#OperationV10
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,163
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles, CA
My Ride: ///M5 BEAST
Model Year: 2006
price.
the LCI models were on average roughly $10k to $20k more expensive...and that was for an 08, the CIC didnt appear until 09 or maybe as late as 2010....and those were $60+ lol. i shopped nationwide and really looked at prices hard. also did a good amount of research in various forums (M5board mostly) i also spoke directly with a couple M5 owners on what to look out for and what to request. i got my car for what i feel was an awesome deal esp given the milage. i also had them install a brand new clutch and flywheel, plus do a full software update. this car had every option i could think of except for a heated steering wheel (i was really picky during my search....turns out the HUD kinds sucks tho lol). anyway, i ultimately paid over $20k less than what i was initially looking to spend when i started my search....plus now i have an excuse to stay in may garage and retrofit some things
just put on my badges and removed all the grills for prep, prime and paint, im at it again
as far as the CIC, its an awesome mod, if i could go back in time i would keep that as well as my LCI tails, but at the time i was leaning towards an E92 M3 before i changed my mind....eventually ill do the retrofit again...its a lot of fun to be honest....except for the price gouging that can be a part of the process...
the LCI models were on average roughly $10k to $20k more expensive...and that was for an 08, the CIC didnt appear until 09 or maybe as late as 2010....and those were $60+ lol. i shopped nationwide and really looked at prices hard. also did a good amount of research in various forums (M5board mostly) i also spoke directly with a couple M5 owners on what to look out for and what to request. i got my car for what i feel was an awesome deal esp given the milage. i also had them install a brand new clutch and flywheel, plus do a full software update. this car had every option i could think of except for a heated steering wheel (i was really picky during my search....turns out the HUD kinds sucks tho lol). anyway, i ultimately paid over $20k less than what i was initially looking to spend when i started my search....plus now i have an excuse to stay in may garage and retrofit some things
just put on my badges and removed all the grills for prep, prime and paint, im at it again
as far as the CIC, its an awesome mod, if i could go back in time i would keep that as well as my LCI tails, but at the time i was leaning towards an E92 M3 before i changed my mind....eventually ill do the retrofit again...its a lot of fun to be honest....except for the price gouging that can be a part of the process...
Nice move! Now, I see you got pre-LCI, can you elaborate why not jump right into an LCI so you don't have to do bunch of the mods? Namely, the CIC?
Is it, from your experience, one of those things that's nice to have, but you can easily do without (since you sold it in your part out thread I think)?
Is it, from your experience, one of those things that's nice to have, but you can easily do without (since you sold it in your part out thread I think)?
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,163
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles, CA
My Ride: ///M5 BEAST
Model Year: 2006
brian, youve gotta do it man. they are honestly not the same car. my 545i was heavily modded performance wise and it is a far cry from this damn thing. i can barely tell they are on the same platform while im driving it. add to that this EuroCharged tune is freakin crazy...the car is so aggressive now...as soon as i start her up im smiling ear to ear....i havent even turned on the radio the last two 24hrs of owning her...the engine notes are melodic/hypnotic...im in love w/ this thing. 
Contributors
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,781
Likes: 2
From: CA
My Ride: BMW E60
Model Year: 2016
Ah I see, thanks for the explanation. I have recently thought about possibly doing CIC, since I pretty much ran out of mods to do. But still kind of hard for me to justify since it doesn't really add anything I don't have besides higher res screen and pretty graphics. In terms of the GUI, I am actually not sure if I like it. I played with some CIC equipped vehicles, and it seemed tedious to me.
Senior Members
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 3
From: UpState SC
My Ride: 2008 535i LCI with sports/premium package, Sports trans with paddle shifters, CF emblems, JB4 Software, Dinan Exhaust, Navigation, M5Tech body kit, Carbon wrap interrior trim and CIC Controller.
price.
the LCI models were on average roughly $10k to $20k more expensive...and that was for an 08, the CIC didnt appear until 09 or maybe as late as 2010....and those were $60+ lol. i shopped nationwide and really looked at prices hard. also did a good amount of research in various forums (M5board mostly) i also spoke directly with a couple M5 owners on what to look out for and what to request. i got my car for what i feel was an awesome deal esp given the milage. i also had them install a brand new clutch and flywheel, plus do a full software update. this car had every option i could think of except for a heated steering wheel (i was really picky during my search....turns out the HUD kinds sucks tho lol). anyway, i ultimately paid over $20k less than what i was initially looking to spend when i started my search....plus now i have an excuse to stay in may garage and retrofit some things
just put on my badges and removed all the grills for prep, prime and paint, im at it again
as far as the CIC, its an awesome mod, if i could go back in time i would keep that as well as my LCI tails, but at the time i was leaning towards an E92 M3 before i changed my mind....eventually ill do the retrofit again...its a lot of fun to be honest....except for the price gouging that can be a part of the process...
the LCI models were on average roughly $10k to $20k more expensive...and that was for an 08, the CIC didnt appear until 09 or maybe as late as 2010....and those were $60+ lol. i shopped nationwide and really looked at prices hard. also did a good amount of research in various forums (M5board mostly) i also spoke directly with a couple M5 owners on what to look out for and what to request. i got my car for what i feel was an awesome deal esp given the milage. i also had them install a brand new clutch and flywheel, plus do a full software update. this car had every option i could think of except for a heated steering wheel (i was really picky during my search....turns out the HUD kinds sucks tho lol). anyway, i ultimately paid over $20k less than what i was initially looking to spend when i started my search....plus now i have an excuse to stay in may garage and retrofit some things
just put on my badges and removed all the grills for prep, prime and paint, im at it again
as far as the CIC, its an awesome mod, if i could go back in time i would keep that as well as my LCI tails, but at the time i was leaning towards an E92 M3 before i changed my mind....eventually ill do the retrofit again...its a lot of fun to be honest....except for the price gouging that can be a part of the process...
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,163
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles, CA
My Ride: ///M5 BEAST
Model Year: 2006
i spent a good amount of time thinking about a solid process after painting my old set of grills didnt turn out perfectly. so i have developed a strategy that i think will work well. i have also painted a few items here and there over the past year and began perfecting my process.
- thoroughly wash the grills, soap & water then with alcohol
- sand all surfaces with a 600 to 1000 grit sandpaper. this will etch the plastic as well as remove the chrome paint/plating on the grills
- now we have bare plastic....use an adhesion promoter (i used bulldog brand) put down two light coats
- now use an automotive primer - put down two coats....one light, one regular
- now its time for the paint of your choice, im using some PPG custom mixed paint that exactly BMW Black Sapphire metalli (code 475)
- two or three coats of the regular paint then use two coats of PPG quality clear coat
- be sure that throughout the process that the parts are not cold, they should be room temperature at a minimum
- allow ample drying time between coats to avoid that orange peel look