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

[Daggerty]

Are you running corn juice with this setup?

[patsbimmer1]

I'm still in for a tubbed rear end.

[Iceddragon]

Really excited for you!

My current end goal is still around mid 500s, would you recommend sticking with twins for that level? I didn't realize the aftermarket stuff was fragile as well, I guess I haven't done that much research yet.

[suspenceful]

Daggerty said:

Are you running corn juice with this setup?

Yup, been running full E85 for a while now.

Iceddragon said:

Really excited for you!

My current end goal is still around mid 500s, would you recommend sticking with twins for that level? I didn't realize the aftermarket stuff was fragile as well, I guess I haven't done that much research yet.

Yeah, I'd go with a set of PURE turbos or the MMP twins I had. I wouldn't sacrifice the lag at that power level.

[i_love_cars]

agree with @suspenceful, mid 500s target a reliable brand like PURE or MMP is good. Those power numbers aren't pushing the capacity at all on those turbos. Should be within efficiency rating and happy boost targets. 

Jake, the new turbo setup looks great, I definitely agree with the ease of wrenching. You and I can now both commiserate on this because we've been there - dropping subframes and shit just to get at turbos on the N5x platform FUCKING blows lolol. 

Do you have plans to throw the MFactory diff on this car? I actually can't even recall now what the factory diff limits are. I of course had a wavetrac lsd but I don't think that was built for as much torque as the MFactory was even, and it didn't matter because I was only at 500. 

I think you're making the right move going to a single because while you will still probably have some traction issues, overall the power delivery will be easier to manage because it will definitely be more linear. While it will spike some up top probably, it's way easier to roll into the power up top rather than dropping a gear and being in the midrange flooring it, and having a completely flat torque curve like the twins give where it just wants to send the car's backend kicking out every which direction.

[suspenceful]

i_love_cars said:

agree with @suspenceful, mid 500s target a reliable brand like PURE or MMP is good. Those power numbers aren't pushing the capacity at all on those turbos. Should be within efficiency rating and happy boost targets. 

Jake, the new turbo setup looks great, I definitely agree with the ease of wrenching. You and I can now both commiserate on this because we've been there - dropping subframes and shit just to get at turbos on the N5x platform FUCKING blows lolol. 

Do you have plans to throw the MFactory diff on this car? I actually can't even recall now what the factory diff limits are. I of course had a wavetrac lsd but I don't think that was built for as much torque as the MFactory was even, and it didn't matter because I was only at 500. 

I think you're making the right move going to a single because while you will still probably have some traction issues, overall the power delivery will be easier to manage because it will definitely be more linear. While it will spike some up top probably, it's way easier to roll into the power up top rather than dropping a gear and being in the midrange flooring it, and having a completely flat torque curve like the twins give where it just wants to send the car's backend kicking out every which direction. 

Thanks Jordan!

Yes, eventually I'd like to get an MFactory LSD in there. I think that will be one of the last pieces to this puzzle. I'd like to upgrade the suspension as well.

[suspenceful]

Pitty post.

YouTube just changed its monetization policy, now requiring 1,000 subscribers to be eligible for ad revenue. I’m only at 471 subscribers, can you help me by subscribing to my channel?

www.youtube.com/c/jakespence135

I promise it’ll be worth it! I have some cool videos on there about my 135i and will be posting tons of videos once I have my new Doc Race 6266 single turbo kit installed.

[m42b32]

Sub'd!

[jc43089]

544

[B C]

Liked and subscribed! 559

When you hit 1000 they send you an E92 rc car with a youtube livery on it

[Rekpoint]

Damn my other channel is only at 726. :C

Edit : Watched your videos and I want a 135 now...

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[suspenceful]

m42b32 said:

Sub'd!

jc43089 said:

544

Snap said:

Liked and subscribed! 559

When you hit 1000 they send you an E92 rc car with a youtube livery on it

Rekpoint said:

Damn my other channel is only at 726. :C

Edit : Watched your videos and I want a 135 now...

Thanks everyone! I don't wanna let you down, so I put together a brief build update and showed off my new single turbo kit. First time doing something like this, so let me know what you think!

[Jdesign]

NICE!

[suspenceful]

I know I'm one of the few N54 owners on this forum, but I'm going to keep sharing my build updates. My buddy Lee has been helping me behind the scenes on some stuff due to my lack of motivation. He's a certified BMW tech. Anyways, on to the updates.

We swapped over all the accessories from my previous motor. Injectors, water pump, HPFP, oil filter housing, tensioner, pullies, etc. Took a peek at the internals while we installed the new valve cover and oil pan gasket. Everything looked minty. Then we fitted the single turbo parts. Everything is coming together nicely. I'm going to walnut blast the intake valves this weekend, then it should be ready to go back into the car.

I've decided to continue with the vlog-style videos for now. Here you can see the full kit installed, and I answer a question I've been asked a lot.

[B C]

This engine. Is this the engine that was owned by a rage drifter? And is the hpfp drive. Off the engine? Or is it electric? I dont know how to direct injection works.

Watching vlog now

[Iceddragon]

Watching the vlog later, just chiming in to let you know the other N54 owners are watching closely lol
I'll be in Appleton starting Feb 5th, if you ever need an extra hand just message me, I'd be excited to help out and learn the ins and outs of this stuff, I still won't have a place to do work on my own car for a while.

[Bassboy3313]

suspenceful said:

... My buddy Lee has been helping me behind the scenes on some stuff due to my lack of motivation ...

[suspenceful]

Snap said:

This engine. Is this the engine that was owned by a rage drifter? And is the hpfp drive. Off the engine? Or is it electric? I dont know how to direct injection works.

Watching vlog now

Yes, this is the engine owned by a hoonigan. I'm glad that he only owned it for a short period of time, and it was enthusiast owned before that. Fingers crossed that it holds up.

HPFP is electric, not belt driven.

Iceddragon said:

Watching the vlog later, just chiming in to let you know the other N54 owners are watching closely lol
I'll be in Appleton starting Feb 5th, if you ever need an extra hand just message me, I'd be excited to help out and learn the ins and outs of this stuff, I still won't have a place to do work on my own car for a while.

#N54GANG

Sounds good, I'm sure we'll see more of each other!

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

I know I'm one of the few N54 owners on this forum, but I'm going to keep sharing my build updates.

That's okay, I think Im the only 1jz owner on this forum and its not stopping me. 

Im digging the updates and the vlogs. Im subscribed! 

Now I just have to persuade myself away from the persuasion of you and that a N54 persuading me to add an N54 powered BMW to my collection of pointless bmws. 

(say that 10X fast)

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

That's okay, I think Im the only 1jz owner on this forum and its not stopping me. 

Im digging the updates and the vlogs. Im subscribed! 

Now I just have to persuade myself away from the persuasion of you and that a N54 persuading me to add an N54 powered BMW to my collection of pointless bmws. 

(say that 10X fast)

Thanks man! I think the N54 is one of the best platforms I've ever experienced. It definitely has it's downfalls, but man I love this car.