Good beginner mods?

Taskmaster · 07-17-2014, 12:32 PM

Well; AFE claims the headers will not trigger a CEL and they can be had for about $1000. I'm set on the S man headers myself though.

JimD · 07-17-2014, 12:57 PM

My mods have been cosmetic but have improved my enjoyment of my bimmer.

I have flash2pass on it (but it only works on some garage door openers so check that out first). It lets you open the garage door with a double tap of the high beam switch.

My daughter bought me the BMW umbrella with it's storage compartment you install in the passenger footwell. It's a nice umbrellam, the holder makes it handy, and it doesn't take up any usable space.

I installed a Garmin Nuvi 885t on the dash to the left of the instrument cluster on a custom metal bracket wired to the car.

Not really a mod but I carry a Viair 70P compressor, tire gauge, and plugging kit in the trunk.

I installed the drink holder that comes with the idrive so I have two usable ones.

I installed metal covers for the dead pedal, clutch, brake, and gas pedal.

I installed mud flaps and black grills.

I also put on Michelin PSS tires when the run flats wore out.

chris82 · 07-17-2014, 01:04 PM

There are a lot of places to start here. performance exhaust will be great like you are doing. Idk how much you care about the ride but good tires (pilot supersports!) and the m3 front sway are excellent. I also love my BMW performance short shift kit, which is pretty cheap. You can do really simple stuff like a shift knob upgrade, wrapping interior trim, black kidney grilles (is it grill or grille?), wrapping shadowline trim. I like my golf tee mod so I recommend it. That dumb flap rattles a lot for me at low rpms without it.

tuphdc · 07-19-2014, 10:45 AM

My local Midas quoted me $350 for a secondary cat delete. Ugh. Seems high.

andrey_gta · 07-19-2014, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuphdc

My local Midas quoted me $350 for a secondary cat delete. Ugh. Seems high.

128i mid pipes are at a 60* degree angle near the cat that is why.

pj.rodriguez · 07-19-2014, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuphdc

My local Midas quoted me $350 for a secondary cat delete. Ugh. Seems high.

Doesn't seem like you can "Trust the Midas Touch".

Mossberg128i · 07-19-2014, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimD

My mods have been cosmetic but have improved my enjoyment of my bimmer.

I have flash2pass on it (but it only works on some garage door openers so check that out first). It lets you open the garage door with a double tap of the high beam switch.

My daughter bought me the BMW umbrella with it's storage compartment you install in the passenger footwell. It's a nice umbrellam, the holder makes it handy, and it doesn't take up any usable space.

I installed a Garmin Nuvi 885t on the dash to the left of the instrument cluster on a custom metal bracket wired to the car.

Not really a mod but I carry a Viair 70P compressor, tire gauge, and plugging kit in the trunk.

I installed the drink holder that comes with the idrive so I have two usable ones.

I installed metal covers for the dead pedal, clutch, brake, and gas pedal.

I installed mud flaps and black grills.

I also put on Michelin PSS tires when the run flats wore out.

Any pics of your gps with the custom bracket, metal covers on your pedals, mud flaps, ...heck ... The whole car! Nice mods btw.

JimD · 07-19-2014, 07:07 PM

If you look in the DIY section for "Garmin Nuvi 760 installation" you will find my articles on installing first a Nuvi 760 on the right of the instruments and then an attachment describing my current setup including the design of the bracket I use.

I don't think I posted pictures of the pedals, grilles or mud flaps but others have.

There is a DIY for the drink holder but the pictures are missing. The main issue is pulling the console and I think AndyM's great DIY is still functioning fine, it is linked to the drink holder DIY. Hardest part is getting the shift knob off on a manual (you have to pull REALLY hard).

