Return to the 128i thread....

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

Order shipped...supposed to be here UPDATE SATURDAY!!!! Impressive shipping speed!!

And the front bar is in!

Found slight seep around oil pan...but that's to be expected. Found about half the bolts could take 1/4 turn with not much torque so snugged those a touch and cleaned the oil to monitor.

Ordered a new undertray since mine is crunchy.

[carscatscoffee15]

Hey, for the F30 conversion which did you go with? F30 base or M Sport caliper?

Was it a direct bolt on? Did you use any of the guides found within this forum? What other parts did you need?

This is my next maintenance/upgrade.. just got my brake service light.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by carscatscoffee15

Hey, for the F30 conversion which did you go with? F30 base or M Sport caliper?

Was it a direct bolt on? Did you use any of the guides found within this forum? What other parts did you need?

This is my next maintenance/upgrade.. just got my brake service light.

All the info came from the forum here. https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...30+caliper+e82

It is the grey caliper and the 340mm 335i rotor. I got them CHEAP off ebay. Someone had painted them a hideous orange and I took a chance that they'd be lovely under that awful paint and they were! Just cleaned them up and ran them as is.

Everything bolted up. Didn't code anything but I will probably enable sport brake next time I set up the coding computer...

The 261 wheels needed a spacer to not rub the caliper.

My arc aero 7 and 17" sparco's fit with no spacer.

[Ric in RVA]

So we have an addition to the garage! And this one actually goes in the garage!

2009 Porsche Cayman 987.2. I've only had her for 3 days now. Pics and driving impressions to follow.

For now I'll say that the 128i sport, they way I have it set up right now, compares surprisingly favorably to the Cayman!

It occupies different ends of the same spectrum. Analog, reasonably powered, reasonable weight, great feel...just goes about it in a different way.

[Almuliman]

Nice! I've decided my next experience should be mid engined, so ideally a Cayman (not a big convertible guy) or a Boxster. Would like an S, but at the end of the day, it'll probably be opportunity and budget deciding. As long as it's a stick and not black.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Almuliman

Nice! I've decided my next experience should be mid engined, so ideally a Cayman (not a big convertible guy) or a Boxster. Would like an S, but at the end of the day, it'll probably be opportunity and budget deciding. As long as it's a stick and not black.

Black was not my first choice...but black is a very good base color to wrap....

Thinking audi grey......

The sweet spot on these cars i 2009+(no ims). , then pre 2005 1/2 ( replaceable IMS), the 2005 1/2 + to 2008 scared the crap out of me with NON replaceable IMS, bore scoring crap shoot....

[Almuliman]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

The sweet spot on these cars i 2009+(no ims). , then pre 2005 1/2 ( replaceable IMS), the 2005 1/2 + to 2008 scared the crap out of me with NON replaceable IMS, bore scoring crap shoot....

Doing drive homework this weekend, I've driven a couple of S Boxsters and one non-S. I should not have driven the S's first <facepalm>.

The non-S was a well used 56K '01 that felt its age more than the low miles – it was in pretty good shape, but felt like it needed bushings, definitely new tires —10+ years old and outright dangerous—and a lot of TLC. I don't mind all of that, but having driven a low mileage '06 S first, the engine was much slower to respond and the add'l power in the S was very noticeable (yes, I know – really don't need that much power, but ... ) Plus I'm finding the lack of steering wheel tilt on at least some of the 986s and what seems like additional travel for the driver's seat or maybe just more room to tilt the back in the 987.1 makes the 987 a more comfortable choice for my build and preference.

The '06 S has just over 21K miles and was flat out amazing. At nearly $30K, it's out of the budget I've chosen, but had it not been for ... let's say "spousal constraints", I might have signed on the spot.

I'm actually thinking the '05.5-'08 with the non-serviceable IMS and potential bore scoring issues may be the sweet spot for me. A bore score inspection is apparently $5-600, so I'm thinking I'd get that done to make sure I start in the clear, and find a car that's been driven regularly and with a lot of the mileage in the early (warranty covered) years. Not a guarantee it won't happen, as far as I understand it, but it may be enough that I'll take the chance.

