Rims and Stereo Controls

So picked up my new 328 last weekend (thanx Greg @ Pacific), and am just getting acquainted. I like the fact that I can be frugal and environmentally conscious with the eco-mode, and still have fun in sport with paddles.

I have one niggle, and thats the volume controls on the steering wheel were are the left side in my E93, so I could shift and or use the Idrive with right hand, and control volume with left. Now, volume is on right, so I can't use Idrive and volume at same time. Kinda annoying.

Also, I went Msport, and got the black grills, now the only thing non blue or black are the rims. Since its a lease, I can't really justify buying rims/tires just to black 'em out, but would be nice to have that black-chrome look on the wheels. just some intial thoughts after pickup. . .

cheers,
Joel

buy new rims and tires and just sell them or put them on the next car down the road. This will also ensure you have perfect tread on the OE tires when you return the vehicle.

Yeah, I did that last time, well with tires at least, to avoid the crummy/bumpy runflat ride. Rims might be a bit more, thinking black chrome Msports. . . haven't even seen any yet though.

Originally Posted by jbailey895

Yeah, I did that last time, well with tires at least, to avoid the crummy/bumpy runflat ride. Rims might be a bit more, thinking black chrome Msports. . . haven't even seen any yet though.

You can get the wheels you have powder coated to various shades of gunmetal gray/charcoal for $600 - $700. You might want to check with your dealer, but they will most likely have no problem with it for turn in.

Congrats on the car.

Looks great to me as is!

Originally Posted by sr5959

Looks great to me as is!

+1; black wheels are a fad that can't die soon enough for me.

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

+1; black wheels are a fad that can't die soon enough for me.

Now your just talking crazy! There are some cars where chrome or alloy just looks out of place. Sometimes you just need black!

Originally Posted by jbailey895

So picked up my new 328 last weekend (thanx Greg @ Pacific), and am just getting acquainted. ...

Greg is fantastic!

Originally Posted by jbailey895

have one niggle, and thats the volume controls on the steering wheel were are the left side...

I hate it when they change things around... like the window switches which for decades were in the center console. It's almost as if BMW is trying to match what its competitors are doing.

Originally Posted by MonkeyCMonkeyDo

Sometimes you just need black!

hmmmm.......nope, can't think of any of those times.

I admit its all subjective. I finally got the shadowline trim (my E93 had the chrome around windows which bugged me), no there's no chrome on my msport, but still silver wheels. I generally like the silver-painted wheels, but thought it'd look kinda nice to have that smoked chrome look, and not just black wheels. haven't seen any around yet, but if someone sees one, lemme know.

Cheers,
Joel

Great way to put it. My vision as a designer is a white, black and red car. Chrome is silver and doesn't fit. Black will change the entire look of the car. Really create a continuity that good design needs.

You also have to remember this website tends to skew a little older than a site like f30post which is full of tuner types.

You could always plasti-dip your wheels and then spray them with a black chrome paint finish. Cheaper than powdercoating and non-permanent. I'm going to try the plasti-dip on our 4Runner before giving it a shot on the F30.

Just as a quick update, after a week without a wash, the brake dust on the rims comes pretty close to the "smoked chrome" look I was thinking of, so maybe its just a matter of not washing the car for a while. . .

Originally Posted by jbailey895

Just as a quick update, after a week without a wash, the brake dust on the rims comes pretty close to the "smoked chrome" look I was thinking of, so maybe its just a matter of not washing the car for a while. . .

I am really tempted to take this quote and put in my signature. Gold right here