Ryan's Hennarot 318is (s54, slicktop conversion, MT2)

[AWDBOB]

How has S54 maintenance been over the years? Anything you wish you would've done from the get go? Nice to finally get the booster sorted I bet!

[rjmcdermott81]

Next challenge... with the brake setup fully bolted in, you can't mount the s54 intake....



Installed the intake, then bolted the booster all the way in



Clevus extended ~23mm



Is this an s54/e30 thing, or just s54 period. I find the easiest way to get the s54 intake mounted is to sit in the engine bay. It's gotten easier, but generally is a huge PITA.

[rjmcdermott81]

For 8 years I've dealt with subpar brakes. It was the one part of my car that was lacking, and every time someone drove it I had to say "the brakes are there, you just have to really push". I have the UUC BBK upfront (11.75" rotors with wilwood calipers) and stock 318is disks in rear. For the s54 clearance I went the route of a 2002 booster and tried multiple master cylinders over the years.

I went through a lot of work to figure out that the problem may have been simple...the pads. TLDR; when I ordered the UUC kit in 2017 I got the DTC-05 pads which are RACE Pads. This was probably part of the problem if not all...

All said and done, now the brakes freaking rock. Incredible feel, nice modulation, and awesome power.

Final setup is:
Tesla Model S brake booster (Bosch Gen-1 iBooster)
UUC BBK with Hawk street pads!
318is stock rear with Hawk pads

Wiring was easy with this harness: https://www.ebay.com/itm/147188505419

Cleavus has to be extended the same as the 2002 booster. I took the part I had machined for my 2002 off, modified it slightly, and I bolted and welded it on.

Here is a rundown of the process. As with anything custom, it took some patience to dial it in.

As the Gen-1 LHD ships it won't fit because of the size of the electronics and the giant reservoir:





If it's flipped upside down, the booster part works well:



After flipping everything 180 degrees, I then flipped the master cylinder 180. For the reservoir, it had to be remote so I used the Turner BMW 2002 reservoir setup. I cut up the tesla reservoir for the insters, and I "married" the Tesla reservoir inserts with the BMW 2002 inserts with epoxy.



Final setup:

[rjmcdermott81]

[rjmcdermott81]

I haven't put any time into the BBS wheels. Tucked the boxes away while I sort out some other car priorities.

Thursday, my friend zwill23 was over. He pointed at my cracked fuel line near the filter and then just peaced out...

I replaced all the soft lines this weekend. I read mixed ideas of what you need to do to replace the lines above the tank and on the side. I had great success unbolting the exhaust heat shield, then taking out 3 of the gas tank bolts. It sagged a couple inches and it was very easy.

[Lovespeed]

Here for the RS pics...

[DEV0 E30]

Need more pics on the RS's.

[rjmcdermott81]

I personally think ALL BMWs should be RED...

[2mAn]

Amazing car

[rjmcdermott81]

Big moves here. A/C wasn't quite as cold anymore so charged it up.

[rjmcdermott81]

We've been busy race-car'ing! Lemons that is... one step forward, 2 steps back. We have it running, wheels turning, new roll cage just arrived.

[2mAn]

Glad to see some updates here!

[rjmcdermott81]

I need a change. I went with the Apex Arc-8s in the beginning because it was a recipe I had on my previous car - UUC BBK + 17s. But I really want 16s...

So... I want some real BBS wheels, but I don't want to pay the price tag because I don't want to worry about them being stolen.

I found a tremendous deal in town, but there is a catch... the fill and drill on them needs to be assessed.

I got them for $800.
Worst case, I take them apart and sell lips, barrels, hardware, centers. https://wheelredrill.com/ does BBS redrill's for $95/wheel. My plan is to have them assess the work done so far.

Man...it looks soo good.
16x8 up front
16x8.5 in back

[rjmcdermott81]

After owning the Tesla Rx7 I came to a realization. I like electric, but I don't like fully electric. (I probably should have rented a Tesla or something before going down such a long road).

I got hot on the i8 when I saw them dropping in price. Then I found out the RED ones are extremely rare (400 total made / 100 sent to the US). Last May I was on eBay.... and made a late night ridiculously lowball offer (15k below asking) on a Buy it now offer. I didn't think it would hit...but the next morning I awoke to a message that I won the auction.

[rjmcdermott81]

Paint is still holding up well after 7 years.... hard to believe it's been that long.