A nice clean car needs a legit set of wheels and at the very minimum some quality coilovers. So I went ahead and contacted BC Racing and ordered myself a set of coilovers for my Mini Cooper. After installing the new kit, I was very disappointed with the overall ride height. It was nowhere near to how low I had planned on going. I then proceeded and contacted BC again to order myself a custom kit. After weeks of constant emailing, I became the first Mini Cooper owner with an extreme drop kit.

A little over a month after installing the custom kit, I started to realize that Mini Coopers are not so welcoming to being slammed out. In the span of five weeks I broke three axles. At this point, I knew there was only one solution to this problem… Air Ride!

I took a road trip with some friends to the edge of Canada just to pick up this set of super rare ACT SX RONALS. My name is Justin Juarez, and this is my toy.

2003 Mini Cooper S
Modifications & Specs
Suspension
Universal air aerosport fronts on vmaxx coils
Airlift aos medium rears
Accuair 5 gallon tank
400c viar compressor
Autopilot v2 management
Custom made camber plates
Alta Adjustable end-links

Wheels
Three piece ACT SX RONALS
16×8.25 4×100
195 40 16 Yokohama S Drives

Performance
Rebuilt Mini Cooper S supercharger
MADNESS cold air intake
Invidia performance exhaust

Interior
VAC Motorworks Quick release and hub
Nardi Deep dish Steering wheel
JCW Shift Knob

Exterior
John Cooper Works front grill
1st generation projector headlights

I have never been a fan of following the crowd in terms of car modifications, always had my own idea of how I wanted my cars to look. In fact, every BMW I have owned to date has been featured in a magazine so I thought I must be doing something right.

I always had this concept in my mind but finding the wheels and a suitable suspension would prove to be very difficult. After four years, I finally found a set of Genuine AC Schnitzer type 2′s with the correct widths and offsets. Following on from this I knew if I wanted the car to look perfect I had to go really low. I already owned a set of BC Racing Coilovers fitted to the car, so I decided to wind them down as far as possible to see what it would look like. Unfortunately, I ended up needing arch work and it was very impractical to drive that low.

I considered air suspension at one point until I was challenged to tryout something perhaps more unique, hydraulic suspension. Upon contacting several recognized hydraulic manufacturers they said it would not work for this platform and persuaded me instead to go on air. I strongly refused; my engi neering degree encouraged me to contact modifying legend here in Northern Ireland, John Peden. John started to work on the arches until it was decided what could be done with the suspen sion. A week later I decided to continue with the project and gave John the go to order the kit, optimistic we could make it fit.

Approximately five weeks later, John finally managed to make it work perfect with an enormous amount of modifications and late nights. A major part of the build had been completed.

Vehicle Information: 2002 BMW 330ci sport
Modifications & Specs: E46 330ci sport 
Genuine AC Schnitzer Mirrors
Rayvern Hydraulic Suspension kit- Custom fitting and brackets and shocks. 
BC Racing BR Series top mounts modified to suit hydraulics
18″ Genuine AC Schnitzer type 2′s et 15 and et 22. Federal tyres 225/35/18s all round. stretched rears to fit inside arches
K&N closed air intake with heatshield and pipework
LED Rears
LED Licence Plate lights
Smoked Depo Corners
Carbon fibre front grills, splitters, Carbon interior trim, Carbon fibre bmw badges
Hartge back box with custom stainless steeel cat back section
Arches rolled and flared
UUC clutch
Clutch Delay Valve removed
Custom stainless steel manifold
Custom remap
Standard audio with iPod connection

Unfortunately, a few months later the motor blew a seal. However, Chris took the opportunity to throw in a fresh engine and a manual transmission. After several unforeseen situations, Chris was able to finally get it running smoothly and completed the build with an enormous amount of mods and a single turbo conversion. His car has come a long way after 4 years, but thanks to his perseverance and enthusiasm he has prevailed. Without a doubt one of the cleanest FD’s we have ever come across.

