BRZ WRB from Europe, OEM+ & track (May '16: Nürburgring & Drone)

[Guillaume]

Hi everyone,

I've been on the board for a while and I figured it was time I open a thread about my car and the few mods I have done so far.

So it's a 2012 model, I picked it up with 8km on the odometer. As of May '16 it is at 85k km, tons of fun and not a single hitch that wasn't covered under warranty.

Here is family portrait, car wise.


Like I mentioned, I have done a few minor mods and I try to keep it as OEM as possible. The goal is to keep the car reliable and usable as a DD while improving the fun on and off the track. And some purely cosmetic mods sneaked in, I couldn't resist.

OEM parts:

• TRD : door stabilzers, pic.
• TRD : trunk spoiler, see below.
• Toyota : central armrest, pic.
• Toyota : GT86 rear view mirror, pic.
• Toyota : Camry wide throttle pedal (heel-and-toe friendly), pic and details in this thread.
• Toyota : hinge covers, pic.
• Toyota : illuminated trunk button, pic and see this thread.
• Toyota : black shift knob (SU00300883) as seen here.
• Toyota : camber bolts, see this thread.
  -> replaced by coilvers, see below.
• STI : start button, pic.
• STI : steering rack bushings, details here.
• STI : steering rack bolts from BRZ tS, details here.
• STI : rear suspensions bolts from BRZ tS, details here and there.
• STI : strut bar, see below.
• Subaru : oil cooler (Forester XT set-up), details here.
• Subaru : bolt covers, pic.
• Subaru : MY2015 suspension nuts and bolts, details here.
• Subaru : MY2015 shark fin antenna, pic and details here.
• Subaru : Legacy 2.5T slave cylinder, details here..
• Subaru : Impreza GT 16" wheels with Dunlop SP Winter Sport 4D 205/55/16, pic.

Non OEM parts:

• Oil/water temp gauge : Pivot DXW, see this thread.
• Mishimoto FT86-specific catch can, details here.
• Radium Engineering brake stopper.
• Nameless cam plate.
• Milltek exhaust (resonated primary catback) see this thread.
• Porsche brake spoilers, details here.
• Enkei RPF1 17" by 7.5" ET48 with sticky Pilot Sport Cup 2s in 225/45/17.
• Carbotech pads (XP10 front, XP8 rear).
• Öhlins Road and Track MI20 coilovers, with camber plates, discussed here.
• Diode Dynamics Always-On kit, as found here.

Wish list:

• SPC lower control arm? Or STI?

Nürburgring


Spa


Mettet, with my brother


Some videos (more of them on my YT channel):

Nürburgring
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdbDtk_cYwo"]Subaru BRZ - Touristenfahrten @ Nürburgring - YouTube[/ame]

Mettet
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1hEW9jiJ1M"]Subaru BRZ @ Mettet - 08/03/2014[/ame]

[Guillaume]

Went back the green hell earlier this month. The place definitely deserves its nickname!





Managed a decent 8'42" BTG, chasing a freind's V6 Exige for half the lap, until the uphill section.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_0-qxLFqq0"]Subaru BRZ - Back to the Ring - YouTube[/ame]

And I abused my AD08Rs on a much less iconic track, was fun too.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqt3RiwoYow"]Subaru BRZ @ Beuvardes - Drift session - YouTube[/ame]

[brzest]

Great videos (and driving!).

I'm taking delivery of a WRB BRZ myself, but unfortunately not until late july.

Planing on very similar mods/use as you. First and foremost a daily driver and probably 4-6 trackdays a year.

Are you happy with your tire/wheel combo (wide enough)?
Also how much of a temp difference are you seeing from the oil cooler?

[Lonewolf]

I love this thread...wish I had seen it sooner!

[Guillaume]

Originally Posted by brzest

Great videos (and driving!).

I'm taking delivery of a WRB BRZ myself, but unfortunately not until late july.

Planing on very similar mods/use as you. First and foremost a daily driver and probably 4-6 trackdays a year.

Are you happy with your tire/wheel combo (wide enough)?
Also how much of a temp difference are you seeing from the oil cooler?

Thanks man. Yeah I am pretty happy with the tires. I think 225 is wide enough for a stock engine on track. Around tighter, slower courses like auto-x, one might want to go wider though.
The oil cooler is a must if the car sees track action. I used to back off approaching 130°C without the cooler, I never managed to get it beyond 125°C since I have the cooler.

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

I love this thread...wish I had seen it sooner!

Cheers

And here is an update on my latest mods, while we're at it.

I added useless-thus-necessray parts inside, like the bolts and hinges cover:


GT86 rear view mirror along with an illuminated trunk release button (discussed here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81017 ).

