Atacama Yellow 35is build thread

[B21]

For the observer, as the front headlamp angle sensor cannot be connected directly to the control arm, I've got a whole new one and I'm going to use aerospace glue to bond the clip to the new M3 control arm.

A stainless steel cable tie might be a good idea for this so there is a mechanical bond, and then glue it in place too help with vibration.

When I did the same mod on my 20i, I found that aerospace expoxy held it no issue..there is hardly any resistance in the level sensor mechanism..its held with no issues with 15,000 miles+ of severe jiggling in all weathers...

I have an aversion to zip ties but appreciate the input..

[huseyin88]

Wowzers... what a build so far.

Not sure if you picked tyres yet you mentioned you was waiting for the Conti's to be reviewed.
I'm running PS4 (not the ps4s version) on mine all over and they have been splendid to say the list on track and grip very well even in the rain for what they are.

To the extent when i get my 2 sets of track wheels one will be wrapped in these as my backup wet/not sure about weather tyre.

Had any thoughts about lighter wheels or anything.. might help with rotating mass if you dont want to go as far as 2 piece rotors and light weight brakes but is a big outlay and the wheels you got do also look lovely!

Apex Arc 8's are not too bad price wise and probably what I'll go for.. wide as possible and build new fenders accordingly. Rear 3/4's bolt off so may consider making a fibreglass panel for them.

Wider defo helps with mechanical grip i think widest ive seen so far on a Z was 275, seen claims of 295... but not sure.. no photos i've found of that setup.

[B21]

I’m going to use the 437m with 235/35 19 and 275/30 19..in these sizes there are limited options..

GY Assy 5, Michelin PS4S, Conti Sport Contact 6, Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Dunlop Sport Max and Pirelli P Zero plus some older and non premium makes..

I’ve got some 235/40 18 265/35 18 which I used on my 20i and now 35is with some tread left so may hang on till the jury votes on the Sports Contact 7s.

The lighter wheels / brakes option is a very expensive route to go down and frankly seen little evidence to suggest any significant degree of cost / benefit..normally on the road going to 18” or even 17” would result in weight savings..

I’ve gone with a slightly lighter front BBK using a BMW upgrade pack with brembo,6 pot calipers..

If you are serious about track use then a LSD is really mandatory IMHO…

I use Quaife which most people believe are the best for street use..some people like the clutch plated LSD for track use arguing that wheel lift disables a Quaife type LSD…can’t see an E89 lifting a wheel with decent suspension..

[huseyin88]

I’m going to use the 437m with 235/35 19 and 275/30 19..in these sizes there are limited options..

GY Assy 5, Michelin PS4S, Conti Sport Contact 6, Bridgestone Potenza Sport, Dunlop Sport Max and Pirelli P Zero plus some older and non premium makes..

I’ve got some 235/40 18 265/35 18 which I used on my 20i and now 35is with some tread left so may hang on till the jury votes on the Sports Contact 7s.

The lighter wheels / brakes option is a very expensive route to go down and frankly seen little evidence to suggest any significant degree of cost / benefit..normally on the road going to 18” or even 17” would result in weight savings..

I’ve gone with a slightly lighter front BBK using a BMW upgrade pack with brembo,6 pot calipers..

If you are serious about track use then a LSD is really mandatory IMHO…

I use Quaife which most people believe are the best for street use.. some people like the clutch plated LSD for track use arguing that wheel lift disables a Quaife type LSD…can’t see an E89 lifting a wheel with decent suspension..

I guess everyone has their own respective experiences on a few of my cars swapping identical size wheels with the same tyre it felt noticeably different on the track especially in all areas accelerating, braking and cornering. However could of just been placebo.. as i have no lap times to compare and prove otherwise.

I guess with only an inch or two maybe fine, but ive generally found taller sidewalls to not be pleasant on track as the forces are a bit more than fast road when on a smaller diameter wheel. I have a mate who i regularly go with and hes found the same on his E46 M3 as i did mine. I tried 18,19 and 20 with all different side walls. The taller the side wall the less sharp the steering felt.

