The adage "change is good" applies to virtually every aspect of life, whether it's a person's career, relationships, behavior or goals. Carlos Molina of El Paso, TX learned that change was good while building project cars, particularly his '00 BMW 323i.
"I've gone through at least nine different trunk installations, eight sets of wheels, six front ends and three rear bumpers," he reminisced. Carlos also mentioned he had repainted the car twice and removed several superfluous accessories through the course of his build.
His vision of engine and cosmetic tuning has evolved to the point where he's finally satisfied with his seven-year project.
Carlos' story starts when he was first stationed in Italy as a counter-intelligence captain. "My buddy and I went to a club after he bought a new 323i," he remembered. "That night, he started showing off, but wasn't driving smart. Since Italian roads are cobblestone, they don't provide enough friction for the tires, especially in wet weather. So we're going 110mph, when he tries to make a 90 turn. We rammed into a wall at over 100mph, but miraculously we both walked away unhurt. After the accident, I realized I needed a BMW. If this car was safe enough for my buddy, it's safe enough for my daughter and I."
Carlos proceeded to order his BMW in Italy and have it shipped home to El Paso. Before it was even delivered, he researched audio and video upgrades. By the time the car arrived, the first parts were ready to be fitted.
"I picked up the car, and the next day the audio system went in, including monitors, subwoofers and even a VCR, which was cutting-edge at the time!"
Carlos' project gained momentum when several companies offered their sponsorship as the import show scene blossomed. His first show was Hot Import Nights San Mateo, where he received recognition by displaying one of the few BMWs in the scene.
Although Carlos' early modifications seemed controversial, it was part of the trend in those days. "I was willing to take chances while most people played it safe using only Hamann or Schnitzer parts," he confided. "Unfortunately,
I went through a time where I had $2000 worth of neon lighting. Then one day, I just thought, 'What the hell am I doing?' So, I yanked everything out."
Then Carlos decided to revamp the exterior. "It got to the point where there wasn't much I could do to make a vast difference," he said. "I thought about doing a widebody, but others were already doing Hamann widebodies. So,I designed a widebody with auto CAD. Since I was making a drastic change, I decided to switch up the front end as well."
The front fenders were extended 4.5" on each side in metal, while the rears were widened by a whopping 6.5" on each side. With the new fenders, Carlos sourced a facelift front end from a '04 sedan. He then fitted a Strictly Foreign CLI front bumper to give the face a more aggressive look.