Why all those aftermarket parts?

[VALAS135i]

My car dynoed at around 270whp stock. Now it is closer to 400. That is why all the aftermarket stuff.

[STETT Performance]

Because there is ALWAYS room for improvement...

[Frampton]

Originally Posted by josemh23

I usually wonder why the rush to start changing parts. Isnt the car a BMW? Is it supposed to be a great engineering piece of car, how we do know aftermarket is better than stock???

Definitely go for a ride in someones modified 135 with a JB4 or COBB and you'll get the mod bug really really fast!

I wouldn't have purchased this car if it weren't for the ability to easily upgrade and modify it. I would much rather drive a Porsche or a 370z or even an e46 M3 if I left them all bone stock.

If upgrades to performance and handling weren't worth doing we would all drive 128's without sport suspension. Even BMW provides upgrade parts to improve on this car. Let's also take a look at the 1M as another great example. This car is far from perfect, but i would agree its damn close. You can always improve but there is always a trade off whether its comfort, money, understeer, oversteer, safety, longetivity...

Good luck lasting a few more weeks if you're already reading this forum, it took me 2 weeks before I started ordering stuff!

I do want the 10 minutes of my life back from reading this post though

[Brandon26pdx]

I don't care if people mod their car or think the money spent modifying is worthwhile. Up to them. I used to do it to when I was younger too, and may do it again someday. But I stand by my original assertion; the farther up the food chain you go the less necessary it becomes. I'd argue that higher end buyers prefer untouched cars also. Anything outside of set of wheels or maybe a nice bolt-on exhaust system wouldn't appeal to me. I don't want a car with wiring harnesses that have been "juice boxed" or front bumper covers that have been taken off and hacked to fit bigger front mount intercoolers.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

..
Does an M3 ZCP or 911 GT3RS need to be "hooked up" too?

Hell yeah. Go over to the Porsche forums and you will see lots of day one modifications for GT3 RS owners and a rich well defined development path.

There are people who mod Ferrari Enzos, et al. There are no limits.

[Focusedintntions]

There is no such thing as the perfect car no the perfect driver. Think of it this way. When you buy a generic suit, sure it fits ok and looks ok, but if you want it to be amazing; it must be tailored. Modding ones car is very similar, what works for one driver won't work for the other.

[MikeVictor]

^ nice analogy.

[chris328i]

I don't think most people dislike modding, they just dislike fools tarting up a perfectly good car.

[adrean8j]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

But I stand by my original assertion; the farther up the food chain you go the less necessary it becomes. I'd argue that higher end buyers prefer untouched cars also.

Didn't you see the thread titled "How much do you make?" IRT to 1-series owners? 33% of 331 polled make over $120k/yr....I would also wager that the majority on here have done some kind of mod...why else would they really be on an enthusiasts website (percentage wise)....

Originally Posted by chris328i

I don't think most people dislike modding, they just dislike fools tarting up a perfectly good car.

A tune is tarting up a perfectly good car? BMW performance parts (OEM parts mind you) is tarting up a perfectly good car? Do you realize that most of the "after-market" parts BMW provides in some way, shape, or form? To include the front lip (they have one for the hatch that is strikingly similar to the aftermarket one for the coupe) Who is really the fool here? Jeez.....

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

I like the folks who have little or no track driving experience that immediately change all of the OE suspension before they even learn to drive their car to 60% of it's potential as delivered by BMW. Then they wonder why the person driving a stock BMW is many seconds per lap faster with no mods... It's an eye opener.

Come on.

I have never tracked or auto-crossed any car, let alone this car. This is the first car I have modded, however. Could I use some training as a driver? Absolutley. I'm not discounting the advantages, and I'm looking forward to doing it when I get back to the US.

However, even though my car is "just" a daily driver and I am a lowly mortal, I was able to perceive faults with the suspension. A few mods (front ARB and coilovers) have given my car enormously improved road manners. It simply feels better - more composed, planted, safer, confidence inspiring - and I don't need a race license to know so.

I also prefer the look of my car now that it sits a bit lower, but that wasn't my primary or initial motivation. More of an added bonus.

And regarding the idea that you find less modding as you go upmarket, I'd disagree. It seems somewhat intuitive, but I'm afraid it's just not true. When I was researching my suspension (Bilstein PSS9) I found many examples of people putting the same set on their 911's or M5's - cars which come stock with suspensions that are vastly superior to the 1er "sport" suspension.

