Building the PERFECT M3 killer / daily driver for less than $5K!
 

Don't get me wrong - I like my Stage III Penske equipped S4, but I will be the 1st to admit that the car has lost much of the street drivability and its sleeper status. I have also spent a multiple of $5K.

Just few days ago I had a pleasure to experience customer's car, which I declared the most perfect, biggest bang for the buck daily driver S4. Most of the modifications that were performed to this car are reasonably affordable and have almost no negative impact. We all know that modifying cars is a game of compromises, but I will tell you, this car has very few of them.

So here is my recipe for building a perfect and affordable Stage II B5 S4. I will argue that for the dollar value, you will never be able to get as much for so little. I look forward to your feedback.

Modifications in no specific order:

Wheels and Tires - OZ Superlaggera or Ultralaggera in 18x8 shod with 235-40-18 tires. ($1,500)
These OZs are light and look very good. I have been running 19's for a while and they are still straight - therefore they must be strong. 235 wide tires will reduce some of the wheel gap and widen the tire contact patch. (Yes, many options here, just stick to less than 20lbs per wheel.)

Suspension - Vogtland Coilovers. ($1,500, including installation)
Coilovers provide height adjustability that can follow the seasons. Springs are also perfectly matched to shocks. These Coilovers offer a firm ride and greatly reduced body roll, but they are still useable on daily basis - city or highway. (KW and Eibach may have something that competes here, will see with time.)

Chip - pick your favorite. I like AutoSpeed, but AMS, MTM, GIAC, REVO, APR are all great. ($600)

Exhaust - Vibrant! ($700, with installation)
Vibrant is relatively quiet with no drone or low frequencies. It is an exhaust that you can live with on long commutes, that will not alarm your neighbors, and that looks good. (Borla and Neuspeed - if you want lounder, Milltek if you want to spend more money.)

Tranny - AutoSpeed Transmission Stabilizer Bar and a Short Shifter ($500)
For a short shifter there are many options, AMS has an interesting setup based on B6 cars. B&M and Neuspeed offer affordable short shifters as well. AWE is another option for a TSB.

Tint and detail ($500)

Total: $4,600. Grins for $... let me know if you have any ideas how to beat this receipe.

Nice combo. With the remaining $400 you could throw in a rear sway or S8 rear brakes.
 

I'm really curious about the vogtland c/o's. How do they compare to the HR streets?

hmm..so you think you could take a M3 with just a chip?

What happened to Valves and "bipipe" or some other TBB replacement.

with the suspension upgrade, it'll come closer around a track

Piggie pipes for 40-60 bucks if you do it yourself. Darintake=free!
 

I would ad (though a bit of a splurge) the stasis CD. $550 well spent. I picked up a used GIAC box for $430 too.

Oh BTW, I've posted a few times in your threads about the ASP muffler tip cracking issue I have. Did you see any of them? Should I deal with you or Mark/ASP on the issue/problem?? I bought the system from you during the GB you sponsored.

Pippy pipes are free. Might wanna add that to the list.

Have the same issues but bought straight from Mark. I'm waiting to hear back from him since I
 

e-mailed him some pictures.

2nd on the piggies and darintake.

Agreed on the sway bar. I forgot that.
 

S8 brakes... they look good. Agreed.