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My S50 Journey

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  • My S50 Journey

    the Story started last August 2012. As i wasn't too sure if the world was going to end on December 21st and was thinking of ways to enjoy my last days I was at work in the office and as you do you have a look on ebay for a bargain. I was looking at M coupes (not to buy one, just seeing the market) and i saw an imola red in need to serious TLC. I believe it was bought to most peoples attention on here. It had been sitting for 5 years and was knocking from the bottom end. at the time i had no intention of buying it but was at a very low price so watched it. the day of the auction came and i decided to go and have a look at it. Once i got there i fell in love. even though she needed work i saw the potential of a great coupe. 112k on the clock, brakes were binded, windows didnt move etc. On impulse i made him an offer and he took it. . I was now a proud owner of one of my dream cars.

    Here is a couple of pics from when i viewed her.







    I left the car with there and arranged for it to be transported to CPC for an engine rebuild. I picked the car up 3 weeks later and was..... well disappointed. It felt like a ferry. It was not what i was expecting to say the least. At the Mot I spoke to my local mechanic and he said that the whole suspension is old, rusty and needs to be replaced. inc dampers, bushes, droplinks etc. I also found a lot of play in the rack so after some research there i opted for a 2004 318ti compact for £60

    I already sourced a set of wheels from a friend of mine very cheap so any form of modification was put on hold apart from them. my main focus was to sort the suspension. I still had my s2000 at this time and my funds were tied up in that. I had to let her go which was quite sad for me but at least now i could focus on the coupe.

    Over the last couple of months i have had to focus on more pressing matters and I cycle to work so the car has pretty much been sitting on my drive not doing much at all. After a recent setback with the engine rebuild and a horrible vanos bill, I decided to set a journel up as I am ready to get this coupe back to where she needs to be.

    Today arrived my

    H&R ArB's
    Rear Spax Shocks
    diff and gb Fluids
    Meyle HD Droplinks

    I already had Steering rack, new discs and redstuff pads All i need now is Front shocks and i think i have decided to go with b8's. I will more and likely source them today. Oh and Rear mounts are needed. I was going to source rogue mounts but as a member pointed out to me, i may just buy the reinforced top plates and meyle mounts. just waiting to here back.

    Last but from what i hear not least are the inserts. Thanks to C_W and Dave, I will be making my inserts for the rear sub frame

    I plan to have this all done withing the next month. I am only gonna be able to really do things on the weekend as work has been demanding recently.

    While i am here I would like to thank you all for your advice and wealth of knowledge. It has made this journey so much easier.

    I will update as I conquer each task
    Last edited by dollag; 16-06-2015, 09:03 PM.

  • #2
    The factory suspension is on the pretty soft side so even a new car feels soft in contemporary company let alone compared with modern performance stuff. Shame really as BMW could have made it so much stiffer/sharper without ruining the ride. That said, I enjoyed my car on the road when it was standard as it was actually very comfortable but it's when it was pushed 7/10 or more it got too loose and wallowy.

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    • #3
      well a sudden turn of events.

      I have just bought Koni adjustable front shocks. They popped up on demon tweeks outlet for £95 each delivered. I called them asap as i was shocked at the price. Said they were old stock so just clearing out.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by dollag View Post
        well a sudden turn of events.

        I have just bought Koni adjustable front shocks. They popped up on demon tweeks outlet for £95 each delivered. I called them asap as i was shocked at the price. Said they were old stock so just clearing out.
        I'm sure you probably know that the Koni front dampers are "inserts" which means a bit of DIY fettling to put them on the car. They should be good though.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by c_w View Post
          I'm sure you probably know that the Koni front dampers are "inserts" which means a bit of DIY fettling to put them on the car. They should be good though.
          I actually was not aware till after a bought them It was not mentioned in Previous posts i was reading (unless i missed it)

          It shouldn't be too much of an issue (i hope) to get them fitted

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          • #6
            Looking good :-)

            I know what you mean regarding the handling, Seems to be quite a few of us working on suspension (particularly rear) at the moment. I need to look in to these subframe bush inserts as well - hopefully this weekend!

            Keep up the good work

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            • #7
              So most of my goodies arrived this week and so i got to work straight away.
              The nice postman delivered...





              I ramped the car up and got to work. The first thing i noticed is that the car is showing its age under there. rusty bolts everywhere. i will be changing them all over due course. I wanted to tackle the ARb's 1st as i need to pick up some more tools for other work.

              Was pretty straight forward apart from the drop links. I ended up angle grinding them off as it seemed to be the easiest solution. Once off i compared them.



