Your favourite mod/ best money spent on the car

Mine has to be the angel eyes. Bought from US, really bright and with the de-gingered lenses, updates the front end. Really cheap to do and had the satisfaction of doing it myself.
 
Adjustable suspension (AC Schnitzer Racing, or KWV3, or Bilstein B16/PSS), Vibratechnic engine mounts and RTAB limiters and all for around £2k.
 
I have not done anything that would count as mods as I am determined to keep it as BMW intended.

I did change the centre caps and small ///M badges on wheels, which I was pleased about, especially as I did them all on my own!

Changing the front tyres to Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetrics transformed the car - very happy with them. The rears will need changing soon and it wil be the F1s on the back as well.

So if I got the £2k I would spend it on petrol!
 
From stubbies to superchargers and everything in between! Funny what makes us tick :lol:

I'm not sure I've got anything that I feel has made the car considerably better despite having done a few things over the past years. I think that on balance, the car is pretty well suited to what I want as standard and although I'd like some bigger brakes, prettier wheels, better suspension and a bit more elise-esque steering, frankly I'm reluctant to start addressing what are fairly minor deficiencies as it would swallow thousands and thousands in the process.

Of them all, I think the suspension is the area that tempts me the most-It's something I notice every time I drive the car and if I could genuinely make it better for £2k (with a few bushes included) then it would be money well spent. I just have my doubts on coilovers despite the continued praise on here :roll:

Edit- I've just thought of my best spend. Buying all the tools and bits required to do my own valve adjustments. It really increased my enjoyment of the car having silenced a noisy follower and banishing thoughts of big money rebuilds (for the time being!)
 
beanie said:
From stubbies to superchargers and everything in between! Funny what makes us tick :lol:

I'm not sure I've got anything that I feel has made the car considerably better despite having done a few things over the past years. I think that on balance, the car is pretty well suited to what I want as standard and although I'd like some bigger brakes, prettier wheels, better suspension and a bit more elise-esque steering, frankly I'm reluctant to start addressing what are fairly minor deficiencies as it would swallow thousands and thousands in the process.

Of them all, I think the suspension is the area that tempts me the most-It's something I notice every time I drive the car and if I could genuinely make it better for £2k (with a few bushes included) then it would be money well spent. I just have my doubts on coilovers despite the continued praise on here :roll:

Edit- I've just thought of my best spend. Buying all the tools and bits required to do my own valve adjustments. It really increased my enjoyment of the car having silenced a noisy follower and banishing thoughts of big money rebuilds (for the time being!)
Click to expand...

respect for the last paragraph did the same recently, realised its a piece of pee, and really enjoyed myself.... will be now be doing this yearly due to the consistent high rev use my car see's :-)
 
beanie said:
Edit- I've just thought of my best spend. Buying all the tools and bits required to do my own valve adjustments. It really increased my enjoyment of the car having silenced a noisy follower and banishing thoughts of big money rebuilds (for the time being!)
Click to expand...
OT but, how much and where? :)
 
Argenta said:
beanie said:
Edit- I've just thought of my best spend. Buying all the tools and bits required to do my own valve adjustments. It really increased my enjoyment of the car having silenced a noisy follower and banishing thoughts of big money rebuilds (for the time being!)
Click to expand...
OT but, how much and where? :)
Click to expand...


everything you need for you own shim checks!!

https://www.ecstuning.com/News/S54_valve_adjustment/ES1893858/

taking the valve cover off is long winded but honestly... the rest is daunting at first but so simple.
 
It wasn't a great deal really and it's certainly paid for itself.

I got a large socket to turn the crank-32mm I think, but do check that as I think earlier s54's used a different fitting.
Shim tool from bmw-as must buy imo and its not much money
Shim kit-wiseco vsk4 from eBay
A set of picks with a telescopic, magnetic pickup tool
Magnetic pickup tool-I went over board and got a flexible one to go with the above just in case! Didn't need it.
Feeler gauges-make sure you get a set with the right sizes in.
Micrometer to measure the shims-you could use some vernier calipers too.

I got all the tools online from toolshack-there postage was very reasonable

You'll also need a few torx bits to detach the radiator and radiator cowl but you may already have them. Also a spark plug socket-mine is useless so I just fish them out with the magnetic tool

I don't think there was anything else but if I think of it I'll post it up.
 
Upgraded suspension, RTAB limiters and Vibra-Tech Engine mounts (already explained ITT) are all must haves if you ask me.
Also CDV delete (however some say it doesn't make a big difference).
 
The BMC Panel filter. Preserve that lovely S54 intake roar, yet turn it up 10-20%.

Also the Goodyear Assymetric 2s. Tyres remain the cheapest upgrade / downgrade you can do to all aspects of the cars performance.

As well as being excellent in the dry, the F1s are great tyres in the cold and wet. Just when you need it with an M.
 
as my car is only a baby 2.0 engine ive not done any engine mods :(

but defo ditching the run flats for normal tyres made a huge diffrence!!! other than that ive only done cosmetic mods :poke:
 
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