Shiumai's DGM BRZ Limited - E-force Supercharged

[shiumai]

This started out as just a picture thread which I started on 8/3/13, but since some of you had questions I figured I'd turn this into a regular journal.

I bought my 2013 DGM BRZ Limited on 3/2/13 after following the evolution of the twins. I had a modified 1978 Datsun 280Z for almost 30 years and I had wanted a similar vehicle. The only caveat was that I needed a back seat for my son, and it had to be automatic just in case my wife needed to drive it. Nothing else really fit the bill; I considered a WRX but it just didn't have the sports car look. Since we already had an Outback, I went with another Subaru instead of the Scion.

My '78 280Z:






Right after picking up the BRZ - bone stock:



I wanted to keep the look of the car relatively low key and classy without being too flashy. Some of my first mods were Swift lowering springs, wheels/tires, and JDM exhaust tips which I then replaced with the Nameless Axleback exhaust,

4/2013 - Lowered!



Gramlights 57xtremes, Cusco lower control arms, STI lip and rear spats, and Nameless exhaust added:









Dusk photo shoot...







One of my fave 'ass shots':



11/2013 - Tom's clear tails:







I wanted seat belt pads, so I had some made by EMDOM USA.





All the other stuff was added bit by bit over the next few years.
Random photos...





Movie trivia note: The Marine-Redondo Green Line station I frequently take photos at (below) is featured in the opening sequence of Michael Mann's movie 'Heat' and the ending scene of 'Collateral'.





9/2015 - Got my 'legacy' black and yellow license plates and swapped out the swift springs to Tein Flex Z coilovers. If were to do something differently, it'd have been to get adjustable coilovers from the start instead of just lowering springs.






11/30/15 - CSG installed the Edelbrock E-Force Supercharger.







1/15/16 - Destroyed my STI lip on a concrete block over the holidays:



Decided to go with the C-West pre-painted lip that offered more protection plus covered up some scratches:



Latest pics as of 1/16/16:

















3/16/16: Did something whimsical/non-functional: Added an 'S' emblem to my trunk in the same position the TS emblem is placed. Since I'm not doing an STI or TS build, I decided to designate it my own model 'S', which I shall claim stands for 'shiumai, supercharged'...whatever. The S is STI pink and comes from the Subaru WRX STI S204 trunk emblem, so at least it's a Subaru emblem.



3/31/16 - Got the Subaru BRZ badge overlays from JDMfanaticVinyls (front and rear emblems, steering wheel emblem) in red with silver stars. Adds a little touch of colour besides my red wheel center caps and red 'S' trunk badge to my otherwise monochromatic DGM car. The badge overlays are great quality, inexpensive, and easily removable should you change your mind.











4/15/16 - Subaru Drive Performance magazine printed my pic/blurb in their 'readers' letters' section:
http://dp.subaru.com/drive/public/ht...index.html#p=4



6/7/16 -Installed Radium Engineering passenger-side PVC catch can on driver side (more mounting space).







5/20/17 - Installed a Marsh Power House (MPH) Fabrication GT-spec carbon fiber hood. More pics and details here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=78

















1/1/20 - Edelbrock supercharger was un-installed by CSG at 15300 miles for WTY-84 (valve spring recall) - dealer would not take car unless returned to stock. No plans to re-install supercharger (sold it on 4/18/20). Also sold MPH hood and returned it to stock.



Mod list:

Exterior
- Clear bra
- OEM front mudguards
- C-West (previously STi) front lip and STi rear spats
- Bayson R rear diffuser
- Helix smoked side markers
- JDM underbody panels
- Rexspeed wide angle mirrors
- Perrin stubby antenna
- Tom's clear tail lights
- Sportwing side molding
- HIC rear window visor
- my own front magnetic license plate mod: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35261
- MSH (Marsh Power House) Fabrication GT Spec hood. Sold 12/19 as supercharger was removed and stock hood re-installed.

Interior/electrical
- Window tint
- Weathertech front digital fit floor liners
- Subaru trunk liner
- Perrin auto shift knob
- Kahtec 3rd brake light module
- 3D Maxspider 2nd row floor mats
- Diode dynamics always-on module
- Stark performance paddle extensions
- P3cars digital vent gauge
- EMDOM USA seat belt pads

Engine/suspension/mechanical
- Edelbrock E-Force supercharger (removed at 15300 miles - 11/1/19 for WTY-84 recall, and finally sold)
- Nameless 2.5" axleback exhaust
- Tein Flex Z coilovers
- Radium master cylinder brace
- Radium passenger-side PVC catch can (sold when supercharger was removed)
- Nameless Performance ECU bracket
- Wheels/Tires Gramlights 57xtreme/Toyo Proxes T1 Sport, replaced 8/8/19 to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

Front 18x8.5 +33, 235/40/18, Rear 18x9.5 + 40 265/35/18

[shiumai]

thanks - i have not experienced any rub so far. DGM does look black under different lighting conditions, if it's not under direct sunlight. door guard molding is definitely personal preference - took me a while to decide myself. it's grown on me though.

[finallyfi]

Your car looks great! I'm expecting to pick up a DGM brz at the end of the month, cant wait!! What size mufflers did you get on the nameless axleback and how do you like it?

[shiumai]

thanks - i got the 2.5" pipes and 5" mufflers for the nameless. i'm very happy with it in all respects - just want i wanted. great sound without being too loud or soft, nice little burble, dual walled tips, bone-head simple install, great quality.

[raul]

Originally Posted by shiumai

thanks - i got the 2.5" pipes and 5" mufflers for the nameless. i'm very happy with it in all respects - just want i wanted. great sound without being too loud or soft, nice little burble, dual walled tips, bone-head simple install, great quality.

That looks great! What are you running in terms of suspension and how much of a drop is that? It looks very tasteful.

[shiumai]

1" drop on swift springs, cusco lower control arms for rear camber adjustment.

[JDKane527]

Looks great! Are those the brz specific swift sport springs, and what are your alignment specs?

[kayoh]

Wow this make my decision making so much harder, I'm torn between SWP and DGM. Your car is gorgeous!

[shiumai]

Originally Posted by JDKane527

Looks great! Are those the brz specific swift sport springs, and what are your alignment specs?

BRZ specific springs. i'll dig up the alignment specs and shoot you an email. i know we ended up with -1.9° rear camber (it was uneven by .25° from left to right before i got the LCAs installed).

[shiumai]

Originally Posted by kayoh

Wow this make my decision making so much harder, I'm torn between SWP and DGM. Your car is gorgeous!

thanks! you know - after seeing the other colours in person i honestly don't know which i'd pick if i had to do it all over again - they all look damn good. except black - i'll never own another black car again (beautiful but takes more time to maintain).

SWP is more common, but i think shows the contast better between the rear bumper, window trim etc. some of those details get 'lost' in black and DGM.

[shiumai]

jawnathin - that reflects my thought process/choice as well. totally based on personal preference, as you pointed out. having a bit of contrast is why i left the chrome garnish on the vents, the badges on, and chose red center caps for the wheels (to tie in with the tail lights). i'm not a fan of the total blackout look for this car.

[GH05T]

What are the specs on your wheels/tires? Looks great!

[Evasive Motorsports]

Wow sick color combo

[shiumai]

Originally Posted by Evasive Motorsports

Wow sick color combo

thanks - i got my springs/wheels/tires from you guys