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

[B C]

that must have been an intense moment of fear and frustration when that weld broke free but I'm glad to see its already resolved

[suspenceful]

I took the long 4th of July weekend off, spent it relaxing with friends and family.

I'm officially on the back half of this install. Yesterday I got back underneath the car and mounted both turbos, gaskets, lines and torqued everything to spec. The rear inlet elbow is on (PITA), but I know I'll still have a heck of a time shoving the aluminum pipe in from up top.

Hopefully I can get back at it tonight and get the outlets, water pump, inlets, and power steering pump installed.

[B C]

I just sat and marveled at all that design and packaging for a few minutes. do you see a light at the end of the tunnel yet?

[GunMetalGrey]

Snap said:

I just sat and marveled at all that design and packaging for a few minutes. do you see a light at the end of the tunnel yet?

Have you looked at the center mount turbo v8 setups before? It's a thing of beauty.

Looking good! Glad to see the turbos mounted up!

[suspenceful]

Snap said:

I just sat and marveled at all that design and packaging for a few minutes. do you see a light at the end of the tunnel yet?

It's definitely overwhelming, and you can only see half of it. Pretty crazy how someone (probably more than one person) designed all of this.

I see a light, but it's still pretty far away.

[suspenceful]

Larger inlets and outlets are on. Coolant pipe, water pump, thermostat reinstalled with new hoses. Power steering pump and intercooler reinstalled. Downpipes attached and O2 sensors connected. Subframe secured with new motor mounts. Hoping to connect vacuum lines and tidy up some loose ends tonight. Should be able to start it after adding oil, coolant and power steering fluid.

[suspenceful]

After getting some help from my girlfriend, I was able to start the car!

I was able to put on about 200 miles this weekend without a hitch. It was a great feeling being able to start the car and drive it without a single issue. I don't have the upgraded fuel system installed yet so I'm limited to low boost, but I'm okay with that because I want to break in the clutch before cranking it up to 30PSI.

These things are loud! Constant spooling noises.

I was also able to finally weigh my car: 3260lbs with a full tank of gas. No exhaust or backseats (how I typically drive it anyways).

Here's what I've replaced (off the top of my head):

• Ceramic coated MMP turbos with all new gaskets and o-rings
• Inlets and outlets, both wrapped with heat-resistant tape
• Oil pan gasket and bolts
• Oil filter housing gaskets
• Water pump and related rubber coolant hoses
• Both motor mounts
• Downpipe v-band clamps with new gaskets
• Deleted vacuum canisters, ran new vacuum line
• Power steering fluid, coolant, oil
• SPEC Stage 3+ clutch, throwout bearing, clutch fork
• Poly transmission mounts
• Aluminum bellhousing bolts
• Rear pinion seal
• Rear differential fluid
• Shifter bushings

Stay tuned - fuel system going in soon, then dyno time.

[YoungCR]

Nice!!

[B C]

You work quickly!

I'm looking forward to hearing about how hard it pulls after the fuel system is up to snuff

[KaiserRolls]

"Stay tuned"

PUNS

[Jdesign]

Epic! What are you thinking for numbers once you get on the Dyno? 600+?

[suspenceful]

Thanks guys!

Jdesign said:

Epic! What are you thinking for numbers once you get on the Dyno? 600+? 

Yeah, hoping for 650whp. Anything more than that and I'll be very happy!

[Jdesign]

That already seems like too much. I hope you pull a wheelie and get video of it.

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

That already seems like too much. I hope you pull a wheelie and get video of it.

No wheelies will be had  but thanks!

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

No wheelies will be had  but thanks!

Boooooo. Well I rather see burnout videos anyways.

[i_love_cars]

hustle, son. I'd be taking vacation days and just driving around nonstop to finish breaking that clutch in. 

I'm going to find a good coffee shop in Appleton to do a workday at once you have everything sorted so I can see this thing with the new turbskeez.

[suspenceful]

i_love_cars said:

hustle, son. I'd be taking vacation days and just driving around nonstop to finish breaking that clutch in. 

I'm going to find a good coffee shop in Appleton to do a workday at once you have everything sorted so I can see this thing with the new turbskeez.

I'm working on it. I've got about 250 miles on the clutch so far. I think I'm going to put the fuel system in this weekend. I'm itching to see what this thing feels like at 30 PSI.

[Daggerty]

Is this going to be pure e85 then? What's the fuel setup going to be?

[Daggerty]

[patsbimmer1]

Daggerty said:

Not in an N54.  The stock internals are rock solid.  North of 600whp on these cars isn't unusual for stock internals.  The only guys looking for upgraded internals are aiming north of 900whp which I don't think has happened yet.