If you could start over

[135Pats]

Pcar but the cash outlay is obviously different seeing as how I've spent 6 years steadily dumping money into the 54, but didn't have to put down the upfront $50-80k for a used 911 or Cayman.

N54 wise I'd love a DCT but otherwise continue to be happy with my machine. Once the draft is done I'll get back to the car a lot more. Hasn't moved off the trickle charger since the dyno a few months back (which went very well).

 

[The Convert]

Pcar but the cash outlay is obviously different seeing as how I've spent 6 years steadily dumping money into the 54, but didn't have to put down the upfront $50-80k for a used 911 or Cayman.

N54 wise I'd love a DCT but otherwise continue to be happy with my machine. Once the draft is done I'll get back to the car a lot more. Hasn't moved off the trickle charger since the dyno a few months back (which went very well).

What charger are you using? I could use one for my car. I'm on my 3rd battery now bc it just sits all the time.

 

[matreyia]

Next cars will be 335is e92/or93 manual trans. And also x5 35 and an m4 convertible manual trans. That way I don't have to deal with any trans issues when upgrading turbos. No desire for any porsches...they look too blah imo.

 

[Clean WHP]

I had a FBO 2008 135i, and I was generally very happy with it but I learned a lot about the N54 platform and 135i Chassis specifically with it. It was a great ownership experience but after a while I decided I wanted to "start over" like this thread suggests, after everything I had learned.

After 4-6 weeks or so of some very hard thinking, I decided I wanted to stay N54. I thought of lots of different other platforms, particularly C5Z (light af, LSD, reliable, easy to work on, straight forward, resale value) etc... and was really close to pulling the trigger but decided that N54 is truly still my favorite cars. I also was contemplating E9X cars and even a 335iS / DCT trans at some point but Ultimately I decided I wanted another 1 Series but just to hold out for the perfect one.

So on the second time around when I stated over I got a 2010 Lemans Blue Msport (black headliner) 6 speed 135i for a bargain and couldn't be happier with it for the last 2K miles. This time around Im not going to do any bolt ons, and just go straight for a single turbo build. Also since Im starting over, Im going to really take my time on this build and add each part 1 at a time as I want!

 

[135Pats]

What charger are you using? I could use one for my car. I'm on my 3rd battery now bc it just sits all the time.

Ctek 4.3 via Amazon prime. I just leave it on 24/7 and it floats at full charge, so you don't have to worry about over saturation. Its 100% identical to the BMW branded one and so far as I can tell is very reputable. I lost two batteries this past winter and to your point, that crap gets old FAST.

Hope all is well dude!

 

[Streetz65]

I did ultimately start over. I had a 08 E90 335i FBO car and after a few years and different platforms I came back to a 08 135i with a built motor and bottom mount single car and love every second of it.

 

[fmorelli]

What charger are you using? I could use one for my car. I'm on my 3rd battery now bc it just sits all the time.

NOCO Genius G3500 6V/12V 3.5A UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LWVEKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_y5j1AbJXY03M3

I've had it for years. Works great. My Z4 sits mostly.

Filippo

 

[NoQuarter]

NOCO Genius G3500 6V/12V 3.5A UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LWVEKS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_y5j1AbJXY03M3

I've had it for years. Works great. My Z4 sits mostly.

Filippo

Love the NOCO. I have the 3500, the smaller trickle charger and the LI battery based jump starter.

 

[The Convert]

Ctek 4.3 via Amazon prime. I just leave it on 24/7 and it floats at full charge, so you don't have to worry about over saturation. Its 100% identical to the BMW branded one and so far as I can tell is very reputable. I lost two batteries this past winter and to your point, that crap gets old FAST.

Hope all is well dude!

I'll give it a look see. Hope you and the car are doing well. Maybe we'll get lucky and have some decent weather soon. It's been cold and/or rain so far this year.

 

[doublespaces]

Pcar but the cash outlay is obviously different seeing as how I've spent 6 years steadily dumping money into the 54, but didn't have to put down the upfront $50-80k for a used 911 or Cayman.

