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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 7/17/2008 10:48:12 AM
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| | I purchased my 2004 M3 Convertible about 3 months ago and want to start doing modifications to it. However, I don't know where to start and what things I should add first. I know I have to go with a company like Dinan to keep the warranty intact but what's the next step. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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| | | Supreme Being
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Last Login: 11/24/2008 9:18:17 AM
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Before you start spending money & modifying, you need to ask yourself first:
1) What is my primary use for this car?
2) What do I perceive as it's shortcomings?
Once you have considered these questions, then I can help steer you towards modifications that will work best for you. There are many tuners willing to take your money as much can be modified on your car. You might, however, not like how it turns out. Sort of like too much plastic surgery...
Mike Morris
Schneller BMW Performance
26 Middle Rd Unit 1-2
Newbury, MA 01951
978.465.2002 |
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| | | Supreme Being
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| schneller (6/18/2008)
Before you start spending money & modifying, you need to ask yourself first: 1) What is my primary use for this car? 2) What do I perceive as it's shortcomings? Once you have considered these questions, then I can help steer you towards modifications that will work best for you. There are many tuners willing to take your money as much can be modified on your car. You might, however, not like how it turns out. Sort of like too much plastic surgery... First, I completely agree. Second, a remarkably honest and ethical post -- one that serves the interests of the car owner, not the shop owner. Thanks, Mike. |
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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/9/2008 3:02:23 PM
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| | Depending on the car's prior use and mileage, your best initial "mods" might be some pre-emptive maintenance. For an '04, new control arm bushings, or rear trailing arm bushings, for example, could be a revelation, and won't raise any warranty issues, either. Rear shock mounts, anyone? And take it to the club's ADSS skid school - Cheap, tons of fun, and if you "modify" the driver, the car will be faster. You'll be safer too. Beyond that, if it were my M3, I would look at a mid pipe (aka X pipe), like Rogue, UUC or Active. This is a matter of taste, but I find the M3 exhaust rasp to be too metallic. The pitch and volume are fine, but I would delete the rasp, and the mid pipe is the consensus culprit. I have no personal knowledge of this, however, since I don't have an M3  To be sure, exhausts make no power, but sound matters. I would resist the urge to modify the engine. The S54 is pretty high strung already and in stock form is plenty fast. Who needs to remove the 137 mph speed limiter, seriously? Raise the insanely high redline? In order to add 10 hp to 333? No thanks. I'd save that money for gas! EndSpeech |
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| maxell0405 (6/20/2008)
Depending on the car's prior use and mileage, your best initial"mods" might besome pre-emptive maintenance. For an '04, new control arm bushings, or rear trailing arm bushings,for example, could be a revelation, and won't raise any warranty issues, either. Rear shock mounts, anyone?
And take it to the club's ADSS skid school - Cheap, tons of fun, and if you "modify" the driver, the car will be faster. You'll be safer too.
Second that. Plus, I'd suggest autocrossing. Makes you way faster and safer (you can wrap this thing around a tree in less time then it takes you to read this sentence. I own one, and autocross for both of the above reasons. It's fun too  )
PS. Another side benefit of autocrossing is the realization that the car actually matters less then you might think. Look at the boston's chapter results -- the guy with one of the fastest times drives a miata. With 140HP. The guy that consistently wins in our class (by a wide margin) drives a 325 with, what, 180HP? |
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