'00 Celica GTS to '09 BMW 335i X Drive M Sport (29 pics)

[WillyWonka]

Some of the old timers may remember my old Celica. Last summer, it was sold to board member aworkman. It had to be sold to a quality person and Adam would be one. The first is my old signature. The second is the unedited photo from the first nc.org calendar. The third is the condition near sale in '09.





It has been replaced with a 2009 Alpine White BMW 335i X Drive M Sport coupe. Here's a photo timeline...

8/28/09 - Purchase Day at BMW of Towson


9/09 - Leaving the Work Garage


12/19/09 - The Big Snow (Blizzak WS-60's were installed a few days earlier.)


1/3/10 - KW V3 Install Day


1/3/10 and 1/10/10 - Random Shots










3/19/10 - The Alufelgen SF-71's with Hankook Ventus V-12's were installed.
Front: 19 x 8.5
Rear: 19 x 9.5

Obligatory concavity shot a few minutes after the install


Grass is finally visible


Profile


3/20/10 at the workplace parking lot


















3/21/10 Back to the Horses

[CRBCelica]

nice!!!!!!!!!!! sold the celi?

[SmutasticGT]

Speechless! Nice upgrade.

[phaqgm]

Nice, Will! I picked up an '04 STi back in December, but I still have my Celica. AWD is fun, huh?

[Gootz311]

Your old wheels on your old celica are very similar to mine.

That Alpine white looks amazing. It has a perfect drop.

[Kangaruu]

Concave rims are sooo awesome...

[WillyWonka]

Thanks for the good words. Yes, the Celica was sold in late August of last year. It was truly a great car.

Originally Posted by phaqgm

Nice, Will! I picked up an '04 STi back in December, but I still have my Celica. AWD is fun, huh?

Thanks Tim. I saw the STi pics. Very nice! AWD obliterated the snows that were "clearable" with the drop. In February, there were 2 snow events over 25" in northern Baltimore County. Of course, the car spent time in the garage for a few days but it was much more roadworthy than most in the neighborhood.

Remember, if you're in NC in mid-May, there's a yearly event.

[MOV3Z]

Nice celi, but definitely a good upgrade.

[TRlPPlN]

now thats a fvckin upgrade!! nice

[CELICA581]

Very nice upgrade

[silverCELICAgt-s]

Very nice! How do you like the KW coilovers? I've been thinking about getting the same for my BMW 335Xi as well, interested to hear what you think of them.

[Skooter]

[j_celica]

[mrbarky]

Great looking beamer, i love it

[Soo__Fuego]

i like it

[XBernie]

Definite upgrade.
335i
KW V3
Concave meshies


Lower the front a tad bit more, the rear is lower than the front.

[ahfunaki]

wow. sick.

[mrluilou]

that thing is low
very nice upgrade

[sn1p3r845]

daaayyyummm what do you do for a living?

[red-gts]

what an upgrade... i love the new bimmers!

[SilverCelly37]

the rims and that drop make it look soooo clean

[WillyWonka]

Thanks again for the good words.

Originally Posted by silverCELICAgt-s

Very nice! How do you like the KW coilovers? I've been thinking about getting the same for my BMW 335Xi as well, interested to hear what you think of them.

From KW, only the V1 and V3 are options. Adjustments are factory set for the V1 while the V3 has 14 levels of compression damping and infinite rebound damping. Adjustability was the selling factor. I also considered TC Kline but at the time, they didn't have an X Drive option but were willing to do a one-off.

Here are a few questions about your Xi...What year? Color? Options? PM some pics if available.

Originally Posted by XBernie

Definite upgrade.
335i
KW V3
Concave meshies


Lower the front a tad bit more, the rear is lower than the front.

Thanks for the good words. The higher front is the standard rake for the X Drive and I prefer to maintain the angle for clearance.

Originally Posted by mrluilou

that thing is low
very nice upgrade

The KW V3's have more room to go but practicality is key.

Originally Posted by sn1p3r845

daaayyyummm what do you do for a living?

Since college graduation I have been employed in corporate wellness management. Its a combination of business management (from payroll to marketing to purchasing/selling to hiring/firing), personal training, educational presenting, health testing, etc.

[phaqgm]

Originally Posted by WillyWonka

Thanks for the good words. Yes, the Celica was sold in late August of last year. It was truly a great car.

Thanks Tim. I saw the STi pics. Very nice! AWD obliterated the snows that were "clearable" with the drop. In February, there were 2 snow events over 25" in northern Baltimore County. Of course, the car spent time in the garage for a few days but it was much more roadworthy than most in the neighborhood.

