Some More Little Mods - Racechip XLR Pedal Tuning Box

[Smartbear]

Maybe tuck a small square of carpet tile inside the port or glue it over the top after removing the obd flap? :?
Rob

 

[Silverstar]

Maybe tuck a small square of carpet tile inside the port or glue it over the top after removing the obd door? :?
Rob

That could work or I was thinking about cutting a hole in the port door with a Dremel so it fits around the connector for the display. First I have to figure out how to remove that door. I know for the E90 the port door is available as a spare part but I am not sure if the door is available as a spare for this car? If I make a hole in it, I would like to keep another in case I decide to return back to stock.

 

[maxman]

All the mods are looking good ,I especially like the black indicators.

 

[Silverstar]

All the mods are looking good ,I especially like the black indicators.

Many thanks!

 

[mcbutler]

Retrofitted the wind deflector today and I must say it makes a big difference at motorway speeds. I have been searching for the two little deflectors that go in the roll hoops but a couple of breakers I have tried want silly money for them, I guess will have to bide my time and wait for some to come up at the right price.

I also removed the ashtray and replaced it with the storage box, looks better with the ashtray but it is way more practical without it. Kept the ashtray for future in case I feel the need to refit it!

I hope you have not been out joy riding to test your new deflector during the lockdown oke:

 

[Silverstar]

Retrofitted the wind deflector today and I must say it makes a big difference at motorway speeds. I have been searching for the two little deflectors that go in the roll hoops but a couple of breakers I have tried want silly money for them, I guess will have to bide my time and wait for some to come up at the right price.

I also removed the ashtray and replaced it with the storage box, looks better with the ashtray but it is way more practical without it. Kept the ashtray for future in case I feel the need to refit it!

I hope you have not been out joy riding to test your new deflector during the lockdown oke:

Check the date, it was fitted way back in September 2019 and yes it works great!

 

[enzed4]

Maybe tuck a small square of carpet tile inside the port or glue it over the top after removing the obd door? :?
Rob

That could work or I was thinking about cutting a hole in the port door with a Dremel so it fits around the connector for the display. First I have to figure out how to remove that door. I know for the E90 the port door is available as a spare part but I am not sure if the door is available as a spare for this car? If I make a hole in it, I would like to keep another in case I decide to return back to stock.

On my 35i, the OBD port door just pops off easily (and back on again). Luckily the MHD flasher module sits low enough in the obd port that I can close the door with it installed (but it constantly drains some power so I remove it after driving anyway).
I like the stealth look of the sapphire black LCI indicators, I'm looking at mine and thinking maybe not a bad idea... - BUT, once done, it makes the side badges (your 'sdrive 30i' badges) really stick out - time for a side de-badge I would say . Leaving just the BMW badge - which you could go overboard and replace it with a black/white version (but not the carbon-fibre look ones).
Really liking what you're doing with your black Zed, always good to see what things look like before I try it with mine

 

[enzed4]

One more thing, when you replaced the ashtray with the storage bin, what did you do with the 12V socket? Seems a shame to lose that power supply.

 

[Silverstar]

One more thing, when you replaced the ashtray with the storage bin, what did you do with the 12V socket? Seems a shame to lose that power supply.

I have thought long and hard about those badges and normally all my past BMWs have been de-badged. I did de-badge the boot lid but decided to keep the ones on the side. Yes I know it will look much cleaner without them but I like the fact that it lets the world know that there is 3.0 6 pot under the bonnet, a rare thing in this day and age where everything is going the way of small 3 or 4 cylinder turbos and I don't mind how they look.

Removing the ashtray has meant loosing the 12V socket but I did buy a spare socket from BMW which I was intending to fit in the panel under the glove box, the hole for it is already there and I was going to wire it up to the existing 12V socket wiring where the ashtray was. However I am having a change of mind and am actually going to be putting the ashtray back, sure the storage bin is more useful but it looks better with the ashtray.

The condition of my Aluminium trim is pretty poor with loads of nicks and scratches so I am going to be attempting to put a carbon fibre skin over it and then refit the ashtray. Most of the bits to do the carbon fibre skinning has arrived, just waiting for a few more bits and then I can crack on with it. I will post the results here if it turns out good! :wink:

 

[clarker63]

but I am not sure if the door is available as a spare for this car?

no you have to buy the whole panel, but the door pops out easy enough... I had a broken door on mine.

 

[enzed4]

One more thing, when you replaced the ashtray with the storage bin, what did you do with the 12V socket? Seems a shame to lose that power supply.

