[toxik]

Originally Posted by MrLV83

I am soon to turn 40 so I completely understand! I was big into the car scene in my 20s and lowering the car was the first mod we all made. At my older age i am not sure I want to "deal" with a lowered car, especially living in CT. This is my daily driver so it could become annoying. My wife drives my car sometimes, so maybe not lowering is a wise option for me haha.

I really need to post some pictures of my ride in the forums to I could get some feedback from members.

completely understand, I can tell you now the forums will pressure you to drop the car 😅

[toxik]

Stud and Lug Nut Conversion:

Last weekend I decided to convert my car from Lug Bolts into Studs and Lug Nuts. Mainly did this for ease of wheel removal, but I do enjoy some wheel jewelry. All my prior cars had some sort of "special" or colorful lug nuts. It's a subtle, but noticeable to me, type of mod.

While I was in there I also added the iND Painted Floating Center Caps that I got from my favorite forum member AndrewC1989

Specs:

Future Classic BMW M14x1.25 'Shorty' Steel Stud Kit - 54MM

with

Project Kics R40 Iconix Lug Nuts and Wheel Locks - Closed Ended with Black Caps.





On to the installation:



Fully installed (sorry for the brake dust on wheels, they're impossible to keep clean with OEM pads)

[F30_320D_UK]

Damn, that does look good!

[Cytoplasm0671]

Midway through a very similar build with more of a focus on functionality rather than carbon fiber etc, but mad respect for your approach. I'm Mineral Gray RWD with the 6MT, MSport, Track Handling Package. Moving to 513m partially from your build thread. Am wanting to powder coat these big blue brakes a rich gold someday.

A just switched out the cat for an Active Autowerke cat and moved to Bootmod3 OTS stage-2 93 tune, which I will stay at for a while. Maybe flex fuel upgrade someday but no rush. Also about to switch out my clutch for the stronger 550i clutch, and switch sway bars for slightly beefier versions to help reduce body roll.

Any interest in performance upgrades?

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Cytoplasm0671

Midway through a very similar build. I'm Mineral Gray RWD with the 6MT, MSport, Track Handling Package. Moving to 513m partially from your build thread. Am wanting to powder coat these big blue brakes a rich gold someday.

A just switched out the cat for an Active Autowerke cat and moved to stage 2 tune, which I will stay at for a while. Also about to switch out my clutch for the 550i clutch, and sway bars for slightly beefier versions. Any interest in performance upgrades?

yep down the road, same as with lowering the car. just waiting to leave NYC in a year. i had some big power cars in the past and I know what a waste it can be here in the city. I do almost no open highway driving, usually sitting in traffic. I honestly want to get some of those things done as well before even trying to get a tune. Car needs a 550i clutch, new coils and injectors for my peace of mind. I knew going into the car that ZF8 is better for making big power and that the 6MT tranny has synchro issues, and weak clutch… so i decided to first do a bunch of visual mods to get it to a visual state I like. I honestly rarely feel like my car is slow with the type of driving available to me, so I’m waiting til the power bug hits me naturally. Good luck with your cars upgrades!

[Cytoplasm0671]

Fantastic. Can I ask how much ordering four 513m from BMW cost?

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Cytoplasm0671

Fantastic. Can I ask how much ordering four 513m from BMW cost?

i’m friends with a BMW parts manager at a dealership here, so I pretty much bought them at cost pricing. Came out to 2500 delivered to me (with NY sales tax), I also opened a BMW credit card (they kept sending me offers by email) which between the join offer plus the 4x points on every dollar spent at BMW, got me about a $260 additional discount as a statement credit.

since you’re RWD, i wouldn’t go this route since I ordered a square setup, you can definitely get a used staggered set from an M3 for same money. probably with tires too. but for me trying to find a good deal on a square set was harder than ordering new.

[Runner340]

Thanks for sharing your mods with us. I'm definitely inspired by many of them. Looking forward to future updates as well.

I'm on my 8th BMW and usually hang on to them for 10 years or more so reliability, maintenance and drivetrain longevity is important to me. I had the MPPSK dealer installed on mine and installed the Eventuri intake but don't plan to do any more engine mods unless it improves the car's longevity.

I have the BMW OEM MP front spoiler, diffuser, side splitters and trunk spoiler. The rear bumper splitters you have look great and has been a nagging issue for me to add some. Unfortunately BMW does not offer them in their MP catalog for my car. Toying with making my own by making a cardboard template fashioned in the style of yours and cutting my own out of .25" thick ABS plastic sheet sourced on Amazon.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Runner340

Thanks for sharing your mods with us. I'm definitely inspired by many of them. Looking forward to future updates as well.

I'm on my 8th BMW and usually hang on to them for 10 years or more so reliability, maintenance and drivetrain longevity is important to me. I had the MPPSK dealer installed on mine and installed the Eventuri intake but don't plan to do any more engine mods unless it improves the car's longevity.

I have the BMW OEM MP front spoiler, diffuser, side splitters and trunk spoiler. The rear bumper splitters you have look great and has been a nagging issue for me to add some. Unfortunately BMW does not offer them in their MP catalog for my car. Toying with making my own by making a cardboard template fashioned in the style of yours and cutting my own out of .25" thick ABS plastic sheet sourced on Amazon.

thanks man appreciate it! i think the rear splitters add to the OEM MP body kit very seamlessly and I was never planning on getting a set until I saw these in particular. let me know if you need some reference info for them, I can send you links for that style of splitter.

