Quick report after the dyno today in Reading.

Car gives about the performance that it is supposed to do
So that is positive, although I silently hoped to have a little more.
It also proved the absolute bad standard map, as power collapses in certain rev areas.

What I have done now is to measure the temperature of air that the engine takes in.
After a quicker drive on motorway and then A roads (less speed, thus less air cooling) I measured partly over 65C.

Again a little flaw discovered that has to be improved.

I have also spoken with the people at the engineering company that own the dyno.
Quite some useful tips and suggestions that absolutely make sense.

They will put some suggestions together on how they would improve the car.
Looking forward to that, as they seem to be pretty smart (Thanks Hozepipe for suggesting them!)

I thought I quickly dig this thread out again, as there has been some progress on the modification front.

I have spoken with a number of different people now and am now about to make a decision on what way to go.
Still waiting on reply from some other people on some quotes.
(Also send Daron a message to ask him to give me a bundle price on two different solutions, listed below).

So before I start listing all the possible parts that I could be using, a quick summary on how I like the car, after approx. 1.500 miles.

Still not regretting that I bought it
A great little daily driver (when I am around), pretty fast, fun to drive, good looks.

Currently still annoyed by these stupid electric windows that sometimes to decide to work or not.
A garage that does not seem to be willing to assist does not really ease the problem I must admit.

Another thing that I find ridiculous is the fuel consumption (I don't mind it, as I do only few miles p.a., but still...)
My 360 bhp BMW that will under all circumstances be faster, driven in the same way, that will be probably be even objectively faster, does only use about 15% more. As said, I don't really cry about it, just find it not the best piece of engineering...

Two drawbacks that have already been described more than once: stock braking system, stock suspension/dampers, especially on the rear axis.

SSZ Option A - The cheap version
- TMC box
- Air intake
- Uprated accurator
- Eibach Sport Springs & Bump Stops
- Brake Lines & Fluid, different pads
- Homemade brake cooling (once this has been done, I'll show how )

SSZ Option B - The Big One
- Turbo Conversion with all necessary bits and pieces
- Air Intake
- Cat & Exhaust (if needed, as I keep hearing different opinions on that)
- Remap (obviously a must)
- Bilstein B14PSS (set up on proper weight balances)
- Full brake upgrade (front) with new disks and pads all way round.

I will have prices on both options hopefully soon, so I can get the financial aspect to that as well.
Luckily I am not on a budget (or have a financial minister that will yell at me ), but it has to be reasonable and has to have a good price/performance/quality ratio.

There would of course be the option to start with one, and then slowly, bit-by-bit, get it changed to the bigger upgrade.
Personally I am not too much a fan of that, as it will be more expensive in the long-run. So TMC and air-intake, suspensions and brakes first and then the turbo thing...

Please share your thoughts with me!
Car will be a low mileage car, which, when driven, should do all the daily duties: from short commuting, shopping and faster trips out

Edit:
Deleted paragraph

I dont think you'd safely get more than 180 with option A and you've already invalidated your warranty. Funds permitting, you'll get a proven 230 or so from option B but what makes the real difference on the road is the extra 100nm of torque. If you do all the other bits as well, it will be like owning a different, much more powerful car...and you'll feel a whole lot better (which is worth the extra). If you go with A, you'll always be hankering after option B. It will gnaw away at you until you dip you hand in you pocket. So as you say, the best value option is B without doubt.

Option B is the car the A500 should be.

Just do option b. It willbe a completely different car