I'm glad you find these mods interesting.

bozola · 07-19-2014, 09:27 PM

My sig details my mods (except for Non RFT) The BMWPE is my favorites...

am_carlisle · 07-19-2014, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

There are a lot of places to start here. performance exhaust will be great like you are doing. Idk how much you care about the ride but good tires (pilot supersports!) and the m3 front sway are excellent. I also love my BMW performance short shift kit, which is pretty cheap. You can do really simple stuff like a shift knob upgrade, wrapping interior trim, black kidney grilles (is it grill or grille?), wrapping shadowline trim. I like my golf tee mod so I recommend it. That dumb flap rattles a lot for me at low rpms without it.

I keep going back and fourth on the SSK. When I first built my car I was going to have them install it, but after reading a few negative reviews I changed my mind. What do you think of it?

Kgolf31 · 07-19-2014, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am_carlisle

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

There are a lot of places to start here. performance exhaust will be great like you are doing. Idk how much you care about the ride but good tires (pilot supersports!) and the m3 front sway are excellent. I also love my BMW performance short shift kit, which is pretty cheap. You can do really simple stuff like a shift knob upgrade, wrapping interior trim, black kidney grilles (is it grill or grille?), wrapping shadowline trim. I like my golf tee mod so I recommend it. That dumb flap rattles a lot for me at low rpms without it.

I keep going back and fourth on the SSK. When I first built my car I was going to have them install it, but after reading a few negative reviews I changed my mind. What do you think of it?

I love mine.

you just need the lever which is about $80...fairly easy to do

MarkkyyMan · 07-20-2014, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

I love mine.

you just need the lever which is about $80...fairly easy to do

+1, I like mine too.

TheSt|G · 07-20-2014, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuphdc

My local Midas quoted me $350 for a secondary cat delete. Ugh. Seems high.

Can't imagine many worse things than having Midas hack up and weld my exhaust.

tuphdc · 07-20-2014, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Can't imagine many worse things than having Midas hack up and weld my exhaust.

No worries, I was more interested in getting the quote. Do you recommend any shops for a mod like that?

andrey_gta · 07-20-2014, 02:23 PM

I tried out the 128i SSK in a local 128i, I didnt like it - too short.
So I made my own version - oem 135i/335i n54 shift lever. Its not as short, it keeps some of the throw distance, just a 15mm reduction to 60mm throw measured from bottom of shift knob - stock was 72mm. Where as the 128i SSK is about 50mm throw distance.
I will be making a thread about it next week

chris82 · 07-20-2014, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by am_carlisle

I keep going back and fourth on the SSK. When I first built my car I was going to have them install it, but after reading a few negative reviews I changed my mind. What do you think of it?

I had mine installed 20K miles ago. It's really good, I have no complaints

chris82 · 07-20-2014, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuphdc

No worries, I was more interested in getting the quote. Do you recommend any shops for a mod like that?

There are a few around. Bavarian Specialties is right in KOP so it should be around the corner from you. I've taken my car there a lot, and they're great people and do great work. I'm sure they can do the exhaust for you, as they are constantly working on race cars at that shop, so I'd assume the staff is very knowledgeable

631twentyeighteye · 07-20-2014, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

I had mine installed 20K miles ago. It's really good, I have no complaints

+1. I only installed the lever and not the boot/knob as i went with the stock boot and a ZHP knob. Best combo i've found so far.

TheSt|G · 07-22-2014, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuphdc

No worries, I was more interested in getting the quote. Do you recommend any shops for a mod like that?

I wouldn't do it to begin with. The gains will be quite small. If I was insistent on doing it, I would get a replacement pipe section from Supersprint, cut out the stock unit, and then clamp the new one in. Welding will just cause rust down the road.

tuphdc · 07-22-2014, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I wouldn't do it to begin with. The gains will be quite small. If I was insistent on doing it, I would get a replacement pipe section from Supersprint, cut out the stock unit, and then clamp the new one in. Welding will just cause rust down the road.

I see, I didn't realize SS made a midpipe section! thanks

TheSt|G · 07-22-2014, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuphdc

I see, I didn't realize SS made a midpipe section! thanks

Yup, they make a complete header to muffler system.

I think Turner is the only US distributor currently.

