*OFFICIAL* Snapshot of the Day (one image per post please)

[panicos81]

needs spacers and a drop.. really it does..

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by panicos81

needs spacers and a drop.. really it does..

It's a driver, not a poser.

Dave

[MaximusJ]

I respect your point of view, but a suspension and wider stance can add so much to your quality of everyday driving then just exciting the kids around the block.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

I respect your point of view, but a suspension and wider stance can add so much to your quality of everyday driving then just exciting the kids around the block.

The car is set up for autocross. Spacers add unsprung weight. Those are 19-lb, 18"x10" wheels with a 275/35-18" square setup with about 1/8" clearance in front. The car is actually lowered, but the mounts adjusted so that bump-stop clearance is maintained. Further lowering actually makes the car difficult to handle as you get onto the bump stops.

Dave

[MaximusJ]

Got ya. Hard to tell from the picture. It doesnt look lowered at all! And the gap seems wider then 1/8".

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

Got ya. Hard to tell from the picture. It doesnt look lowered at all! And the gap seems wider then 1/8".

It's probably the 18" tires. The 1/8" gap is at full lock and it's on the side.

Just so you know, the smaller diameter of the 18" actually raises the numeric final drive ratio, helping acceleration. It's tire brand specific because three 275/35-18" will have three different circumfernces. This square, 18" setups is one of the most popular for combination street/track/AX. The Apex wheels are some of the few available that require no spacers. For an all-out AX or track car, you'd go to coil-overs and even wider rear tires, but I wanted to keep a decent street ride.

Even with the compromises, I was second in my class by .3-sec. cumulative for the year to a lightened, turbocharged E46 with coil-overs.

Dave

[slavik]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

nice shot... are they filming a movie?

Originally Posted by rdub

a shot of a possible crime scene in the Etan Patz case...?

This!

[hieu1004]

Love both of the Silverstone M3's on the previous page!

I wish I would've taken the front plate off of this one.
Maybe I'll photoshop it out one of these days.

5DII + 17-40L


IMG_5420 by hieu1004, on Flickr

[The1]

Originally Posted by dcstep

The car is set up for autocross. Spacers add unsprung weight. Those are 19-lb, 18"x10" wheels with a 275/35-18" square setup with about 1/8" clearance in front. The car is actually lowered, but the mounts adjusted so that bump-stop clearance is maintained. Further lowering actually makes the car difficult to handle as you get onto the bump stops.

Dave

I hear ya on driver vs poser. I love sleeper cars. I don't get people putting super big rims on performance cars, ruins handling 9 times out of 10. Light weight is key. That's why I ended up with apex wheels as well, such a difference on the way the car drives when compared to the stock wheels...

[Nang Vann]

Farrr that's a nice photo

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by The1

I hear ya on driver vs poser. I love sleeper cars. I don't get people putting super big rims on performance cars, ruins handling 9 times out of 10. Light weight is key. That's why I ended up with apex wheels as well, such a difference on the way the car drives when compared to the stock wheels...

I feel you both guys. My wheels are big; but one of the lighter set of staggered 18's I could find (Oz Ultraleggera). Not cheap, but handling is even better then square oem's.

But the offset was off a bit so I added 12mm front and 15 rear coupled with KW V1's. Dropped about a inch and a half. Changed everything for me; but I dont have an M either. Removing DSC (when there's nobody around) is lots of fun now.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

I feel you both guys. My wheels are big; but one of the lighter set of staggered 18's I could find (Oz Ultraleggera). Not cheap, but handling is even better then square oem's.

But the offset was off a bit so I added 12mm front and 15 rear coupled with KW V1's. Dropped about a inch and a half. Changed everything for me; but I dont have an M either. Removing DSC (when there's nobody around) is lots of fun now.

OZs are great. They might not be the lightest, but 18s are not going to be near as heavy as 19s or 20s. The E92 M3 actually works pretty darn good with 19s and I'd suggest those to anyone not planning to track or AX their cars. OTOH, 20s simply add too much weight and inertia, negatively impacting performance.

1.5" drop is HUGE. Are you not hitting your bump stops?

Dave

[MaximusJ]

I never race; period. So my main goal while working on my setup was to reach the maximum performance possible; while keeping handling, gas milleage, reliability and riding comfort intact. Quite the challenge. It costed me; but at least I could achieve my goal. Went from 176 whp to 221 whp without going FI and my ride is even smoother the stock and the MPG is even better. Everything done by yours truly except for the welds.

I very rarely meet any speed bumps. We have some in some parking lots and entrances; but very rarely on public roads. So I cant really consider this as an issue. I know some parts of the US got some on every residential street; but thank god this fashion hasnt sprayed here yet.

I have to put the height to OEM for our winters tho; they're kinda brutal.

[The1]

lol, I couldn't immagine driving around with a 1.5 inch drop again, I did just about 2 inches when I was about 20, but I was younger and willing to sacrifice

also, your roads in Quebec seem a little nicer then ours down here... Which is really sad considering your winters are more serious then ours. We also have a lot more sloped entrances to complexes, which I don't know why they do that around here...

[MaximusJ]

I've done it just because I know its adjustable and reversible. Otherwise I wouldnt have done it.

And I couldnt pass on a deal that huge for a set of KW ;p

[The1]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

I've done it just because I know its adjustable and reversible. Otherwise I wouldnt have done it.

And I couldnt pass on a deal that huge for a set of KW ;p

no doubt. It's fun to push limits sometimes

[M_Six]

I think this is wild mustard. I could be wrong, though. Whatever it is, there are endless yellow fields of it.

[gary88]

This is actually horribly soft at 100% but I think it comes out alright at web size.


2012 BMW 135i by garyhebding, on Flickr

[The1]

the cars look nice without front plates....

[M_Six]

Left light looks sharp. What was your focus point?

[MaximusJ]

Originally Posted by The1

the cars look nice without front plates....

OPP still ignore that their neighboor dont wear plates in the front...

[The1]

Originally Posted by MaximusJ

OPP still ignore that their neighboor dont wear plates in the front...

haha, they don't ignor us in ontario sadly people get away with it for maybe 2 - 3 days then get about a 150$ ticket. Unless they are lucky and get away with a warning.