Jake's Epic BMW 135i Build Thread! (5+ Years of Ownership)

[suspenceful]

It's almost time for hibernation... but I'm still driving this beast.

[SteelBlue]

suspenceful said:

It's almost time for hibernation... but I'm still driving this beast.

Any plans for visual changes?

[jc43089]

It's good boosting temperature, but poor traction temperature...

[suspenceful]

SteelBlue said:

Any plans for visual changes?

I have a lot of ideas floating around in my head, some visual, some mechanical.

• Seibon carbon fiber hood - $775
• Seibon carbon fiber trunk - $650
• Carbon fiber sunroof panel - $399
• NRG race seats with VAC floor mounts - $380 + $380
• Braille B2015 battery - $200
• Completely gut the rear and trunk interior - FREE!

All of these things should shed some noticeable weight from the car. Not sure how many of them I'll do right away because it's an expensive list. At this point, I want to stay at the same power level but remove weight to go faster. I added a considerable amount of weight when I installed the single turbo kit, intake manifold and full exhaust.

I'd also like a 1M replica front bumper. I removed the splitter from my front bumper because I wanted to see if I was hindering my 1/2 mile trap speeds. I'm up in the air about reinstalling it.

As far as mechanical upgrades, I'd like to do the following:

• Motiv twin disc clutch (current Spec Stage 3+ is slipping with less than 5k miles) - $1950
• New-to-me used transmission (mine grinds going into 2nd gear when WOT) - $650
• Stoptech pads and rotors all around - $680
• Solid rear subframe bushings -  $300
• Rouge Engineering adjustable rear toe arms - $290
• M3 front suspension upgrade kit - $700
• LSD and upgraded axles - $3000-$5000
  • Torn between MFactory LSD and DSS axles or complete E9X M3 rear subframe swap or Ford 9" conversion
• Phenolic intake manifold spacer - $100
• Bias ply tires so I can run a 10 sec 1/4 mile - $500

Again, not sure how many of these things I'll get done right away because this whole post is easily over $10k  but it's a good spot for me to reference as it comes time to buy stuff.

jc43089 said:

It's good boosting temperature, but poor traction temperature...

I was driving it last night and it was spinning in 4th on only 17psi lol. Fun, but scary.

[REKIII]

Just catching up a bit on this thread.  Some very cool stuff.  You ran....a Spec?  Wow.  I'v had personal horrible experiences with their stuff in non-BMW applications and in my M5 (remember the embarrassing no-burnout vid from a gathering I was at?) and have yet to hear any good things about them.  Good to hear you are going in a different direction.

Lists are fun....

[suspenceful]

REKIII said:

Just catching up a bit on this thread.  Some very cool stuff.  You ran....a Spec?  Wow.  I'v had personal horrible experiences with their stuff in non-BMW applications and in my M5 (remember the embarrassing no-burnout vid from a gathering I was at?) and have yet to hear any good things about them.  Good to hear you are going in a different direction.

Lists are fun....

Yup, the Spec clutches are fairly common for these cars. I can't really blame Spec because I'm pushing a lot more power than the clutch was rated for.  And believe it or not, the Motiv twin disc setup that I'm eyeing up is actually manufactured by Spec...

[REKIII]

suspenceful said:

Yup, the Spec clutches are fairly common for these cars. I can't really blame Spec because I'm pushing a lot more power than the clutch was rated for.  And believe it or not, the Motiv twin disc setup that I'm eyeing up is actually manufactured by Spec...

I've found that to be common as well....other manufacturers having spec make their stuff.  That's how a spec ended up in the M5.  I just avoid them like the plague now.  It seems that it is a low standard of quality that bites them (and the customer) in the ass. They'll say a .378" step height, which you'll do, but their pressure plate or disk was out of spec (kinda a pun, lol) and it won't work.  Hopefully, if the motive is multi-disk they have put it together and checked everything.

[suspenceful]

I finally got around to editing/uploading my track footage from Road America!

This was my first time doing anything like this and I didn't have an instructor so be easy on me 

[GunMetalGrey]

Hey, you avoided all the walls and gravel pits, so at the end of the day you did well!

