[Socket]

Was chatting with Thor1 (who is soon to join the N54 family) about what mods he should consider when he starts with his blank canvas

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and the experience we have gained, can help others by sharing our mistakes and steering them towards must have mods (MHD anyone?)

If I was starting over or giving advice on what mods to install, this would be my list

Keen to see what mod list you guys would recommend....... let see em

[Socket]

Sockets must have mod list

engine mods
* charge pipe and blow off valve (the stock CP has a tendency to crack and leak) Get a GoFastBits SV50 BOV it is adjustable so you dont need to stuff around with different springs like other brands
* catless down pipes (get rid of the cats and let the car breath a little)
* replace the stock airbox with a cold air intake to allow the car to breath better
*replace the stock intercooler with better aftermarket FMIC to keep the air intake temps down (cold air = more hp)
* most importantly a tune. MHD is great although you could go with a JB4. But the MHD tune is really simple to use and is a much smoother more powerful tune imo. You need a dcan cable and an android phone or tablet and then buy the MHD app. Load up a map and away you go

Handling mods
* Coilovers are probably the best bang for buck here. On any car you buy the shocks will probably be stuffed and it rolls like a boat on stockies. Kw or any reputable brand will do. You could also go with lowering springs and shocks like H&R and Konis but coilovers allow you to set the ride height you want so just go with coilovers tbh.
* M3 sway bars will stop the body roll and are pretty cheap to fit. They are thicker and stiffer then the stock sway bars and make a huge difference
* M3 control arms tighten up the steering and are pretty cheap and easy to fit
* New engine mounts and sub frame bushings also help because in high mileage cars these will be stuffed as well

Cosmetic
* New set of rims and decent set of rubber. 18s or 19s are ideal (dont go 20s just too big) Ideal fronts are 19x35x235 and rears 19x30x265
* Black kidney grills (this is basically a must have if you mod your car lol)
* rear spoiler. The M3 spoiler is a good choice. Costs about $50 sticks on with double sided tape and is nice and subtle

Wheels and brakes
* The stock brake pads create lots of dust. Replace then with Akebono ceramic brake pads $200 for a set, stop just like stockies but create almost no dust so your wheels stay clean
* Paint your brake calipers (easy and cheap to do and looks great) I applied some $5 vinyl BMW decals for a finishing touch
* Wheel spacers to push the wheels flush with the body of the car. 10 mms up front and 5 mm in the rear will be a good place to start
* Replace the wheel nuts with. Motorsports Hardware black 75mm studs with black or silver race nuts. Looks great and makes changing tires 100% easier

Not all these things are essential, but that would be my minimum to do list without spending a fortune.

[EB89]

I’ve thought about this a lot since buying the car.
I havnt don’t that much to my car compared to you socks.


1. I would say away from the JB4, I regret this purchase a lot.

2. Go with quality brands, don’t skimp out

3. Worthwhile mods = Catless Downpipe, FMIC, MHD Flash, Charagepipe, Exhaust

4. Rubbish mods = Intake

5. If you don’t have the car yet, buy a car that is as highly specced as you can afford, eg M Sport, LCI, wheels.

Aftermarket bumpers and hoods and bars are no where near as good as genuine parts.

6. Buy genuine parts for both cosmetic and maentsnNce, example don’t pat $49 for eBay kidney grills, get genuine gloss black M sport, cheap parts might seem the same when you first install, after 12 or 24 months you can see the different in how they age and wear.

[Mayuri Krab]

Buy a 2nd hand FPV F6 instead... lol

[iliketurtl3s]

Originally Posted by EB89

I’ve thought about this a lot since buying the car.
I havnt don’t that much to my car compared to you socks.


1. I would say away from the JB4, I regret this purchase a lot.

2. Go with quality brands, don’t skimp out

3. Worthwhile mods = Catless Downpipe, FMIC, MHD Flash, Charagepipe, Exhaust

4. Rubbish mods = Intake

5. If you don’t have the car yet, buy a car that is as highly specced as you can afford, eg M Sport, LCI, wheels.

Aftermarket bumpers and hoods and bars are no where near as good as genuine parts.

6. Buy genuine parts for both cosmetic and maentsnNce, example don’t pat $49 for eBay kidney grills, get genuine gloss black M sport, cheap parts might seem the same when you first install, after 12 or 24 months you can see the different in how they age and wear.