Remember, if you're in NC in mid-May, there's a yearly event.

I'll have to check my availibility. It'd be cool to hang out with all the OG NCO'ers again.

[00 LSM GTS]

Damn i like it.
The rear looks a little off though. Seems like it's either missing something or something is out of place.
Overall, a worthy upgrade.

[stealthjet]

I'd take that over a celica any day of the week. beautiful ride.

[WillyWonka]

Originally Posted by phaqgm

I'll have to check my availibility. It'd be cool to hang out with all the OG NCO'ers again.

There's always room even when all rooms are occupied. The library looks suitable for a small family. Of course there are a few later-in-the-game bunks available.

Originally Posted by 00 LSM GTS

Damn i like it.
The rear looks a little off though. Seems like it's either missing something or something is out of place.
Overall, a worthy upgrade.

The stock rear diffuser is an item that looks out of place and I'm waiting for an update from BMW Performance to arrive in the US.

Originally Posted by stealthjet

I'd take that over a celica any day of the week. beautiful ride.

Thanks. The Celica definitely got the job done. Most importantly, I have carried forward friendships with former and present Celica owners that have enriched my life.

[Zero]

Nice upgrade. It's been a while since you last posted.
I love that calendar shot. I remember seeing it the first time and back then that was one badass shot!

[lamboceliGTS]

Very nice bimmer.

I can't wait to graduate lol.

[7th Gen]

Looks good man, just need to get some wheels or even powder coat the ones you have. But clean BMW ftw

[solepatch]

Nice bimmer, those have really grown on me over the past few years. I wasn't sure at first but now I think they are one of the best looking new cars on the road.

Great looking horse shots too!

[WillyWonka]

Originally Posted by Zero

Nice upgrade. It's been a while since you last posted.
I love that calendar shot. I remember seeing it the first time and back then that was one badass shot!

It has been a while. It was taken in a parking lot in Philly. While Chris (Blue Bomber), Nate (nate22) and I were walking through the lot looking for shots, I saw that angle and envisioned the car layout. Blue Bomber and/or Larry may have the retouched version. In fact I probably have it. Newer versions of Photoshop could clean it up so much better.

Originally Posted by lamboceliGTS

Very nice bimmer.

I can't wait to graduate lol.

Reading is fundamental. School is cool.

Originally Posted by 7th Gen

Looks good man, just need to get some wheels or even powder coat the ones you have. But clean BMW ftw

The wheels in the early shots are M wheels and they're aftermarket in the final shots. The 7 double-spoke wheels are a traditional BMW look and importantly, they are in the OEM color. The color will never be changed.

Originally Posted by solepatch

Nice bimmer, those have really grown on me over the past few years. I wasn't sure at first but now I think they are one of the best looking new cars on the road.

Great looking horse shots too!

I had seen a few in my work garage so I was always reminded of the model. With the proper wheels, suspension, color, etc., the model can really look great. Those shots were taken with my basic Nikon Coolpix in the farm areas that surround my town.

[Ddragon]

I got to see it in person Very awesome ride Will! So when can I have it? hahaa My birthday's this year

[Solidus 604]

love it, one of the best looking bmw coupes imo, very low and very flush wheels.

very pimp look, loving every minute of it

[R I C H I E]

Very nice!
HKS exhaust should be next

[bluhawk]

[Littleman54]

I'm liking the csl style rims and the drop. It looks clean, keep it up.

[WillyWonka]

Originally Posted by Ddragon

I got to see it in person Very awesome ride Will! So when can I have it? hahaa My birthday's this year

Its yours when you can cover the purchase price.

Originally Posted by Solidus 604

love it, one of the best looking bmw coupes imo, very low and very flush wheels.

very pimp look, loving every minute of it

Thanks. Being so low, its not a people carrier but its very rare that I have more than the +1.

Originally Posted by R I C H I E

Very nice!
HKS exhaust should be next

There may be a time but the stock exhaust is doing the trick for now. If I'd go for one, I'd probably opt for the BMW Performance exhaust since its warranty-safe.

Originally Posted by bluhawk

That was my reaction when I had the recent set of wheels installed.

Originally Posted by Littleman54

I'm liking the csl style rims and the drop. It looks clean, keep it up.

A classic look is the desire.

[Burrcold]

Looks amazing. Couldn't have gone with a classier looking combo of drop, wheels, color, and car.

[farhanali89]

Ah great upgrade the 335i is a machine. Twin turbo and looks the nuts yummy

Thumbs up it looks fantastic