Butt-first priorities...

[VacMan]

Came from the factory with a blue leather interior. Front seats were shot so I switched the whole interior over to black leather out of a clean 91.

Local Bay Area car, bought new in Menlo Park. Blue plates!

I've got another parts car (90 325is) in the driveway now. It will either will donate for the 2.7i treatment, or just drop the whole thing in. A local BMW shop mechanic commented to me that all the "i" motored cars he hears ping badly on the current CA fuel, and that a lower compression 2.7i will not ping on even crap cheap/diluted fuel.

My cabrio doesn't ping even in our 100 degree summers. Your mechanic is full of shit. If you build a low compression 2.7 (eta pistons, I head) you might as well save your money. There are dyno sheets on this forum proving that the lower compression 2.7 does no better than a regular compression 2.5.

Love the new wheels.