Matth5

How rude, what kind of country doesn't let a man jerk off in his own car... lol.

Did some back road logging after my track event. This intercooler definitely performs. Intake temps barely move with repeated hard pulls. http://www.datazap.me/u/matth5/log-1494652995?log=0&data=3-4-5-6-11-19-20-21-22-23-24&zoom=1022-1094 http://www.datazap.me/u/matth5/log-1494652995?log=0&data=3-4-5-6-11-19-20-21-22-23-24&zoom=741-797 Zoom out to see more of the run. Intake temp never passed 100f/38c. Running stage 1+ 98RON tune. I think I'll drop back down to the 95RON map as I don't like the look of those timing corrections. The advise I keep getting from MHD is to gap down my spark plugs, they are new(ish) and at the stock gap. They obviously think we all run aftermarket plugs with reduced gaps and their OTS maps seem to be designed for that...

https://ebcbrakes.com/product/redstuff-brake-pads/ Redstuff advertising "Capable of repeated heavy brake use without brake “Fall-Off”." https://ebcbrakes.com/product/yellowstuff-street-and-track-pads/ Meanwhile Yellowstuff says the same and has this extra point: "Zero brake fade makes this material perfect for fastest driving." Guess their definition of heavy use is on something like an MX5, lol. I think if I didn't go all-out on the straight they would have been ok, maybe. The Evo in front of me yesterday just kept going while I fell behind when my brakes faded. When I took a look at his brakes afterwards, they were huge. Guess that's one solution! Perhaps I should learn how to change my own pads so I can keep a set of something more powerful for the track. Think I'll not bother with "low-dust" pads in future, obviously there's a sacrifice that comes with that. The darker colour of my new Apex wheels mean they don't look dirty as soon and I've got a nice wheel brush to clean them with So I'll get something more performance oriented next time. Also, is it worth getting some aftermarket brake fluid or is OEM fine for a run on a track not lasting more than 20 mins?

So I had a 20 min track session at Pukekohe and these did well at first, but towards the end when I had the space to go all-out, they started to fade. Breaking at 200kph at the finish straight just killed them, I had to slow down and the traffic behind me caught up. Brakes were the only thing to let me down here. What's the main weak point(s) here? Pads? Perhaps EBC Yellows or performance pads from Stoptech/Hawk would have fared better. Perhaps EBC Redstuff is ok for track use on lighter cars, but they cannot handle a 335i. I think they're great on the street, but not suitable for the track for a 300hp+ car. If I go again with these pads I'll be sure not to go so fast on the straight

Fixed, tightened the absolute s**t out of the pipe connecting to the turbo by squeezing my hand down there with a little spanner. Just in time for my track session at Pukekohe, so I got to run the stage 1+ 98 RON tune at the track! Kept up with an Evo and had a V8 Mustang disappear into the distance behind me. The Mustang was an automatic convertible though, coupe might have been a different story.

Put the intake scoop back on and made sure intake hoses were tight. That whistling noise is still there! It must be a tiny boost leak. I'll check under the car again tomorrow. Tried the stage 1+ 98 tune. Honestly didn't seem at all faster than the stage 1 95 map I was running before. Boost numbers look about the same too? http://www.datazap.me/u/matth5/log-1494584450?log=0&data=3-4-5-11-21&zoom=3124-3203

Took it all apart and installed it again. Slightly better fitment, now it lines up with both boltholes so it's bolted in properly. Still at an angle though, but that's thanks to the N55 lower chargepipe and the poorly matched Repco silicone coupler. Can't do much about that. On the bright side it does give it better airflow, as there is a bit of plastic on the bumper blocking the bottom bit. Ideally that should be trimmed Took it out for a quick blast. I still hear a bit of a whistling sound under boost, yet looking that the logs my car is holding boost just fine as if there is no leak. I haven't put the intake snorkel back on, maybe I'm just hearing intake noise? Drives smoothly and fast now, certainly doesn't feel like a boost leak. It's a cold night sure, but intake temps barely move under full throttle! The log: http://www.datazap.me/u/matth5/log-1494577813?log=0&data=3-4-5-6-11&zoom=1193-1304 Time to flash a stage 1 + map!

As I neared home I gave it some gas to test everything was tight, and I could hear the now all too familiar whistling sound of a boost leak. Looking under the car, the silicone host on the turbo side has partially slipped off and the T clamp is just resting on the intercooler. Thought it was tight as can be *facepalm* Good thing I kept the undertrays off.

"Build an Arduino datalogger to see if engine temperature goes much over 105'C when it actually pings" Seems overkill. Use Toque (Android app) to log it and then you can use datazap.me to see an interactive graph. Much easier...

The alignment specs I ended up with. More toe and -ve camber at the rear. Hope I don't lose the nice even tyre wear I had in the past with this.

