M3 bumper



biggest bang for the buck.....a $100 m3 bumper

Money spent: $190 ($90 shipping)
Total expense: $4701.71

Finally, hatch can stay open

Finally, rear hatch shocks arrived.  Easy fix...a real 5 minutes job.

Money spent: $69.90
Total expense: $4511.71

Taking apart door panel

I believe the window regulator is bad.  God~  2 screws are missing from the door panel.  The plastic wheel on the window regulator is bad.  Tough to remove the old window regulator beucase it is held by 4 rivets.

need more research......a rivet gun from harbor freight is $99........and it's only the passenger side door....

Removing tinted window

After watching few youtube clips, I believed it's easy to remove the tired looking tinted window.  A five minutes job turned into.......a few hour jobs....

Replacing steering wheel badge

Can't wait to replace the steering wheel badge.  I did not know what the previous owner use the horn.  the old badge was smashed in.  Got this badge from ebay.

Old badge......dented...smashed....

After installation...



Money spent: $4.86
Total expense: $4441.81

Dash installation

After one week of getting materials, fixing plastic trim, getting the stereo cables, it's time to assemble everything.

花了幾個晚上研究，終於完工～～（有小擔心無法恢復原狀）

不只有了音樂，還有USB可外接ipod/iphone，重要的是有了藍芽開車免持，安全多了！

Here is a "before" photo-

"After" photo-

I created this small bluetooth grill.  I did not want to show the after-market mic.

Finally, new stereo and no bad bulb~

Instrument panel bulb

I am probably the first person to remove this instrument panel without removing the steering wheel (my car doesn't have tilted steering wheel).  There were 3 bad 3w bulbs. 

Money spent: $24.68
Total expense: $4436.95

Create a hole in the glove box

 The stereo has USB/IPOD connection feature.  I would like to leave my ipod inside the glove box, so I needed to route the USB cable from area behind the center console to glove box.  I created a hole on the top of glove box and cap it with a computer grommet from Orchard Supply.

Money spent: $1.52
Total expense: $4412.27

Re-paint dash trim

While removing the old stereo, we put a lot of scratches to this trim piece.  I chose to re-finish this trim piece. First, I used 320 sand paper to get rid off some scratches.  Masked the control knobs areas (front and back), then I sprayed the dash board trim paint.

Finished product.

Money spent: $ 7.09

Total expense: $ 4410.75

好吧～承認我拆除時稍顯暴力，把邊都刮花了，所以需重新噴漆美容一下！

New car stereo

Got a great deal in Best Buy.  This unit has similar features as BT 948U, but the price is $100 cheaper.  Instead of having glossy finish as BT 948U, this one has matte finish which is better match to the car.

Money spent: $184.61

Total expense: $ 4403.66

Expensive bulb

The reason to remove the center console dash is to replace the broken climate control panel light bulb and remove the old after market stereo (from previous own who didn't give me the deck).  Part # is 61-13-8-353-797.

Money spent: $ 20.52.

Total expense: $ 4219.05

How to remove 318ti dashboard trim

1. Remove battery negative.
2. Remove 3 climate control knobs.
3. Once remove knobs, 2 screws will reveal.
4. Unscrew two screws holding the top.  Disconnect the trip computer module to see the right top screw.
5. Two clips on the bottom of the plastic piece.  Need to be careful!!  You need to push down the whole piece to avoid breaking clips.

J 原本以為是『十五分鐘簡單任務』，結果花了一個半鐘頭才拆完～