How are your 320d doing so far?

[eric_s]

magic stick, eric?

Doc,
DS.... its magic on a stick (shift)!

BTW, I bought some 3M wraps... in brush titanium....
am gonna try my hands on wrapping the diffuser..

 

[docrayboy]

Doc,
DS.... its magic on a stick (shift)!

BTW, I bought some 3M wraps... in brush titanium....
am gonna try my hands on wrapping the diffuser..

ok bro....keep us posted on the diffuser wrap!

 

[eric_s]

did not have confident wrapping the diffuser as yet, worried about the sheer size of the thing.
As I always wanted to get those performance grills (matt black), so decided to try my hands on wrapping the grill.

tools required:
pen-knife
sissors
hair dryer
torx screwdriver (allen keys from IKEA will do)

removing the kidneys were a breeze... just need to unscrew the 4 torx screw on top of the grill, reach in and unfasten the grill by unlocking the 5 clips.
View attachment 22387

then followed by removing the fins, by unlocking the clips around the grill
View attachment 22388

once removed, the wrapping process starts. it was not that difficult, but its not a breeze either..
there are alot of pressure applied on the wraps, hot airs for ease of stretch, and bubble ironing...
once done, clip everything back into place
at the end of it all, the result is very satisfying....
View attachment 22389

took me around 30 minutes on each side.
personal satisfaction in completing the task and most important of all spending a small fraction of the actual cost of the performance grill.
If I get bored of it, I can just peel off the wrap..

will do the diffuser next!

 

[eric_s]

picture taken awhile age

 

[Maniac]

eric, well done - looks good from the pics! would love to see the grills and diffuser in person once you have it wrapped too.
nice DIY mod, bro. if all goes well, why stop - wrap the side mirrors too! :4:

 

[serenum]

hi,
my sister in law wants a 320d and searched all bmw dealers to get best deal for pre reg 2011 car.

The best deal i got was:

Price - RM235,000
3 years BSRI
0% interest rate.

or

2012 MY 320d
Price - RM245,000
5 years BSRI
0% interest rate.


can u guys confirm whether the above deal is good enough? thanks

 

[eric_s]

eric, well done - looks good from the pics! would love to see the grills and diffuser in person once you have it wrapped too.
nice DIY mod, bro. if all goes well, why stop - wrap the side mirrors too! :4:

thks bro...
up close on the grill can see some bubbles forming..... amateur ma....
might find 1 free weekend to re-wrap again...
as for the wing mirrors, getting some carbon fiber wraps.
thinking also of carbonising the blue parts of the roundrel, should look nice on white overalls...
will definitely upload pics when completed the whole project..

 

[docrayboy]

a dealer quoted me MR650 to carbon fibre wrap the diffuser...how much would it cost to do it ourself, eric?

 

[lovelybird]

hi,
my sister in law wants a 320d and searched all bmw dealers to get best deal for pre reg 2011 car.

The best deal i got was:

Price - RM235,000
3 years BSRI
0% interest rate.

or

2012 MY 320d
Price - RM245,000
5 years BSRI
0% interest rate.


can u guys confirm whether the above deal is good enough? thanks

10k diff just to take up additional 2 years BSRI sounds unreasonable. Unless u want to get an event car or pre owned 320d with less than 2k mileage, the price could be much lower, e.g. 210k. However, u got to play around with the interest vs loan tenure to strike for a best deal.

 

[eric_s]

a dealer quoted me MR650 to carbon fibre wrap the diffuser...how much would it cost to do it ourself, eric?

Hi Doc,
depending on materials and the amount of wraps you require. I choose 3M scotchprint which is easier on the edges, which costs around RM100 -RM120 for the diffuser.
Alternative materials like 3M DINOC should costs around RM80 - RM100. Personally DINOC is harder and not so easy on the edges, but with a good heatgun these should not be a problem.... not so much if using a household hairdryer..
There are also cheaper alternatives from Taiwan, which should cost around RM50-RM70 for the diffuser.
Harder materials (harder to bend and pull on edges) would be cheaper... these are good for flat panels.. The amount of wraps required are subjective.. I would prefer to allocate a bigger cut-out to cater for margin of error..

The main cost (intangible) is on the workmanship, time and effort.... DIY might not turn out the way you wanted and once you blow it, you need to source for another wrap so extra costs.... but with a dealer, its guaranteed satisfaction and hassle free...
the other important bits that you need to take precaution when DIY is that nowadays all removable panels are secured by clips and screws/bolts... so you have to be extra careful not to damage the clips.. another risk you have to bear if the DIY route, but not with a dealer...
but at the end of it all, the satisfaction in completing the DIY tasks is priceless....

