I have a problem knowing when to stop wanting mods.

I have already done this to my 2005 coupe:

20% Tint
Z-Tube
Philips 6000K Xenon bulb
Complete Interior/Exterior bulb changes
G2 Caliper Paint kit
Clear Corner
KP Technologies Window Roll-up Mod

Thats fine and dandy as those are standard. But now comes the wishlist:

AV Electronics Install which will include DVD player, PAC audio input, rear view camera, front view camera. Also will hardwire the ipod mini to the 2nd input on the PAC device. You'd think that would satisfy me...nope

I also desire an audio upgrade which will include the 4080 box, 10" JL sub, JL 5 channel amp, new 6.5" component speaker, new rear 6.5" speakers. You'd think that, along with the AV Electronics install would satisfy my modding needs...nope

I will then hardwire either the V1 or the 8500 X50. You'd think that would satisfy the modding bug...nope

I have recently caught the FI fever with the Vortech S/C. Yep...add another 6K to my modding fever...though this will probably be the last on my priority list.

After all said and done...thats about $10,000 to a car thats already cost me $40,000. Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez. It's a good thing I'm happy with the OEM 19" wheels or that might cost me a few more thousand. It's also a good thing I don't have kids or they may have to skip a dinner every now and then.

But as of now, I've only spent about $500 (mainly due to the fact that Infiniti messed with the Audio/Nav Harnesses and I've been reluctant to be the guinea pig...but the '05's have been given a green light). Now is the time for my conscience to chime in and keep it at $500.

 

Not to mention that if I get all this done, I'd be hard pressed to find a situation where the dealership would honor the warranty after looking inside my car. Kinda scary

 

I'll play the devil's advocate here.. Be a man and spend an extra $4k on wheels.. everybody and their mom has the 05 19".. add optional coilovers and all the problems that come with them (aka camber/toe), that's another $2k. Otherwise, I like your mod list but my answer to everyone that wants a Vortech is get an M3 and be done with it. But some people would rather go through the install/uninstall ordeal plus voided warranty. A third thing you can do is stay away from the forums and you'll start liking your car perfectly fine as-is, this method is tested and proven to work. So it's totally your choice, I hope I didn't confuse you even more

 

I thought about the M3 (used) before buying the G. I did have a 2004 X5 and got kinda fed up with BMW North America and the dealerships, so thats why I got the G. Plus...if I got the M3, I would still go to the Roadfly forums (as I did when I had the X5) and mod the hell out of that car too.

 

Maybe the key is to buy a base Neon and mod the hell out of it........or maybe not.

 

There's no problem with all those mods(Maybe I'm saying this to not make myself feel so stupid). I would hate to tell you how much I've spent. If I were you I would seriously consider the APS or Turbonetics ST kits over the SC's. Do some searching. It's been talked about at great length lately.

 

Counselor,

Did the Philips 6000K Xenon's replace you fogs? If not, did you replace your fogs?

 

I think you should go for the Civic. $50,000 in a Civic, man that would be one hot car. Would even beat Finiti's M3.

By the way Finiti, I am disappointed that you did not respond to my earlier post.

 

No...the 6000K were for the headlights. They were $280 for the pair..ouch. But I like the bluer looking lights. As for the fogs, I got the highest rated Kelvin that Philips make...its called Diamond Vision 5000K (H4) bulb. I could have gotten some 8000K H4 bulb, but I didn't want to burn my harness so I decided to spend a bit more for the Philips quality.

The H4 bulb was only $55 for the pair. It's REALLY hard to match the 6000K light that I don't even use the fogs...though I use the high beam which uses the same bulb.

 

I would love a turbo setup but you want to know what scares me....all those blown motor posts. I haven't seen any Vortech blow ups. I don't really want to get into strenghtening my internals. I'm more of a slap on kit type of guy. If I wasn't...I would be up to 20K and not 10K.

 

only the 05 owners!...pretty much

 

Which was your earlier post? About female drivers?

