Getting 135i....Going to make it Badass - Help me!

[geared]

Hello Addicts,

I just sold my 08 z06, see below.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/74397751@N05/6704007467/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74397751@N05/6705926319/

I am ordering a 6MT - jet black ( was on the fence between jet vs sapphire - any reason to change?) on black 135i. I truly wish I could still order a 1 series M, but no dice. I didn't like the m3, and its platform isn't as much fun. Couldn't find a used gtr that was in good condition with low miles for under 70k. I trust I will be happy with my 135i.

Active Steering - yes or no?
Performance Suspension - opted for no, because I will be installing lowering springs or coils

As you can see by the z, I enjoy modding my vehicles.

I want to take this 135i to a new level.

Where should I start. I want parts to be in bound before I get the car.

• Lower Ride Height - what is needed? will I rub?
• wheels - like ccw classics, bbs lm's, some strasse I am looking at...are spacers needed? i want them to slightly pop.
• quad exhaust - love it - what do I need other than a diffuser (want carbon) and whats the best source for quads? are their downsides to running this setup power wise?
• front lip - I love jzhangs, but I guess that was custom??? I dont really know for sure - but it seems like its a 3d design / LTBMW collab?
• Tune - Want POWER that is streetable, but safe - whats my best bet here
• Kidneys - Best place to get semi gloss/gloss black ones?
• love the sound of BOV's - is there a BOV i can purchase that awakens the sound of the turbo?
• front mount intercooler - how difficult are these to install
• short shifter - brand? I like the OEM BMW performance manual shifter
• side skirts? choices?
• angel eyes - Can you order the car with them? what are the nicer ones? best place to get?
• what other performance mods will support the tune/quad exhaust/ FMIC/BOV and bring about nice power?
• Spoiler/Trunk - love the rounded trunk look - source? brand?
• 1M side view mirrors - how difficult are these to source/install? like jzhang had....

Thanks gents. I look forward to making this little thing haul some major ass, and look good doing it. Given this is my first European car, I will need help

jb

[Everfly]

;( i love the Z.

[geared]

hmm...lots of views - no help? is there somewhere else I should post this?

thanks everfly...i miss it.

[MM3]

Hi Geared!

Wish i could help you but I'm just a new 135 owner as well.

That is one of the nicest if not, the nicest z06 i've seen. can i ask why you got rid of it? don't get me wrong, i love my new 135 and my m3, but that z is just sick!

[geared]

thanks - it won sooo many awards lol.

sometimes i wonder why i let her go....but it was just time.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by geared

hmm...lots of views - no help? is there somewhere else I should post this?

thanks everfly...i miss it.

There are sections for engine mods, suspension mods, tires, etc...

This is more of a "general" section for general talk.
Your questions are more specific to performance modification, I suggest you get to the specialized sections where you'll find all you need.

Of course you'll also want to do searches for specific mods and start reading what has and has not worked.

I love my 135i indeed.
I do wonder though why you were looking at M6 and M3 and GTR and then went with the 135i?
This car is NOT in those leagues.
Granted, lots of money on mods can make this a hell of ride, but you won't get it to GTR or Z06 levels without lots of coin.
You would have been better off to start with a used 1M, as it has the N54 twin turbo, and wide body to accommodate much larger tires.

Still, it'll be interesting to see how far you can take an N54.
Did you get the DCT or manual? The DCT is one thing the 1M didn't have as an option.

[geared]

no m6 - i was referring to the manual 6 speed. sorry for the confusion.

i cant find a used 1m for a reasonable price or a nice condition used GTR. Im not paying 15 over sticker for a 1m. So I figure 45k on the 135i, and it will be brand new, will give me 20k to play with on mods - that should get me a pretty quick, well put together 135

I got a manual.

[NewYearsBoy]

Personally I would have stuck with the Z.. Thats a Nice ride.

[Eyeman]

I did the same thing as you, I bought a new 135 as a modding platform. I didn't worry that my dealer would write my car up (it did happen). I bought my 2008 off the lot late in the year to get a better deal. There were 4 or 5 other similar cars in my area so I got the dealers competing to get my deal.

For me the main decisions were overall theme (black on black, black and CF, etc) and whether to go with meth or not. Tunes were not as developed back then. I spent around $14k and haven't added any new mods in a couple of years. When and if I do get back to modding I'd love M mirrors but I'll probably get a CF M hood first.

If you plan to use meth then I'd use a piggyback tune (both Procede and JB are great and either is an excellent choice). Also if you like to mess around with your tune with your laptop, etc then get piggyback (probably Procede in that case). Otherwise then I'd get a Cobb or GIAC flash unless you want to drive up here to Atlanta and get a custom flash. All tunes integrate fine with whatever supporting mods you like such as BOV's, duals, FMICs, etc.

I love the look of dual exhausts and originally wanted to go that way also but I got swayed over to the opinion that dual exhaust on a car with exhaust only coming out of one side of the engine is kinda goofy. I'm also into weight reduction and duals are just needless weight and will not be truly functional due to space/routing issues in our cars.

JZhang's lip is the 3D lip. I like it better than mine but 3D's are expensive and low, not a good combo here in Atlanta. Probably will work better in flat terrain like FL.

I like my 135 better than a Vette that I had in the nineties, but I still like my Porsche best of all. But of course a Porsche is not really in the same price range as a 135.

