Clean!!!
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03-14-2026LAST POST
I just had Weatherford (Berkeley) BMW replace the Huper Optik 35% tint with Xpel XR70 (thank you @derbo for the referral!). I’m a fan of light/no tint generally. I had Llumar Air80 on my E46, but did not want the blue hue this time around. This is nearly clear, but has a very slight gray tone to it. I’m very happy with how it turned out.
Xpel options. Their specs are among the best in ceramic tints today.
Before.
After.
Xpel options. Their specs are among the best in ceramic tints today.
Before.
After.
neat!
wyatth wroteTime flies!Thanks, Sal! All is great, and good to see you around! I've been thinking lately about how this car is taking some cues from my first S2000 - white with gunmetal and red BBK/accents. I still miss that car (and actually the FX35 you hooked up too, even though we have a QX70S in the garage now!). Can you believe that was 15 years ago? Throwback!
70 is looking goooood
New tint looks so good. I'd like to do something on my car one day but I'm also not a fan of the blacked out windows.
Really liking the new tint. It's nearly clear from straight on, but has some gray (reflection for glare reduction?) from an angle. A lot of money for what would seem like a lateral move or a step back to some, but it really changed the overall look of the car and I'm happy with it.
Also put in a red iND Start/Stop button.
Also put in a red iND Start/Stop button.
Coming along great! Just need some low now!
Seriously ... I do really like the suspension setup now for my use/preferences (ZCP, Dinan plates & bar .. basically Dinan Stage 3) but I don't like how the plates raised the front by a hair. If/when my shocks fatigue, I'll be on the lookout for some B16 Damptronics coilovers (fingers crossed they're available then!).
wyatth wroteHave you considered the KW Sleeves?Seriously ... I do really like the suspension setup now for my use/preferences (ZCP, Dinan plates & bar .. basically Dinan Stage 3) but I don't like how the plates raised the front by a hair. If/when my shocks fatigue, I'll be on the lookout for some B16 Damptronics coilovers (fingers crossed they're available then!).
wyatth wroteI just had Weatherford (Berkeley) BMW replace the Huper Optik 35% tint with Xpel XR70 (thank you @derbo for the referral!). I’m a fan of light/no tint generally. I had Llumar Air80 on my E46, but did not want the blue hue this time around. This is nearly clear, but has a very slight gray tone to it. I’m very happy with how it turned out.
Xpel options. Their specs are among the best in ceramic tints today.
How do you like the Xpel compared to the other tints for keeping heat out? Seems like you are one of the few people to have tried most of the good tints for heat rejection.
Thanks,
Drifter2090 wroteNot really. I'm not that set on doing anything, and quite like the current setup for my use/roads. At times something like the Bilstein B16 Damptronics or Ohlins DFV R&T coilovers are tempting, but I think I should wear out these ZCP struts first. End of the day, they feel great and I actually like the clearance/drivability of the height even if it doesn't look super sexy at the C&Cs.Have you considered the KW Sleeves?
lvevo wroteTo be honest, they are about where I would have guessed and quite similar on the ends of the color spectrum. The XPEL 70 is slightly better than the Llumar 80, and the Huper Optik stuff was a bit better than the XPEL 70. Basically, once you're in the tier of top shelf tint offerings, the specs are all comparable and the darker the tint, the higher the TSER (heat).How do you like the Xpel compared to the other tints for keeping heat out? Seems like you are one of the few people to have tried most of the good tints for heat rejection.
At some angles the XPEL 70 looks clear, but at other times it does look a little tinted. At an angle, there is glare/reflection which I'm sure is part of the TSER/IRR properties. The slicktop and black leather do not help (dark interior already). The Llumar 80 looks truly like a fishbowl, the XPEL 70 looks like a very light tint. Overall I'm satisfied with it.
Met members Derbo and Johal over the long weekend, played some musical chairs and traded keys.
Derbo (white) has MCS coilovers, felt lovely.
Johal (red) has the Dinan midpipe, torque and sound (and smell, lol) were incredible.
