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01-31-2020, 06:29 PM | #353 |
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Nice "1" Alex! She's looking really good now! You've just about done everything and some things twice. Pretty soon it will just be maintain and enjoy driving(yeah right!).
I recently picked up a 135i of my own and will be getting into a few mods soon. Your thread is basically a 1 stop mod guide to these cars, great stuff and thanks for all the time and effort you spend to share all this with us. Last edited by blossom; 01-31-2020 at 07:16 PM.. |
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02-01-2020, 11:57 AM | #354 | |
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02-01-2020, 12:02 PM | #355 |
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With the constant beating I subject my N54 to, I was having some PCV issues and was tired of filthy valves and warping stock plastic valve covers. We all know the N54 runs hot, but for anyone that does road racing / time attack, you know it is a f%^*ing oven under the hood. I suspect the heat and abuse only accelerates the wear of the OEM valve cover.
I was intrigued with the VTT kit and while this setup isn't cheap, you really have to consider the cost of parts and labor on stock valve covers over the life of your car, plus walnut blasting! So, I'm glad I no longer have to worry about this part of the motor. https://vargasturbo.com/product/vtt-...c-valve-cover/ The VTT Valve Cover fits perfectly. Not a single issue. It is a seriously beautiful piece. I went with the Billet version over the cast one for weight savings, as this is a time attack car and every pound counts! Both Tony & Chris were awesome to deal with. They provided instructions on routing the lines and valves, and everything came ready to install. Tapping and plugging the head ports was a bit nerve racking, but it's really not a big deal once you get going. Just take your time and be gentle! Each catch can has a window to check consumption, and they both have easy to access drains on the bottom. I know VTT sells a small petcock valve that you can fit to the bottom of the cans and that'd make emptying them way easier. Definitely going to order some! After 6+ track days, I've had zero issues, and I don't expect any will turn up. Can't recommend this piece enough! Sorry for the not-so-pretty engine bay, it's a track car after all. Bonus shot of the valve cover in action at Chuckwalla!
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02-03-2020, 12:12 PM | #356 |
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As always, fantastic write up! You truly have a knack for story telling! lol
The turbo kit and valve cover look fantastic. Love the custom turbo work to fix the coupler melting problem. I like the idea of removing any potential points of failure. Good call! I've always wondered, what is that bung looking piece on the front of the VTT cover? Dipstick? (One can dream. lol) Looking forward to an update on your 2/9 event.
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Austinaslink's PS2 N55 135i Build - CLICK HERE
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02-05-2020, 03:26 AM | #357 |
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Man I love this! This is all the exact stuff I want to do to my car and how I want to drive it. But I don't know where to start. I just picked up my 2010 in December and have done a few simple bolt ons along with jb4, MHD, and Xhp tunes. If we could chat more it would be great.
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02-05-2020, 06:13 PM | #359 | ||
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The bung looking piece on the valve cover is a Vacuum Relief Valve. https://vargasturbo.com/product/vtt-...-relief-valve/ Quote:
N54/N55 is a tempting motor to just want to add power to but if you don't build up the cooling system, you should keep the tuning stock. It's a slippery slope. Good luck and enjoy the process. Switch is a funny word here, but yes. I pancaked two of the Volks on the track and actually had them straightened and they balance out. But they're only 9.5" wide and I love Titan7. I'm friends with the guys that own the company and really want to support them. It helps that they make an incredible product that they stand behind, at a great price. So, I'll keep these wheels till I upgrade to their 18x10.5's.
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02-06-2020, 12:47 AM | #360 | |
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02-06-2020, 09:51 PM | #362 | |
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Any race shop or good fabricator that deals with aero could help you with a chassis mount setup. mine is full quick release. Same for the bumper. Both come off with zero tools which is awesome.
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02-08-2020, 12:35 PM | #364 |
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Track prep with the buds last night. Did a power steering flush, drained catch cans, quick nut and bolt check and we're ready for Buttonwillow on Sunday. Hopefully I can shave some more time off.
