What did you do to/for your 1er today?

[Gray_Panther]

Spent four hours detailing the interiors of my 128i and GTI and my parent's E88 128i.

They look, smell and feel right off the production line.

[TridenTBoy]

Drove it to Yosemite and Joshua Tree along with other places across California but I'm not that obsessed to take a photo of every place. :P

[HyeWarrior]

Originally Posted by Tarpon

Replaced the leaking oe radiator with an all aluminum CSF one. Also replaced the drive belt and tensioner since I had some extra room to work. Took it for a quick drive and all good.
Having a beer before cleanup.

Are you DCT or 6spd?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by TridenTBoy

Drove it to Yosemite and Joshua Tree along with other places across California but I'm not that obsessed to take a photo of every place. :P

Nice shots, and nice car as well!

These cars really look great as convertibles.

[Tarpon]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Are you DCT or 6spd?

Manual transmission. I ordered specifically for manual but it came as an auto radiator that needed a cap and a plug to cover the un used fittings. Had to have them send me one that was missing.

[minirips2]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

desertman123 An upgraded front sway bar made the car feel more planted; as in, instead of floating like a boat over to the next lane, you'd drive over to the next lane like a car should. It's also more secure feeling on longer, sweeping corners (the Florida kind, I hear). Worthwhile upgrade, especially if you can find a used one for $100 (I got a new Eibach one for $160 from BimmerWorld). I'd also throw in some fresh end links (another $40-50 total for HD ones) and mount bushings.

EDIT: Are you going with an upgraded CSF radiator, or just OEM?

I just installed an ECS (Looks like an Eibach) front sway bar upgrade. I concur with everything chris_flies posted about the benefits. The steering has a more immediate feel during quick transitions. Unlike what others have reported, the NVH is definitely increased, especially over uneven bumps where one wheel is traveling and the other is static. Not unpleasant, but noticeable. On a side note, I lubed the bushings, which have an inner sleeve of what looks like phenolic. Big mistake. The squeaking was horrendous, so back under, (hate the lower engine bay cover!) and I cleaned the bushings and bar and applied a layer of Teflon tape. Not the pipe sealing stuff, the thicker wear tape. All is perfectly silent now.
Next step is the rear bar and M3 RSFB's. That should make for a nice, firm platform for later suspension upgrades.

[tjswarbrick]

Got my Blackstone oil report back. 6500 miles on GC 0w40, 92,000 miles on the N55.

Wear metals are exceptionally low, engine in great shape, oil in great shape.
Unlike the wife's Pathfinder with US Castrol Synthetic, where they said not to exceed 5k mi, on the 1'er with GC they advised going for 8k.
So I'll be sticking with my 7,500 mi interval for the foreseeable future.

[TridenTBoy]

Accidentally rubbed the right front tire up on a curb that I thought wasn't there. Now I have to get the whole tire replaced because the damn sidewall had big chunks ripped out. It's a blow out waiting to happen. Rim isn't looking great from it either.

Probably going to go with Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 on the front again since the cost of PSS is still too damn high.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Supposed to hit 109 degrees here on Friday.

I hear the east coast is currently in a heat wave.

Summer is officially here... lol

It got hotter than they thought!

Whew!!

[CrimsonFury]

Okay, i have neglected to post a lot of stuff i did to my 1er so heres a catch up post.

First i ordered a 1m style bumper. Heres the test fit



I ordered the 1m ductwork because it bolts right up to my 135is, and i had the body shop cut out the plastic where the fogs would go on the 1m style bumper.

Here is the painted product, perfect fitment.


I also got rid of the white sider markers and replaced them with tinted sidemarkers which look much better on a dark car. you can see them in the above photo.

I also installed a carbon fiber diffuser which i hit with some plasti dip to make it gloss black, some of the carbon fiber still shows through i think it looks really good.


finally today i installed a carbon fiber front lip.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Esteban

It got hotter than they thought!

Whew!!

