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New here and had some IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

4K views 37 replies 12 participants last post by  Abnormal-JK 
#1 ·
hey fellow members,

im nick 23 and i currently have a 2011 bmw 335i which i am getting rid of. I have really been looking forward to the jeep wrangler unlimited .. only problem is i have read about them, but cant really say i know much about them.. the way i got interested in Jeeps is after i saw this beauty in a showroom. it had a 3inch lift kit and some 20inch rims not sure which it was listed for 41k (have attached a picture) ,, it was a jaw dropping experience for me and at that point on i knew this is my next car.. i will be using this car as my daily driver, I'm pretty sure i wont be going off road for a while since I'm too new to the jeep scene how ever i do want bigger rims and maybe a lift later on..

My main question is which unlimited model would be best for me? and what options to watch out for at the dealership i know i deff want a hardtop,navi/bluuetooth in the car and if possible red interior seats.

Another question i had is how can we make these jeeps faster are there chips.etc things for them which tune would give the best gain?


thanks in advance guys really looking forward to the advice .
 

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#2 ·
Welcome!
If you're looking for the luxury package, then the Sahara model may be what you're looking for as it'll have leather seats, Nav, BT, etc. As for the red leather seats, IIRC that only comes with the 10th Anniversary Rubicon, which you can get loaded with lots of premium upgrades as well, but will add to the cost. If you're not going to be doing a lot of wheeling, then the Sahara should be fine as is. If you decide later to do more wheeling, then you can easily upgrade the axles, suspension, gears, etc. If you want to do some wheeling sooner rather than later, the Rubicon will be more capable right off the dealership lot, but you won't want those big a$$ wheels to wheel. You'll want 17" or smaller wheels and 35" or bigger tires.

As for more power...well, with the proper gearing you won't really need a huge high HP engine, off road wheeling is more about torque and gearing and staying in control so you don't hurt yourself, your jeep or others. You can swap a Hemi engine for the Pentastar, but it's not a cheap mod to do...but cost is relative. If you're driving a late model 335i then you probably have the money to do a swap.
If you decide to go to huge tires, like 40", a Hemi swap will definitely keep you feeling like you have plenty of power, however.
 
#3 ·
Another question i had is how can we make these jeeps faster are there chips.etc things for them which tune would give the best gain?
Hey Nick... how much faster do you want to go? Yes there are chips and reprogramming modules to enhance performance, increase gas mileage, correct functions and more. Personally, my JK goes fast enuf for me. I find the more I wheel, the slower I go and the more I enjoy it.

It's like driving a brick aerodynamically... not sure much more speed would be a good thing. One other thing... a Jeep is not a "car". It's not a truck, it's a Jeep.<period
 
#4 · (Edited)
I had a fast (momentum) car before going to a truck and then shortly after that my Jeep. It was an S2K. I say that only to say this, forget about speed, forget about momentum, forget about hauling ass through the twisties. Just keep the German ride for all that noise, or go buy a lower-cost tuner car for a track day project.

As was said before, if you like the feel of get up and go to merge or keep a somewhat respectable 0-60, low gears or appropriate gears for your wheel and tire size will help in that regard but dip into your MPG.

The only evidence I've seen of a JKU doing what it shouldn't be able to do on the street (aside from a few one-off drag videos) is over at AEV where they take your money (like all of it) and throw on purpose built suspension and a V8 Hemi. Even then, it's a barn door. You learn to love the barn door.

Edit: Seriously, sometimes I think I should have waited another year or so and dropped the farm on this thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbKniB2gkl8

But nah. Too much coin.
 
#5 ·
I had a fast (momentum) car before going to a truck and then shortly after that my Jeep. It was an S2K. I say that only to say this, forget about speed, forget about momentum, forget about hauling ass through the twisties. Just keep the German ride for all that noise, or go buy a lower-cost tuner car for a track day project.

As was said before, if you like the feel of get up and go to merge or keep a somewhat respectable 0-60, low gears or appropriate gears for your wheel and tire size will help in that regard but dip into your MPG.

The only evidence I've seen of a JKU doing what it shouldn't be able to do on the street (aside from a few one-off drag videos) is over at AEV where they take your money and throw on purpose built suspension and a V8 Hemi. Even then, it's a barn door. You learn to love the barn door.


lol i see what your saying thats a option i had also just to get another track car thanks for response
 
#8 ·
If money is no object, sounds like you need a loaded Sahara with 3.73 gears. Go test one and see if you like it.

Then send it off to AEV for a 6.4 hemi conversion and their F1 leather in red. Throw some cool 20's on it and you're set, lol.

Or just go with the 3.73 Sahara and start from there! Welcome and good luck!
 
#9 ·
You can get most of the options available for extra with the Rubicon, however I think things like color matched hard top and fenders are no longer available on the Rubi.
As for how to get to 300hp...well the same engine in different Chrysler/Dodge vehicles makes over 300hp...it's all in the tune. But again, I wouldn't get caught up in HP numbers. If straight line acceleration is what's important, just make sure you get the proper gearing for your wheel size...but realize that going to 4.88 gearing...while making you accelerate faster, will also increase your RPMs while cruising and will cost you in gas mileage (which isn't close to spectacular in the Wrangler to begin with, and will be worse with increases in unsprung weight..like 20" wheels)
 
#10 ·
Hello Nick

its nice to see another BMW fan joining the community :) Its going to be different but you're going to have a lot of fun. By the way you must be doing something right 23 and BMW :p

Okay so to answer one of your questions a Rubicon does not automatically come with all the options on the previous model. Here are the main differences.