[suspenceful]

A quick 6 minute video of me installing a custom carbon fiber steering wheel. I'm not usually one for expensive aesthetic mods, especially for the interior, but I'm glad I pulled the trigger on this. I'd love to hear what you guys think!

[i_love_cars]

I think you should've put the money towards something useful like a limited slip diff. I haven't seen a video on it yet so I'm assuming that's still outstanding, as are some other suspension upgrades.

Your 1er is rough around the edges and isn't a show car. This would be like if I added a CF wheel to my E46 M3. Having an alcantara shift boot with factory aluminum interior trim doesn't look that great with a steering wheel that is predominately CF. The steering wheel you have there looks like an afterthought. It's your money of course but the direction you have taken this car is largely about going fast. You have gobs of power now, so why aren't you spending more money to help the car put it down as best as possible?

[straight6pwr]

i like carbon as much as the next guy, but that's a bit over-the-top

[suspenceful]

i_love_cars said:

I think you should've put the money towards something useful like a limited slip diff. I haven't seen a video on it yet so I'm assuming that's still outstanding, as are some other suspension upgrades.

Your 1er is rough around the edges and isn't a show car. This would be like if I added a CF wheel to my E46 M3. Having an alcantara shift boot with factory aluminum interior trim doesn't look that great with a steering wheel that is predominately CF. The steering wheel you have there looks like an afterthought. It's your money of course but the direction you have taken this car is largely about going fast. You have gobs of power now, so why aren't you spending more money to help the car put it down as best as possible? 

I didn't use cash to purchase the wheel, just exchanged apparel printing services for the wheel. My margin is pretty good for printing stuff so realistically this wheel cost me less than $200. I've had it since last year, just finally got around to installing it. Obviously aesthetic mods are personal preference, but I like the wheel. The carbon center trim is a bit much so I might refinish my factory trim to fix the peeling paint and re-install that.

As far as spending money elsewhere, I haven't spent a dime on the car in probably 6 months. I put it away for the winter and nothing needs fixing, it's been running great. I've been enjoying the surplus of cash I never realized I could have by not throwing money at cars. And believe it or not, the car hooks with the Mickey Thompsons in every gear except for 1st. Factory e-diff has been fine so it's hard for me to upgrade a perfectly good-working part. However, an LSD, upgraded axles and a suspension refresh has been on my wish list. The idea of a built motor is becoming more of a 'want' recently as well, so I need to figure out where I want my money to go once I start spending it again.

straight6pwr said:

i like carbon as much as the next guy, but that's a bit over-the-top

Lol, striking similarities! Like I said above, aesthetic mods are personal preference so I appreciate the comment. It's something different, maybe I'll get sick of it once I start seeing it every day. But for now, it's a nice change of pace. It is a lot of carbon fiber, so I might swap out the trim piece for the OEM piece once I refinish it.

[Jdesign]

I have to agree with the taste of others as far as it being "too much." Its your car so it doesn't really matter what we think.

I like your idea of painting the center to tone it down, or you could do the complete opposite and match the rest of the car to the steering wheel? 

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

I have to agree with the taste of others as far as it being "too much." Its your car so it doesn't really matter what we think.

I like your idea of painting the center to tone it down, or you could do the complete opposite and match the rest of the car to the steering wheel? 

Lol I hope that's not what everyone sees when they look at my interior now 

[straight6pwr]

that wheel would pretty awesome if the rim was just round. its all the bulges, flat spots, swoops and lines that make it seem racer-boy

[GunMetalGrey]

Tough crowd today huh?
It's not quite my style with the carbon center, but having held it I can assure you guys that the weird shaping is pretty damn comfortable.

[Rekpoint]

I dont mind it at all. I plan on getting a flat bottom alcantara wheel for my e92 once that happens.

I personally think it'll look better with the stock trim though.

[YoungCR]

Wheel quality is impressive, I enjoyed driving a 911 Turbo with a factory CF wheel. I’d say that was a good barter. Excited for more go-fast parts too.

[P_Roloff]

I will echo that all the carbon is not my thing, but it looks comfy and beefy. Might look better with piano black interior trim or something. I sure as hell wouldn't turn that deal down though, for the equivalent of $200 that's a good deal IMO.

Interested to hear what it feels like when actually driving, let us know what you think when you get it on the road.