Project 323i - Damage Report

[christyles]

So the car has been in the shop for about 4 days now. The bumper from E46 (adnrew) got delivered last night, the shop started the r/h suspension replacement today.

My 17" BBS was sent into Carcones for refinishing. And they slapped the 16" type 45 temporarily. I can't believe the Halos didn't take a hit. Whew!

Here's some pics.

[gotchya24]

well..good news is that carcones does a pretty good job refinishin rims so no worries haha

[christyles]

well..good news is that carcones does a pretty good job refinishin rims so no worries haha
Well they're the ones that refinished the rim on te other side when i got hit over the summer. both accidents are carbon copy just on opposite sides.

Body shop said, he feels like he's doint the job all over again that he did in July.

[laziemofo]

ouch....
chris is that ur new facelifted bumper? got a lip for it yet?

[audiophilia]

...is this what you're after, Chris?

http://www.e46toronto.ca/Images/acs_sedan.jpg

[Sunapollo]

Yes that's the ACS addon Chris's looking for !! Looks great and rare !! :thumbsup: Hope that you'll get back your ride soon :)

[christyles]

ouch....
chris is that ur new facelifted bumper? got a lip for it yet?
I'm just finalizing a price with a guy in the US. Once confirmed the lip will be here in a week.

[christyles]

...is this what you're after, Chris?

http://www.e46toronto.ca/Images/acs_sedan.jpg
Exactly. What do you think Audio?

[christyles]

Yes that's the ACS addon Chris's looking for !! Looks great and rare !! :thumbsup: Hope that you'll get back your ride soon :)
Thanks Sunny. I'll get it back prolly in 2 weeks. I'll be driving that stupid Century Buick for a while.

God, the things is a gas guzzler, the suspension ride is so smooth it makes me feel sleepy with the fabric seats. The power steering is so NA I can steer it with my pinky. :thumbsdow

[audiophilia]

Exactly. What do you think Audio?
I just about nutted...:eek: :eek: :eek:

The ride is amazing...

[Jersey]

wow those halo's must have been installed by a pro or something...hehe...
and that ECU cover...whoa. it didnt even budge!

[christyles]

wow those halo's must have been installed by a pro or something...hehe...
and that ECU cover...whoa. it didnt even budge!
Word to that.

[christyles]

...is this what you're after, Chris?

http://www.e46toronto.ca/Images/acs_sedan.jpg
Audiophilia, don't forget... here's the vision. But with chrome grill.

[christyles]

ouch....
chris is that ur new facelifted bumper? got a lip for it yet?
Well deal fell through... The cost is like $317USD shipped for ACS add on lip.
I bargain for $300USD shipped, he replies back and says, add $20. and we got a deal. That's $3. more than original quote. WTF! I don't think I was low-balling. it's like a $20. discount from the quote. Does he think I can't count or something? I'm asian. We sleep with abacus and scientific calculators.

I said "Thanks anyways."

[audiophilia]

Audiophilia, don't forget... here's the vision. But with chrome grill.
Chris, I think you know my feelings about black rims...:D

[Chopper]

Weird to see your car banged up Chris but it'll come out better than before anyways. Still cant believ those HALOs took the impact!!

[BlueSky]

the halos are strong under impact.. they are only fragile during installation... :blaaaa:

a really good reasoning for Chris to get rid of the old bumper and install the new bumper... and of course... the add-on!!! :cool:

the black on black scheme is str8pimp

[christyles]

Chris, I think you know my feelings about black rims...:D
i know anthony. I guess thats where we are different in mod taste.

[laziemofo]

oh man!! wherd u find one!!! ive been looking for a second hand one

[laziemofo]

Well deal fell through... The cost is like $317USD shipped for ACS add on lip.
I bargain for $300USD shipped, he replies back and says, add $20. and we got a deal. That's $3. more than original quote. WTF! I don't think I was low-balling. it's like a $20. discount from the quote. Does he think I can't count or something? I'm asian. We sleep with abacus and scientific calculators.

I said "Thanks anyways."

i tihnk thats a fair price... these things are expensive as fawk new!!!!

[christyles]

i tihnk thats a fair price... these things are expensive as fawk new!!!!
Check Pm. Maybe if we both get one, we get a better deal. Hop on MSN.

