Build Document: Autocross & Daily Driver (FR-S, Argento, M/T, Base)

[bimmer635csi]

The purpose of this thread is to track progress of my vehicle from Purchase Agreement to first race and beyond.

Feel free to comment, yell, or whatever. I'm too old to take forum trolling personal.

Changes:

• Tint (clear windshield with 25% upper, 25% rear window, 35% side windows)
• Front plate bracket
• WeatherTech floor mats
• Crash bolts installed at full minimum(?) camber - no idea what it was before or now because my flat metal plates are in the attic
• 3 mm spacers on the front wheels only
• Tires (Hankook R-S3 Ver 2 225/45/17 F & 235/45/17 R, seem to do well in the heat and if I go to a National event, there's money to be gained if I drive my nuts off)
• White LED rear license plate lights
• White LED trunk light

Planned Changes:

• Wheels
  - Waiting for a while since I think I'm going to run STX next year, no reason to buy stock width wheels for a partial season
• Wheel studs & nuts (it is just easier, awaiting installation now)
• Anything else will be after a day of running to determine suspension tweaks

Will be racing in SCCA C-Street class the rest of 2014, which is why the change list is so short. Probably move to Street Touring in 2015, but sometimes plans change. Keep tuned in to see if the plan holds true.

Day -6, 2014-04-22: It was a Tuesday and I went to North Park Scion. Within an hour left with a purchase order for them to get the Argento base model with manual transmission and BeSpoke radio from another dealer.

Scheduled to get car delivered to the house 2014-04-28. (Had to get delivery because my wife is not in San Antonio yet to drive my GTI home.)

Also signed up for this forum and as soon as I'm done here, research starts for tires & tint shops.

The longest 6 days await for me, but thankfully I have a race this weekend, so that will eat up 2 days.

See y'all around.

Cheers,
Chris

[bimmer635csi]

Day -4, 2014-04-24: No news is good news? Hopefully the cliche holds true.

Because I am now a resident of a state that requires a front license plate, I went ahead and ordered one of these:


I used the coupon from this forum, but it didn't even cover the shipping, so I'm not sure it is even worth looking for the coupon. But the price is about the same as the one I got for my GTI, so I can't bitch too much.

And because they work so well, I went ahead and got these also:

[bimmer635csi]

Day 0, 2014-Apr-28: She's home

Not much to say right now other than it was a nice ride home.



What's with the Darth Vader Air Conditioner sounds though?

[tahdizzle]

good luck.

[bimmer635csi]

Day 8, 2014-May-06: Got the windows tinted. 35% on the sides, 25% rear & windshield eyebrow, and 0-ish% on the entire windshield.

I can't tell that there is film on the windshield and it really hasn't stuck to the glass completely yet. Hopefully the sun comes out this weekend and cooks it on there good.

Ended up going to JoAnn Craft store and getting a sheet of static cling clear vinyl for the inspection (and when it comes, registration) sticker. Seems to be holding up ok, but that might change with age.

Otherwise, nothing to report on yet. Still less than 400 miles, so nothing doing for really getting it race ready. And the Enkei wheels are still out until July, so I'm unsure of what to do about that right now.

[bimmer635csi]

Day IDK, 2014-May-23: I have the rattle in the driver's door after 900 miles.

But, it is what it is. I think @Extreme86 knows how to fix it, so I need to ask him next time I see him.

My GTI cost less than this car, has more power, less noise, and many more features. Only it drives less favorably. At least for now.

[bimmer635csi]

I am entered (with a co-driver) in the FR-S's first autocross. Not my first thankfully.

Should be a hoot to be out there in a completely stock car running against prepped CS 370Zs. I'm going to try to get style points I think because that is the only chance I have.

If you're in the area, stop on by. Retama Park, Sunday, June 22nd. First car around 11:00.

[PHLonomenal]

VERY NICE. Argento was my 2nd choice.

[D_Thissen]

I love that colour! Can't wait to see what you have in store

[bimmer635csi]

Originally Posted by PHLonomenal

VERY NICE. Argento was my 2nd choice.

Mine also, but I wasn't going to pay $400 for white, so it became my first choice very quickly.

Originally Posted by D_Thissen

I love that colour! Can't wait to see what you have in store

I'm going for style points I guess because the 370Z seems to be the easy button for CS right now. Should be fun though.
EDIT: Sorry, guess I said that already. Derrr.

[PHLonomenal]

Originally Posted by bimmer635csi

Mine also, but I wasn't going to pay $400 for white, so it became my first choice very quickly.

I understand. We both apparently know our way around BMW's, they charge more than that for their metallic/individual paints. At this price point I could justify it. Hitting me up for $500 or more dollars after I paid $62k is a little petty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bimmer635csi]

I was putting the goodies in the trunk for the autocross tomorrow.

Being used to the GTI, I didn't think about looking when sticking stuff in there.

So, to remind me that this car is not a hatch, I ended up jamming my thumb into the upper edge of the trunk seal so hard that it ripped the thumb-nail-bed off of my thumb about 1/3 of the way up.

I hope my car isn't possessed by a grandmother who only wants to go the speed limit.

I had to put a bandaid on to stop the bleeding, so no pics yet. (Sorry if you're a sadist.)

[bimmer635csi]

Wow, it was fun.

Totally stock (including the Prius tires). Had an absolute blast even though the day started out wet. This hot TX sun sure dries things out fast.

Anyway, finished 4th of 6 to a bunch of Nissans. But it was fun and this coming weekend is another event. We haven't had time to get tires, but should have them for the July event.

Anyway, here's the video. I'm still adjusting to how much time it takes to prep the car for two drivers, so I screwed up getting data and windshield video.

[ame]http://youtu.be/cSaOMoX_Za8?t=1m9s[/ame]

Cheers,

[bimmer635csi]

Nothing much to say because nothing has changed ... yet.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlO36L6y1vE"]2014 Jun 29 Spokes No6 - YouTube[/ame]