peter's canadian imola ZHP project

[QC_ZHP]

for which location?

peter

Just curious of which sway bar bushings you went with. I was thinking of buying the Hotchkis rebuild kit for mine but now you brought to my attention poly.

[NoVAphotog]

probably not until mid-october. i'm getting the rest of my drivetrain/suspension refresh done beforehand, along with the M3 front bar, because i'd like to see the difference the rear bar makes by itself after installing the M3 front bar...

although, i will have a seriously enhanced suspension and drivetrain at that point, so it will be hard to tell what the M3 front bar did.

peter

I think a lot of us are patiently waiting to see how you like the bits you've chosen for your refresh Peter...no pressure or anything!

[slater]

Just curious of which sway bar bushings you went with. I was thinking of buying the Hotchkis rebuild kit for mine but now you brought to my attention poly.

oh, sorry - i guess i could have figured that out.

i bought whiteline (AU company) 20mm poly bushings for the rear bar i just bought.

for my 26mm M3 bar bushings, and a set of 18.5mm for the OE rear bar, i went with these....they looked interesting, with the 'para-aramid' bit and i liked that they were actually made in the US:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-BMW-Fro...1b443a&vxp=mtr

I think a lot of us are patiently waiting to see how you like the bits you've chosen for your refresh Peter...no pressure or anything!

ha! i'm feeling the pressure in other ways - it's 4th week of september, temps are dropping and i want this project done! we've been away a lot, busy with family stuff and i've been completing a lot of house projects as we're thinking of putting our house up for sale. i have a big work project this weekend, and i am hoping to start the ZHP work next week, and do a few hours each night. i've got a 10-day window so i hope i can get it all done in that timeframe...

peter

[ecrabb]

here's a pic from the night before we left - bonus points if you can ID the black car in the driveway across the street.

Is it too late for bonus points? Cayman S?

SC

[slater]

Is it too late for bonus points? Cayman S?

SC

it's actually a Cayman R, but nice try!

peter

[ecrabb]

it's actually a Cayman R, but nice try!

Sonofa... I thought that might have been a stripe down the side, but it also looked like reflections on the rocker. Needed moar resolution.

SC

[slater]

Sonofa... I thought that might have been a stripe down the side, but it also looked like reflections on the rocker. Needed moar resolution.

SC

yep, but that's why i said "bonus points."

peter

[slater]

phase "1" of my fall work is complete and i have some miles on it. phase "2" is starting this week.

phase 1:
- AKG FCABs
- 26mm M3 front swaybar w/ poly bushings
- M3 engine mounts (lemfoerder)
- new pre-cat O2 sensors
- stett intake boots
- oil change
- fumoto valve
- general front end inspection


we had a road trip to VT/CT/NYC this past weekend for a family visit and a wedding, so i logged about 27hrs of total driving and got a good impression of these particular parts. some don't need mentioning, so i will evaluate some of the bigger items:

- AKG FCABs: install was a snap and the front end is tighter than it was previously (was using different poly FCABs). no NVH increase that i can distinguish.

- 26mm M3 front swaybar: a little bit less roll up front, steering feels a tad heavier and 'more substantial', which i like. turn-in is a bit better but this likely is in conjunction with the AKG FCABs, and the poly bushings i installed with the bar. install was cake.

- M3 engine mounts: two thumbs up. my old mounts were softer, for sure - but not destroyed. engine noise is a tiny bit louder, which is great, and surprisingly shifting is much improved (i expected little change with the engine mounts, but great change with the trans mounts - which will be installed this week). much better on/off throttle response, less drivetrain movement. no increased NVH. install was easy.

- O2 sensors: the stutter i was having between 2500-3000RPM is still there, albeit reduced. i think i need to have the DME flashed. install was a breeze with my O2 sensor socket. FYI i picked up two 'amazon warehouse deals' O2 sensors that were the correct bosch part #'s, for about $50/each.

- stett boots: lower boot fits fine, upper boot sucks. i had to trim it to fit only 'OK' with my aFe intake, and there is still a kink in the upper boot. not pleased with the fitment at all. even with the OE airbox, fitment would not be good - as no matter what orientation i had the upper boot in, the MAF-end was never in the correct location/angle, for the OE airbox or my aFe. i would love to see a better aftermarket solution for these.


phase "2" will include bilstein PSS coilovers, LSD, etc. excited for this. will post pics, install comments and driving impressions as well.



peter

[az3579]

- M3 engine mounts: two thumbs up. my old mounts were softer, for sure - but not destroyed. engine noise is a tiny bit louder, which is great, and surprisingly shifting is much improved (i expected little change with the engine mounts, but great change with the trans mounts - which will be installed this week). much better on/off throttle response, less drivetrain movement. no increased NVH. install was easy.

Interesting you say no NVH because the M3 mounts in my car introduced noticeable NVHm, thought it was only at idle.

[slater]

Interesting you say no NVH because the M3 mounts in my car introduced noticeable NVHm, thought it was only at idle.

did you install anything else at the same time? how were your old mounts?

peter