[FrankMurphy]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

Oh, if you see the previous post, I got it from the black car. The factory CF brace actually survived as well, but annoying I can't use it in combination to the M3 braces, so I guess I'll re-market it.

The black car also has a Dinan exhaust, so I do plan to install that. One of my other parts cars has a magnaflow exhaust, but that's a bit loud for me and I hate a loud exhaust. For reference, I replaced my SL550 with a F-type in July and the stock exhaust on the F, much loved by almost everyone, makes me self conscious. I'm a boring sod like that I guess.

But, I am enjoying the process. Consciously tweaking this and that, improving towards a goal and made myself a spreadsheet to organize a bit this weekend. This e91 always gives me nostalgic feels every time I drive it!

Great conversing with you this morning. I'm not very active on the forum but read and follow it daily.

Reading what you said on exhausts, I'm of the same, I put AA headers with a stock system with an AFE pro 2 airbox (bitch to fit and avoid NVH) but a great sound and then I ended up wanting a bit more noise so put an m-sport rear box off a 135i on the car and it was too much. I ended up going for an AA rear box with factory resonator and stock mid section and its loud but sounds great if you're in the mood.

I've tried a euro airbox and also got an ARMA carbon airbox which was noisy but was pretty much open with a cover on it. Great people to deal with but not the direction I wanted to go. The AFE has two open ports on the front and with both open is noisy and the car presents a nice change in tone and urgency above 4K.

Not sure if that word salad helps !

Great list and the 513m's would be great on the wagon.

Regards

[Prolix-2]

So, the Volvo got forged wheels faster than the E91 did.

Fuchs made a very rare wheel for Volvo that was rarely ever used as it was fitted to the least likely car to get purchased, an S80 "sport." I've been trying to find a set for probably over 5 years and finally got a set together earlier this year. I was thinking of putting together a very nicely optioned something with either a driver's focused C30 or V50 or even XC70, but eventually gave up on the idea as being a redundant and put them on my wife's v60cc instead as it was due for tires this fall anyway. Going to try the Vredestein Hypertrac this go around.

Disappointingly, this tire setup is 10 lbs less per corner than the outgoing set, and I can't tell any difference driving the car outside of marginally more compliant ride quality.

[Prolix-2]

So, next thing in the list was the brake upgrade that I've had for a long time. Quite subtle with the wheel on with this wheel having so many spokes.

Trying to figure out the rear seems significantly more complicated. Here I was thinking it would be bolt on stuff like the front, but seemingly either I'm missing something, or it's very difficult. My shorter rotor hat makes for odd fitment?

[Prolix-2]

So, the Dinan exhaust is not for me and I've switched back out to the stock exhaust. I dunno, I'm not much for exhaust noises I guess.

I did a little beautification and installed the 330i tips.

[Prolix-2]

So, last week the e91 got some preventative maintenance done with the oil pan gasket and engine mounts. The inside of the engine wasn't pleasantly clean, but unfortunately for me the engine and transmission mounts looked excellent and I seemingly replaced them needlessly.

I changed the mounts on both of my MBs last year, both about the same age and miles as the bmw and I figured the bmws would be in about the same shape. Not so apparently. How disappointing, I gain nothing from this maintenance except to reduce the oil leaks. Darn.

[Prolix-2]

Last weekend I re-badged the car to what it more or less is.

Using the tape worked well to making sure I put the replacement back in the right place.

[Prolix-2]

I bought another rare wagon to tinker with. If I really like the car, then I have to decide if I sell the bmw, and I'm very attached to the bmw....

[M-technik-3]

Is that a V60? Was thinking a Buick wagon but I doubt that.

[FrankMurphy]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Is that a V60? Was thinking a Buick wagon but I doubt that.

I'm going with a Jaguar XF wagon.

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Is that a V60? Was thinking a Buick wagon but I doubt that.

Yes, this is the XF. Very low production numbers state side, so it's an easy mistake to not know it existed.

