LOL. Love it. I actually bought this button panel off an M Vert. Hoping to put the SB button behind the "sport" button.
http://mxpaintball.phpwebhosting.com...I/DSCN1810.JPG
Printable View
LOL. Love it. I actually bought this button panel off an M Vert. Hoping to put the SB button behind the "sport" button.
http://mxpaintball.phpwebhosting.com...I/DSCN1810.JPG
Can't tell from the pic which button, but good going with keeping it with stock BMW bits!Quote:
Originally Posted by johnrando
Another update to the modding. Finally got around to installing the H&R Cup Kit with Race Springs on my car. I went for broke (literally :) ) and bought this kit on sale a few months ago. I actually bought the Sport Springs with the kit, but bought some relatively low mileage Race springs at a good price. Decided to try them first, and if I didn't like it, I'd switch to Sport. I absolutely love the Race springs so I will be selling my Sport, and I'm keeping my ZHP setup to return to stock if ever wanted.
I went with H&R after some research and knowing that coilovers were really overkill for my street driving and added unneeded cost. I also wanted:
1) lowering - check
2) a quicker "return" when hitting a depression in the road at high speed - check
3) better stability/predictability on a curve when hitting a depression/slight bump at high speed - check
4) keep the refined ZHP ride as much as reasonably possible - check
My impressions:
This kit is amazing. Absolutely love the feel, stability, the ride, everything about them. They gave me what I wanted from above and more. On top of that, it actually rides SMOOTHER on the freeway, which I really don't get. Again, this is one of those mods that make the ZHP feel more how I thought it should have been from the beginning (which is saying a lot as it's a great car). Maybe my suspension was wearing down or something because my car never quite felt like the descriptions I've read of others, but now it's that and more. I find myself going faster on the freeway than normal because it's so smooth. You do feel minor bumps slightly more, but I'd bet someone like my wife wouldn't notice a different feel, you have to be looking for it. Very happy I did this. Gary helped with the recommendations, and also recommended Mike at Mig Motorsports of San Diego to do the install. Mike did a great job, was efficient, and I was very happy with his work, I'd definitely recommend him.
Now for the pics:
The setup (red = race, blue = sport)
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSC_0199.jpg
Before:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSC_0203.jpg
After:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSC_0269.jpg
As a plus, they look good on the car:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSC_0239.jpg
After closeups front:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSC_0275.jpg
After rear:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...o/DSC_0276.jpg
John your car made my ZHP look like a 4x4 parked next to yours. I love your set up (same one on my 325ci). I was going to start a thread for you to update. = )
LOL, thanks.
Wow JR, I'm really surprised at how much lower you are in the rear with those Race springs. Very sexy!
You mentioned the difference in ride, obviously the new setup is different from stock, but your before picture shows a saggy rear which would negatively impact your ride.
Either way, I'm very happy for you. Glad the ride is better and the over all look is a ton better. I love it!
BTW, Love the new sig!!! So hawt!
All Verts look to sag in the rear (due to. Weight in the rear). The pics aren't doing the drop justice. I rides incredible.
Thanks! I might lower the front just a tad more.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryans323i
I'll summarize my "mini" performance boosts here now that I have them all done. First was the BMW Performance Intake, then the AA Tune, then the Sprint Booster, then the Pulleys.
The Performance Intake gave the car just a slight more growl and just a little touch of better throttle response. (Worth it to me, but mostly engine eye candy). Adding the AA tune again improved throttle response, gave it a little more oomph, and improved gas mileage (an extra bonus). The Sprint Booster was the "most fun" thing I added, removing the throttle lag and making the car feel like it should have from the factory. Love that mod. Adding the Turner Motorsports Pulleys continued that trend, although not as much as a difference as I thought. The car just seemed to pull easier, which is what others have said, but it's hard to define.
Adding them up, when driving the same year stock ZHP Vert vs. mine, you could tell there was a difference. It's not huge, but the little things add up: better pull, better growl, better throttle response, slightly better butt dyno but probably not much on a real dyno. I definitely recommend a tune, an intake, and a Sprint Booster. The pulleys didn't do much for me (in fact my gas mileage dropped a bit down from the tune but better than when I started still) but they helped a little in the "feel" of the pull.
Next up, a UUC TSE3 exhaust or close to it, but that's a long time coming.
Nice.
"Butt dyno", I like that. My car has come crazy numbers on the butt dyno. :)
One word Johnny.
DUMPED!
that drop is so sick!
Wow that's low... in the back I don't think my GC coilovers can even go that low unless I buy shorter rear springs. I think StanceWorks is gonna send you an honorary membership hat.
:rofl. I'll await my membership card. As Gary said, that's a vert thing, those rears do go low. I just need to figure out how to match the front up just a tad, so maybe lower it, or raise the rear. I don't mind it as it is, but I think I might want to match them up better. I definitely avoid speed bumps, etc now.
Speed bumps! Shoot, you're now part of the "I look like a drunk driver when driving pot hole filled roads" club. I bet you have to swerve for bottle caps. :biggrin
You'll now be checking google earth before you enter any new parking lots, too.
