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      11-26-2020, 04:35 PM   #1
AWC-F87
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What's up guys! My name is Tyler. I've lurked on the forum for about a year since owning my M2. I've been a car nut my whole life and I currently own a PPF/tint/ceramic coating shop in socal. I've spent the past 13 years of my life working my butt off to get to where I'm at today. Part of this now includes my M2. Ever since the m2 came out in 2015/16 I have drooled over them. Such a drivers car, fairly bare bones, well know for its handling and out of the box performance. After working on many cars including multi million dollar super cars I fell in total love with the m2 like so many of you here.

My m2 is the nicest "sportscar" I have ever owned. Previously I had an Integra GSR, an FRS, a ram 1500 Hemi. Along side the M2 I also have an ecodiesel 1500.

The m2 is a car I plan on keeping for ever. Heck, with how balls deep in mods I am I will financially loose my ass if I were to part it out or sell it. Plus one of the biggest things I love about the m2 is that it is so highly regarded as a drivers car that it gets respect from all types of car owners. Some of my filthy rich customers even respect the car because they know what a beast it is.

So the m2 fell in my lap if you will. Before I bought it I really didn't know much about them. I just knew they were super capable. But I didn't realize that my car was arguably the best year with all the good factory goodies. It's a sapphire black LCI executive package manual car that was originally a euro delivery. I am the 3rd owner and bought it with roughly 2k miles.

Any time I work on someone's car I tell them "if you ever want to sell it I'll buy your car for a dollar". It usually yields a good laugh and people go one their merry way. But Phillip the previous owner of my car took me serious enough to reach out to me. It was perfect timing too because I just had two Hockenhiem silver M2C roll through my shop and I was very close to buying a brand new one! The deal for my car was sweet though and I already knew the car because I had previously wrapped it in PPF. So I knew it was 95% flawless and that Phillip was as meticulous as I am. He drove the car down to my town about a 4 hour drive one Saturday morning and we signed the documents and she was mine!

My goal with the m2 is to slowly transition it to a track weapon while retaining some street legality. I also want to hit 500 wheel HP and have been stock piling parts to make that happen!

One thing that deserves a major shoutout is a great customer and friend of mine, James. James has had many cars through my shop and is an all around car guy like me. One morning we were shooting the stuff and I was telling him about CAE Race shifters. Later that day while working on his new car he texted me a screen shot of a CAE order and simply said "happy birthday, this is for you". James bought me a CAE kit for the m2!! This was by far the nicest thing a customer has ever done for me! I will forever think about him with every gearshift from now on! I should also mention I am a DIEHARD manual driver!

I will continually edit this post to keep the modifications and build up to date.

Current mods!!

Engine-
Vrsf CL DP
Turner carbon intake
Bm3 OTS stage 2 tune
Dinan resonator delete
Wagner Evo 3 with full piping
Pure stage 2
Turbosmart BOV
Dorch stage 2
Precision race work LPFP
Evolution of speed EKP replace
CSF oil cooler
Do88 aux radiator
NKG Cooler plugs

Brakes-
Hawk DTC track pads
ECS braided lines
Motul 600v fluid
Custom made by me front brake cooling ducts

Suspension-
Kw Clubsport 3 ways
Spl tension arm
Spl front sway bar link
SPL rear toe arm
Spl rear upper arms
HR front sway bar
Ground control front camber plates
Corner balanced -3 front camber -1.9 rear

Exterior-
M performance black grills and fender trim
Axceon rear reflector delete
M performance carbon diffuser
M performance carbon wing
Cyba carbon exhaust tips
BBS RIA gold wheels. 18s (I forget the offsets)
Bridgestone RE71RS 265/275
Lightweight front lip-I like the way it looks but it's kinda a POS. Will be ditching it for a carbon race splitter one day.
Carbon M mirror clones

Interior-
Sparco Evo L (I'm 6'4" 220 lbs of muscle)
Schroth ASM profi 2 harnesses
TC design In NorCal bolt in 4pt cage
CAE race shifter
Back seat delete
Custom back seat delete carbon panels made by me.
Macht Schnell brackets and sliders
Pedal Haus pedal set
Red start button from IND
Escort 360c Max
CarPlay
Arwon vent gauge
M-performance electric steering wheel/carbon trim


Coming soon or parts I have in my possession I'm holding to install all together.
Pure turbo up pipe
FTP boost pipe
Wagner Evo3
Dorch stage 2
EOS LPFP controller
Precision race works LPFP

Coming soon-

AEM water/meth
Custom tune

Another HUGE mod in the works is that a great friend of mine and master leather man is reupholstering the sparco seats. We're doing Dakota grain real leather and anthercite alcantara with polar blue sticking. We're also having "m performance" embroidered into the headrest to complete the BMW skunkworks look!

I should also add that all the mods are installer and done by me! I am very ocd and like to do my own wrenching. Every time I pay someone to work on my cars it's never done to my standards.

Any questions feel free to ask! I'm very busy so I'll try to keep things updated.
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      11-26-2020, 05:27 PM   #2
AWC-F87
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Some Pics of the car
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      11-26-2020, 05:30 PM   #3
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Pics are being stubborn
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      11-26-2020, 05:31 PM   #4
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CAE and seats
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      11-26-2020, 07:46 PM   #5
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Sweet build! Those CAE shifters are legit!!
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      11-26-2020, 08:15 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SBobS View Post
Sweet build! Those CAE shifters are legit!!
Thanks man! I can't wait to get the new cage In this week. The pic of it in the car was a test fit before we welded in the weld nuts and plates in the back. The cage just got back from powder coat. And I'm working on making my back seat delete panel out of carbon fiber. Once the panel is cut and fits I'll bolt everything in for the last time. Hopefully the seats will be done with reupholstery in the next week or so.

The CAE is amazing. I highly recommend it for anyone with a manual. The install was easy. Took me 4 hours by myself. Hardest part was Getting the old shift shoe aluminum thing out. Some stuff is tight. But with 2 long flat head screw drivers I was able to poke around and get it done. I kinda hacked the hole in the cup holder. But I'm not too concerned with it. I just made it larger than needed.

They way that thing clicks into gears is beautiful
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      11-26-2020, 11:40 PM   #7
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Well done!
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      11-27-2020, 01:19 AM   #8
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Well done!
Thanks man! Much more to come! Definitely can't thank this forum enough!!
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      11-27-2020, 06:27 PM   #9
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I initially was going to go with CAE and most likely will but I wanted to try the PSDesigns shifter and so far it's not bad. Main reason I wanted to try this was no reverse lockout and the I didn't have to trim a thing during install.

With your CAE, I know you have to trim part of the console but did you have to trim anything to clear the front area where the USB plug would be in the cup holder area?

Great progress on the car btw!
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      11-27-2020, 09:15 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ebisu8 View Post
I initially was going to go with CAE and most likely will but I wanted to try the PSDesigns shifter and so far it's not bad. Main reason I wanted to try this was no reverse lockout and the I didn't have to trim a thing during install.

With your CAE, I know you have to trim part of the console but did you have to trim anything to clear the front area where the USB plug would be in the cup holder area?

Great progress on the car btw!
+1 on this question, I'm interested in buying a CAE but I'm a little hesitant because I would prefer not to cut anything.
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      11-27-2020, 09:24 PM   #11
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The CAE shifter definitely requires trimming. I'd say more than the instructions call for.

So if you look up the instructions it's very clear once the center console is removed what you need to cut. It's like the lower frame thing in the console. You also have to cut about 2 inches out of the metal bracket that spans across the front of the plastic you cut.

The USB in the cup holder was an issue. I ended up removing the electrical guys/plug from the black trim piece and wiring it through the hole I cut in the cup holder. Then put the black trim piece back in the square hole to act as a "trim" piece. I'll probably Make a carbon block off plate for the factory hole and relocate the USB plug and black trim in front of the cup holder.

Lastly right in front of the shifter in the cup holder assembly is a 3" long black rectangle thing with a plug. I had to relocate that to the side and zip tie it to the main wire harness. I saw a few of those black box things in the console. I think they sense the key but I'm not 100% sure. The mount on the cup holder assembly that the black box mounts too had to get trimmed quite a bit.

The install is very easy past the trimming. And honestly aside from the cup holder hole if you had to go back to stock and ditch the car, the next guy would never know you cut stuff up. Everything still mounts rock solid.
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      11-27-2020, 09:26 PM   #12
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Here's how I cut the main frame of the console and the black box in the rear of the console is what I'm pointing at when I took the console apart. That's just for reference. There's another black box on the cup holder piece that sits directly above the shifter. When you go to click that piece back in the black box will totally hit the shifter. So I relocated the front one and trimmed its mount beyond being able to reuse. I plan on keeping this car for life unless someone wants to pay top dollar lol. So worst case I buy the cup holder assembly again.

Definitely not a mod for the faint of heart but gosh darn is it nice!
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      11-27-2020, 10:13 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWC-F87 View Post
The CAE shifter definitely requires trimming. I'd say more than the instructions call for.

So if you look up the instructions it's very clear once the center console is removed what you need to cut. It's like the lower frame thing in the console. You also have to cut about 2 inches out of the metal bracket that spans across the front of the plastic you cut.

The USB in the cup holder was an issue. I ended up removing the electrical guys/plug from the black trim piece and wiring it through the hole I cut in the cup holder. Then put the black trim piece back in the square hole to act as a "trim" piece. I'll probably Make a carbon block off plate for the factory hole and relocate the USB plug and black trim in front of the cup holder.

Lastly right in front of the shifter in the cup holder assembly is a 3" long black rectangle thing with a plug. I had to relocate that to the side and zip tie it to the main wire harness. I saw a few of those black box things in the console. I think they sense the key but I'm not 100% sure. The mount on the cup holder assembly that the black box mounts too had to get trimmed quite a bit.