What I am very interested to find out first hand is the steering feel. My F-type it has the best feeling electric steering rack that I've experienced. I have high hopes considering that most reviews of most of Jaguar's lineup have echoed similar sentiments. The F-pace was C&D ranked second for best driver's SUV behind the Porsche. XE ranked better than the F30, etc.

Jag has always been a weirdly out of sync manufacturer with market trends, sometimes for the better, and sometimes not.

[Prolix-2]

Update of something I'm puzzled with.

So, the donor that had the 135i front brakes also had the light weight rotors. They had a vibration though, so I switched them out to the genuine bmw rotors. BMW rotors were quite a bit heavier, but it is what it is. However, first long trip I took, they started vibrating when braking only a couple hundred miles into replacement. That's very puzzling to me as I'm not one to ride the brakes.

[Prolix-2]

Road trip this year to attend The Vintage a couple weeks ago. The e91 isn't vintage, but I went with some local cars from my area and I parked this one on the sidelines and not on field.

Great trip, lots of wonderfully preserved on BMWs and lots of rare things that I hadn't seen in person were present to look at and the owner's to talk to. Very friendly event and everyone was very willing to talk and share info on their cars.

My obsession of finding a perfect seat made some traction as I discovered the Recaros that I had forever been looking for were not as amazing in person as I dreamed of. I'm apparently turning into an old man, but after to many car accidents the lower lumber support is quite important to me and the only seat I found on the field that hit the desired mark were the vintage Scheel seats. Probably the most unassuming of the seats I looked at, but were marvelously comfortable. I previously was not even aware they existed! All these are certainly a far cry from the only aftermarket seat I have in my possession, which is a CF bucket from a Diablo SVR with only some canvas wrapped around the seat and a velcro cushion or two. Foam is heavy and weight is bad: #racecar

I wouldn't cal any of the seats I sat in bad, but for the cost presented to be period correct, I would rather retrofit a modern Volvo or JLR seat in as I do find them very comfortable. Making some kind of a breakout box to make them functional might be a challenge, but for the cost of obtaining a pair vs the period correct aftermarket, I think I could make them work.

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by Prolix-2

Update of something I'm puzzled with.

So, the donor that had the 135i front brakes also had the light weight rotors. They had a vibration though, so I switched them out to the genuine bmw rotors. BMW rotors were quite a bit heavier, but it is what it is. However, first long trip I took, they started vibrating when braking only a couple hundred miles into replacement. That's very puzzling to me as I'm not one to ride the brakes.

Question:

So, the new bmw rotors "warped" badly within a couple hundred miles. Started vibrating seemingly right out of the box. The ECS rotor also started vibrating badly shortly after install, but I didn't think about it because it was a used rotor. I machined it before install, but it was still a used rotor of unknown history that came with the brake calipers.

See the link below for the video.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ApolQEJCKQ8

Two sets of rotors wearing this badly this quickly makes me very concerned that there is something I'm missing.

The BMW rotors have no sign of overheating or visual clue that something is failing. Caliper slides move freely and I'm genuinely baffled if I just coincidentally got two sets of rotors wearing exactly the same or if I have something outside of the normal going on.

Everything I had read this was a bolt on swap with no further modifications required.

I machined the ECS rotors again and put them on until the replacement bmw rotors arrive. For the sake of removing variables I took the wheel spacers off the front.



Side note: I am not an aggressive late braker: I'm light footed and one who starts stopping long before the event. In a more aggressive driving environment I'm often transmission braking as much as pedal braking. I drive the e91 no different than any of my other cars and I've never warn a set of rotors like this before. Car now has 88k miles on it

[M-technik-3]

I have two sets of the Factory E30 Recaro's which were optional. You could get them in the E21 320iS and many would retro fit them into 2002's and E30 but US never saw them .

The Scheel Mann are pretty much unobtaniums. I found a set years back for the owner of Blunttech. The recaro SE's are still being produced.

[Runnin'Rich]

Some good info on brake pulsing from these guys:

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by Runnin'Rich

Some good info on brake pulsing from these guys:

So, the steps of cleanup of those videos I did follow (good videos btw). I don't claim to be a professional, I'm only knowledgeable enough to get myself in trouble and smart enough to ask for help if in doubt.

