• The Pit+Paddock x Bilstein E91 GTS Tribute is a compilation of the automotive aftermarket’s best, including Bilstein, Akrapovič, MOTUL, and StopTech components among others.
• Our wagon joined the CSF 911 on a multi-stop European tour to showcase the project and our build partners to an entirely new audience.
• After a widely successful trip, it was time to refresh our E91 GTS with a set of 19” BBS RI-D wheels and Yokohama AD09 tires.
• The Pit+Paddock x Bilstein E91 GTS Tribute will be given away to one of seven top-earning Turn 14 Distribution customers during a special ceremony at SEMA 2024.

Being satisfied with the status quo isn’t something that Turn 14 Distribution or its digital media outlet and online magazine, Pit+Paddock, has ever been keen to do. We have a much shorter tenure than our competitors in the wholesale distribution space, but we’ve more than made up for that gap with strategic investment in technology, a mindset built to innovate, a commitment to positive relationship building with our partners, and a passionate staff that is sharpened to support each facet of our business. It’s why we were even able to fashion a project as ambitious as this Bilstein-bred E91—a living tribute to the E92 M3 GTS but in an unsuspecting family station wagon body—built by the trusted and capable hands at Precision Sport Industries (PSI).

WELL-TRAVELED

Our project with Bilstein exceeded our lofty expectations, so much so that we wanted to raise the bar a few more notches by sending the wagon to Europe with the CSF 911. The E91 made a fitting debut at the Evolve BMW Park Lane takeover as a solo act before linking back up with the CSF 911 to attend Ultrace and Goodwood Festival of Speed. Given the car’s affiliation, a jaunt over to the Bilstein Competence Center at the Nurburgring was a must, and seeing it poised against the circuit’s storied backdrop was an absolutely cherry moment.

THE AFTERGLOW

Eventually, however, the car had to come back. It was good to see it roll off the transport at Turn 14 Distribution HQ but we knew that, nearly a year on from its unveiling, it was time for a change. The BBS E88 will never go out of style—there’s a nearly two-year waitlist on these wheels for a reason—but we wanted to bolt on a set of shoes that would be truer to our original rendering. That quest led us to BBS’s flagship street wheel: the RI-D. It’s produced by BBS Japan using a special 7000 series alloy called “Duralumin” that helps make this wheel as light and strong as possible. It’s part of a lightweight, split-five-spoke family—RI-A, FI, FI-R, and FI-R Evo—that BBS has made its calling card for modern applications. The RI-D sets itself apart with its special Dura center cap, honoring that it was the world’s first extra-super duralumin wheel ever made in 2011. Despite the design being over a decade old, a 20×11.5 RI-D only weighs 20.3 lbs. In comparison, the newest 20×10.5 FI-R Evo tips the scales at 19.5 lbs.

Our particular set is finished in what BBS calls “Diamond Gold”. The color leans further into bronze territory than the signature BBS gold, which fills a void in the company’s color library. Depending on the light source, Diamond Gold shifts colors like its other diamond counterparts. We noticed that our wheels take on dynamic, silver hues in direct sunlight and appear more bronze in low light or shadow-dominant conditions.

RUBBER MEETS ROAD

Our decidedly more street-focused pivot meant that we could be more liberal with our tire selection. After mulling over our options, it was impossible to ignore the Yokohama AD09. It was the compound that Dai Yoshihara chose for the DAI33, another ambitious Turn 14 Distribution SEMA build project with GReddy Performance Products and Top Rank Importers. It’s certainly high praise coming from a Formula DRIFT champion and current IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge star.

That glowing review is fully warranted. Yokohama developed the AD09 to be a “street legal sports tire” with an improved casing and revised compound/tread pattern that promises to deliver ultra-high performance on the street and at the track. Yokohama claims that the AD09’s “high turn-up ply” casing—all the components that make up the tire besides the tread—is one of its most rigid to date. That rigidity directly contributes to response and the 200 treadwear AD09 offers that in spades despite being a “tweener” tire. Will you give up some lap time versus its more track-focused brother, the A052? Of course. But it’s unquestionably more durable and confidence-inspiring in the wet without giving up much in terms of communication and grip—all valuable attributes for a performance street tire.

WHAT ARE YOUR SPECS, BRO?

To avoid an onslaught of “What are your specs, bro?” DMs, the RI-Ds we received measure 19×9.5+25 up front and 19×10.5+35 in the back. We knew the rear would be a bit too modest for the E9X platform—that sizing is much better suited for F8X applications—so we opted to fit a 10mm spacer from Future Classic—making the rear a net +25 offset. To preserve some meatiness, we picked out a 265/35/19 and 295/30/19 respectively from the AD09 sizing chart. R/T Tuning had to re-align the car to suit the new specs and bump in wheel diameter.

FALL FIT

Once we got the car back from R/T Tuning’s expert care, we stood back to remark on the new look. First and foremost, we were immediate fans of the aesthetic; the BBS x Yokohama street setup is bolder than the classic motorsport vibe we sought to showcase before, and truthfully, this fall fit is better suited to where the Pit+Paddock x Bilstein E91 GTS Tribute will spend most of its time. The changing light conditions allowed us to see how the Diamond Gold RI-Ds played against the Fire Orange paint and the nickel-plated StopTech calipers. With help from the sun, the wheels leaned toward neutrality—a compatriot to the silver calipers—that would make them play nicely with any exterior color. True to the finish’s intent, the RI-Ds became bronze in the shade and acted as a bridge between the opposing spectrums. Silver would’ve undeniably been a safer choice, but I think enthusiasts will really appreciate what BBS has done with this new finish.

Driving on the AD09 made me second-guess what I thought I knew about performance street tires. They aren’t whisper quiet compared to pedestrian fare, but compared to the tires I’m accustomed to using with comparable grip, they are. I forgot to mention this earlier, but while we were hunting for sizes, we noticed that the AD09 is extremely accommodating; most enthusiasts will be able to find what they need in this compound, which is a huge plus when tire ratios and fitment matter.

After spending time with the Pit+Paddock x Bilstein E91 GTS Tribute, it reminded me of how smitten I am with it. It’s a complete machine that drives like one—not just a car with a bunch of parts on it that don’t communicate with one another—and pulling that off is an art.

FINAL COUNTDOWN

Once I snapped back to reality, I was reminded that this incredible machine would be given away in a matter of months at SEMA. Seven of Turn 14 Distribution’s top earners from each category in this sales-driven program—Z1 Motorsports, Mudify LLC, Latemodel Restoration, FCP Euro, ProMotion Distributing, Shock Surplus, and eEuroparts—will congregate at our booth for a shot to take this wagon home as the ultimate trophy and the culmination of a multi-year journey for the car itself. What a wild ride it’s been so far and we’re looking forward to seeing one well-deserved Turn 14 Distribution customer take this cherished car home.

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