Suspenceful's New Daily Driver - Build Thread!?

[suspenceful]

Well, I'm going to keep updating this thread... with my new car (and whatever revolving dailies I continue to buy).

So far I've done quite a few things to this thing actually.

• New (used) passenger headlight because the old one was fogged up on the inside and the adaptive function wouldn't work, throwing an error code.
• New serpentine belt, tensioner, and power steering pulley. Luckily, I was able to steal parts from my 135i and the used motor I recently bought. These early model E9X cars had issues with the power steering pulley smacking the subframe, obviously breaking the plastic pulley and chewing up the belt. This happened to me. The proper fix is to get new motor mounts and a revised subframe, but I'm not biting that bullet yet. So far, so good... knock on wood.
• Gave it a proper oil change and found a BMW oil filter in there... so that's good news. A lot of people start to get cheap with these cars and they don't like FRAM filters.
• Installed LED lights inside and out... angel eyes, fog lights and rear license plate lights included.
• Removed the nasty sticker on the trunk.
• Ordered and installed Solowerks coilovers. Upon removal of my OEM 130k suspension, it was noticeably all blown and leaking. Glad I swapped this stuff in, it seems of great quality. It's not stainless, but I coated the threads with some anti-corrosive stuff.
• Ordered some Alzor wheels from ECSTuning for a ridiculously low price. The stock wheels being in horrible shape was a good enough excuse for me. I bought some Nangkang tires for them after having a good experience with them on my previous E90.

Before dropping it:

After dropping it:

Stay tuned for pictures after I get the Alzor wheels mounted. Probably gonna drop the front another 3/4" as well.

[Jdesign]

This I like. Did you and @GunMetalGrey do a group buy and get the same wheels and suspension?

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

This I like. Did you and @GunMetalGrey do a group buy and get the same wheels and suspension? 

Lol, he tipped me off to them. The Alzors were too cheap to pass up. I had planned on lowering this car because it needed suspension, but these Solowerks were also fairly priced for the good reviews. I was going to go with some FKs or STs, but wanted to give these a shot at $575 shipped.

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

Lol, he tipped me off them both. The Alzors were too cheap to pass up. I had planned on lowering this car because it needed suspension, but these Solowerks were also fairly priced for the good reviews. I was going to go with some FKs or STs, but wanted to give these a shot at $575 shipped.

Thats a great price! I see what you mean.

[GunMetalGrey]

Jdesign said:

This I like. Did you and @GunMetalGrey do a group buy and get the same wheels and suspension? 

It was one of those household group buys, where no one saves money but we both end up with the same thing. The driveway will be looking better for sure!

[Jdesign]

GunMetalGrey said:

It was one of those household group buys, where no one saves money but we both end up with the same thing. The driveway will be looking better for sure!

And very similar? LOL

I just looked them up. Solo-werks S1's are $500 plus shipping from ECS. Not a bad deal at all.

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

And very similar? LOL

I just looked them up. Solo-werks S1's are $500 plus shipping from ECS. Not a bad deal at all. 

They're actually $599 from ECS: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-solo_werks-parts/solo-werks-s1-coilovers/s1bw005~sow/

[patsbimmer1]

Was it the buy 3 get 1 free from ECS?  My brother in law bought some 18's on my account for $380 shipped!  For the pricing they had it was totally worth it!

[suspenceful]

patsbimmer1 said:

Was it the buy 3 get 1 free from ECS?  My brother in law bought some 18's on my account for $380 shipped!  For the pricing they had it was totally worth it!

Something like that. For the 19s it was $440 shipped I think. I forgot that you had the in at ECS, I should've asked you first!

[GunMetalGrey]

Jdesign said:

And very similar? LOL

The black BRZ sits in the driveway to break things up a touch

At least Jake and I have different color cars now lol.

[suspenceful]

GunMetalGrey said:

At least Jake and I have different color cars now lol.

That's true - it would've been real weird if I had kept the silver car 

[Iceddragon]

Let us know what you think long term, I kind of want to try coilovers next spring

[suspenceful]

Iceddragon said:

Let us know what you think long term, I kind of want to try coilovers next spring

Will do, so far so good. They're a little more stiff than stock, but the car feels much better around corners. I'm happy with them.

New wheels went on last night.

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

Will do, so far so good. They're a little more stiff than stock, but the car feels much better around corners. I'm happy with them.

New wheels went on last night.

Lost a center cap already?

Wheels make or break a car. Looks damn good for daily duty.

[KaiserRolls]

suspenceful said:

Iceddragon said:

Let us know what you think long term, I kind of want to try coilovers next spring

Will do, so far so good. They're a little more stiff than stock, but the car feels much better around corners. I'm happy with them.

New wheels went on last night.

What alignment specs did you go with after lowering?

[suspenceful]

Jdesign said:

Lost a center cap already?

Wheels make or break a car. Looks damn good for daily duty.

Nope, just broke one trying to put it in the wrong wheel.

Apparently the rear wheels have a slightly larger cap than the fronts, and I tried putting a big cap in a small hole. Never works out.

[suspenceful]

KaiserRolls said:

What alignment specs did you go with after lowering?

I have a printout at home and don't recall the exact specifics. But everything is evened out and in the green, except for camber. The front is at ~1.6* and the rear is at ~2.2* (if my memory serves me correctly).

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

Nope, just broke one trying to put it in the wrong wheel.

Apparently the rear wheels have a slightly larger cap than the fronts, and I tried putting a big cap in a small hole. Never works out.

[GunMetalGrey]

suspenceful said:

Nope, just broke one trying to put it in the wrong hole.

Apparently the rear wheels have a slightly larger cap than the fronts, and I tried putting a big cap in a small hole. Never works out.

You heard it here first folks. Life lessons with Mr. Spence

[suspenceful]

Snapped this last night: