X1 35i M-Sport mini project

[skylineguv]

So a little background.....both the wife and I had E92 335 xDrive's and were happily planning some minor but fun modifications when things changed up a little bit. With the impending arrival in Canada of my step daughter (permanent) and step-son (for a period of about 6 months), the notion of how impractical two E92's were as family cars suddenly dawned on me.

Being the honourable gent that I am, I decided to give up the 335 in favour of something a little more family friendly.....but not too friendly. I wasn't willing to give up on the fun factor too much but I also wasn't ready to go the full on SUV route by way of an X5. The thought of a small SUV/wagon on stilts that not only weighed minimally more than the 335 but also had the go appealed to me and the X1 35i seemed to fit the bill.
Now I'll grant you that it's not a conventionally attractive vehicle (I swear they modeled the hood proportions on Pinocchio), but having seen a lowered example, I was intrigued and somewhat excited to put my own spin on things.
So there it was, done deal, an X1 35i M-Sport in Le-Mans blue became my family hauler of choice.

Here are pretty much the only pics I have of it so far....what with vacations and winter being here, I just haven't got around to taking anything better than these crappy phone pics:-





Back when I first got the 335, I had ordered some summer wheels. Well today, along with my newly ordered X1 specific KW V1's (a little more on those later), I finally got to pick the wheels up. Luckily enough, it shouldn't be too much of a task to make them fit on the X1. I guess with the arrival of the first parts I can say the (very basic) project has finally kicked off.

Wheels are Work VS-XX. "Porsche Gold" centers with polished lips and stainless assembly bolts. 19x9 et26 fronts, 19x10.5 et29 rears.
A couple of pics of one rear wheel before it got dark earlier tonight:-







Got lip?






Future plans? Likely a Cobb AP, intercooler, charge pipe (already have that sat in the basement) and whatever I can figure out that'll fit exhaust wise. The rest we'll have to see what takes my fancy as time goes on.

[bigdnno98]

I've also been kicking this idea around. I test drove one a couple of months ago and really liked it. I thought I was going to be able to talk the wife into getting it so I could keep my sports cars but it's not looking that way. She says she wants the next impractical car so I'll have to get the SUV. It'll be almost identical to yours (good choice!) Le Mans blue, X1 Xdrive 35i M Sport. I was definately thinking JB4, FBO and Meth. Please elaborate on the coilovers as I definately think they could use to be a little lower and a little stiffer.

Great looking vehicle!

[skylineguv]

I've also been kicking this idea around. I test drove one a couple of months ago and really liked it. I thought I was going to be able to talk the wife into getting it so I could keep my sports cars but it's not looking that way. She says she wants the next impractical car so I'll have to get the SUV. It'll be almost identical to yours (good choice!) Le Mans blue, X1 Xdrive 35i M Sport. I was definately thinking JB4, FBO and Meth. Please elaborate on the coilovers as I definately think they could use to be a little lower and a little stiffer.

Great looking vehicle!

The stock M-Sport suspension certainly isn't the most plush, not that plush is what most of us are looking for anyway, but it at least means the comfort level doesn't drop significantly with a decent coilover setup.
Having had KW's on previous cars, and with the wife's 335 currently running a set of V1's, I was happy that the trade-off between performance and ride quality was going to be to my liking. So that's what I went with.

Now, for some reason, KW North America doesn't list the X1 specific kits as being available, and when asked, state that they're unlikely to bring them in. I was lucky enough to have a source that could arrange the supply of a set through KW, but having seen them now, I'm not sure it's worth the hassle trying to source the X1 units when they're basically E9x xDrive items (part number 10220048) with a couple of minor changes

The OD of the E9x shocks, where they mount into the front knuckle is 52mm......on the X1 it's 57mm. To accomodate this, KW just used their E9x shock with a machined collar to make up the difference. This should be simple enough to emmulate elsewhere, and in fact has already been done by a fella in Connecticut. The only other difference I noted was the front springs, which have a very slight increase in spring rate IIRC.

Here's a few quick pics I took of an X1 specific V1 front shock/spring, showing the collar mentioned above.

[Sticky]

The thought of a small SUV/wagon on stilts that not only weighed minimally more than the 335 but also had the go appealed to me and the X1 35i seemed to fit the bill.

That's pretty much exactly what it is, enjoy it.

Nice to someone modifying one of these.

[Sticky]

Now, for some reason, KW North America doesn't list the X1 specific kits as being available, and when asked, state that they're unlikely to bring them in.

This doesn't make any sense to me.

[Andrew@activeautowerke]

my lease is up in 3 months . Ill be watching this very closely

[skylineguv]

This doesn't make any sense to me.

Me neither, especially when it's one of the only model specific kits out there. This added to the fact that we now know how close they are in design to the E9x xDrive units and what needs to be done to adapt those E9x units......seems to me that if people are forced into buying E9x coils, they can go shopping the other brands that are available.

[DBFIU]

this is gonna look so good lowered.

[skylineguv]

I obviously can't take credit for either the car or the photography in the following pictures, but it most certainly helped make my decision to go with an X1 a bit easier.






For reference, I plan on running at a similar height, slightly more aggressive on the wheel fitment, and obviously my own detail changes aside from that.

[bigdnno98]

Yeah, I'd probably go a size up on wheels. The ride height looks good to me but those wheels get swallowed up by those wheel wells. Maybe a more meaty tire would help, IKD.

[Sticky]

Lowered looks a lot better...

[skylineguv]

Yeah, I'd probably go a size up on wheels. The ride height looks good to me but those wheels get swallowed up by those wheel wells. Maybe a more meaty tire would help, IKD.

I'm fairly sure I remember Tim (owner of the white X1 in the pics) saying he was running 265/30/19's in the rear whereas I'll be going with 275/35/19's.....the 265/30's are a little shorter than stock and the 275/35's are a touch bigger. Should help add the required "meat" to fill the fender a little better.

[skylineguv]

Lowered looks a lot better...

No comparison at all.....so much better when it's lowered.


The wife is getting her 335 wrapped this weekend so I decided to get my roof done at the same time (brushed black). Never really been fussed about partial wraps, but it'll look a little different and it's not costing me a fortune if I don't get along with it.

[skylineguv]

Well it was a long time coming but I finally got the coilovers fitted and spent some time massaging the fenders to fit the summer wheels/tires.
Although it doesn't look like it in the pictures due to sitting on a sloped driveway, the car does sit completely level, after letting the springs settle and screwing with the ride height for a couple of days.
It's still a work in progress for sure, but I'm stoked at how much better it looks after a weekends tinkering

[DFM]

Looks great. You've managed to fill in the wheel arches much better than the white car.

[1Zed4]

Fantastic!

[bobS]

Looks awesome! The black kidneys really clean up the front end. Well done!

[Sticky]

Well it was a long time coming but I finally got the coilovers fitted and spent some time massaging the fenders to fit the summer wheels/tires.
Although it doesn't look like it in the pictures due to sitting on a sloped driveway, the car does sit completely level, after letting the springs settle and screwing with the ride height for a couple of days.
It's still a work in progress for sure, but I'm stoked at how much better it looks after a weekends tinkering

http://www.60-130.com/images/im...97d0edcb-1.jpg
http://www.60-130.com/images/im...9f167d0b-1.jpg
http://www.60-130.com/images/im...8e95d036-1.jpg
http://www.60-130.com/images/im...57d899fc-1.jpg
http://www.60-130.com/images/im...2a0d58ec-1.jpg

It's pretty cool what you're doing with the car, respect.

[Nugs]

I like it, something different and a big improvement on a somewhat awkward looking car.

[Sticky]

I like it, something different and a big improvement on a somewhat awkward looking car.

Definitely agree.

[bigdnno98]

Love it. This and Valencia Orange look amazing on the X1. The 35i is fun to drive too. I'd love to have a FBO + Meth X1 35i haha.

[skylineguv]

Little by little things are getting done.


Now I'm not entirely sure why, but Canadian M-Sports have the lower window trim in chrome/satin silver as opposed to the black "shadow line" I've seen elsewhere. It looks totally out of place in my opinion, especially when the roof rails are black etc, but hey-ho, it's black now......along with the mirror caps. Also, with the lightest tint I could find, some toning down of the orange reflector in headlights and the turn signals in the mirrors.

[Sticky]

This is coming along very nicely. the balck grilles are fantastic.

Clear corners in the headlights?

[skylineguv]

This is coming along very nicely. the balck grilles are fantastic.

Clear corners in the headlights?

I think the Euro market cars have clear corners, but I honestly can't be bothered to spunk the cash for a set of those, at least not now. If down the road they still annoy me enough, I may try and find a set of used NA market units, open them up and have a play.

[inter1032]

looks good! does this have the same engine as the 335?