The base Rubicon comes standard with the following options. The Sahara does not have these options at ALL.

-Front and Back locking differentials
-Electronic disconnect sway bar
-4:1 low range gearbox
-Dana44 front Axle

Everything else is just additional options so navigation, leather all that. So you could have a more "luxurious" Sahara edition if you loaded that up with all the creature comforts and compared it to a base Rubicon.

-----

Now there is also the sport model. That would be the base Jeep and for what you want, it doesn't have all the luxury and creature comforts that the Sahara or Rubicon have. So now you're only decision is between those two.

You said you were looking to modify it later on, but just a heads up if you keep it stock the Rubicon has more of an "aggressive" look when its stock due to the fact that it comes from the factory with rough looking 32 inch tires.

Also the red leather seats were only available on a special edition that is now discontinued (10th anniversary edition) but they may bring back red leather for another special edition. The only options you have now is black or saddle tan. But you could always put on leatherette seat covers that look like original and come in many colors.

Also one option to keep in mind there is a "Dual top option" which comes with a soft top and a hard top. You can't have them on at the same time but it might interest you.

And also you know you can have the hardtop and fenders either body color or textured black.

For now don't worry about the speed, trust me its fast enough and thats come from a BMW fan too ;) enjoy the different driving characteristics of a jeep and maybe even take the doors and roof off. Just expect it to be different and not as "comfortable" but still a lot of fun.

If you have any other questions I would love to help.
 
#14 ·
thats great i thought i was the only one coming from bmw lol... thanks for the input was really helpful love the breakdown ....can i get the features of the sahara in the rubicon? also if i did want 20 inch rims would i need a lift kit? and i was looking towards the hard top really grew on me withe same color panels.
 
#17 ·
RacecarBMW's post is excellent, and I'd like to add a little to it for the OP to consider. He did leave two things off--the Rubicon comes with rock rails (vs the Sahara's side steps) and the Rubicon tires have reinforced sidewalls.

To me, there are three possible reasons (alone or in combination) to buy a Wrangler. One, you want the image/lifestyle/look. Two, you want a five seat convertible with good cargo capacity (Unlimited, at least). Three, you want one of the most capable out of the box new vehicles to tackle hard core off road obstacles.

In terms of models, buy the Sport because you are watching your pennies (either because you have to, or you don't want to pay for gadgets and trimmings) or because you plan to modify the living daylights out of it, and there is no reason to pay for things you are going to change out. Buy the Sahara if you want a well equipped mall cruiser. Buy the Rubicon if you want the best possible stock off road capability.

I come from a performance car background (I have two track cars, including a BMW E36 M3). If you like flinging your 335 around corners, and/or you enjoy the rush of the turbo(s), and/or performance capability matters at all--the Wrangler will not scratch that itch. Further, you can buy cheaper and/or better warrantied and/or faster and/or more modern and/better built four wheel drive vehicles that will handle most situations where most people think four wheel drive is a good idea.

The Wrangler (in any form) is incredibly capable off road, and can be improved in many, many ways. But you aren't buying a modern, refined vehicle--you should be sure you are good with that going in.
 
#21 ·
Thanks really appreciate the good input. I believe I fit into the image -lifestyle look- lol.. and also the convertible it's a big plus for me. I won't really be going off-road but if I end up getting a sport I would like to make sure I have leather seats navigation Bluetooth and same color hard top. for my speed side i have came to a conclusion I would be buying a project car something for speed or what not.
 
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#23 ·
lol hahaha cant wait for the girls,.. tell me about it German cup holders suck big time..thats one of the reasons i wanted a jeep something strongly build .. i worried about my 335 too much i had to get it re-sprayed on both doors because of the jealousy that some people have... I have a feeling I will get used to the speed I live in New York you can't really do much with speed out here what do you mean by number 4??? And if you don't mind me asking do you live out in ny also?
 
#22 ·
Nick, coming from a BMW, you'll probably be used to your chakras been coddled by the sport suspension - not so on the Wrangler, especially with one that has smaller tires and big wheels.

Get 35" tires with 17-18" wheels along with a small lift kit to soak up the bumps and coddle your buttocks. Dare I say the ride will soak up the irregularities in the road similar to the BMW, better so than stock wheels/tires and certainly better than 20"+ wheels? Yup.

Also, if you can afford to do a 5.7L Hemi swap, do it. That's the best choice to take in getting you the oomph you want.

Welcome to the club and keep us posted.
 
#24 ·
Manic, since you upgraded to the jeep, what has become of your buttocks? The jeep's ride gives a completely different ride than the butt cuddling ride that the 335 arguably delivers very well.

And if the op is in NY, he'll probably have more gangstas want to talk to him about his sick ride. Take it to Jersey and the story changes.
 
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#33 ·
Keep the BMW and buy a TJ. :thumb:

Best of both worlds.

Now I only run the M3 at the track and DD the Jeep.

FWIW, I like the jeep more because when one of those fart can POS cars pull up to a stoplight, I know all I have to do is go back to my garage and grab the M3 to blow their doors off.
 
#34 ·
I saw my first "street" JKU in person today.

Sahara
Super dark tint
Black w/Black hard top
18 or 20 inch wheels, black with something shiny in the middle
"low profile" type tires that looked to be in the 305 range, street tread
aftermarket exhaust
probably no lift, but leveled out


Then I got to thinking, maybe the OP would like to go the other way with that cash and build an off-roader. After all, unless you take a big plunge on the $$$$ you're not going to make it very "fast" or "quick", like a sport touring car.

And yeah, he could still run 20s as long as the tires were 40s :)
 
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