Suprgnat's '13 M-Sport 128i, a mostly visual history

[Suprgnat]

Almost done.

[Suprgnat]

Finally got the whole shebang installed. Well, mostly. I haven't hooked up 12 V power to the USB Type-C power supply yet. It's a Samsung adaptive fast charger and the Type-C port was extracted from a USB Type-A to Type-C adapter and hard wired to the charger. I also added two M6 threaded bosses to either side of the instrument binnacle and flocked it all. My intent is to get a Ram Mount ball or some such thing on the RHS with the power port for a more secure cell phone mount (or whatever). LHS maybe I can mount something temporary like a scan gauge plugged in to the OBD port (again, or whatever).

I'm not completely happy with the evenness of the speedo/tach needle illumination. It's tough to get right. The trick is to get the paint patch that's there on the under side of the needle just the right balance of translucency. I'll fight that battle again some other day. I have more needles and stuff lying around to experiment on when I'm bored with all the other projects I have kicking around.

[Ric in RVA]

How does the instrument hood come off? Like the mount idea and having a close charger port. CLEAN!!

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

How does the instrument hood come off? Like the mount idea and having a close charger port. CLEAN!!

(4) T20 sheet metal screws.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

How does the instrument hood come off? Like the mount idea and having a close charger port. CLEAN!!

[N55135i]

1)Where can I get an E82 keyhole cover?
2)Have you considered blue seatbelts? (Anyone know a video source that shows seatbelt removal?)
3)I painted my performance exhaust muffler with black heat spray when I got it new because I didn't want it to stick out below or rust, left the chrome tips.
-Very nice car O.P.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by AHighSpeedDriver

1)Where can I get an E82 keyhole cover?
2)Have you considered blue seatbelts? (Anyone know a video source that shows seatbelt removal?)
3)I painted my performance exhaust muffler with black heat spray when I got it new because I didn't want it to stick out below or rust, left the chrome tips.
-Very nice car O.P.

1) P/N 51217161421, unpainted, no lights. Grinding the interior with a Dremel required to clear the lock tumbler.

2) My blue seat belts. This was going to be my year and then the Rona:

[PORTMOODY]

amazing work.

[Suprgnat]

I'm now doing a few audio upgrades. I started out out getting a Bavsound Revenant amp and it really woke things up! I mean, it sounds fantastic right out of the box, truly plug-and-play. They did a great job on the tune.

But...

Another project rabbit hole. I noticed the under-seats sounding muddy at higher volumes and replaced them with the Ghost under-seats. That took care of that, but after further reading I came to the conclusion that the "problem" is that the 676 speakers aren't designed for the higher power the amp delivers. Other than that the stockers are of demonstrably good quality. With that in mind I replaced the front mids and tweeters with Ebay BMW/Harman Kardon speaker, not because I think they'll sound any better but because I expect that they were designed to handle higher power that those of the 676 system. And you can pick them up for dirt cheap.

The 676 system (2013 MY) was an 8-speaker system with no rear deck tweeter, so I bought the HK version of those, too. They plug right in to the 676 rear deck speaker, but I'll replace them with the HK version as well so everything is matchy-matchy.

I'm now working on proper cross-overs and a sub box for the back. The crossovers are 3rd order high-pass Butterworth filters on the tweets and 2nd order low-pass Butterworth filters on the mids.

The sub box I'm designing from scratch around the JL Audio 10W1v3-4 10", 4 ohm sub. It tucks behind the back seat, under the parcel shelf. It's a sealed design with a rigid, birch plywood structure. My goal is clean, musical bass not boom, boom, boom. I built a mock-up to test fit it in the car and I can still get 3 carry-on sized suit cases in the back without any problem, so functionality isn't compromised too much (I have a pickup now, yay).

On to the photos...

[Suprgnat]

I finished the high-pass filters for the rear deck tweeters. They could have been a little smaller but that big 20 µF cap is a 400 V (instead of 250 V) version that was on sale for relatively cheap, and there's room in the cavity beneath the parcel shelf for it. I'm still waiting for some more parts, connectors and such, to finish the rest of the filters. The low-pass for the rear will be similar in construction to the rear high-pass, but I'll have to yank the door cards to figure out how I'm doing the fronts.

[Suprgnat]

Finished the low pass filters for the rear mids and got everything tucked away and installed in the rear parcel shelf. The system's sounding better and better.

Now it's time to pull the door cards and do the front.

[Suprgnat]

I finally installed the low and high pass filters in the passenger door card, and as usual it took way too long. The driver's side will take no time at all now that I have a plan. Now it's too warm in the garage to continue so, tomorrow.

Thanks Billfitz for the installation idea and schematics.

[cjb762]

I did the sharpie mod on my needles when I got my Venoxy gauge face, but am not really happy with the red. I really like the looks of your needles, and would like to do something similar.