LSD is also defo on the list once i get to the 550 mark to give me more time to learn how to control the power of the car as it progresses as is the roll cage but havent decided on a specific one yet.

Also with your BBK if you do try different smaller wheels make sure they fit before purchasing as they could rub, sometimes spacers solve it other times its a complete no go LOLL seen a few do that before

[B21]

As my focus is street use I have different priorities in terms of suspension and handling…

The BBK fits some 17” wheels but I’m about to move to solely 19” so it’s not an issue either way..

I think a LSD would be an earlier rather than later priority but that’s a personal view based on my experiences..

[huseyin88]

As my focus is street use I have different priorities in terms of suspension and handling…

The BBK fits some 17” wheels but I’m about to move to solely 19” so it’s not an issue either way..

I think a LSD would be an earlier rather than later priority but that’s a personal view based on my experiences..

Fair point, to be honest with the way half my build as gone dont be surprised if next month i buy an LSD

[B21]

I've decided to give up waiting for Continental to release their new Sports Contact 7 in a 275/30 R19 size to suit my new 437M wheels.

So pulled the trigger on a well priced set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for £621 delivered.

Now plan to fit the 437Ms and sell the 18" Zito 935s with a set of Goodyear Assy 5 tyres in good condition.

Now that we don't need the ability to field two winter capable cars always available I'll be abandoning my winter wheels /tyres set up too.

[peeblezZ4]

I've decided to give up waiting for Continental to release their new Sports Contact 7 in a 275/30 R19 size to suit my new 437M wheels.

So pulled the trigger on a well priced set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for £621 delivered.

Now plan to fit the 437Ms and sell the 18" Zito 935s with a set of Goodyear Assy 5 tyres in good condition.

Now that we don't need the ability to field two winter capable cars always available I'll be abandoning my winter wheels /tyres set up too.

That's what I'd have done - Sell the Zitos and get the new ones on!

[B21]

I've decided to give up waiting for Continental to release their new Sports Contact 7 in a 275/30 R19 size to suit my new 437M wheels.

So pulled the trigger on a well priced set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for £621 delivered.

Now plan to fit the 437Ms and sell the 18" Zito 935s with a set of Goodyear Assy 5 tyres in good condition.

Now that we don't need the ability to field two winter capable cars always available I'll be abandoning my winter wheels /tyres set up too.

That's what I'd have done - Sell the Zitos and get the new ones on!

Following on from several other posters with reference to time and getting on with things I made an executive decision..

In that vein, Warren is fitting the new injectors and coils whilst he fettles everything else..still waiting for the spoiler..its taken off..again!

[craig3.2]

I use Quaife which most people believe are the best for street use..some people like the clutch plated LSD for track use arguing that wheel lift disables a Quaife type LSD…can’t see an E89 lifting a wheel with decent suspension..
[/quote]

You never watched touring car racing....
No matter how sorted your suspension,you can get just about any fwd or rwd car to lift a wheel (or two),and even 4wd cars can be provoked into lift a wheel on track especially.,so don't think the e89 is immune to lifting a wheel,lol

[patriot66]

I've decided to give up waiting for Continental to release their new Sports Contact 7 in a 275/30 R19 size to suit my new 437M wheels.

So pulled the trigger on a well priced set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S for £621 delivered.

Now plan to fit the 437Ms and sell the 18" Zito 935s with a set of Goodyear Assy 5 tyres in good condition.

Now that we don't need the ability to field two winter capable cars always available I'll be abandoning my winter wheels /tyres set up too.

Hi Peter. Can I ask why you plumped for the PS4S over Contis, Bridgestones etc ? I've got a set of 18" alloys being refurbed and am really torn as to what tyres to fit. I'm leaning towards Bridgestone Potenza Sport at the moment.
Si

[earthdweller]

What a great read

Keep it up Peter

As an aside how much is Mrs B’s forbearance costing you in horses

[B21]

Hi Si,

I guess I made it complicated for myself…

Law of unintended consequences plus try something different plus trying to address a wayward 35is..

