[jauloz]

Originally Posted by ubersteuer

Why would it not handle as well? All of the relevant m3 suspension and bushing bits can be swapped over. Weight is not a factor either as a stock RWD e91 has an unladen weight of 3527 lbs. X-drive adds ~200lbs.

e9x M3:
Coupe: 1,655 kg (3,649 lb)
Saloon: 1,685 kg (3,715 lb)

To the OP: either an n54 or v8 swap would be worthwhile as neither was available in an e91 chassis stateside. Keep up the progress!

there is a lot more than weight, the dynamic of the car is totally different, I would suspect a wagon can get so close to the handling of a coupe/sedan, but not as good. In the end of the day, you are carrying the weight distribution of the hatch up high. I would take a wagon anyday tho LOL

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

This thing get sicker and sicker every time I check out this thread.

[Cro]

I mean I need you to put the s65 into it you can tell me the hard parts before I start it myself

[Ruddigger]

Imagine a carbon fiber longroof.

[redEYEjedi]

Looks good bud. So when's it going to be done done? Then again, when are any of our cars really done done? lol

[NYBulldog]

I swear this damn car will never be ready. One thing after another just keeps delaying everything. And its all stuff I want, not need.

I have the passenger seat out next to an M3 seat with lumbar trying to figure out how to make it work 100%. My wagon has non-sports seats with heat. Adjustability worked fine on the M3 seat until I hit the heated seat function and the seat just died completely. No idea on the lumbar, didn't have the chance to check it.

I bought the ESS Tuning VT1+ Kit. I know many of you will be disappointed. I'm not sure if this is temporary or not yet. I suck... I know. Tomorrow I'll have it dyno'd for baseline stock numbers.

Hate, really hate the wide view sideview mirrors. I think I may get a matte transparent piece of vinyl and overlay on that section. I'm going fc#ing cross-eyed.

Car is registered and insured finally with the loathsome NY yellow plates. Vanity has been ordered.

Drove it to Chipotle in Greenwich. The ST Coilovers are fantastic. The ride is really nice. Not feeling the muffler delete just yet. Its a little too loud... what the hell else did I expect? lmao Will likely by a slim muffler to bring down the noise somewhat. Really enjoying how it looks. Multiple people are noticeably confused.

[motoridersd]

Originally Posted by NYBulldog

I bought the ESS Tuning VT1+ Kit. I know many of you will be disappointed. I'm not sure if this is temporary or not yet. I suck... I know. Tomorrow I'll have it dyno'd for baseline stock numbers.

Really enjoying how it looks. Multiple people are noticeably confused.

It looks fantastic!

I am looking forward to those numbers. The VT1+ kit has been on my wish list for a while, but no one has been able to give a definitive answer on its worthiness.

[Ruddigger]

The supercharger will be a nice holdover until you can do a real swap. Then you can sell me the supercharger. Lol.

[chris b.]

That's it? One pic!! hahahah

Bring it by Ferrari! I wanna see!!!

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by motoridersd

It looks fantastic!

I am looking forward to those numbers. The VT1+ kit has been on my wish list for a while, but no one has been able to give a definitive answer on its worthiness.

Thanks. Yeah I feel the same exact way.

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

The supercharger will be a nice holdover until you can do a real swap. Then you can sell me the supercharger. Lol.

lmao we shall see

Originally Posted by chris b.

That's it? One pic!! hahahah
Bring it by Ferrari! I wanna see!!!

In a few weeks I'll be a bit closer to completion, I'll pass by for sure.




I finally drove the car on the highway. The I-95 is a great place to get a feel for a car. I do need to modify the muffler delete, its a touch too loud for me. But the car drives fantastic. The handling and ride is very much what I wanted it to be. Not harsh, firm but with some daily driving give. I noticed how aerodynamic that car felt. In the morning we had a little bit of snow/rain so when I finally stopped to look at the car after everything you could see how all the dirt swooped to mostly the back... very happy. Its a bit more aerodynamic than with its original stock body.

...

So yesterday I went to The Shop in Norwalk, CT. Awesome place and crew, James seems like a real standup guy. Very clean and neat shop, they had some nice machinery in there. The whole dyno setup was real nice too.

They just installed a new dyno about 6 weeks ago. They use a Mustang Powerdyne with 4 wheel measuring rollers for AWD... so I've been warned that the numbers (James himself also mentioned it) will be very conservative compared to other dynos, specifically to a Dynojet.

I already assumed the car would make very low power... somewhere around 160awhp taking into consideration BOTH the drivetrain power loss and the Mustang Powerdyne's convervative numbers.

We did 3 runs (pulls) using 4th gear for peak. Dyno sheet posted. The car made 181awhp and 171tq. Disappointingly low of course, but having mentally prepared for it... not too shabby. So just using a simple and loose percentage of 20% loss makes it right about factory expectations.

So the Baseline Dyno is in. The only "engine" modifications at this FIRST DYNO SESSION is a muffler delete and Euro oil housing cooler.

FEDEX Tracking says the VT1+ should be here Thursday next week. Let's see.

....................

Below are MY specific details:

Modellbezeichnung: 328xi
Ausführung: USA
Typschlüssel: UU33
E-Code: E91 (MUE)
Karosserie: Touring
Motor: N52B30M1 - 3,00l (172kW) - N52N
Antrieb: Allrad
Getriebe: Automatisch
Produktionsdatum: 29.10.2008
Werk: München


N52B30
2996 cm³ (183 cu in)
6 Cylinder, 24 Valves, Reihe
172 kW (234 PS) at 6500 U⁄min
270 Nm at 2750 U⁄min
10,7:1
Bore Stroke 85 mm x 88 mm
91-98 Octane Only

170 kW (230 hp) @ 6500 270 N·m (200 lb·ft) @ 2750

2008-06 - 2010-01
UU33
E91 (MUE) UU33 328xi Touring
N52B30M1
172kW
All Wheel-Drive
LHD USA

.............


