Project: Loud Red!

On May 4th, '05 I took delivery of an 05 ZCP M3 in OEM condition w/the intent of turning it into a class leading contender.

And thus began our journey into exhiliration and .... despair.

Fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be a wiiild ride.

Mods list in no particular order, as of four months ago.

Keep in mind that this is an ongoing project. Will update later today. And as the "Project" matures.

MODS DONE
Interior Mods:
Build & install rear seat area floor cover (i will have it redone, not 100% satisfied). By BlueJay Upholstery, Grants Pass.
ICELink. By ProAudio, Medford.
6 each, 12 volt power adapters & AC power converter. By ProAudio, Medford. W/a Ronin assist.
Roof center camera mount. Made by Ronin. Installed by ProAudio, Medford.
Install 2 Camcorder boxes (modded by Ronin) in rear trunk. By ProAudio, Medford.
Relocate amplifier. By Ronin.
Build & install ChaseCam SS1000 multiplexer mounts. By Ronin (removed by ronin, will use software instead).
Autometer Gauge kit; Voltmeter, Boost & AFR. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
GSP P7 pedal kit (w/o throttle pedal cover plate). By Johns Auto, Medford.
Schroth Rally4 harnesses. By Johns Auto, Medford
Remove; Rear seat assemblies and carpeting. Trunk toolkit, Mobility Kit and carpeting. Child seat hardware. By Johns Auto, Medford.
Remove rear seat mounts. By Blue Jay Upholstery, Grants Pass.
Remove alarm box. By Ronin.

Exterior Mods:
Black kidney grilles. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
Black side gills. By Johns Auto, Medford.
OEM grids for bumper air dam painted Imola Red. Thru Autohaus, Beaverton.
Imola Red front reflectors. By Johns Auto, Medford.
Dinan wheels (thru Rasmussen, Portland), 2 sets color matched. By Skips WheelWerks, Beaverton.
Custom machined wheel caps. By Jeff Anderson from Grants Pass.
Ronin decal wheel cap inserts. Designed by Ronin. Done by Commercial Sign & Design, Phoenix.
ACS rear spoiler. Thru Rasmussen BMW, Portland.
8mil Clear Bra; fully wrapped, hood, front bumper, both fenders, both rocker panels and rear fender mud guards and gas fill door guard plus head-light and fog-light shields. By Clear Bra of Oregon, Hillsboro.
Install G2X & Display. By Ronin.

Engine & Performance Related Mods:
Rotrex C38-71 centrifugal supercharger with Intercooler & Oil Cooler from AA. Numbered 038!!! By Autohaus, Beaverton, Oregon.
AA Water/Alcohol injection (need to redo, NOT secure). And AA software. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
Brembo GT380 4 piston fronts & GT345 4 piston rear brakes with slotted rotors. SS Lines & Motul 600. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
TC Kline Pro Racing Smart Design D/A coilovers (need to replace front shocks). Including 500lb springs front & 600lb springs rear & monoball rear mounts. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
TC Kline spherical shock mount bushings. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
TCK Delrin front bushings. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
TCK camber/caster plates. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
TCK camber adjustable rear control arms. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
Ground Control front sway bar. By Autohaus, Beaverton.
Supersprint headers (black ceramic coated), section 1 w/cats, section 2 w/resonators, race muffler (ceramic coat 80mm tips, black). By Autohaus, Beaverton.
Odyssey PC 925MJT; By Autohaus, Beaverton.
Dyno (need to redo). By Authohaus, Beaverton.
Align, corner weigh & balance. By Alignment Specialties (never again, need to redo, ARGH!) thru Autohaus, Beaverton.

MODS PENDING:
Remove; Foglights? Visors?
Install Foglight grids (Imola Red painting done thru Autohaus, Beaverton).
TMS front & rear subframe reinforcement plates.
UUC LTW flywheel & clutch assemblies.
Install on/off switches to power 12 volt power adapters.
TCK Delrin rear bushings.
Imola Red stripes on muffler tips.
Install trim on alarm box hole.
Build custom front plate frame/mount?
Scribe camber plates. And shocks?
Corner weigh & balance.
Dyno.
Re-flash ECU for a 7600 rpm redline.
Hotwire PMC-2X
Wire G2X Tachometer lead and program unit.

Peace,

Ronin.

Sounds like a great car. What stock options did you go with? Any pics?

Sounds like a great car.
Thx. Work inprogress .... natch! I'll post an update shortly.
What stock options did you go with?
ZCP & SMG only.

Any pics?
I have a few old, lousy pics. Not sure how to post 'em here. Will look at the FAQ.

I'd like to wait until next week, or so, to post good, updated pics. If you don't mind waiting a short while?

Peace,

Ronin.

