BMW E82135I- 1M Conversion
Discussion
Thought i'd make a thread to track progress, I purchased the car in May 2017, as a sensible daily, to replace a mini which i'd modified too much. The car is fitted with an N54, the same as the 1M, initially I just installed at MHD map and left the car as is. But following a visit to Santa Pod, I realised the car had quite a bit of potential and the modifying began:
IMG_0107 by Mathew Oldfield, on Flickr
I realised after Santa Pod, that i'd like to run wider tyres if I was to significantly increase power, so decided at that point to purchase 1M body panels, arch liners etc. and perform a widebody conversion.
Also over winter I added the following performance upgrades:
- Upgraded charge pipe with GFB BOV
- Ram air filters
- 2" alloy intake pipes, to remove the highly restrictive factory pipework which holds the engine back at high revs.
- Devil's Own water meth kit, with 2 gallon race tank.
- VRSF downpipes 3"
- STG Performance Valvetronic 3.5" exhaust system
- M359 wheels
- Custom carbon fibre rear diffuser
IMG_0634 by Mathew Oldfield, on Flickr
IMG_0641 by Mathew Oldfield, on Flickr
IMG_0636 by Mathew Oldfield, on Flickr
Then after putting the car back on the road in March, I took the car to Cadwell Park, where after a few sessions the front turbo (which I believe to be original) let go. It was at this point I begin researching into all the turbo upgrade options, both hybrid and single and eventually settled on the Frankenturbo F21Bi Hybrid Turbos, hoping to keep similar response to the original turbos and not wanting to increase the power to extremely high level. Hopefully, once tuned it should produce in the region of 550-600bhp at modest levels of boost. Some in America have reached approx 700whp, with E85, high boost and lots of timing advance. I also noted that I had snapped a spring and now have a set of ST XTA coilovers to fit, before putting the car back on the road. The coilovers are a mix of KW V2, V3 and Clupsport coilovers, but with galvnised as opposed to stainless bodies. They feature camber adjustable top mounts on the front and I aim to fit M3 suspension arms at the same time.
IMG_0639 by Mathew Oldfield, on Flickr
IMG_0107 by Mathew Oldfield, on FlickrI realised after Santa Pod, that i'd like to run wider tyres if I was to significantly increase power, so decided at that point to purchase 1M body panels, arch liners etc. and perform a widebody conversion.
Also over winter I added the following performance upgrades:
- Upgraded charge pipe with GFB BOV
- Ram air filters
- 2" alloy intake pipes, to remove the highly restrictive factory pipework which holds the engine back at high revs.
- Devil's Own water meth kit, with 2 gallon race tank.
- VRSF downpipes 3"
- STG Performance Valvetronic 3.5" exhaust system
- M359 wheels
- Custom carbon fibre rear diffuser
IMG_0634 by Mathew Oldfield, on FlickrIMG_0641 by Mathew Oldfield, on FlickrIMG_0636 by Mathew Oldfield, on FlickrThen after putting the car back on the road in March, I took the car to Cadwell Park, where after a few sessions the front turbo (which I believe to be original) let go. It was at this point I begin researching into all the turbo upgrade options, both hybrid and single and eventually settled on the Frankenturbo F21Bi Hybrid Turbos, hoping to keep similar response to the original turbos and not wanting to increase the power to extremely high level. Hopefully, once tuned it should produce in the region of 550-600bhp at modest levels of boost. Some in America have reached approx 700whp, with E85, high boost and lots of timing advance. I also noted that I had snapped a spring and now have a set of ST XTA coilovers to fit, before putting the car back on the road. The coilovers are a mix of KW V2, V3 and Clupsport coilovers, but with galvnised as opposed to stainless bodies. They feature camber adjustable top mounts on the front and I aim to fit M3 suspension arms at the same time.
IMG_0639 by Mathew Oldfield, on FlickrYeah, the car looks like its floating, couldn't decide which coilovers to get, as wanted Ohlins Road and Track, but unfortunately the impromptu turbo failure stopped that. Still on a standard intercooler, which does need upgrading, although the meth injection is doing a good job at controlling temps. Unfortunately, I ideally need to order the intercooler from America, as most of the UK options aren't as large/efficient.
MDifficult said:
Swap the chrome for a black gloss shadow line and I’m 100% totally on board for this. Awesome work!
Thanks, the plan is to have it wrapped, already fitted M Performance front grilles and black IND Distribution side repeaters, just not got round to it yet. Also planning to swap the roof for a carbon fibre one like the M3.mato said:
MDifficult said:
Swap the chrome for a black gloss shadow line and I’m 100% totally on board for this. Awesome work!
Thanks, the plan is to have it wrapped, already fitted M Performance front grilles and black IND Distribution side repeaters, just not got round to it yet. Also planning to swap the roof for a carbon fibre one like the M3.
Mo28 said:
If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to do the external conversion of the car?
No issues with asking, although I’ve not kept an accurate record of costs (as they’re probably a little depressing 😂) but I think a ball park figure of 5K would be in the right region, possibly a little more. Plus there’s then the exhaust, wheels etc required to complete, and I now have a flat boot floor etc.mato said:
I realised after Santa Pod, that i'd like to run wider tyres if I was to significantly increase power, so decided at that point to purchase 1M body panels, arch liners etc. and perform a widebody conversion.
This has to be one of the most throwaway comments on PH for a while - Oh, I just threw 1M panels on the car.. then a picture of the car with them fitted and in a different colourPlease tell us you have progress shots of this being done..
Top work..
Superhoop said:
This has to be one of the most throwaway comments on PH for a while - Oh, I just threw 1M panels on the car.. then a picture of the car with them fitted and in a different colour
Please tell us you have progress shots of this being done..
Top work..
Sorry, I don’t have much in the way of progress photos, do wish I’d better documented it and do intend on keeping a better record of future progress. There is a few well documented builds done in a similar manor, other than the rear arches everything simply bolts on.Please tell us you have progress shots of this being done..
Top work..
Hi, great car. Hoping you keep this updated as I am currently running a 335i with the same N54 motor FBO.
Not heard much about the Franken Turbos but I'm in the process of install methanol for some added power. Did you this mapped in with the MHD tune you had or just as an extra when necessary?
Hopefully you should see some good numbers with the new turbos, some decent rubber will be needed to even attempt to put it down though.
Not heard much about the Franken Turbos but I'm in the process of install methanol for some added power. Did you this mapped in with the MHD tune you had or just as an extra when necessary?
Hopefully you should see some good numbers with the new turbos, some decent rubber will be needed to even attempt to put it down though.
ntbilling said:
Hi, great car. Hoping you keep this updated as I am currently running a 335i with the same N54 motor FBO.
Not heard much about the Franken Turbos but I'm in the process of install methanol for some added power. Did you this mapped in with the MHD tune you had or just as an extra when necessary?
Hopefully you should see some good numbers with the new turbos, some decent rubber will be needed to even attempt to put it down though.
Yeah, they’ve not been available to the open market for too long. What meth system are you going to be running, charge pipe or port injection?Not heard much about the Franken Turbos but I'm in the process of install methanol for some added power. Did you this mapped in with the MHD tune you had or just as an extra when necessary?
Hopefully you should see some good numbers with the new turbos, some decent rubber will be needed to even attempt to put it down though.
I was advised by Devils Own to run MHD stage 2+ 102 Ron map with mine and run 100% meth, car pulled cleanly and didn’t pull dangerous levels of timing following this advice.
Going for a custom map now I have the larger turbos, so will be doing a lot of logging once it’s back on the road.
You had yours rolling roadwd yet?
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff