GTI no more - 135 this autox season

[135gofast]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the 1addicts forum, but I'm sure some of us met last year at the BMWCCA events at Devens.

Last season was my first autox season in 15 years, but the BMW club is so much better organized than the ones i attended years ago at "The Rock" in Salem, NH, that i'm now seriously hooked. During the "off-season", I searched high and low for an appropriate RWD car for autox'ing, either to co-exist or replace my VW GTI (remember me? the only V-dub GTI there - FWD with DSG is too easy to drive over the limit, i want more challenge!) I ended up with a 135!

It's black on black, 6spd manual with many toys (sport, premium, nav, ipod, CA and bmw assist). I'm really happy about getting an N54, i'll let some other people figure out if the N55 is a better, more tunable engine.

The only other thing i'm going to do before season, is to get some autox dedicated wheels and Direzza Z1 tires.

What do you think about 17 x 8.5 rims square? I'm deciding between the D-Force LTW5s or the new Enkei PF01s. The D-Force are lighter and Turner Motorsport carries them. The Enkei's look nice and remind me of the GTI's rims.

For tires, I'm planning on putting the GTI's last season Direzza on the new rims (225/45/17) until they are worn, then putting 235/45/17s all around. Do you bigger tires would be better? Thoughts?

Anyway, looking forward to this season - only a few more weeks!

[135gofast]

one other thought, what do you think of AluFelgen's CSL replicas for the 1er? Would they hold up to autox/track abuse?

[larryn]

Originally Posted by 135gofast

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the 1addicts forum, but I'm sure some of us met last year at the BMWCCA events at Devens.

Last season was my first autox season in 15 years, but the BMW club is so much better organized than the ones i attended years ago at "The Rock" in Salem, NH, that i'm now seriously hooked.

Thank you!!! We work really hard to pull off safe, organized, fun, and educational events!!

See you in a few months!

Congrats on the new car too, and welcome to 1addicts. There are about 8 or 10 of us 1ers who will be regulars now.

[Rachel]

Congratulations Tim Welcome to the 1Addicts. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can help with your tire questions. Seeing as how I rock 19" rims, lol

edit: You didn't opt for the plaid interior in the 1er??

[larryn]

Originally Posted by Rachel

Congratulations Tim Welcome to the 1Addicts. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can help with your tire questions. Seeing as how I rock 19" rims, lol

edit: You didn't opt for the plaid interior in the 1er??

Damn, Rach.. you're good. I am very impressed remembering all these people. I just checked our results and saw that Tim ran with us a couple times last season. I can remember instructing in a GTI a few times last season... by any chance was that you, Tim? (maybe a gray or silver car?)

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by Rachel

Congratulations Tim Welcome to the 1Addicts. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can help with your tire questions. Seeing as how I rock 19" rims, lol

edit: You didn't opt for the plaid interior in the 1er??

Lol, no! And not in the gti either. Although they say it's popular in germany, maybe the revised 1 will have a gti plaid option.

Your rocking 19s r awesome!

Someone will chime in about a square setup, if not I'll post to
the full forum.

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by larryn

Damn, Rach.. you're good. I am very impressed remembering all these people. I just checked our results and saw that Tim ran with us a couple times last season. I can remember instructing in a GTI a few times last season... by any chance was that you, Tim? (maybe a gray or silver car?)

That was me! I remember u Larry and Rachel too. Also mike and rob and a few others.

btw, Thanks for the pointers. I suspect there'll be more this year. I feel that improved greatly last season, I started in July and missed all the schools, this year, hopefully I get into evo school with the club and lots more events.

Larry do u run dforce ltw5s?

[larryn]

Originally Posted by 135gofast

That was me! I remember u Larry and Rachel too. Also mike and rob and a few others.

btw, Thanks for the pointers. I suspect there'll be more this year. I feel that improved greatly last season, I started in July and missed all the schools, this year, hopefully I get into evo school with the club and lots more events.

Larry do u run dforce ltw5s?

I just sold those, but I ran those for two seasons on the 135i. I bought the APEX ARC-8's, as did Andy (arrutled), and they should be here by Friday. Pretty psyched about that. The Ltw5's are a great wheel, but a ET41 offset in back is a waste of lots of tire space.