The install is very easy past the trimming. And honestly aside from the cup holder hole if you had to go back to stock and ditch the car, the next guy would never know you cut stuff up. Everything still mounts rock solid.
Ah ok thank you! Do you happen to have pictures of the cup holder area with the shifter in just so I could see what it looks like?
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      11-27-2020, 10:40 PM   #14
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@ejc I'll take one and post it here when I'm home from vacation. My hole is larger than it needs to be. So it's not a great representation lol. With a little more thought and some different sized hole saw bits I probably could have done better. Or a dremel. I need to buy a dang dremel lol. With some patience and precise dremel work then test fitting the hole doesn't need to be as large as mine. I just took a 4" cut off wheel and files to it lol. The 4" cut off wheel cuts stuff quick lol
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      11-27-2020, 10:55 PM   #15
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Similar body frame 6'4 and 200 lbs. how do you like the seat? Been debating between this and QRT R.
Good build btw. Love the brake cooling system
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      11-27-2020, 11:02 PM   #16
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Quote:
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Realized none of my exterior pics posted!
Wow the RIA's look amazing I love them but I think I'll stick with my E88's haha. Your car looks great.
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      11-27-2020, 11:10 PM   #17
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Nice work ! Love the OG
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      11-27-2020, 11:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
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Similar body frame 6'4 and 200 lbs. how do you like the seat? Been debating between this and QRT R.
Good build btw. Love the brake cooling system
If you're shaped like a stick you'll maybe fit. I have wide shoulders and the QRTR wanted to push my shoulders forward and like out of the seat. I have a 34 waist and my ass fits nicely into the seat lol. I think up to a 36 would be fine but no way anyone much bigger will fit.

Honestly I'd recommend trying to get to a race shop that stocks seats for display and just sit in them till you like the fit. It's all personal preference really.

My Evo L seats fit me perfectly after sitting in about 15 different seats.

I will say.....the quality of the foam, fabric, and stitching on the sparcos is horrible. Mind you I'm very OCD about quality. Hence why I'm having my very ocd friend reupholster the seats. I'll post here when there done.

I have a track day 12/18/20 so I'll have updated professional pics around them of the setup to date.

My front brake cooling isn't that "pretty" but it honestly seems to work well. I didn't have much of a baseline cause I did brake cooling before the first ever track day. But coming off of big willow and streets of willow I can touch the caliper for a few seconds without frying my finger tips. So I think it's working lol 😝 we'll see as time goes on and I log more events this winter.
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      11-28-2020, 12:18 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWC-F87 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fabb View Post
Similar body frame 6'4 and 200 lbs. how do you like the seat? Been debating between this and QRT R.
Good build btw. Love the brake cooling system
If you're shaped like a stick you'll maybe fit. I have wide shoulders and the QRTR wanted to push my shoulders forward and like out of the seat. I have a 34 waist and my ass fits nicely into the seat lol. I think up to a 36 would be fine but no way anyone much bigger will fit.

Honestly I'd recommend trying to get to a race shop that stocks seats for display and just sit in them till you like the fit. It's all personal preference really.

My Evo L seats fit me perfectly after sitting in about 15 different seats.

I will say.....the quality of the foam, fabric, and stitching on the sparcos is horrible. Mind you I'm very OCD about quality. Hence why I'm having my very ocd friend reupholster the seats. I'll post here when there done.

I have a track day 12/18/20 so I'll have updated professional pics around them of the setup to date.

My front brake cooling isn't that "pretty" but it honestly seems to work well. I didn't have much of a baseline cause I did brake cooling before the first ever track day. But coming off of big willow and streets of willow I can touch the caliper for a few seconds without frying my finger tips. So I think it's working lol 😝 we'll see as time goes on and I log more events this winter.
Have you tried the recaro SPG XL? I've heard it's also gearing towards bigger person and also being recaro, the overall quality would be better.

I did tried both QRT R and EVO L. You are absolutely right about the shoulder bolstering. Also leaning towards the EVO but feel like being on track, tighter bolstering will be somehow advantageous.. it's a trade off for comfort with performance indeed
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      11-28-2020, 10:06 AM   #20
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I don't feel with the Evo that I compromised bolster hold at all. Once I'm harnessed in I don't move at all.
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      12-02-2020, 05:37 AM   #21
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Awesome car and build progress so far! Why do you say that the lightweight front lip is a POS? Just wondering
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      12-02-2020, 12:16 PM   #22
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Quote:
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Awesome car and build progress so far! Why do you say that the lightweight front lip is a POS? Just wondering
I think the way it mounts to the car is weak and janky. I think over 140mph on track there's an honest chance it may rip off lol. It's great for scrape protection though. Cause it's cheap and I don't care if it scraps instead on the bumper. So I love that aspect.
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