Is there such a thing as an unmodified BMW?

[GenXer]

Does this rare animal exist? if you changed your lights, tires, wheels, suspension, radio, intake, exhaust, etc with a non OEM unit while the factory parts were still good, your vehicle has been modified!

Can you resist the call of aftermarket modification?
Is it possible to leave well enough alone?

Imagine your grandparent replacing their SMG with a manual transmission.

Was there ever a time when you bought your new BMW and was happy with the equipment you got?

[Mach550]

I had to get rid of my cars rear diffuser/exhaust, could barely hear the V8 and the bumper was ugly.

[chatoyer]

Hey that’s me! Absolutely completely unmodified F32 non comp. Even my kidneys are still chrome.

OH WAIT. I tinted the windows.

[DanG]

Does using M Performance parts count? That is about all I did.

[86Zed]

Run-flats are garbage, tire swap is step one on the modification free-fall apparently

[Mason Hatcher]

+2

I would like to code my 18 230i to fold in the mirrors on door lock, but I am not paying to have it done or to buy the equipment to do it myself.

I may soon go from Run Flats to non-RF, but that's it for me.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by 86Zed

Run-flats are garbage, tire swap is step one on the modification free-fall apparently

I am lucky that my BMW came with non-run flats. I agree that run flats are terrible.

[happyjack]

im on my 9th bimmer and only ever “modded” my E36 convertible by swapping to M-style wheels and lower profile tires (don’t remember the exact size at this point). all the rest have been bone stock.

that said, I’ve just purchased an active autowerk axle-back to replace the rattletrap muffler on my current 228.

[GenXer]

I think once you've fallen down the modification rabbit hole, you have to keep on going.

[Wolfus Aurelius]

Originally Posted by GenXer

Does this rare animal exist? if you changed your lights, tires, wheels, suspension, radio, intake, exhaust, etc with a non OEM unit while the factory parts were still good, your vehicle has been modified!

Can you resist the call of aftermarket modification?
Is it possible to leave well enough alone?

Imagine your grandparent replacing their SMG with a manual transmission.

Was there ever a time when you bought your new BMW and was happy with the equipment you got?

If tinted windows and a retro country-of-origin decal count, then I'm out. But beyond that, the car remains stock. I don't think a clear bra would count, since the car won't look or behave any differently.

I might get some chrome exhaust tips and brighter headlight bulbs. But really, I'd rather spend the money on good gas, repairs and maintenance, and enjoy the car!

[The0pportunist]

Correct.

Once the novelty of a new car wears off (about a month in) all my cars get hit with subtle cosmetic mods.

I find people that drive stock BMWs very strange.

[Efthreeoh]

IAW your definition, my car at 12 years is stock. I am sitting on a Bilstien B8/H&R suspension, but I replaced the worn-out stock ZSP suspension components. Other than that I have a OE BMW strut brace and OE BMW mud guards.

[Dogeeseegod]

My 1995 M3. I drove it just as the Germans made it I thought that car was absolutely perfect.

[Uber Commuter]

The only thing done to my 328xD is painted sidemarkers. But one of my OE sidemarkers was cracked, so they weren't still good when I swapped them.

So that makes my car unmodified, right?

[GenXer]

Originally Posted by Uber Commuter

The only thing done to my 328xD is painted sidemarkers. But one of my OE sidemarkers was cracked, so they weren't still good when I swapped them.

So that makes my car unmodified, right?

If you replaced part because the original one was damaged or worn out, I don't consider that modification even if the replacement part is better or different than the OEM. It's when you have a decent set of 19" wheels but you want 20"

[yco]

plenty of them around..

[kdeleon]

I drove my E46 M3 unmodified for 13 years. I guess in the winter it had a winter set of wheels. But in summer, it was back to stock.

[Dobie Dog]

Originally Posted by The0pportunist

I find people that drive stock BMWs very strange.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by The0pportunist

Correct.

Once the novelty of a new car wears off (about a month in) all my cars get hit with subtle cosmetic mods.

I find people that drive stock BMWs very strange.

To me personally, most non-OEM mods look cheap and ricey. Mods that are actually legit are very expensive and just make zero financial sense to me. Pouring $10,000 into HRE wheels that will depreciate on a depreciating car? Sure

I do appreciate tasteful mods with quality parts, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Plus I just appreciate well-maintained cars the way they were from the factory, the way the engineers intended it to be.

[Big boi m5]

I don't count tires as mods tbh. BMW makes bulk purchase deals with tire companies and they aren't designed for the car, usually anyway, some exceptions are out there.

BMW has launched some cars on crap tires and what's real annoying is the press will be testing the cars on that crap rubber and making all the testing underperform. Imagine thé e9x and e60 on proper modern rubber i stead of those awful run flats.

It would be best if P4S or whatever is 'flagship' at the time was considered standard for all reviews rather than using OEM stuff.

BMW tends to prefer saving money on rubber over putting the best in the car. Though, for most i realize it's irrelevant. You don't need P4Ss to commute and it's honestly a waste to do that.

Lastly I think anything non-BMW is a waste. I could grant a pass for AC schnitzer or dinan on a 335i because it's budget friendly compared to an M3 as you can build over time.

But it annoys me for the sake of lap times or performance because you can compare your driving ability if we all drove stock but mods are cheating in a sense and you'll not actually get better at driving just faster due to equipment.

I can never tell on Harry's if I'm really bad at driving or if the guy is flashed to 25% more power and R compound.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by SleepingBMW

I don't count tires as mods tbh. BMW makes bulk purchase deals with tire companies and they aren't designed for the car, usually anyway, some exceptions are out there.

BMW has launched some cars on crap tires and what's real annoying is the press will be testing the cars on that crap rubber and making all the testing underperform. Imagine thé e9x and e60 on proper modern rubber i stead of those awful run flats.

It would be best if P4S or whatever is 'flagship' at the time was considered standard for all reviews rather than using OEM stuff.

BMW tends to prefer saving money on rubber over putting the best in the car. Though, for most i realize it's irrelevant. You don't need P4Ss to commute and it's honestly a waste to do that.

Lastly I think anything non-BMW is a waste. I could grant a pass for AC schnitzer or dinan on a 335i because it's budget friendly compared to an M3 as you can build over time.

But it annoys me for the sake of lap times or performance because you can compare your driving ability if we all drove stock but mods are cheating in a sense and you'll not actually get better at driving just faster due to equipment.

I can never tell on Harry's if I'm really bad at driving or if the guy is flashed to 25% more power and R compound.

Good take.

And I agree I'd roll with some DINAN upgrades too as they are super close to BMW to the point that your warranty won't even get voided (I think this is still true).

[HighlandPete]

Yes. My F11 wagon is just as it came out of the factory in 2011. Was well optioned and ready for use. Even replaced the tires with the same Conti specification. Winter wheels are the BMW OEM option for the model.