I saw you ask about the alufelgen earlier. I'm sure they're a decent wheel, but the higher offset on the APEX and the fact that they are spun forged versus a less strong cast aluminum.

I love the CSL look of the alufelgen though. So, depends on what you want them for. I feel the only plus the alufelgen wheels have are in the looks department, but I like the looks of the ARC-8s just a little less. The offsets on the wheels I'm getting will allow for a lot more rubber. If that doesn't matter to you, it makes your decision easier.

Square setups will limit tire size. If you massage the front fenders, you can fit 245's all around, with the right offset. Take a look in the tire forum, and there's a thread called "what's been done".

[Bdh821]

Welcome! I'm pretty sure I remember you from autox... anyway, I'm running 235f/255r of Dunlop Direzza star specs. They work very well IMO

[and 1]

hey man, glad you're joining the club! the 1ers are really gaining a presence at AX. can't wait to get back out there

idk much about wheels or squared setups, but i can tell you that star specs are awesome - i have them in 225/255.

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by and 1

hey man, glad you're joining the club! the 1ers are really gaining a presence at AX. can't wait to get back out there

idk much about wheels or squared setups, but i can tell you that star specs are awesome - i have them in 225/255.

Hey congrats on winning rookie of the year! Nice honor and nicer driving!

I loved the star specs last year on my gti, huge upgrade over the OEM summer conti's and they look squarer and cooler too.

In the bmw autox, if i'm running Dinan Stage 2 and non-stock sized wheels (with street tires) will i end up in BS with you and the bulk of the other 1ers? I wanna be in a class with more cars than last year. Last year i think i ended up in a class with a bunch of cars that didn't even make sense to me. I also don't want to end up in the class running against 911 gt-3s!

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by Bdh821

Welcome! I'm pretty sure I remember you from autox... anyway, I'm running 235f/255r of Dunlop Direzza star specs. They work very well IMO

Thanks! I am taking some heat from some of the other FWDers that i'm leaving, but i'm glad to be coming into a group with lots of good drivers and local presence. btw, i cannot even describe how much the 135 blew me away when i drove it, maybe it was the 6spd manual, maybe the Dinan stage 2, maybe that it was quiter and faster at ALL rpms than my gti, or that it felt tighter on stock suspension.

Wow, you fit 235s on the oem front 7.5" width rims? i gotta go do more research then before getting new rims. at least i have time!

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by larryn

...the higher offset on the APEX and the fact that they are spun forged versus a less strong cast aluminum.

I love the CSL look of the alufelgen though. So, depends on what you want them for. I feel the only plus the alufelgen wheels have are in the looks department, but I like the looks of the ARC-8s just a little less. The offsets on the wheels I'm getting will allow for a lot more rubber. If that doesn't matter to you, it makes your decision easier.

Square setups will limit tire size. If you massage the front fenders, you can fit 245's all around, with the right offset. Take a look in the tire forum, and there's a thread called "what's been done".

Are you going for 18x8.5 square (or 18x9 square) with the ARC-8s?

I had not seen those ARC-8s before. You're right, they are about as nice looking as the alufelgens and easier to pronounce. In my decision, I was mostly thinking about weight and strength. My thought on tire sizing was to go square, probably because as a relative noob, i'll be exercising the fronts really really hard. That could be the FWDer in me talking though

I would not be massaging any fenders on my own, but if required to get a great setup, i'd have someone do it.

[and 1]

Originally Posted by 135gofast

Hey congrats on winning rookie of the year! Nice honor and nicer driving!

I loved the star specs last year on my gti, huge upgrade over the OEM summer conti's and they look squarer and cooler too.

In the bmw autox, if i'm running Dinan Stage 2 and non-stock sized wheels (with street tires) will i end up in BS with you and the bulk of the other 1ers? I wanna be in a class with more cars than last year. Last year i think i ended up in a class with a bunch of cars that didn't even make sense to me. I also don't want to end up in the class running against 911 gt-3s!

hey thanks man! 09 was a hell of a season between the 90 degree day in april and all the wet events towards the end of the season

yeah the classes for non-bmws are kinda screwey. they're based on some scca formula thinger which i don't understand at all. if you're chipped, you'll be in class B[ack of the bus] with most of the cool kids.....except for aruttled who's still ing himself in C

[larryn]

Originally Posted by 135gofast

Are you going for 18x8.5 square (or 18x9 square) with the ARC-8s?