The hub was very thoroughly cleaned the first time, cleaned again a second time, and re-inspected this time as well. I don't have something to measure run out, but my deductive reasoning says I did not have trouble with the stock factory brakes so it's not likely the hubs would suddenly fail.

But, I've parked it for examination at the moment. Will need to get it resolved sooner than later as the weather is nice and it's blocking the F-type in.

[Prolix-2]

Photos of take off rotors for posterity.

[Prolix-2]

But I run out gauge and checked both front hubs without learning anything new. I tried to check the wheel spacers but couldn't because the lug bolts holding it in place would get in the way. So, I've learned nothing new but added a tool to my collection.

I did replace the driver's side front wheel speed sensor as that had been dropping out. All seemed well on a test drive after replacement of sensor and rotors, but on the 3rd drive cycle post parts swaps the ABS/CEL returned. I'll have to scan and see if we have a new variable or something else going on with that left front hub.

[Prolix-2]

Two updates:

The more casual one first with a nice update to the garage space with a cleaning robot.

I've been using these in my living area for a long time, but on Prime Day early last week I saw a good deal and bought some to go in the garage spaces.

Here is a video of it running under the e91.

The photo is the map of how it looks to the robot after running.

These aren't a prime specific sale, but I don't know how long the price last.

[Prolix-2]

The second thing is maybe a little daft for some of you, but I've been trying to find an ideal seat for my e91 since purchase. Nothing has quite hit the boxes as ideal level of comfort. I looked at aftermarket and the lack of move-ability is a deal breaker for me, and I don't find them more comfortable either as I'm looking for GT feels far more than straight up sport/thick bolsters.

Exploration out to field says, "well, what about the Porsche Panamera? Dimension-ally they are very similar, why not try that?"

So, with most things like this, the solution is to buy a car to start the test fitment.

I purchased this 2014 4S that had an engine fire to see what I could learn.

On arrival I was very annoyed to discovered I overlooked at auction it had a broken sunroof. More so, no one at the auction bothered to cover it. The driver's seat mostly survived, but the passenger seat is test mule condition only.


Once removed from the car to begin tests I discovered two shocking things:

1: The Panamera and the E90 use the SAME SEAT PLUG. I had this idea of how I would make up a bridge wiring harness between the body and seat, but I will only have to re-pin the seat connector. The Porsche connector even says BMW on it. Amazing.

2: The seat tracts are the same widths and almost the same lengths. The rear requires widening the guide pin hole only to make it fit. The front I have not fully figured out the solution as the P seat track is a little longer and the bolt location goes down around a 30 degree angle.


There are things that need sorting yet outside of the bolt connection, but over all I'm absolutely chuffed to see how similar the two seats are. My body thinks these Porsche seats are much superior to everything bmw has to offer on the e90 chassis and I'm very excited.

If the sunroof wasn't broken I would have had a set of seats to install, but now I'll have to watch for another car. Panamera parts cars are quite an expensive purchase, so it might be a bit to find a good one. Might just buy seats.

FYI: all my experience has been with the 14 way middle tier seats. I need to try the 18 way sport seats yet to see if I think that's better/worse. Porsche might put more Sport into their sport seat option vs BMW putting Comfort into their Sport offerings. I don't know, I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

[Runnin'Rich]

You’re relentless in your seat search - I love it.
Stoked to hear more about the jag

[Prolix-2]

Originally Posted by Runnin'Rich

You’re relentless in your seat search - I love it.
Stoked to hear more about the jag

I feel like this is my first meaningful contribution to the e90 community. Not sure anyone cares as I haven't really heard anyone else complaining about seats... but, I have contributed something now!

As for the Jag: I assume you mean the XF and not the F-type?

It's actually assembled now as I found a donor for a front end in the XF sedan pictures. The estate not done as it still has fit/finish adjustments to be made, but it's about 95% there.