Modifications
Engine
Larger street port 2mm super seals
Braced oil pan
Banzai Racing block off plate kit
Banzai racing OMP elimination block off kit
Polyurethane motor mounts
Spec stage 3, 6 puck clutch
Resurfaced flywheel
Underdrive pulley kit
Garrett T04z dual ball bearing water and oil cooled turbo
T4 manifold
Custom downpipe and midpipe
Tial 44mm wastegate
All lines and fittings
Greddy RS BOV
Custom Vmount intercooler and radiator set up from Ben at www.rotaryextreme.com
Greddy elbow
Pettit AST Oil catch can
Greddy full titanium cat back
KGparts fuel rail
Bosch 1680cc secondary injectors
Modified OEM primary rails and OEM 550cc primary injectors
Aeromotive FPR walbro 255 fuel pump
HKS twin power w/harness
Apex’i Power FC
HKS fuel cut controller
Battery Relocation kit
Greddy boost controller
Greddy turbo timer
Prosport Premium EGT gauge
Prosport Boost gauge
Prosport Wideband Kit with 0-5 data log-it

Exterior
99 spec front lip
99 spec tail lights
Shine auto side steps
Shine auto street diffuser

Wheels and Tires
18×9.5 +22 and 18×10.5 +22 Volk Te37SL’s
Hankook vents v12 evos

Suspension
Fortune Auto 500 series coilovers

Interior
Minty OEM leather

Photography by Chris Sempek

He upgraded the turbo to a vf39 with supporting mods, making around 400whp and 400wtrq on a gt35r. By the end of this summer he plans to finish the engine and make well over 500whp. Of course he had to upgrade the tranny to an STI 6 speed in order to handle the extra amount of power. After seeing how his buddies car sat, he started to contemplate the idea of fitting it aggressively but keeping it functional.

Immediately, he got to work and picked up a set of Megan coilovers, maxed out the fronts and dropped the rears to match. “I have always loved deep dish rims” he says. That explains the 18×10 Works XD9′s all around. It was fitting the tires under the fenders where it became difficult because he did not want to stretch the tires. After pulling and shaving the inside rear fenders, he was able to get them to fit by dialing the camber to -4.6. You gotta pay to play, that is the name of this game.

Photography by Branden Chung & Peter Tran

Engine
FMS Top Mount Intercooler
8mm Phenolic Spacers
Cobb Tuning Intake
950cc Deatschwerk Injectors
TGV Ported ATP GT35r
Cobb Catted Downpipe
Ebay Catback
Hybrid Boost Controller
Samco 3in inlet
DW 300LPH FP
Ebay Turbo Blanket
2007 STI 6-Speed Transmission
R180 Rear Diff STI drive shaft
Hybrid axles in the rear to fit the WRX
5×100 hubs Universal DCCD controller

Exterior
ChargeSpeed Replica Front Lip
02-05WRX Side Skirts

Wheels and tires
18×10 + 38 Works XD9
15mm Ichiba v2 spacers in the rear 5mm spacers in the front
255/35-18 Federal SS-595 tires all around

Suspension
Megan Street Coils
Rear Spec camber bolts

Interior
AEM UEGO
TurboXs Knock Light
ProSport Pyrometer
Autometer Boost Gauge
Autometer Oil Pressure
STI Gauge Cluster
DCCD Controller

Nathan bought his car early in 2010 without even seeing it through a broker who had it shipped from Tennessee. Prior to his purchase, he had already owned a MKIV 12V Jetta. Nathan says he fell in love with the MKV chassis and the customizable options available. Understanding how common the MKV platform has turned out to be, he was destined to attempt something different.

Nathan started with a cup kit before going on air and has owned numerous sets of wheels. Everything from BLQ’s, True AMG’s (that never saw the car), and a set of DPE’s. Eventually he picked up a set of Gotti’s from a local friend and sent them to get re-drilled to fit. He also had them powdercoated mirror bronze to change things a bit. It was the history behind these wheels that attracted Nathan the most. Unlike the 99% of the wheels we see today, Gotti’s are quite special. In Nathan’s own words, “Mine are Circa 1992 and were originally imported from France (I tracked down the PO twice over). They originally were 17×8 square and now sit 17×8/10. The rear lips (3″) were custom made (only 30 bolt holes).”

Nathan says that the HRDPRKR tag was actually an inside joke due to a lovely dent he got from owning the car the first few weeks. After $300 and a few days in the shop, things got sorted out but needless to say… rain, snow, or shine he says he chooses his parking spots very carefully.

Photography by Kevin Kauffman

He stumbled across this S2000 the very next day he sold the G35. It was the preferred color of choice and it also had low miles, exactly what he was looking for. Immediately, he ordered a set of CCW’s and a suspension kit. After the Winter, Anthony started driving the car again on a daily basis but wasn’t really convinced on the final setup. Being a professional automotive painter at a body shop, he did his own bodywork by pulling and smoothing the fenders. He also took the time to clean the car up a bit and then painted it himself to finish it off.