:rofl Too funny, yet true.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryans323i
A few minor additions: A previously owned 2.5 spec dock (the yellow is old glue I have to remove). Love it! Works great with the new iPod Nano (recall exchange from original Ipod). Rear cupholder (don't expect to use it much, it's just in case. Not a great fit). New (updated) phone mount. Finally, not pictured, but recently removed the Race springs and went back to full H&R Touring Cup Kit. Please excuse the not so great cell phone pics.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...5-04134759.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...5-04134846.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...4-28101702.jpg
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...4-28104009.jpg
Looks great John.
Sent from SIGFest 2012
That Ipod mount looks awesome! Btw, my Kyle did the Ipod exchange too, pretty cool to get a new free Ipod for something that was just sitting in the drawer.
I love the doc. It's much cleaner than having to tuck that long cord from my glove box, then digging it out. And yes, that Ipod exchange is killer. Turn in a 2GB (I was using it in my car) and get an 8GB free, with a better screen! I love how it fits low in the spec dock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryans323i
Completely agree. It looks so clean. :thumbsup Wish I could do the same thing. Unfortunately, my pioneer doesn't have rear inputs, only the one in the front so I have to deal with the cord either way.
The iPod dock is cool. Where'd you find it? Can it be used with an iPhone?
William
It's called the spec doc 2.5, and it does work for iphone I believe. BSW and others sell them. http://specdock.com/ I got mine used off of e46f.cQuote:
Originally Posted by wsmeyer
Damn them things are expensive. Where's the chinese knockoff?Quote:
Originally Posted by johnrando
Spek Dok?
Speck Doc?
lol
William.
lol, that's why I bought used. It's really too much dinero new for what it actually takes to make it. Maybe you could start a side business William. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by wsmeyer
Got a decent deal on fender rolling so I roll the rears. Updated pics with 10mm and 12mm spacers coming soon because.... 3 year anniversary of my car purchase today!
forgive me if I missed the answer to this in your updates but have you made any headway on the sprint booster to sport button mod?
Magically sent from my Crackberry tablet using tapatalk
No, you didn't miss it. It's still sitting on my desk. William (wsmeyer) said he'd take a shot at it but we haven't had time to get together to do it.
Congrats on your 3yr anniversary. Did you get her leather?Quote:
Originally Posted by johnrando
OK, I've made a few mods that i haven't posted. Been busy so I've got some catching up to do, unintentionally holding out on you. The H&R Cup Kit has settled and I really like the new height. Not as low as the race springs but I like it. Then, I put on 40% tint all the way around, from a place Mark and Casey know, the Tint Source in San Diego. Then, this weekend, I bought a lightly used UUC TSE3 exhaust and had it installed. Officially they don't fit verts, but I called them and it's a very minor adjustment of adding a few washers to add some length to fit around an extra vert brace that others don't have. Then I cleaned up the wheels and put spacers on, 10mm front, 12mm rear. As far as maintenance, I've driven so few miles that no maintenance necessary. I'm still waiting on Edison to see what their offer is on the scratched paint. So, here are some pics (all from my cell phone so not that great). Thanks for looking!
PS A few more goodies to go and them I'm basically done.
TSE3 Installed at Cars in Redondo Beach
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-09110649.jpg
Part of the work
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-09112749.jpg
Really like the exhaust tips.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-09113006.jpg
A little sound clip (just listen to the first few secs, idle after that). First start up w/new system.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...9-11-29-22.jpg
The wheel cleaning (with Poboys wheel wax for sealing)
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-10111139.jpg
After cleaning
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-10130302.jpg
The spacers
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-10111149.jpg
A view of the spacers and the drop
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-10133612.jpg
The tint, drop, and spacers view
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-10133720.jpg
Another angle
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/...6-10133710.jpg
nice! did you get that TSE3 from that one guy on E46F in socal?
Looks great.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2
Looks Good John! Should of painted the brake calipers flat black when ya had those wheels off.
Everything looks great John. The exhaust sounds really good, and then pretty quiet at idle which I really like too. Great work buddy.
Thanks all. Painting calipers is on the list. Needed more time. Really like the exhaust and I notice a little more oomph now, which was unexpected.
johnrando: sent using Tapatalk
Oh, I forgot. Yes Derbo. 1 got one of the 2 for sale from Socal. 1 wanted a trade but I wanted to keep oem, so I bought the other.
johnrando: sent using Tapatalk
keep up the good work John...
Exhaust sounds GREAT!!!!
yea I saw that! they were the same price basically and one was no trade. I would've taken the no trade in a heartbeat if I was ALOT closer.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnrando
Lol, yup, no brainer. There is 1 for sale in MD that looked good for basically the same price, but he's not shipping. I did tell the trade guy what I ended up doing, so maybe he'll bend on his price as his is out of line. Crazy that you can't find these used and then 2 local showed up.
johnrando: sent using Tapatalk