              As most of you know they are a lot thicker than the oem. i got some meyle HD links and attached the new arbs





              My exhaust bolts were totally rusted away so i couldnt remove the back boxes. With some help i managed to lever them so i could slide the old bar out which was a pig to do. other than that it went pretty well. I went round the block to test and all seems well. the knocking has gone from the shot droplinks and the car feels a lot tighter. I havent really tested them though.

              Tommorow i will start on the shocks and mounts. Im dredding the interior removal but once done i shouldnt have to do it again.
              Last edited by dollag; 31-05-2013, 11:53 PM.

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              • #8
                Last week I also intalled a new pioneer bluetooth Head unit and my focal k2p Components to the roof mounts and doors. the Harmon Kardan speakers were blown in the roof mounts and I already had them from my previous vehicle. I have wired them up to the Original HK amp. I have also installed my kicker sub and matching directed amp but the box is waaaay too big so will be thinking of alternatives. While i was changing the door speakers i sprayed the covers as they were also looking a little tired. I am very impressed with the sound in the coupe. even for its age the car seems to hold the sound very well.





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                • #9
                  Looking good. Can't tell too well from the photo but is the headunit a retro looking with achrome knob and illumination to match the interior?
                  2002 '52 S54 - Titanium Silver with 18" BBS LMs, AP Racing BBK, KW V3, H&R anti roll bars & ACS flippers (previously 2000 'X' S50 - Arctic Silver)

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Spooks View Post
                    Looking good. Can't tell too well from the photo but is the headunit a retro looking with achrome knob and illumination to match the interior?
                    your spot on. I will take a pic in the day but the illumination can be changed to what colour you desire and so i got it as close the the dials as possible. The chrome bezel adds a nice touch and compliments the 3 dials beneath

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by dollag View Post
                      your spot on. I will take a pic in the day but the illumination can be changed to what colour you desire and so i got it as close the the dials as possible. The chrome bezel adds a nice touch and compliments the 3 dials beneath
                      It would be interesting to see, I would quite like Bluetooth. Does it work with the BMW CD changer?
                      2002 '52 S54 - Titanium Silver with 18" BBS LMs, AP Racing BBK, KW V3, H&R anti roll bars & ACS flippers (previously 2000 'X' S50 - Arctic Silver)

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Spooks View Post
                        It would be interesting to see, I would quite like Bluetooth. Does it work with the BMW CD changer?
                        http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/25...0PRS/page.html

                        This is the head unit. It has 2 usb outputs so I have an ipod that lives in the glove box and and my iphone 5 (with different connection wired up so i can use the phone as i please. i am not sure about the cd changer I', afraid.

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                        • #13
                          Over the last 2 days I have concentrated on top mounts, rears shocks, Koni inserts for front shocks and complete brake disc and pad change.

                          Its been an interesting 2 days to say the least but all work is now completed. The Koni inserts proved fairly challenging. Once i cut off the casing and slotted out the original insert the koni would not go in. after a long time filing and grinding, it finally slotted in. The front shocks had a lot of corrosion so i wire brushed off all the rust and old paint and sprayed them with hammerite. They look like new. I forgot to take pics of the procedure as there was a lot of swearing and throwing tools at this time.
                          I have heard a lot of great things about the koni inserts and
                          i got them at half the price a set of b8's would of cost me. Would be interesting to go in a coupe with bilsteins and compare.




                          Next up was the dreaded rear top mounts. To be honest it was very simple just a bit time consuming to take out all the trim.





                          Here are my Spax rear shocks



                          My original shocks were both leaking slightly so this was a great time to change them.

                          After I slotted these in i attached my new reinforcing plates (thanks to brookscbr) to new meyle hd mounts




                          The pads and discs went on no problems. The car is all back together now. I havent been out as yet but I will report back as soon as I have an update.
                          I cannot imagine how much a local mechanic would have charged as there was a lot of labour involved. As long as your fairly handy with a spanner (and im no Edd china), there is no reason this cannot be attempted at home by most.
                          Last edited by dollag; 02-06-2013, 07:17 PM.

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                          • #14
                            The head unit looks nice, would like to see it in the flesh.

                            Looks like you've earned a pint!
                            2002 '52 S54 - Titanium Silver with 18" BBS LMs, AP Racing BBK, KW V3, H&R anti roll bars & ACS flippers (previously 2000 'X' S50 - Arctic Silver)

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                            • #15
                              Should feel a lot better now, tomorrows drive to work should be fun :-)

                              I'm liking your wheels too

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