Gone over to the Dark side.....BSM 135i slow build thread

[Ric in RVA]

So I lost my Ti Koral 128i Sport to an unfortunate accident and this thread is going to be the new repository of of its replacement and its mods.

Initially I was averse to Turbos and the extra maintenance they would eventually entail....but then I drove one with a DCT. I hated the DCT but loved the power ...and the brakes!!!

So I started my search and included 135i's as well.

Local Craigslist add popped up and a deal was struck.

And here she is....












2 owners Virginia car last owned by a Mercedes Sales rep.

Just had Plugs done, New belt and tensioner,

53000 miles.

More to come later!

[swagon]

Fourth to third downshifts followed by mashing the gas pedal are so fun in this car. Power is addictive! But, I do not want more than I have now. It's the right amount of power that can be enjoyed on the street.

Nice car. Hope it'll last longer.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by swagon

Hope it'll last longer.

Me too...

My kids will not be driving unsupervised in this one...

That second gear whoosh is addictive...

[Cmoney135i]

n54 or n55


grats

[Esteban]

So, are we to assume you'll be driving a fast car fast?

At least some of the time?

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Esteban

So, are we to assume you'll be driving a fast car fast?

At least some of the time?

Maybe......appropriate time and place of course.

N55, JB4 map 1 for now....

[Esteban]

Of course...

[1and1]

Welcome to The Dark Side, we have cookies

Hope she treats ya well!

[Overpar56]

Driving fast in VA = Jail. . I'll be driving through VA to VIR in a couple weeks. Cops are nasty in that state.

Nice looking 135. Congrats!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Overpar56

Driving fast in VA = Jail. . I'll be driving through VA to VIR in a couple weeks. Cops are nasty in that state.

The post above made me curious.

http://jalopnik.com/what-every-drive...ini-1669902845

Eye opening, to say the least!

Is it still like this?

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Esteban

The post above made me curious.

http://jalopnik.com/what-every-drive...ini-1669902845

Eye opening, to say the least!

Is it still like this?

Yeah.....My usual hard is sub 80. 20 over or above 80 is Reckless. Big fines and charges.

The reliance on radar and their sloppiness with it is somewhat helpful but they do run detector detectors and RD are illegal in VA.

Lots of instant on laser too. They also use unmarked cars and SUVs.

WAZE helps a bunch.

I also ride motorcycles so it has really become a time and place appropriate exercise in judgement.

I gravitate more towards tight twisty back roads with relatively low speeds and higher g loading.

But track days are an option with Summit, VIR and now Dominion all within a couple hours of home.

If you haven't been to VIR you will love it. My favorite track. Been around it many times in a 318is, 325i Spec E30 and a TL1000s.

[Overpar56]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Yeah.....My usual hard is sub 80. 20 over or above 80 is Reckless. Big fines and charges.

The reliance on radar and their sloppiness with it is somewhat helpful but they do run detector detectors and RD are illegal in VA.

Lots of instant on laser too. They also use unmarked cars and SUVs.

WAZE helps a bunch.

If you haven't been to VIR you will love it. My favorite track. Been around it many times in a 318is, 325i Spec E30 and a TL1000s.

I hide the RD right before I hit the tunnel at the border on I-77. Having it turned off and hanging in the window is enough to get you into a discussion with the law.

Route 58 from 77 over to Martinsville has some nice twisties. Lovers Leap down the hill is pretty challenging. Going west uphil it seems I always get a logging truck ahead of me.

I've been on the track once with Mike Renner fromthe BMW Performace Center. I think he drifted the M3 around most of the corners, including Oaktree. Caught some air in the climbing esses. 142 on the back straight. Loved every second of it.

[Ric in RVA]

After actually getting to drive the car somewhere other than around town....I have to say DAYUM this thing is fast....

The 128 was quick, you could run it hard and shift up through the gears...and felt more nimble.

This thing is more an exercise in restraint...it just begs you to nail it. It feels heavier and maybe more refined? (More unsprung weight maybe?). More of a Iron fist/ Velvet glove thing. I need to go to the mountain twisties to really exercise it.

I felt much the same way between my 318i E30 and my 325i Spec E30 car. One was a great fun nimble unintimidating back road dancer....and the other was a sledge hammer.

I love how traffic just disappears behind you.

But it is uncanny in that it can be driven 100% sane and you would never know it has that mad power. The suspension isn't punishing and the ride is well controlled.

I am liking the Dark Side.....

[1and1]

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Maybe......appropriate time and place of course.

N55, JB4 map 1 for now....

Map 5 is your best friend

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Map 5 is your best friend

So 5 is auto tune? Any negatives about it? I have never tried it.....

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

So 5 is auto tune? Any negatives about it? I have never tried it.....

Correct it's autotune, no negatives. I prefer it to map 1 since it will adjust for climate/gas/etc and reduce boost if necessary.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Correct it's autotune, no negatives. I prefer it to map 1 since it will adjust for climate/gas/etc and reduce boost if necessary.

I have been running around in 5 recently. It is a nice jump!


This car is just drama free fast. You can drive it slow all day or kick it and whomp...it just goes.

I have been getting TERRIBLE gas mileage...but that is not the cars fault...

[Overpar56]

Terrible gas mileage? Try driving around a RX8.

I get around 18 in town, mostly in sport mode just to hear the burbles. I had a high of 29.8 highway at around 75MPH. Mostly 26 on the highway at 70-80mph. Pretty close to the EPA rating.

Fun factor is part of the joy of driving it. One of my friends drove my car recently. He has a Cayman GT4. He was amazed how much low end torque there was. Of course the GT4 is much faster and handles like its on rails, but we're talking about a $100K car purposely built.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Overpar56

Terrible gas mileage? Try driving around a RX8.

I get around 18 in town, mostly in sport mode just to hear the burbles. I had a high of 29.8 highway at around 75MPH. Mostly 26 on the highway at 70-80mph. Pretty close to the EPA rating.

Fun factor is part of the joy of driving it. One of my friends drove my car recently. He has a Cayman GT4. He was amazed how much low end torque there was. Of course the GT4 is much faster and handles like its on rails, but we're talking about a $100K car purposely built.

26 seems low at those speeds, I regularly see 30mpg cruising in my car, even with the JB4 on map 5. I cruise between 70-80 as well.

[tommyb13662]

I find i can get reliable 30ish mpg @65 and under on the highway. But on the 6MT with almost 3k rpm@80+ it bombs to around 20 mpg. 70-75 is around 25mpg. It annoys me that the auto turns only 2500 rpm at about 80. I think the 6mt would have better fuel economy if it wasnt turning 500 rpm faster at speed.

[spangler]

Great looking car!, congrats!