Haha a $50k Civic.. there was a famous quote floating around here saying "no matter what dude it's still a civic". About the M3.. I have been around enough M3's to know exactly what these cars are capable of and how problematic they get over time. I love my car, but if I wanted a 13s car I would trade it for a CPO M3 in a heartbeat instead of going F/I. Eventually it would save me so much money and headaches it's not even funny. But more power to those who have the guts and money to boost their cars, drive them on a daily basis without any warranty and eventually sell an FI car or part it out. There's nothing more addictive than boost

Lately I've been noticing more 05's than anything, when I first got my car I would barely see any. But people still compliment my wheels and ask if they're stock, so I guess I'll be keeping them for a while

 

Not I McFly... With all of the maintainance costs on owning an M3, no thanks. There are way too many problems with stock E46-M3's to list (and I did/do read the arrogant, roadfly forum very frequently)

I'd much rather have a car with more rwhp, more torque, something that is unique and something that is dependable. Once you hit 50K miles on an M3 it's time to sell it. That's why you'll see so many used ones in the high 40K mileage range. It's not a coincidence, it's people like Jason that have been yanked around by BMW-NA and are skeered to own a used one out of the free warranty/service period.

BTW, a CPO'd M3 still doesn't have any maintainance coverage. There are still the Stage I and Stage II costs, along with the $100 oil changes, the expensive diffy, tranny services, the tires aren't any cheaper than ours and have you seen the price of mods???

* A modded G (with FI) is Faster and Cheaper to mod than an M3.

** Yes djniknala... we all know you prefer TT's to S/C's. You and Gurgen both. Funny how Wes told us that you broke a rod NA and now you're rebuilding and going with the TT. How do you plan to handle the heat/detonation with all of that boost? You gonna retard timing so much that your G has to take the short yellow bus to school? j/k Also... how, in good faith, can you recommend a product that hasn't even been installed on a car yet? Tig is just getting his APS ST installed (like today) and his is one of the first in the US. He has zero hours of operation on it and there is NO TRACK RECORD! I've been around a long time and saw everyone praise Greddy TT and praise ATI, but both of those systems proved to be incomplete solutions. Isn't it possible that APS and the VQ could prove to be a less than ideal match?

 

No, Neff. Not again. I don't mind being on the cutting edge. It is much easier for me because I don't have very many expenses such as children. I'm gonna start puting a disclaimer at the end of my post.

"djniknala aka Alan aka theking does not guarantee the validity or expressly guarantee that you won't blow your motor as a direct consequence of my post."

 

Todd I absolutely agree with the things you point out as far as M3's, but that's saying only half the truth. You can renew the maintenance plan so long as the original one hasn't expired yet. An oil change is $100, but those cars run with twice as much oil as ours and oil changes aren't every 3,750 miles (most people I know do them every 7k). My local Infiniti dealer charges $50 for an oil change. So there. SMGII is $$$ but who in their right mind would buy one without warranty? Wear and tear items like cluth, tires, etc do cost about the same. I don't know what forums you're reading, but I hang out with these guys all the time and the first thing I ask everyone is if they've had any major problems. They too have noisy brakes, rattles, problems every car is prone to. You'll meet people who regret buying a G and others that regret getting an M. Some of the mods are more expensive. Stuff like suspension, wheels, exhaust isn't. Much like our cars, the M comes in a quite high state of tune from the factory, so go-fast mods are about as useful as on the G.

As far as the Vortech goes, the fastest times I've seen are 13-13.2. If anything that's on par with the fastest stock M3 times, but not faster. You figure it's cheaper to slap on a $5k kit on the G but

1. You're driving around a 400rwhp car as a daily. I've read horror stories about belts slipping, etc.. Vortech might not blow your engine, but it isn't more reliable than the average stock M3..
2. You're on your own as far as warranty
3. Time comes to sell the car. You can either

a. part it out and sell all your mods. You'll lose at least another 5 grand on labor and selling the used mods. Someone will be willing to buy a car that was once supercharged and raced, possibly voided warranty by Nissan NA, etc? Expect to lose a few grand on your car too.

b. you can sell a S/C'ed car and still end up with a negative return on your investment.

But very few people think about these things and the argument here isn't about which one is cheaper, safer or faster. You prefer a mechanical and financial challenge and that's perfectly fine. Like I said, boost is a wonderful thing, M3's go F/I too...