probably not a build thread: peter's 128i M Sport

[pslater]

hey all.

this is a canadian-spec 2012 128i M Sport, automatic. silver on black sensatec/leatherette, manual seats, no NAV. i bought this car on august 17, 2024 from a great guy who had a shite mechanic; more on that later. i bought this mostly out of curiosity, having a friend buy one and it just kinda happened after that.

at the time of purchase, it had 151,xxx KMs on it (that's 93K miles for the 'muricans... or reeeally old canadians). currently sitting at around 163K KM.

currently it is stock aside from some bilstein b4 rear shocks, and 135M wheels.

recent maintenance:

- OFHG (supposedly replaced mere months before i purchased it - negative, it was hard as a rock and leaking badly)
- VCG and valvetronic motor gasket (see note about about OFHG)
- aluminum "mickey mouse" flange
- oil pan gasket
- new plugs
- cleaned sunroof drains
- coding changes (triple blink, etc)
- 328i front rotors and caliper carriers (stock pads and calipers)
- repaired water leak from mis-installed upper hood release cable grommet
- aligned wipers correctly
- replaced broken RF headlight bracket
- replaced missing RF brake duct plastic piece thingamabob
- trimmed rear bumpstops
- Style 135M's with MPS4S (they are surprisingly the correct offset for this car)
- audi grocery bag hangers for the trunk (arguably the best mod ever)


plans/already in the pipeline:

- M3 control arms F/R
- bilstein B8s w/ trimmed bumpstops
- 335i front brakes
- aFe intake
- N54 intake manifold or 3SIM (have the 3SIM already)
- 6-speed manual swap w/ SMF conversion (i have everything waiting to go in)
- most like apex ARC-8's in 18x8.5" ET45 with 235/40/18 MPS4S


i've put 12K KMs on this car, doing several ontario-to-maine road trips to see my father and just regular DD duties and it's been fantastic. the automatic is surprisingly not terrible, but this car needs a manual transmission... that will happen this summer, once i am done with some more pressing projects. it's not the nicest, cosmetically, but that will improve as time goes on.

pic is from a couple weeks ago.

laters.

peter

[cerealwars]

Nice intro post dude! Sounds like you're well on your way here.

Dope ZHP back there, I'd be interested to hear a little comparison. Always been e46-curious. Sort of looks like ZHPizza's old car.

Pics of these Audi hangers please! That's a new one for me.

[pslater]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

Nice intro post dude! Sounds like you're well on your way here.

Dope ZHP back there, I'd be interested to hear a little comparison. Always been e46-curious. Sort of looks like ZHPizza's old car.

Pics of these Audi hangers please! That's a new one for me.

ha! i will try to get a pic/video of them "in action," LOL.

sorry for the late reply here - i didn't get a notification.

yep, lots of E46s here. that one in the pic is my 2005 330iT ZHP (6MT), which i built back in 2017. it has 226K miles on it and needs some love. it has a lot of cool stuff on it. i also have a 2004 imola red 330i ZHP sedan (6MT), 2010 328iT M Sport (6AT), and 2004 325iXT (5AT... soon to be 330iT 6MT). plus my son's 2004 325Ci which is stripped.

as far as comparison goes... they are very different. the M54 sounds better than the N52, in my opinion, and the E46 generally feels a lot more 'raw' than the E82. that said, the rear suspension on the E82/E9x is a lot more planted-feeling, and while i can't say yet about my E82... my E91 w/ M3 control arms and alignment definitely feels a lot more composed when hustled than a typical E46 (my Touring is an exception). i imagine the E82 is just going to be even better. the E46 has a nicer interior (again, in my opinion), and the sound of the E46 sedan/Touring doors closing is so much better than E82/E9x (i'm weird, i know). i really like the driving position in the E82 w/ manual seats, but the E46 is close with M3 seats (w/ adjustable bolsters), as it lowers the seating position a lot. the audio in the E82 is better than an E46 w/ HK audio.

in terms of ZHPizza...we do have a few things in common.

[cerealwars]

Dang dude, you got a collection going!

That's actually great insight, little details like the doors and and other little interactions that you notice really build our impression of cars. Seems like you indulge in the tactile experiences, and they can be hard to convey in words.

Just from pictures the E46 seems like a nicer interior - just a little simpler and certainly a better greenhouse.

in terms of ZHPizza...we do have a few things in common.

Are you... are you him?

Hahah, keep your mystery

[pslater]

LOL. nope.

here’s some pics of the audi grocery bag hanger… it really is quite awesome. i have two installed.

the E46 interior has higher quality switchgear, and yeah - better visibility from that bigger greenhouse. i do like better tactile experience, yeah.

“collection” is not the term i am striving toward, LOL, as two of the cars are getting prepped for sale right now. i neeeeed to downsize.

[ZHPizza]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

Are you... are you him?

Hahah, keep your mystery

We are brothers from another mother[land]...although he's actually from the states...but...bleeds maple syrup now.

Peterman and I met through the ZHP world, then he taught me about the e82 128 so I had to buy one...then I had one so he had to buy one...and that's how we find ourselves here...flexing grocery bag hooks!