginning...

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4118/marksbmw10ew6.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7432/marksbmw12gb6.jpg

Tinted

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5647/img0492uf8.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2836/img0543zy3.jpg

+ clear tails and clear sidemarkers
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3625/img0549bt8.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7214/img0556sl2.jpg


+ clear xenons and angels headlights
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/114/img0991zw7.jpg
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6161/jan57yl0.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6481/img1006oe1.jpg

+ magnaflow muffler and shark fin antenna
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/2163/img1022re2.jpg
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3887/img1097kg2.jpg
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1006/img1098uc4.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2949/img1124tl2.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/4292/img1126en5.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1989/img1133vu5.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5076/img1138zx4.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3558/img1140hu5.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1029/img1143gs7.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5504/img1146xs0.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7141/img1157nj4.jpg

[R2dmax]

Vey nice! What are your plans?

[Gumbi4u]

Must see more evolution sir! On the right track but must see MOAR!!!

[teedub21]

What percentage tint is that? Is your back window done? It doesn't look tinted compared to the side windows. Suspension and wheels next?

[Mark540i]

Vey nice! What are your plans?

Thanks! So many things on my to do list but wheels and suspension are my next priorities.


Must see more evolution sir! On the right track but must see MOAR!!!

Patience my friend. If time and money were no problem, I would have done all the mods in one day. But alas, that is not to be. But rest assured I will update this thread after my next mod is done.


What percentage tint is that? Is your back window done? It doesn't look tinted compared to the side windows. Suspension and wheels next?

It's 35% all around but the windshield. The back looks "less tinted" because the sun was right above the back window. And yes, I'm planning to do wheels and suspension next.

[quacktoduck]

looks good brahhdahh first ala moana then up in tantulus... wish i took pics when i had my e39 in hawaii... kden chee hee

[WhatsBFc]

where is the evolving?

Like a mitsubishi lancer that hasnt evoled into a mitsubishi Evolution :D

[Mark540i]

looks good brahhdahh first ala moana then up in tantulus... wish i took pics when i had my e39 in hawaii... kden chee hee
ho brah howzit? next time u come ovah bring the e39 and can cruise tantalus. shoots cuz.

[BenPRunkle]

For a very cheap upgrade, get the sport kidney grills that are on the face lifted e39s . . . changes the look of the front end IMHO

[Busta]

Congrats :)...Off to a great start.

[eflo]

For a very cheap upgrade, get the sport kidney grills that are on the face lifted e39s . . . changes the look of the front end IMHO

+1
looking very good so far

[quacktoduck]

ho brah howzit? next time u come ovah bring the e39 and can cruise tantalus. shoots cuz.
nah the e39 is in seattle... the cars i can drive in hawaii are the silverado, cayenne and a s430...

[Mark540i]

where is the evolving?

Like a mitsubishi lancer that hasnt evoled into a mitsubishi Evolution :D

hey sorry huh we can't all be ballin' like you sir :shifty

btw, sweet CF trim interior. I have the same interior so it gives me a good idea what it would look like. trying to get my hands on titanium or aluminum trims tho.

[WhatsBFc]

Im not ballin lol.
Im on a budget.

sweet! the CF trim was my alternate to the titanium or aluminum trim. Cause im not baller.

You are for wanting it!!!!:shifty :D

[BrandonWA]

Love it all except for the Sharkfin and the wheels.
Good looking car.

[D540i]

like the photoshopped rims in the sig, i messed around with photoshop and did the same just for shits and gigs

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i194/DjR79/DSCN3046p.jpg?t=1235537796

[Mockmo]

Nice!

[dgz32]

like the photoshopped rims in the sig, i messed around with photoshop and did the same just for shits and gigs



Noticed the same thing. Those wheels a bit larger look fantastic.

Car is coming along nicely :thumbup:

[WhatsBFc]

LOl i just noticed the sig

[Boogieboy]

Looks nice and clean, and in great shape!!! You should try to get that exhaust a little tighter up to the bumper.....just my 2c.

[jdjg]

dont like the shark antenna...... everything else cool cool cool cool cool cool

[Mark540i]

like the photoshopped rims in the sig, i messed around with photoshop and did the same just for shits and gigs




Noticed the same thing. Those wheels a bit larger look fantastic.

Car is coming along nicely :thumbup:


LOl i just noticed the sig


Yeah i was just messing around with photoshop and realized that they do look good in 19s. If they were real i would rock them.

[Ned Ryerson]

Really sweet car. Love the color!!!!!

[blatant]

Nice clean setup!
I like the 19s haha look good.

[FP5241]

Great color!!
Lookin forward to seeing more..
:)

[Jason5driver]

What's up bra!?!

Love the car and the color!

What wheels are you looking at?
Jason

[Mark540i]

What's up bra!?!

Love the car and the color!

What wheels are you looking at?
Jason

just cruisin' bu. thanks!

im thinking about getting the GT1 by ASA but looks like they out of stock until April. shetty :shifty.

[Mark540i]

time for an UPDATE:


New Rims 18"s
I know. I need a drop. :shifty

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5885/img1177.jpg

[FP5241]

The chrome looks really great with your color.. and with the clear lights.. :)

[Mark540i]

The chrome looks really great with your color.. and with the clear lights.. :)
thanks! for some reason i also think the chrome and clears go great with the blue. that's why i avoided the shadowline route.

[FP5241]

Works really well. That is probably my favorite blue.
:thumbup:

[WhatsBFc]

nice!!! good steps so far

[flipppalot]

Nice upgrade.:D
Time for a new sig.

Whats ya plans for the drop??

