318is shadowline trim

[T3rd Ferguson]

I am almost afraid to admit this, but on a quick burst up to 127mph on rt. 295 south to my girlfriends house, i lost my passenger side window trim. The trim was stock, slighly oxidized.

My question is now... 318is oem shadowline trim? I mean, most would tell me to get another piece of chrome trim and DIY a shadowline. but every single DIY shadowline looks like complete shit, and the rest of my car DOESNT look like shit.

And, since the car has euro bumpers, most tell me not to shadowline. The DS/chrome contrast is nice, i'll admit. but will it look goofy with eurobumpers and shadowline? The bumpers will still match the early model beltline trim with the chrome strip at the top. (as evidenced by picture 3). I have a feeling i wont even notice the two dont match anymore.

I have not researched this at all yet, and am wondering how much this is, and if i can get cheaper somewhere than a dealer? Also, the 318is trim replaces EVERY chrome piece you see in the pictures? LMK your thoughts.

Here is a pic, sorry about the dirt. any input is valuable to me.

[T3rd Ferguson]

I have also toyed with the idea of later model beltline trim and body-color matched euro bumpers. thoughts? the car is going in for bodywork right after christmas.

[Jand3rson]

Damn, that's a tough spot! I think euro bumpers look really good when painted body color, but generally on cars that aren't black, because the contrast of the black bumper strips looks good. On your car, I think that going with black window trim and black bumpers would make too much of your car just disappear into the black. I had originally intended (on my car) to go completely black on everything, and then decided against it. What I'm doing now is black plastic bumpers, plus I did black out the chrome strips on my side moldings, but I'm leaving the chrome window trim. What I'm going to be doing with that is shadowlining just the inner strip of the trim, and leaving the outermost strip chrome, as it came on late-model E30's that didn't have full shadowline.

What I think you should do is leave the chrome window trim, and leave the bumpers chrome as well. If your car was another color, like red or silver, then body-matched bumpers and shadowline would look really good. But on black, you really need to have that contrast, or else you just end up looking like a black blob.

[SchnellerVert]

If you shadowline don't spray the bumpers, have them powdercoated. It will be more durable. But honestly with a black car it's gonna look like the late seventies/early eighties Miami Vice AMG mono chromatic look.

Leave the chrome. Get a piece from Mike C. I'm sure he has a piece. Or better yet from Recycled motorsports.

[T3rd Ferguson]

Damn, that's a tough spot! I think euro bumpers look really good when painted body color, but generally on cars that aren't black, because the contrast of the black bumper strips looks good. On your car, I think that going with black window trim and black bumpers would make too much of your car just disappear into the black. I had originally intended (on my car) to go completely black on everything, and then decided against it. What I'm doing now is black plastic bumpers, plus I did black out the chrome strips on my side moldings, but I'm leaving the chrome window trim. What I'm going to be doing with that is shadowlining just the inner strip of the trim, and leaving the outermost strip chrome, as it came on late-model E30's that didn't have full shadowline.

What I think you should do is leave the chrome window trim, and leave the bumpers chrome as well. If your car was another color, like red or silver, then body-matched bumpers and shadowline would look really good. But on black, you really need to have that contrast, or else you just end up looking like a black blob.

so you're leaving the chrome window trim.... i saw in another thread you have 318is shadowline... wanna sell it to me? :)

[Jand3rson]

so you're leaving the chrome window trim.... i saw in another thread you have 318is shadowline... wanna sell it to me? :)

I sold that whole set a while back to Mot for $100 and a set of weaves.

[silversleeper]

haha.... i lost the same trim piece on my other E30 doing a 100+mph sprint down my local highway!

[Mastrcruse]

I don't think that all of the DIY shadowlining looks like shit. Have you seen it done on a car or are you just judging by pictures?

Get another chrome piece, good contrast.

[e30_325es]

Damn, I'd give you the other chrome trim off my beater, but I already gave it to someone who lost theirs.

I say keep it chrome.

[T3rd Ferguson]

I don't think that all of the DIY shadowlining looks like shit. Have you seen it done on a car or are you just judging by pictures?

Get another chrome piece, good contrast.

I've seen many in person actually, probably a good 15 cars up close and personal. i've never liked the way it looks

[dableds]

euro bampers + shadowline = great! :)
chrome can leave - cars with USA bampers ;)

[mtechnik]

hmm Eurospeeed my car is completely stock (body-wise) except for the eyebrows. Still to black?

[dableds]

your car is crying for some lower springs :p

[mtechnik]

It's already lowered with Apex 30mm springs

[dableds]

looks like jeep. =)