[BarryJI]

Here is my 228i M-Sport in downtown Los Angeles yesterday, the early-morning light making it look -- appropriately -- like it belongs in a Michael Mann movie ("Heat", "Collateral").

[VMRWheels]

Nice clean look!

[mike@x-ph.com]

Looking good

[omega145]

That drop is perfect. How about some painted reflectors?

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by omega145

That drop is perfect. How about some painted reflectors?

Thanks! Re. reflectors, what does it take to get them painted and who does it?

[omega145]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

Thanks! Re. reflectors, what does it take to get them painted and who does it?

I went with IND, they've done a lot for people here on the forums. Well worth it.
http://ind-distribution.com/ind/bran...ont-reflectors

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by omega145

I went with IND, they've done a lot for people here on the forums. Well worth it.
http://ind-distribution.com/ind/bran...ont-reflectors

Yup, that looks like it's worth doing. Thank you!

[Redline8725]

Looks nice what else have you done to it ?

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by Redline8725

Looks nice what else have you done to it ?

Dinan Stage 1 tune, FreeFlow exhaust, Shockware mod and Dinan Performance springs and bump stops. I am contemplating spacers, which would be the first mod I've done that's purely aesthetic.

[omega145]

Sure is man, they do the rear reflectors, key cover and mirror covers body painted. I've done them all and pretty well worth it as well.

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by omega145

Sure is man, they do the rear reflectors, key cover and mirror covers body painted. I've done them all and pretty well worth it as well.

OK, well I know I'm going to get flak for this but I tend not to work on my car when a professional could do the job faster and better. What are the chances that a good local BMW-specialist body shop would install the front and rear reflectors if I get them from IND?

[omega145]

Anyone could do them for you and no flak here man. Nothing wrong with having someone work on your car but these mods are pretty straight forward. Maybe find a local forum member who will help you out for lunch and a beer.

[BarryJI]

Here it is, with 15mm spacers F/R. I really like the more planted stance.

[M235iguy]

Looks great! very nice!

[tenfour]

looks good! spacers definitely gives it an aggressive stance. nice job.

[BarryJI]

Thanks, guys, much appreciate the feedback. The car's stance is much better and there is no vibration or rubbing. If anything, handling stability is slightly improved. The steering calibration is a couple of degrees to the right of true center, which is driving me crazy but I'm pretty sure this is a coincidence and not connected to the spacers install. I will need to get another alignment because I am way too OCD to drive the car with my steering wheel mis-aligned when travelling in a dead straight line from 12:00 (as in a clock) by about three minutes.

[chihao]

Originally Posted by BarryJI

OK, well I know I'm going to get flak for this but I tend not to work on my car when a professional could do the job faster and better. What are the chances that a good local BMW-specialist body shop would install the front and rear reflectors if I get them from IND?

You can always try EAS located in Anaheim; they do a lot of shit over there!

[bimmer813]

Looks great with the spacers! Have you found that the Dinan Shockware was worth it? (I'm assuming you have the adaptive dampers)

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by bimmer813

Looks great with the spacers! Have you found that the Dinan Shockware was worth it? (I'm assuming you have the adaptive dampers)

Yes, Shockware is definitely worth it but does not have the full desired effect without the Dinan springs and ride kit. Shockware by itself does help with the car's tendency to roll/dive in the stock setup but three together do a superb job getting rid of all that unwanted body roll/dive/lean and also dialing out mouch of the stock understeer.

[BarryJI]

Now with reflector delete f/r.

[tenfour]

Those reflectors sure makes a difference! I need to get them..eventually. It makes it look so clean!

[BarryJI]

Originally Posted by tenfour

Those reflectors sure makes a difference! I need to get them..eventually. It makes it look so clean!

Thanks, yes, it's amazing, the effect of something so small. Combined with the drop and the spacers it just gives the car significantly more "street presence" while maintaining the essential lines and proportions. It's what my trusted tuner tech calls a "hyper stock" look. Neither of us want to mod the appearance any further. A front lip/splitter would be nice but would get horribly banged up no matter how careful I am. I'm not even going to mount the hard-earned Dinan badge; I've thought about it but it's just a little bit too blingy.