Stuck some masking tape in the fenders and took some hard corners - I probably looked like a kid trying to drift and failing. Only had a little rub in right rear, it didn't even tear off the tape, just left black marks. Obviously the car needed an alignment if only one is rubbing. So I took it in for an alignment, they dialed in a little more rear camber and adjusted toe. Should be fine now

Managed to get my chargepipe to fit this morning by taking a fresh approach. Took off the air filter housing, loosened the clamp holding it to the silicone coupler, and then it slid on more easily. Car is now drivable, but not fully re-assembled... I want to have a second go at getting the intercooler sitting nice. The guy in the youtube video had it perfect. I've got the trackday on Saturday so for now I'll leave my undertray off, just have to pull off the transmission cover too otherwise it scrapes the ground when going over 70kph. I'm thinking If I leave the couplers on the intercooler and loosen the clamps where it connects to the BMW pipes, I can try adjust its position. Might need to pull out the cooling fan again, but I really hope not, it's not fun.

My god, I wish I paid someone to do this. My body aches, even typing hurts. So the lower charge pipe on N55 is obviously not the same as the N54, as the included hose was completely wrong for it. I got the closest fit I could find from Repco, a 63 -> 75mm silicone coupler. 63mm fits the intercooler, 70mm fits the lower CP but theres no 63 -> 70mm at Repco or Supercheap. So I used some silicone tape to fill the space and make it fit. Fitment looks like crap from underneath but it works. It's at an angle facing a bit down, possibly just being pushed like that due to the N55 lower CP and Repco hose, maybe I should have cut it shorter. I haven't put my underbelly pan back on but expect it'll be a bit tricky, the intercooler is pushing down on the bumper a little. I'm now just struggling to fit my chargepipe back on the throttle body after I removed it, bloody thing won't go all the way on and it won't hold if it's not pushed all the way up the throttle body. Would have been so much easier if it had stock connectors, it would not need the couplers and would fit N4 and N55 just fine... I'll have impressions once I get my car back together properly...

That rust coating isn't holding up so great on mine, centres are rusting now...

MHD is the best way to tune a 335i, you can flash back to stock before taking the car for service, they will have no way of knowing...Charge pipe needs to be upgraded if you run a tune, you could swap that when taking the car in, a pain but not a complicated job. The workshop won't go running to your warranty company as soon as they see mods. You're their customer. When there is a claim, the warranty company might send someone over to inspect the car. I got lucky in a way, my stock chargepipe exploded and I had my mechanic vouch that it is a reliability upgrade, the warranty company then allowed it. Also the cost being similar helped. You can do the PE mod and replace the exhaust tips. Easier to get away with as it looks stock (except the tips, but they wouldn't have a problem with a little cosmetic mod I think). Maybe have a chat with your warranty company to see what they'll allow.

NAC insurance said no. Disappointing considering all their branding with motorsport and car culture that they show off on their site. I've got a reasonable quote from Platinum Auto Insurance that includes "Ability to apply for track/training day cover" as part of the policy. I've sent them a bunch of questions, maybe I'll switch my car insurance to them. I looked at the site for Prestigio. Might try them too.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11848982 Yep saw that too. What a moron. At the very least, to pull that scam successfully you need to transfer the money overseas and get out of the country. Can't say I'm too worried, I don't think being online makes much of a difference. You can see cars number plates by standing outside, if you need to know the name of the owner just look at your friends or co-worker's cars. Think you would need to know a few more details, address and owners DOB or driver license number? Mike Hosking probably has enough of his details on the internet to do this easily, which is why he got targeted.

Any of the BMW specialists should be used to doing this kind of job on a regular basis.

Good suggestion! An online tyre size calculator shows the difference is pretty small, so whatever option I go with, it should only need a very minor adjustment.

Got them fitted. Smoother ride going from 19 inch to 18s. Think I can up the stiffness on my coilovers a tad now. The rears rub on some bumps and dibs, makes a nasty sound. Seems to be the outer edge touching the inside of the rear fender. Need a touch of camber or ride height increase there I think. Having the old wheels, tyres and new intercooler sitting in the car probably didn't help with that though. Happy with the look, fitment looks how I want it to look And I had them pop in the BMW caps rather than the Apex ones

They have arrived! Sure do look pretty in person, Hyper Black was definitely the right choice Will get tyres mounted and fit them on the car on Saturday. Crappy photo attached. Leaning against the new intercooler...

Yeah the fitment may be a bit of a risk on an N55, I hope the hoses reach where they should. I don't have the equipment to fit it myself. I have a jack that can't fit under my car and jackstands that, even at their lowest, are too high for my jack. Maybe I should buy some and get rid of my old crap.. Original plan was to have it installed at BM Workshop when I service it in June, because I wasn't expecting it to arrive so fast! But now that I've booked that 20 min track session at Pukekohe in May, maybe I should try get this installed first so I can run a more aggressive tune.

All those modern driving driving assists including "Surround view" (did a VIN lookup), and he still can't park between the lines, lol

The box was branded "CSK Performance". Must be the manufacturer? Googling that led me here: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/133177 Here are pics, taken with my Nexus 6P in non-ideal lighting. Has some numbers stamped on it, didn't lead anywhere in Google.

Arrived at work today to find it sitting at my desk. Exactly 1 week from ordering, very impressed! Did not expect that from the $14 China post delivery. Briefly unwrapped and had a look, as far as look and feel goes, build quality seems excellent. I'll take some photos at home.