Research will be fairly easy, for example my signature lists my mods in the order that I added them.

Have fun!

[brusk]

Here's my thoughts. It's really hard to imagine somebody that was happy in a Z06 going to a 135i. Not to say the BMW isn't a nice car it's got a better feel, nicer ride and refinement level that a future vette may eventually get to. But performance that's a hard sell as the fastest 135i's in the world are barely faster than a stock Z06 all the suspension bolt ons for the street may come close to matching the handling. The cost of adding all this to a BMW is not cheap, drive train your looking at maybe 12K with FBO, bigger turbo and LSD and tuning if your not doing the work yourself, then another several thousand in suspension and wheels. In the end you'll have a car that will get less looks, performance close to the same with more problems ,ride just as bad as what you had and be 20K upside down in a car that unless you really love won't be worth it.

[NYC6]

C6 Z06 to a 135i?
Gotta be a lot more to this story.

[Vigilante375]

Lots of people on here would say its an "upgrade" because a BMW interior is superior to every other vehicle out there. I consider it a downgrade in all aspects but at least you'll gain 2 back seats and a big, usable trunk.

[Impervious]

Originally Posted by NYC6

C6 Z06 to a 135i?
Gotta be a lot more to this story.

+1

I would have traded you.

[roo97ss]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

Lots of people on here would say its an "upgrade" because a BMW interior is superior to every other vehicle out there. I consider it a downgrade in all aspects but at least you'll gain 2 back seats and a big, usable trunk.

Well compared to the vette the BMW interior is better. But its far from best out there.

Also I find more room in the hatch of the vette over my 1.

Back on topic. The 1 can be a nice car modded. But compared to the z06 not sure you could even get it into the same badass ballpark.

If you likes the wild side of the vette that raw unrefined aspect you will surely find it absent in the BMW.

Some good ideas on here already for you. Coilovers tune downpipes exhaust quad if you want and wheels is a good start. If you're looking for performance also add the m3 suspension parts and start looking lsd. Out back.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by geared

Hello Addicts,

I want to take this 135i to a new level.

Where should I start. I want parts to be in bound before I get the car.
My $0.02 since all others are focused on your Z06

• Lower Ride Height - what is needed? will I rub? if you dont rub a little its not low enough Talk to Harold at HP Autowerks...coilovers and M3 bits
• wheels - like ccw classics, bbs lm's, some strasse I am looking at...are spacers needed? i want them to slightly pop.
• quad exhaust - love it - what do I need other than a diffuser (want carbon) and whats the best source for quads? are their downsides to running this setup power wise? Quad exhaust...HP autowerks and/or Ind in Chicago.
• front lip - I love jzhangs, but I guess that was custom??? I dont really know for sure - but it seems like its a 3d design / LTBMW collab? 3D Design Contact IND Chicago
• Tune - Want POWER that is streetable, but safe - whats my best bet hereCobb should have a tune for the N55 soon. ? Proceed, JB4, etc.
• Kidneys - Best place to get semi gloss/gloss black ones?
• love the sound of BOV's - is there a BOV i can purchase that awakens the sound of the turbo?contact ER racewerks
• front mount intercooler - how difficult are these to installNot at all
• short shifter - brand? I like the OEM BMW performance manual shifter+1
• side skirts? choices?
• angel eyes - Can you order the car with them? what are the nicer ones? best place to get?Lux Angel eyes/ Aftermarket
• what other performance mods will support the tune/quad exhaust/ FMIC/BOV and bring about nice power? LSD for the track-contact HP autowerks. Ditch the run flats. upgrade charge pipe, well you may have to anyway with a BOV, and maybe aftermarket in-take. I like Injen DCI.
• Spoiler/Trunk - love the rounded trunk look - source? brand?3D Design or BMW
• 1M side view mirrors - how difficult are these to source/install? like jzhang had....

Thanks gents. I look forward to making this little thing haul some major ass, and look good doing it. Given this is my first European car, I will need help

jb

Happy modding

[strick10]

That is one sick Z06, It must have sucked to get rid of it.

[BroDoze]

Nice Z0!

[bmw1racer]

Instead of all that modding, why not just try to hunt down a 1M?

Or for that matter an M3?

Or is it the thrill of modding that is the real adrenaline rush?

[Grayson]

The guy made his decision, why are people questioning him? He obviously had his reasons and we should be helping with his questions, not criticizing or speculating that he made the wrong choice.

If he's happy, that's all that matter.

[geared]

well I do appreciate the insight guys. I was hoping for a more positive environment....

I sold the Z, cause it was time - 39,000 miles on that Gem - it was literally nearly mint. I keep my cars meticulous.

This thread has me second guessing my choice to go with a 135i, but in all honesty what are my options?

m3 - platform doesnt do it for me. they look nice, but I didnt like the powerband, and the platform is expensive to mod - and tough to make fast.

can anyone confirm that the n55 cannot accommodate a BOV? are there tunes out for the n55? I hope so.

[geared]

C6 Z06 to a 135i?
Gotta be a lot more to this story.

nope, no story. see above. not many options out there.....

[geared]

im confused also on the tune...

i come from a place where if you want it to run right - you need a dyno tune.

canned tunes are junk - every car/environment is different - are the juice box/procede etc all canned tunes? If so, how do you get them altered as you add mods?