With about 23k on the clock, and performance tunes having been flashed, I figured it may be a wise move to replace the stock spark plugs, gapping them to the narrower spec of .024″ (current plugs were also gapped this way).
Laser!
Gap them critters to .024″
Unplugged
Old vs new. Not too bad.
Old plugs. Look pretty consistent with good coloring.
This March is actually turning out to be quite nice! A stint of unseasonably warm weather has caused me to throw caution to the wind, and do away with the winter wheels and tires for the season. Hopefully I don’t regret this decision in a couple weeks.
Since the stock Pirelli’s were nearly slicks after 20k, a new set of rubber was in order. I opted for a set of 205/45ZR-16 BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2‘s.
Just so you know, you can fit 8 tires into a 500! Fortunately, I didn’t have to drive far in the configuration (the tire shop was just up the road), since visibility to the right and rear was pretty much zero. I needed to have the stock tires dismounted from the factory wheels, and the new tires mounted up.
Why didn’t I just swap over the wheels in advance, so I would only have needed to take the new tires to the shop? Because I don’t trust any shop to put Fiona on a lift, nor lay a socket on her lug bolts, that’s why! I swapped the wheels over myself as soon as I return home 
Then found some corners in need of carving.
Gotta love these deliveries from tirerack.com
Groovy!
Tread for days
205/45ZR-16 BFG g-Force Sport COMP-2
Cleaning up the factory wheels
Loaded to the gills! 8 tires and 4 wheels in there
So much room to spare
Buckle up!
Not the most talkative passenger
Over the top
Nothing to see here, officer
Let’s swap!
It’s go time!
Is it spring yet!? Pretty please!?
Such filth!
Sorta clean, for the next 5 minutes
No Mo Snow!
After last year’s beyond terrible winter performance from the stock Pirelli P7’s, I knew I wanted some true snow tires before the flakes came down this year. For ease of swapping over from Summer to Winter, I opted to have the 195/45R-16 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 tires mounted on a separate set of silver 16×7 MSW Type 25 wheels.
To complete the winter trim, I also installed the R3T skidplate to help protect things, since the car is sitting even lower than last winter. I’m sure this all means it’s never going to snow ever again. Thank me later.
195/45R-16 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3
195/45R-16 Pirelli Winter Snowcontrol Serie 3 on MSW Type 25 Wheels
R3T Skid Plate Underside
R3T Skid Plate Top
R3T Skid Plate Installed
Winter wheels & tires
Winter Trim. Waiting for the snow
Winter Trim. Waiting for the snow
Winter Trim. Waiting for the snow
Winter Trim. Waiting for the snow
Colder air = better air, no matter how you slice it. Getting cool air into the intake becomes even more of a challenge when you have a turbo heating the air as it’s compressed (remedied by the intercooler), as well as heating the engine bay while it’s doing its job (solved by intake placement).
ATM came up with an innovate design that places the filter down in the bumper, where cool air is readily available, and then requires just a short, direct run to get to the turbo. The only thing in the way of this design (after the stock intercoolers are removed, and replaced with their front mount unit) is the windshield washer reservoir. So, add a simple remote-mount tank and bracket, and we’re ready to rock & roll!
K&N Filter with venturi
ATM Intake Tubing
Remote Reservoir & Bracket Kit
Remote Washer Reservoir
Remote Washer Reservoir & Filler Neck
Intake placement from the front
Intake Installed
Intake Installed Close-Up
Apex Washer reservoir installed
Washer reservoir filler hose routing
Washer reservoir filler hose routing
Washer Reservoir filler
Final Installation
Final Installation