Both were 6MTs so it was fun to drive them back to back.
Comparing the differences in our trunk liners, '08 was smooth while the '11s have a cutout for the safety triangle. TIL. #nerds
At the same time, Derek performed some wizardry: coded Adaptive Headlights II, and set the DRL/angel eyes to 13.6v. I like the idea of adding beam patterns 2 & 4 to the standard 1 below.
1. Basic: Normal parallel conditions that the US gets.
2. Low speed/City: Driver light aims to the left and both lights slightly lower for better visibility for potholes without blinding folks in the city.
3. Guiding fog light: M3 doesn't have fogs so this doesn't pertain to E9xM.
4. Highway speeds: Headlights stay parallel but aim a little higher for further distance.
5. Adaptive headlights: Headlights following steering wheel input. This is the default for US.
6. Corner lights: This is already enabled for our inner headlight light when we have our turn signals/steering wheel turned at low speeds.
Love watching your build. You've got to have the cleanest e90 I've seen on this forum. I'm a big OEM+ guy and I appreciate the attention to detail you give everything - including maintenance items. Well done.
I'm with you on the ZCP - it works really nicely for the roads I drive and frankly I don't know how it doesn't scrape more at the current height. I have a particularly steep driveway and I'm almost positive anything lower would end up being a pain. That being said I still look at it every now and then and wish I could drop the front down an inch.. Such is life.
Looks like a fun get together with forum members. Need to get a head count on Tampa members and do the same!
I'm with you on the ZCP - it works really nicely for the roads I drive and frankly I don't know how it doesn't scrape more at the current height. I have a particularly steep driveway and I'm almost positive anything lower would end up being a pain. That being said I still look at it every now and then and wish I could drop the front down an inch.. Such is life.
Looks like a fun get together with forum members. Need to get a head count on Tampa members and do the same!
brantp wroteHe has a rust bucket :PLove watching your build. You've got to have the cleanest e90 I've seen on this forum. I'm a big OEM+ guy and I appreciate the attention to detail you give everything - including maintenance items. Well done.
I'm with you on the ZCP - it works really nicely for the roads I drive and frankly I don't know how it doesn't scrape more at the current height. I have a particularly steep driveway and I'm almost positive anything lower would end up being a pain. That being said I still look at it every now and then and wish I could drop the front down an inch.. Such is life.
Looks like a fun get together with forum members. Need to get a head count on Tampa members and do the same!
brantp wroteThanks for the kind words! These cars are cool and I really think less is more.Love watching your build. You've got to have the cleanest e90 I've seen on this forum. ...
derbo wroteI'm rubber, you're glue.He has a rust bucket :P
BayOptiks Headlights
Since I bought my car my passenger side headlight would fog up a bit whenever I washed it or drove in the rain. It looked stupid (and when it should be looking it's best - after a wash!) and I didn't want to risk any water/electrical damage. I wanted to reseal them, but it’s a relative pain in the bum on this car: the headlight covers are glued to the housings, so they need to be baked until soft and then pried apart. That also means the headlights need to be removed from the car, which is a bumper removal too.
This work is doable, I did this same thing with my S2000 way back in 2005 (JDM reflectors, baby). But now I'm in a condo with a family and can't tear apart my car in the underground garage nor do I want to bake headlights. So who’s the best in the biz for headlight rebuilds? BayOptiks.
These guys are the e9xM headlight specialists. Their focus tends to be more exotic builds, but I just wanted them resealed and upgraded though still stock-like. I dropped the car off and they got right to removing everything.
Over the next few days they did the rebuild/modification work and garaged the car. Really nice guys, great work and communication, etc. I couldn’t recommend Jeff and Jimmy enough for any headlight work on this car (if you aren’t local, you can remove and ship your lights to them).
