Hey everyone.
Got some pictures and a write up regarding a recent build I had Alex@ABRhouston and his guys help me with about a month ago. Been lurking on the board for a while and not posting all that much but I hope this thread provides some good reading.
I've seen and heard a lot about ABR, Alex, and the work they do so I decided to take a drive from Northern Florida over to Texas in order to get this project done. Alex was always in contact through the process updating me on the build and I cannot say enough good things about him. He has a lot of offerings for the N54 community including head studs, main studs, pistons, rods, headwork, and others for those of you looking at a serious build. Here is what I put on his plate (car was already FBO):
- VTT S2 Turbo Install
- CP-E Downpipes
- 335is Engine Mounts
- M3 Rear Subframe Bushings
- M3 Rear Sway Bar and Control Arms
- DEFIV Lockdown Kit
- KWV1 Coilovers
- Cyba 4.0 Carbon Tips
- Performance Aero front and Rear bumpers
- Powder Coated Calipers
- Alpina Flash
- Transmission and Front/Rear diff service
Some things I did afterwards:
- PTF Protune by Dzenno@PTF
- SteveAZ's 450 LPFP Stage 2 Bucket
Xdrive Guts:
![Click here to enlarge]()
DEFIV Lockdown:
![Click here to enlarge]()
I just want to comment on the major components of the build to let you know my opinion on them so you can make some better informed decisions with your vehicle.
VTT S2 Turbos: These turbos are great and my experience dealing with Tony has always been pleasurable. I found with the stock turbos that there was always something lacking in the top end of the RPM range. You felt the drop off and it just wan't as pleasurable or as powerful to wind the car out. There is so much more overhead in these units and if you want immediately available power or would rather avoid a complete exhaust side conversion like a ST setup I wouldn't hesitate to get these.
M3 Suspension Components and KWV1: So much more planted through acceleration, braking, and especially in the corners. The notorious and obnoxious xDrive body roll is no longer present and the car grips like a maniac thanks to the help of some Michelin PSS. If anyone is concerned over and increase in noise, vibration, or harshness I have had no noticeable increase myself. Yes, your suspension will be more stiff, but it will feel exactly like a proper suspension on a "sports car" should.
DEFIV Lockdown: There was a thread I saw a while back about some complaints with noise on deceleration regarding this kit. My setup has NO noise coming from the diff at all under any conditions. The difference might be a very good installation or the fact that I'm still running an open diff due to this being an xDrive. What this kit does though is make my rear end rock solid under aggressive acceleration. I have no concern now with wheel hop or whether my rear drive components are being torqued around in bad ways.
Performance Aero Kit: I wanted to do something a little different in regards to the look of my car. M-Sport was always how I was leaning, but the e90 front bumper with its recessed center and the rear with its grey plastic looking diffuser never really did it for me. Once I saw the great looking and still OEM manufactured Performance Aero parts which I think are woefully underrepresented I knew that's what I was putting on my car. Not to mention how well the Cyba tips go with the rear bumper. Alex did a great job taking the bumpers from primed and sitting in the box to a perfect paint match on a four year old car.
Alex brought in a programming guru to do the Alpina flash and delete with front PDC and fog lights with no complaints from the software. He also squeezed in some M3 programming on the side for the electronics which are very nice. With a tune from Dzenno and Steve's LPFP solution both working fantastically I am supremely happy with how everything turned out. 100% E85, Tony's HPFP solution, and maybe a broken transfer case are what is on the horizon. Hopefully this thread is a good read and provides you all with some ideas of your own to implement on your own cars. Let's finish it off with some pictures of the final product.
![Click here to enlarge]()
![Click here to enlarge]()
![Click here to enlarge]()
![Click here to enlarge]()
![Click here to enlarge]()
![Click here to enlarge]()
![Click here to enlarge]()
Got some pictures and a write up regarding a recent build I had Alex@ABRhouston and his guys help me with about a month ago. Been lurking on the board for a while and not posting all that much but I hope this thread provides some good reading.
I've seen and heard a lot about ABR, Alex, and the work they do so I decided to take a drive from Northern Florida over to Texas in order to get this project done. Alex was always in contact through the process updating me on the build and I cannot say enough good things about him. He has a lot of offerings for the N54 community including head studs, main studs, pistons, rods, headwork, and others for those of you looking at a serious build. Here is what I put on his plate (car was already FBO):
- VTT S2 Turbo Install
- CP-E Downpipes
- 335is Engine Mounts
- M3 Rear Subframe Bushings
- M3 Rear Sway Bar and Control Arms
- DEFIV Lockdown Kit
- KWV1 Coilovers
- Cyba 4.0 Carbon Tips
- Performance Aero front and Rear bumpers
- Powder Coated Calipers
- Alpina Flash
- Transmission and Front/Rear diff service
Some things I did afterwards:
- PTF Protune by Dzenno@PTF
- SteveAZ's 450 LPFP Stage 2 Bucket
Xdrive Guts:
DEFIV Lockdown:
I just want to comment on the major components of the build to let you know my opinion on them so you can make some better informed decisions with your vehicle.
VTT S2 Turbos: These turbos are great and my experience dealing with Tony has always been pleasurable. I found with the stock turbos that there was always something lacking in the top end of the RPM range. You felt the drop off and it just wan't as pleasurable or as powerful to wind the car out. There is so much more overhead in these units and if you want immediately available power or would rather avoid a complete exhaust side conversion like a ST setup I wouldn't hesitate to get these.
M3 Suspension Components and KWV1: So much more planted through acceleration, braking, and especially in the corners. The notorious and obnoxious xDrive body roll is no longer present and the car grips like a maniac thanks to the help of some Michelin PSS. If anyone is concerned over and increase in noise, vibration, or harshness I have had no noticeable increase myself. Yes, your suspension will be more stiff, but it will feel exactly like a proper suspension on a "sports car" should.
DEFIV Lockdown: There was a thread I saw a while back about some complaints with noise on deceleration regarding this kit. My setup has NO noise coming from the diff at all under any conditions. The difference might be a very good installation or the fact that I'm still running an open diff due to this being an xDrive. What this kit does though is make my rear end rock solid under aggressive acceleration. I have no concern now with wheel hop or whether my rear drive components are being torqued around in bad ways.
Performance Aero Kit: I wanted to do something a little different in regards to the look of my car. M-Sport was always how I was leaning, but the e90 front bumper with its recessed center and the rear with its grey plastic looking diffuser never really did it for me. Once I saw the great looking and still OEM manufactured Performance Aero parts which I think are woefully underrepresented I knew that's what I was putting on my car. Not to mention how well the Cyba tips go with the rear bumper. Alex did a great job taking the bumpers from primed and sitting in the box to a perfect paint match on a four year old car.
Alex brought in a programming guru to do the Alpina flash and delete with front PDC and fog lights with no complaints from the software. He also squeezed in some M3 programming on the side for the electronics which are very nice. With a tune from Dzenno and Steve's LPFP solution both working fantastically I am supremely happy with how everything turned out. 100% E85, Tony's HPFP solution, and maybe a broken transfer case are what is on the horizon. Hopefully this thread is a good read and provides you all with some ideas of your own to implement on your own cars. Let's finish it off with some pictures of the final product.