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

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by GoodMoodley

Installed a set of Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s. First track weekend at the end of the month. We'll see how they do.

Wow those do have good ratings... I'll need to take a look when it's time to replace my DWS's

[1and1]

Yup- Tirerack has them, currently, as the no.1 for the UHP Summer category. I found them when searching for the "newer version" of my long time favorite Bridgestone RE760 and the Firestone is it here in the US. There's some argument about the compound matching it's euro counterpart, but the reviews are so positive that it's got to be considered if you don't need the extra performance from a PSS or DW.


Number 1 in the tirerack UHP rankings:

[Matticus91]

FINALLY $%#&ING FINISHED MY CAR. I'm covered in grease, dirt, dust, and have more fiberglass/carbon fiber splinters than I can count. Actually, I didn't know carbon fiber splinters were possible till today, but they are, and I hate them.

Anyway I finished installing the Aerocatch hood latches, finished tucking away all the loose stuff behind my 1M rep bumper and figuring out where everything bolts up. I got the wheel well liners in, except for the back part which my shop may have thrown out.... so I'm waiting on that... and while I was at it I installed my new rear diffuser. I'm so happy to be done with this. Just need to get the ambient light sensor fixed tomorrow, new tires put on, and get the damn wheel well liner replaced/installed.

Then I took my car out in the random typhoon we had to clean off all the carbon/metal/fiberglass dusts it was coated with. Worked exceptionally well. I even got a wheel cleaning by driving up my driveway's apron since the flooding water was rushing by.

8/10 would typhoon-wash again.

Lazy pics:

20170420_230405 by Matt Steele, on Flickr
20170420_230326 by Matt Steele, on Flickr
20170420_230652 by Matt Steele, on Flickr


I realize the pictures are awful. I'm sorry, I did say they were lazy

I'll get better pictures if it's not T-storming tomorrow. Will also add in-progress pics to my build thread tomorrow..

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1263786

[minirips2]

A side view of those wheels would be great. Never mind. it's in your Av. Very sharp!

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by minirips2

A side view of those wheels would be great. Never mind. it's in your Av. Very sharp!

Ask and ye shall receive! Also some less-lazy shots with the finished look:

20170421_125733 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

20170421_125753 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

20170421_125806 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

[Level3]

Ebay lip, fitment is ok. Not great.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by Level3

Ebay lip, fitment is ok. Not great.

Looks good for eBay! Fitment usually is just "ok" with eBay stuff but I've been happy with my eBay rear spoiler and diffuser. Honestly, I paid $300 for them combined, which isn't even enough to get one or the other as "genuine" products. I'm completely happy with them ESPECIALLY when you consider that price differential.

[Level3]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Looks good for eBay! Fitment usually is just "ok" with eBay stuff but I've been happy with my eBay rear spoiler and diffuser. Honestly, I paid $300 for them combined, which isn't even enough to get one or the other as "genuine" products. I'm completely happy with them ESPECIALLY when you consider that price differential.

Totally happy with the lip. Especially since I might destroy it at some point. I got a carbon wing as well that fits pretty good. I ordered an ebay rear diffuser as well but it didn't come yet. This is my beater car so I'm not trying to price gouge myself on parts with this 1er (its a rebuilt salvage).

[1and1]

Finally joined BMWCCA, looks like I'm in the Gulf Coast Chapter

As usual, the Tallahassee area looks quiet and lonely...

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by 1and1

Finally joined BMWCCA, looks like I'm in the Gulf Coast Chapter

As usual, the Tallahassee area looks quiet and lonely...

Nice! I need to get on that. Also, move to the mid-atlantic area!

[crowtrobot]

Mounted new calipers & rotors and finally finished the BMW Performance BBK job I started. Replaced the two mid hardlines that run from the subframe to the calipers, and replaced the caliper flex lines with ECS steel lines. Also swapped over to my summer wheels (BF Goodrich Rivals).

Here's the cruddy old caliper vs. the new one. I decided to rattle-can them with Silver 950deg VHT Caliper paint. Wanted to preserve the clean finish of the new calipers without blinging them up too much. Thought about going the g2usa route and paint-matching them, but for $100 it wasn't worth it to me, and I don't really care for tarted-up steel calipers.



When I did the install of the fronts, I had started to attack the rears, but the flare fitting had bound up with the steel tubing and started to twist.



Rather than risk breaking the line, stopped the work until I could order spares. Local BMW Dealer (Burdick in Syracuse, NY, terrible place IMHO) had no idea what I needed and just told me to go to Autozone, but Jason at getbmwparts had the parts and got them to me in a couple days - great service. Certainly more expensive than Autozone hardlines, but they were pre-cut, pre-bent, and pre-fitted, saving me a bunch of time and tools. Ended up just shearing off the ends of the existing lines and popping the replacements in. Not sure if this corrosion was due to brake fluid or Upstate winters. In any case, feel much better with the clean lines in there.





