Jerry1847

Five years later, my $7500 E61 is finally getting what it deserves, go fast parts.

Short history: I picked up the car 5 years ago on the cheap at 160K. This was a very well maintained car that the only PO traded to a dealer apparently when injectors started failing. I got the car and immediately had issues literally the day after taking it home. The dealer owned up and fixed the issues, HPFP, injectors and a walnut blast. I had planned to tune but decided to start a business and kept it stock.

From 160k to 250k ive dealt with some fried modules due to sunroof leaks, a failed water pump but otherwise a very solid car. In nov 2021 i noticed steam from under the hood which turned out to be a bad turbo coolant line. I got a $4500 quote from my indy for the repair. No thanks. At 250k there are a ton of things in need of upgrade/maintenance for the car to be reliable for an extend period. I'm probably around 7k all in for the project.

So, here we go.....

Performance Build list:
VTT Stage 2 turbos
VTT 2in inlets and outlets
VTT Charge pipe
VSFR catless downpipes
VSFR 7.5 in comp intercooler
Spool stage 2 bucket less LPFP
LUK OEM 550i clutch kit
Bilstein B6 front shocks
ss brake lines all around
Upgraded coil packs and colder plugs
MHD tune

Maintenance List:
New front upper/lower control arms
New tye rods
New front swaybar links
New engine mounts
New Trans mounts
New bilstein B4 rear shocks
New rear sway end links
replaced rubber sunroof drain lines with 1/2in vinyl
replaced rear hatch (had a huge dent)
Rear main seal
oil pan gasket
pilot bearing
oil filter gasket and o-rings
new brakes

neilv

With those mods I have just 2 recommendations; \

If you are going B6 up front, why not go with E61 rwd(european) sport shocks. They will be similarly matched compared to the non-sport B4's will.

And for the front control arm replacement(specifically the thrust arms): Swap the E90 M3 rubber bushing or even the aftermarket spherical bearing versions into the arm. there's no built in ball joint and its aluminum so reusing is doable.

msportwagon

Would you consider using Powerflex bushings for the front control arms? I recently attempted to use Nolathane bushings, but they do not fit even though the manufacturer's website states that it does.

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/pr...1804#attr=2154
https://www.nolathane.com/collection...hassis-bushing

neilv

Personally no, I dont like the eccentric center sleeve as Id rather the camber adjustment in the lower control arm vs the thrust arm.

For an all year round (winter driven) car ID go with the E90 M3 bushings. They will always be silent (poly can squeek over time and need to be re-greased with salt and water drying it out) and spherical bushings can be noisy sometimes) and the M3 ones being rubber have a bit of give plus add some minor spring rate to the suspension(even better for x-drive vehicles that have little travel already)

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-lemforde...BoCRbgQAvD_BwE

msportwagon

plus they are cheaper. I think I agree that the would be better. Thanks

Jerry1847

Thanks for all the feedback...

This has been a beast so far. The turbos, vtt outlet and front inlet are in. Working on the rear turbo inlet then the downpipes tomorrow.
I going to try and track down the sport rear shocks. Going to wait on the rear end until winter is over.