135i Build - track toy with a license plate

[NinjaDog]

Originally Posted by berns

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?

Any particular reason you don't run semi slicks?
Personally the idea of driving to the track and driving home without swapping wheels appeals to me but semi's provide so much more grip. Also it's a lot cheaper for me to run semi's as I have access to loads of second hand tyres but that's me I guess

[berns]

Originally Posted by JimmyRickard

Any particular reason you don't run semi slicks?
Personally the idea of driving to the track and driving home without swapping wheels appeals to me but semi's provide so much more grip. Also it's a lot cheaper for me to run semi's as I have access to loads of second hand tyres but that's me I guess

haven't thought much about it. i'm more interested in occasionally competing in street class events, which require 200 treadwear tires. I'm already outclassed in most of these because street class for GTA can run a front splitter and rear spoiler, but I like the challenge. I don't have a truck or trailer, and taking 4 wheels and tires with me isn't that fun, so I'm into the idea of driving to and from the track on the same tires.

I'll be buying a truck / SUV this year, we'll see how the future goes. The plan is for this car to grow with me and it'll continue its journey to be more track-focused. Living on the Westside in LA, though, I love driving my tack car to the canyons or mountain roads on the weekends. So it's still a bit dual-purpose.

[wu2x]

This build is crazy and I love it. Thanks for all of the updates!

[MiamiM3]

Bern,

What RPM are you at in 6th gear on the highway at 80 mph with the 3.46 diff? I have a 2011 335i AT with a wavetrac LSD installed and I am debating on doing the 6 spd manual swap and keeping the 3.46 wavetrac diff installed.

[berns]

Originally Posted by MiamiM3

Bern,

What RPM are you at in 6th gear on the highway at 80 mph with the 3.46 diff? I have a 2011 335i AT with a wavetrac LSD installed and I am debating on doing the 6 spd manual swap and keeping the 3.46 wavetrac diff installed.

Around 3k I think... I'm away on a job for the next few days but will try to remember to check when I'm back.

UPDATE: German buddy of mine made a vid about my car. Check it!

[MiamiM3]

Watched it already, great video!

[frontside0815]

Nice! Food for the Couch after work :-)

Man what a nice Video, and this during off season here in germany :-D

[swagon]

Great vid! Car sounds wicked.

[MiamiM3]

Bern,

My 335i AT is at 2500 rpms when traveling 80 mph.

[trainerjon]

Great video, very well done!

[dane083]

Any news from titan7?

[iminhell1]

The first few pages of this thread are a must read for everyone. The amount of suspension talk is heaven.


berns, I'm jealous that you'r short. My problem is that I don't fit in the car with a helmet, lol.

[iminhell1]

Someone earlier in the thread had mentioned the amount of steering input seemed to be too much vs the turn angle. I thought so too. Took me a little to find why, knew I'd read about it before ...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/attac...6&d=1395978128

From post --> http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...2&postcount=23


Basically the high static negative camber is fighting you. To make up for it you naturally go to a stiffer spring, which is actually the opposite of what you want to do. What you actually want to do is reduce static negative camber and go to a softer spring. Allow the camber/toe gain/loss to work.

[berns]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

The first few pages of this thread are a must read for everyone. The amount of suspension talk is heaven.

berns, I'm jealous that you'r short. My problem is that I don't fit in the car with a helmet, lol.

I'm average height, eat shit!

Update time?

Car has been great, but I've slowed down a bit and haven't played with it too much. I got my Schroth harness in finally -- feels nice being secure in there. I think I'll move it to the passengers seat and order a Hans version of it for my side.



I installed my new Braille lithium ion G30 battery. It weighs 5.5lbs vs the stock 65lb monster. Seriously the absolute BEST bang for your buck weight reduction mod. I haven't had a single issue with holding a charge, and I really only start the car up on the weekends. I've let the car sit up to 2 weeks as well and it started up no problem. Can't recommend this upgrade enough. I installed it with a Macht Schnell battery mount in the stock location.





I then went over to my buddy Robert Chew who runs Chewerks. He worked out the alignment and corner balance. Car is definitely heavier than I'd like, but my roll bar and fancy rear seat delete didn't help matters. About 2250 without me and half a tank of gas. Time to remove the sunroof, get a carbon hood and trunk?



This is before I was in the car -- I'm 150ish lbs, balanced perfectly with me in there.



