[casualDIYer]

A dd with a few hpde days in the mix isn't an easy balance. Same boat here. Mods for HPDE can change depending on track. As is, the car is a pretty good balance. But if you want to go up a level in both the dd and hpde domain best bang for the buck is probably tires. Brake pads and brake fluid next but make sure the pads are not 'race'. All of these keep your insurance intact.

A modest power bump with bms stage 1 keeps you on budget and isn't too hard to get out of the car if needed. It could void an anal policy so make sure its not there during inspection. Suspension is tricky. BMW M Sport and M Performance keep you within your policy. Non-BMW parts need to be 'for the street'. Suspension is a great upgrade but does get pricey.

On the other hand you could go tires, brake pads, fluid, then cosmetic with front and rear bumper, rear wing, diffuser etc. Or go internal with an audio upgrade. The dd side of the car will love that

[Nihilation]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Thus far I'm leaning toward something like Bilstein PSS coil overs with KMAC or GC camber plates and a more aggressive set of pads, possibly Winmax W2's. That should be just about $1800.

Any other pad recommendations for the small 328i brakes?

[Labeef]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

Are sway bars that big of a deal for the F30?

Yes. They are a big deal on almost every car. Handling is all about weight transfer and how to minimize it. Sways will help you keep the weight transfer in check.

[Nihilation]

Originally Posted by Labeef

Yes. They are a big deal on almost every car. Handling is all about weight transfer and how to minimize it. Sways will help you keep the weight transfer in check.

The springs and dampers do the most to appropriate weight distribution and most importantly, ride quality.

Sway bars can aid lateral movement but will not improve traction under hard braking or acceleration, nor reduce the harshness exhibited by many factory dampers. I've personally regarded sway bars as band-aids for a poor suspension or as a tool to fine tune a setup. And the F30 needs more than fine tuning.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

Trade it in for a 335, fun factor resolved

http://blogs.motortrend.com/total-vi...35i-21501.html

Not exactly

[strig1]

Stage 1 tune or JB4 is the cheapest, easiest, and quickest(quite literally) thing you can do to this car to make it more fun

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by smithf32

http://blogs.motortrend.com/total-vi...35i-21501.html

Not exactly

Sure, according to MT, ask any 335 owner if they change theirs to 328 to increase the fun factor

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

Sure, according to MT, ask any 335 owner if they change theirs to 328 to increase the fun factor

If it's a tight passing situation, the x35 would be welcome. Day to day driving and not DWHUA, the x28 is just fine.

[caranddriver]

My vote would be tires and suspension. Michelin Pilot Super Sports are my next set after the original Bridgestone run-flats wear out. Since I won't track the car, the JB4 tuning kit is attractive.

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by SoCalDave

If it's a tight passing situation, the x35 would be welcome. Day to day driving and not DWHUA, the x28 is just fine.

328 is absolutley just fine, but in terms of pure acceleration, engine noise 335 is miles better. Just like an RS7 is miles better than a 335. All these vehicles are absolute joy to drive it's just how much joy relative to what you wanna spend.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

Thanks for all the feedback.

Thus far I'm leaning toward something like Bilstein PSS coil overs with KMAC or GC camber plates and a more aggressive set of pads, possibly Winmax W2's. That should be just about $1800.

Any other pad recommendations for the small 328i brakes?

If you are on PSS or worse, switch those before suspension mods.

What is a "winmax" brake pad? Pagid, Performance Friction, and Carbotech are the typical ones that are discussed

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

328 is absolutley just fine, but in terms of pure acceleration, engine noise 335 is miles better. Just like an RS7 is miles better than a 335. All these vehicles are absolute joy to drive it's just how much joy relative to what you wanna spend.

Lol. Yes. Your engine sounds better. Wooooooo.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by smithf32

Lol. Yes. Your engine sounds better. Wooooooo.

How cute

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by smithf32

Lol. Yes. Your engine sounds better. Wooooooo.

