Shopping for an M45 and have a question or two.

[charlatan]

Hello there!

I think I've decided on the M45 for my next car, and have been poking around a bit.

Couple of questions;

1) I am accustom to the chipping and modding options that my old Subaru offered. I have seen some exhaust kits, but can the tweaking go beyond that?

2) I found a car that I am interested in, but there's a problem ( I think). The dealer says it has the sport package, but the trim inside is wood. Is it true that the sport ONLY had the aluminum trim (per edmunds review)? What other distinctions can I look for to make sure it's a sport?

3) I live in Colorado, where we occasionally get snow. Has anyone run some smaller rims with studded tires before? I used to do this with my other RWD cars, and am interested in any feedback. Do I need to go that far? All weathers good enough?

Thanks, and hope to be driving my M soon

Mike

[szh]

Hello there!

I think I've decided on the M45 for my next car,

Good!!

1) I am accustom to the chipping and modding options that my old Subaru offered. I have seen some exhaust kits, but can the tweaking go beyond that?

Nothing really available for the M45 unfortunately.

3) I live in Colorado, where we occasionally get snow. Has anyone run some smaller rims with studded tires before? I used to do this with my other RWD cars, and am interested in any feedback. Do I need to go that far? All weathers good enough?

First and foremost, with high-power rear wheel drives, I agree that the best thing to do is get a set of cheap rims and use good snow tires on them. Studs may be overkill, but may work under certain snow conditions.

All-season tires are really compromises. You get neither the good performance that a summer tire can give you in warm weather, nor the good performance that a snow tire can give you in snow.

So, I'd strongly recommend a second set of wheels (keep them cheap!) and snow tires for winter driving, and good summer tires for when there is no snow on the ground.

Z

[striz923]

are you looking at a new M45 or used... I think that effects the options for your trim.

[lawman12]

I assume you are talking about a 06+ M45 (Y50) and not the 02-03 M45 (y34)

the 06+ M sport models will have blacked out headlights, contrast stitching on the steering wheel and 19 wheels - a split 5-spoke wheel. I have heard of some sports with wood, but you are correct in that normally the alum trim was offered in the sports... aero kit was also a sport option, however I see non-sports with aero and some sports without the aero.

however the easy way to tell is the headlights that are blacked out... the houseing is black/color matched not the lens. The non-sports have the chrome/polished housing.

[charlatan]

You are correct, I am looking at used 06 - 07's. I think I need to use the rims as my first clue, along with the headlight tip (thanks!).

I like the wood interior better than the metal, and have seen a few very nice looking interiors that threw me off a bit.

I'm a little disappointed I can't chip it, but heck, it's quick as it is

Here is one that almost had me

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...DTEXT

Yikes, that URL is long. Anyway, thanks for the tips!

Mike

[lawman12]

You are correct, I am looking at used 06 - 07's. I think I need to use the rims as my first clue, along with the headlight tip (thanks!).

I like the wood interior better than the metal, and have seen a few very nice looking interiors that threw me off a bit.

I'm a little disappointed I can't chip it, but heck, it's quick as it is

Here is one that almost had me

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...DTEXT

Yikes, that URL is long. Anyway, thanks for the tips!

Mike

no problem...but look at the lights first. Anyone can put the sport wheels and aero on a non-sport M. The headlights would be a big mod, expensive and lot of work to put on the blacked headlights.

that link you show, you can see the non-sport headlights and non-sport wheels...

good luck

[striz923]

if you end up getting one with the alum. trim, I might be interested in trading you for the wood on my car.

[charlatan]

Hmm, I did not know that was an option. I will keep that in mind as I look. Not planning on moving for another month or so...

Is that process rather simple?

Also, back to the alternate wheels in winter time... anyone find some good cheap wheels that look nice on the car. I am thinking 16's so I can go studded.

Thanks

Mike

[striz923]

As far as the trim, it is not terribly hard, just takes some patience, a cloth (to prevent scratches), and some sort of tool (small screwdriver??) to "pry" the parts off. I have taken the dashboards/ trim off of most of my previous cars at one time or another to change stereos. If you aren't sure, practice on the wife's car first lol.