I have thought long and hard about those badges and normally all my past BMWs have been de-badged. I did de-badge the boot lid but decided to keep the ones on the side. Yes I know it will look much cleaner without them but I like the fact that it lets the world know that there is 3.0 6 pot under the bonnet, a rare thing in this day and age where everything is going the way of small 3 or 4 cylinder turbos and I don't mind how they look.

Removing the ashtray has meant loosing the 12V socket but I did buy a spare socket from BMW which I was intending to fit in the panel under the glove box, the hole for it is already there and I was going to wire it up to the existing 12V socket wiring where the ashtray was. However I am having a change of mind and am actually going to be putting the ashtray back, sure the storage bin is more useful but it looks better with the ashtray.

The condition of my Aluminium trim is pretty poor with loads of nicks and scratches so I am going to be attempting to put a carbon fibre skin over it and then refit the ashtray. Most of the bits to do the carbon fibre skinning has arrived, just waiting for a few more bits and then I can crack on with it. I will post the results here if it turns out good! :wink:

04048F9A-06EB-4EEA-A869-126840E54BAB.jpeg

I looked at getting the large dash panel in my E85 wrapped once, as it had a large scratch on it. The place I was going to get to do it said the scratch needed to be smoothed/filled first otherwise it would definitely show under the wrap. Do you plan on fixing the nicks and scratches on yours before wrapping it? Would hate for you to spend time and energy doing the job then finding annoying pits/divots all over it

 

[Silverstar]

but I am not sure if the door is available as a spare for this car?

no you have to buy the whole panel, but the door pops out easy enough... I had a broken door on mine.

This is what I thought but was hoping you could get the flap separately. Oh well!

 

[Silverstar]

I looked at getting the large dash panel in my E85 wrapped once, as it had a large scratch on it. The place I was going to get to do it said the scratch needed to be smoothed/filled first otherwise it would definitely show under the wrap. Do you plan on fixing the nicks and scratches on yours before wrapping it? Would hate for you to spend time and energy doing the job then finding annoying pits/divots all over it

Laying down the carbon fibre is a somewhat different process where you actually have to scuff up the surface before putting down the carbon fibre. On plastics this means scoring / scratching the edges with a knife and on this aluminium trim you have to sand it with 120 grit and rough it up, once the epoxy base, carbon fibre and then clear epoxy is laid you will never know what was underneath. Well that is the theory I guess I will find out.

 

[maxman]

I had my centre console sprayed black for £35,I had bought the carbon fibre wrap but changed my mind.

 

[Silverstar]

Maxman your console looks good in black but I need to do not only the console by the gear lever but also the other bits by the heating controls and door panels etc. I did think about spraying all of those but I think it would be too much black. What I have bought isn't a wrap it's actual carbon fibre fabric which has to be 'skinned' onto those pieces.

 

[enzed4]

Maxman your console looks good in black but I need to do not only the console by the gear lever but also the other bits by the heating controls and door panels etc. I did think about spraying all of those but I think it would be too much black. What I have bought isn't a wrap it's actual carbon fibre fabric which has to be 'skinned' onto those pieces.

I saw you mention 'skin' but thought you just meant a wrap, so my note about scratches, nicks etc was unnecessary sorry. Will be interested to see how the CF 'skin' goes.

 

[MACK]

I had my centre console sprayed black for £35,I had bought the carbon fibre wrap but changed my mind.

Looks good an I ask how easy the trim was to remove? Hopefully not the pain in the arse it is on the E85

 

[maxman]

I had my centre console sprayed black for £35,I had bought the carbon fibre wrap but changed my mind.

Looks good an I ask how easy the trim was to remove? Hopefully not the pain in the arse it is on the E85
[/quote)

It's quite easy.There is no need to take the gear knob off,just unclip the surround.Get a Trim tool and work from the armrest end,when you have it unclipped you can now slip the gear knob surround through,next unplug the wires.
Replacing I found that I needed to unclip the facia below the radio,,this allowed the console to sit correctly over the hole.
You need a firm push to locate the clips..
As with everything ,once you have done it it's a doddle.

 

[MACK]

Thanks. Definetly much easier than a E85

 

[Silverstar]

Maxman your console looks good in black but I need to do not only the console by the gear lever but also the other bits by the heating controls and door panels etc. I did think about spraying all of those but I think it would be too much black. What I have bought isn't a wrap it's actual carbon fibre fabric which has to be 'skinned' onto those pieces.

I saw you mention 'skin' but thought you just meant a wrap, so my note about scratches, nicks etc was unnecessary sorry. Will be interested to see how the CF 'skin' goes.

I'll be interested to see how the skinning goes too! :rofl: Never done it before but I am up for a challenge! I'll post the results here although that might take a bit of time.