Bored of my 328i...want to spice it up.

Long time browser...but this is my first post.

In 2010 I was set on buying a Camaro. Well, when my wife reminded me that we were having kids soon, I decided to go for a sedan and thought the 4 door 3 series looked fairly sporty. Found a decent deal on a 2010 328i with a MT.

Love how the car drives. I am just getting bored with the look. I am at 41k miles on the stock run flats and they are wearing thin. I am wanting some advice on some ways to make some upgrades.

I do NOT have the sports package. I currently have the stock 16s and hate them (love the spoke styling though). Would 18s look fine without the sport package? Also, not sure if I should look at wider than stock. Any recommendations on this front?

One other area I hate is the front bumper. I really like this style bumper on the 335i:



Is there an economical way to upgrade to this bumper, or one of similar style?

I guess the last question is...how much to upgrade to LED halos?

I have a 328i cab with the sport package. I have 18 in for summer tires and 16 in for winter. Go for the 18 in, tires are a great way to spice up a car. They don't come cheap though. Here in Ontario they'd set you back $3,000+.

Originally Posted by Tsyras

Long time browser...but this is my first post.

In 2010 I was set on buying a Camaro. Well, when my wife reminded me that we were having kids soon, I decided to go for a sedan and thought the 4 door 3 series looked fairly sporty. Found a decent deal on a 2010 328i with a MT.

Love how the car drives. I am just getting bored with the look. I am at 41k miles on the stock run flats and they are wearing thin. I am wanting some advice on some ways to make some upgrades.

I do NOT have the sports package. I currently have the stock 16s and hate them (love the spoke styling though). Would 18s look fine without the sport package? Also, not sure if I should look at wider than stock. Any recommendations on this front?

One other area I hate is the front bumper. I really like this style bumper on the 335i:



Is there an economical way to upgrade to this bumper, or one of similar style?

I guess the last question is...how much to upgrade to LED halos?

Can greatly improve handling but that won't change looks much. Looking for cosmetics?

These changes are definitely for cosmetic purposes.

I guess my questions boil down to:

1) Will 18s look good without the sport package?

2) Do slightly wider tires add to the appearance?

3) What is the most economical way to get the bumper that the 335i is using from the OP?

4) What is the typical cost to upgrade to LED Halo lights?

Originally Posted by Tsyras

These changes are definitely for cosmetic purposes.

I guess my questions boil down to:

1) Will 18s look good without the sport package?

2) Do slightly wider tires add to the appearance?

3) What is the most economical way to get the bumper that the 335i is using from the OP?

4) What is the typical cost to upgrade to LED Halo lights?

Tsyras,
I'll give this a shot as a former "modder" (E39, E46 M3):
1. Of course a "plus" tire fitment (18") will add to the awesome look of your car.
2. An 18" tire option will be lower profile and wider "look."
3. Best to search other web sites for this info. There are many. This is slippery slope area unless you do your homework well and find a reliable company. Caution for poor fitting...don't go with anything made in China!
4. Best to start searching for BMW aftermarket lighting...many sites. Umnitza may be a good place to start. Automotive lighting offerings are rife with cheap Chinese imports...be careful.

You didn't mention wheels, but stay away from cheap cast wheels. Forged construction process is the best and most expensive...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. The wheels should be able to accommodate your TPMS sensors. I recommend The Tire Rack.

Others may chime in.

Originally Posted by Tsyras

These changes are definitely for cosmetic purposes.

I guess my questions boil down to:

1) Will 18s look good without the sport package?

2) Do slightly wider tires add to the appearance?

3) What is the most economical way to get the bumper that the 335i is using from the OP?

4) What is the typical cost to upgrade to LED Halo lights?

1. Yes. The sport package has nothing to do with the outside of the vehicle (other than the 18in if you'd bought them at the time.

2. Absolutely.

3. I was at the dealer today and I asked these questions for you(your post came in while I was at a new car rep). You can do this but not from the dealer. You'd have to find an aftermarket supplier. I was told of someone who did just that - got a new bumper, which then had to be painted the colour of the car.

4. Not from the dealer. You can find them at eBay. We looked it up for you and they were $39.

Hope this helps. The 328 is a beautiful car.

LUX Angel eyes for the corona rings. They're not as bright as the stock BMW ones(Sis has the LCI 3 'vert) but they still look a lot better then the nasty yellow ones.

Well a cheap way to change the looks is an aftermarket body kit, you can try looking at Andys Auto Sport. You will find body kits that match the stock looks or different altogether. Find something you like and look for it on eBay. They carry alot of different items, including some nice headlights and tail lights.
For Rims I like companies like ASpec because of there replica style wheels. I mostly like them because you get to keep the BMW logo. I know I know i'm picky. A bonus in picking these is that they fully support the Tire Pressure Sensor. (Make sure you if you replace your wheels to have those installed on the new ones).

Another thing you can do, is try and find the bumper from the 335i that you like and put it on yours. I'm not 100% sure, but I would assume any of the 3 series would be interchangeable long as the years are matching up.

I personally love the look of our Bimmers, I bought my car used and it has aftermarket rims and I hate them, they look immature to me and I'm not big on low profile.

Originally Posted by Tsyras

Long time browser...but this is my first post.

In 2010 I was set on buying a Camaro. Well, when my wife reminded me that we were having kids soon, I decided to go for a sedan and thought the 4 door 3 series looked fairly sporty. Found a decent deal on a 2010 328i with a MT.

Love how the car drives. I am just getting bored with the look. I am at 41k miles on the stock run flats and they are wearing thin. I am wanting some advice on some ways to make some upgrades.