[Hawkeye 135i]

I haven't modified my car's performance because I think its fit for purpose. Living in Australia, where max legal speed is 110kph, more roads are becoming 50kph, traffic is increasing, speed cameras and radars are becoming far more common and penalties for speeding more punitive, I don't see the need to make the car faster or handle better - it does everything I ask of it in standard trim with plenty in reserve. If I regularly tracked the car modifying would make more sense, and I can certainly see the great benefits of performance modification, but like 99% of Aussie BMW's its unlikely to see the track.

Having said that I have installed the Performance diffuser for cosmetic reasons and plan to add an aftermarket exhaust for a touch more noise.

[adrean8j]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye 135i

Having said that I have installed the Performance diffuser for cosmetic reasons and plan to add an aftermarket exhaust for a touch more noise.

MODDER! J/K....LOL

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye 135i

I haven't modified my car's performance because I think its fit for purpose. Living in Australia, where max legal speed is 110kph, more roads are becoming 50kph, traffic is increasing, speed cameras and radars are becoming far more common and penalties for speeding more punitive, I don't see the need to make the car faster or handle better - it does everything I ask of it in standard trim with plenty in reserve. If I regularly tracked the car modifying would make more sense, and I can certainly see the great benefits of performance modification, but like 99% of Aussie BMW's its unlikely to see the track.

Having said that I have installed the Performance diffuser for cosmetic reasons and plan to add an aftermarket exhaust for a touch more noise.

Jesus, you're a disgrace to Australia!

[jsublime]

Some people just enjoy wrenching on their rides.

[BrokenVert]

At the 50K mark some parts begin to show their age. I am simply replacing these warnout parts with parts that are superior to BMW parts so I take less of a financial hit.

Why would I replace my broken wheels with OEM 264s at $400 a piece when I could buy a set of OZ Ultralegerras for $300 a piece?

Why would I replace my pads with $250 BMW pads when I could replace them with CCs for 2/3 the price which are better?

Why would I not replace my bushings with M3 ones when they are the same price?

Why would I not drop in an S65 when my N54 hits old age?

See how it works?

[IZAGLO]

Merits to both arguments here...But having got the mod bug in 1974 with my 260Z and still strong as ever in 2011 with my 09 135i...it's just plain FUN to personalize your car..Nothing wrong in my book to make ones ride better, performance wise or looks wise...Although i do minimal mods, the few i have done to my 135i have GREATLY MADE THIS OWNING EXPERIENCE THAT MUCH BETTER than if i left it alone.

Quote Brandon "I don't want a car with wiring harnesses that have been "juice boxed"
I would be cautious about buying a used car that has been moded to death and that has been juiced as well....But coming from one who has had the JB3 and now the JB4 who also drives fairly slow as i do respect the speed limits, the few extra pulls i get on clear roads at the opportune time makes the JUICE feel like an addiction....is it illegal like like some addictions.....??? not to me... and the minor mods i did to my 135i has improved my ride to me and it makes my car feel more personal...but luckily i no where to stop....

[InlineSix]

Originally Posted by niceworkbavaria

Thread fail...

Go race a Z06 and let me know how it goes

Worst example ever...

[chris328i]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Come on.

I have never tracked or auto-crossed any car, let alone this car. This is the first car I have modded, however. Could I use some training as a driver? Absolutley. I'm not discounting the advantages, and I'm looking forward to doing it when I get back to the US.

However, even though my car is "just" a daily driver and I am a lowly mortal, I was able to perceive faults with the suspension. A few mods (front ARB and coilovers) have given my car enormously improved road manners. It simply feels better - more composed, planted, safer, confidence inspiring - and I don't need a race license to know so.

I also prefer the look of my car now that it sits a bit lower, but that wasn't my primary or initial motivation. More of an added bonus.

And regarding the idea that you find less modding as you go upmarket, I'd disagree. It seems somewhat intuitive, but I'm afraid it's just not true. When I was researching my suspension (Bilstein PSS9) I found many examples of people putting the same set on their 911's or M5's - cars which come stock with suspensions that are vastly superior to the 1er "sport" suspension.

IMO it's a waste to mod when you have no driving skills. It's better to spend the money on driving lessons and leave the car original.

[mineo77]

"There's no such thing as too much horsepower" - Chris B! Hell ya!!

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by chris328i

IMO it's a waste to mod when you have no driving skills. It's better to spend the money on driving lessons and leave the car original.

Spare me.

[ianc]

Chris is correct.

No. He's not. And neither are you.

If the topic of discussion were the relative merits of investing money in driving experience vs. modding the car, you would be. But it's not. It's about modding the car.

A bad driver in a car that handles well will always be faster than a bad driver in a car that doesn't handle well. QED.

If you want to start another thread about the merits of DE vs. suspension upgrades, be my guest...

ianc

[Eminenceo3]

Its fun to play with the cars....and make it your own...
This thread is ridiculous..