The car goes back to the body shop one last time next week for final retouching, a few additional painted goodies, and full panel adjustment. The car will then finally get prepped for wetsanding, buff, etc.

[Ruddigger]

I love it. Not bad numbers either for a powerdyne.

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

I love it. Not bad numbers either for a powerdyne.

Yeah I won't cry about it just yet lol. Once I get my SC kit I will re-dyno at the same place. For S&G I will then go to a Dynojet just to see the difference.

Originally Posted by The Convert

I love the look of these "M" wagons. Soooo sexy. I wouldn't even give a shit about it being slow. They just look so good. I wish BMW would have made an M wagon.

Thanks. Ditto. I just find it hard to stop myself from spending more money lol. Hopefully good things result.

[chris b.]

get those side windshield moldings on!

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by chris b.

get those side windshield moldings on!

I know! I can't find the clips

[Conti.]

is the shop you use right down the street from the bmw service center in Port Chester? I'm almost positive this is your car I spotted driving by.

also, how was the new version of "the shop"? I live in norwalk and have never been there but I have heard very mixed reviews, a lot of bad ones in the past but nothing recently. I'm pretty sure Sidewinderpb hate them for screwing up his alignment.

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by Conti.

is the shop you use right down the street from the bmw service center in Port Chester? I'm almost positive this is your car I spotted driving by.

also, how was the new version of "the shop"? I live in norwalk and have never been there but I have heard very mixed reviews, a lot of bad ones in the past but nothing recently. I'm pretty sure Sidewinderpb hate them for screwing up his alignment.

Nice spotting. I've randomly seen people drive in and take pictures of the car lmao. I'm glad to see a spotted pic

I don't know the first version of "The Shop" so I can't comment on that. I made my dyno appointment on the phone. I showed up the day and hour of and everything was very straightforward. I spoke to James for a bit, cool dude. Looks like his strong suit is doing engine modifications. There were some beasts in there. Like every single shop on the planet, there will always be complaints so I'm not surprised. I'm a firm believe that you should take your car to various shops for various specialties. For example, an engine builder can probably do alignments but they likely won't be as good as an alignment shop.




















So a box showed up today. Earlier than expected. Hopefully there is time to do it within the next week.

[Ruddigger]

Gonna be awesome!

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by Ruddigger

Gonna be awesome!

Thanks dude!





Techs were as excited as me... and gave me shit for having a slow wagon lmao . I pulled it into their backup bay. They wanted to size up the instructions and what not.

[Sidewinderpb]

Originally Posted by Conti.

is the shop you use right down the street from the bmw service center in Port Chester? I'm almost positive this is your car I spotted driving by.

also, how was the new version of "the shop"? I live in norwalk and have never been there but I have heard very mixed reviews, a lot of bad ones in the past but nothing recently. I'm pretty sure Sidewinderpb hate them for screwing up his alignment.

I don't hate them for screwing up the alignment. I hate them because the owner is a complete asshole who was incredibly disrespectful to me - so much so that his wife called him a douchebag. Furthermore, when I picked up the car, it smelled like the clutch had been cooked for days, and drove like it as well. AND the morons literally BENT my control arms with a pry bar. The Shop is the absolute worst shop that I've even been to, and James can eat a bag of dicks.

[Camman]

Originally Posted by NYBulldog

Front wheels need some spacers bad. 12.5-15mm will make it look a hell of a lot better.

[NYBulldog]

Originally Posted by Camman

Front wheels need some spacers bad. 12.5-15mm will make it look a hell of a lot better.

Lol trust me I know. It's an eyesore. I bought them weeks ago but didn't install them yet. 18F/15R. I wanted to wait until the car is on the lift again. Any day now they will be on.

Originally Posted by Sidewinderpb

I don't hate them for screwing up the alignment. I hate them because the owner is a complete asshole who was incredibly disrespectful to me - so much so that his wife called him a douchebag. Furthermore, when I picked up the car, it smelled like the clutch had been cooked for days, and drove like it as well. AND the morons literally BENT my control arms with a pry bar. The Shop is the absolute worst shop that I've even been to, and James can eat a bag of dicks.

Damn dude im sorry to hear that. I wil be weary and just take it in for my dyno runs. I've met him the one and only time. Sounds like shady practices. The wife has been super nice on the phone and in person. Is James brothers or cousins with George from ICS?

[Conti.]

Originally Posted by NYBulldog

Damn dude im sorry to hear that. I wil be weary and just take it in for my dyno runs. I've met him the one and only time. Sounds like shady practices. The wife has been super nice on the phone and in person. Is James brothers or cousins with George from ICS?

thats his brother's shop in stamford. the place looks like shit now. looks like an old rundown used car lot with a bunch of old hoopties and trucks. i passed there a few months ago to eat at colony pizza and there was an old porsche with the windows wide open in a rain storm. i don't even know if its open anymore honestly. i never see anyone working there. it's received more horrible reviews than i've ever seen. although many years ago (probably at least a decade ago) he did build himself a sick 1000hp turbo e36. but i still would never even set foot in that establishment

if you google ics stamford, first few post are horrible experiences, never go and warnings. he had an F with BBB to. pretty sure he went out of business