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by Almuliman

Doing drive homework this weekend, I've driven a couple of S Boxsters and one non-S. I should not have driven the S's first <facepalm>.

The non-S was a well used 56K '01 that felt its age more than the low miles – it was in pretty good shape, but felt like it needed bushings, definitely new tires —10+ years old and outright dangerous—and a lot of TLC. I don't mind all of that, but having driven a low mileage '06 S first, the engine was much slower to respond and the add'l power in the S was very noticeable (yes, I know – really don't need that much power, but ... ) Plus I'm finding the lack of steering wheel tilt on at least some of the 986s and what seems like additional travel for the driver's seat or maybe just more room to tilt the back in the 987.1 makes the 987 a more comfortable choice for my build and preference.

The '06 S has just over 21K miles and was flat out amazing. At nearly $30K, it's out of the budget I've chosen, but had it not been for ... let's say "spousal constraints", I might have signed on the spot.

I'm actually thinking the '05.5-'08 with the non-serviceable IMS and potential bore scoring issues may be the sweet spot for me. A bore score inspection is apparently $5-600, so I'm thinking I'd get that done to make sure I start in the clear, and find a car that's been driven regularly and with a lot of the mileage in the early (warranty covered) years. Not a guarantee it won't happen, as far as I understand it, but it may be enough that I'll take the chance.

2009 base is 265 hp...and 6 speed close ratio gearbox.

SO thats your pre 2009 S horspower with NO IMS, Bore Score, or DFI.

Brakes and suspension on S and non S are identical....well brakes are slightly thicker but all the replacement discs are thicker anyways.

Speaking of sweet spots.... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...1-3123daa11f3c

[Almuliman]

Originally Posted by Ric in RVA

2009 base is 265 hp...and 6 speed close ratio gearbox.

SO thats your pre 2009 S horspower with NO IMS, Bore Score, or DFI.

Brakes and suspension on S and non S are identical....well brakes are slightly thicker but all the replacement discs are thicker anyways.

Speaking of sweet spots.... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...1-3123daa11f3c

Thanks, very helpful points to sharpen my thinking. Sweet spot indeed.

[Ric in RVA]

It is an incredibly well balanced driver. Smooth and docile at lower revs and then you hit 4000 or so and she rips to redline. Long gearing means mostly 2nd and 3rd (about 100 max) in the twisties is all you ever need.

The suspension is decently damped (keep in mind its original and she has 107000 on her!) and has long enough travel to deal with all of virginia's little tar and chip backroads confidently. She points in and rotates quick. The mass feels about a foot behind you and about as high as your hips. It is a weird feeling coming from a front engine car....there is definitely a feel to a car with mass centralized.

Build quality is much better than the BMW 128 but thats to be expected in a car that was probably 20K more new. Of course it has all the rubberized interior paint that is starting to peel.

I've added a short shifter to tighten up a little slop in the OEM shift mechanism. Where BMW uses 10 screws and parts, Porsche uses 25. But a fun car to work on....a little weird you can never just pop the hood and gaze upon the lump of motor. It is very odd to hear all the belt, chain, cam, gear noise emanating from behind you. But drop the drivers window and listen to the intake just over your left shoulder is pretty great...


Now if I could only get the BMW to run.....maybe coils and plugs today will do it..

[Ric in RVA]

So the 128 developed a missfire on cylinder 1. Did the swap coil/ swap plug see if it moves process and it didn't so I suspected the injectors.

Plugs were about 30K and coils probably original. Injectors were probably original.

Swapped in FCPEuro remn injectors and nothing changed. visually inspected cylinder/ valves/ manifold/ wiring harness with no issues.

Replaced coils and plugs and issue went away.

Added M sport perforated wheel and CF mirror caps. Sanded and painted OEM caps with trim paint due to clear coat failing and not wanting to see red paint under the mirror caps.

[Ric in RVA]

I started a Virginia 128i group.

Just to help coordinating some drives or meet ups later on this year. Come join!

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/group.php?groupid=243