2012
Fa t n eat b lts. My cluster’s pixels were committing suicide by the day. It turns out, somebody saw one of my videos showing the problem on YouTube. He sent me a message, telling me how to get BMW of North America to help fix the problem for less than the cost of a whole new cluster. This guy had a 2003 525iA do the same thing, and he is now partly responsible for this website, and one of my closest friends. Thank you, Bobby. I now have a face-lift working cluster.
April brought some suspension work: four new struts, new springs, sway-bar links, and Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 2s all around. May brought a new windshield. Following a truck on Ohio Route 8 gave me a nice big chip in my windshield to add to the thousands of other tiny chips. New OEM glass and seal installed. June welcomed face-lift tail lights. I had just graduated high school, and chose to use the cash I got my grad party for tail lights. I know, I’m nerdy. From Turner Motorsport, I was able to find a Hella retro-fit kit to give my car the Celis LED modern look from the rear. Wiring some ballasts made my car look just like a 2003, with OEM quality parts. July brought the shine. I did the full Zaino wax system on the paint, clay bar, the whole nine yards. November welcomed real headlights. I got the OEM European-style Hella headlights installed and wired, with pure white LED angel eyes. These looked infinitely better than the Depos. December brought on more body work. I noticed over the summer in some detailing work that I had a very small bubble in the paint in the crest of my driver’s side fender. I hoped I could get away with ignoring it, but this would not be the case. I took the car in to a local body shop, and let him clean out the cancerous area, and repaint it. In addition to this, I had a small bubble in the passenger-side corner of my trunk lid repaired.
February, 2012 Fresh badging:
February, 2012
The original instrument cluster, with some unhappy pixels.
New facelift cluster. I was able to get BMW North America to pay for 75% of the labor (Thanks Bobby!) No more dead pixels.
April, 2012
Spring clean up. A good wash, a good wax. Beautiful silverstone metallic.
June, 2012 Hella facelift tail lights
September, 2012 Zaino w ax renew- six hours invested, beautiful paint in return
November, 2012 Fall cleanup
November, 2012
Hella OEM facelift headlights. The cheapo depos were just that: cheap. Adding Hella halos really finishes off the front of the M5. LED halo bulbs are the final touch, a clean 6,000 kelvin white light to compliment the xenon low beams.
2012 Summary:
Water pump
Thermostat
Facelift instrument cluster
Struts, springs, tires, alignment
Wiper blades
Front brake rotors
Windshield and seal
Body work (rust repair)