I also fitted the MY2015 shark fin antenna:


Performance wise, I mounted the Porsche brake ducts (inspired by this thread):


And I went for a serious suspension upgrade, Öhlins Road and Track:


With a nice STI strut bar:


Got some track action since the last update, too.



[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC3wNN6Y3Wk"]Subaru BRZ @ Beuvardes - RéGlisse day - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puNMlys1_S4"]Subaru BRZ @ Lurcy-Lévis - YouTube[/ame]

[brzest]

There should be a NSFW warning before showing those Öhlins'

I'm assuming you didn't repaint the sharkfin antenna? Is there a noticeable difference between the new and the old WRB, or does it more or less match? I kind of like the STi fender garnishes, but AFAIK they only come in the old WRB, so a bit hesitant because of that.

Also with the oil cooler, did you have any difficulty finding any of the fittings?
I see there's an easier way to fit this that looks as effective (?), so might try that --> http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73684

[funwheeldrive]

Do you still have the Camry pedal? Does it make any kind of difference?

[Guillaume]

Originally Posted by brzest

There should be a NSFW warning before showing those Öhlins'

I'm assuming you didn't repaint the sharkfin antenna? Is there a noticeable difference between the new and the old WRB, or does it more or less match? I kind of like the STi fender garnishes, but AFAIK they only come in the old WRB, so a bit hesitant because of that.

Also with the oil cooler, did you have any difficulty finding any of the fittings?
I see there's an easier way to fit this that looks as effective (?), so might try that --> http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73684

I didn't repaint the antenna and the match is really good. But then again, the fact that it doesn't line up with any other surface probably does help to hide the slight shade difference. It might be more visible for the fender vent.

I did struggle to find some fittings, but someone found a Mercedes part that does the trick: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...60#post1838260

I am not convince the throttle body set up is as effective, but it is better than nothing for sure.

Originally Posted by funwheeldrive

Do you still have the Camry pedal? Does it make any kind of difference?

Yep. It does make a difference. As you might have noticed in some on-board videos, I am reasonably experienced when it comes to heel & toe and double declutching. Like I said elsewhere, the stock pedal is ok but the Camry pedal is noticeably better.

[Iceman]

I really like your build and love your videos, suscribed long time ago. I just got my GT86 a month ago and i'll be following your steps as i intend to track it as much as possible within my limited budget (Nürburgring is a must this summer )

Couple of questions, hope you don't mind:

-Where did you get the Carbotech pads? It would be cool if i can avoid customs ordering those within Europe. And did you change the brake fluid as well or still stock?

-How do you find the Öhlins and how much did you lower it? I'd like to get some serious suspension in the future but i can't afford lowering the car too much(the kind of roads i like ain't smooth at all). I've read Öhlins won't go very low, so...
My other option would be B14/16's, did you consider those?

[Guillaume]

Thanks! Send me a PM when you go to the Ring.

I got the pads from http://www.carbotech-europe.com; shoot an email to Ian, he's pretty responsive. At first sight it might seem a bit more expensive than from 949Racing, but factoring in the customs and shipping (and time) from the US, it's the better deal from the UK.

I have Motul RBF600 brake fluid, it never failed me. I flush it yearly regardless of mileage.

I lowered 10mm. I too have to deal with uneven roads and steep ramps. No issues whatsoever so far. I did consider the B16s as well, but I figured I should go all out while I was at it.

[P3tras]

I approve this thread Keep it up!

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Guillaume

Thanks! Send me a PM when you go to the Ring.

I got the pads from http://www.carbotech-europe.com; shoot an email to Ian, he's pretty responsive. At first sight it might seem a bit more expensive than from 949Racing, but factoring in the customs and shipping (and time) from the US, it's the better deal from the UK.

I have Motul RBF600 brake fluid, it never failed me. I flush it yearly regardless of mileage.

I lowered 10mm. I too have to deal with uneven roads and steep ramps. No issues whatsoever so far. I did consider the B16s as well, but I figured I should go all out while I was at it.

Thank you for the answers. Brakes will be the second thing i change after i get rid of the Primacy's.

10mm seems reasonable. It's not something i'll be changing anytime soon(i'm a student, so i can't afford it for now), but it's definitely in my to do list.

Sending you a PM

[lollotus]

prime example of doing it the right way!

Tired of seeing people ruining the car with senseless suspension mods and over sized wheels.

May i ask how many "clicks" you are running on the ohlins and the alignment (camber etc)?

[Guillaume]

On the road, I am currently running 13 clicks front and rear, it is a bit softer than stock. I might try to go even further. On track, I've been as low as 5 clicks, but that's for a very smooth pavement. For the N'Ring, I expect to be around 8 to 10.

Alignment is as follow:
Front camber: -2°
Front toe: 0°
Rear camver: -1.3° (not adjustable, just a consequence of the drop)
Rear toe: 0°

Those values were recommended by @CSG Mike based on my daily/track use.