All three of these inquiries are WAY down the road. But it never hurts to put feelers out early to get a pulse on people's tastes: Potential changes to my vehicle in three separate categories. I put them all in one thread so as not to flood the board with closely related threads. A. Cluster question: At around 299950 miles, I anticipate my original pre-89 cluster will probably need one of the following two options (note: the early clusters on E32's and E34's had a software bug that prevented the main odometer from counting past 299950 miles): 1) Reset the cluster odometer to 0 and have a federally mandated sticker put on my door jamb reflecting the car's mileage at reset. By this I will be retaining my original cluster past 300k. 2) Get one of the upgraded clusters and take a friend up on his offer to reprogram the updated cluster to reflect my car's true mileage, basically enabling my vehicle's odometer to proceeding past 300k. The early codeplug is not compatible with the newer clusters, necessitating the reprogramming of the newer cluster codeplug. B. Cosmetic opinion: Front bumper: I have three options here down the road. 1) Refurbish and keep my car's original one-scoop bumper. 2) Upgrade to the facelifted later-model dual-scoop front bumper. 3) Upgrade to an Alpina front bumper. C. Cosmetic opinion: Wheels: I have two options here. 1) Retain the car's current 16-inch E38-basketweaves. 2) Upgrade to Alpina 20-spoke wheels.
A2 B3 C2 Do note, if you do the Alpina route, please do it right and do the entire car, not just the bumper. It would look unusual to have an awesome Alpina front but no skirts and rear...
Since you categorize these as purely cosmetic (except the first, which I'd address somehow), I have no opinion. It's your car and your money and your taste. Do what you want ... although I'll point out that there are alternatives between 16 and 20 with which you might be better satisfied in terms of performance.
I believe he was referring to 20-spoke Alpina wheels (aren't they all, with the exception of those used on 1600s & 2002s) vs 20-inch rimz! I like and have both wheels the OP mentioned in 16", and the Alpinas are easier to clean.
I'd get the upgraded cluster just for the sake of being able to brag about having a 300k 750iL I agree with Botond about the Alpina stuff, if you're going to do it go all out
Thanks Brendan. I'm keeping a close eye on that poll... but when I see stuff like this, and see that beautifully painted lower front valance, it makes the twin scoop updated bumper look REALLY good. The "coupe" is actually a photoshopped 740.
Alpina dual scoop front bumper Here for comparison - The Alpina dual scoop front bumper vs. stock front bumper vs. updated late model bumper