I can understand why #5 is close to your heart... That bump in classifieds lol

[e36mmm]

The no cost Golf tee mod for the 335i owners I believe is worth mentioning. Exhaust tone sounds like the way it should have left the factory and enables both exhaust tip getting dirty equally. Easily reversible under 5 minutes.

[Aus335iguy]

Originally Posted by e36mmm

The no cost Golf tee mod for the 335i owners I believe is worth mentioning. Exhaust tone sounds like the way it should have left the factory and enables both exhaust tip getting dirty equally. Easily reversible under 5 minutes.

Are people still plugging hoses ?? I just unplugged the electrical connector.

Agree with points made previously. But It really depends on the goal.
Most people start with mild power goals and end up doing things over again when thy want more.
My advice is set your real goal up front to avoid that. How do you know what you're going to want in the future?
Ask forum members to take you for a ride. They'll tell you what it really cost them and you can make an educated guess from there.

Cooler, DPS, intake, pump, Mhd. Custom tune.
Will satisfy most people

[EB89]

Originally Posted by iliketurtl3s

I can understand why #5 is close to your heart... That bump in classifieds lol

That bumper actually fits my car fine, I’ve just seen lots of poorly fitting M3 kit, hoods with gaps etc..

I dropped the price cos I’m moving in 2 weeks and can’t take it with me.

[Die_sel]

Oh I was about to buy some ebay cheapos like splitters, rear trunk lid spoilers, matte kidney grills for my 330D, I guess I'll skip that.

[EB89]

Originally Posted by Die_sel

Oh I was about to buy some ebay cheapos like splitters, rear trunk lid spoilers, matte kidney grills for my 330D, I guess I'll skip that.

Those are mostly stick on parts vs body panels, they should be ok.

[Socket]

Surprised there is no words of wisdom from the community on this topic.... im taking this to FB

[Brule]

If I was starting again I would put on:

Upgraded lpfp
Big high quality intercooler
Mhd and custom tune for e85
Run e85 and enjoy the bmw at 350-380hp

[tracktime54]

thanks guys, helpful thread

my first take driving the car is that LSD should be top of the list! im keen to go full bolt on with the motor... but traction control already intervenes so much at stock power levels even!

[Socket]

Originally Posted by tracktime54

thanks guys, helpful thread

my first take driving the car is that LSD should be top of the list! im keen to go full bolt on with the motor... but traction control already intervenes so much at stock power levels even!

Hey TrackT

Welcome to the forum mate
LSD come up for sale on here from time to time

If you buy a new LSD you then need to buy things like shim kits, fluids etc and pay for someone to install. All up probably $2000 to $2500K job
If your's is a welded diff the someone has to cut it open, reweld it etc which just pushes the price up, that's if you can find someone to do it

Is much easier to buy a diff already fitted with an LSD (that someone has already installed) usually these come up for sale for $1200 to $1500 and then its a simple job to drop the old one out and install the new one

You need to make sure you get one that is compatible with your car, the table below will help identify if you need a small or large diff

Wish I knew this when I was doing my first LSD install

[tracktime54]

Thanks socket! Yeah i checked that out already and found my ring gear is the welded kind 😂 so fitting LSD centre would be a costly pain in the ass! Keeping an eye out an entire unit.. shopping list getting big tho 🤑💰
Another high priority is tyres .. the run flats are way too rough! Does everyone just carry tyre slime in the boot or something?

[kookie]

I just roll the dice and call RACV onroad support.

Or give my brother a call and tell him to bring out the spare rim

[Socket]

Originally Posted by tracktime54

Thanks socket! Yeah i checked that out already and found my ring gear is the welded kind �� so fitting LSD centre would be a costly pain in the ass! Keeping an eye out an entire unit.. shopping list getting big tho ����
Another high priority is tyres .. the run flats are way too rough! Does everyone just carry tyre slime in the boot or something?

Ditch the RFTs
I carry bmw kit (compressor and slime in one)
Is really handy for pumping up tires
Also have RAVC road side assist and towing cover... we drive N54s after all

Also Ill have a large 3.08 diff with a LSD coming up for sale in late Aug
Will be putting it up for sale when we do the 1M drivetrain swap

[Socket]

Originally Posted by kookie

I just roll the dice and call RACV onroad support.

Or give my brother a call and tell him to bring out the spare rim

This works too