martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 28, 2008 (edited) Well its taken a while but today things have finally started to move. The formula is simple. You start with a stock standard e39 528i touring.... You take a tired and unloved set of 18' Alpinas that youve had sat in your garage for 12 months.... You then spend the weekend with a clay bar and a bottle of Megiaurs non-acidic wheel cleaner to get this.... and finally you wrap them in a set of brand new Falken FK452's that you happen to stumble across by pure coincidence (thanks Brian and Richard). You then get in touch with one of our very helpful and generous sponsors (thanks Keith and Ray) to get yourself some of these.... Then you have a chat with another one of our friendly and helpful sponsors (thanks Glenn) and you end up with the instructions on how to drop the rear air suspension Finally you leave all these goodies with your local mechanic and spend the day wondering how its all going to look Edited October 28, 2008 by Penry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 34 Report post Posted October 28, 2008 Hot is my bet. nice work Martyyn. I don't need to tell you pics are compulsory once you get it back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tire 10 Report post Posted October 28, 2008 This is SO unfair of you to make us wait. ...Bet it feels good though Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted October 28, 2008 Damn took me AGES to notice that the alpina's were backwards...I thought they had a huge amount of dish. So with the self leveling you don't need to lower the back with springs? Should look mint. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 This is SO unfair of you to make us wait. ...Bet it feels good though The waiting is killing me !I know what I want the car to look like when Im finished, but this part all depends on the springs. Keith said they would be a conservative drop, maybe an inch or so, and that will determine how much the rear comes down. I dont want to slam it, but I do want to get rid of the arch gap that I have at the moment. Fingers crossed it wont be long before I get to see it and its the right height Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Damn took me AGES to notice that the alpina's were backwards...I thought they had a huge amount of dish. So with the self leveling you don't need to lower the back with springs? Should look mint. Hehehe, just wanted to show the inside of the alloy after all my hard work !Youre right, with the self levelling there is no need for springs. You basically fool the rear into thinking its correct ride height is lower than it is currently and it takes care of the rest. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Sorry to be a pain but just curious. Is that a mechanical adjustment or electrical? Just because at the moment all I can think of is the 2004ish Coonodores that had the air suspension you could deflate and inflate with a tyre valve at the bottom of the shock. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Mechanical. Remove the sway bar links, the car then 'bottoms out' and you reposition the linkages at least 10-15mm up from the 'bottom' depending on where you want the car to sit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greenday-rulz21 4 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Will look great Martyn. The alpinas are easily one of best wheels for bimmers. Can't wait for the after pictures. Nick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted October 29, 2008 sh*t my alpinas look good Well done Martyn - looking forward to seeing it all put together Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Off to get the car.....apparantly they didnt have to do anything with the rear. Once they put the front springs in and put it on the ground the rear levelled itself out all on its own ! But it failed its wof due to its wiper blades and they dont have anything long enough to do the job Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cale 36 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Suspense is killing me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Teaser, bear in mind my drive is far from level so Im not sure how it looks. In fact this is what it looked like a few months ago when I tried the Alpinas on.... Anyone see any great difference ? Driving home was very different however. Its MUCH stiffer than before and it really sticks to the road. Im looking forward to the springs settling and seeing how it goes in the next week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Forrest 35 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 looking very sharp, im a big fan of the q-ship, not over the top look, subtle stealth mod look. looks mint Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Nice! well done. Really like the stance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Class. Would be cool an inch lower Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshnz 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 2 pics you posted don't look very different in height ... but in saying that the wheels are pretty fine. Next mod, de-chrome those windows! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yuen 16 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 I like how you cleaned the inside of the wheels, that's how it should be done. The wheels look great! Can't see a big difference in height between the two pictures though. Any further mods planned? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Lookin good... personaly, I'd give it a tad more drop in the rear using my instructions. But I would wait first, untill the springs have settled. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 34 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Nice Martyn - clear facelift rear light upgrade? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Very subtle! I do like the car. Agree with Graham on the rear lights. The clears look so natural on silver. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 On the list (in no particular order) is.... Angel eye fronts and clear sides. facelift grill in either black or shadowchrome, havent decided which yet. Either clear rears (if I can find some) or tint the rears all red (more than likely). Alpina front spoiler (just missed one on ebay for 50 notes). Shadowlined bumper strips (those at knee height). msport steering wheel. hook up the ipod. get the sat nav going and get a 16:9 screen and a few others I cant think of right now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Very subtle! I do like the car. Agree with Graham on the rear lights. The clears look so natural on silver. They do look good but at $1200 from the dealer I think Ill use the red tint spray I have and make them all red ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Simon* Report post Posted October 29, 2008 Looks really good. Tasteful drop and handling is what matters anyway Enjoy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted October 29, 2008 They do look good but at $1200 from the dealer I think Ill use the red tint spray I have and make them all red ! Fair call. It's no wonder Beemers are written off so often rather than repaired!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
