Atacama Yellow 35is build thread

[B21]

I thought (this time) I'd document the changes and mods I'm doing to this virginal 2011 model year 35is which came pretty fully loaded with options.

Judging by the notorious tail lights this example has spent most of its life garaged. (no water born damage)

The car appeared in Auto Trader, then here and then, ironically for me, in a local garage in my old folks home town.

It had just done under 50k miles, and just been 'serviced' by an indy by the previous owner.

The price I paid was way,way,way more than WBAC suggested pricing but way way below the original listed price.

If you have a fixation with a certain colour you are going to pay a premium.

The car was bog stock, nasty Potenza run flats on 18" 295 rims.

So I'll chronicle the journey, for anyone that is interested!

[Nanu]

That is one very nice looking machine.

Can't understand why BMW stopped doing the Atacama Yellow I think in 2012. Would have loved to buy a 2016 35is in that colour.

Lets have some pics of the inside please

[B21]

The Prologue Part 1

Since there was much conjecture over what happened I thought I'd explain what went on.

So as many will know I have tweaked beyond most people's limits and expectations a 2012 MY 20i Msport Auto.

This has been chronicled in these pages over the last 4 years.

About once a year, a 35i or 35is in Atacama Yellow has popped up for sale.

I went to see 3 of them, test drove two of them and walked away each time.

Issues over likely faults with injectors, turbos, suspension, fuel pumps weighed on my mind, plus in each case a less than overwhelming experience each time I drove on.

This time round, I was fortunate to be 'liquid' and could afford the possible issues and I was looking for my next project, having reached the end of the line with the 20i.

Compounding this, I had, inadvertantly, caused a misfire issue with the 20i by using Euro 6 injectors instead of Euro 5 injectors (only post 2015 could you use Euro 6 injectors).

So in a fit of pique I decided to go for it.

I kept quiet for over 2 weeks, nobody knew I had the car, the reason being that I was so dissapointed with the 35is that I teetered on the edge of returning it.

The critics would have pointed out that it wasn't a fair comparision against a child that have been lovedso much by its mother.

Slowly I came round to the fact that to get the 35is 'right' I'd have to spend big money..and, frustratingly few of the parts I'd lavished on the 20i would move across.

Realising that I could never sell the 20i for anything like the costs I'd incurred and with the season sliping away I decided to re-group.

So the plan, aided by a few willing collaborators, is to take most of the high value parts of teh 20i, fit those to the 35is that can and then swap with other Z4 owners and/or ebay the other parts.

Like many things, once a decision was made things then started to fall into place..

[B21]

That is one very nice looking machine.

Can't understand why BMW stopped doing the Atacama Yellow I think in 2012. Would have loved to buy a 2016 35is in that colour.

Lets have some pics of the inside please

Hello, the interiors are bog stock..

That's not to say that I think its one of the nicest E89 finished cabins..

I've already moved my Royal steering wheel across, losing the heated steering wheel option on the 35is..

[enuff_zed]

When I look at them both side by side, from the front, it is the tacky looking silver strakes across the outer lower grills that I find a bit downmarket. Not sure on your thoughts, but were it mine, they'd be gone like a shot!

[B21]

When I look at them both side by side, from the front, it is the tacky looking silver strakes across the outer lower grills that I find a bit downmarket. Not sure on your thoughts, but were it mine, they'd be gone like a shot!

Yes IMHO they are very nasty, but..

They are push clipped in..to get them off, in theory, requires you to take the grills of, which is a bumper off job.

Have contemplated just ripping them off, but, may break the grills?

One of currently 97 tasks identified for this project!

PS the religious bigots would say that you are destroying a key part of the 35is landscape!

[Busterboo]

The yellow and grey go together very well, don't they? The seats look superb and the wood trim adds depth to the interior. (Presumably, body colour mirror backs were standard on both orange and yellow, unlike the usual silver.)

A very attractive car in many ways. Now, just make sure you have BMW Insured Warranty.

