135i Build - track toy with a license plate

[mKilgore]

Watched your in-car video, nice driving. I am surprised by the amount of input you have to give to the wheel to make the car turn. I don't know if this is due to the 135i's not-so-great steering ratios or if this is due to the understeer, or a combination of both, but it clearly looks like you are having to put in more input than I would normally expect.

[berns]

Few updates here.

Moving away from my square setup and going staggered. I think the body roll and rigidity is in a good place, but the car needs more rear grip. I'm going to keep my 18x9 +42 front wheels, and now run 18x9.5 +58 out back.

Giving the new Falken RT615k+ a try, 265/35 front and 275/35 rear.

+58 is a super high offset, geared toward stock suspension and stock-ish camber out back. Did the math and it looks like with a 10mm spacer, effective offset of +48, the wheel should stick outward exactly as much as my 18x9 +42, but with 12mm less inner clearance. I've got a lot of inboard room as of now, so we should be clear.

The front will be interesting, but I'll give it a go.

Rear cage is just about complete. I should be picking the car up tomorrow. Still need to get sub-belt brackets and harnesses, and I'm having an aluminum & wrapped rear seat delete made to keep it clean and keep the use of my trunk, without adding a ton of weight. The seat delete will be less >8lbs.

6lb lithium ion battery should be here soon as well. I'll probably try out a painted CF hood and see what else I can do to trim weight overall. I'll get the car on the scales soon to see where it's at.

[HyeWarrior]

So much gusta

[mKilgore]

That cage looks really nice. I'll be interested to see where it actually bolts in to the frame.

Also looking forward to what you say about the 265's up front. Good luck!

[NinjaDog]

Question for OP

I am planning a very similar build to yours, albeit over a much longer span of time.
Where would you spend your first $2-3k on a stock car (except tyres) to get it going on the track?

Cheers

[berns]

Originally Posted by JimmyRickard

Question for OP

I am planning a very similar build to yours, albeit over a much longer span of time.
Where would you spend your first $2-3k on a stock car (except tyres) to get it going on the track?

Cheers

I'd leave the engine stock for a long time.
Coilovers and LSD would be at the top of my list.
Good rotors, pad, lines and fluid should be done too.
Along with the right wheels and tires, this should be more than enough to have a fun little car.

Here's a quick update of the roll bar and rear seat delete. Picking the car up tomorrow and I'll get some good photos before I put the seats back in. So stoked on the outcome!
Anti-sub brackets ordered, thinking about which harnesses I'm going to go with.

Next up on the list to is to finally tackle the custom twin oil cooler setup. Definitely tired of being gentle to the car after a couple laps.

[houtan]

Looking good! They make any more copies of the rear seat delete?

[bbnks2]

Do the center console delete. 5lb weight savings lol

[HyeWarrior]

Dude sooooo much win.

When are you gonna be popping in bucket seats?

[berns]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

Dude sooooo much win.

When are you gonna be popping in bucket seats?

Recaro Pole Positions have been in since page 1 i think! More photos later.

[berns]

Just a quick update, photos tomorrow.

Confirming fitment of 18x9.5 +48 wheels out back with 275/35 RT615k+
AND 18x9 +39 up front with 265/35 RT615k+

I remember when I picked this thing up and was so worried I'd be stuck on an 8.5" wheel with a 235 up front.

So, so stoked. And finally not hating the stock body limitations of the non-M e82. Bumper and front fender will need some massaging to be perfect, but as of now they are untouched and completely stock.

[HyeWarrior]

Originally Posted by berns

Recaro Pole Positions have been in since page 1 i think! More photos later.

Totally missed that



And 265’s up front?! Drool

[frontside0815]

Originally Posted by berns

Just a quick update, photos tomorrow.

Confirming fitment of 18x9.5 +48 wheels out back with 275/35 RT615k+
AND 18x9 +39 up front with 265/35 RT615k+

I remember when I picked this thing up and was so worried I'd be stuck on an 8.5" wheel with a 235 up front.

So, so stoked. And finally not hating the stock body limitations of the non-M e82. Bumper and front fender will need some massaging to be perfect, but as of now they are untouched and completely stock.

