Shiumai's DGM BRZ Limited
 

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:

http://i.imgur.com/5rj9c2r.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vyjjQkn.jpg


Right after picking up the BRZ - bone stock:

http://i.imgur.com/sZyK2bY.jpg

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!

http://i.imgur.com/hb81rud.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/oUXTtQE.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/5CaR71p.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Wrf2u5G.jpg


Dusk photo shoot...

http://i.imgur.com/9e0E7zL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/furiv0h.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1ydMiA9.jpg

One of my fave 'ass shots':

http://i.imgur.com/6E2KhT7.jpg

11/2013 - Tom's clear tails:

http://i.imgur.com/crUfY6g.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1OMLLdC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/A4xNw9i.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/eyFsoy6.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/FDAQ2EI.jpg

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



http://i.imgur.com/DEIISPb.jpg

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'.

http://i.imgur.com/iCzncmX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mnkicQS.jpg

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.

http://i.imgur.com/HwoavlR.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/27RXipe.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/AUKXnU8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hn70veR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/yDz4bU6.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/xeRSIti.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/AALuGUh.jpg

Latest pics as of 1/16/16:

http://i.imgur.com/5aoqj5b.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/9cPCKUO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ICaeYNX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BC30ZrS.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/fORidmj.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bkUDDcw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Nt5VhgE.jpg


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.

http://i.imgur.com/f6Nl4fT.jpg

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.

http://i.imgur.com/rd7BEdt.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gfCK5r7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/f8ST7H8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/weOytgi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/obL94aw.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/1mayQkf.jpg

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

http://i.imgur.com/IwX22WH.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6tSFTww.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/pPrBmaw.jpg

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


http://i.imgur.com/4Ah2FTv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xkC1BXI.jpg



http://i.imgur.com/MUvtYZW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rSlVmyz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/vyHzVL3.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/2fhCa8m.jpg


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

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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

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).

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.

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.

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

Wow sick color combo

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

thanks - 1" drop on swift springs, Front 18x8.5 +33, 235/40/18, Rear 18x9.5 + 40 265/35/18 toyo proxes T1 sport. all from evasive.

One of the best-looking DGM's I've seen to date, IMO :drool:

Do these pics come in 1920x1200/1080 resolution? :D

not that big, but i'll have to check at home to see what size i created them in and PM you. thanks for asking.

edited: PM sent - just PM me an email addy and i'll send some larger pics out!

Very nice! :D The molding looks surprisingly natural. What are those rims you've got?

Gram Light 57Xtreme - thread here:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18923

Hi bro, I also get a DGM BRZ. Really like your wheels setting. Could you tell me what color and off set you use?
Thank you so much.

Front 18x8.5 +33, 235/40/18, Rear 18x9.5 + 40 265/35/18
Colour is matte graphite

Can we get a macro shot of your mini BRZ sitting in front of the front wheel on your real BRZ?

Thank you so much!:w00t:

LOL - i'll work on that.

not in front of the front wheel, but with my BRZ in the background. also added a rear window visor.

OP delivered ! !!

holy balls this is one of my favorite brzs on this forum. greats shots! super clean and simple. love it bro

@shiumai One of my favorite BRZ of all time.

My God... That ass

http://www.financenews24.com/wp-cont...s-own-fist.jpg

Latest pics with the new black/yellow California Legacy license plates:

Really mirin your car man. Great photos as well. What kind / whered you get those seat belt pads/covers?

Really glad I picked DGM over White. The DGM has that navy tint which is my fave color. Then the red tail lights and the red logo on the rim compliment that bitch.

thanks man. here are the seatbelt pads:
http://www.emdomusa.com/Emdom-GT86-S...et-p/eu184.htm

great car and photo!

Gorgeous, well done.

Do all the pics in this thread show the car with the coilovers? I would like to see what the drop looked like with the springs vs the coilovers. Why did you change to coilovers and what's your opinion on the change?

Thank you. There's only about a quarter inch difference (if that) between the coilovers vs. springs so it's really very hard to notice. i can't tell the difference in the pics unless i look at the date. remember that you can adjust the ride height of the coilovers, so you can go higher or lower. I just chose to retain a very similar ride height - not more than .25" lower - mainly to prevent any rubbing when going over bumps/dips.

i went with coilovers because i started to become dissatisfied with the rear end feeling loose/wiggly when hitting a dip or bumps in the middle of a higher speed curve and feeling bouncy. the coilovers solved that immediately - the car feels planted and much more stable under the same conditions. but, the biggest plus IMHO is being able to adjust the settings for the driving conditions. normal rough LA roads get a soft setting, as does the freeway to reduce road noise. canyon roads get a harder setting etc.

I'm picking up those same wheels here pretty soon! Nice Pics!

Amazing set up! I like the wheels and Edelbrock E-Force supercharger.

Destroyed my STI lip on a concrete block over the holidays...ouch. Replaced it with a C-West Pre-painted lip. More pics on updated first page.


http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/...psncfm1rqz.jpg

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/...pslrq7smgt.jpg

Wow the C-West lip looks really good on DGM