The best way I've found for posting pictures is first posting them in the Gallery. Once you've posted them, it gives you a link with and around it. Just copy and paste the link in a post and it should show.

The best way I've found for posting pictures is first posting them in the Gallery.<snip>
Thx. Looks really easy.
But i'm sorely vexed! I had to tear myself away from the galleries.

BTW (sorry for the OT); the AF 350Z Project's waaay coool. I can't wait to tell Yasu about it (dear friend bought a 350Z recently).

Peace,

Ronin.

Project Loud Red Update. As of 01/25/06.

First, non performance related Mods:
Note: Forgot to add this to the original Mods list: 300W Power Inverter by Ronin.

ICELink; (originally installed by ProAudio, Medford) BMW of Eugene removed the ICELink with my consent while troubleshooting what turned out to be unrelated issues. Johns Auto of Medford reinstalled it recently. Seems to work ok but not w/o some annoying glitches.

Johns Auto also;
a) installed some trim around the alarm box hole, looks ok.
b) routed the wiring for the G2X, could have been done better.
c) hotwired the PMC2-X and installed it in the coin tray slot, again, it could have been done better.
d) replaced the M3 side gill logos, which Pacific Motorsports lost/misplaced and replaced the two battery tray fasteners that BMW of Eugene lost/misplaced.
e) made a cover plate to fit inside the front ashtray console and fitted a 12 volt power adapter and two LAN switches as well as an on/off switch for the G2X.

The work Luis did on item e), is completely unacceptable! The plate he made is sloppily cut and fits poorly. And looks like crap. He installed a 12 volt power adapter instead of a low profile cigarette lighter. He reversed the placements of the on/off switch for the G2X and the mistakenly installed a power adapter. And the holes he made in the cover plate for the LAN LEDs look like something a 10 year old would do. F'ugly!!!

Items e) need to be entirely redone. Luis had no excuse for the Sloppy, Shoddy Work. Pathetic.

Performance Related Mods:
ECU re-flashed to 7600 RPM redline by Active Autoworks.
Pacific Motorsports installed a UCC 8.5lb flywheel and a 9 "button" high metallic content ceramic clutch.

And now the problems began in earnest.

Prior to this one MAJOR issue we found was engine overheating. Serious overheating! The AA Supercharger kit was the culprit (of course <sigh>). It remains an unresolved issue.

Back to the UUC parts .... to make a long story short; thousands of dollars, several months and several missed track days later, having no other recourse, due to the fact that no one in Oregon seemed able to solve the problems the SC kit caused, I had the UUC parts replaced with the OEM components by BMW of Eugene.

BMW of Eugene completely botched the job! I have seldom seen or heard of a better example of incompetence and/or negligence! The car is now barely operable and BMW of Eugene refuses to work on the car .... At All!!!

After trying by voice and eMail to come to an agreement, a compromise, with BMWofE ...

anything reasonable to get my car working like it did prior to BMWofE's ADMITTEDLY poor work ...

(wait until you hear the whole story boyzngirsl, it'll straighten your hair, pubic that is <argh>)

... I had AmEx issue a charge-back in full and await BMWofE's reply.

Now, have any of you read my admonitions to make recordings, take notes, etc, dear friends? Well, I did so and although far from complete (perfection is the lord's purview) the documentation I gathered during this ordeal should prevail if this proceeds to litigation.

I tell ya ... if it weren't for the docs I kept, i'd be up the proverbial creek w/o a paddle. As it is I'm still kicking myself for not being more diligent and taking more notes, etc. Let that be a lesson to you. If, for example, you're on the road and on cell phone, ASAP after your conversation, pull over and make notes of who said what to whom, etc. Believe me .... sooner or later you'll be glad that you did.

And the more work you have done .... the sooner it will be. I guaran-effin-tee it!

Here's some highlights of my recent experience to further the above example:

1) BMWofE took almost two weeks to return my car to me. BMWofE's (then)Service Manager Brian Okesson had originally promised a two day delivery and he had also made it clear that he and his crew wanted the work, were highly experienced and would do the work in an exemplary manner, in the time allotted.
2) When they returned the vehicle it was not running great, as described. In fact it was and remains barely drivable. Ie; "... unsafe at any speed."
3) The battery tray and W/I kit was on top of and pressing on the W/I wiring harness and the assembly was left unfastened. The OEM fasteners were nowhere to be found and are still missing. The additional safety strap which I had installed for Murphy's sake, was left loose and twisted, doing nothing. The implications are clear to anyone with even a modicum of mechanical aptitude .... Ies; fire, engine failure, etc, etc.
4) They installed a UUC shim along w/OEM clutch and flywheel componentry. Of course since the car would not even start w/that part installed .... they then had to redo the entire OEM C&F-W job.
5) They replaced the clutch slave cylinder w/a new part under warranty. Then tried to charge me for it. Until I reminded Brian of our taped conversations. ;-)
6) They tried to replace the "clutch pump." Until I pointed out to Brian (and Gail prior to this) that there was probably nothing wrong w/that part either and that it was by now painfully obvious, even to a layman, that their mechanics must have made an error while performing the OEM C&F-W install. As it turned out they did err. And what a Whopper!
7) They did NOT fix, or even address, the poorly functioning horn. At all! And I'm sure that this IS a warranty (and safety) issue.
8) They claimed that the fuel rail developed a leak and that they had to fix it. Why? "I don't know?" was Brian's reply. That was also his reply (although he later contradicted himself during that same recorded conversation) when asked why they removed the battery tray and associated assemblies.
9) They overcharged me by more than $170.00.

And, <phew> to add insult to effin injury .... here's an excerpt from the final eMail I received from BMWofE service advisor Gail Sebastian:
Begin Quote;
"Because of the activities you engage in with your vehicle it no longer is covered under our warranty and to add to this we will no longer be willing to work on your vehicle until it is brought back to factory specs."
End Quote.

BTW, Brian Okesson is reportedly no longer working there. According to BMWofE President Stan Mayhew, in re Brian's departure:
Begin Quote;
"He has decided to resign because of the stress and everything related to the position that he's in."
End Quote.

Finally, since BMWofE refuses to work on my car. Refuses to fix the probs they caused. And refuses to even look at the car .... I have no choice but to take my car elsewhere and start all over. Which of course means redoing the work they did in it's entirety.

Prior to this I had been very satisfied w/BMWofE's service. Of course, prior to this they had made no errors that I knew of.

The moral of the story is simply this:
Keep accurate up to date records because when, yes WHEN, Murphy rears his ugly head and someone makes an error .... you can be sure that those concerned will try to make YOU pay for their mistake(s).


MODS PENDING:
Remove; Foglights? Visors?
Install Foglight grids (Imola Red painting done thru Autohaus, Beaverton).
Rear passenger area cover. Initially done by BlueJay Upholstery, Grants Pass. Oregon. Not fully satisified. Must be redone.
Install a custom cover plate within the front ashtray console for a G2X on/off switch, two LAN switches & a low profile cigarette lighter while retaining the OEM cig lighter assy. Initially done by Johns Auto, Medford. Poorly done. Will have to redo.
TMS front & rear subframe reinforcement plates.
TCK Delrin rear bushings.
Imola Red stripes on muffler tips.
Build custom front plate frame/mount?
Scribe camber plates. And shocks?
Corner weigh & balance.
Dyno.
D/A differential?
LTW front seats?

Peace,

Ronin.

I'm convinced that Rasmussen is the only dealership in Oregon with their act together. This only reinforces that.

I'm convinced that Rasmussen is the only dealership in Oregon with their act together. This only reinforces that.
I've dealt w/Medford, Eugene and Kuni in PDX. As well as Rasmussen.

You'll find many satisfied customers at all four shops.

Rasmussen has a well earned, long term, rep for standing behind they're parts and labor. And, most importanly, for helping out NON customers w/o seeking to tap your wallet (i'm sure that they recognize that goodwill can be profitable at some pint).

Ask any of dozens of people who've been helped by guys like Pete Perez. Even non customers like me who's 03 SMG M3 Cab got stuck in first gear during lunchtime at PIR.

I bought the car at Kuni and had them perform mods and other work on it prior to phoning them from trackside. Kuni's service mgnr demanded that i have the car towed to their facility far from PIR.

It would have ruined my entire day. He didn't seem to care. A BMW ACA member standing nearby suggested I give Rasmussen a call. Pete got on the line, helped me diagnose and fix the prob. I was back on track by the end of lunchtime. Didn't lose a minute of track time or a penny.

I can also say similar things about Autohaus Bayern & Pacific Motorsports (both in PDX).

Peace,

Ronin.

Greetings. Folks on other forums have insisted that I post pics NOW! Since I have done so elsewhere I think I should post them here also or be thought biased towrds other forums.

I posted ten old, lousy pics to the gallery and hopefully we can delete them when I get new ones up.

PS; Somehow I screwed up the gallery post. I have duplicates and missing thumbnails.

No idea where I went wrong. I can't seem to delete them or edit them either.

Could a Mod lend a hand? TIA and sorry for the trouble.

[url]http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=430770[url]


Peace,

Ronin.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/430770LoudRedFront1.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/430770LoudRedInt.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/430770LoudRedLftRear.jpg

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/430770LoudRedMotor.jpg

Here we go. Nice car.