JM35 · 07-22-2014, 10:47 AM

Exhaust, Dual Cone Intake, JB4. Im running all these just need to finish my exhaust

07-17-2014, 12:32 PM	#45
Taskmaster Banned 2465 Rep 9,004 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT / E92 328 Msport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (6)	Well; AFE claims the headers will not trigger a CEL and they can be had for about $1000. I'm set on the S man headers myself though.
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07-17-2014, 12:57 PM	#46
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	My mods have been cosmetic but have improved my enjoyment of my bimmer. I have flash2pass on it (but it only works on some garage door openers so check that out first). It lets you open the garage door with a double tap of the high beam switch. My daughter bought me the BMW umbrella with it's storage compartment you install in the passenger footwell. It's a nice umbrellam, the holder makes it handy, and it doesn't take up any usable space. I installed a Garmin Nuvi 885t on the dash to the left of the instrument cluster on a custom metal bracket wired to the car. Not really a mod but I carry a Viair 70P compressor, tire gauge, and plugging kit in the trunk. I installed the drink holder that comes with the idrive so I have two usable ones. I installed metal covers for the dead pedal, clutch, brake, and gas pedal. I installed mud flaps and black grills. I also put on Michelin PSS tires when the run flats wore out. __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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07-17-2014, 01:04 PM	#47
chris82 Brigadier General 827 Rep 3,856 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NY NY iTrader: (8) Garage List 2009 BMW 128i [9.80]	There are a lot of places to start here. performance exhaust will be great like you are doing. Idk how much you care about the ride but good tires (pilot supersports!) and the m3 front sway are excellent. I also love my BMW performance short shift kit, which is pretty cheap. You can do really simple stuff like a shift knob upgrade, wrapping interior trim, black kidney grilles (is it grill or grille?), wrapping shadowline trim. I like my golf tee mod so I recommend it. That dumb flap rattles a lot for me at low rpms without it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-19-2014, 10:45 AM	#48
tuphdc Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 09 BMW 128i 6MT Sport Pkg Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: King of Prussia, PA iTrader: (0)	My local Midas quoted me $350 for a secondary cat delete. Ugh. Seems high.
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07-19-2014, 07:07 PM	#52
JimD Brigadier General 368 Rep 3,547 Posts Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC iTrader: (0)	If you look in the DIY section for "Garmin Nuvi 760 installation" you will find my articles on installing first a Nuvi 760 on the right of the instruments and then an attachment describing my current setup including the design of the bracket I use. I don't think I posted pictures of the pedals, grilles or mud flaps but others have. There is a DIY for the drink holder but the pictures are missing. The main issue is pulling the console and I think AndyM's great DIY is still functioning fine, it is linked to the drink holder DIY. Hardest part is getting the shift knob off on a manual (you have to pull REALLY hard). I'm glad you find these mods interesting. __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
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07-19-2014, 09:27 PM	#53
bozola Unloved BMW Addict 86 Rep 1,185 Posts Drives: Z3 Coupe, 3 318Ti Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: King County WA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1999 Z3 Coupe [10.00] 1998 318Ti [0.00] 1998 318Ti [10.00] 2008 128i [9.00]	My sig details my mods (except for Non RFT) The BMWPE is my favorites...
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07-20-2014, 02:23 PM	#59
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	I tried out the 128i SSK in a local 128i, I didnt like it - too short. So I made my own version - oem 135i/335i n54 shift lever. Its not as short, it keeps some of the throw distance, just a 15mm reduction to 60mm throw measured from bottom of shift knob - stock was 72mm. Where as the 128i SSK is about 50mm throw distance. I will be making a thread about it next week __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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07-22-2014, 10:47 AM	#66
JM35 N54 Tuner 7 Rep 160 Posts Drives: 2008 135i 6spd Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Exhaust, Dual Cone Intake, JB4. Im running all these just need to finish my exhaust __________________ 2008 135i - 6MT - Jet Black 600hp 135i build blog
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