Hi everyone,
First off, I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful input, feedback, and support over the years. I haven’t seen my E9 in what feels like forever, over 18 months now, but I’m thrilled to share that it’s finally getting a new engine installed — built to the spec Carl Nelson recommends. It’s based on the 3.5L M30B34 block with a 9.5:1 compression ratio and estimated 280hp, built for drivability and reliable power.
In the meantime, I’ve just returned from a classic road rally in Montana in my Alfa Romeo Spider, and it was amazing. Along the way, I spotted two Ferrari Daytonas — both in bright yellow with tan seats and black dashboards. While that combo isn’t typical for BMW, it gave me confidence that my tan interior with black dash will still feel period-correct and special, even with some color experimentation.
I had been seriously considering a wrap in
Tundra Green Metallic (using Avery SW900 Gloss Dark Green as a match), and even mocked it up with help from ChatGPT. It looked amazing and got some strong reactions. But after reading some forum posts about the complexity of wrapping around trim, drip rails, and bumpers — and remembering how painful trim removal was when I had the car painted seven years ago — I’m rethinking whether I want to go down that road. I
reallywant to do it, but not at the expense of more delays or unnecessary risks. So for now, I may just focus on fully detailing the car, correcting any cosmetic flaws, and enjoying it with the new drivetrain
One last thing — my tires are now seven years old and need replacing. I’m leaning toward
Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02s, but I’m open to input. I’m running 16-inch BBS wheels, and would love to hear what’s working for you guys. Summer-only tires are totally fine for me.
Thanks again, everyone — this car and community mean a lot to me.
—Scott