turtlebmw
Well-Known Member
Hey guys!
Its been 3 months since i left Singapore for Boston, and i miss the family, friends + food like crazy.
Got myself a 335i xDrive (4WD for the snow), and im loving it. It might not handle as well as the RWD ones, but the grip lets you put the power down, so off the line with a tune, the stock E9X M3s can only see you bum.
I wasn't very active on the forum, but a couple of friends read about my build thread on the USA forums and told me to share it with you guys.
So here it is. BTW, no Juzz4cars over here, let alone service like SEETOH's standards, so everything was mostly DIY except for the exhaust mods.
Let me know what you think!
Details of my ride:
2011 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan
Space Grey
Sports Package
Cold Weather Package
The car was purchased from Herb Chambers BMW of Boston, and my sales guy was Rich Baldani. Great guy, and pushed a hard sale. Not so sure about after sales service though. Nonetheless, if your in Boston and you want someone who know his cars, let me know and i will direct you to him.
Here she is upon arrival. Completely stock and innocent to her mod potential.
________________
First Mod: Aesthetics: BMW Gloss Black Front Grills and BMW Limited Edition Carbon Fibre License Plate Frames.
________________
Second Mod: Huper Optik 35% nano ceramic tints/Ventureshield Headlight Film
Done at Tint King for $300. + $25 (headlight films)
________________
First Car Wash:
________________
Third Mod: AFE Stage 2 Intake
Bought and installed at Turner Motorsports $540 incl labor.
This might be the biggest mistake i made in terms of spending my disposable income, but i don't regret it because of the noise it makes. Every turbo car should sound this good. I picked this over the Injen intake because the design seemed alot better. For one the intake piping isn't made of steel so there is less heat soak. It is also shorter and wider. I may no be an engineer, but bigger = more air.
________________
Fourth Mod: BMS Stage 2 Tuning.
By far my best customer service experience. Almost immediate replies via emails, very informative and helpful. Thanks Terry!
Dont get intimidated by the install, the instructions are pretty clear. Took me about 2 hours the first time as i was very careful with all the wiring and used extra electrical paint to cover the exposed wires, and wrapped the modules up to prevent them from knocking around in the ECU. Also had to route the USB cable in to the cabin.
All the tools i needed.
Dismantled the covers, exposed the ecu box.
These are the wires you tap for stage 2.
BMS Module (wires covered back up)
________________
Fifth Mod:AR Design Catless Downpipe
Best Mod ever, love the sound, pair it with the intake, and that's music to my ears. I have heard all the other aftermarket downpipes, and i have to say AR is really the best. BMS looks just as good quality wise, but somehow the pops and gargles are less distinct with the 3.5'' dps. (No offense, im a big fan of BMS).
Labor to remove original dowpipe and install AR Catless DP= $300
@ Lous Custom Exhaust in Waltham, MA.
Look for Jo and tell him i sent you, hes a great guy, very honest chap. They are very experienced too.
I don't have pictures, but when i got it, there was an 02 sensor spacer installed, so even if i switch off my "clear codes", there is no SES light.
Only picture i have and it was stolen from here.
________________
Mod Break ONE: First visit to a drag strip for both me and my car.
New England Dragway ($25 per entry, as many runs as you want. You need a helmet if your gonna beat the 13.99s mark.)
This was the first test for my car, and she did great. People were coming up to me asking if my car was an M3. :happyanim:
My best timing for the night was
[email protected], Car 952 (LEFT)
followed by
[email protected] Car 952 (LEFT)
and
[email protected]. Car 952 (LEFT)
Heres a video of me VS a corvette C6 who had a couple of mods on.
http://youtu.be/dYqPuitaRaE?hd=1
________________
Sixth Mod: ER Charge Pipe
Mike from N54 Tuning. Excellent Service and very informative. Thanks Mike!
The ER Charge Pipe was beautiful, i went with polished because i wanted some bling under the hood. Stuck the ER Stickers on myself. You can't go wrong with the ER brand, well built, good design, and they were very detailed with their instructions, packaging, and even after sales support was great.
Old Charge Pipe
Old Charge Pipe Removed from engine:
Old VS New Side by side.
ER Charge Pipe installed!
________________
Seventh Mod: Lux H8
Best angel eyes in the market (from what i read here)
Expensive... but worth it.
Eighth Mod: Dimisa V3.5 Tips
DiMisa Tips
The tips were of excellent quality, priced competitively, and JP provided excellent customer service support. Love the design of their tips because of the sloping design.
I went with 3.5'' because i felt 4'' might be too rice.
Installation was a breeze, and they slipped right on. Perfect fitment for BMWs :clap:
Unboxing:
Tips up close:
Stock tips:
Stock tips being cut off:
Stock tips VS Dimisa V3.5
First tip being welded on:
Both tips on:
FINAL:
________________
Mod Break TWO:
First and LAST photoshoot of the car with it stock bodykit.
________________
Nineth Mod: HRE P40 REPLICA Wheels
Had to replace one of my stock RFTs, so instead of paying the $300 for a new one, i got these wheels + budget tires (Falken FK452) grip isnt very fantastic, but definitely better than stock. Ride is also better but these tires are noisy! When winter is over, michelin pilot super sports + coilovers.
Wheels are flush though! So thats great (Sorry i dont know the offsets, they were ready available at the shop, and i liked what i saw, so they mounted them).
________________
Tenth Mod: Performance Aero Kit (Front, Rear, Side Skirts)
Tischer BMW (parts) Allston Auto Body (paint+install)
I have been waiting for this for almost 3 weeks! BUT...
The parts are enroute to the body shop as we speak, will post teaser pictures of the process. :happyanim:
... to be continued!