[christyles]

oh man!! wherd u find one!!! ive been looking for a second hand one
Not second hand. Like what Sunny said, were gonna have to go new on it. I don't mind doin auth. on this cause I don't want fitment problems. Plus I don't half-ass on my car.

You know... str8pimp

[BlueSky]

wow $317 is definitely a good price for brand new authentic....
go for it~

[christyles]

You fckung laziemofo, I can't believe I'm doin this for you...

AC S lip 1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36475&item=7930063360&rd=1)

[M333ee]

Chris,

You should have taken the fuses from the halos out. You never know how long they keep doors open or if any of the workers might want to look at the install and oops I broke a bulb :1nono:

Go for the lip $317 is a great price!

[laziemofo]

Not second hand. Like what Sunny said, were gonna have to go new on it. I don't mind doin auth. on this cause I don't want fitment problems. Plus I don't half-ass on my car.

You know... str8pimp
the acs lip looks so nice!!! but so impractical for me to drive in...its so low...i already have troubles gettin into my garage without a lip

[christyles]

Chris,

You should have taken the fuses from the halos out. You never know how long they keep doors open or if any of the workers might want to look at the install and oops I broke a bulb :1nono:

Go for the lip $317 is a great price!
Removing the fuse does nothing remember. It seems it still draws power somewhere else that's why I want to do a kill swtich in the off season.

[Regin8r]

The other power comes from footwell(or overhead) lighting. I installed a DPDT switch last weekend to turn off the Halos completely. Cuts off power from the fuse wire and from the footwell lighting with a single switch.

I couldn't stand seeing them struggle to power on in the cold.

Reg

[christyles]

The other power comes from footwell(or overhead) lighting. I installed a DPDT switch last weekend to turn off the Halos completely. Cuts off power from the fuse wire and from the footwell lighting with a single switch.

I couldn't stand seeing them struggle to power on in the cold.

Reg
What's a DPDT switch, same as kill switch?

[Regin8r]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch

It's a kill switch, just defining the type of switch I used to "kill" with.

You can use DPST, but I couldn't find one in Radio Sh!t at the time I went.

[Sunapollo]

Any picture of your kill switch Reg ? Is it easy to install ? DIY instructions ? :D

[Regin8r]

It was pretty easy....took about 0.5 hours to wire up to test. But took me like 2 hours to fit and solder the wires properly so they could be hidden in the stock wire holders for the most part.

I spent a total of 5 hours redoing the halos (spread out over 2 evenings. I took the headlights apart again to silicone the halos to the headlights. I told Umnitza how my halos were slowly becoming angled/crooked (since one of my clips were installed upside down :crying: ) whenever my headlights autolevel, and he suggested that I could use silicone to hold it in place.

I put a small dab under each clip to hold the clip in place. Even after drying, it is flexible and the halo can still be removed if I wanted to cut the silicone. Without cutting the silicone, that sucker isn't going anywhere. I let it dry overnight exposed and in the proper position so it looks much better/evenly spaced now.

Since I bought an entire tube of silicone, I also put some on the wire leads that come out of the ballasts, and into the connectors to seal it better (The reason is that I also did an engine shampoo on the weekend which cause one of my halos to not work for a whole day).

The switch wires I used were kind of thick, so that's why I had problems getting it to fit in that wire holder across the top of the engine.

So I basically spend about 2 evenings waterproofing and perfecting my halo install. It was good that I watched Chris and Alun install the halos, since now I can take apart the front end in a jiffy. :thumbsup:

DIY for the wiring is easy:

From battery, wire to switch, connect swtich to Halo fuse wire (which was originally connected to battery).

From footwell lighting, wire to switch, and the switch to footwell wire tap (from remote mod).

The switch has 2 throws, just make sure the power (from battery and from footwell) are connected to the same position on each throw.

Not rocket science at all.




I'll take some pics tonight.

Reg

[christyles]

Any picture of your kill switch Reg ? Is it easy to install ? DIY instructions ? :D
Sunny...I moved Regin8r post to a new thread.

Halo Kill Switch DIY (http://www.e46toronto.ca/forums/showthread.php?p=11886#post11886)

[Sunapollo]

Thank you Reg and sorry for jacking your thread Chris !!

[christyles]

Thank you Reg and sorry for jacking your thread Chris !!
No worries bro.