Spec:
ZKW-r Clear Projector Lenses
Osram CBI Xenon Bulbs
OE Headlight Lens Covers and Sealant
(Note: I have Osram halogen AEs coded to 13.6v and Adaptive Headlights II)
The bulbs are still burning in and my photos are dog poo, but the difference in person is stunning. The fresh covers (and mine weren’t bad at all, they were totally a “while you’re in there” thing!) make the front end look, well, brand new. The projector/bulb combo is gorgeous. I had this same setup in my E46 so I’d been lusting for it since I got this car, the "fogging up" was just the rebuild excuse I needed.
... Onto the photos.
They are right by Sharkwerks, which was a cool surprise. I dropped in and met James.
Halfway there.
The goods:
Going back in.
Cold start.
Warm (though brand new, needs a 20hr break-in).
Awful photos, but I tried. The intensity, width, and cutoff are all obvious and awesome in person. In the first two, left is before and right is after (duh). Ultimately it's a lot of coin for the upgrade, but I justified it with the need to reseal them, and am very happy with it all now. BayOptiks can easily do a lot more to the lights once they're opened up like this.
I went straight from BayOptiks to my detailer (JD Morse in Lafayette, for anybody in the East Bay). After picking up the car this evening, I hit it with a clay mitt and a thick coat of Sonax Net Polymer Shield. I’ll give it another coat tomorrow and it’ll be good for a long time. The paint is in really great shape and this Sonax stuff is awesome/easy.
Combined with the Eagle One clay mitt, I give the combo a 10/10 for ease of application, 8/10 for longevity (handily beats wax but can't compete with ceramic coatings), but a 3/10 for depth/gloss (no surprise since its a sealant, and I'm looking for protection first and foremost and value ease, but worth noting that it's not a "show quality" finish). That all said, at some point it’d be cool to get it polished and coated by the pros.
And the lights were dry after the wash tonight – success!
Since I bought my car my passenger side headlight would fog up a bit whenever I washed it or drove in the rain. It looked stupid (and when it should be looking it's best - after a wash!) and I didn't want to risk any water/electrical damage. I wanted to reseal them, but it’s a relative pain in the bum on this car: the headlight covers are glued to the housings, so they need to be baked until soft and then pried apart. That also means the headlights need to be removed from the car, which is a bumper removal too.
This work is doable, I did this same thing with my S2000 way back in 2005 (JDM reflectors, baby). But now I'm in a condo with a family and can't tear apart my car in the underground garage nor do I want to bake headlights. So who’s the best in the biz for headlight rebuilds? BayOptiks.
These guys are the e9xM headlight specialists. Their focus tends to be more exotic builds, but I just wanted them resealed and upgraded though still stock-like. I dropped the car off and they got right to removing everything.
Over the next few days they did the rebuild/modification work and garaged the car. Really nice guys, great work and communication, etc. I couldn’t recommend Jeff and Jimmy enough for any headlight work on this car (if you aren’t local, you can remove and ship your lights to them).
Spec:
ZKW-r Clear Projector Lenses
Osram CBI Xenon Bulbs
OE Headlight Lens Covers and Sealant
(Note: I have Osram halogen AEs coded to 13.6v and Adaptive Headlights II)
The bulbs are still burning in and my photos are dog poo, but the difference in person is stunning. The fresh covers (and mine weren’t bad at all, they were totally a “while you’re in there” thing!) make the front end look, well, brand new. The projector/bulb combo is gorgeous. I had this same setup in my E46 so I’d been lusting for it since I got this car, the "fogging up" was just the rebuild excuse I needed.
... Onto the photos.
They are right by Sharkwerks, which was a cool surprise. I dropped in and met James.
Halfway there.
The goods:
Going back in.
Cold start.
Warm (though brand new, needs a 20hr break-in).
Awful photos, but I tried. The intensity, width, and cutoff are all obvious and awesome in person. In the first two, left is before and right is after (duh). Ultimately it's a lot of coin for the upgrade, but I justified it with the need to reseal them, and am very happy with it all now. BayOptiks can easily do a lot more to the lights once they're opened up like this.
