[ucsbwsr]

Given the N54 connection I figured I would share this with E90post, hopefully some find it helpful or interesting.

A little background on my style: Aesthetics are important to me but not at the expense of function so I do my best to achieve both, if there is a conflict, function wins. "Clean" is always the goal. I love details; details, details, details. Now that I have a garage I do all of my own work, I really enjoy the challenge of solving problems and figuring things out so a late model BMW keeps me busy on this front. When the wagon is broken, I fix it, when it is running 100%, I look for something to modify or break, I am sure many of you can relate. I love to retrofit things and "make them work." I also love having a 550awhp wagon that can run with pretty much anything on the street, while carrying mountain bikes, a dog, and groceries. Function!


Day 1 of the build (September 2013) up to (February 2016) can be seen in the first 30 pages of this thread: http://5series.net/forums/e61-tourin...ve-all-135223/

This thread will continue where that one leaves off.

For those inclined, my Instagram handle is "hoburger"

Evan


Here is a couple introductory pictures of my wagon in current trim:

[ucsbwsr]

Recently I swapped out my beta TBI for the production version.


The braided lines on the TBI got my inspired so I added a 1/8 NPT 4AN fitting to match the 4AN input on my Tial. I never noticed any undesirable performance while running the oem nipple but I like the idea of having a uniform path for the air to travel, that and I get to add a braided signal line!


Clean!


Before


During


After


Previously I replaced that hideous brake booster line with heater hose are routed it under the CP, I improved on the orientation and now it is almost completely out of sight.


Spending some time on RealOEM seeing which parts need to be changed out to make my suspension M5-spec. Since the 535xi is already such a large vehicle most of the suspension is the same as the M5, only the front lower control arms, rear guide arms, and rear integral links differ.


Snagged these M5 arms off eBay. As it turns out the control arms are EXACTLY the same so I will keep them as backups if I have issues with my current ones.


The rear guide arms were slightly different:
LEFT: 535xi
RIGHT: M5


LEFT: 535xi
RIGHT: M5


Speaking of M5 parts, here is a teaser of an upcoming project...

[TBN54]

So much win in this post

[ucsbwsr]

Transmission arrived

[RCOLEMAN545]

Very cool! The car is super clean. I might have to steal your idea for the brake booster line. That hard line is always in the way.

[sloweste9x]

Dude your car is my dream car. Serious goals right there

[BMDoublYou]

Best looking wagon I ever did see, can't wait to read through the build thread!

[BKBMW335I]

Originally Posted by ucsbwsr

Given the N54 connection I figured I would share this with E90post, hopefully some find it helpful or interesting.

A little background on my style: Aesthetics are important to me but not at the expense of function so I do my best to achieve both, if there is a conflict, function wins. "Clean" is always the goal. I love details; details, details, details. Now that I have a garage I do all of my own work, I really enjoy the challenge of solving problems and figuring things out so a late model BMW keeps me busy on this front. When the wagon is broken, I fix it, when it is running 100%, I look for something to modify or break, I am sure many of you can relate. I love to retrofit things and "make them work." I also love having a 550awhp wagon that can run with pretty much anything on the street, while carrying mountain bikes, a dog, and groceries. Function!


Day 1 of the build (September 2013) up to (February 2016) can be seen in the first 30 pages of this thread: http://5series.net/forums/e61-tourin...ve-all-135223/

This thread will continue where that one leaves off.

For those inclined, my Instagram handle is "hoburger"

Evan


Here is a couple introductory pictures of my wagon in current trim:

Sweet ride!

[mkPOTO]

subscribed! I have a soft spot for wagons.

[Team503]

Hot AF. Subbed.

[ucsbwsr]

Originally Posted by DN54

Sub'd. I've seen your post on your buddys E90. I love your attention to detail. Good luck!

Thanks, glad you enjoy it. I love details!

Originally Posted by RCOLEMAN545

Very cool! The car is super clean. I might have to steal your idea for the brake booster line. That hard line is always in the way.

Please do, those lines are such as eyesore. I have noticed no negative impact from replacing the line with heater hose.

Originally Posted by mb21111

Dude your car is my dream car. Serious goals right there

Thanks, it is my dream car (wagon) too.

Originally Posted by BMDoublYou

Best looking wagon I ever did see, can't wait to read through the build thread!

Thank you, I am happy with how the aesthetics of the build have come out, clean, beefy, and mean with a healthy dash of Storm Trooper.

Originally Posted by BKBMW335I

Sweet ride!

Thanks

Originally Posted by mkPOTO

subscribed! I have a soft spot for wagons.

Most people do, and rightfully so. I tell people, unless you plan to tow heavy items, need large payload, prefer the high ride height or an SUV, or simply need a truck bed, there is little reason not to get a wagon. It drives me crazy that this crossover thing is blowing up in the US, they are essentially taller, uglier, less efficient wagons. I guess most people in the US prefer a higher ride height and "look at me styling" over outright performance and efficiency.

High performance wagons are a different ball game when you can hold the same cargo as an SUV and still run with modern exotics.

Originally Posted by Team503

Hot AF. Subbed.

Thanks


I had a misfire show up in cylinder 5, ironically it first happened when I was running a 991 GT3 on the way to Cars & Coffee in Aliso Viejo (we were neck and neck). Coils are brand new Delphis, plugs are low mileage NGK 5992s, Cyl 5 on the left Cyl 6 on the right. Interestingly I swapped the plugs and coils and the misfire is still on cyl 5, I have not checked the injector yet but it is a -12 with maybe 1,000 miles on it so it SHOULD be fine. :shrug


Some more goodies for the 6MT swap arrived, a big thank you to the companies who are contributing to this build.

