After enduring the negative effects of a leaky stock exhaust manifold, a trip to Eurotuner was made and this thing of beauty was picked up.

How does a set of cat less headers feel on the Cooper S? Pretty damn good to be honest. Throttle is lighter, the climb through the revs is extremely intoxicating.

I’d recommend anyone to swap their stockers for aftermarket headers

Eurotuner: www.eurotuner.com.my

Only one pic sent to me, but basically tells the whole story. For the new Telesto Grey body, nothing less than a set of pristine black wheels would fit the bill.

So the DPE S-10 20s were sent for refurb and powdercoating and the finish of choice? Gloss dish and Satin spokes. They came out looking absolutely gorgeous.

Now the only missing pieces are the new DPE black caps and a new tyre valve stem.

So Exotic Mods sent me some pics of the BM in hibernation mode, waiting for the DPE S10 to be fully refurbished.

What’s currently on the car are a set of DPE SP-SC16 in 20×9.5 and 20×10.5 and they look absolutely hot! They’ve since been renamed to CS16.

This is somewhat the closest resemblance to how the DPE S10 wheels are going to look when completed. Matt black spokes and gloss black dish, all powdercoated

So here I am trying to decide on a colour scheme for the DPE S-10 wheels should chrome/polish finish be scrapped. A quick photoshop rendition simulates the results and here I have 5 different finishes. I know the renditions can look over the top but it’s photoshop, who cares?

As for the studs/nuts, i’ll leave it for a later decision. Most likely to be chrome though.

First picture above illustrates Body Colour Dish with Black Spokes.

Black Dish Black Spokes

White Dish Black Spokes

Black Dish Body Colour Spokes

White Dish Body Colour Spokes

So its 2012, a new year and a new look for the E34. A substantial change to the BM for a decade. The AC Schnitzer Type IIs have been sold and replaced with this set of DPE S10 in 20X9.5 and 20X10.5 stretched on 245/30/20 and 245/35/20. It was bought used from an E60 that ordered his set in the deepest dish possible.

Still getting used to the size of the new wheels, especially being my first set of 20s. I felt they gel better with the new body colour more than the Black ACS Type II

In its custom offset which i have yet to find out, and as it seems, DPE and most custom wheels manufacturers hardly reveals dimension numbers. Surprisingly it fits with no major problems. The offset seems pretty spot on though a minimal, say 5-10mm spacer might be useful if I do stretch on smaller tyres in the future.

Not a great deal of poke from the wheels, but good enough for something unplanned. No close ups for now. The wheels are yet to be refurbished, pending decision to paint or polish

The rear need some more slamming and would definitely incur some rubbing and exhaust getting more intimate with the humps, as it already is.

Fills the Arches perfectly.

Top down view

Finally, la pièce de résistance

Happy 2012 to Everyone!. There’s a drastic change to the E34 This year. The Black is gone. A new shade of grey is on. Specifically the Lamborghini Telesto Grey as seen on the Gallardos and Murcies.

It’s quite a change for me as the E34 has been a black car for the last decade. Mixed feelings definitely, its a love/hate colour in real life. If you can notice the grille trim has been deleted for that bigger nostril look.

Other changes include satin black AC Schnitzer Type IIs Which has just been sold

Here’s how the Red interior contrast with the new grey.

An Interior so nice you have to see twice

Also remade the X-pipe to a more flowy design. new brackets also secures the system better. No more mid range vibrations and much better sound Monotoned the picture as the finish isn’t exactly new and shiny

The new tailpipes replacing the Schnitzers

And finally the Shot of the Engine.

Haven’t been actively posting for quite a bit. Big apologies. Here’s a post to fill
In the gap

With my recent overhaul on the Cylinder heads due to a head gasket failure, the intake manifolds, head covers were sent for powdercoating and had actually been re-assembled and had the car running. What I didn’t know was that the con rod bearings were also shot due to coolant being mixed with the lube during the initial head gasket failure.

The engine then had to be pulled out again and disassembled to replaced the bearings. I took the opportunity to send the timing case, and distributor covers for powder coating to match the rest of the engine.

As you can see from the photoshopped picture above, the extra reds on the front now compliments the majestic V12

Here are the parts sandblasted and excess casting marks ground off

Powdercoated in the same Orangey-red. the only Red available

Back view

Red parts galore

This is how the parts used to look like taken off the engine. The factory finish on the Valve covers have peeled over time, possibly due to heat and wear. the Intake Manifolds also faced discoloration. Other parts in the picture includes the fuel rail plastic cover which will also be painted.

Grinding excess cast material for a rounder, smoother finish

See the difference between a sandblasted valve cover and one prior

Sandblasted Intake manifolds and without

All sandblasted. looking really prepped for a good coat of powder before baking

This are the silver powdercoated Valve covers