[mb67]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I was going to suggest that's because there aren't too many of our cars around. I rarely see one where I am – maybe a few times each year, if that. That's likely a regional thing, though.

I called up the US sales through June for the 2 Series, and was pleasantly surprised at the May and June numbers. They're months six and seven out of the seventy-eight years these cars have been on sale. July, 2016 was the last month more 2s were sold than during this May and June.

Interesting stats. I bought mine CPO back in August '18.

As for seeing other 2-Series on the road/out-and-about here in San Diego I've only ever seen four other 2'ers in two years, and one of those is the M2 that a guy at my work center got.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by dradernh

They're months six and seven out of the seventy-eight years these cars have been on sale.

WOW!
The 2 Series has been around a lot longer than I realized!

[PDM5]

Originally Posted by BrettKA7

I always wondered what these wheels would look like in this color! I was deciding between E46 ZHP or E92 ZCP style wheels. Decided on the E92 style.

Looking good!

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by PDM5

Finally debadged the rear. Only badging on the body of the car now are the roundels. Looks a thousand times better in my opinion.

My wife will probably kill me when/if she ever notices, but I did the same to her Estoril coupe today. The recent pics with no rear badging motivated me - thanks!

[PDM5]

Originally Posted by John in VA

My wife will probably kill me when/if she ever notices, but I did the same to her Estoril coupe today. The recent pics with no rear badging motivated me - thanks!

Of course! She'll probably come out and be like "dang, has the rear always looked this good?" At least that's what I'm hoping for you!

Good to see another 2'er in VA!

[GoldfishRT]

So where do you all order your OEM parts from?

I am in need of a new shift knob and I would like to replace the steering wheel at some point (lots of fingernail scratches from previous owner). Wouldn't mind giving an alcantara wheel a try...

[bthomas518]

Originally Posted by GoldfishRT

So where do you all order your OEM parts from?

I am in need of a new shift knob and I would like to replace the steering wheel at some point (lots of fingernail scratches from previous owner). Wouldn't mind giving an alcantara wheel a try...

I check a combination of places:

getbmwparts.com (a dealer with drastically lower prices than your local)
fcpeuro.com (the guarantee is impossible to beat, they even take back used oil)
ecstuning.com & turnermotorsports.com (good for performance parts)
schmiedmann.com (euro company, but sometimes lowest price for euro market parts like tail-lights and all alcantara interior trim)

Also, frequently check the classifieds here. I was able to score the shift paddles from the M2/3/4 cars without the electronics saving me ~$500.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by GoldfishRT

Wouldn't mind giving an alcantara wheel a try...

I'd give that a second thought. It's a synthetic material with some notable downside (versus genuine leather, for example), such as absorbing the natural oils from your hands requiring cleaning to look acceptable again.

https://www.lenosgarage.com/blogs/au...e-or-alcantara

https://www.theartofcleanliness.com/...uede-interior/

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by PDM5

Of course! She'll probably come out and be like "dang, has the rear always looked this good?" At least that's what I'm hoping for you!

Good to see another 2'er in VA!

Let's hope! I've done this to her E30 & E46 - then she couldn't remember what model her car was. Didn't do it to the F30 as it was xDrive. Now she's back in a debadged blue coupe with a stick, just like she started!

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I'd give that a second thought. It's a synthetic material with some notable downside (versus genuine leather, for example), such as absorbing the natural oils from your hands requiring cleaning to look acceptable again.

Regular cleaning is the key. If you're the first owner of the wheel you'll probably take good care of it. I had good results "restoring" one for my E46 ZHP using Sonax products. I'm not sure what the previous owner did to get it in the state it was...

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I'd give that a second thought. It's a synthetic material with some notable downside (versus genuine leather, for example), such as absorbing the natural oils from your hands requiring cleaning to look acceptable again.

https://www.lenosgarage.com/blogs/au...e-or-alcantara

https://www.theartofcleanliness.com/...uede-interior/

From the Leno link: "it is almost sacrilege to place hands on a suede steering wheel without a pair of gloves on."

You could make the same argument for the inexpensive leather we have on our steering wheels, especially for those of us who don't want to be bothered with cleaning them. I use Bionic's driving gloves in the spring, summer, and fall: https://www.bionicgloves.com/Bionic-...th-Natural-Fit.

[Rocky58]

Ultimate paint wash with foam gun, blow dry, Sonax PNS, Sonax wheel wash , wheel shield, Nextzett Cockpit, gin and tonic.

[stlb5]

Originally Posted by Rocky58

Ultimate paint wash with foam gun, blow dry, Sonax PNS, Sonax wheel wash , wheel shield, Nextzett Cockpit, gin and tonic.

Don't forget the tires! I'm a fan of undiluted Carpro Perl. How do you like the Nextzett Cockpit? I used to use 303 but switch to diluted Carpro Perl recently.

[PeanuKeeyes]

After a mountain drive, I crawled up to a friends Yurt in the woods of Maine. Nearly 200 yards of rocks, stones and stumps, dragging the splitter and plowing the larger bits along the way. It wasn’t my finest moment and my neck hurts from a 30 minute wincing session... those DWS Conti’s though..

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by PeanuKeeyes

After a mountain drive, I crawled up to a friends Yurt in the woods of Maine. Nearly 200 yards of rocks, stones and stumps, dragging the splitter and plowing the larger bits along the way. It wasn’t my finest moment and my neck hurts from a 30 minute wincing session... those DWS Conti’s though..

Wow. I'm surprised you took your car up there.

For quite a while we lived 1/3 mile up a dead-end dirt and gravel town-maintained road in New Hampshire. The wife drove her FWD Volvo wagon, and I drove a Tundra. This is after 6" of snow fell on frozen ground, followed immediately by 4" of warm rain. I don't miss those winters.

[PeanuKeeyes]

Oh yes, an all too familiar sight. I don’t miss those winters either! I lived a few miles from North Conway, NH for nearly a decade and could never have owned a car like this full time back then. Those were the days of the ‘96 land cruiser. It’s hard to shake old driving habits though when I’m back up there with friends from that era.

[LRGPhD]

3rd wash after paint correction and graphene coating a month ago.[IMG][/IMG]

[roku.g9]

Lowered on KW DDC Coils!

[anthonyportugal2003]

Washed, waxed and debadged my recently bought 220i

[roku.g9]

Put it onto the track !

[BrettKA7]

Haven't done anything quite yet, but finally received these!

[PDM5]

This is more of a what did my 2 series do for ME today. After having to drive multiple cars today at work (a minivan, compact car, and an ultra compact car), getting back into my 2 series was truly amazing. I know the 2 series is at the bottom of the ladder for BMWs, but the fit and finish is on point. And the feel of the car is on another level. From here on out, anytime I even think about complaining about the steering feel, I'll just go drive one of the cars at work for a few minutes and all will be well in the world again. I truly felt like I was one with my car on the drive home. I will never ever ever drive a boring automatic car as a DD so long as I'm physically able to avoid it. It's such a shame that there are so few new small manual RWD vehicles available. Thankfully, it looks like Porsche will keep this formula around for another generation or so. Beyond that, who knows . . . guess I'll be the 2035 equivalent of the guy who still owns a Pontiac Fiero in 2020.