Newbie - with a few Q's (i got my 135i yesterday)

[imske3000]

Hi Guys,

After 3 years driving modified Audi’s I have decided to come over to BMW, I just picked up my 135i yesterday and I am so happy with the change. Hopefully the Forum for BMW is just as helpful as Audi so here goes….

First things first, I need a good mechanic in Sydney any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Secondly I need some wheels - I am thinking 19’s but want to know what specs you guys are running, how does it effect the handling? Any scrubbing?

Thirdly, I want to get an exhaust, most likely a quad-exhaust. Has anyone done this? Know of anyone good to recommend? Is importing an exhaust the best option for a BMW?

Finally, ECU upgrades? Who are you using?

Glad to be on the BMW forum, thanks guys.

[UR25IO]

Hi there imske3000

Great to see another Sydney sider and welcome.

Most guys on here are using ADVAN performance in Auburn as for workshop.
Peter is the person to contact he is also on here SKYCAT

They have also perform the modification of a quad exhaust on 135i N54.
Stuwart from BMRautowerks had the conversion done.
I also believe there is a couple in sydneywho has gone down that road of a quad exhaust.

Hope that helps

Thony

Originally Posted by imske3000

Hi Guys,

After 3 years driving modified Audi’s I have decided to come over to BMW, I just picked up my 135i yesterday and I am so happy with the change. Hopefully the Forum for BMW is just as helpful as Audi so here goes….

First things first, I need a good mechanic in Sydney any suggestions would be really appreciated.

Secondly I need some wheels - I am thinking 19’s but want to know what specs you guys are running, how does it effect the handling? Any scrubbing?

Thirdly, I want to get an exhaust, most likely a quad-exhaust. Has anyone done this? Know of anyone good to recommend? Is importing an exhaust the best option for a BMW?

Finally, ECU upgrades? Who are you using?

Glad to be on the BMW forum, thanks guys.

[Giveway74]

+1 for Advan

[thewafflecaust]

Quad exhausts go two ways.

You can get a 1M style exhaust with a center muffler but you'll need to do the 1M boot floor conversion to your 135 to make it fit




Or you can skip the boot floor and look at quads that just pipe a pair of tips over to the drivers side



As for ECUs, BMS and Cobb seem to be the most popular.
BMS JB4 is a piggy back tune that requires you to plug things into the ECU - think ABT in VAG world
Cobb is an ECU flash, think APR from VAG world

[imske3000]

Thanks guys, i just booked in with Advan.

Regarding the exhaust, what is the remus exhaust like with such a thin tubing over to the second tip?

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by thewafflecaust

Cobb is an ECU flash, think APR from VAG world

but better*

full custom tunes.

wheels - ceck out VMR and Apex wheels. great range of bolt on fitments.. you should be able to go a 265 rear tyre relatively easily depending what it is.. and up front SQUEEZE a 245 (coilovers you'll need +40 offset~), or easily go a 235.

19's make the ride a bit stiffer of course, but 1m's come with 19's stock, and they're an optional wheel on the 135i.. so it'll fit fine no scrubbing with the right sidewall size.

[Nugget]

I've had 18 and 19s and I would stick to 18s.

You could get tricky with the Quad exhaust if you don't want to convert to the 1M battery box.

[thewafflecaust]

Originally Posted by Nugget

I've had 18 and 19s and I would stick to 18s.

You could get tricky with the Quad exhaust if you don't want to convert to the 1M battery box.

God damn, thats some serious commitment to getting fully separated twin exhausts..

[OzJustin]

Wow that piping is like a maze! It has the plus of probably being very quiet (street car after all) with all those mufflers/resonators, but I suspect it would also be heavy...

OP - Do a google search on 135i quads & you'll see there are a fair few manufacturers to look into. The harder part seems to be finding a decent quad diffuser with openings that match the exhaust pipe width.

[imske3000]

Originally Posted by Nugget

I've had 18 and 19s and I would stick to 18s.

You could get tricky with the Quad exhaust if you don't want to convert to the 1M battery box.

Thanks nugget, what dimension 18" wheels and offset do you suggest?

[510135]

Originally Posted by flinchy

but better*

full custom tunes.

wheels - ceck out VMR and Apex wheels. great range of bolt on fitments.. you should be able to go a 265 rear tyre relatively easily depending what it is.. and up front SQUEEZE a 245 (coilovers you'll need +40 offset~), or easily go a 235.

19's make the ride a bit stiffer of course, but 1m's come with 19's stock, and they're an optional wheel on the 135i.. so it'll fit fine no scrubbing with the right sidewall size.

No chance.
I ran 235 up front with a +45 offset (19" x 8.5) slammed and it scrubbed (225 would work better)

Rears I ran 255 + 50 offset (19x9.5) slammed and it also scrubbed.

[cat-like]

Originally Posted by 510135

No chance.
I ran 235 up front with a +45 offset (19" x 8.5) slammed and it scrubbed (225 would work better)

Rears I ran 255 + 50 offset (19x9.5) slammed and it also scrubbed.

I think the word "slammed" might have been a contributing factor to the rubbing

[510135]

Originally Posted by cat-like

I think the word "slammed" might have been a contributing factor to the rubbing

No not really. It would have rubbed if it was higher too.

[imske3000]

Originally Posted by 510135

No not really. It would have rubbed if it was higher too.

thats what i was thinking lol, i was reading somewhere on here that another setup is 19x8.5 on all fours. thoughts?

[510135]

Originally Posted by imske3000

thats what i was thinking lol, i was reading somewhere on here that another setup is 19x8.5 on all fours. thoughts?

Not wide enough for the rear IMO.

[imske3000]

Originally Posted by 510135

Not wide enough for the rear IMO.

Hmmm, i was thinking the same thing, so if 8.5 is too small, is there anyway you can run a 9.5 without scrubbing? how bad is it?

[PeteA]

19's look better to my eyes and if you're only street driven, who really gives a rats ass about how many g's you can hold going down pickadilly lane @ 40km/h?

I have a set of 19s and 18's. I like both for different reasons.

My 19's (8"/9") are ET48 front and ET50 rear, 225 / 255 no issues there.
My 18's (8.5"/9.5") are ET45 front and ET62 rear, 235 / 265 no issues there either.

I am modified, but both these setups will work NP on a stock setup (I have tried this myself)

Refer to my build thread and you will see what I have.

[510135]

Originally Posted by imske3000

Hmmm, i was thinking the same thing, so if 8.5 is too small, is there anyway you can run a 9.5 without scrubbing? how bad is it?

It was fine after I got my guards rolled. The rear wasn't as bad as the front, due to the fact that I could roll the guards. The front was worse because of the 235 tyre. If I ran the 225 it would have been better. I'll attach a pic of the front so u get an idea

[510135]

Front

[510135]

Probably a better view

[UR25IO]

I would actually recomend to get coilover and front sway bars as a first mod as it will make driveing the car alot more enjoyable going through twist and turns , Our car produce good power as stock. Once that is done you may follow with the rest of the mod. Choosing a set of wheels may make it more straight forward as you already know your ride hight and how stiff the suspension is.

only just a suggestion

[510135]

^ +1000 get your coil overs first then the wheels!