Let's throw this on the wall and see if it sticks...

Since this board is a concentrated soup of all encompassing BMW Z knowledge, I'd like to know what one modification / addition you've been happiest with. Maybe something little that you weren't sure if it would work or not, but it ended up making your week.

I can't imagine the task of deciding such a thing in Ron or the Maddux's shoes, but I'm curious as to what people would say.

I think mine *will* be having the door handles painted body color ala Stygar. Alpine White M Coupes simply should not have a flat black pastic door handle! I am very pleased with my Alpine wiper jets. Small, but very important on the hood.

Thoughts?

Adam

That's a tough one...

I'm really pleased about the HMS rollbar.
The Eisenmann exhaust is a treat everytime I start the car.

But I'm most pleased with the video camera mount I turned out. My first real "machinist" project done on my milling machine.

Upgrading to my '01 M coupe.

1. Favorite mod, so far: buying the hardtop for the M Roadster.

2. Second choice: it's become just part of the car, so I don't notice it any more -- the LeatherZ Mark2 armrest. But if it was gone, I'd really miss it immediately. ON THAT basis, maybe it should be mod #1.

3. The Sunfire subwoofer upgrade. It would have been #2, but then I remembered the LeatherZ armrest.

And, Adam, how did you get Alpine white wiper jets?

I thought of the all mighty Stygar when I bought my matching (at the time) Alpine 2000.

A friend just traded his Estoril 00 for a Steel Grey 02. Very smooth running engine. Although, up to 70-80mph we've found that we're pretty much even. Past 80 I'd bet he'd leave me in the dust. We haven't been in a safe enough environment to test it though.

Question for you... did you remove your door handles and take them to a paint shop, or did you buy a new set and have them painted? If so do you recall the approx cost?

Thanks!
Adam

Used BMW Alpineweiss III touch up paint and clear coat. Masked off the area on the hood, putting masking tape under the wiper jets. carefully painted the wiper jets a few times, let it dry, and clear coted them.

Adam

Not done here in early photo...


Done here...

Originally posted by Adam12Hicks

Question for you... did you remove your door handles and take them to a paint shop, or did you buy a new set and have them painted? If so do you recall the approx cost?

Why the ouch?
The handles are part of the handle assembly. Not available separately. The handle assembly is $100 plus each.
I remove the handles from the handle assembly (another mod)
and have them painted separately.
You can modify them using a dremmel, 1/8 drill bit and a 6/32 tap.
I get $20.00 each for the mod plus return shipping if you want me to do them for you.
The trick is to take other things with you to paint.
Next week I'm dropping off the S54 handle, four no keyhole surrounds, two new front fenders and the front bumper cover.
If that goes well, I'll be driving over and leaving them the hood to have the underside done in body color with clear coat. Will also have the wiper nozzle holes filled if they can do it smooth both sides.

Originally posted by Ron Stygar
Next week I'm dropping off the S54 handle, four no keyhole surrounds, two new front fenders and the front bumper cover.
. [/B]

Wow, talk about taking clean to the next level! No wiper nozzles and no keyhole surrounds. That'll look fantastic. Better have faith in that alarm module or you'll be crawling through your hatch!

So does this mean you'll have your Alpine White surrounds sitting around unused? Might make it worth sending the handles to you for the mod with some $

Adam

Wow, talk about taking clean to the next level! No wiper nozzles and no keyhole surrounds. That'll look fantastic. Better have faith in that alarm module or you'll be crawling through your hatch!
>>>I have faith in John Fs. controller. I have already taken steps just in case it fails.
So does this mean you'll have your Alpine White surrounds sitting around unused?
>>>Yes. I think that I have two sets.
Might make it worth sending the handles to you for the mod with some $
>>>Depends on how many. The $20 each handle mod doesn't include getting them painted in white.

I was thinking sending you the handle assembly(ies) and having you do the mod to each, at $20 per, then paying additional money for keyed white surrounds.

I know your time is money.

Originally posted by Ron Stygar
Upgrading to my '01 M coupe.

Ditto except an '02 in my case.

Second best, because other than a Ron Stygar clutch stop transferred over from my '00 M Roadster I haven't done anything else, would be adding M badges to my headrests. Yeah, like the car needed another set but I like it.

Well I guess Randy thinks I crazy, or maybe he knows I am but, My favorite mods to the M coupe have been rather simple ones:

1. My Leather Z HIDs. Man love driving at night now.

2. My Garry's mirror adapter and mirror. Much better rear visibility.

3. Dumping the stock seats for cobras. Hated the pain in my right leg from the stock sport seat. Lots of work putting in the cobras in but much better on long trips.


Boths mods 1 and 2 together take about an hour to install.

Originally posted by bob lindquist

3. Dumping the stock seats for cobras. Hated the pain in my right leg from the stock sport seat. Lots of work putting in the cobras in but much better on long trips.

Do you still have your stock seats? I would be interested in just the leather. Doesn't matter what shape/color they are in.

Originally posted by AndyM
Do you still have your stock seats? I would be interested in just the leather. Doesn't matter what shape/color they are in.

Are u just looking to take the covers off w/o the rest of the seat?

I might be interested in having them redone is something else.

Yeah. I need a set of the sport seats to make templates and get some made (I am thing black suede with Dakar Yellow on the sides-similar to what Roadsterwench did to her car). The covers would probably be destroyed but the possibilities would be endless, Imola Red/Black, Alpine White/Black, Steel Gray, Boston Green.......

Originally posted by bob lindquist
Well I guess Randy thinks I crazy, or maybe he knows I am but, My favorite mods to the M coupe have been rather simple ones...

It takes one to know one
I agree with you on the simple mods, I completely forgot about fitting the Koni double adjustable shocks (that was last winter, who can remember that far back?).
Or drilling out the strongstrut and having it powder coated.

Originally posted by AndyM
Imola Red/Black, Alpine White/Black, Steel Gray, Boston Green.......

Mmmmm Alpine White / Black interior. Ala last M Coupe built.

I'd love to have a set of grey and black seats with black suede inners as with the S4 seats. Great idea for grip and contrast of texture. I better start saving some cash!

If LeatherZ ever offers suede/Alcantara seat skins, I will be the first in line!

Originally posted by Daver
If LeatherZ ever offers suede/Alcantara seat skins, I will be the first in line!

I think you just started the line!
Suede would sure help to keep you planted in the seat during an autocross run...

He did mention gray, yes?

At the risk of being different since I have a 1.9 and not a M series Z, I would like to throw this into the mix. The Fogg airbox has to be the best cost efficient mod I have made to my Z3.

Originally posted by Randy Forbes
I think you just started the line!
Suede would sure help to keep you planted in the seat during an autocross run...

Roadsterwench did the suede seats and they did come out very nice.


I think for the money, the Doug Whalen seat rail bushing swap that keep the seat from shifting around is a great mod (although not everybody's car seems to have the moving seat problem).