I had not seen those ARC-8s before. You're right, they are about as nice looking as the alufelgens and easier to pronounce. In my decision, I was mostly thinking about weight and strength. My thought on tire sizing was to go square, probably because as a relative noob, i'll be exercising the fronts really really hard. That could be the FWDer in me talking though

I would not be massaging any fenders on my own, but if required to get a great setup, I'd have someone do it.

I'm going with the 18x8.5F and 18x9.5 rear, with 255 front and 275 rear tires.

I feel that our cars are pretty powerful to only have 245's in back, and the offsets needed to fit some of the largest available tires, mean that the wheels cannot have the same offset, unless you're using a big spacer in front, on a high offset wheel (like ET55 or greater).

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by larryn

I'm going with the 18x8.5F and 18x9.5 rear, with 255 front and 275 rear tires.

I feel that our cars are pretty powerful to only have 245's in back, and the offsets needed to fit some of the largest available tires, mean that the wheels cannot have the same offset, unless you're using a big spacer in front, on a high offset wheel (like ET55 or greater).

You're going to be even faster this year... as if you needed it.

I'd go with these 18s and bigger tires all around. That would definitely be grippier and look amazing. I read all paintpro21's posts and really wasn't clear to me what size front tires would fit without either negative camber or fender rolling. But, they look like a great choice. Hyper black should look nice on my black 135!

[arrutled]

He says that you can use 235's without needing to rolls fenders up front. I went the whole season on my run-flats. IMO they actually became pretty grippy when I installed a front M3 swaybar. Thay will give you a cheaper option. Speaking of cheaper options. The JB3 is a cheaper/better option than DINAN.

[arrutled]

Originally Posted by and 1

hey thanks man! 09 was a hell of a season between the 90 degree day in april and all the wet events towards the end of the season

yeah the classes for non-bmws are kinda screwey. they're based on some scca formula thinger which i don't understand at all. if you're chipped, you'll be in class B[ack of the bus] with most of the cool kids.....except for aruttled who's still ing himself in C

Ill be in class B this year kid! assuming these tires/wheels dont put me in class A lol.

[and 1]

Originally Posted by arrutled

Ill be in class B this year kid! assuming these tires/wheels dont put me in class A lol.

atta boy

[larryn]

Originally Posted by arrutled

Ill be in class B this year kid! assuming these tires/wheels dont put me in class A lol.

I'd think that if you are going with 255's up front, camber will kill your chances of being in B.... we have HEAVY penalty points for camber.

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by larryn

I'd think that if you are going with 255's up front, camber will kill your chances of being in B.... we have HEAVY penalty points for camber.

From what i can tell, if you are riding with those APEX ARC-8 wheels, you are looking at camber up front.

I really like them, i'd like to go with direzzas - 245/35/18s up front and 265/35s on the rear. but it's not clear those fronts would fit without at least some camber.

From what you two know about the ARC-8s how much neg camber would 245/35 require up front? Would that bump me out of B?

darn, i thought i had the whole wheel thing figured out!

btw, did your wheels get delivered yet?

[135gofast]

Originally Posted by arrutled

He says that you can use 235's without needing to rolls fenders up front. I went the whole season on my run-flats. IMO they actually became pretty grippy when I installed a front M3 swaybar. Thay will give you a cheaper option. Speaking of cheaper options. The JB3 is a cheaper/better option than DINAN.

Are you already negative camber?

I've all his posts over and over trying to figure out the easy no-neg-camber front tire size. It doesn't make sense to put 225s up front on a 8.5" rim. BUT, his post #287 says that 235/40/18 won't fit well at all. You guys already know that there are not too many choices of 235/35/18s... I also wonder whether 235/35s would be the right height match for bigger rears.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...&postcount=287