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02-10-2020, 04:16 AM | #365 |
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Hi Alex, I hope button worked out well! Maybe you even scored another PB!(they don't come easily though'-)
How are those power flex sub frame and diff bushs working out? Still solid/ not wearing/ still hard enough? I need to do mine, right from the start and even the first test drive it was immediately obvious these were an issue and on top of that i fitted some new wheels with descent(ish) rubber a couple of days ago and the problem is even more accentuated now....hard braking at 200 over a minorish bump and the car jumps to one side by about a meter.. not too cool feeling! You commented earlier in the thread about taking a solid bushed car home for the night and the NVH being an issue... Although Ive seen lots of people comment that solid bushs are not an issue and that its the diff bushs that will transmit noise. Any thoughts to share? |
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02-12-2020, 05:11 PM | #366 | |
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02-12-2020, 06:48 PM | #367 | ||
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I can say, however, that my PowerFlex black track bushings make zero noise and had no negative impact on the car. They are a bitch to install but they're still in perfect condition and I'm glad I went this route.
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02-12-2020, 07:46 PM | #368 | |
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blossom Bushings didn't really help the instability while braking for me. Turning off nannies in the DSC module helped a huge amount with the sway and instability. Could also be your braking technique, I quickly learned that stomping on the pedal and riding through ABS is the least stable way to brake.
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02-13-2020, 07:40 AM | #369 | |
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Subframe mounts didn't seem to change much and neither did upper and lower strut mounts. |
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02-13-2020, 04:48 PM | #370 | |
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Solid diff bushings, rubber subframe. Most of the NVH is absorbed now by the rubber in the subframe. Solidify that, and now you have nothing really absorbing it, except the property of the metals and existing insulation on the floorplan. That's it. Considering piecemeal feedback of each component is completely illogical.
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02-13-2020, 06:25 PM | #371 | |
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If you're even considering upgrading your diff bushings, you're in the position that you WILL (extremely likely) be replacing your subframe bushings. Of the two, the subframe bushings will net you an infinitely more rewarding driving experience vs just doing diff bushings. Besides, anyone who's done any suspension work to their 1'er has solid or other very rigid, upgraded subframe bushings, it is THE must-do suspension mod for these cars, IMO. I had the exact same internal debate when I bought my bushings: do I just do the subframe bushings, or do I do the diff bushings, too, since I have the tool? I did both, regretted the diff bushings, and went back and fixed it while I still had the tool.
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02-13-2020, 07:56 PM | #372 |
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Well I did not upgrade the diff bushing for that exact reason. I knew it works like a package. Your tyre example is great. A semi/R-comp usually is much noisier right? Worse and more intrusive with solid mounts. So yes, it is illogical to consider each component in isolation and neglect their relationship.
I have also been down that line of messing around with driveline mounts on other platforms. Just not worth it unless there is so much distortion that doesn't let you engage gears for example. Just like we have frequencies for suspension itself. Frequencies for rubber bushes are carefully chosen and analysed under different conditions by OEM themself (obv for OEM metrics & purposes). Secondly, so many people do this and get suckered in by peers "while you're there" or vendors saying stiffer/bigger = better for all sorts of crap and are under the illusion that the aftermarket is an "upgrade". I'd go as far as saying a lot of rubbish out there is just that, a degrade. Edit: And so, I should really reword this "... I did not upgrade the diff bushing ..." to "I did not change the diff bushing" Or better yet, "degrade" Lol
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02-13-2020, 09:35 PM | #373 |
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Update: Was close to running my 1:52 lap, but caught up to a buddy in his Vette and he slowed me down at the fastest part of the track unfortunately.
Still a PB, but I'll be back to get it on the 28th and 29th. Car ran great all day. Changing to E30 and 16psi has kept the stock HPFP happy, and @WedgePerformance has nailed the tune. He's been here since I started tracking this car and it's been a great experience.
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02-14-2020, 12:39 AM | #374 | |
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