Its all dependent on oneself.... I m a DIY junkie, I would always prefer to try to do things myself...

FYI, insofar I have spend a total of RM170 worth of wraps, which I have completed the kidneys in matt black, shifter surround in printed carbon, blue parts of the roundrels with printed carbon, 320d badge in brush titanium, key fob in printed carbon (to differentiate wife's key and mine).
I have yet to start on the diffuser, maybe over the long weekend. I have loads of matt black left, which I m toying with the idea of stripes...

 

[phonzy]

looks really nice on your white car eric_s . wonder if it'll look good on black tho!

 

[eric_s]

looks really nice on your white car eric_s . wonder if it'll look good on black tho!

thks bro....
i m using photoshop to get the desired look before i begin the project...
using MS paint over a photo of your ride works as well....
maybe you can try it out to see if it suits your liking...

 

[carlsson]

wrap looks pretty good eric! I would have gone for this rout if I wasnt in love with the actual bmw performance carbon bits, but this will be one of the best ways to give the car a newer killer look!

Hi Doc,
depending on materials and the amount of wraps you require. I choose 3M scotchprint which is easier on the edges, which costs around RM100 -RM120 for the diffuser.
Alternative materials like 3M DINOC should costs around RM80 - RM100. Personally DINOC is harder and not so easy on the edges, but with a good heatgun these should not be a problem.... not so much if using a household hairdryer..
There are also cheaper alternatives from Taiwan, which should cost around RM50-RM70 for the diffuser.
Harder materials (harder to bend and pull on edges) would be cheaper... these are good for flat panels.. The amount of wraps required are subjective.. I would prefer to allocate a bigger cut-out to cater for margin of error..

The main cost (intangible) is on the workmanship, time and effort.... DIY might not turn out the way you wanted and once you blow it, you need to source for another wrap so extra costs.... but with a dealer, its guaranteed satisfaction and hassle free...
the other important bits that you need to take precaution when DIY is that nowadays all removable panels are secured by clips and screws/bolts... so you have to be extra careful not to damage the clips.. another risk you have to bear if the DIY route, but not with a dealer...
but at the end of it all, the satisfaction in completing the DIY tasks is priceless....

Its all dependent on oneself.... I m a DIY junkie, I would always prefer to try to do things myself...

FYI, insofar I have spend a total of RM170 worth of wraps, which I have completed the kidneys in matt black, shifter surround in printed carbon, blue parts of the roundrels with printed carbon, 320d badge in brush titanium, key fob in printed carbon (to differentiate wife's key and mine).
I have yet to start on the diffuser, maybe over the long weekend. I have loads of matt black left, which I m toying with the idea of stripes...

 

[docrayboy]

We must organise a 320d TT! eric are u in town this long weekend?want to see your car!

 

[carlsson]

I vouch for that! been wanting to meet up with other 320d owners!

We must organise a 320d TT! eric are u in town this long weekend?want to see your car!

 

[docrayboy]

Lets plan the TT on the 320d TT thread..........

 

[eric_s]

We must organise a 320d TT! eric are u in town this long weekend?want to see your car!

sure doc, will be around..
but pls do not have high expectations... me still amateur

Updated pics on the diffuser and the 320d badge
wrong choice of colour for the diffuser, visualise time very the nice, after application DAMN FUGLY....
this is the risk on DIY...
View attachment 22494

View attachment 22495

need C&C for the attached picts... planning, OK kah??
View attachment 22496

 

[docrayboy]

sure doc, will be around..
but pls do not have high expectations... me still amateur

Updated pics on the diffuser and the 320d badge
wrong choice of colour for the diffuser, visualise time very the nice, after application DAMN FUGLY....
this is the risk on DIY...
View attachment 22494

View attachment 22495

need C&C for the attached picts... planning, OK kah??
View attachment 22496

ok...we must meet up! even for short n sweet TT........tomorrow afternoon(Sunday 5th February) say 2pm, let's all meet at my club for afternoon tea-Royal Lake Club. In the Lake Gardens, next to Parliament. Just tell the guard you are my guests. Park in the underground visitors car park. OK with you?

 

[muhaiminrahim]

View attachment 22494

eric_s, wat u did actually to the rear diffuser? dont see any difference compared to stock..

btw, i like wat u did to the kidney grill :4:

 

[eric_s]

ok...we must meet up! even for short n sweet TT........tomorrow afternoon(Sunday 5th February) say 2pm, let's all meet at my club for afternoon tea-Royal Lake Club. In the Lake Gardens, next to Parliament. Just tell the guard you are my guests. Park in the underground visitors car park. OK with you?

Sorry Doc, thanks for the invite but can't do 2pm tomorrow, gotta work, system upgrade.
working today afternoon also... sian!!