so my ligtweight track/street 128i project begins...

[Kgolf31]

IMO there is no reason to run 18" wheels.

Go 17x8.5

BTW - I decided to go STX Build on my 128i. I'm going TCK DAs (undecided on spring rate) along with APEX 17x9 w/255/40/17 tires if I can fit them.

I'll keep you updated with my decisions.

BTW - In case you didn't know, TC tracks a 135. He is very familiar with the E82 system

[pj.rodriguez]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

IMO there is no reason to run 18" wheels.

Go 17x8.5

BTW - I decided to go STX Build on my 128i. I'm going TCK DAs (undecided on spring rate) along with APEX 17x9 w/255/40/17 tires if I can fit them.

I'll keep you updated with my decisions.

BTW - In case you didn't know, TC tracks a 135. He is very familiar with the E82 system

Awesome! Glad to hear you're building up your 1-er. And I think TC sold that 135i? Nonetheless he's a very knowledgable guru

[Taskmaster]

Bilstein PSS10 a consideration? Monotube shocks, same spring rates as TCs system and cost is about the same (if not a tad cheaper) than the S/A Koni based Setup. Why not?

[The Dowager Countess]

I haven't considered it TheAxiom- what advantages do you see with the bilstein system? One thing I like about TC's approach is he offers a bunch of spring options. Everyone else seems to just have one secret recipe for each application.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by pj.rodriguez

Awesome! Glad to hear you're building up your 1-er. And I think TC sold that 135i? Nonetheless he's a very knowledgable guru

Yep, really excited. Sadly I don't have enough funds to cover a LSD, but I think the E-Diff will be fine for a season...does the e-diff still function while DSC is fully off?

Question as well, if indeed the E-Diff is active while DSC is off, then how can you actually operate a mechanical LSD?

Anyways, I know what TCK can offer. They have an office in Columbus, OH and I know the internet manager fairly well. If you are a fan of their FB page, you'll see his car quite often:



Drove the car a good amount of times, and of course he is setup on TCK DAs. Stupid control with them, simple adjustments make the car transform

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Bilstein PSS10 a consideration? Monotube shocks, same spring rates as TCs system and cost is about the same (if not a tad cheaper) than the S/A Koni based Setup. Why not?

I don't like them because they use a progressive spring.

[The Dowager Countess]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

I don't like them because they use a progressive spring.

Now YOU sound like Dick Shine!

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Yep, really excited. Sadly I don't have enough funds to cover a LSD, but I think the E-Diff will be fine for a season...does the e-diff still function while DSC is fully off?

Question as well, if indeed the E-Diff is active while DSC is off, then how can you actually operate a mechanical LSD?

E-diff functions even when DSC is fully off.
E-diff is still active even after a mechanical LSD is installed but it is active a lot less.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Nugget

E-diff functions even when DSC is fully off.
E-diff is still active even after a mechanical LSD is installed but it is active a lot less.

Good to know, I didn't want to get a LSD and still be roasting rear brakes.

[Taskmaster]

The PSS10 has progressive springs? That's too bad...

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

IMO there is no reason to run 18" wheels.

Go 17x8.5

BTW - I decided to go STX Build on my 128i. I'm going TCK DAs (undecided on spring rate) along with APEX 17x9 w/255/40/17 tires if I can fit them.

I'll keep you updated with my decisions.

BTW - In case you didn't know, TC tracks a 135. He is very familiar with the E82 system

All of this. We can fit 17s, why not use that to our advantage? Generally further weight savings and always improved rotational inertia. I would also skip fender rolling as that generally breeds rust down the road.

Bilstein makes a good setup, but there are more on the level of out of the box Konis(very good).

[The Dowager Countess]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

All of this. We can fit 17s, why not use that to our advantage? Generally further weight savings and always improved rotational inertia. I would also skip fender rolling as that generally breeds rust down the road.

Bilstein makes a good setup, but there are more on the level of out of the box Konis(very good).

it sounds as if i won't need to do any fender rolling to fit the 235/45/r17 Azenis Rt-615s which push me from 90% sure I'll go with 17" apex instead of 18" to 100% sure.