I appreciate you keeping your BMWs for that long, I have a soft spot for a well maintained car!

[Runner340]

Originally Posted by toxik

thanks man appreciate it! i think the rear splitters add to the OEM MP body kit very seamlessly and I was never planning on getting a set until I saw these in particular. let me know if you need some reference info for them, I can send you links for that style of splitter.

I appreciate you keeping your BMWs for that long, I have a soft spot for a well maintained car!

I'll take you up on the rear splitter links if it's not to much trouble. I don't mind making stuff but buying it already made is easier if reasonably priced.

[Samir72]

Originally Posted by toxik

thanks man appreciate it! i think the rear splitters add to the OEM MP body kit very seamlessly and I was never planning on getting a set until I saw these in particular. let me know if you need some reference info for them, I can send you links for that style of splitter.

I appreciate you keeping your BMWs for that long, I have a soft spot for a well maintained car!

Your rear side splitters look really nice and like you said give that seamless line with the side skirts.


Super impressed with your attention to detail on the engine bay.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Samir72

Your rear side splitters look really nice and like you said give that seamless line with the side skirts.


Super impressed with your attention to detail on the engine bay.

appreciate it Samir, and I wouldn't have bought them if I didn't see you post pictures of yours in another thread. so again thank you for the inspiration!

[AndrewC1989]

Love this build so much, very classy and tasteful and not overdone or done cheaply. Probably my favorite F30 on this forum. The x5 screen and ceramic iDrive controller are so cool. Definitely on my wish list.

[Cytoplasm0671]

I'm going to try to switch to studs and lock nuts as well. I assume you just tighten them to BMW spec and then when you loosen them, only the lock nut comes off because the stud has locktite?

Also, isn't using red locktite a bit risky since if you need to replace your rotors then you won't be able to remove the studs without heat? Wouldn't blue locktite be better for future rotor removal?

[lens]

Originally Posted by Cytoplasm0671

I'm going to try to switch to studs and lock nuts as well. I assume you just tighten them to BMW spec and then when you loosen them, only the lock nut comes off because the stud has locktite?

Also, isn't using red locktite a bit risky since if you need to replace your rotors then you won't be able to remove the studs without heat? Wouldn't blue locktite be better for future rotor removal?

The studs don't need to come out for any brakes. The rotors aren't impeded by the studs as the studs go directly into the hub.

It stays permanently unless you remove them for wheel hub replacement or just to remove. The red Loctite is used to keep the studs installed and to keep it from loosening when removing the nuts or vibrations.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Cytoplasm0671

I'm going to try to switch to studs and lock nuts as well. I assume you just tighten them to BMW spec and then when you loosen them, only the lock nut comes off because the stud has locktite?

Also, isn't using red locktite a bit risky since if you need to replace your rotors then you won't be able to remove the studs without heat? Wouldn't blue locktite be better for future rotor removal?

the studs/lug nuts have their own torque specs not BMW spec. the loctite is up to you, if you use blue, you'd just need to check your studs every single time you remove the wheel, as removing the lug nut could potentially make one of them back out of the hub a little, in which case you'd need to retighten them back to spec. is this guaranteed to happen? no, not at all. but that's why you use red, to never have to worry about them backing out from simply removing lug nuts/wheels.

i wouldn't call it risky either, more so just a pain in the ass to need to use heat to remove them. but as lens said in his post, they don't affect your rotors or brake maintenance. only if you for some reason need to replace your hub would you need to remove the studs. or of course if you cross thread one and need to replace the stud.

[toxik]

cleaned the car from all the pollen and tree sap. took some pictures for the thread!

[Cytoplasm0671]

Sick. Did you just wash or did you do other things like clay bar, wax, etc?

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Cytoplasm0671

Sick. Did you just wash or did you do other things like clay bar, wax, etc?

just a wash, i use the ammo rinseless wash since i don’t have a real garage and driveway. planning on doing a clay bar, polish, and ceramic coating sometime this summer though.

[toxik]

did a few maintance items today, oil change LiquiMoly 0w20 with Cera Tec addititive from LM. Replaced the Fuel Tank Breather Valve, and finally replaced my windshield cowl which had a damaged seal with cracks and chunks missing.

few mods I’ve done in last couple of months:

Euro Ash Tray Light retrofit:




Dry Carbon Fiber Door Handle Overlays




Rolls Performance Mid Chassis Brace





Really only have 1 other mod planned right now, until it’s time to do a complete suspension overhaul.

[iamsammtheman]

What's up twin! 2017 mineral gray 340i Xdrive 6speed in NYC as well! purchased last month with 40k on the clock as well. I'll keep an eye out for ya if you're ever on the GCP/BWE or in Queens.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by iamsammtheman

What's up twin! 2017 mineral gray 340i Xdrive 6speed in NYC as well! purchased last month with 40k on the clock as well. I'll keep an eye out for ya if you're ever on the GCP/BWE or in Queens.

ah sweet, congrats on new car! do you also have saddle brown interior? i’m really curious how many other cars exist in this exact configuration!