Suprgnat's '13 M-Sport 128i, a mostly visual history

[SmallDave]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

First off, N51 so no need for the 3-stage. Already has one.

Tune? I still have 3 years left on the killer SULEV warranty. After that a simple tune, maybe MILVs. As far as headers go, I don't want to deal with swapping them every two years for the smog test and frankly I have no desire to bypass the emissions control equipment (well, maybe the radiator). I'd consider catted headers, but none have a CARB OE. I have a 64 Austin Healey that, if I ever finish it, can be as stinky as I want.

A couple of years ago I went on a drive with a local 1-series group and was the only 128i to show up. On a rest stop by the beach, after driving over the Santa Cruz Mountains, I was chatting with one of the guys and had to point out the fog lights as he thought (driving behind me) that I had 135i. His response? "Well, don't tell anyone!" If you keep the N51/N52 on the boil it does just fine in the twisties, the instant throttle response is your friend. Almost makes me want to kill my clutch so I have an excuse to get that 12 pound flywheel.

I've always had u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶e̶r̶e̶d̶ momentum vehicles and have focused on suspension first. My old 510 was anemic, but I could keep up with anything in the mountains (BITD). Well, except for my buddy's 510, but he was crazy. Got a bunch of great parts off of him when he flipped his car.

Very cool! I should have noticed you were in California. I certainly agree with your rational. When I bought my e30, I realized that significant power was not really a factor in an engaging drive. Will all the modifications, your car must be a blast to drive through the mountains.

We have the N55 in my wife's x3. It's a great engine and I love the torque, but it would completely change how I drive my 128i. That being said, I looking forward to seeing how some additional power improves the driving the n52. I've got my 3 stage manifold going in in the next couple weeks hopefully!

[Ric in RVA]

Originally Posted by SmallDave

We have the N55 in my wife's x3. It's a great engine and I love the torque, but it would completely change how I drive my 128i. That being said, I looking forward to seeing how some additional power improves the driving the n52. I've got my 3 stage manifold going in in the next couple weeks hopefully!

I've owned 3. A 128i Sport then a 135i M sport then a 128i sport. All manuals.

I sold the 135i to look for the 128i.

I thought I'd like the extra power.

Not so much. You can only go so fast on the street and the 135i was not nearly as involving, balanced or reliable as the 128. I think the 128 sounds better too.

Something about driving a slow car fast instead of a fast car slow...

[E91WAG3N]

+1 for the N51/2 6MT praise! Still loving the build Suprgnat

[kaputt]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

• BMW Blackline LCI Tail Lights

So what exactly is the process to make these work on 2012+ Halogen 128i’s? I haven’t been able to find a detailed description of what I actually need to do to jump the wire, etc...

[Suprgnat]

Here's an old post:
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...28&postcount=2

There's also one I posted with some photos that I'm still searching for. Unfortunately now I'm distracted by fixing broken posts.

[kaputt]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Here's an old post:
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...28&postcount=2

There's also one I posted with some photos that I'm still searching for. Unfortunately now I'm distracted by fixing broken posts.

Appreciate it! So is it a simple plug and play swap between the middle and outer terminal? Or is it a little more involved? I'm not the best DIYer anyway and electrical stuff is certainly my least knowledgeable area.

Also with the parking bulbs illuminated at the same time does it look like you're someone driving around with their brake pressed all the time?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by kaputt

Appreciate it! So is it a simple plug and play swap between the middle and outer terminal? Or is it a little more involved? I'm not the best DIYer anyway and electrical stuff is certainly my least knowledgeable area.

Also with the parking bulbs illuminated at the same time does it look like you're someone driving around with their brake pressed all the time?

IIRC if you swap terminals it bypasses the actual brake lights and just uses the LEDs. If you jumper them together they will light and brighten in unison.

Still have the old photos:

Jumper Wire:


Blacklines on, no LEDs:


Blacklines on with LEDs:


Blacklines Plus LEDs with brake on:


Off:

[kaputt]

Ah okay, the visual helps for sure.