As for suspension- I've opted on a middle route that i think should work well. I'm grabbing Koni Sport Yellows and I'm going to pair them with Swift Spec-R springs. I'll have the rebound adjustability a great shock that I've had lots of luck with in the past and a 201lb front and 507lb rear linear rate spring and i don't have to deal with coil-overs and the car won't be nearly as dropped as if i went with HR kits so i can take advantage of the geometry of the suspension.

Plus I want linear rate springs...in my experience progressive springs always suck and i'm too dumb to decipher how they'll work based on what's published.

I'll start here and then get some camber plates if needed.

From everything I've seen and everyone I've talked to this seems like a good compromise.

Flame away!

C

[TheSt|G]

No flame here, seems fine to me. Both my parents upgraded to Koni yellows in their E46s. Solid long term strut that is a pure upgrade over stock.

Glad to see you moving to the 17s.

[The Dowager Countess]

I think the konis and the springs and square 17s with the LSD and the low gears will make this thing a lot of fun. I got the girl really psyched about auto cross this season too. Really weird- I had no idea she would be in to it. She doesn't even have a driver's license but she's totally into watching cars drive around a fucking parking lot.

[pj.rodriguez]

Originally Posted by The Dowager Countess

I think the konis and the springs and square 17s with the LSD and the low gears will make this thing a lot of fun. I got the girl really psyched about auto cross this season too. Really weird- I had no idea she would be in to it. She doesn't even have a driver's license but she's totally into watching cars drive around a fucking parking lot.

LOL. My girlfriend loves to drive but she's afraid of "crashing". She's itching to track though haha.

The square 17" 225 tires will be fine without fender rolling at all. If/when I get a coupe, I was told that 235 would even fit fine without any rolling necessary.

The Koni/swift combo seems to be what a lot of people go for on here. Seems to be a great upgrade!

Also, check out some rear subframe bushings. Either M3, or prothane/urethane/poly bushings. There's a few threads on them here.

[The Dowager Countess]

Subframe bushings are in my hand- it's just a question of paying someone to put them in. Dropping the ass end of this thing is bit easy.

I'm psyched about the changes I'm making to the car though. It's great to have a car that I'm solely focusing on handling with.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by The Dowager Countess

it sounds as if i won't need to do any fender rolling to fit the 235/45/r17 Azenis Rt-615s which push me from 90% sure I'll go with 17" apex instead of 18" to 100% sure.

As for suspension- I've opted on a middle route that i think should work well. I'm grabbing Koni Sport Yellows and I'm going to pair them with Swift Spec-R springs. I'll have the rebound adjustability a great shock that I've had lots of luck with in the past and a 201lb front and 507lb rear linear rate spring and i don't have to deal with coil-overs and the car won't be nearly as dropped as if i went with HR kits so i can take advantage of the geometry of the suspension.

Plus I want linear rate springs...in my experience progressive springs always suck and i'm too dumb to decipher how they'll work based on what's published.

I'll start here and then get some camber plates if needed.

From everything I've seen and everyone I've talked to this seems like a good compromise.

Flame away!

C

You'll appreciate the 17". There is no personal gain with 18 unless you enjoy spending more money per wheel and per tire

That spring rate should suit you fairly well with the given shock. For reference, I'm aiming around #400 front/#700 rear with DAs

Progressive springs just don't give you predictability on how the car is going to handle. At one point in time you're at 100 ft/lbs then you hit a bump and next thing you know you're at 350 ft/lbs, It just isn't good for performance driving

Once you get camber plates (trust me you'll soon want them after you start driving) you'll be able to have more tire clearance in general.

Speaking of tires, any reason why you're going with the Falkens?

[The Dowager Countess]

I have a deal with them from my vw days- and the azenis have super stiff sidewalls and are super grippy and I've always liked the way the 615s worked on the street and the track.

[The Dowager Countess]

When the LSD gets installed, should I install aluminum diff mount bushings at that point?

[andrey_gta]

Weight reduction data from e90post:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=627141

[The Dowager Countess]

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

Weight reduction data from e90post:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=627141

this is great. thanks.