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Investigating The Apex
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Heavy on the Throttle: Fixing the NC Miata's Featherlight Pedal
The NC Miata—like all Miatas—is undeniably fun to drive. It’s not about the power (because, well, there’s not much), the interior (which...
Brandon Meadows
37 minutes ago2 min read
6 views
0 comments


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
1 day ago10 min read
28 views
0 comments


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
6 days ago6 min read
21 views
0 comments


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
439 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
251 views
0 comments


Lower Seat, Less Legroom: Why Jass Performance Brackets Weren't the Answer (and How I Gained Space Anyway)
The internet is overflowing with placebo effects and exaggerated claims. Facts often get tangled up with feelings, blurring the truth....
Brandon Meadows
Mar 37 min read
83 views
0 comments


NC Miata Maintenance: Wrench, Rev, Repeat
For those of you keeping score at home, I picked up my new-to-me  2010 NC2 Miata about six weeks ago. Since I bought it from a...
Brandon Meadows
Mar 18 min read
19 views
0 comments


Getting Low in the NC Miata: Now with 100% More Jass Performance Seat Lowering Adapters
On the latest episode of Tall Man, Small Car , our heroic adventurer—err, me—ventures further into the never-ending quest of squeezing my...
Brandon Meadows
Feb 229 min read
372 views
0 comments


Game of Millimeters: Squeezing More Space Out of an NC Miata
There are some undeniable perks to being on the taller side—reaching the top shelf without a struggle, flat-footing most motorcycles, and...
Brandon Meadows
Feb 37 min read
87 views
0 comments


A New Challenger Approaches: The NC Miata Joins the Stable
Ah, yes, it’s that magical time of year again—temperatures are below freezing, the snow shovel is your constant companion, and your...
Brandon Meadows
Jan 196 min read
25 views
0 comments


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
36 views
0 comments


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
78 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
37 views
0 comments


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
132 views
0 comments


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
57 views
0 comments


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
26 views
0 comments


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
29 views
0 comments


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
32 views
0 comments


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
43 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
60 views
0 comments
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