[jopa489]

I've shipped a set and received a set, both with tires mounted. OEM wheels with RFTs are ~50lbs each to give you an idea of weight. My 162s came from a CA-based forum member and it was over $250 to ship all 4 via UPS Ground cross country. If you're shipping wheels and tires, find some thick cardboard and strap 1-2 layers to both sides of the wheel/tire with lots of packing tape - like a tire sandwich. Ship the 4 individually.

Tell

[BMWjames]

Originally Posted by jopa489

I've shipped a set and received a set, both with tires mounted. OEM wheels with RFTs are ~50lbs each to give you an idea of weight. My 162s came from a CA-based forum member and it was over $250 to ship all 4 via UPS Ground cross country. If you're shipping wheels and tires, find some thick cardboard and strap 1-2 layers to both sides of the wheel/tire with lots of packing tape - like a tire sandwich. Ship the 4 individually.

Tell

Individually will cost me more than 2 per box. Why do you say individually?

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by BMWjames

Individually will cost me more than 2 per box. Why do you say individually?

I've never seen wheels with mounted tires shipped in boxes. Not sure where you could find a box sturdy enough to support 100lbs+ of bulky wheels/tires without using a pallet.

[BMWjames]

Originally Posted by jopa489

I've never seen wheels with mounted tires shipped in boxes. Not sure where you could find a box sturdy enough to support 100lbs+ of bulky wheels/tires without using a pallet.

I still have the boxes from when PYspeed shipped my setup to me. The shipping label says it was 110lbs and the box is 28x28x22. I'm hoping to reuse that box.

[M4TW]

Well I don't but my brother does. I'm visiting him in Boston and was just wondering where the good race spots are. He's in the south shore Boston area Which places have street legal racing etc and what times? Your help would be much appreciated.

(btw he's got an '11 5.0 with tune and exhaust. I beat him when he was still in Canada with my Dinan 335xi when he was still stock, but he's running a lot stronger now it seems.)

[TL]

Don't think there's any street legal racing in New England. Your best bet is to head to New England Dragway in Epping, NH
http://newenglanddragway.com/home/index.php

It'll save you an expensive speeding ticket and 6 years of insurance premiums.

[M4TW]

Thanks! (I meant 'street legal' as a class of drag/track racing not takin it to the streets. The motoring citizens of Boston are safe and the local constabulary needn't worry).

[TL]

Originally Posted by Sparkplug

Thanks! (I meant 'street legal' as a class of drag/track racing not takin it to the streets. The motoring citizens of Boston are safe and the local constabulary needn't worry).

that's cool New England Dragway would be a great place then, Wednesday night is the best time to go as you can get at least 10 races in. Fridays & weekends there's more people and waiting can take awhile.

here's my best run of the night; 13.66 @ 100 mph (stock)

[cyphr]

Can anyone guess what this used to be?

[TL]

your angel lights blew?

[ibeclueless]

looks like either angels or fog melted

[cyphr]

Originally Posted by TL

your angel lights blew?

Originally Posted by ibeclueless

looks like either angels or fog melted

Yep, it was my AEs. I'm guessing water got into the engine compartment which shorted them out causing the damage. I had a spare HID harness laying around and was able to transfer parts over. Making good use of my cold soldering gun lately. Needless to say, I'll be keeping a close eye on things in the coming weeks.

Another pic of the carnage.

[dwells]

So did you DIY rig up HID angel eyes? I remember noticing you were running HID fogs at the coding meet, but didn't notice the angel eyes. How's are they in terms of daytime brightness? The current LED bulb solutions are too dim for me, but I'm also worried about HID angels being too bright at night for other drivers. How hard was the build? I've got some soldering experience, but it's all PCB stuff (Xbox 360s and the like).