MFactory SMFW




Spec Stage 3+ Clutch



BMS SSK and DSSR

[PORTMOODY]

nice

[_ink]

B0SS of a car!

[Whit45]

Do you have any more ext. photos

[Billit335]

Moar ext. photos, so inspirational!! You've done an awesome job.

[ucsbwsr]

Originally Posted by PORTMOODY

nice

Originally Posted by _ink

B0SS of a car!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Whit45

Do you have any more ext. photos

Originally Posted by Billit335

Moar ext. photos, so inspirational!! You've done an awesome job.

Here you go!

[Billit335]

Damn the thing is sick!! Love the looks of it.

[ucsbwsr]

Count 'Em!


Before


After, I bugs me that it is round peg in a square hole but I will leave it for a bit and see if I get over it or if the aluminum cap gets the axe.


I also retrofitted my headlights ...again.

1st Retro here: https://www.hidplanet.com/forums/for...ustom-orion-v2
2nd Retro here: https://www.hidplanet.com/forums/for...on-eyes-are-in

I really enjoyed the product of my last retrofit, the angel eye delete and white demon eyes was a clean and subtle look I really dug. As much as I appreciate the "look at me" element of angel eyes/DRLS I think the circular design of the rings, whether on or off, is distracting and takes away from the otherwise clean clean/sharp/swoop design of the headlight.

If you recall, my current headlights are the units I refurbished in my second retrofit so they are far from perfect but being my personal headlights I think of them as a test bed for experimenting and trying new things, so in the end it works out. I will be doing some retrofits on BMW 5 series in the near future so this build was to familiarize myself with the headlights once again and test out some new things. One thing I am testing is the durability of the bowls on the 7.0s, they are powered by a 3five 50w ballast.

From my 2nd retrofit, this 3rd revision includes white ---> black demon eyes and MD2S 3.0 ---> MH1 7.0 "main projector." I kept the same MH1 6.0 as my 2nd projector in the quad setup.

I had thoughts to run a Morimoto 70mm xb fogs in place of the MH1 6.0s in the inner shrouds but decided against it as it was easier to keep the 6.0s there. The xb fogs can be located there without too much effort so confirming that while the headlight was apart was a goal in of itself.

The retrofit went smoothly and all I have to do it reseal the units,

Evan


MH1 7.0 Before


MH1 7.0m After


Black Demon Eye


XB 70mm fog


It would have worked and been pretty clean but I decided against it


Who mods their LED bulbs? ME!


I already had a D2S sealant/plug installed on the housing, the plug for the H1 bulb was too small in diameter to fit the whole, what to do?


Put the plug in the plug!


It came out super clean on the inside as well (and double sealed)


This is me having a hard time reflashing my Light Control Module


The MH1 6.0 fits like a glove in the inner shroud, the projector actually resides inside that chrome bowl you see and is the perfect length to match up with the shroud(s) that are in the front around the lens


If you look at the inner projector... there is a shroud, a ring, and an inner ring; the shroud and ring and held in place with bolts but the inner ring sits on the projector lens holder like a normal shroud would, it fits so snugly that I won't even bother with JB Kwik to secure it


Black on Black


Doing some final testing before I seal them up, don't mind the crooked intercooler, the wagon still makes 550whp


ALL OUTPUT SHOTS ARE OF THE MH1 7.0 ONLY!


The MH1 7.0s are a nice upgrade over the MD2 3.0 I had in there before. I was very appreciative of the fact that the 7.0s didn't take much tuning to get dialed, only some bulb alignment was needed to get great results (I still wish this wasn't needed but I understand how sensitive optics are). That being said I am very optimistic for the new MD2S 4.0!


I love the intensity along the cutoff but I am a huge fan of 3G TL and FXR 1.0 outputs where the width is thick and meaty. Projectors like the MH1 7.0 may be technically have a wider output but I don't find it quiet as useful as the other projectors mentioned. That being said the 7.0 is impressive considering it's size (again excited for D2S 4.0)


I thought about adding some foreground limiters since my wagon is pretty low ....and I should have, it would be nice to remove the initial 3-5 feet of intense light on the ground near the front of my car. If I need more foreground I can switch on the MH1 6.0s, their foreground is an additional 1-1.5ft closer.


Output 1


Reverse Light: Love It!


Some color flicker


LOW


HIGH

[ucsbwsr]

Originally Posted by Levanime

hows trans swap going?

I have in my garage:

6MT
MT-F-2 fluid
Spec 3+ clutch
MFactory SMFW
BMS SSK
pedal assembly (broken need another)
full clutch assembly
trans wiring harness
shifter arm
MFactory solid diff bushings (bored out to accommodate 26mm M5 bolt)
CDV Delete
M5 axles, LSD, Driveshaft, Guibo

I still need to track down a hard-to-find E60 M5 6MT output flange, they are hard to find since there are only ~4,000 manual M5s in the US and most dismantlers want to sell the trans complete. I refuse to pay $400+ for a new unit so I am waiting patiently for that part. I am also trying to collect some of the nuts and bolts (which I am comfortable reusing) used to save some more coin.

I have collected everything for a very reasonable amount of money so I am being patient while I collect the last few pieces. I will also do the swap in my garage so I can take my time with it.

My car is acting up with some of the coding I did with the DXC-DSC swap and I am still to figure it out, some modules are none responsive so I am trying to educate myself about it and get it all sorted before I add another retrofit to my plate.

Evan

[Donutz]

That light output quality is absolutely fantastic. Great job!

[SM335i]

ever thought of getting rid of projects and swapping for LED headlights? that would be next level! But this is my fav 5er. Good work brother

[nyfg56]

Interested in how the trans swap goes (looking to swap my n55 e90 335xi)