Hooked the new calipers up with ECS Tuning's steel lines and just pulled the old rubber lines. Unfortunately, I did not replace the midlines with the ECS steel lines, since access is poor, and I'm worried the main hardline fittings will bind and twist off as well. That's going to be work for a shop/another time.

Used EBC Yellowstuffs in the front, added the same to the rear. Will be at Watkins for an event next weekend, will report back how they hold up. Feel great on the street.



Between the new brakes, new pads, and summer tires, I am super satisfied with the braking of the car now. Pedal feel is fantastic, great bite, and great stopping power. Looking forward to getting to the track!

[Gray_Panther]

Fellow upstate 1er!

[wannabeemer]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

20170421_125753 by Matt Steele, on Flickr

Good looking wheels.

[Gray_Panther]

Full interior detail on my 128i and GTI.



The 128i has almost 34k miles on it. If the exterior and interior are kept in this condition at 200k I will be a very very happy man.

[desertman123]

Hit a possum last night head on at like 40mph. Went over a small crest and right when I got to the top and started heading down I see my headlights light up it's eyes. Had barely 2 seconds before BOOM.

Don't worry though, my car is fine and the possum was okay enough to run off. My car isn't lowered so I think he just got shaken the f up by hitting my splash guard.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Hit a possum last night head on at like 40mph. Went over a small crest and right when I got to the top and started heading down I see my headlights light up it's eyes. Had barely 2 seconds before BOOM.

Don't worry though, my car is fine and the possum was okay enough to run off. My car isn't lowered so I think he just got shaken the f up by hitting my splash guard.

Glad your car was ok. Glad the possum was ok too. I get a lot of them in the hills in my backyard. Plus squirrels and raccoons as well. Possums are sad little misunderstood creatures. I don't mind any of them, as long as they don't make a pest of themselves.

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Glad your car was ok. Glad the possum was ok too. I get a lot of them in the hills in my backyard. Plus squirrels and raccoons as well. Possums are sad little misunderstood creatures. I don't mind any of them, as long as they don't make a pest of themselves.

Me too it was really a best case scenario. Everyone was okay physically . I did turn around and try to find the little dude but he was GONE.

I would've felt SO bad if I smoked him.

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Me too it was really a best case scenario. Everyone was okay physically . I did turn around and try to find the little dude but he was GONE.

I would've felt SO bad if I smoked him.

I released one I caught in a cage. I am pretty sure they prey on rodents and snakes. They ugly af but they do their job.

[WDE82]

I got my right side tie rod out and installed a new one from Lemforder. It had seized and they couldn't align it after I put in my new springs (Eibach Prokit) and shocks/struts. Had to cut it on half while on the car to retrieve the boot. Also, Kroil seems to work since I was able to get the 21mm outside nut off fairly easily.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Hit a possum last night head on at like 40mph. Went over a small crest and right when I got to the top and started heading down I see my headlights light up it's eyes. Had barely 2 seconds before BOOM.

Don't worry though, my car is fine and the possum was okay enough to run off. My car isn't lowered so I think he just got shaken the f up by hitting my splash guard.

That's good it looks like everyone "walked" away from this. I had two unfortunate incidents with animals with my now gone Ford Focus. First situation was on a highway where the speed limit was 65. I was traveling about 70 at the time and saw a furry blob dart out from the woods on the right and run across the highway. BOOM! Car drove fine so I didn't think much of it. Pull off the highway near home and hear an awful scratching/scraping noise. I pull over to see what was going on. See the lower air scoop/air dam hanging loose under the car causing the scraping noise against the road. Thought, ok, that's not too bad in terms of damage. Next morning I get up and go look at my car in the daylight. Damaged bumper cover, damaged lower radiator core support, bent A/C condensor, and if I recall correctly the radiator was messed up too. Insurance fixed it under comprehensive.

Next incident. Again driving home in the evening. Less than a mile from home rounding a bend in the road. All of a sudden as my headlights light up the inside part of the road, an F'ing rat with antlers is standing in the middle of the fricken road. Because that road has no street lights, it was camouflaged by the field and woods in the background. Slam on my brakes about 20 to 30 feet away from the deer and hit it doing about 30 MPH. Deer goes airborne and I watch it fly to off to my left. That animal incident finally did in that car as insurance totaled it even though the car was perfectly driveable. The silver lining was I almost drove my 135i which I had just bought new 2 months prior that night.

[WDE82]

Finally the car is aligned and I can drive it after installing Bilstein B8, Eibach Prokit springs, 15 mm rear sway bar, M3 front arms, and sub frame inserts. This thing is amazing now. Even better than my E46 coupe when it was still young.

Next up will have to be brakes. Clearly a weak point on the 128i now that the suspension is so good.

[Dthltm]

I finally mounted my $88 dollar ebay spoiler this the help of my gf yesterday...she was zero help and its about 2MM to the right of center. It bugs me but to most will hardly be noticeable.

This morning I dropped the 135 off at a dealership here in Dallas to have them replace my leaking coolant reservoir. I requested any car but a 320i, because its a piece of shit, and got a new X3. I used to drive an Ford Expedition so it's nice to ride around up high once again for a day.