I am curious, did they make a halogen blackline for the Euro cars? What I really like is the smoked look, LEDs would just be an added bonus. Don’t want to just tint my current lights because one, it seems cheap, and two I doubt you could perfectly match the factory tint BMW did to the lenses.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by kaputt

I am curious, did they make a halogen blackline for the Euro cars? What I really like is the smoked look, LEDs would just be an added bonus. Don’t want to just tint my current lights because one, it seems cheap, and two I doubt you could perfectly match the factory tint BMW did to the lenses.

Yes, but I think the sets are NLA. I'm pretty sure the part numbers for the individual halogen blackline tail lights are somewhere here on the forum. I don't know if they're available individually either.

The xenon blacklines are relatively "cheap" and readily available. It's just paying a little extra for the LED you're not using. They look identical to the halogens when the LED is not lighted.

[kaputt]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Yes, but I think the sets are NLA. I'm pretty sure the part numbers for the individual halogen blackline tail lights are somewhere here on the forum. I don't know if they're available individually either.

The xenon blacklines are relatively "cheap" and readily available. It's just paying a little extra for the LED you're not using. They look identical to the halogens when the LED is not lighted.

Okay, good info to know. Do the LED versions function the same as the halogens as well, if not using the LED bars? Any loss of brake light or anything like that?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by kaputt

Okay, good info to know. Do the LED versions function the same as the halogens as well, if not using the LED bars? Any loss of brake light or anything like that?

Yes, and no.

[Suprgnat]

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

Absolutely spotless and beautiful.

Do you usually keep the engine cover off?

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Absolutely spotless and beautiful.

Do you usually keep the engine cover off?

Thank you.

Yeah, I ditched it a while back. I custom painted it so I may hang it on the garage wall for fun.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

I still have 3 years left on the killer SULEV warranty.

Edit: 8 years left on the SULEV warranty.

15 years or 150k miles. I'm on pace for 98k miles in 2028.

[b1aze]

Wanted to say thanks for making me aware of the grocery grabber accessory. EXTREMELY beneficial and worth every penny!

#grocerygetter

[jodyc256]

[Suprgnat]

I learned a lot about cheap birch plywood.
I built the box for the sub back in September and finally got the driver, a modest JL Audio 10W1V3-4. I've been concerned about fit as my design is tight by nature and I had to guestimate a few dimensions of the speaker, but it fits like a glove. I mean, "if there's no wire in the binding posts, the binding posts hit the center support of the enclosure" close.

I still need to finish up the in-car mounting system for the sub and mount the amp, but at least there's progress.


Sealing the interior, because there was no way to do it after assembly.


Getting ready to glue.

[BikeNHV]

Finally read through this whole thread, kudos for the top-notch quality of work and attention to detail.

Definitely giving me a few ideas for my car, particularly the chassis stuff. At 123k miles, there are certainly a few parts that could use a refresh.

- Do you have any info on the M3 rack install? From what I understand searching in other threads, you simply leave the ActiveSteering stuff disconnected? Is there a particular year/version of the rack to get?

- You went above and beyond the typical 11pc F/R M3 control arm set that is sold pre-packaged for these cars. Did you notice any difference by doing so?

[2008e92328i]

Very nice dude

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by BikeNHV

- Do you have any info on the M3 rack install? From what I understand searching in other threads, you simply leave the ActiveSteering stuff disconnected? Is there a particular year/version of the rack to get?

- You went above and beyond the typical 11pc F/R M3 control arm set that is sold pre-packaged for these cars. Did you notice any difference by doing so?

Thank you.

I left the active steering disconnected. I'm not positive, but I think there's only one part number: 32102283633. I purchased mine for $275 and it only had 22k miles on it, fewer than my original PS rack.

It's a system and everything I did was either too incremental or to "all-at-once" to have a truly "whoa" moment for any one part to stand out except the rear subframe bushings. Triangulating the M3 strut brace and adding the front subframe braces weren't bad, hysteresis is improved.

I'm working on building up my Suspension V3. Aluminum RSFBs this time, the way it should have been from the factory.

[Suprgnat]

Pretty sad. Less than 5000 miles in the last year. Covid and now owning a pickup have definitely cut into my seat time.