I noticed you mentioned BluTec needle overlays earlier, but said you painted your needles above. Did the BluTec overlays not work out? If not, what paint did you use for your needles? And where did you get the extra needles that you have laying around?

Also - could you give a little more detail about how you did your needles - for example, it looks like you had to melt some joints to get the needles apart.

Amazing work - and thanks!

[Suprgnat]

Got around to installing the bass remote. Now I need to get around to the bass.

[golfer23rm]

whats the difference between buying a set of component speakers that come with 4" speakers, tweeters and a crossover and your diy crossovers?
maybe cost saving? better quality? what did you spend for your set up? how would it rate to a low/medium/high end aftermarket setup?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

whats the difference between buying a set of component speakers that come with 4" speakers, tweeters and a crossover and your diy crossovers?
maybe cost saving?

I don't know. I never approached it from that direction.

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

better quality?

I think the modifications I've done are a great improvement. Confirmation bias rules!

Originally Posted by golfer23rm

what did you spend for your set up? how would it rate to a low/medium/high end aftermarket setup?

Raw component prices were $76.17 US shipped, with taxes for the filter components, all four corners high and low pass, so less than $20 a corner for filter parts.

8 used OEM HK speakers were $218.43. (Note: There is nothing wrong with the 676 speakers. The HK were bought for their assumed higher power handling capability). Fronts were more expensive than the rears: $147.95 vs. $70.48.

As a system I think it sounds amazing. For a car.

Audio upgrade: $294.60 for 4 mids, 4 tweets, and 4 each high and low pass filters. That's $73.65 per corner. (plus wire 'n stuff)

Labor:

[RonnieRobotPants]

What an incredible visual journey so far, subbed!!!

How did you get to learn everything you've done to your car? From mechanical/suspension, exterior, interior, audio etc???

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by RonnieRobotPants

What an incredible visual journey so far, subbed!!!

How did you get to learn everything you've done to your car? From mechanical/suspension, exterior, interior, audio etc???

Hey, sorry I missed this post.

First off, I'm old(er), so experience. I've f*cked a lot of stuff up.

Cut my teeth on a Datsun 510, had it for 14 years, but I was "poor" (as were the quality of my mods) and then the divorce... My ex-father-in-law was a former Datsun mechanic and had lots of connections. He helped me build my first engine. Another friend taught me how to rebuild manual transmissions. Suspension I had to learn on my own mostly. No internet then, so books. I still have my copy of "How to Make Your Car Handle" (Copyright 1981!).

That said, I've spent a lot of time on this forum and e90Post. Straight up, these two forums are the best source for info (with a little filtering) for these cars.

Still learning, never stop.

[Suprgnat]

I finally added a build summary to the second post I had reserved for such a thing.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...70&postcount=2

[SmallDave]

Very cool to read through different parts and modifications list. Why no 3 stage IM, catless headers, milvs or tune?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by SmallDave

Very cool to read through different parts and modifications list. Why no 3 stage IM, catless headers, milvs or tune?

First off, N51 so no need for the 3-stage. Already has one.

Tune? I still have 3 years left on the killer SULEV warranty. After that a simple tune, maybe MILVs. As far as headers go, I don't want to deal with swapping them every two years for the smog test and frankly I have no desire to bypass the emissions control equipment (well, maybe the radiator). I'd consider catted headers, but none have a CARB OE. I have a 64 Austin Healey that, if I ever finish it, can be as stinky as I want.

A couple of years ago I went on a drive with a local 1-series group and was the only 128i to show up. On a rest stop by the beach, after driving over the Santa Cruz Mountains, I was chatting with one of the guys and had to point out the fog lights as he thought (driving behind me) that I had 135i. His response? "Well, don't tell anyone!" If you keep the N51/N52 on the boil it does just fine in the twisties, the instant throttle response is your friend. Almost makes me want to kill my clutch so I have an excuse to get that 12 pound flywheel.

I've always had u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ momentum vehicles and have focused on suspension first. My old 510 was anemic, but I could keep up with anything in the mountains (BITD). Well, except for my buddy's 510, but he was crazy. Got a bunch of great parts off of him when he flipped his car.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Hey, sorry I missed this post.

First off, I'm old(er), so experience. I've f*cked a lot of stuff up.

Cut my teeth on a Datsun 510, had it for 14 years, but I was "poor" (as were the quality of my mods) and then the divorce... My ex-father-in-law was a former Datsun mechanic and had lots of connections. He helped me build my first engine. Another friend taught me how to rebuild manual transmissions. Suspension I had to learn on my own mostly. No internet then, so books. I still have my copy of "How to Make Your Car Handle" (Copyright 1981!).

That said, I've spent a lot of time on this forum and e90Post. Straight up, these two forums are the best source for info (with a little filtering) for these cars.

Still learning, never stop.

I've got that!!!

Another old guy here. (IS 54 old? I don't feel old....) I also have the full "...to win" series.
https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Win-Ess.../dp/0615592570