[1013MM] jzhang’s 135i Monaco Blue Metallic 135i Build Thread!!! Featuring Yoshi :D

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by avsbmw

your car looks amazing. and beautiful photography!

Thanks! Something special will be coming up soon

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

the sport seats are great!

do you wish you got a 6sp instead?

Yep! Super comfy the way they "wrap" around you. I always wanted a manual, BUT i live with others who need to move my car for me if I block them in. We all go to work at different times depending on the day of the week. And I drive local more than highway/freeway.

[babyboss]

1 of the best looking e82 around ..

[FORGED LIFESTYLE]

Originally Posted by babyboss

1 of the best looking e82 around ..

Agreed! Saw it on canibeat a few days ago!

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by babyboss

1 of the best looking e82 around ..

Thanks! I would say theres plenty thats better than mine!

Originally Posted by FORGED LIFESTYLE

Agreed! Saw it on canibeat a few days ago!

Nice! thanks a lot!!

[Fredds112]

well I know one thing...if i was in the LA area, you would deff be my photographer.

[GINNJUICE1013]

very nice car

[Sarracino89]

Hey Jzhang, I can't remember if I read it on here or another thread, but I was curious as to how you painted the intake scoops you have. I am thinking of getting the older style black and yellow cali license plates and was thinking about painting them once I decide to get them.

ps. I see you live in the 626, hopefully I'll see you at the next 626 meet

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by Fredds112

well I know one thing...if i was in the LA area, you would deff be my photographer.

Thanks a lot man!!!

Originally Posted by GINNJUICE1013

very nice car

Originally Posted by Sarracino89

Hey Jzhang, I can't remember if I read it on here or another thread, but I was curious as to how you painted the intake scoops you have. I am thinking of getting the older style black and yellow cali license plates and was thinking about painting them once I decide to get them.

ps. I see you live in the 626, hopefully I'll see you at the next 626 meet

I had them painted at a car shop to match my brakes. I will probably be at the 626 meet if im free, hit me up!

[The1]

car looks great, what equipment are you using to shoot the car?

I love the airport pic.... has to be my favorite, even though the car looks stock in that picture.

[1013mm]

a Nikon d700!

[Sean@PYSpeed.com]

Beautiful car!

[Specter88]

stunning!

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by Sean@PYSpeed.com

Beautiful car!

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by Specter88

stunning!

[1013mm]

Not sure if you guys have seen but...





For my last Mini-Epic photoshoot.

[The1]

one thing i didn't like about california when i was there in the spring was the smog really obstructed the backdrop.... was sad because it's a beautiful place...

I like the windfarm as a background!

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by The1

one thing i didn't like about california when i was there in the spring was the smog really obstructed the backdrop.... was sad because it's a beautiful place...

I like the windfarm as a background!

Me too!! Totally agree..

[Greenkirby21]

OMFG THIS IS CRAZYYYYYYYYYY. I have yoshi in my car too. I have 2 green ones. Both are currently sitting in the back seats >_>.

we are sooo coool

[Mattcali]

i am not into the heavily modded presentation thing - but this is an exception to me. what a great looking car. and the aftermarket rims look fab - exceptional. about as classy as can be to me.

[1013mm]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

OMFG THIS IS CRAZYYYYYYYYYY. I have yoshi in my car too. I have 2 green ones. Both are currently sitting in the back seats >_>.

we are sooo coool

Originally Posted by Mattcali

i am not into the heavily modded presentation thing - but this is an exception to me. what a great looking car. and the aftermarket rims look fab - exceptional. about as classy as can be to me.

Thanks man!

[1013mm]

So since the last time I've posted an update (didn't really do much between the last update and until this), I got a new sports seats and a custom M3 steering wheel to boot...




http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=457250

Keep in mind that I DO NOT have sports package like the 12318920381023 of you guys

[1013mm]

By the end of last year I found out that ST a sister company of KW made coilovers for the 1 series so I jumped on the opportunity to go lower...

