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130i Clubsport

10K views 54 replies 13 participants last post by  Graearea 
#1 ·
So after years of deliberating and dithering I've decided to finally commit to 'enhancing' my 130i into what I am calling my Clubsport 130i.

So the potted history to this point is that I acquired a 944 Turbo as a track / weekend car but got a bad one. After a year and a bit of expensive labour i decided on a reliable 130i to replace it as a track / fun car. I'd always wanted a Cayman S but had never found myself willing to commit the readies.

So I got this car from Bird's with just over 60k in the clock and the full set of bmwp bits - brakes, intake, exhaust. I then had them fit the quaife and birds arb's for collection. I ran that set up for a bit, doing the odd track day, by which time I had decided finally to get myself that Cayman S. Had to make a difficult decision here - keep the 130i or the e91 335i touring we had (54k). We both decided on the 130i which suddenly became the family car. Wife hated the rear suspension whence the opportunity arose to fit the B1 Springs and shocks. That left her happy. Me, however, not so after a track day at Brands where the front end was just too soft for my liking. Hours of research later I happened upon a chap in the states who was some major engineering whiz (fel1x) who created this epic study on suspension and in particular the right spring rate for the 135i he had. Whilst he had Ohlins, I didn't have that budget so after making the rough assumption that the two cars weighed the same, discovered that Meister R's entry level coil over had the same spring rates so I got them for a handy discount from this forum on the basis that it was only £600 if it didn't work. They did, Problem solved.

After a year and a bit of the missus running the 130i and treating it poorly, with a very excellent stripped out ep3 in between for a Ring trip and a few track days, I got her an e53 x5 after she bent a shock and hub on the 130i by running into a kerb at 30.

So, what to do? I've a nice Porsche sitting in the shed for weekends etc, and I miss the rawness of the ep3. The answer is to rerun the 130i to its original intention of a track focused car, just not as raw as the civic. I want some comforts and some safety. Hence a caged yet carpeted 'Clubsport' feel with a radio and air con. Let's see how long it stays like that but that's the current plan.

So, it's got some decent running gear already which I'm happy with. The things On the immediate do list are:

Bucket seats (have one in, second required)
Rear cage (booked for 15th Feb)
Harnesses
Stud conversion
M3 rear arms (on way from Germany - front four already on)
Make a rear seat delete ( really not sure how much interior to put back and or take out)
Bonnet vents (met an e46 engine builder who recommended the N52 gets a shed load of cooling if it's being tracked)
MPS4 tyres for road and wet track days (got this weekend in the 208m's)
Cup2's for dry and damp track days. (Got this weekend on the ultraleggeras)

The wish / lotto list is :

Cae shifter (mmmm)
Splitter and rear wing (for some presence- we're all a little tarty)
Single mass lightened flywheel (came across a chap on the Facebook forum tracktime with a n52 powered z4 who fitted one and said the improvement on in gear acceleration was epic)
Brake cooling
Remap?
135i y-pipe (noise regs?)

So this weekend I began by stripping the rear interior so I can plan the cage install with the chap doing it. Who knew the rear carpet weighed 6kg?! And who knew how good the n52 sounds at full chat without all that sound deadening between you and the exhaust. [emoji106]

And as we sit here today I have what is perhaps the worlds first 1 seater 130i[emoji23][emoji23] I really need to Find a second bucket seat pronto. A few pics of the weekends work.





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#52 ·
Prior to my Bedford trackday on the 12th I got around to a few jobs. Having already done a full service including air filter, plugs, diff engine and gearbox oil all was left was brake fluid. Did this for the first time using the Sealey ezybleed. Good system, just make sure it is stable and doesn't fall over like mine did putting some air in the system. I use ATE200 as it offers better value than the usual motul and Castrol track stuff.

I then fitted the passenger seat. The one I got had both side and bottom mounts and I decided on the latter having looked at the Sparco 1 series subframe I ordered. The sliders don't work with this bucket seat as the handle doesn't fit (there is a recess for them in the seat but it's not wide enough for the handle to also fit) so I direct mounted it to the subframe. Downside is the seat is a little too far forward but none of my passengers had an issue with it. I'll resolve it later by mounting the sliders in a fixed position.

I've been having some issues with my steering wheel which I think is down to a damaged slip ring so that's another future job to do. The interesting side effect is that it has fully disabled the traction control.

Belts in and some wiring done on Sat I was ready to go.

Then on Sunday I decided to mock Up a rear seat delete. This took ages and saw me finishing at 7.30 pm in the dark and wet. Quite chuffed at the outcome as it fits and is secure, needs a little adjustment as I can no longer get my spare tyres through the cage and rear doors due to the height of the bench. I can get them through from the boot under the harness bar (just). Finishing work is to adjust the sides and carpet it. The added bonus is that it makes a great table when stacked on top of spare alloys on a track day[emoji106]

I designed it around a fixed bar attached to the isofix mounts (via m8 bolts with 50mm square washers underneath) with the top in two pieces to make getting it in and out if the cage easier. It's easily removeable and very light being softwood and 6mm ply so seems like a great solution for my needs. The bar stays in place on track days.





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#54 ·
Graearea said:
That's looking great. Would be good to get a ride in it some time to compare how much more savage it is compared to mine.
Not making any plans till I get back from nurburgring.

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You're welcome any time. When are you at the Ring? I'm there 6-9th april. Hoping this weather buggers off mighty quick.

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#55 ·
Rustle said:
Graearea said:
That's looking great. Would be good to get a ride in it some time to compare how much more savage it is compared to mine.
Not making any plans till I get back from nurburgring.

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You're welcome any time. When are you at the Ring? I'm there 6-9th april. Hoping this weather buggers off mighty quick.

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Track day on the 24th. Yeah the weathers not looking great currently.

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