[cyphr]

Originally Posted by dwells

So did you DIY rig up HID angel eyes? I remember noticing you were running HID fogs at the coding meet, but didn't notice the angel eyes. How's are they in terms of daytime brightness? The current LED bulb solutions are too dim for me, but I'm also worried about HID angels being too bright at night for other drivers. How hard was the build? I've got some soldering experience, but it's all PCB stuff (Xbox 360s and the like).

I made my own kit using this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398208 My setup is slightly different but follows the same general principle.

In terms of brightness, it's very bright, no problems seeing it during the daytime. People complain about it being too bright at night but since my bulbs are in the higher K range and my headlights are tinted, they don't blind oncoming traffic. I personally wouldn't go HID AE if you don't planning on having some way to diffuse the light emitted, way too much glare.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by cyphr

I made my own kit using this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398208 My setup is slightly different but follows the same general principle.

In terms of brightness, it's very bright, no problems seeing it during the daytime. People complain about it being too bright at night but since my bulbs are in the higher K range and my headlights are tinted, they don't blind oncoming traffic. I personally wouldn't go HID AE if you don't planning on having some way to diffuse the light emitted, way too much glare.

Wow, that's a lot easier than I was expecting. The night issue will be a problem for me since I'm not willing to tint (I want all the light output from my lowbeams as I can get) and would want a more pure white color. I imagine it's the same issue with the Alpine kit as well.

I'll have to look into seeing if there's a way to coat the bulb itself to reduce light output that won't harm the bulb. Ideally I could coat only one half of it for more even rings. Maybe look into setting up a circuit to dim them at night like the stock, although it'd probably require additional 15W ballasts to switch over to and maybe a microcontroller as well.

Oh, how's daytime brightness, by the way? Comparable to the LCI?

[cyphr]

Originally Posted by dwells

Wow, that's a lot easier than I was expecting. The night issue will be a problem for me since I'm not willing to tint (I want all the light output from my lowbeams as I can get) and would want a more pure white color. I imagine it's the same issue with the Alpine kit as well.

I'll have to look into seeing if there's a way to coat the bulb itself to reduce light output that won't harm the bulb. Ideally I could coat only one half of it for more even rings. Maybe look into setting up a circuit to dim them at night like the stock, although it'd probably require additional 15W ballasts to switch over to and maybe a microcontroller as well.

Oh, how's daytime brightness, by the way? Comparable to the LCI?

Coating the bulbs sound like a good idea, you'll need something that can withstand a lot of heat though. Those hid bulbs get HOT.

Daytime brightness is equal to or greater than the LCI for the inner rings, outer rings are slightly dimmer.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by cyphr

Coating the bulbs sound like a good idea, you'll need something that can withstand a lot of heat though. Those hid bulbs get HOT.

Daytime brightness is equal to or greater than the LCI for the inner rings, outer rings are slightly dimmer.

Good to hear about the brightness. I'll do some research on coating the HIDs - that's not the first time I've heard those things get toasty.


The Boston branch of BMW CCA is holding an event at F1 Outdoors on the 14th. Any of you guys gonna be there? I signed up a while ago so I don't know if there's still slots open, unfortunately.

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by dwells

The Boston branch of BMW CCA is holding an event at F1 Outdoors on the 14th. Any of you guys gonna be there? I signed up a while ago so I don't know if there's still slots open, unfortunately.

I almost signed up for the F1 Outdoors meet, but I'm going to be away for that week (and the following week).

[TL]

John Hancock Rain by GQjai, on Flickr

[TL]

I'm starting to hear a low drumming noise coming from the front driver side of my car when i go over small bumps on the road. what could that be from (i can't bring it to the dealer cuz I changed my suspension with H&R coilovers)?

[darkrom]

Originally Posted by TL

I'm starting to hear a low drumming noise coming from the front driver side of my car when i go over small bumps on the road. what could that be from (i can't bring it to the dealer cuz I changed my suspension with H&R coilovers)?

Worn out bump stop? How old is the suspension?

[TL]

it's about 2 years....i thought it would be sway bar endlinks