[Ole gits rule]

I had a suspicion that you were looking at the 35 and it was confirmed when you drove it on the NC500 run.

I also dislike the chrome grill but am in the camp of keep it standard but it is each to their own when income to modding cars, all our tastes are different.

[tiglon]

Welcome back, good to see that car here again!

I came to the same conclusion regarding the fins. On the list to paint black in future when the bumper needs to come off for something else.

[B21]

The yellow and grey go together very well, don't they? The seats look superb and the wood trim adds depth to the interior. (Presumably, body colour mirror backs were standard on both orange and yellow, unlike the usual silver.)

A very attractive car in many ways. Now, just make sure you have BMW Insured Warranty.

Hello, yes I like the interior, each to their owm, I do have a carbon fibre interior to fit courtesy of Silverstar..you are making me ponder..

The 35is in AY and VO as you say had colour matched wing mirrors..

I looked at the warranty but decided that I’d embrace the ‘opportunities’ created by decaying parts…

I wanted to tweak the engine which I think would invalidate any warranty?

So I’m getting rid of the adaptive suspension and I have a set of Index 12 injectors waiting in customs.

I think by 2011 the HPFP was addressed but for £750 I’ll cover it if / when it happens..

Turbo wise, having ventured down that route with the N20, I’ll embrace an upgrade as /when they fail…

[B21]

Welcome back, good to see that car here again!

I came to the same conclusion regarding the fins. On the list to paint black in future when the bumper needs to come off for something else.

Thank you..I’ve pondered also gloss black paint vs removing it..at the moment it’s the latter

[B21]

I had a suspicion that you were looking at the 35 and it was confirmed when you drove it on the NC500 run.

I also dislike the chrome grill but am in the camp of keep it standard but it is each to their own when income to modding cars, all our tastes are different.

Sometimes I’m ambivalent about choices sometimes not…

On the AY I’m a believer in a simple black, ideally gloss and AY colour scheme..boring and repetitive but heh..

Generally I want to car to remain visually close to original, my rear spoiler and reversing the paint scheme on the valance and diffuser are the limit of changes ..most of the changes and costs are under the covers

[Ole gits rule]

I had a suspicion that you were looking at the 35 and it was confirmed when you drove it on the NC500 run.

I also dislike the chrome grill but am in the camp of keep it standard but it is each to their own when income to modding cars, all our tastes are different.

Sometimes I’m ambivalent about choices sometimes not…

On the AY I’m a believer in a simple black, ideally gloss and AY colour scheme..boring and repetitive but heh..

Generally I want to car to remain visually close to original, my rear spoiler and reversing the paint scheme on the valance and diffuser are the limit of changes ..most of the changes and costs are under the covers

I like the gloss black as well but strangely not black wheels, I also don't mind a rear spoiler.

Not bothered by upgrading the mechanicals as cant really use the power / handling where I live, not that you can do much to upgrade a 23i power wise

[Pondrew]

Can't understand why BMW stopped doing the Atacama Yellow I think in 2012.

Just a guess, but maybe because nobody bought them?
Pete probably now has the majority.

[B21]

I had a suspicion that you were looking at the 35 and it was confirmed when you drove it on the NC500 run.

I also dislike the chrome grill but am in the camp of keep it standard but it is each to their own when income to modding cars, all our tastes are different.

Sometimes I’m ambivalent about choices sometimes not…

On the AY I’m a believer in a simple black, ideally gloss and AY colour scheme..boring and repetitive but heh..

Generally I want to car to remain visually close to original, my rear spoiler and reversing the paint scheme on the valance and diffuser are the limit of changes ..most of the changes and costs are under the covers

I like the gloss black as well but strangely not black wheels, I also don't mind a rear spoiler.

Not bothered by upgrading the mechanicals as cant really use the power / handling where I live, not that you can do much to upgrade a 23i power wise

Pop up to the Borders, pop on some fresh diapers and I’ll show you where you can unleash 300-400 bhp