Update on the software/intake upgrade.

NickG seems to know his stuff. I installed the new pulley and ran it for about two weeks with the Dinan software, and it made a noticeable difference in power, but it felt a bit strained in the upper RPM's.

Then I added Nick's software and installed the 3.5" HFM. Wow! Car is smoother, pulls stronger, and seems like it wants to keep on going when I hit the rev limiter. No time for a dyno due to insane hours at work, but the combination of the new pulley, HFM, and software really woke the car up, especially past 5k. Gas mileage seems to have improved somewhat as well.

I've also added a new instrument cluster, thanks to Dan Wang, that has the Z3 chrome rings around the instruments, a center console gauge panel with VDO Cockpit Oil Pressure, Boost, and Oil Temp, and decided to soften the suspension up, replacing the Ground Control/Bilstein setup with H&R coil-overs in the front, H&R shocks in the rear, and kept the Ground Control 7" 450# springs and adjusters for the rear.  Ride is MUCH better, but I did sacrifice some handling. Had to do it, the very firm Bilstein setup was killing me over the daily commute through construction zones.

 

The funny part is, I just drove Jim Powell up to OC to Dan's house, because Jim wanted to pick a few things up, (Dan had totaled his heavily modified M3 and was selling all the parts, he'd bought an AMG).  I wasn't looking to BUY anything, but walked out with all the parts listed above, along with a set of Techno Violet front fenders from a '97 M3.  God, I'm such an impulse buyer, and have no willpower.  At least I resisted buying the Mov'it front and rear BBK he was selling.  Jim ended up with that (though he's still trying to get me to get them from him).  Couldn't swing it, no matter how tempted.  Tax time and a desire to eat once in awhile were the only things stopping me.

What's next? Well, I'm picking up a set of used Dinan/Fikse FM/5 wheels, 17x8.5 all around, (another reason I didn't jump on the BBK) .

After that, it's cosmetic time, I've assembled all the parts I need to install the full M-Technic/M3 body kit, so in a month or so she should be freshly painted and sporting the new body kit.

Then maybe I'll be done. Maybe.