135is Project Plans

[Pyrat 2]

Finally completing the last item on my short list for my 135is. Car is in the shop right now getting the quaife installed. Pick up tomorrow afternoon.

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by formula M

What was the final drive..?

No change. I have a 2.56 with my DCT.

[zagaone]

Did you get the complete diff assembly?Thought that with DCT cars diff is welded and a pain to replace. Active sells the whole assembly but is expensive. Thanks.

[Kouper]

HeelToe,

We need some serious pictures of how it sits with the new springs and wheels! Pics...or it didn't happen.

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by zagaone

Did you get the complete diff assembly?Thought that with DCT cars diff is welded and a pain to replace. Active sells the whole assembly but is expensive. Thanks.

Diff is welded so it is a PITA. Took to Fall-line Motorsports. They are doing the disassembly, assembly themselves. They've done it before and it was cheaper than the vendors that post here. Their shop is amazing. See the link here. http://fall-linemotorsports.com/section_media_shop.php Their shop is packed now unlike in the photos listed on their site. At least fifty BMWs most all of which are track cars. My 'lowly' 1 pales in comparison to everything else in their shop. They did my suspension work. Unfortunately, it is taking them 3 shop days to complete (it's prime season for them) and I'm out of town on business next week so wont be able to pick up until Thursday.

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by Kouper

HeelToe,

We need some serious pictures of how it sits with the new springs and wheels! Pics...or it didn't happen.

BMWP springs are a pretty subtle drop. The dinan camber plates, 235/40 PSS front tires, and eibach sway bars combined have completely eliminated understeer as far as I can tell on the street. I'll have a better gauge once I get it out on the track the first time.

[zagaone]

Thanks. I hope to do the LSD very soon.

[Pyrat 2]

Quaife is in! Project is done for now.

[TheGuestSpeaker]

Where are you in IL? I'm originally from lake forest and live in Chicago now. I plan on having fall line do my diff when the car shows up.

[Pyrat 2]

NW burbs. The 135is is a beast. You'll love it.

[Pyrat 2]

Reviving the thread. After two track weekends in the last month I decided to order the Bilstein Sports that I had originally planned to install. They should be here tomorrow and are being installed on Thursday along with some Powerflex rear shock mounts.

Pic is from Grattan.

[Pyrat 2]

Bilsteins are in. Car is much tighter than with stock struts. Not too firm but on the other hand somewhat go-kart like. Going to Gingerman in 2 weeks to check it out at the track.

[mb135is]

Impressions on track? Do the Dinan camber plates raise the front ride height at all?

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by mb135is

Impressions on track? Do the Dinan camber plates raise the front ride height at all?

Picture above had all mods except the Bilsteins so you can judge the height. The camber plates add about .25 inches of height. I installed BMWP springs which reduce the height by about 0.5 for a net reduction with the plates of 0.25. I'm running 235/40 up front so that takes up a bit more space.

[Pyrat 2]

A couple updates to this thread. First, I had the wheels refinished since I wasn't thrilled with the original two tone color scheme. I had them painted HyperBlack - much better IMO. Also, I installed a black grill since I last updated this thread. Finally, I squared up the tire size and now have MPSS 245/35-18 all around. Haven't tracked it yet with this setup but I haven't noticed any rubbing so far on the street. I had been running 235/40 F and 245/35 R at the track and the car was fairly balanced at the track but the front outer edges were wearing just a bit more than the rears. It took 5mm spacers to get the 245/35s to clear the front struts when combined with the 18x8.5 et 45 wheels.

[Spin_dry]

Originally Posted by AJundEinser

+1 on getting M3 subframe bushings to kill the body roll and accent your beautiful soon-to-be setup. Looking good so far! Keep the photo journal coming!

New subframe bushings are going to be my first chassis mod. What I've learned is that shock and spring changes will exasperate rear hop if installed using stock bushings. I decided on Whiteline bushings over M3 bushings because of cost and installation ease.

[Spin_dry]

Originally Posted by HeelToe

A couple updates to this thread. First, I had the wheels refinished since I wasn't thrilled with the original two tone color scheme. I had them painted HyperBlack - much better in my IMO. Also, I installed a black grill since I last updated this thread. Finally, I squared up the tire size and now have MPSS 245/35-18 all around. Haven't tracked it yet with this setup but I haven't noticed any rubbing so far on the street. I had been running 235/40 F and 245/35 R at the track and the car was fairly balanced at the track but the front outer edges were wearing just a bit more than the rears. It took 5mm spacers to get the 245/35s to clear the front struts when combined with the 18x8.5 et 45 wheels.

Wow. Very nice. Good choice on the wheel color change.

[Pyrat 2]

Next up are M3 rear subframe bushings. They will go in along with Powerflex differential bushings. Either later this week or sometime next week.

[Pyrat 2]

M3 RSFBushings were installed as well as power flex diff bushings. Much less wiggle in the back. Definitely recommend this as it settles the back end down considerably.

Also installed some 68mm wheel studs to ease the mounting of my wheels. This was an unplanned 'upgrade' after I installed 5mm spacers in front to accommodate my square tire setup. Just makes the wheel install easier with the spacer on there too.

[Pyrat 2]

Just when I thought I was done with upgrades I decided to upgrade the brakes. Went to Road Atlanta a couple months back and that event convinced me that I needed some upgraded brakes. I just had no confidence in the stock calipers even with Ferodo DS2500s and RBF600 fluid. Installed these Stoptechs and went to Road America. Why didn't I do this a year ago. First time ever with this car that I have confidence in the brakes. They were always there for me and had more power than I had tire (square 245/35 MPSS). Solid investment.

[Pyrat 2]

Added some Schroth harnesses for the track! Installed today but won't get to really use them until end of the month at my next track event. I had an instructor tell me once that the best thing I can do to improve my lap times is to add some good harnesses. I've always locked the tensioners at the track but after a quick drive around the 'hood there is no doubt that I will no longer be sliding around in the seat at all.

[Downeaster1]

Which Schroth harness is that?