Haha noooo....guess again. Hint...JCW Steering wheel with paddle shifters....

 

Hey OctaneGuy,

You definitely have Jedi Mojo. Thanks for the video, it made my life a bit simpler. BTW, have you ever measured the fender height F&R? I would love to know how much lower your car is over stock. Thanks again. Chin Chin

 

I know I'm a little late responding to this thread but first off... GREAT JOB! Looks fantastic.

Second, what about keeping the beltline black and getting red mirror caps instead?

Can ya photochop that instead, I'd be interested in seeing that on a black car with red trim on the rims.

Mark

 

Needed new tires, so ditched the Nitto Invos (225/45R17) and went to Yokohama S.Drive (215/40R17)


Can you tell that after MITM/MTTS that my front tires were a bit worn?






Let's compare

Before


AFTER



BEFORE


AFTER


Only changes between Before and After are tire size.

Added a JCW wheel and modified it for my paddle shifters. Can see where I mounted my V1 Remote Display and Garmin Nuvi 360


I plan on painting the steering wheel covers like the Pshop pic here

 

You've got one mean looking Clubman. Did I notice an M7 Vortex hood scope in your post on painting the calipers? If that's what you've got, I might have to get one. Your scoop looks great. What paint did you use on the calipers?

 

Thanks!!! Yep that's their carbon fiber Vortex scoop. For the calipers I used high temp duplicolor caliper paint. See it here
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...47-post34.html



For the scoop DIY
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...clubman-s.html

 

Octaneguy i have to say, ive never liked the clubman but after seeing yours i am starting to fall in love. Just by seeing the background on your pictures i think i can tell where you are, ive been by there many times.

p.s. i love your license plate

 

Thanks!!!

I have this picture as my Desktop and on my iPhone. Just can't get enough of looking at my baby.


re: plate
I thought of this plate way back in 2003 when I got my first MC, but my then wife (now ex wife) thought I was crazy for wanting a personalized plate, and also since I didn't have an 'S', it didn't relate as much until I got one, lol.

 

Looks good Richard. Biggest shock to me is how you went with a auto and a clubman. You always kinda struck me as more of a straight out performance orientated driver. Looks good though. How do you like it compared to your R53?

 

I absolutely love it. There is nothing I miss from the R53...well maybe the LSD, lol. I also wasn't sure how I'd like the auto. I'd never driven an Auto Clubman S before, just the R56 Coopers that I rented through Zip Car for MOTD.

But I knew I had to do a couple things. One debunk the myth that you couldn't put paddle shifters on the JCW steering wheel and two, give my calf a rest from the stop and go traffic that I face which caused me to worry about the life of my clutch, lol.

Now that I've got an auto, I tend to drive in "manual" mode most of the time so I can control the shifts, and performance is actually substantially better in nearly all circumstances.

I did a canyon run a few months back and was out in front with all the R56's and R53's and when we reached our destination to chat, everybody forgot I was driving an auto, since I rode their modded butts, lol.

So don't think for a minute that the Aisin Warner tranny is any less of a car than with a Getrag...I'm planning on doing the December autocross with BMWCCA. Looking forward to it!

Richard

 

Glad to hear your enjoy it. I was looking into an R53 Auto to replace my GTI as my daily. Since like you said driving stick in traffic isn't fun. Especially, the 57 when it gets close to the 60. Its horrible at almost anytime of day. Think I might seriously wait and looking for a R55 Clubman when I get the chance.

Aisin is a good transmission. But, if you want to feel a great transmission take out one of the new //M's, 135i's or 335is's with the DCT. It's insanely fast thanks to the dual clutch.

 

As much as I love the R50/R53 form factor, the R55 is just so much more practical. For the past several days I've been making Home Depot trips to carry 1x10x6' sheets of wood and also folding 6' Church tables and they fit inside with plenty of room to spare. I can also carry a compact spare if I want in the well that's intended for a spare. , and not lose any space.

The auto has proven to be a fun alternative when I want it to be. I also find that I arrive relaxed at my destinations compared to the days of driving stick in traffic, cursing everytime the car in front of me crawled forward at a snails pace leaving 5 car gaps so others could squeeze in, forcing me to constantly clutch in and out.

As for the tranny, the Aisin has been used for awhile now, and it's proven to be a reliable tranny, especially if you replace tranny fluid periodically instead of following BMW's 100,000 mile policy. I've driven the //M's and 335is's and it just confirms what I believe about my R55 Auto, that's Auto's don't have to be boring or for the non performance minded person.

I think it would have been "nice" if BMW had chosen to make the Aisin TF-60SN heavier duty so we could put more torque through it, I read somewhere its limited to around 236 lb ft or so, but then again, I don't plan to do much except for basic intake, exhaust, and maybe improving the efficiency by replacing convoluted tubing with NM Engineering stuff.

Richard

 

Ok just a little mod update:

DDM Street Intake that I got off NAM
Magnaflow Clubman S Exhaust, that's due to arrive tomorrrow.
Way Motor Works Performance BOV
NM Engineering Torque Arm Insert from WMW

Future Mods:
NM Air Charge and Discharge pipes

 

He, he... Great minds think alike...
My list is almost 100%.
Just got a few "blue" items by mail (list as yours).
Let me know how you like Magnaflow pipes (I love mine!).
The only thing left is WMW BOV and that is it...
Now, my only problem is this:

 

Hey Octaneguy,...I'm a bit disappointed. I've been waiting, but no goods!

You are usually so good at posting all about your modifications in painstaking detail. From what I can discern from your prior posts, you have had your Magnaflow exhaust for over a week now...What gives? No posts? I'm looking for detail man!

 

Great! Do the WMW BOV, it's easy and noticeable!! Love the cover, lol

Haha, sorry to let you down! I was waiting for my new scissor lift to arrive and it did, but then I got swamped with cars, and now I'm leaving for overseas for a couple weeks, so will have to wait a bit longer, lol.

 

Enjoy your trip and we'll see you when you get back. I trust we will see a typical "OctaneGuy" write up then? Photos and all?

Cheers,

 

Heh heh, most definitely!

Thank you much!

 

Looking most excellent Rich !

Two Thumbs !

 

Hey OctaneGuy,

I currently have the stock 205/45/17 RF tires on stock web spokes and was thinking of going to wider 215/40/17 tires.
Are there any negative effects of doing this? Like the tires rubbing on the fenders or the suspension.
I am not lowered and don't have any suspension upgrades.
Thanks

 

I'm waiting for you to smoke out the amber reflectors on the front wheels. I hate those things for some reason . The rear red ones look good with your scheme, but the amber must go!
Annette

 

You'll be fine with 215/40/17 tires. The 205's look stretched and the 215's have a squarer profile. I prefer that over the 205 even at stock heights.

Haha I hear ya. I might do a light smoke on them to tone them down.

 

Here is the latest mod
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3204828

From


To

 

Not gonna lie, your car....it's um......it's making me....um...../shifty eyes

 

Is that a good thing?