Originally Posted by jzhang

Hey guys, back with some new mods for my car, although it's not too visually noticeable, it's still worth reading. I don't do too many long posts without photos, but since this a review of some great products for out car, it will have to do so bear with me here Also don't ask me all the technical aspects of the suspension I ran, cause I don't even know what spring rates are or do.

I got all my suspension work done and parts from longtran@ltbmw feel free to contact him! Great guy and service!

ST Coilovers
I don't have any photos of the suspension itself or how to car looks now (crazy rain in Socal ), but I will try to explain it. ST Coilovers are from the same company as KW's they are EXACTLY like the KW V1's but in a nutshell they don't have a lifetime warranty and is cheaper. The height is adjustable, but not the dampening. The ride is smoother than even my previous H&R Sport + Koni Yellow Shocks. Even though I can't adjust the dampening it was better than the Koni's on medium setting. I loved the racked look that the H&R Sport springs had, but the gap in the back made me want to go lower, but not H&R Race low. I find that the ST Coilovers is the perfect blend of looks and ride. I went lower in the back and left the front. I can pass through the bumps that I had trouble with in the past without my worrying too much about the suspension not being able to compensate. I'm just wondering to myself, why didn't I know about this before?!

H&R Sport + Koni Yellow Shocks

With the addition of Koni Yellows, I was more confident when I was passing bumps on roads without having to worry about bottoming out. My Koni's were set on Medium setting the whole time and I never changed it. In retrospect the fronts were ok, but the back need some tightening up since it would be too bouncy back there without some weight. The ride was overall bearable for a 2 hour drive. I would think I would have gotten sick of it if I was going on a 4 hour drive or more. The springs are actually pretty harsh for a long drive.

H&R Sport + OEM Shocks

When I first decided to get a drop I was being cheap. I read that the springs would ride fine with the OEM shocks. Man, was I wrong The ride was only good and bearable on smooth local roads, if you live in Miami, you should have no problem, but if you commute in Los Angeles, you will hate every bit of it. There was no rebound from the OEM shocks since they weren't made for those springs and I would bottom out due to the slightest bump on the road. The look was good, but the drive was horrible, especially on bumpier roads. I quickly got Koni Yellows after a month.

OEM Non-Sport + OEM Shocks

When I first got the car I thought to myself, man! this car is low and looks great. Of course it was not until I got a drop that I was actually low. I felt that BMW had dumbed down the suspension. Coming from a E90 3-Series, I thought the handling would be better especially since the car was smaller and sportier. There was too much body roll for me and it was a bit floaty. This set up is really made for comfort IMO. When I think back, this is the setup to stay with if you like hassle-free suspension and comfort on long journeys or on bumpy roads. I would still angle into dips and driveways, but not much, never bottomed out.


I got all my suspension work done and parts from longtran@ltbmw feel free to contact him! Great guy and service!

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469037

I am now on the lowest setting of the coils

[1013mm]

Since the car was turning 2 I decided it was time to overhaul it's looks again but swapping the wheel setup....

Here was the very last photo I had of my last setup and I do thank VMR for everything they did for me! This is not the last they'll hear from me.



I decided it was time to set up my JDM game by getting the most JDM lugs that I could think of to do a lug conversion. I had a hard time choosing between blue, gold, chrome, silver, or black lugs, but I wanted to stand out. I didn't even consider these Project Kic Neo Chro lugs since I thought they were too showy. I slowly realized that JDM is all about showy so I made a last minute decision to get thes JDM lugs and I don't regret it! The closed ended studs are around 80-90mm custom from the good people at Rotiform since I wanted chrome colored lugs to match my car and everyone else was either black or open or both. I'm just really picky and detailed oriented.


My new set of full polished CCWs really help set the lugs off and the conversion really helps make the lugs stand out!





At this point the car was...
- On the lowest ST Coilover setting.
- All fenders rolled and pulled
- On natural camber

There was a very heated debate about "hellaflush" due to my recent wheel threads...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=476885