My first BMW: 135i DINAN Stage 3

[firstorbit]

Hi all, just wanted to introduce myself and my 135i. It's my first BMW (except for a '94 530i v8 that I was going to get running a number of years ago but never really did).

So, I was browsing for cars when I saw a listing for a BMW 135i at the local BMW dealer. It was a clean '08 with 70k miles. But a couple things caught my eye right away: BBS wheels, red brakes, and a Dinan logo on the intercooler, dinan intake and strut bar. Hmmm...Could it really be selling for fair market price with several thousand in upgrades?? On the way home from work I called ahead and then stopped by to check it out.

In person, I could tell it was at least the full Dinan stage 3, plus wheels, and Brembo brakes. Did the dealer really have no clue? Who would trade in such a car?? The test drive proved the car was far from stock and the saleswoman even got a call during the test drive from others asking about the car. When we got back we were practically assaulted by other salesmen saying they had several people interested. One even had an approved credit app, but the guy had left without leaving a deposit. I inquire more on the history, and it turns out that it was a local, 1-owner, fully dealer serviced car, with over $30k in dealer-installed upgrades!! Receipts for everything!

They said if I don't put a deposit now, then they had at least 3 others wanting to put a deposit. I was a bit skeptical of their other bidders, but the receipts sold me,
So... I went ahead and jumped on it... and here she is, my first BMW:



She's a full stage 3 dinan with 19" BBS wheels, dinan suspension, dinan lsd, and brembo brakes. I got an incredible deal on it and I'm super stoked.

It's a bit low for my taste and it's rubbing a bit in inclines or at full lock or over bumps, so I'm probably going to raise it first with some H&R/OEM sport springs.

Also, it seems like the comfort unlock at the handles aren't working and neither is the 4 click lane change signal.

Then i might go with some 18" wheels with all seasons so i can drive it more year round in CO. My daily is a jetta, and my other fun car is a 996.

[Esteban]

Welcome! Nice find! Sounds like you were just in time.

[P1]

Love the wheels. When I still had my 135i, I had a chance to pick up a mint set for an absolute song, but knew I'd sell the car sooner or later. The four click lane change used to work on my 135i, but it went in for reprogramming of the DCT once, and it reverted to just a single click. Never got it looked at after that.

Congrats on the new acquisition. Pics of your other vehicles?

[BAN_M2C]

Looks great! Congrats!

I spotted one last week at the BMW Performance Center in SC with a Dinan logo on the Intercooler.

[Chunner]

Welcome to D club!

[PhillyfaanM3]

Congratulations, looks like a great car. Keep up with the preventative maintenance and It should provide you many miles of enjoyable driving.

[35Past1]

Congrats on the car, looks super clean !

[firstorbit]

Originally Posted by P1et

Love the wheels. When I still had my 135i, I had a chance to pick up a mint set for an absolute song, but knew I'd sell the car sooner or later. The four click lane change used to work on my 135i, but it went in for reprogramming of the DCT once, and it reverted to just a single click. Never got it looked at after that.

Congrats on the new acquisition. Pics of your other vehicles?

Thanks! Yeah the wheels are quite special. I'm scared to bend or crack one with the low profile tires on them. While i love the look of 19s, I kinda wish they were 18s.

Here's my 996:

[swagon]

Originally Posted by firstorbit

It's a bit low for my taste and it's rubbing a bit in inclines or at full lock or over bumps, so I'm probably going to raise it first with some H&R/OEM sport springs.

H&R springs would even lower it more. Probs just try dialing more camber and some alignment changes. Doesn't it have Dinan camber plates already?

Also, it seems like the comfort unlock at the handles aren't working and neither is the 4 click lane change signal.

It's supposed to be a triple turn signal option and should be possible to turn it on/off in iDrive and/or BC, at least it is the newer models.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the car.

[firstorbit]

Originally Posted by swagon

H&R springs would even lower it more. Probs just try dialing more camber and some alignment changes. Doesn't it have Dinan camber plates already?

Aren't H&R OE sport springs the same ride height as the OE sport springs?

I'm not 100% Sure, but i think camber plates were one of the few DINAN upgrades the PO skipped.

[rominun]

pretty sure you can change the 4 click lane change using the left stalk on the dash menu.

[chris_flies]

Geez, luis! That’s a beauty, and an absolute steal! I wish you tens or hundreds of thousands of miles of fun and turbo noises to you! N/A FTW, BTW!

[swagon]

Originally Posted by firstorbit

Aren't H&R OE sport springs the same ride height as the OE sport springs?

I'm not 100% Sure, but i think camber plates were one of the few DINAN upgrades the PO skipped.

No such thang as "H&R OE" springs. They advertise a 30/10mm drop.

[chris_flies]

Eibach sells an OE Sport Spring set through tire rack, that's what I'm running right now. I love them, they're predictable, offer a moderate drop of about 1.2 inches all the way 'round. They don't rub or anything with my wheel/tire setup; 225/45R17 on 17x7.5 Et47 rims. The rears did rub when I put a 10mm spacer on them, suffice it to say, I took them off. Rubbing is annoying...

[swagon]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

Eibach sells an OE Sport Spring set through tire rack, that's what I'm running right now. I love them, they're predictable, offer a moderate drop of about 1.2 inches all the way 'round. They don't rub or anything with my wheel/tire setup; 225/45R17 on 17x7.5 Et47 rims. The rears did rub when I put a 10mm spacer on them, suffice it to say, I took them off. Rubbing is annoying...

What's OE Sport? That's just the Eibach Pro-Kit spring kit, ain't it? If my memory serves, both Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers are the same for all Coupés so 135i being the heaviest, the drop will be a bit bigger too.

[firstorbit]

Originally Posted by swagon

No such thang as "H&R OE" springs. They advertise a 30/10mm drop.

What's this then?
https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...8&autoModClar=

I thought the drop listed on those was compared to stock non-sport springs.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by firstorbit

What's this then?
https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...8&autoModClar=

I thought the drop listed on those was compared to stock non-sport springs.

Interesting. I stand corrected.

I had a look at the US H&R website and there are indeed an OE Sport, Sport, and Super Sport springs. German website shows only two types of springs, Sport and Super Sport.

Advertised drop for OE sports is 25/20, Sports 45-50/25, Super Sports 60/40 mm for Stock suspension. M Sport is 15 mm lower on Exx BMWs.

Not sure why OE sports are not on the German website.

[Matticus91]

Beautiful car! What a steal!! Very jealous of that find I think you got the deal of the year on this 1er haha.

If you're comfortable with it, I'd be really interested to see the dealer build sheet to see what was done to it. There aren't too many cases of these cars being so fully modded by a shop with Dinan components. Most guys do a few Dinan bits and then go aftermarket or skip Dinan all together.

Originally Posted by firstorbit

What's this then?
https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...8&autoModClar=

I thought the drop listed on those was compared to stock non-sport springs.

You will definitely still rub with that setup.

[firstorbit]

I wonder if H&R is the OE spring supplier, and in Germany they just prefer or require you to get the OE sport springs through BMW.