The interior also undertook a slight overhaul with a set of new seats and some minor changes here and there. Trying to keep things fresh and instead of rocking the plain Jane polished CCW’s, he went with a wild Copper finish which instantly amazed him (and us). He has big plans for the future including a full shaved bay, a sound system, and perhaps even a full color change. Props to Anthony for making Copper look good!

Modifications
Exterior
Factory red base coat
PPG red pearl mid coat
PPG dc4000 clear coat
Full wet sand and polish
Pulled and shaved fenders and quarters
Shaved trunk key hole
Shaved hood squirters
Shaved bumpers front and rear
(toe hook covers, and plate holes)

Wheels and Tires
CCW LM20′s Polished lips and Copper plated centers
F18x11 – 4 inch lips and falken 912 (235 35 18)
R18x11.5 – 4.5 inch lips. falken 452 (245 35 18)
Project kics neo chrome lugs

Suspension
BC Coilovers
Front cambers at -4.2 Rear cambers at – 5.5

Interior
Red seats
NRG quick release
Nardi 330mm wood grain wheel

Special thanks to Limitless Promo and those who have helped.

Photography by Steve Florio

For two years Drew has been juggling four jobs in order to make his dream come true. At sixteen, he purchased his first car and from there he worked his way up the chain buying and selling parts and cars until he achieved what you see in this post; arguably a perfect BMW. He rolls an aggressive 18×10 up front and 18×12 at the rear, while inside the hood a VF Engineering Supercharger helps out just a little bit when he wants to make it go.

Drew’s M3 simply put is fully loaded! It features a Vorsteiner Carbon Fiber Hood, a Vorsteiner V-CSL front bumper, a Seibon carbon fiber CSL trunk, Magnaflow Pipes, Khoalty Halo Headlights, AC Schnitzer black carbon full interior kit, and the list goes on and on… and on. The list is so long it is being left off purposely, just take a look at the pictures and they should say enough on how well-built this car really is.

The day of the photo-shoot, Drew picked me up out on Alki Beach in West Seattle and as he rolled up a huge crowd gathered on the sidewalk breaking necks. I ran with my camera in hand and sat in the Sparco Roadster racing seats. Immediately as we drove off I was launched back in the seat, giving me a taste of true BMW performance. I knew this Lamborghini Telestial Gray E46 M3 Coupe was a winning combination of stance and function, making it one of the cleanest rides in the Pacific Northwest, hands Down.

Photography by Jonathan Black

Modifications
Exterior
Full HFP Body Kit
Chrome Door Handles
M3 Roof Spoiler
OEM Lip Spoiler
Debadged Rear

Interior
Clazzio Seat Covers
Junction Produce Accessories

Lighting
DDM 35W 6000K HID Kit
Trend Gear Fog Lights
Amber Reflector Delete

Wheels Tires:
Work Schwert SC-2
20×9+12
20×10+7 (W/ 5mm Spacer)
Nankang NS-II
225/35/20
235/35/20

Suspension
Megan EZ Sreet Coilovers
SPC 3-Arm Camber Kit

Photography by Xavier Beso

When he first got the xB, he was sporting BBS RS wheels which were 15 x 8.5 in the front with a -8 offset and 15 x 9.5 in the rear with a -21 offset. These wheels & specs weren’t up to par with his standards, so being the guy he is to push the limits on things, he went and got a set of CCW Classics and painted them championship white with polished lips. These wheels were 16 x 10 -22 all around. For suspension he decided on Universal Air and added some flair with rolled/pulled fenders, -4 camber in the front and -8 camber in the rear. Along with the Universal Air Suspension, he was running Ksport coilovers. The air setup featured a 5 gallon tank and a 440 VIA air compressor. An all around sweet and aggressive looking box, definitely making a statement in the Aloha State.

“Shout-out to my Mansu family, who I am currently rolling with for about 4 years now”.

Photography by Sean Perez (SPhoto)

I have found that German car enthusiasts to be a lot more tight nit group and more family like than a lot of others. It was definitely noticed here. It is nice to see a lot of familiar faces after, what always seems to be, a long winter. The great thing about this event is you get a good mix of classic and new cars. You get owners of all types, which makes for a very diverse show. I think that is the best way to make the car community grow. You will get different perspectives, which can create new ideas for your own car. The ride down for me was nearly a 4 1/2 hour drive there and back, which I was lucky enough to find a ride after having some issues, and I will most definitely be going back next year. I met some new people, got to hang out with some of my friends who are scattered around parts of the Midwest, and got to see some amazing cars. If this is the first you are hearing of the event, I highly recommend trying to attend next year.

 Photography by Kevin Kauffman