Lol, sounds like a 4banger on crack

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

Lol, sounds like a 4banger on crack

Lol you and your n55 superiority complex.

I could go on, the quad setup sounds even better.

[the_phew]

Improving "fun factor" and "trackability" are two diametrically opposed goals.

$2k spent for more "fun" driving experience:
-Piggyback tune
-M-performance shift knob
-Clutch stop
-Exhaust

$2k spent for better "trackability":
-R compound tires
-Track pads/brake fluid
-Race shifter
-Harness
-Upgraded cooling fan maybe?
Adjustable suspension would probably be good, but pushes it out of your price range. On certain tracks, 704 might be fine.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by smithf32

http://blogs.motortrend.com/total-vi...35i-21501.html

Not exactly

Oh dear.

Missiles launched!

[shivaswrath]

Dinan Intake and a Tune.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by smithf32

Lol you and your n55 superiority complex.

I could go on, the quad setup sounds even better.

That sounds miles and miles better than that other link but I'd imagine that set up is stupid expensive. May as well just get a 335i for that money and get an aftermarket exhaust or just the MPE. With the MPE (once it's broken in anyway) I think it sounds great. I've gotten a few compliments on it as well.

Only complaint is that with the MPPK you get the exhaust overrun in Sport mode which sure, the gurgling and popping sounds really cool (kinda like on the Jag F-Type but not NEARLY as loud) but to the layman, they just think your shit is broken.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

That sounds miles and miles better than that other link but I'd imagine that set up is stupid expensive. May as well just get a 335i for that money and get an aftermarket exhaust or just the MPE. With the MPE (once it's broken in anyway) I think it sounds great. I've gotten a few compliments on it as well.

Only complaint is that with the MPPK you get the exhaust overrun in Sport mode which sure, the gurgling and popping sounds really cool (kinda like on the Jag F-Type but not NEARLY as loud) but to the layman, they just think your shit is broken.

I had an MPE on my F30 that I loved, I thought it sounded great, especially with the resonator delete.

[ATLBlue]

Absolute best bang for the buck IMHO:

suspension: H&R springs + replace rear shocks with Bilstein B8 + F8x front lower control arms. Much better than stock but not as good as coilovers (but do the control arms anyway). In case you want to keep money for other stuff... Sway bars are always nice, but they run ~$700 a pair for the F30 and the install takes a lot of time. They would eat a lot of your budget.

tires: Michelin PSS. Take your runflats back to BMW and burn them in front of the dealership. Maybe they will eventually get the message...

brakes: buy a stock 335i (base) brake set. There are tons of them in classifieds. The 340mm front rotors + stainless steel lines + hi temp fluid + Stoptech Streetperformance pads will be all you need. Buy a set of Pagid RS29 for the front for track days.

This is enough to get fun on the street and the track. No engine stuff needed until all of the above is taken care of. Meanwhile you may get yourself a BMC air filter. Power gain of 0.0001 hp but you will enjoy more turbo sound.

[Nihilation]

Originally Posted by ATLBlue

Absolute best bang for the buck IMHO:

suspension: H&R springs + replace rear shocks with Bilstein B8 + F8x front lower control arms. Much better than stock but not as good as coilovers (but do the control arms anyway). In case you want to keep money for other stuff... Sway bars are always nice, but they run ~$700 a pair for the F30 and the install takes a lot of time. They would eat a lot of your budget.

tires: Michelin PSS. Take your runflats back to BMW and burn them in front of the dealership. Maybe they will eventually get the message...

brakes: buy a stock 335i (base) brake set. There are tons of them in classifieds. The 340mm front rotors + stainless steel lines + hi temp fluid + Stoptech Streetperformance pads will be all you need. Buy a set of Pagid RS29 for the front for track days.

This is enough to get fun on the street and the track. No engine stuff needed until all of the above is taken care of. Meanwhile you may get yourself a BMC air filter. Power gain of 0.0001 hp but you will enjoy more turbo sound.

This is what I like to hear!