I went straight from BayOptiks to my detailer (JD Morse in Lafayette, for anybody in the East Bay). After picking up the car this evening, I hit it with a clay mitt and a thick coat of Sonax Net Polymer Shield. I’ll give it another coat tomorrow and it’ll be good for a long time. The paint is in really great shape and this Sonax stuff is awesome/easy.
Combined with the Eagle One clay mitt, I give the combo a 10/10 for ease of application, 8/10 for longevity (handily beats wax but can't compete with ceramic coatings), but a 3/10 for depth/gloss (no surprise since its a sealant, and I'm looking for protection first and foremost and value ease, but worth noting that it's not a "show quality" finish). That all said, at some point it’d be cool to get it polished and coated by the pros.
And the lights were dry after the wash tonight – success!
Why did you not go with the Osram Nightbreaker bulb? They're really good IME and the best-performing D1S xenon they sell.
And do you know the difference between OE lens and ZKWr?
P.S.: Not sure about the E90, but in the owner's manual for my F80, it says that some headlight fogging is normal.
And do you know the difference between OE lens and ZKWr?
P.S.: Not sure about the E90, but in the owner's manual for my F80, it says that some headlight fogging is normal.
Great to see you on here. I remember reading your entire E46 thread on m3forum, and glad to see you moved on to an E90. It's super clean!
I think these cars are so special, and a cleanly modified one like this just hits the spot.
I think these cars are so special, and a cleanly modified one like this just hits the spot.
Keep it up! I love seeing "maintenance" or "clean up" mods where you just make the car look the best it can be without it having to be an upgrade that's in your face. New headlight lens are very underrated.
Also reminds me of my first WRX when it was common to pull the lights apart, remove the amber reflector and sometimes paint the housings. i don't miss doing that at home.
Also reminds me of my first WRX when it was common to pull the lights apart, remove the amber reflector and sometimes paint the housings. i don't miss doing that at home.
swagon wroteI considered the Nightbreakers, CBIs, CBBs, CBHs, and CBDs (ha). I simply prefer the specs (color, performance, beam pattern) of the CBIs. They actually run at 5000K-5500K which is a pure white, not in the off white OE 4300K range or the blue 6000K range. I had them in my E46 and I put them in my wife’s Infiniti photo’d above when it is was brand new. Safe to say I love these bulbs!Why did you not go with the Osram Nightbreaker bulb? They're really good IME and the best-performing D1S xenon they sell.
And do you know the difference between OE lens and ZKWr?
P.S.: Not sure about the E90, but in the owner's manual for my F80, it says that some headlight fogging is normal.
OE projector lenses are cloudy and fresnel. The ZKWs are just clear and smooth. Here's someone else's comparison photo.
I’ve read about the fogging being normal but I just don’t buy it. Maybe it wasn't a threat, but it was consistent and obvious, at least in my case. And they were dry after their first wash test, so it seems "fixed" IMO.
swagon wrote"Headlight fog ok. Various strange clunk and noises ok. 1 liter/1500km ok. Cause this is M cars". BMW building protection for them self.P.S.: Not sure about the E90, but in the owner's manual for my F80, it says that some headlight fogging is normal.
^ Yep. In searching I found that many people suffered from the fog even when brand new. But still, most don't have the issue and nobody should. Even if there's no potential damage, it looks broken.
At night or in the garage now the lights are just more intense. And during the day, the new covers/lenses are surprisingly noticeable. My front end is in great original shape and I thought my headlights were perfect, but these have that new new sheen.
Another comparison, look at the ground and the wall. They're probably mostly burned in by now since I bet the change tapers off. And this is a well lit garage.
Laser beams (even with the AEs coded to stay on with xenons!). #powerdome
At night or in the garage now the lights are just more intense. And during the day, the new covers/lenses are surprisingly noticeable. My front end is in great original shape and I thought my headlights were perfect, but these have that new new sheen.
Another comparison, look at the ground and the wall. They're probably mostly burned in by now since I bet the change tapers off. And this is a well lit garage.
Laser beams (even with the AEs coded to stay on with xenons!). #powerdome