I started to notice my stock clutch slipping, which was weird to me since I ran my E90 to 110,000 miles on the stock clutch and the E82 only has 65k. Maybe the first owner wasn't the best driver, or this car is just making way more torque and being driven harder. I went with a SPEC Stage 3+ and SPEC Billet Steel Flywheel. Chatter is barely noticeable to me, probably because the car is already plenty loud and rigid. Engagement is a bit high and touchy, pedal feel is definitely stiffer but not unbearably so. It grabs hard and makes banging geas with my AKG shifter a TON of fun. Used all new hardware and the brass pivot pin as well, and an OEM throwout bearing. Was going to tackle this job myself but didn't want to run into any issues a few days before GTA Round 1, so Rob from Speed Logic took awesome care of me and got it done with super last minute notice! Thanks buddy.





I went out to Round 1 of Global Time Attack and spxxx was there too. It was a HOT day and I had extremely limited track time due to a Fiat rolling over on the out lap of our first session. So, only 3 sessions, lots of traffic, brand new Falken RT615k+, and, there are my excuses. I was looking to podium in Street RWD, and on my best lap of the day, the tires went to absolute shit by the time I made it to the final turn, Sunset. I hit the brakes from 120mph, went 4 off into the dirt, saved it the best I could and made it back on track to run a 2:02.3! My off cost me an easy 5 seconds. A 1:58 would have put me in 2nd out of 12, but a 2:02 put me in 6th. Oh well! I'll be back.









Had a chance to run Big Willow last Friday with Track Events. It was their first event, super cheap at $65 for the day, and I got 6 sessions @ 20 minutes each. The Falkens felt way better in the lower temps, and on this higher speed sweeper track. Wondering if they performed better since they were cycled at Buttonwillow? Either way, I had a blast and the car felt awesome. Ran a best of 1:34.4 -- seems respectable for the first time there. Was hitting 142mph on the front straight! Vids below.

Fastest lap was actually with a passenger. He's an S2000 guy, so he was blown away by the power and torque of the ol' N54. You can hear his excitement on the straight when I got into it!

They only allowed passing on the front and back straights, which was annoying, but not as annoying as this GT-R driver who felt the need to drag race everyone and think his horsepower could make up for lack of skill. Apparently the whole crowd cheered as I chased him down over 2 laps and passed him on the straight. I was fastest out of the 90+ in attendance which felt good for a change!

Next up will be more negative front camber thanks to SPL front lower control arms. I'm stuck at -2.8 right now but will be going for -3.5 this week. Should help out a lot. More on these arms soon.

Thanks for reading, dudes.

[iminhell1]

Originally Posted by berns

I'm average height, eat shit!

Do those seats really sit that much lower? (I'm 6')
I need


Me in stock seat, leaning

[berns]

Originally Posted by iminhell1

Do those seats really sit that much lower? (I'm 6')
I need


Me in stock seat, leaning

They are very, very low. I've thought about making some spacers to get a little higher honestly. I'm 5'9, though.

[HyeWarrior]

I love your car so effing much

[berns]

Originally Posted by HyeWarrior

I love your car so effing much

Thanks dude! I love it too.

[houtan]

Nice update! So for the battery is the IBS reconnected? I could kind of see everything from the picture you posted but just trying to understand where all the wires go after you remove that red plastic thing, I think the fuse disconnect it’s called.

[ajsmithvmi]

Is the half-cage a custom piece? How much did it run you, if you don't mind me asking?

[Ginger_Extract]

1:34 at Big Willow is moving. Went there recently for the first time in years. Ran 1:35 in the first session...and corded ANOTHER Nexen SUR4 in the second session. You're lucky you haven't run into wear issues. These tires are fast, but total junk.

[berns]

Originally Posted by houtan

Nice update! So for the battery is the IBS reconnected? I could kind of see everything from the picture you posted but just trying to understand where all the wires go after you remove that red plastic thing, I think the fuse disconnect it’s called.

You know, I'm not totally sure what that box did and I'm wondering if I should reconnect it. I'd seen people remove it and hadn't heard anything bad.

I did have an issue the way I initially hooked it up. You can see a thin gauge wire there on the positive side. This was way too thin for the job.

Driving home from my alignment, I smelled something burning. Shortly after that, all power died and the coolant light came on. I limped it off the freeway. The thin wire melted through, killed power to the water pump, and the coolant boiled and overflowed from the reservoir. I was pretty nervous. Thankfully, I had a thicker gauge wire with me at the time, swapped it over and simplified the system and now it's been fine. Here's a better photo for you.