[NSW] n00b - E87 130i - First Bimmer

[walkie86]

Quick wash last night and she looked good on the way to work this morning:

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[Free_Willy]

How do the splitters attach to the underside of the bumper?

[walkie86]

Originally Posted by Free_Willy

How do the splitters attach to the underside of the bumper?

Using the existing bolts that hold the plastic undertray to the bumper. Plus an additional screw into the existing front mudflap. Will get pics to explain.

[walkie86]

Random pics from our December drive day:

IMG_0569 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_0649 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[walkie86]

Finally got around to adding some wiring and powering the LED bars of my LCI lights properly yesterday. Massive thanks to Wes (hks200) who did all the work!

We followed the thread on here and the German thread mentioned on there too, so it was all pretty straight forward. Certainly helps to have the right equipment, as Wes did from his days mucking around with car audio installs.

So, parts I bought for the install:
- secondhand tail light socket housing with 20cm wires and OEM spade connectors (something like this)
- 3m of 0.9mm diameter wire from Jaycar (have a fair bit left over - probably only need 1.5m. The other thread suggested 0.7mm but they didn't have any so I went larger).
- blue wire taps from Jaycar

Process:

- Follow the German thread (do a google translate), as it covers everything

- Remove all the necessary trim

- Measure wire from passenger side, strip ends of OEM wire from housing and new wire, solder together and tape.

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

- Fit new wire into socket housing. In this photo, the black wire is the new one (4th hole)

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

- Route new wire behind trim and along base/edge of boot floor. Cut wire to required length.

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

- The loose red wire below is the new one. You can see the blue wire tap to the number plate wire (there are 2x grey with brown stripe). Don't worry, we taped the new wire down so it's all neat and tidy.

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

- With the wire tap, we had to strip a little plastic off the number plate wire and the end of the new tail light wire to get good contact

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

- Repeat same procedure for driver's side, except this new wire only needs to be about 20cm long. We decided to use the second number plate light for the second tail light, to spread the load but I have read of others just using the one wire tap for both.

- Result

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Now, just need some coding done to turn off 'parkers' and leave LED bars on.

[hks200]

looks schmick! seeing your car yesterday makes me seriously miss mine

[woosh]

Originally Posted by hks200

looks schmick! seeing your car yesterday makes me seriously miss mine

+1
I'm kinda glad I haven't caught up with walkie to check out the latest mods.. keeps my mind off of 130i's.

[walkie86]

Had a fun day out at SMP Amaroo (south circuit) y'day at a private track day. 130i went surprisingly well and kept some fast cars honest, even the worn R-S3s were great once warm! Bit hairy in the wet but I went slow and learnt some car control

130i Track by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[vMPM]

Originally Posted by walkie86

Had a fun day out at SMP Amaroo (south circuit) y'day at a private track day. 130i went surprisingly well and kept some fast cars honest, even the worn R-S3s were great once warm! Bit hairy in the wet but I went slow and learnt some car control

130i Track by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Love it

[walkie86]

New shoes y'day - Bridgestone has their 4 for 3 deal going currently.

RE003 - 225/40/18 + 255/35/18. Have only driven 2km on them so can't report back yet.

IMG_0984 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_0983 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_0986 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_0989 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[walkie86]

Found a pic from a mate from the track day the other week:

IMG_7874_copy by n.gavrilovic, on Flickr

I knew he was shooting so had to pop the 'roof 8)

[walkie86]

Few small updates.

BMS spacers - 10mm F / 12mm R (bought used, 12-months old)
BMS E-chassis extended bolts (bought new)
BMS 'Short throw clutch stop" (bought new)

IMG_1602 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_1594 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Front before

IMG_1600 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Front after

IMG_1607 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Rear before

IMG_1596 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Rear after

IMG_1603 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Rear before

IMG_1597 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Rear after

IMG_1604 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_1608 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

BMS Short throw clutch stop. I had to remove one spacer to get enable the car to start with clutch engaged.

IMG_1610 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

IMG_1612 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Overall, the BMS spacers seem very high quality and the looks are improved greatly. It still looks "factory" but just better. The clutch stop removes a little bit of travel but I guess it won't really make a difference until fast shifting on a mountain run.

[woosh]

Coming along really nicely!

[walkie86]

25.04.17

Suspension upgrades have gone in. Big thanks to Julian @ Renotech, Hornsby for fitting me in and, as always, charging very reasonable prices.

- E9x M3 front upper and low arms
- E9x M3 front sway bar
- Nolathane rear bushes

I've only driven her home and am awaiting time to get a wheel alignment before driving much more so can't comment too much. Rear definitely feels firmer and there's slightly more NVH from the bushes but not major. Will report back after first drive following alignment.

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[Orangee94]

looking good!! how are the Re003's?

[walkie86]

Originally Posted by Orangee94

looking good!! how are the Re003's?

Thanks mate. The tyres are great so far. Only tested them out properly once so far, on Galston Gorge and was pretty impressed with their grip.

[walkie86]

Collected my Dad's Clio V6 from service when I dropped off my 130i at Renotech the other week. The only 2 RWD n/a 6-cylinder hot hatches I can think of!

IMG_1926 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[Orangee94]

omgahh!! thats so awesome!! i remember watching this vid

[woosh]

Clio V6 > 130i

There, I said it.

[walkie86]

Originally Posted by woosh

Clio V6 > 130i

There, I said it.

Haha one ride and you're hooked.

IMG_1982 copy by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[walkie86]

Wheel alignment specs - I didn't make any special requests. Car feels good but next time I might do more research and ask for more camber given I now have the M3 control arms in there. You can see they're still way outside the manufacturers guidelines which is good:

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

[walkie86]

Some random photos from the last few weeks.

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr

Untitled by autofocus .net.au, on Flickr