[Mark540i]

I guess it's been a while but I haven't really had time to work on the car. Well here's a small update. M-tech front bumper courtesy of the awesome Jo at Eurodyne. How she looks like right now:


http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2686/mark54010.jpg



http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1623/m540i.jpg

[allamer35]

Very nice, very clean. Nice m5 grills. The chrome compliments chrome.

[mattmartindrift]

l
o
w
e
r

[ghandog]

Nice! Gotta love that color! Orient Blau Metallic? It is right? I applaud you for having the best BMW color IMO.

Get the OEM license plate holder so the M-Tech bumper looks more out there. :)

[03msport540it]

mark540i,

nice, very nice! so clean...yes, the drop would wrap up the whole package if you never did a thing to it. agree about not going the shadowline route...it all goes very well with the color. classy, oem-appeal and unique. nice job. certainly some veyr wisely chosen mods from where you started.

[fastone27]

Looking great Mark! What Color Blue is that ? Looks a tad darker than my Montreal bleu! :cool

[Mark540i]

Thanks for the compliments guys.
The color code is montreal blau metallic. Still oem color, never touched the paint. It looks a little lighter than that in person, it must be the lighting.
I'm still unsure how to drop her though. I like how comfortable she rides right now but I want to lower it without losing that.
I was thinking of the Bilsteins Pss coil-over kit. Yes/No?

[fastone27]

Oh... It is the same color as mine! I love this color. Has some purple in it when the sun hits it!:buttrock

[Orxan4ik]

say yess to pss :D:D

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/Orxan4ik/DSC06916.jpg

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa262/Orxan4ik/pss.jpg

[Mark540i]

nice, any side shots? what's the lowest you can go on the bilsteins?

[Fiziks]

Wow. This is almost exactly how my car used to look like.

[Orxan4ik]

nice, any side shots? what's the lowest you can go on the bilsteins?


lower than you'd ever wanna go with e39 =)

[KawikaS62]

I guess it's been a while but I haven't really had time to work on the car. Well here's a small update. M-tech front bumper courtesy of the awesome Jo at Eurodyne. How she looks like right now:


http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2686/mark54010.jpg



http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1623/m540i.jpg

Were you driving on Wilder Ave this morning ~7am?

[Mark540i]

Were you driving on Wilder Ave this morning ~7am?
no sir.

[KawikaS62]

Must've been some other blue 5 with M-tech bumper I saw then.

[Mark540i]

Must've been some other blue 5 with M-tech bumper I saw then.
most probably. I know I've seen a blue M5 driving around downtown once so that could have been him.

[JoshuaM5]

Slow and Steady...Good Stuff...keep it coming :)

[Mark540i]

Haven't updated for a little while but here are some new additions:



added M5 steering wheel and airbag

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3731/m540wheel.gif

M5 mirrors and Go Pro HD Hero

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/843/dsc48382.jpg

megan coilovers e39 application

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/5908/img6297f.jpg



http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9565/megane391.jpg


installing passenger side

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5742/megane392.jpg

old oem shocks/strut

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2052/megane393.jpg


http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4875/megane394.jpg


front side will be lowered a little bit more. rear will stay the same. plenty more room to go lower if need be.


http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/1318/megansq.jpg

m5 trunk lip with exotics tuning rear diffuser

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/4750/megane396.jpg

[Pistonbroke]

Wow, love your ride man. Looks sick lowered like that with those rims, side mirrors, t/pipes etc. Colour is sweet too.

Sorry, aint feeling the shark fin though. As you know they are best suited to later models.

Nice subtle touch with the lower rear diffuser as well. Looks good as it doesn't jump out at ya like I've seen when it's painted in a contrasting colour. You gonna black out the front grill?

You happy with the Magnaflow? Is the resonator still there? Drone, reverberations?

It's a real shame that you don't like nor look after your ride..................

[Mark540i]

Wow, love your ride man. Looks sick lowered like that with those rims, side mirrors, t/pipes etc. Colour is sweet too.

Sorry, aint feeling the shark fin though. As you know they are best suited to later models.

Nice subtle touch with the lower rear diffuser as well. Looks good as it doesn't jump out at ya like I've seen when it's painted in a contrasting colour. You gonna black out the front grill?

You happy with the Magnaflow? Is the resonator still there? Drone, reverberations?

It's a real shame that you don't like nor look after your ride..................

thanks for the compliments.

She is at a point where she is mechanically sound, so I was able to spoil her and add those mods. Many bfc members don't like the shark fin but I do. Somehow I have this mental image that BMWs are land sharks that's why I put the fin on there. I may take it off when I get my roof redone but we'll see.

I have no plans to go with the shadowline route, but that may change.

I left the y-res and replaced the stock muffler/res with the magnaflows. I have plans to get some body work done under the trunk to allow for a quad exhaust system. but it costs a pretty penny so I may have to wait on that one. The magnaflows are really not loud when on idle or low rpms. but when you push her the sound of the exhaust compliments the growl of the v8. I like it.

regarding your last statement, I do love my ride and try to look after her the best I can. I've just been busy and have to focus on other things as well, but I still love her as much as when I drove her out of the dealership.

[Nofearspear]

Look'in good Mark

[Jason5driver]

Wow!
What a difference!
Looks so good!
The drop really helped the wheels tremendously IMO.
Great job!
Stationed at Pearl Harbor?

[Mark540i]

Look'in good Mark


Wow!
What a difference!
Looks so good!
The drop really helped the wheels tremendously IMO.
Great job!
Stationed at Pearl Harbor?

thanks guys :D

@jason: everyone seems to think I am, but I'm really not in the military :shifty

[xisco44]

those wheel looks +10000 better with the drop

all this 540i are getting me the itch to get one aswell.

[clarkitect]

It's a real shame that you don't like nor look after your ride..................

Pretty sure Pistonbroke is kidding...mebbe forgot to insert the :rolleyes...

Really nice car man. Fine work right there.