So by buying the 437Ms you really need a 235 or 245 on the front and a 275 or 285 rears..being an E89 (or E85) you need to keep the rolling radius within about 1%.

On M2 etc they use a 35 profile but to get it to work within the constraints of the DSC the ‘best’ combo is 235/35 19 and 275/30 19 on the rear.

So it turns out that 275/30 19 is quite restrictive in terms of tyre choices.

With the mods at this stage I should end up at around 420 BHP and about 600nm.

Given that the handling of the 35is is quite wayward, I’ve hit it with a Quaife LSD, uprated ARBs, plus Ohlins and various M3 steering parts to try and tame it.

As part of taming it I wanted ‘the best’ tyres..

Many people rave about the Michelin Sport 4 and in a 275/30 19 you can only get it in a Sport 4S version.

The Sports Conti 6 is about to be obsoleted by the Sports Contact 7, but that is not yet available in a 275/30 19 size.

At the same time given I didn’t want to simply repeat the admittedly winning setup of the 20i I built I’d thought I’d try something different.

So that rules out the Goodyear Assy 5 and the Conti Sports Contact 5/5P/6

Frankly I wasn’t brave enough to try the new Bridgestone Sport..I see it has had overall very good reviews, maybe just not quite so good in the wet as others and open questions about predicted life.

So I went for the Michelin 4S.

I’d be very interested to see how you get on with the new Bridgestone Sports

So I guess we can compare notes..if and when Conti release the Sports 7 I may well try them as they should match if not exceed the 4S for my kind of driving.

Long ramble ..

[B21]

What a great read

Keep it up Peter

As an aside how much is Mrs B’s forbearance costing you in horses

It’s costing a lot…

New horse, new Mercedes S Class field shelter, new hay store, two sets of new pastures..

[patriot66]

Hi Si,

I guess I made it complicated for myself…

Law of unintended consequences plus try something different plus trying to address a wayward 35is..

So by buying the 437Ms you really need a 235 or 245 on the front and a 275 or 285 rears..being an E89 (or E85) you need to keep the rolling radius within about 1%.

On M2 etc they use a 35 profile but to get it to work within the constraints of the DSC the ‘best’ combo is 235/35 19 and 275/30 19 on the rear.

So it turns out that 275/30 19 is quite restrictive in terms of tyre choices.

With the mods at this stage I should end up at around 420 BHP and about 600nm.

Given that the handling of the 35is is quite wayward, I’ve hit it with a Quaife LSD, uprated ARBs, plus Ohlins and various M3 steering parts to try and tame it.

As part of taming it I wanted ‘the best’ tyres..

Many people rave about the Michelin Sport 4 and in a 275/30 19 you can only get it in a Sport 4S version.

The Sports Conti 6 is about to be obsoleted by the Sports Contact 7, but that is not yet available in a 275/30 19 size.

At the same time given I didn’t want to simply repeat the admittedly winning setup of the 20i I built I’d thought I’d try something different.

So that rules out the Goodyear Assy 5 and the Conti Sports Contact 5/5P/6

Frankly I wasn’t brave enough to try the new Bridgestone Sport..I see it has had overall very good reviews, maybe just not quite so good in the wet as others and open questions about predicted life.

So I went for the Michelin 4S.

I’d be very interested to see how you get on with the new Bridgestone Sports

So I guess we can compare notes..if and when Conti release the Sports 7 I may well try them as they should match if not exceed the 4S for my kind of driving.

Long ramble ..

Wow ! A proverbial minefield !
I know from other cars I've had that choice gets complicated and a whole lot more expensive in 19" for sure.
Not 100% certain yet about the Potenza Sports. The wheels I'm having refurb'd came with PS4 tyres. The rears are shot but the fronts are almost new so toying with the idea of just replacing the rears and running PS4 all round...possibly. Just never had Michelins before