[christyles]

Just got a call from the body shop, and I should get the 323 back late afternoon tomorrow. Rim refinished, control arm replaced, full works.

No front addon lip though as the one I want is not easily available or I'd have to wait a while before it comes back in stock.

It'll come after winter then. I guess I'll just change the fog lights then to some bright thing.

[Jersey]

so are you getting the new bumper put on still...just with no lip?

[BlueSky]

congrads Chris... finally getting your car back!!!
driving the Buick must be :1nono: :crying: for ya~~

[christyles]

so are you getting the new bumper put on still...just with no lip?
yeah the new bump has been finished in jet black including the matte black trims pieces.
The lip will have to come after winter. Which will be perfect. Assuming the front bumper gets riddled with salt chips/stone chips, when I get the new lip, I'll have the whole thing repainted at the same time.

[christyles]

congrads Chris... finally getting your car back!!!
driving the Buick must be :1nono: :crying: for ya~~
i can't wait. I have driving the boat. Killer on gas, and I feel like a dirty old man.

[thebookie]

woot
i can't wait. I have driving the boat. Killer on gas, and I feel like a dirty old man.
Glad to hear you're getting your car back. Time for a fall cruise. woot

[dutty_mark3]

Audiophilia, don't forget... here's the vision. But with chrome grill.

i like alot. something very darth vader about that sedan front and acs front lip.

btw... do you have white or clear corners? i kinda like the darkened/black corners on the pic of the sedan that you posted. yours are kinda too white :Idunno:

oh... and make sure they don't put on your front plate holder!

[christyles]

i like alot. something very darth vader about that sedan front and acs front lip.

btw... do you have white or clear corners? i kinda like the darkened/black corners on the pic of the sedan that you posted. yours are kinda too white :Idunno:

oh... and make sure they don't put on your front plate holder!
Cool thanks Mark.

I have clears, but they're very clear almost white... too white. I will smoke the front corner lens & side markers when i get my car back.

Shiat! I think they will put the plate holder on. So where will put my plate?

[E46]

You should of waited till you got the lip, then paint the bumper at the same time. If you want to mold the lip onto the bumper you'll have to repaint the entire bumper again...

make sure they only screw in the top part of the plate so when you take it off for shows and put in the licence plate bracket delete trim piece, there wont be any holes in your bumper

either that or,

get the bracket delete trim piece and screw your plate onto that. Then when you take it off you can put some plugs where the holes are.

i'd go with the 2nd option since its a pain to take off and put back on painted trims without chipping them

[dutty_mark3]

Shiat! I think they will put the plate holder on. So where will put my plate?

do what e46 suggests or do what i (am going to :Qboy: ) do. get a plate holder that will screw into your tow hook assembly - easy to install for those situations when you run into or have a feeling you will run into the law ;) and easy to remove. been meaning to do this for months now but haven't been hassled (yet) and car looks way better without the plate.

[jessica]

Just got a call from the body shop, and I should get the 323 back late afternoon tomorrow. Rim refinished, control arm replaced, full works.

No front addon lip though as the one I want is not easily available or I'd have to wait a while before it comes back in stock.

It'll come after winter then. I guess I'll just change the fog lights then to some bright thing.

Good to hear that you'll be getting your other baby back. You must have missed driving her. :D

[christyles]

E46, too late. But they're gonna pull it out again and refinish it. I couldve got the lip but that means waiting another week for the lip to arrive, then moulded/painted/attached and through all this, I'd still be driving the Buick Boat. In addition, the guy I was supposed to get the ACS lip from I got a weird feeling from when it came to sliding out the credit card. So I backed out.

I'll be patient. Plus it will be winter and the bumper will get killed anyways, so i really don't mind having it repainted and remoulded with the new lip after the snow season.

Dutty_Mark3, do you drive around with no front plate?

[christyles]

Good to hear that you'll be getting your other baby back. You must have missed driving her. :D
Oh I really missed her. I missed pushing her buttons, opening her hood and looking underneath and filling her up with 94 high octane. ;) ;) ;)

[dutty_mark3]

Dutty_Mark3, do you drive around with no front plate?

uh, no... ;)

[christyles]

uh, no... ;)
riggghhhhtttt... :wink2: guess what I'll be doin then too. :wink2: :wink2: