Hi Gang,

I'm on a quest to get in the 11s without N2O, and I think its going to take a two pronged attack. I'm already doing well in the power and traction departments, but its time to shave a few pounds. Besides, I've already developed an (undeserved) reputation for having a light weight car, I might as well live up to it. :)

In that vein I called up HP Autowerks and ordered one of their 15# street batteries. The factory battery comes in around 51#, so this represents a substantial weight savings. The battery comes with screw in terminals which make install a snap, and I decided to slightly move around a few of the power lines so I could dump that fugly distribution block. HP is working on a bolt in mount, so until that is done I used two heavy duty zip ties to hold the battery down.

After the install I went around for a few errands and didn't notice any ill effects. I'll continue to monitor it over the next few weeks and report back if I encounter problems, but I don't anticipate any.

One slight reservation I had with doing this mod was that the weight I removed is above my right rear wheel, so I will sneak out late at night for some 0-60 runs on a private road to see how traction was effected.

I am sure Driver72 will have a field day with this, lol.

Have you had a chance to weigh your car? I am sure dumping the stock mufflers can save you another 20-30.

I've learned no matter what mods I have people will imagine I have everything done anyway, so might as well start to do them. I'm waiting on an AA intercooler, and still waiting on Riss downpipes. I hope to have it all together for Nov 30th... I might even pull out the seats?

I've also been thinking about dumping the mufflers... but I just put in some muffler cutouts, I'm hoping for nice quiet sound when cruising and then I can open it up at the track.

I think you were accused of pulling out a seat already, lol. They are still worried about 'secrets', like the dremeled air intake lid. How do the cutouts sound? The stock mufflers with a resonator/2ndary cat delete actually sound pretty good. Its too bad that the stock mufflers weigh so much. I suspect with the RR DPs + cutouts, things are going to get really loud.

I doubt that your base sedan is that much lighter than an optioned one. Biggest weight loss is wheels/tires, but a lot of people have lighter wheels, so it shouldn't be a huge advantage as some make it out to be.

Hehe the same air lid that was supposed to make my car slower? :lol

The cutouts sound OK, a bit loud but livable on the street from time to time. I'm going to leave them open when I rematch that Procede V2, I need all the help I can get! :) Offroad downpipes + the cutouts will probably be too much.

While my sedan is base I'm not really sure any of the options I'm missing are that heavy. How much can the NAV weigh? 10#? The 18" rims add a bit of weight but most people go aftermarket anyway. Are stiffer springs heavier? My front seats are already full power and come in around 60# each.


I think you were accused of pulling out a seat already, lol. They are still worried about 'secrets', like the dremeled air intake lid. How do the cutouts sound? The stock mufflers with a resonator/2ndary cat delete actually sound pretty good. Its too bad that the stock mufflers weigh so much. I suspect with the RR DPs + cutouts, things are going to get really loud.

I doubt that your base sedan is that much lighter than an optioned one. Biggest weight loss is wheels/tires, but a lot of people have lighter wheels, so it shouldn't be a huge advantage as some make it out to be.

omg man that thing looks my quad battery....
How is working out!! and what are the weight differnces?? So this is an approved lightweight battery??
Pm me man when u get that switch ready!!

Hi Gang,

I'm on a quest to get in the 11s without N2O, and I think its going to take a two pronged attack. I'm already doing well in the power and traction departments, but its time to shave a few pounds.
Also don't forget to go to the washroom before going on a run :D.

Also don't forget to go to the washroom before going on a run :D.

Heh a few years ago when I was racing more regularly I had special light weight racing shoes. :)

omg man that thing looks my quad battery....
How is working out!! and what are the weight differnces?? So this is an approved lightweight battery??
Pm me man when u get that switch ready!!

So far so good on the battery, but no 0-60 testing yet due to rain.

We have 20 of the "R" upgrade kits in stock ready to roll!

Since you a pulling out a battery to save weight, I assume you probably have 7% body fat and wear light weight clothes as well.

More power to you and good luck on the times.

Since you a pulling out a battery to save weight, I assume you probably have 7% body fat and wear light weight clothes as well.

More power to you and good luck on the times.

Heh I wish... I unfortunately weigh in at 195ish. If only my wife could race... :lol

I am sure Driver72 will have a field day with this, lol.

Have you had a chance to weigh your car? I am sure dumping the stock mufflers can save you another 20-30.

How so?

I think you were accused of pulling out a seat already, lol. They are still worried about 'secrets', like the dremeled air intake lid. How do the cutouts sound? The stock mufflers with a resonator/2ndary cat delete actually sound pretty good. Its too bad that the stock mufflers weigh so much. I suspect with the RR DPs + cutouts, things are going to get really loud.

I doubt that your base sedan is that much lighter than an optioned one. Biggest weight loss is wheels/tires, but a lot of people have lighter wheels, so it shouldn't be a huge advantage as some make it out to be.

According to one of the top guys at BMW NA the sports package alone adds over 50 lbs to the weight of the car. He told me the difference between a base model and a loaded up car is probably closer to 200 lbs.
Oh and musc, it wasn't an "accusation" about Terry pulling out a seat, he did pull out his passenger seat to do some runs, he posted that very fact.

Why is that a bad thing in your eyes to point that out.
People are getting all excited about getting a 135i which is 100+ lbs less than a comparably equipped 335i, so why can't people point out weight reductions and so forth in modded 335i's without people like you getting all upset about it?
Reducing weight is as effective as adding HP.
Having 200 lbs less weight in a car is as effective as having 20 rwhp more power.


BTW Terry, thanks for the post about the battery.

While my sedan is base I'm not really sure any of the options I'm missing are that heavy. How much can the NAV weigh? 10#? The 18" rims add a bit of weight but most people go aftermarket anyway. Are stiffer springs heavier? My front seats are already full power and come in around 60# each.

See my response about what a BMW NA official told me.
The sports package seat do weigh more, they also have the power and inflatable side bolsters and IIRC larger thigh bolsters as well and are 10 way power which adds more motors and weight.
The other weight from sports package comes from the larger/heavier wheels, larger/heavier springs, sway bars, suspension parts, and I believe the sport package comes with slightly larger and heavier brakes too. And I can't remember what else.
The premium package probably adds another 30-50 lbs because of the thicker/heavier real leather, power folding mirrors, rear view mirror, bluetooth gear and what not.
I would guess the NAV adds 20 lbs too. With the screen, the additional dash parts, wires, control knobs, and so forth.
Sirius adds probably 5-6 lbs.
Active Steering is roughly 25 lbs ( so I read in a car mag).
Comfort Access and Cold Weather package probably add a very minimal 5 lbs.

So I'd venture to say that the difference between a base car and loaded one would be roughly 135-150 lbs.
The BMW NA official did say something along the lines of the difference in weight between a base car and loaded one is "probably closer to 200 lbs than 100" when I asked him about weight of the 135i (and since the 135i has all the options of the 335i except the active cruise, that would apply to the 335i then too).
But he said he didn't know exactly.

So I'd think your car is probably around 100-125 lbs lighter than the average equipped 335i (with sports package, premium package, and so forth in it).
Then to that you add any weight savings from LW 17" wheels, exhaust mods, LW battery and any other weight savings.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. As I said, it's as good as adding power, but rightfully needs to be taken into consideration when comparing performance between cars. And since having 200 lbs (more if you consider 50 lbs of that is rotational mass) less won't show up on a dyno, it's like having 20-30 extra rwhp. Which is a FREE performance upgrade since you don't have to PAY for the options to have a lighter weight car.

So I'd venture to say that the difference between a base car and loaded one would be roughly 135-150 lbs.


I wish, but really doubt it. Are there any good scales in the area? It would be fun to weigh both our cars and see where they fall.

I wish, but really doubt it. Are there any good scales in the area? It would be fun to weigh both our cars and see where they fall.

actually it is 275 lbs.

actually it is 275 lbs.

lol

Heh I wish... I unfortunately weigh in at 195ish. If only my wife could race... :lol

Hello "Terry @ BMS":

And if only my wife was under that weight.....

Hello "Terry @ BMS":

And if only my wife was under that weight.....

Haha!

My wife drove the Supra at an autocross in Ft. Myers, FL back in 2001 or so. It was embarrassing for me!


I was out working the course and my car came putt-putt'ing around the course. She was the only woman running in Super Stock (or whatever class the car was in at that time) so all she had to do was NOT hit five cones and she would win the 1st Place trophy. :lol So that's what she did.

But one of my friends who was also working the course yelled over to me at my work station and asked why my car was going so slow? Was it having mechanical problems? I replied, "Yes -- my wife is driving it!"

It was good for a laugh, but after winning 1st Place she never autocrossed again. :)

My wife ... all she had to do was NOT hit five cones and she would win the 1st Place trophy. :lol So that's what she did.
... after winning 1st Place she never autocrossed again. :)
hahaha, taking retire while you are ahead a bit too literally :D. Smart woman though.

Terry:
Was your car not utilizing the distribution block? Mine had an extra connector going into so I couldn't bypass it to get rid of it...

Terry:
Was your car not utilizing the distribution block? Mine had an extra connector going into so I couldn't bypass it to get rid of it...

It was, I just changed it around. I used a new 18" red cable from pep boys to replace one of the slide in connectors, and I left the one coming from the ground unplugged. So far no issues with ~500 miles.