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      01-08-2015, 02:43 AM   #1
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2015 BMW 335i: Joshua Tree, California and Laguna Seca

First time BMW owner and first post on this forum (or any forum for that matter)! Before I dive in with some pictures and videos I wanted to mention that Bimmerpost (F30) has been very helpful in many ways: from purchase to limp mode (keep reading...) And apologies, this post ended up a little longer than expected—feel free to skip to the pictures and video.

In late September I was in the market for a new car. But this time around I wanted more power and torque, and after years of Audi (both A3 and A4) I felt like something new. With a baby on the way I needed something practical but fast (not for the baby, for fun and track) and with somewhat decent MPG. I pretty quickly zeroed in on a 335i M Sport. One of the dealers in the Bay Area had one on the lot (first 2015 they received) with 6 miles on it and (mostly) the right options—what are the odds! At least it wasn't beat up during test drives. That said, In the future I will probably custom order my car, but this worked out.

Car and Impressions

Here are the specs: 2015 BMW 335i M Sport Black Sapphire 8AT, M Sport Brakes, MPPK, MPE and pretty much every other option on the car (except the extra cameras and lane warning stuff). My biggest hesitation was DHP or not. There are plenty of threads discussing its merits on this forum, so I was a little concerned that this car did not have DHP. However, after reading up more on it here I decided that I would go with the M Performance Suspension upgrade anyways and get rid of the stock M Sport Suspension and RFTs. I'm happy I did! The MPPK and MPE were added after purchase, although discounted as I negotiated them at the same time (perhaps not as good as port install, but decent).

First impressions? Wow! I love this car. Okay, not everything, but the N55 engine is magnificent, although I will be the first to admit that my experience may be tainted by the fact that this is my first 6 cylinder car. Overall I'm very pleased. Sure there are oddities about it, from iDrive to Auto Stop/Start, but overall I would rate it 8 out of 10 for now.

M Performance Suspension Upgrade

However... that stock suspension?! For the life of me I do not understand how anyone can live with that or how BMW thinks it is acceptable (especially for M Sport variant). The car even came with M Sport Suspension and it felt like a boat. For those on the fence and not looking for performance upgrades to their suspension: get DHP now! Don't even think about it (both for comfort and performance).

I ordered the M Performance Suspension Kit from getBMWparts.com. Next up was tires. I know RFTs have come a long way, but still, for track days they will not hold up nicely. The choice in tires was pretty straight forward: Michelin Pilot Super Sport. I decided to keep the OEM staggered setup and wheels for now: 225 in the front and 255 in the rear (more about that later...). I had all the parts shipped to Performance Technic, highly recommended in the Bay Area, and installed for a great price.

Okay, enough about all the tech details. On to the roadtrip! This year we decided to celebrate New Years in Joshua Tree, via Los Angeles, and on the way back enjoy some track time at Laguna Seca; what a start to 2015! The new suspension was fine for the trip but you notice its stiffness compared to stock, not to everyone’s taste I'm sure. Here are some pictures in the desert.

Joshua Tree











Tracking a 2015 BMW 335i

So, how does the F30 fair on the track? Overall I would say pretty damn good. Obviously keep in mind that this is a 4 door sport sedan weighing in at 3,500+ lbs. Don't expect it to handle like a S2000 or Miata. That said, I was able to keep up with a host of cars, from Camaro SS, Mustang BOSS 302 to even E92 M3 (although the driver ultimately can make the difference...). The new tires and suspension did wonders for the track. Turn in is sharp, but with 225 in the front and (most) nannies turned on, the car tends to understeer and push forward. Clean line and throttle control does help. Turn off DST and DCT and you better be careful with the throttle! Beyond 1 to 1.1G lateral force the car starts to slide and you lose power and speed with my setup. Camber plates and wider front tires can take care of most of that. The M Sport brakes performed very well, not much fade, and reliable all day. I will get the brakes flushed and replaced with high temp oil regardless.

Laguna Seca Pictures








Laguna Seca Pit / Paddock




Last edited by d-bmw; 11-18-2015 at 02:35 AM..
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      01-08-2015, 02:46 AM   #2
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Great write-up! What's that little red thing in front of the intercooler?
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      01-08-2015, 02:49 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidRbibo View Post
Great write-up! What's that little red thing in front of the intercooler?
Nice catch! It’s a transponder for the timers at the track (provided by the organizers of the track day). More accurate than my iPhone.
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      01-08-2015, 04:31 AM   #4
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It's always a pleasure to discover threads started by enthusiasts who always try to push the limits of their cars! Welcome on board!
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      01-08-2015, 05:27 AM   #5
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I like this kind of thread... Welcome, Congrats and Thanks !
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      01-08-2015, 06:55 AM   #6
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Congrats, beautiful car!
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      01-08-2015, 08:15 AM   #7
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LOVE LOVE LOVE Laguna Seca! I've taken my motorcycle there a few times. Nothing like going down the corkscrew. Even at my slow speeds you can really feel the drop and the suspension unloading then bottoming out at the bottom!

Great pics and post! Now get that car tinted.
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      01-08-2015, 08:54 AM   #8
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Nice write up. Great pictures and video - looks like you had a blast! Glad to see someone enjoying their car rather than complaining about BMW has lost their way, wind noise sucks, HK sounds like crap, blah blah blah...get out there and drive!
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      01-08-2015, 11:02 AM   #9
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Thanks all! Laguna Seca is truly an amazing track. Videos and games don't do Turn 8 (aka Corkscrew) justice, something to experience in person!

As someone new to BMW I'm still amazed at the torque in third gear, can't get enough of it. The car keeps on pulling. People at the track don't expect it from a non M sedan either. Always puts a smile on my face
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      01-08-2015, 01:11 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spuntyb View Post
Nice write up. Great pictures and video - looks like you had a blast! Glad to see someone enjoying their car rather than complaining about BMW has lost their way, wind noise sucks, HK sounds like crap, blah blah blah...get out there and drive!
Actually about that wind noise... Haha, just kidding. The car does squeak quite a bit though. I've read that cleaning the rubber seals and applying some solution helps with that. Anyways, it does't bother me enough to go nuts, nor do you hear any of that on a track.
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      01-08-2015, 05:33 PM   #11
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Nice write up! Love those corkscrew pictures
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      01-09-2015, 12:33 AM   #12
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Awesome!
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      01-09-2015, 12:56 PM   #13
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Car looks beautiful. Great pics. My fiancé just picked '15 BSM 335i similar to yours, but with the other 19' wheels. The car is a blast to drive! Thanks for giving your good and bad feedback about the car. I can't wait to take it out on a track/autocross.
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