2012 135i Build Thread

[///Machiavelli]

[turbowolfe]

Love your setup!

[///Machiavelli]

Michelin + Rays Engineering + Racing Brake + Project Kics


(no vis. Motul RBF600 + Bimmerworld SS Lines)

[Black Sheep]

Nice ride!

[ShiftGear]

Very nice! What rear diffuser is that?

[ALEJANDRO]

More pics please!!!

[whoop_ass]

Awesome Nicely Done

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by alec_jan

Perfect, thanks for the information. Would it be out of the question to have them installed on site? I.e. does the car have to ship to the US with bone-stock US specs.

I would not risk it, I know BMW NA at the port removes the euro warning triangle & holder from the trunk lid IF you leave it on the car when shipped.

I would just hand carry the Blacklines or mail them to yourself if you buy them while over here in DE.

There is also www.schmiedmann.com (option) to order them.

[P1]

Nice work OP, some very nice additions to the car.

I suggest taking off the double front plates, looks extremely busy. Stick with the Canadian one...

[///Machiavelli]

[Black Sheep]

looks good

[drufe]

Car looks awesome. The Slek front lip - do you use any adhesive to attach in the middle where it curves or is it all just bolt-on?

[kdbryce]

damn that's a nice lookin ride

[///Machiavelli]

I've had a couple questions about the mods I have on the car so I thought I would post up a list in this thread for easier reference.

Wheels/Tires:
Summer:
Volk VR-G2 in Formula Silver 18x8/9
Michelin Pilot Super Sport 225/40, 255/35
Racing Brake 80mm Studs
Project Kics R40 Nuts in Black Chrome
Winter:
BMW 261M 18x7.5/8.5
Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 RFT 225/40/18
Macht Schnell Wheel Spacers 5mm, 8mm

Suspension:
JRZ RS1 Coilovers
Swift Springs 392/672
Swift Helper Springs
Ground Control Street Camber Plates
Ground Control Rear Spring Perches
Powerflex Rear Shock Mounts
Powerflex Front Tension Arm Bushings
Powergrid Adjustable Swaybar End Links
BMW M3 Front Control Arms
BMW M3 Rear Subframe Bushings
BMW M3 Rear Guide Rods
BMW M3 Rear Upper Links
BMW Group N Rear Camber Link Bushings
BMW Group N Rear Trailing Arm Bushings

Engine/Drivetrain Modifications:
BMW Performance Power Kit Stage 2

Cosmetic:
Exterior:
BMW Performance CF License Plate Frame (1 of 636)
BMW Performance x iND CF Spoiler
BMW Performance x iND CF Diffuser
BMW Performance x iND CF Mirror Caps
BMW Performance x iND Grille
BMW 1M Mirrors
BMW Black Line Tail Lamps
SlēK CF Front Lip
Llumar Pinnacle F1 30% Tint
US Millworks Plate Bracket
Debadged
Custom 1addicts.com Decal by flyingfortress
Interior:
BMW Performance Electronic Wheel V2
BMW Performance E-Brake and Boot
BMW Performance Illuminated Sill Plates
BMW Stainless Steel Pedals
BMW iPhone 4 Media Adapter w/ Touch 64gb
BMW E70 Smoker Package (to hold change for parking meters)
BMW Grocery Gripper
BMW Belt Holder
P3 Digital Gauge V2.1

[///Machiavelli]

Thank you for all the kind words everyone.

You mod a car for oneself to make it into a unique expression of what you're about as a car owner, but it's always nice to hear others appreciate your choices as well!

OK, back to the pics!!

Took the car in last thursday to RMP for corner balancing and technical inspection prior to my first HPDE of the season.

Perfect 50/50 cross weight distribution. Front to back was off 3%, but with only half a tank of fuel at the time that was acceptable.


And this is why you do a technical inspection prior to hitting the track!



Powergrid swaybar end link on driver side literally sheared in 2! Quoted from their site: "Their toughness is supported by laboratory and field durability testing to the stringent OEM requirements." See here.

Keep in mind, they only saw the street half a dozen times in a 3 week period before they gave out. I'm just glad it didn't happen at the track.

I've gone back to stock end links for the meantime and will be reaching out VAC Motorsports where I purchased the Powergrid endlinks. However, at this time I certainly cannot recommend this product to anyone else.

[Stan.mac]

Eeew... They look rather flimsy.

[ASPEC135i]

Do you perform all installations @ RMP?

[///Machiavelli]

RMP installed all my suspension components. Nothing but great experiences so far, Rocco is definitely my guy going forward.

Parkview BMW installed most of the OEM parts like PPK, steering wheel and sill plates.

I had such a terrible experience at Parkview BMW, they will never touch my car again. Get this, Parkview broke my horn during PPK install and surreptitiously glued it back together instead of replacing it. It didn't hold.

[phobic]

car looks amazing.

That sucks about the end link and horn.

love the suspension and diffuser.

[///Machiavelli]

Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly, and will always be Mosport) is said to be the fastest (avg. speed) track in North America.

Niki Lauda said it was one of the best tracks in the world. Jackie Stewart has ranked [turn 2] as one of the top 10 most challenging corners on any race track worldwide. It has a combinations of challenging corners and large elevation changes and provides a challenge for all level of driver. The length is 3.96 kms (2.46 miles).*




This is my 2nd ever HPDE event, the last being at Mosport as well.

All the suspension changes have made a noticeable difference. I can actually hit the apex on turn 5b now instead of plowing right past. In general the car is more settled and planted. I still get a light rear end braking for turn 8 from significant forward weight transfer. Perhaps even stiffer springs are required.

No signs of temp issues. Ambient temperature peaked at about 22C (72F) and low humidity. Coolant and oil never went above 108C/116C (approx. 225F/240F). Brake pedal felt firm throughout. Hot psi was generally in the 38lbs range, as desired for the PSS.

My best lap starts at around the 3:28 mark.

Please excuse the Gosling-style gloves

[MaDoNiOn]

awsome list of mods! Just love blackline LCI backlights and 1m Mirrors! Nice man!

[alec_jan]

By far my favorite build thread, killer. Thanks for sharing