What did you do to/for your 1er today?

[ml26]

Yeah, I’m not changing my front bar. Just added a rear since I didn’t have one before.

Hard to tell with the shit old subframe bushings on the car, but I don’t really feel like it was noticeable not being on there. Car cornered well. Terrifying at times, but I don’t really get a lot of roll.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by ml26

Yeah, I’m not changing my front bar. Just added a rear since I didn’t have one before.

Hard to tell with the shit old subframe bushings on the car, but I don’t really feel like it was noticeable not being on there. Car cornered well. Terrifying at times, but I don’t really get a lot of roll.

Consider stiffer RSFBs and a LSD now that you have a rear bar.

[DudeMan89]

Got a lap belt buckle to use temporarily and put the Sparco R100 seat in. Had to play around with Pro Tool quite a bit to clear the SRS light. I kept getting a code for the driver seat position sensor even though I disabled everything related to seat occupancy so I had to remove it from the old seat and plug it in.

The good:

The non sport factory seats are terrible and its so nice having an actual bucket seat with some side bolstering, I'm no longer hanging over the center console or getting pushed into the door on aggressive turns.

Being more planted makes everything feel better, braking, shifting, etc.

For some reason getting into and out of the car feels easier.

The bad:

I was hoping this seat would sit lower than the original but its definitely higher. I would prefer to sit more up right but I had to recline the seat so my head isn't touching the roof.

The seat belt is harder to reach.

The backrest is very firm. This isn't an issue so far but I'll have to see how it feels going on extended drive.


Overall I'm pretty happy with it. The lack of bolstering on the original seat was really bothering me every time I drove the car. They just aren't adequate after all the suspension upgrades.



Maybe off topic but I'm finally getting out of the apartment life and take possession of my first house next month. The biggest selling point was the massive heated garage so my little Bimmer will have a new home.

[ml26]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Consider stiffer RSFBs and a LSD now that you have a rear bar.

I just put in an m3 subframe, solid billet bushings, m3 toe arms, m3 upper arms and an LSD with 3.64 gearing….

Put in the rear sway since I had the subframe out.

Just waiting on alignment!

[ShocknAwe]

On seats: I'll be changing my seats for sure. Spending 6 months daily driving a 964 911 has changed my perspective on what it means to have supportive seats.

I'm thinking Recaro PP.

I'm also going to rip out all the sound deadening and insulation.

[Meestah Chow]

Attachment 3814266

Maybe off topic but I'm finally getting out of the apartment life and take possession of my first house next month. The biggest selling point was the massive heated garage so my little Bimmer will have a new home.

Attachment 3814280[/QUOTE]

Is that a Santa Cruz Hecker?

Also cute plate on the Honda.

[tturedraider]

Ordered leather dye/repair kit, a stubby antenna, and a new aux/iPhone cable. Picking up some Gummi Pfleg tomorrow. Seals are pretty dry and really need it!!!

[Fishee]

Originally Posted by Meestah Chow

Attachment 3814266

Maybe off topic but I'm finally getting out of the apartment life and take possession of my first house next month. The biggest selling point was the massive heated garage so my little Bimmer will have a new home.

Attachment 3814280

Dream blank canvas garage.

[jdt10768]

Originally Posted by Fishee

Dream blank canvas garage.

yess, and put a LIFT in there !

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Ordered leather dye/repair kit, a stubby antenna, and a new aux/iPhone cable. Picking up some Gummi Pfleg tomorrow. Seals are pretty dry and really need it!!!

Post pics of your seat repair!

[DudeMan89]

Originally Posted by Meestah Chow

Is that a Santa Cruz Hecker?

Also cute plate on the Honda.

Not my bike or vehicles. Pic is from the listing, I take possession next month.

There was actually a mint E92 M3 in there when I went to view it in person.

Originally Posted by Fishee

Dream blank canvas garage.

As a car guy the garage was almost more important than the house. I'll post more pics when I get settled in. Want to add some shelving and a nice work bench.

Originally Posted by jdt10768

yess, and put a LIFT in there !

I probably will at some point but for now my shop is only a few blocks away with hoists and all my tools. It will be great for car washes, detailing, paint correction, drinking beer, etc.

[blue135]

Ok, just rub it in. Don't need no stinkin' lift. Got some just a few blocks away. Me envious? You bet!

[Fishee]

Originally Posted by DudeMan89

As a car guy the garage was almost more important than the house. I'll post more pics when I get settled in. Want to add some shelving and a nice work bench.

Yep, I share that sentiment... Garage was critical in my house purchase.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by Fishee

Post pics.

edit: looks to be very old forum software that doesn't support setting image size, so it makes it too big.

Anyways, it's a super fun car to drive around The Ring and surrounding Eifel region. This mini torque rocket munches the hills like a hungry cookie monster. DCT also shines here.
Can't wait for the next trip.