I do NOT have the sports package. I currently have the stock 16s and hate them (love the spoke styling though). Would 18s look fine without the sport package? Also, not sure if I should look at wider than stock. Any recommendations on this front?

One other area I hate is the front bumper. I really like this style bumper on the 335i:



Is there an economical way to upgrade to this bumper, or one of similar style?

I guess the last question is...how much to upgrade to LED halos?

You can always do what I did. I've had many BMWs (and still have one), but was bored of how surgical they are. Yes, sounds weird, but I wanted some personality back in the car. I desperately wanted an engine sound that was beautiful. So I bought a brand new Challenger SRT8. RWD, Manual, Coupe, and fits two cars seats comfortably. Trunk is at least 50% bigger than a 3 series too! So you can have your cake and eat it too. When this gets boring, might get a 4 series or a M4 or another SRT product...who knows.

Let me know if you're interested in really shaking things up. I'll help you with questions.

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Originally Posted by thebmw

You can always do what I did. I've had many BMWs (and still have one), but was bored of how surgical they are. Yes, sounds weird, but I wanted some personality back in the car. I desperately wanted an engine sound that was beautiful. So I bought a brand new Challenger SRT8. RWD, Manual, Coupe, and fits two cars seats comfortably. Trunk is at least 50% bigger than a 3 series too! So you can have your cake and eat it too. When this gets boring, might get a 4 series or a M4 or another SRT product...who knows.

Let me know if you're interested in really shaking things up. I'll help you with questions.

I agree the Challengers are nice. Real beauty to look at and drive but they are no BMW. Haha. Now I sounding like the M3 guys.

Originally Posted by Bimmagirl

I agree the Challengers are nice. Real beauty to look at and drive but they are no BMW. Haha. Now I sounding like the M3 guys.

I find the rows of LEDs on the back quite annoying.

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Originally Posted by jocamryn

I find the rows of LEDs on the back quite annoying.

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True, but I must confess that the first time I saw one I caught up to the driver just so that I could ask him what kind of car that was.

Originally Posted by jocamryn

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You obviously have never heard the engine note from the 6.4L SRT engine. I don't think they have a lot of SRT8s in Germany. Maybe you don't even know what they are. Anyway, the engine note is far better than any engine note of any BMW currently...including M3 or M5.

Originally Posted by jocamryn

I find the rows of LEDs on the back quite annoying.

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Argh...you really are clueless! You are thinking of the Charger. Geez, you don't know a Charger from a Challenger and you don't know the different trim levels and you don't know what the engines sound like but you keep on putting your 2 cents in. BTW, that whole LED fad was started in your country.

It's ignorance like this that gives BMW owners a bad name.

In all seriousness, by the time you put on wheels, a front bumper and then spend some money on other things you don't love about the car, you are probably cheaper to trade it on an equivalent year/mileage 335i and have what you want.

Originally Posted by Tsyras

These changes are definitely for cosmetic purposes.

I guess my questions boil down to:

1) Will 18s look good without the sport package?

2) Do slightly wider tires add to the appearance?

3) What is the most economical way to get the bumper that the 335i is using from the OP?

4) What is the typical cost to upgrade to LED Halo lights?

1) yes. go quality with wheels. Apex make nice rotary forged wheels that won't break the bank.
2) yes, wider and more flush = more aggressive. Don't go too far, though.
3) look for an aftermarket 'OEM Front Lip". easy self-install. Shop around, will cost a few hundred. Goes right over the bottom part of your current bumper, and can be removed later if you want. Fitment is key, make sure to see photos of actual fitments.
4) no idea. don't like them.


Photo of my aero lip. Took me about an hour to install.

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

In all seriousness, by the time you put on wheels, a front bumper and then spend some money on other things you don't love about the car, you are probably cheaper to trade it on an equivalent year/mileage 335i and have what you want.

Good point.

Originally Posted by thebmw

Argh...you really are clueless! You are thinking of the Charger. Geez, you don't know a Charger from a Challenger and you don't know the different trim levels and you don't know what the engines sound like but you keep on putting your 2 cents in. BTW, that whole LED fad was started in your country.

It's ignorance like this that gives BMW owners a bad name.

Yes, yes I am clueless on all things Chrysler, GM, or Ford MC. I could care less about Charger Challenger or Dart. I Just moved back to the states while serving....



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Originally Posted by jocamryn

Yes, yes I am clueless on all things Chrysler, GM, or Ford MC. I could care less about Charger Challenger or Dart. I Just moved back to the states while serving....


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If you don't care or don't know, don't chime in. Again, it's ignorance like this that gives BMW owners a bad name.

To the OP, I made my suggestion to change things up because, like roadkillrob said, by the time you make all those mods, you would have been better off getting a different car. And after all the mods, you still have the same fundamental car.

Originally Posted by roadkillrob

In all seriousness, by the time you put on wheels, a front bumper and then spend some money on other things you don't love about the car, you are probably cheaper to trade it on an equivalent year/mileage 335i and have what you want.

I agree, go for a 335i. I was going to buy a 328 but once I drove the 335i there was no turning back. The car still thrills me every time I drive it!

Originally Posted by thebmw

If you don't care or don't know, don't chime in. Again, it's ignorance like this that gives BMW owners a bad name.

Well since you say so.

Originally Posted by thebmw

To the OP, I made my suggestion to change things up because, like roadkillrob said, by the time you make all those mods, you would have been better off getting a different car. And after all the mods, you still have the same fundamental car.

That is still a BMW and not some Detroit bucket.



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Originally Posted by jocamryn

Well since you say so.



That is still a BMW and not some Detroit bucket.



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Yes...a BMW he is bored with. Sheesh...you really have a lot of hate, despite your ignorance about cars. Want to post something productive for a change?