That is really crazy...
TBH i think it´s necessary to say your car seem to be a Special one concerning Fender clearance...

I had 235/40/18 Dunlop Direzzas on 8,5x18 ET35 and they didnt fit in the front (no Body work) and also not in the rear (full Body work)....

Now with 8,5x18 ET38 245/35 Pilot Super Sport fit, but i don´t think 245/40/18 Semi Slicks will fit!

100% Sure no Chance without massive work to fit a 255 or 265...

[houtan]

Bump!

Originally Posted by houtan

Looking good! They make any more copies of the rear seat delete?

[berns]

Originally Posted by houtan

Bump!

Yeah, they have the template now and it can be recreated easily. I can't speak to price yet, but if you're interested in having one made, or the roll bar itself, or both, reach out to Ed @ Mobile Welding Specialist and tell him you want what's done in Alex's 135i. It can be wrapped whatever material you'd like. Mine matches OEM black leather really well, and the back portion is wrapped in OEM-like carpet so the trunk looks perfect.

Here are some photos of the cage and wheel / tire setup. Have to head out of town for the next 8 days on a job, so didn't have any time to take good photos. Once I'm back and I get a bit more done, I'll do a proper shoot.

[mKilgore]

are your suspension specs still the same as your first post?

[bionicbelly]

Very nice. Incredibly clean install.

[1and1]

Really, I'm just stunned that those pics are 265 front and 275 rears....
Amazing amount of rubber to fit in the fender without massive alterations.

Was it the spring diameter that gave you this much leeway?

Originally Posted by berns

Confirming fitment of 18x9.5 +48 wheels out back with 275/35 RT615k+
AND 18x9 +39 up front with 265/35 RT615k+

Originally Posted by berns

[berns]

Originally Posted by mKilgore

are your suspension specs still the same as your first post?

If you're looking at the VERY first post in this thread, then no -- the car was not aligned in those photos. I had just installed the coilovers and test fitted the wheels at that point.

Running -3* up front and -2.9* out back right now.

Originally Posted by 1and1

Really, I'm just stunned that those pics are 265 front and 275 rears....
Amazing amount of rubber to fit in the fender without massive alterations.

Was it the spring diameter that gave you this much leeway?

265 front on a 9" wide wheel no-less! It is the +42 ARC8 from APEX with a 3mm spacer, and the rear is the 9.5" +58 with a 10mm spacer.

Camber is playing a big roll here, for sure, but up front the biggest factor is that with a 7" Swift spring, the lower coilover perch is just above the top of the tire. I am only running the 3mm spacer for piece of mind, but the wheel and tire fit without.

I know it seems like black magic, but this is a fairly simple setup to replicate, with minimal work. It just took some testing and calculating, and willing to waste time and money, to see if it worked. I'm glad I did.

[M_POWERED_BMW]

Why are your tire choices so....bad? Its a great build and Im about 8/10s of the way there. (I love the roll cage)

[berns]

Originally Posted by M_POWERED_BMW

Why are your tire choices so....bad? Its a great build and Im about 8/10s of the way there. (I love the roll cage)

Not following.

Nexen Sur4G is probably one of the best tires I've run. RE71R had better all out grip, but got greasy and destroyed QUICKLY, where after 4 track days the Nexen's are still good. I even kept all 4 of them for backups.

Falken RT615's used to rule track / auto-x, the K+ has yet to be put through its paces, but I have a feeling it'll be great in the UTQG 200 category. These will be mostly street-driven. Still deciding what I'll try next when I get a second set of wheels for track-only.

What would you like me to run?

[houtan]

Originally Posted by berns

Yeah, they have the template now and it can be recreated easily. I can't speak to price yet, but if you're interested in having one made, or the roll bar itself, or both, reach out to Ed @ Mobile Welding Specialist and tell him you want what's done in Alex's 135i. It can be wrapped whatever material you'd like. Mine matches OEM black leather really well, and the back portion is wrapped in OEM-like carpet so the trunk looks perfect

Sweet. Thanks brother.