Must have mods for e46 330CI

[maxell0405]

For a well maintained 01 330, "must haves" would be:

Subframe inspection/reinforcement (!)
Valentine One
Club driving schools

Everything else is optional.

[nathancarter]

Must-haves:
- All scheduled and preventive maintenance up-to-date, all minor repairs completed.
- Good tires
- Paint correction for a deep, glossy, better-than-new shine
- VANOS seals replaced

Nice-to-haves that I have already done:
- Quality low-dust brake pads (Akebono Euros)
- Clutch stop and CDV delete (manual transmissions only)
- AUX input cable or jack
- Clear corners/tails/sidemarkers
- Stiffer sway bars (Turner front and rear)
- Powerflex FCABs
- Black front grilles

Nice-to-haves that I haven't done yet - car fund is completely tapped:
- Replace stock shocks & springs for a mild drop and improved handling
- Replace front bumper cover
- Short shift kit/ZHP knob
- Speaker upgrade (BSW Stage 1)
- Shark injector for better utilization of high-octane fuel
- Shadowline vinyl wrapped exterior trim

Overrated but too-common mods:
- Wheels that are too wide with tires that are too narrow
- Suspension so low that it's not driveable
- Strut tower bars
- "Cold" air intake (the stock intake is already a CAI, so power gain is negligible)
- Loud exhaust (rarely much power gains, just noise)

Some sticky tires are cool but what's that going to do except reduce wet perfomance if you don't plan on pushing your car every day on the way to work? If performance is the case, go with serious weight reduction and then tires, but I feel like that's not what kind of mods he's talking about.

Tires (and driver) are the weak link in a lot of emergency situations. In a panic stop, your brakes stop the wheels, but the tires stop the car. When the tires lose grip, the ABS makes the brakes let go.

[TJQMaster]

True, Nathan

I had an emergency stopping situation yesterday. I must admit....the new Brembo Big Brake kit was AWWWWWWWWWWWWESOME! I stood on the brake pedal waiting for the intermittent thumping/banging that comes from the stock ABS. It braked like the brakes were locked but they obviously werent.....flippin awesome....New Falken rubber obviously factored heavily into the equation as well

[dakon]

ZHP weighted shift knob
light weight wheels... i like D froces good value....
a good short shift kit, i like autosolutions ultimate kit.

performance pads HP sports, or HP plus's but they are not really very daily driver friendly.

again good tires...

I would also agree to get a ZHP front bumper cover... even though I'm not to much into ascetics... the stock non-zhp bumpers just look dopy...

a bbk doesn't really stop you much faster, they are just more resistant to brake fade, there have been several studies that prove this....


i would consider these "must haves" if i was buying another e46 these would be the first things i would do, as most of them improve the enjoyment of driving the car...

[umnitza]

Easiest and quickest are lighting products:
Here is a short list of the products now available on our site (or previously available). Each product is easy to install, quick, and makes a world of difference.

Orion V2 products (these are products that either replace your existing ones or install new ones).

Orion V2 Multi-Color Kit

Orion V2 - Brightest, Longest Lasting, Best Fitting Angel Eyes Kit

V4 LED Bulbs - Turn Signals, Corner Lights, Side Lights, Interior Lights, License Plate Lights[/B]

1156/1157/7440/3157/3457 LED V4 Bulbs - These multi-directional bulbs fit most any application turn signals and use SMD high power LED not found in your typical eBay unbranded cheaper alternatives.

V4 License Plate LED - Fits most vehicles, no errors

V4 Side LED - T10/194 - small "peanut" LED bulbs that are almost as bright as their larger 1156 cousins

LED Interior Kits

Ambience Interior LED - Build Your Own Kit - if you don't want an LED in your glove box, you don't have to order one.

Pre-Configured Interior LED - Complete pre-configured LED interior bulbs staring with 9-bulb applications on up.

Titanium (chrome-finish) replacement bulbs

1156, 1157, 3156/7, 7440, 194 - staring as low as $9.99

Headlights
Projector46 - our most popular for pre-facelifted sedans and coupes - starting at $349 complete
Projector46 Facelifted Sedan -
Tails/Corners/Sides - LED/Non-LED | Smoked/Clear/Crystal[/B]
Page 1 | Page 2

Xenon replacement bulbs
D2S
Other - Contact us for details - parts starting at $35.99

Link to photos 1
Link to photos 2

Once you do all the easy aesthetics, you can still have budget left over for wheels, etc.

[lug]

Must-haves:


Tires (and driver) are the weak link in a lot of emergency situations. In a panic stop, your brakes stop the wheels, but the tires stop the car. When the tires lose grip, the ABS makes the brakes let go.

All true but like I said earlier, sticky tires aren't going to help an emergency situation in the rain. Just worsen it. A nice set of all seasons are the way to go. Hell, if you live in Arizona go for the racing slicks haha

[M0nK3y]

Easiest and quickest are lighting products:
Here is a short list of the products now available on our site (or previously available). Each product is easy to install, quick, and makes a world of difference.

Orion V2 products (these are products that either replace your existing ones or install new ones).

Orion V2 Multi-Color Kit

Orion V2 - Brightest, Longest Lasting, Best Fitting Angel Eyes Kit

V4 LED Bulbs - Turn Signals, Corner Lights, Side Lights, Interior Lights, License Plate Lights[/B]

1156/1157/7440/3157/3457 LED V4 Bulbs - These multi-directional bulbs fit most any application turn signals and use SMD high power LED not found in your typical eBay unbranded cheaper alternatives.

V4 License Plate LED - Fits most vehicles, no errors

V4 Side LED - T10/194 - small "peanut" LED bulbs that are almost as bright as their larger 1156 cousins

LED Interior Kits

Ambience Interior LED - Build Your Own Kit - if you don't want an LED in your glove box, you don't have to order one.

Pre-Configured Interior LED - Complete pre-configured LED interior bulbs staring with 9-bulb applications on up.

Titanium (chrome-finish) replacement bulbs

1156, 1157, 3156/7, 7440, 194 - staring as low as $9.99

Headlights
Projector46 - our most popular for pre-facelifted sedans and coupes - starting at $349 complete
Projector46 Facelifted Sedan -
Tails/Corners/Sides - LED/Non-LED | Smoked/Clear/Crystal[/B]
Page 1 | Page 2

Xenon replacement bulbs
D2S
Other - Contact us for details - parts starting at $35.99

Link to photos 1
Link to photos 2

Once you do all the easy aesthetics, you can still have budget left over for wheels, etc.

Is it bad when I have all of these?

[rbelton]

Mods:

E46 M3 strut tower bar
E46 M3 oil cap S54
Fresh NGK spark plugs
Fresh ATE brake fluid



link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdkgn2SP8AQ