Power just went out in the whole neighborhood. lol

[HyeWarrior]

Originally Posted by Tarpon

Manual transmission. I ordered specifically for manual but it came as an auto radiator that needed a cap and a plug to cover the un used fittings. Had to have them send me one that was missing.

Lucky man.

I had to abandon installing my CSF radiator because my DCT transmission cooler is blocking my way. May have to pay a pro to do it lol

[low135]

Ordered some small stuff this week. Twisted tuning cable, VRSF charge pipe, Cree LEDs, 15mm spacers for the front, and some BMW shirts because you really don't own a BMW until you own BMW shirts as well, right?

[Zombie_Head]

Just came back from the DIY workshop, did a full inspection on the car.

8,000+ kms of highway, traffic, heat and track days in the last 3 months.

All is good, nice and dry underneath front to back.

Tried to polish the rear exhaust tips, they are too rusted, need to order new ones.

There was a tiny belt squeal on start up for 1 second, strange since everything is replaced.

I checked everything, all good, no play in any pully. I turned the belt around and reinstalled it, noticed that the boot connecting to the air filter housing was not sealing correctly from the bottom. Had to take it out, the rubber boot is very hard, basically it was not fully sealing and i suspect it has been like that since 2 months ago when i did the front belt and pulleys.

This would explain why the car had several dips and inconsistencies on the dyno and less power. Drove back home, the car felt sharper (the engine) and much more eager to pull, did not do a WOT test, speed limits and traffic but now i am very interested what the dyno will say.

Front driver's side pad is probably binding or not seated correctly, the one thing i forgot to check. Small squeal when low speed (parking speed) braking, will check it out later.

Will probably lower the car 10mm front and back, currently sitting on stock height with KW V3s.

Noticed the rear sway bar goes over the whole rear subframe....damn it guess do the subframe bushing AND sway bar in one go, this i will figure out in winter if i am keeping the car or not.

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by WDE82

Do you have the M3 front arms? If you do I can probably find my alignment sheet from last year.

Lowering the car does make for more negative camber. That's just suspension geometry for you. As it compresses, camber gets more negative to lean the tire in and lifts the outer edge for better tire contact patch.

I do not but I'm debating getting them now -if I'm getting an alignment I might as well
When I briefly had the car on the ground I noticed the front camber basically matches the rear, which I believe is -1.0° IIRC

Originally Posted by rowsdower

WTF, I had an order with TireRack for months and finally cancelled it and bought Konis from ECS. I must have spoken to TireRack on the phone a half dozen times about it while waiting (they would call with an update every few weeks). Lame. Glad you got them though!

I have no idea how I got them then! I literally just called, spoke with a guy named Ivan, he told me there weren't any in the warehouse nearby which is why it says out of stuck but he managed to see a warehouse up in Delaware had one maybe 2. Maybe one of the warehouses had just updated their qty on hand after they saw an error?

Originally Posted by chris_flies

desertman123 An upgraded front sway bar made the car feel more planted; as in, instead of floating like a boat over to the next lane, you'd drive over to the next lane like a car should. It's also more secure feeling on longer, sweeping corners (the Florida kind, I hear). Worthwhile upgrade, especially if you can find a used one for $100 (I got a new Eibach one for $160 from BimmerWorld). I'd also throw in some fresh end links (another $40-50 total for HD ones) and mount bushings.

EDIT: Are you going with an upgraded CSF radiator, or just OEM?

