Motortrend's Cars - Gojira
- Thread starter motortrend
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- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Yeah I went with 10mm spacers and 275s would be sticking out with these tires. i even tried the 10mm in the back and they would rub under full compression. Good thing about 265s over 275s is also that with the sidewall being a tad stretched they respond faster, which is important to me in the front wheels.
I got it refinished locally, they say it's one of the hardest jobs they have done. They're not 100% perfect but for $450 for all 4 it can't be beat IMO
CAMAROBOY69
Premium
- 18,567
- Michigan
- CAMAROBOY69
Just when I didn't think your car could get much better......THAT happened.So I finally got the wheels back thursday. Gave them a good coating of sealant friday, got them mounted on the tires saturday and on the car sunday.
How does it feel? Well, even better than I thought. The front has much more cushion now which means less vibration and road imperfections transmitted to the steering wheel (this is a very good thing, the wheel was shaking like crazy before). Turn in and rotation is absolutely amazing, response is very good being a 265 on a 9.5. The rear lost a bit of grip but the tires are new so I'll reserve judegement until 300 miles from now. The steering is not heavier at all.
Got the car aligned today as well, FR has nearly 1.5 degrees of camber which means my strut is pretty much gone. Car feels good though, but the struts are most definitely the next expensive item to be changed out, hopefully by the end of the year.
Washed the car, took some pics. Not that great since I didn't have much time, the camera was set to auto (haven't played around with it much) and I didn't have my tripod. Also shouldn't have gone with the 55-200 since the space was pretty confined.
Still have no centercaps, will be on by the end of the week.
DSC_0031 by josegt5, on Flickr
DSC_0032 by josegt5, on Flickr
DSC_0034 by josegt5, on Flickr
DSC_0035 by josegt5, on Flickr
DSC_0038 by josegt5, on Flickr
DSC_0039 by josegt5, on Flickr
DSC_0041 by josegt5, on Flickr
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
I like them as well, if I don't get the OEM ones at the price I want I'm keeping these, but I do prefer the OEM grills just a tad more like the car is currently. I might just paint mine gloss black and keep them, not sure yet.
Just when I didn't think your car could get much better......THAT happened.
thanks!
Cano
Premium
- 20,758
- Cephiro
This.
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Not much to report. Finally got the OEM grills. One of them has a broken tab which I'll be fixing this weekend but can't go wrong for $40 for the pair
I have to say I like this look a lot more, the car looks newer and more elegant.
Car drank some fluids. 1 Liter for about 6-7K miles is not bad. Going to get an oil change on friday probably.
Got a leaf blower to dry the car. Cleaned it nicely and polished some areas afterwards. Then used some chemical guys Jet Seal and it came out great
I have to say I like this look a lot more, the car looks newer and more elegant.
Car drank some fluids. 1 Liter for about 6-7K miles is not bad. Going to get an oil change on friday probably.
Got a leaf blower to dry the car. Cleaned it nicely and polished some areas afterwards. Then used some chemical guys Jet Seal and it came out great
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Fun stuff first:
Been using the car a lot lately without a single problem *knocks on wood*. Anyway, had one of the best days this year last saturday. I started off going to a morning meet with a group, where we were supposed to depart to a race track in group and run some go karts. Here's a video of the initial meet-up.
Now you might notice something different about the cars at the end of the video. This is because as we set off, a small group (me included) were ahead of most of the pack so we stopped on the shoulder to wait for them. As we were stopped a group of Porsches, GTRs, Ferraris, Corvettes etc. went flying by so I said 🤬 it I'm following these guys. Needless to say, following a 997 turbo, a 430 spider, an SRT jeep and a few others down a pretty empty highway is extremely fun. We then stopped at a monument, I only saw a small amount of people from the initial group I was with but I coincidentally knew a few people from this other group so I decided to stay with them. Here's a few pics of the first stop:
This is my friend's M coupe:
After that we blasted off towards a place to eat called "El Platanar" and during that trip I discovered my car is about as fast as a Z4M coupe and can keep up with a few cars at speed. After eating we went through this awesome route which is part of a "panoramic" set of roads. This was the best part of the journey, some nice tight hairpins as well as some wider and higher speed corners. However, almost never over 60mph and very safe with no houses/people/businesses around until the end. Here it is highlighted:
And without the highlight to show it better
It was about 10 minutes of very good fun, I was following a 997 C2S that had a GoPro pointing backwards so I'll post that if I ever find it.
After reaching the top we rested and talked for a while. I sat in a lotus exige, which is way lower and smaller than I imagined, though I surprisingly fit inside with headroom to spare. Still, I'd feel nearly claustrophobic driving that after my car.
After the rest I headed back down with my friend in the Z4 in front, but the spirited driving ended since there was more traffic and it was getting late.
All-in-all fantastic day.
I also gave the car a good full detail a few days prior to the event, love LMB nice and polished:
The springs arrived, Bought the rest off the parts for the strut change and ordered the struts, should be installing them early next year since they should probably arrive a little after the holidays. I'll be installing a plastic part in the engine bay firewall during the week so I'll post pictures of that when it gets done.
Been using the car a lot lately without a single problem *knocks on wood*. Anyway, had one of the best days this year last saturday. I started off going to a morning meet with a group, where we were supposed to depart to a race track in group and run some go karts. Here's a video of the initial meet-up.
Now you might notice something different about the cars at the end of the video. This is because as we set off, a small group (me included) were ahead of most of the pack so we stopped on the shoulder to wait for them. As we were stopped a group of Porsches, GTRs, Ferraris, Corvettes etc. went flying by so I said 🤬 it I'm following these guys. Needless to say, following a 997 turbo, a 430 spider, an SRT jeep and a few others down a pretty empty highway is extremely fun. We then stopped at a monument, I only saw a small amount of people from the initial group I was with but I coincidentally knew a few people from this other group so I decided to stay with them. Here's a few pics of the first stop:
This is my friend's M coupe:
After that we blasted off towards a place to eat called "El Platanar" and during that trip I discovered my car is about as fast as a Z4M coupe and can keep up with a few cars at speed. After eating we went through this awesome route which is part of a "panoramic" set of roads. This was the best part of the journey, some nice tight hairpins as well as some wider and higher speed corners. However, almost never over 60mph and very safe with no houses/people/businesses around until the end. Here it is highlighted:
And without the highlight to show it better
It was about 10 minutes of very good fun, I was following a 997 C2S that had a GoPro pointing backwards so I'll post that if I ever find it.
After reaching the top we rested and talked for a while. I sat in a lotus exige, which is way lower and smaller than I imagined, though I surprisingly fit inside with headroom to spare. Still, I'd feel nearly claustrophobic driving that after my car.
After the rest I headed back down with my friend in the Z4 in front, but the spirited driving ended since there was more traffic and it was getting late.
All-in-all fantastic day.
I also gave the car a good full detail a few days prior to the event, love LMB nice and polished:
The springs arrived, Bought the rest off the parts for the strut change and ordered the struts, should be installing them early next year since they should probably arrive a little after the holidays. I'll be installing a plastic part in the engine bay firewall during the week so I'll post pictures of that when it gets done.
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Struts arrived and that same day I took it to the shop to get them installed along with the springs:
They were installed in a couple of days along with new rear pads. front rotors/pads are up next.
The springs lowered the car considerably in the rear but the front stayed about the same since the struts were blown and the suspension was lower than it should. It may get a little lower in the front with time. Anyway, here it is after an alignment it got a few hours ago:
I also put on some 3mm spacers I had laying around but I am getting some slight rubbing under full compression on the left side.
Thing is, it is aligned to -1.65 degrees of camber on both sides and I assume the same toe (forgot to ask) yet on the right side there is about 3-5mm of space between the fender and the tire on the same places it rubs on the other side. It doesn't look like it's the toe because it is spaced pretty evenly on both sides. Not sure what to do know. Maybe remove spacers or I could get the fender rolled at that spot. Suggestions?
They were installed in a couple of days along with new rear pads. front rotors/pads are up next.
The springs lowered the car considerably in the rear but the front stayed about the same since the struts were blown and the suspension was lower than it should. It may get a little lower in the front with time. Anyway, here it is after an alignment it got a few hours ago:
I also put on some 3mm spacers I had laying around but I am getting some slight rubbing under full compression on the left side.
Thing is, it is aligned to -1.65 degrees of camber on both sides and I assume the same toe (forgot to ask) yet on the right side there is about 3-5mm of space between the fender and the tire on the same places it rubs on the other side. It doesn't look like it's the toe because it is spaced pretty evenly on both sides. Not sure what to do know. Maybe remove spacers or I could get the fender rolled at that spot. Suggestions?
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Made it to 90K!!
So the springs/struts have settled and the car is a tad lower now, pretty much perfect for my tastes right now, hope it doesn't go any lower:
Untitled by josegt5, on Flickr
Untitled by josegt5, on Flickr
Feeling some online fame because I got featured on an exotics page
Untitled by josegt5, on Flickr
Finally got the brakes installed, slotted stoptechs with Hawk HPS pads. Right now they are gripping about as much as the ones I had (will probably improve) but with much less dust and they are grabbing higher since the old discs were shot. I've already done some high speed braking and the system performed flawlessly without leaving any pad deposit or marks on the disc.
Untitled by josegt5, on Flickr
Changed out this engine bay piece which is a common problem on these cars:
And got to detailing like 1/4 of the car since it was washed incorrectly and some swirls were installed (not mad though, the shop was just being courteous)
Untitled by josegt5, on Flickr
So the springs/struts have settled and the car is a tad lower now, pretty much perfect for my tastes right now, hope it doesn't go any lower:
Untitled by josegt5, on FlickrUntitled by josegt5, on FlickrFeeling some online fame because I got featured on an exotics page
Untitled by josegt5, on FlickrFinally got the brakes installed, slotted stoptechs with Hawk HPS pads. Right now they are gripping about as much as the ones I had (will probably improve) but with much less dust and they are grabbing higher since the old discs were shot. I've already done some high speed braking and the system performed flawlessly without leaving any pad deposit or marks on the disc.
Untitled by josegt5, on FlickrChanged out this engine bay piece which is a common problem on these cars:
And got to detailing like 1/4 of the car since it was washed incorrectly and some swirls were installed (not mad though, the shop was just being courteous)
Untitled by josegt5, on Flickr
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- 6,041
- Puget Sound
- Crash852
Changed out this engine bay piece which is a common problem on these cars:
Did you have to remove the whole cowling piece underneath the wiper pivots and arms?
Also, part number?
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
Nope, just the cabin filter boxes and tubes. Used this DIY, part numbers are there:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e3...ll-covers.html#/forumsite/20552/topics/326522
Ibonibo
Premium
- 5,440
- Luxemburg
- Already paying my Isp 4 Access
Thing is, it is aligned to -1.65 degrees of camber on both sides and I assume the same toe (forgot to ask) yet on the right side there is about 3-5mm of space between the fender and the tire on the same places it rubs on the other side. It doesn't look like it's the toe because it is spaced pretty evenly on both sides. Not sure what to do know. Maybe remove spacers or I could get the fender rolled at that spot. Suggestions?
It might be the angle of the pic, the ground,... but from that pic the symetry of the 2 wheels looks a bit off. I would look deeper into it rather than slap a spacer on one side.
Keep us updated.
Ride height looks perfect 👍
- 2,263
- Vancouver
- mr_lab_rat
Awesome car in my favourite colour. It's normal for the car to be a bit asymetrical. Don't install uneven spacers, just roll/pull one of the fenders.
Very tastefully modified.
Very tastefully modified.
DeltaDesign
(Banned)
- 8
- United States
This is the cleanest E39 I've ever seen in my life. So much hard work and dedication put into, you deserve a cookie my friend!
Odd question of the day:
What is the rev limit of the 4.9L? I've never known.
Odd question of the day:
What is the rev limit of the 4.9L? I've never known.
- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
^i believe it's 7K
@TheKitten thanks!
@mr_lab_rat yeah the mechanic told me that it's normal, i'm afraid the fenders will get a flare if I get them pulled/rolled so after i check the alignment again i'll probably just take off the 3mm spacers if the problem persists. Thank you, yours is also very clean like I said.
@TheKitten thanks!
@mr_lab_rat yeah the mechanic told me that it's normal, i'm afraid the fenders will get a flare if I get them pulled/rolled so after i check the alignment again i'll probably just take off the 3mm spacers if the problem persists. Thank you, yours is also very clean like I said.
- 2,263
- Vancouver
- mr_lab_rat
If your fenders have never been rolled the first 5mm is very safe. It will just flatten the inner side without affecting the outside shape.
And one more compliment - based on your choices I assumed you were twice your age, very mature and tasteful. When I was 20 I was still putting stickers and giant wings on a Honda
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- 4,213
- Puerto Rico
- motortrend
If your fenders have never been rolled the first 5mm is very safe. It will just flatten the inner side without affecting the outside shape.
And one more compliment - based on your choices I assumed you were twice your age, very mature and tasteful. When I was 20 I was still putting stickers and giant wings on a Honda
thanks, I still do some stupid young people stuff like burnouts and such but in open empty spaces mostly but I might just keep doing that when I'm 60 but yeah thankfully got out of the big wing honda stuff when I was like 13 playing NFS. Thing about the fender roll is that I believe these come from the factory with the fenders rolled in, and so do 540s. They are definitely rolled in now and can probably be pulled out the 3mm I need but it's risky. I'll see what the shop tells me.
- 1,301
- Pennsylvania
This thread is really making me want to go the E39 route... and I'm not mad about that.