N54 wise I'd love a DCT but otherwise continue to be happy with my machine. Once the draft is done I'll get back to the car a lot more. Hasn't moved off the trickle charger since the dyno a few months back (which went very well).

This. If I could 'get a full refund', then at this moment I'd certainly go buy a 911. I may even save that money for a huge down payment on something else, but chances are I'd just buy a 997. Porsche predicts the last combustion 911 will be made in 2030, so I'd have to take that into consideration also.

 

[Torgus]

This. If I could 'get a full refund', then at this moment I'd certainly go buy a 911. I may even save that money for a huge down payment on something else, but chances are I'd just buy a 997. Porsche predicts the last combustion 911 will be made in 2030, so I'd have to take that into consideration also.

fawk that is not too far away...I think they will last a little longer personally. No one wants to watch electric cars race around a track fwiw...

 

[veer90]

135i 6MT N54 so I can have stupid power and also totally gut it for a sub-3000lb car to do drift / road course

Already decided if I ever crash my 335i I'm swapping everything over to a 1 series lol

 

[Martindz]

Would have spent the extra bucks on a 1M instead of my 335is lol, and skipped the MFactory clutch.

What clutch did you get from mfactory?

 

[Ajbecerra]

Ctsv or 335is

 

[boostE92d]

I bought an 09 335i second hand while coveting the 13 335is on the showroom floor. Drove the piss out of the manual trans 335i and then traded for a dct 335is with low miles. I'm still driving the piss out of a 335, it's just faster.
Definitely considering a JDM nsx or maybe a r33 skyline but I'm keeping the 335is if I can help it.

 

[Schurter]

You limited yourself severely here.

How have I limited my?

 

[Schurter]

Hi.
Hoping you can point me in the right detection.

my goal
10sec on paper you could say.
Maybe track the car 2 times a year.

I like the idea of the 335is dct
But maybe a auto might be a better idea.

Parts
FBO ( what fbo parts do you recommend )
Catless dp / factory exhaust
Stage 2/3 lpfp bucket or bucket less
PI do you prefer one.
stock turbos ( 450 - 480 whp is the happy place for stock turbos ? ) or max safe you tune
94 octane. Or can there be a pump/meth tune
Then
Corn mix ? / 94
Might spray a 50 to 75 shot to push it into the 10s ( have the nos hit mid track )

Can the dct live with this combo ( love the idea of a dct )
Or
would an auto be better


Thanks for your time

 

[chadillac2000]

I started over too. Learned the ropes with my N54 535i auto, turned around and put all that knowledge into a single turbo 135i with a 6MT.

For the money I have invested in this 135i, I couldn't get anywhere near anything else I'd actually want; ie 996TT, 997, GT-R or C6 Z06.

 

[fmorelli]

I really wouldn't do it any different if I could do it over. I've had a lot of cars and to me, it's about the journey more than the destination. The E89 Z4 is an unusual and uncommon car. I didn't know anything about the chassis or drivetrain platform, so it has been a great (ongoing) education. The amount of stuff that is just a bit different than other N54 cars has added extra challenge and excitement to the build. The opportunity to work in depth and build this car with Barry Battle, and meet a number of new friends, has been great. We've made or modified lots of parts, and Barry is the kind of guy one want when one needs parts machined, alternate solutions, and someone that will invest the time to figure stuff out and make it right. Even now we are working through some issues with Ohlins. Maybe frustrating at time, but it has been mostly fun. The car is stupid fast and its on stock turbos. I can't imagine with flexfuel once we get that on MHD ... and later when I finally do turbo(s).

If I had to pick something different than the E89 Z4 I know what that would be: a Backdraft RT3 Cobra with a Rousch 427 IR.

Filippo

 

[matreyia]

You are correct. It is the Journey and not the destination that matters more. The final destination is 6ft underground so folks should learn to enjoy the journey however it may be...whether sitting in traffic or lying in bed with a hot foxy lady...or modding your n54.