[RFChas]

At 47k miles my '08 128i is about ready for brake service. So, for fun, I ask AI for recommendation:

Recommended Combo for You (low dust + spirited street):
• Pads: Akebono Euro Ceramic (front & rear)
• Rotors: Zimmermann Coat Z (front & rear)
• Lines: StopTech Stainless Steel
• Fluid: ATE Typ 200

This setup will:
• Cut brake dust to about 30–40% of stock (your wheels stay much cleaner).
• Improve pedal feel with stainless lines.
• Give plenty of braking confidence for mountain runs or spirited backroads.
• Keep noise & squeal issues minimal.

Suggested M-performance/135i brakes if interested in more aggressive driving or occasional track day. AI is friggen wild. Cheers all

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by RFChas

At 47k miles my '08 128i is about ready for brake service. So, for fun, I ask AI for recommendation:

Recommended Combo for You (low dust + spirited street):
• Pads: Akebono Euro Ceramic (front & rear)
• Rotors: Zimmermann Coat Z (front & rear)
• Lines: StopTech Stainless Steel
• Fluid: ATE Typ 200

This setup will:
• Cut brake dust to about 30–40% of stock (your wheels stay much cleaner).
• Improve pedal feel with stainless lines.
• Give plenty of braking confidence for mountain runs or spirited backroads.
• Keep noise & squeal issues minimal.

Suggested M-performance/135i brakes if interested in more aggressive driving or occasional track day. AI is friggen wild. Cheers all

i would stick with your stock rubber lines. inspect them and if they're cracking then replace with OE rubber lines.

the akebono pads, zimmerman rotors, and ate fluid is a very solid choice. fcp should have a kit with all of that. stock brake calipers will be just fine for you, no need to upgrade unless you are tracking heavily.

[Fishee]

Originally Posted by mkeiser

i would stick with your stock rubber lines. inspect them and if they're cracking then replace with OE rubber lines.

the akebono pads, zimmerman rotors, and ate fluid is a very solid choice. fcp should have a kit with all of that. stock brake calipers will be just fine for you, no need to upgrade unless you are tracking heavily.

For kicks and fun project work I replaced my stock rubber lines (which were pretty hard after 11 years) with stoptech braided stainless. I mean, made a nice difference in brake feel, but not earth shattering. They look nice too lol.

I went with OE brembo rotors and ebc red stuff pads on all corners.
Very nice combo, and affordable (though the EBCs were a tad pricey by comparison to brembo or akebono ceramics).

In the end, can't go wrong with brembo or zimmerman for rotors, and brembo and akebono for pads. EBCs are probably not worth the premium, but my baby gets little gifts from time to time

Oh, and I used genuine BMW brake fluid - it was actually less expensive than aftermarket.

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by Fishee

For kicks and fun project work I replaced my stock rubber lines (which were pretty hard after 11 years) with stoptech braided stainless. I mean, made a nice difference in brake feel, but not earth shattering. They look nice too lol.

Yeah I'm in full agreement on it being a fun project (at least the fronts... the backs, not so much... ) but it's definitely not needed and most people would see the same difference in brake feel by refreshing their rubber lines with new.

There's a lot of pros/cons to the stainless steel lines and I think one should do their own research rather than being blindly led by AI (no offense RFChas).

Okay off my soap box!

[Fishee]

Originally Posted by mkeiser

Yeah I'm in full agreement on it being a fun project (at least the fronts... the backs, not so much... ) but it's definitely not needed and most people would see the same difference in brake feel by refreshing their rubber lines with new.

There's a lot of pros/cons to the stainless steel lines and I think one should do their own research rather than being blindly led by AI (no offense RFChas).

Okay off my soap box!

Def not necessary, I agree...

My rears were a cinch, but my car has never seen salt or snow.
Good luck to anyone with corroded flare nuts on those little mid-hose sections in the rear.

[ShocknAwe]

Don't change the lines.

I really like stop tech pads as well

[tracer bullet]

I don't think I'd ever do SS lines as its own project, but if you're already considering replacing the rubber ones it's certainly worth considering. As OE parts tend to disappear they get more expensive, and as aftermarket parts lay around a long time for cars that get modified less often they tend to get cheaper.

I'd say they make a difference but I've only done it in combo with other brake related jobs that were probably the more important ones making the improvements.

[DudeMan89]

Originally Posted by blue135

Ok, just rub it in. Don't need no stinkin' lift. Got some just a few blocks away. Me envious? You bet!

Just become a mechanic, you'll always have access to a hoist.

Only downside is you have to work on peoples junk all day, every day.

Originally Posted by Fishee

Good luck to anyone with corroded flare nuts on those little mid-hose sections in the rear.

I replaced my brake hoses with braded stainless a few months ago because one of my rubber lines was split.

Thought it would be nice and easy, maybe an hour or two.

Turned into a such a headache. Small torch, big torch, penetrating fluid, bees wax, swear words, patience, spinning calipers off hoses with fluid getting everywhere, etc. Eventually I was able to replace them without having to cut and flare any lines.

My car isn't even rusty but it doesn't take much for those flare nuts to seize apparently.