i need an outside opinion

[THAT318]

first. i bought a black on black sedan, i think i posted pics when i picked it up.
question is euro tails or oem?

and second, while waiting for parts i got bored at the shop and started cleaning off the nasty mess on the valve cover. i honestly think it doesnt look too bad left in brushed aluminum finish. dad thinks it looks trashy, and insists i paint it. i was thinking the light blue on the badge or something but here are pictures of what it looks like now. half cleaned off, and what it would look like with the coil cover. obviously, im going to try to get all the swirls cleaned and in one direction instead of the mess they are in.




Thanks.

[familytruckster]

I like the brushed/satin finish.

[John_in_VA]

I like the Euro tail lights with silver-coated amber bulbs for turn signals, and prefer the engine compartment to contain elements of silver or black.

[slow_ti]

I have the full Depo clear corner lights kit. With l.e.d's and it looks awesome. I also have the silver coated amber bulbs all around the car. Looks good. Just my 2 cents


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[cooljess76]

Get yourself some 400 grit sanding pads. They kind of look like a sponge with sandpaper attached to them. Get some 00 or 000 steel wool and some BlueMagic metal polish from your local auto parts store. Start by sanding the bare aluminum until it's nice and smooth. Use a lot of elbow grease at first to get all of the deep scratches off. Then apply less and less pressure while sanding to make the scratches as light as possible. The whole thing should be a uniform dull grey or almost white. Once eveything is sanded evenly, no deep scratches, pits or gouges, take a tiny piece of steel wool, dip it in the polish(just a little bit of polish goes a looooong way), and firmly press on the aluminum while making small circles with your finger. Continue doing this in one area until the polish turns black and disappears. Wipe the area clean with the inside of an old tshirt. Then take the tshirt, wrap the edge of it around your finger so the inside is facing out, dip it in the polish and do the same thing you did with the steel wool. Small circles, hard at first, gradually reduce pressure, then buff

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by THAT318

dad thinks it looks trashy, and insists i paint it.

tell him he's not the one who has to drive it

I think it could look great if you do what Jess said

polished>painted

[THAT318]

haha i went to go pick up a 328i we are selling from a body shop who insisted on more and more money by the day for a deposit. when i get back he had primered it, gouges and all. im making him wire brush it all down again and hes going to smooth it and ill polish and buff.. he thought it was funny... i was tempted to take spray paint to his 530.

but in other news, my coils should be in tomorrow so i should get to fire up the 325... i let you guys know how open headers sounds.. everythings been open headers this week.