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I'm really excited, so I thought I'd share my joy with the world! I finally got my Megan Racing Coilovers in and installed a couple of weeks ago. I have them set to about 1.5 inches lower than stock. The look is absolutely beautiful (as others with lowered Z's can testify)!! I also just got the Tanabe Sustec Front Under-Brace. While it's pretty close to the ground (I have scraped it a couple of times as you can see in the pics) I think that it's pretty functional.
They have 32 levels of dampening. To try them out, I went AutoX with the local BMW club (I know, funny huh?!) out at Mineral Wells Airport. I noticed the control and road feel improvement over stock immediately. It took a couple of laps to get use to the new feel, but I eventually settled down and got aggressive. As you can see, my times improved dramatically (I had a layout of the course but I seem to have misplaced it). In the hands of a more experienced driver, I'm sure my baby could have cut several more seconds off...I'm still learning the in's & out's of AutoX.
The Megan coilovers have performed fantastic on the track, and are able to adjust to "civil" level on the road. So far, no weird noises...the quality appears top-notch. Enjoy the pics!!
I just cant drive a stock Z anymore after lowering mine. I personally think a 1" drop is perfect for street but 1.5" sounds good to. You probably know but just in case make sure you go diagnally down driveways and high curve entrances. Enjoy. All Z's should be dropped IMHO.
Nice work. I like gunmetal wheels but I didn't know Volk SF Challenges came in 18's.
Yeah, I was lucky to find these...they usually come in 19's. I bought mine new from a forum member who custom ordered them from Volk...he said he couldn't afford to put rubber on them so he sold them to me...I didn't complain!
mind sharing details on how you painted your center console? looks great
Thanks for the compliments!
Center console painting process:
1) Remove entire center console
a) I assume you know how to do this...lift up on panel where the shifter is.
b) Unclip the HVAC control and unscrew the retaining screws
c) Remove all screws holding the upper console and unclip the LCD tripod.
d) Remove the stereo head-unit from the center console.
2) Tape off the sides of the console where the cubby hole is located. This will prevent unwanted overspray.
3) Using 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, sand off the surface finish (all the decorative "bumps"). I used an orbital sander for this initial sanding.
4) Follow step 3 with 1000 or 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
5) Wipe off surface with Isopropyl Alcohol.
6) Take a swig of beer! You're doing great! haha
7) I sprayed a couple of thin layers of surface paint prep adhesive.
8) In thin coats (to prevent runs), spray on plastic paint. I used Krylon Fusion gloss black (or color of choice).
9) Apply paint coats until plastic is fully covered.
10) Allow to dry thoroughly.
11) This next step is not necessary but I did it anyways: Apply several coats of clear top coat. I used Dupli-Color clear spray clear coat. Apply the last coat thicker for more of a "wet" look.
12) Allow to dry. Install console. Your Done!!!
Now, you can also use 2000 grit wet sandpaper on the final finish and then buff out using dark glaze. This will give more shine or a "glassy" look, but it takes much longer and isn't really necessary (I didn't do it).
Hope this helps ya out. Ask or PM me if you need more guidance!
Center console painting process:
1) Remove entire center console
a) I assume you know how to do this...lift up on panel where the shifter is.
b) Unclip the HVAC control and unscrew the retaining screws
c) Remove all screws holding the upper console and unclip the LCD tripod.
d) Remove the stereo head-unit from the center console.
2) Tape off the sides of the console where the cubby hole is located. This will prevent unwanted overspray.
3) Using 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper, sand off the surface finish (all the decorative "bumps"). I used an orbital sander for this initial sanding.
4) Follow step 3 with 1000 or 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
5) Wipe off surface with Isopropyl Alcohol.
6) Take a swig of beer! You're doing great! haha
7) I sprayed a couple of thin layers of surface paint prep adhesive.
8) In thin coats (to prevent runs), spray on plastic paint. I used Krylon Fusion gloss black (or color of choice).
9) Apply paint coats until plastic is fully covered.
10) Allow to dry thoroughly.
11) This next step is not necessary but I did it anyways: Apply several coats of clear top coat. I used Dupli-Color clear spray clear coat. Apply the last coat thicker for more of a "wet" look.
12) Allow to dry. Install console. Your Done!!!
Now, you can also use 2000 grit wet sandpaper on the final finish and then buff out using dark glaze. This will give more shine or a "glassy" look, but it takes much longer and isn't really necessary (I didn't do it).
Hope this helps ya out. Ask or PM me if you need more guidance!
awesome, thanks for the write up. hopefully i dont **** up:P
Thanks! Yeah, I got lucky on finding the 18" SF-Challenges. I actually bought them brand new off of another forum member who had custom ordered them from MVP Motorsports. I talked to Dusty at MVP about them and he said that the 18"s are special order from Japan...they usually come in 19"s or bigger. Anyways, the other forum member said he couldn't afford to buy tires for them and so he let me buy them off of him. Wheels, locking lugs, and carbon fiber center caps only cost me $2100 shipped! I jumped on that deal like a monkey on a banana...saved me at least 1 grand and 3 months of waiting on a custom shipment from Japan. Just goes to show what shopping on the forum can get ya!
wow I love the drop but holy crop you scrapped the **** out of that tanabe brace. I was gonna get the full set from GT-spec but now I might not (I'm dropped 1.25)
wow I love the drop but holy crop you scrapped the **** out of that tanabe brace. I was gonna get the full set from GT-spec but now I might not (I'm dropped 1.25)
Yeah, I scraped it pretty good, but that was mainly due to my own ignorance. It only scraped the lug. A 1.5" drop is pretty aggressive. I took it for a test drive once I put the Tanabe brace on but didn't think about a couple of rolling/elongated speed bumps on my street. Long story short, I scraped the peak of the bumps.... I winced when I heard it because I knew I had to go back over it to get back home...catch 22!! I've since quickly learned to be much more careful on the angle I take my steep driveway and all dips. I haven't had an issue since. I would imagine that you'll be fine with your 1.25 drop. I have heard, however, that those with the rear GT-Spec ladder brace have had more issues with scraping. You can do a thread search for GT-Spec and find them, I'm sure. Best of luck!!
Finally got my Z lowered!!!!
If you cant be Famous....be Infamous
You're doing great! haha
I winced when I heard it because I knew I had to go back over it to get back home...catch 22!! I've since quickly learned to be much more careful on the angle I take my steep driveway and all dips. I haven't had an issue since. I would imagine that you'll be fine with your 1.25 drop. I have heard, however, that those with the rear GT-Spec ladder brace have had more issues with scraping. You can do a thread search for GT-Spec and find them, I'm sure. Best of luck!!
