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Investigating The Apex
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E82 BMW 128i
Detailing the journey of my E82 BMW 128i.


The 128i Finds Its Footing with Apex Wheels and Falken RT660+ Tires
New Shoes for the 128i – Apex ARC-8s and RT660+ Tires Installed If you’ve been following along, you know I’ve been slowly but surely...
Brandon Meadows
Apr 62 min read
23 views
0 comments

BMW Nannies, Be Gone: Coding My 128i for Track Life with ProTool
I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not a big fan of being told how to run my life. The occasional well-meaning nudge? Sure. But full-on...
Brandon Meadows
Apr 47 min read
370 views
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Braking Bad: Upgrading the 128i for Track Duty
Like many of you, I enjoy driving fast—revving the engine to redline, nailing the perfect driving line, and feeling the car rotate...
Brandon Meadows
Mar 2910 min read
75 views
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Dialing in the Tilt: Camber Plate Install on My 128i
With the 128i getting prepped for some track time, it’s time to dial in a bit of negative camber to save the front tires from premature...
Brandon Meadows
Mar 246 min read
34 views
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Keeping Your Cool: Installing an Oil Cooler on the E82 128i
Do you love tracking your car? Hitting every apex just right, nailing the perfect throttle application on corner exit, and feeling the...
Brandon Meadows
Mar 2018 min read
539 views
1 comment

Baffling the Baffle: My DIY N52 Oil Pan Saga
It's been a long journey getting this pile of bolts ready for track duty. Want to know one of the things I love most about this little...
Brandon Meadows
Mar 1015 min read
298 views
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The Things I'll Do for 2mm of Headroom: Lowering the Stock Seats
To set a baseline lap time, I need to take my 128i out to High Plains Raceway. But there’s one small hitch: before I can start turning...
Brandon Meadows
Dec 3, 20243 min read
39 views
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Tightening Up the Suspension: Bilstein B12 Cup Kit and Rear Subframe Inserts
After ditching the run-flats and installing the new Continental tires, I quickly realized just how squishy the worn-out OEM sport...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 29, 20249 min read
84 views
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New Rubber, Perfect Pressure: Installing Tires and Dialing in the PSI
As the 128i had been nursed back to full health and become fun to drive, I found myself driving it regularly, pitching it around with the...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 29, 20244 min read
40 views
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Time to Up the Power: 3-Stage Intake Manifold, Euro Airbox and Tune- with Dynos!
[In my best Bruce Buffer voice]: Finally, IT'S TIME! The moment we’ve all been waiting for—the day the N52B30-powered 128i gets the...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 28, 202414 min read
160 views
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Shifting Gears: Upgrading Precision and Performance
You know what really grinds my gears? Literally grinding a gear because of my own ham-fisted buffoonery when I botch a shift. The fine...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 28, 20247 min read
65 views
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Fixing Water Leaks and Closing the Trunk!
When I bought the 128i, I considered myself lucky. I mean, what are the odds of buying a 15-year-old N52-powered BMW and not finding any...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 28, 20246 min read
28 views
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Aesthetic Overhaul: Making It Look as Good as It Runs
At this point, the car was running extremely well. The powertrain felt great. The N52 engine, while not a powerhouse, is incredibly...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 27, 20243 min read
36 views
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Solving the Mystery of the Wandering E82
At this point, the powertrain had been fully serviced. Nearly all the codes in the DME were gone, the motor and transmission felt...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 26, 20247 min read
36 views
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Clearing Lights, Catching up on Deferred Maintenance and Crossing Fingers
When I bought this little nugget of a BMW, I received no maintenance history to speak of, in addition to the plethora of painfully...
Brandon Meadows
Nov 25, 20248 min read
46 views
0 comments


Bringing a Battered E82 BMW 128i Back to Life
Some people struggle with drugs, alcohol, or gambling. Me? Well, I think the first step is admitting that I have a problem with cars....
Brandon Meadows
Nov 24, 20244 min read
71 views
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