Its been 3 months since i left Singapore for Boston, and i miss the family, friends + food like crazy.
Got myself a 335i xDrive (4WD for the snow), and im loving it. It might not handle as well as the RWD ones, but the grip lets you put the power down, so off the line with a tune, the stock E9X M3s can only see you bum.
I wasn't very active on the forum, but a couple of friends read about my build thread on the USA forums and told me to share it with you guys.
So here it is. BTW, no Juzz4cars over here, let alone service like SEETOH's standards, so everything was mostly DIY except for the exhaust mods.
Let me know what you think!
Details of my ride:
2011 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan
Space Grey
Sports Package
Cold Weather Package
The car was purchased from Herb Chambers BMW of Boston, and my sales guy was Rich Baldani. Great guy, and pushed a hard sale. Not so sure about after sales service though. Nonetheless, if your in Boston and you want someone who know his cars, let me know and i will direct you to him.
Here she is upon arrival. Completely stock and innocent to her mod potential.
________________
First Mod: Aesthetics: BMW Gloss Black Front Grills and BMW Limited Edition Carbon Fibre License Plate Frames.
________________
Second Mod: Huper Optik 35% nano ceramic tints/Ventureshield Headlight Film
Done at Tint King for $300. + $25 (headlight films)
________________
First Car Wash:
________________
Third Mod: AFE Stage 2 Intake
Bought and installed at Turner Motorsports $540 incl labor.
This might be the biggest mistake i made in terms of spending my disposable income, but i don't regret it because of the noise it makes. Every turbo car should sound this good. I picked this over the Injen intake because the design seemed alot better. For one the intake piping isn't made of steel so there is less heat soak. It is also shorter and wider. I may no be an engineer, but bigger = more air.
________________
Fourth Mod: BMS Stage 2 Tuning.
By far my best customer service experience. Almost immediate replies via emails, very informative and helpful. Thanks Terry!
Dont get intimidated by the install, the instructions are pretty clear. Took me about 2 hours the first time as i was very careful with all the wiring and used extra electrical paint to cover the exposed wires, and wrapped the modules up to prevent them from knocking around in the ECU. Also had to route the USB cable in to the cabin.
All the tools i needed.
Dismantled the covers, exposed the ecu box.
These are the wires you tap for stage 2.
BMS Module (wires covered back up)
________________
Fifth Mod:AR Design Catless Downpipe
Best Mod ever, love the sound, pair it with the intake, and that's music to my ears. I have heard all the other aftermarket downpipes, and i have to say AR is really the best. BMS looks just as good quality wise, but somehow the pops and gargles are less distinct with the 3.5'' dps. (No offense, im a big fan of BMS).
Labor to remove original dowpipe and install AR Catless DP= $300
@ Lous Custom Exhaust in Waltham, MA.
Look for Jo and tell him i sent you, hes a great guy, very honest chap. They are very experienced too.
I don't have pictures, but when i got it, there was an 02 sensor spacer installed, so even if i switch off my "clear codes", there is no SES light.
Only picture i have and it was stolen from here.
________________
Mod Break ONE: First visit to a drag strip for both me and my car.
New England Dragway ($25 per entry, as many runs as you want. You need a helmet if your gonna beat the 13.99s mark.)
This was the first test for my car, and she did great. People were coming up to me asking if my car was an M3. :happyanim:
My best timing for the night was
[email protected], Car 952 (LEFT)
followed by
[email protected] Car 952 (LEFT)
and
[email protected]. Car 952 (LEFT)
Heres a video of me VS a corvette C6 who had a couple of mods on.
http://youtu.be/dYqPuitaRaE?hd=1
________________
Sixth Mod: ER Charge Pipe
Mike from N54 Tuning. Excellent Service and very informative. Thanks Mike!
The ER Charge Pipe was beautiful, i went with polished because i wanted some bling under the hood. Stuck the ER Stickers on myself. You can't go wrong with the ER brand, well built, good design, and they were very detailed with their instructions, packaging, and even after sales support was great.
Old Charge Pipe
Old Charge Pipe Removed from engine:
Old VS New Side by side.
ER Charge Pipe installed!
________________
Seventh Mod: Lux H8
Best angel eyes in the market (from what i read here)
Expensive... but worth it.
Eighth Mod: Dimisa V3.5 Tips
DiMisa Tips
The tips were of excellent quality, priced competitively, and JP provided excellent customer service support. Love the design of their tips because of the sloping design.
I went with 3.5'' because i felt 4'' might be too rice.
Installation was a breeze, and they slipped right on. Perfect fitment for BMWs :clap:
Unboxing:
Tips up close:
Stock tips:
Stock tips being cut off:
Stock tips VS Dimisa V3.5
First tip being welded on:
Both tips on:
FINAL:
________________
Mod Break TWO:
First and LAST photoshoot of the car with it stock bodykit.
________________
Nineth Mod: HRE P40 REPLICA Wheels
Had to replace one of my stock RFTs, so instead of paying the $300 for a new one, i got these wheels + budget tires (Falken FK452) grip isnt very fantastic, but definitely better than stock. Ride is also better but these tires are noisy! When winter is over, michelin pilot super sports + coilovers.
Wheels are flush though! So thats great (Sorry i dont know the offsets, they were ready available at the shop, and i liked what i saw, so they mounted them).
________________
Tenth Mod: Performance Aero Kit (Front, Rear, Side Skirts)
Tischer BMW (parts) Allston Auto Body (paint+install)
I have been waiting for this for almost 3 weeks! BUT...
The parts are enroute to the body shop as we speak, will post teaser pictures of the process. :happyanim:
... to be continued!
