You know, rolling on H&R Lowering Springs for BMW E82 1-Series with a set of VMR V710 Wheels for BMW E82 spec’d at 18×8.5 / 18×9.5 wasn’t by any means a bad place to start with modding a BMW 1-Series, but after 1Fest 2015, held right here at ModAuto, Ivan got in touch with our friends and fellow 1-series enthusiasts over at Vogtland Suspension, who hooked him up with a set of Vogtland Coilovers for E82 135i to drop his 1er even more- and to compliment the drop, a new set of wheels was in order. Of course, Ivan came to our resident BMW specialist, Senior Mod Expert Alan Wei to get the car dropped “just so”.
The fitment could be tricky with the offsets of the wheels that he planned to run, so our tech Dave took extra care to make sure that we went as low as we could safely go.
Dave made quick work of installing the Vogtland Coilovers for the E82.
These feature high quality galvanized shock bodies manufactured by KW, but with shock absorbers set with Vogtland’s platform-specific settings to offer a more compliant, comfortable ride while still delivering the outstanding handling you expect of a coilover. Vogtland coilovers also feature Vogtland’s own in-house manufactured springs, set with their own specific rates specific to the 1-series, making these a coilover that really is tailored to your 1er.
What more, the president of the North American division drives a modified E82 135i herself, seen above, (she came out personally for 1Fest!) and runs Vogtland coilovers on her car. We can tell you for a fact, she can drive the hell out of that thing – so that really tells you something about their confidence in their product.
With high quality shock bodies you can trust and Vogtland‘s own parts and engineering, Vogtland coilovers have their own distinct character in comparison to other coilovers on the market that make them a really terrific choice whether you just plan to daily drive it or autocross it.
The compliant ride makes them one of the most daily-driver/street-friendly coilovers on the market, not to mention they’re also one of the most affordable- making them ideal for an enthusiast on a budget.
Here’s how the Vogtland Coilovers look installed at the rear.
If you’re wondering, Ivan’s 135i has a custom fabricated exhaust mated to a custom N55 Downpipe (both installed elsewhere) to let that 135i breathe a bit more freely. Typically a downpipe will yield a 20hp gain when tuned, and the exhaust typically yields another 10 horses, so this custom exhaust, working with a tune gets the job of a full turboback exhaust done effectively, even if it’s not the prettiest thing from below..
Power is significantly enhanced thanks to a COBB AccessPORT for N55 to get the most out of the downpipe and free flowing exhaust and the Burger Motorsports N55 Intake, giving this 1er a significant boost in power over stock.
One of our favorite details remains, the pair of Gloss Black Kidney Grilles for BMW 1-Series has been given a subtle DTM touch with the colors of the German national flag painted onto the rightmost 3 fins of the driver’s side grille.
Rolling on a set of custom white powder-coated 18 inch VMR V701s rather than the VMR V710 Wheels for E82 he was on the last time you saw him and sitting even lower on the Vogtland Coilovers for BMW 1-Series, the “PaNTYDR0PR” is certainly getting good looking enough to live up to the name.
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers
Of course, it’s only natural that Ivan would go from one set of VMR Wheels to another, though the V701 is a very different wheel than the V710, and the bold accent of the white powdercoat really makes a statement.
Check out the look for yourself in the gallery below.
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers / Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler for BMW E82
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers / Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler for BMW E82
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers / Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler for BMW E82
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers / Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler for BMW E82
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers
VMR V701 Custom White 18in Wheels / Vogtland Coilovers
With the drop even lower, the fresh wheels and the power mods all working together, Ivan – with a little help from Mod Expert Alan Wei – has given his E82 BMW 135i an even bolder look with the power to deliver on those visual promises of speed, and we can bet this little 1er is certainly going to be a neckbreaker.
Thanks to Ivan for sharing his build with us and for choosing to trust us with his install and hat tip to our friends at Vogtland Suspension for hooking Ivan up with a set of sweet coilovers.
Interested in modifying your BMW? Talk to the Mod Experts– call us at 714-582-3330 (dial x8006 for Alan)
Story & Photos Nick Gregson