I've been eyeing up a few sway M3 sway bars on eBay now that you guys are talking me into it ��. I hear the front bar is super quick to replace so I may hold off for now while I deal with the cooling system. Would it be wise to only get an upgraded front sway bar? I have sport suspension so I already do have a rear, albeit tiny. I've heard it's not wise to get a fatter rear sway bar if you don't have an LSD

And I'm getting the OEM Mahle-Bear one. Wanted to go CSF for sure but I couldn't justify the cost after just dropping $$$ on suspension/alignment and possibly tires soon

[minirips2]

Originally Posted by desertman123

I do not but I'm debating getting them now -if I'm getting an alignment I might as well
When I briefly had the car on the ground I noticed the front camber basically matches the rear, which I believe is -1.0° IIRC




I have no idea how I got them then! I literally just called, spoke with a guy named Ivan, he told me there weren't any in the warehouse nearby which is why it says out of stuck but he managed to see a warehouse up in Delaware had one maybe 2. Maybe one of the warehouses had just updated their qty on hand after they saw an error?



I've been eyeing up a few sway M3 sway bars on eBay now that you guys are talking me into it ��. I hear the front bar is super quick to replace so I may hold off for now while I deal with the cooling system. Would it be wise to only get an upgraded front sway bar? I have sport suspension so I already do have a rear, albeit tiny. I've heard it's not wise to get a fatter rear sway bar if you don't have an LSD

And I'm getting the OEM Mahle-Bear one. Wanted to go CSF for sure but I couldn't justify the cost after just dropping $$$ on suspension/alignment and possibly tires soon

The front bar is so easy, it will literally take you longer to remove and reinstall the belly pan! Four nuts (16 ftlb), and two end links. My links were nearly mint so I didn't replace them. I'll be installing adjustable end links when I lower the car, anyway.

[Havocsteve]

Originally Posted by Esteban

It got hotter than they thought!

Whew!!

Yep that's hot! Here in Toronto we had a heat wave, one day it reached the same temperature (45-46 degrees celcius) but with the humidex. I basically lived like a fish for the weekend (was in my parents pool all weekend lol).

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Havocsteve

Yep that's hot! Here in Toronto we had a heat wave, one day it reached the same temperature (45-46 degrees celcius) but with the humidex. I basically lived like a fish for the weekend (was in my parents pool all weekend lol).

Spent yesterday at a hotel. Ah, room service. lol

Thank God for central air conditioning.

Power back on today. Predicting a cool 105F today. (yesterday was 113F)

Hope power doesn't shut down again and I lose my central A/C.

Pic in my sig helps keep my post related. Haha! Excuses... smh

[low135]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Spent yesterday at a hotel. Ah, room service. lol

Thank God for central air conditioning.

Power back on today. Predicting a cool 105F today. (yesterday was 113F)

Hope power doesn't shut down again and I lose my central A/C.

Pic in my sig helps keep my post related. Haha! Excuses... smh

Cool ocean breeze with sun mixed in today at the beach

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by low135

Cool ocean breeze with sun mixed in today at the beach

Don't get sand in your phone. lol

PS - looks great!

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Don't get sand in your phone. lol

PS - looks great!

This hot weather is amazing! You need to come to DC during summer (or anywhere in the Southeast), it's worse than this when the thermometer only reads 90. Southwest heat in the 120s is preferable to 90 where I live. The humidity sucks the life out of you and makes getting the mail an exhausting and sweaty expedition. Here in CA, I feel like I could run a mile without issue.

It's a dry heat. Be thankful.

No car stuff to speak of, other than the new Camry is comfortable, but that's it.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by chris_flies

This hot weather is amazing! You need to come to DC during summer (or anywhere in the Southeast), it's worse than this when the thermometer only reads 90. Southwest heat in the 120s is preferable to 90 where I live. The humidity sucks the life out of you and makes getting the mail an exhausting and sweaty expedition. Here in CA, I feel like I could run a mile without issue.

It's a dry heat. Be thankful.

No car stuff to speak of, other than the new Camry is comfortable, but that's it.

That's why I'm glad I live here. Still hot as hell, though.

And yes, please go run a mile for me. I'll be inside drinking a tall cold one and you can tell me all about it. lol

PS - I'm in the Inland Empire. Much hotter than where you are, assuming you're still in Orange County.

PPS - power just went out again. Who knows for how long this time. That right there tells you how hot it is out here.