Let’s hear what they had to say.

“So with a top-end budget of $40,000, Associate Editor Mark Takahashi and Photo Editor Kurt Niebuhr face-off to see which track day weapon reigns supreme. The pre-grid lineup consists of Takahashi in a BMW 135i, while Niebuhr hops in his Mazda MX-5.

Niebuhr: What can I say about the 135i? Well, for starters it’s really expensive. That bottom of the barrel Bimmer will be tough to get out the door for less than 40 thousand dollars. That’s 40 large for a car that could very well wind up in the wall the first time you hit the track. Maybe this is just me and my emaciated wallet talking but I just wouldn’t want to take that risk.

It’s also too heavy. At nearly 3400 it’s nearly 1000 pounds (!) heavier than the MX-5. Oh sure, the Bimmer’s got the motor to deal with the weight, but the extra half ton will take its toll after a track day or two. If you don’t burn through a set of tires first ($1,000), you’ll lay waste to a set of brakes in no time. Not to mention wheel bearings, axle seals and anything else that will be hurt by all the heat generated by charging that car around a race track.

One more thing; it’s too fast. What? Yes, too fast. Having all that power will do nothing more than to mask any mistakes you’re making. Rather than learning a better line or working on your braking, you’ll simply use the power to pass less powerful cars but better driven cars on every straightaway. Sure, you might be one of the fast cars on the track, but unless you’re diligent and really seek out instruction, it would be all too easy to become just another mediocre driver with a fast car.”

Full comparison continued

——-

“The Final One”. What does that actually mean? Well, in our eyes it’s the vision of accomplishment with many attempts at perfection and finally standing there, looking at the car and thinking to yourself, ” What have we built … ”

We would like to use this opportunity to unveil our 1 Series and write the final chapter of the 1 Series project.

As you know the WSTO 135i has been through many stages, and changes throughout its life time since from when it rolled out of the BMW dealership to its current state. In most projects, most of them end up being very biased, with no attention to the small detail. We here at WSTO believe in personality when it comes to modifying your vehicle, whether if its something small like a set of Muteki SR48 lug nuts to a full carbon weave hood from 3D Design. No part is too small. Imagination is the limit.

During our trip to Bimmerfest, time was an issue. Utilizing all the short amount of time we had, we got all the parts installed in time, and unveiled our updated 1 series for the show debut! It was a great hit, and we had many compliments but but we were asked many questions about the parts we had recently installed, and what they exactly did to improve performance.

Here is the original thread before our Bimmerfest trip with some teaser shots.

If you didn’t know. We moved to a new shop!

In our new location, we have an immaculate display room with brilliant white walls and a glossy white coated floor. We took advantage of this great photo opportunity and shot a few photos of the 1, with some excellent detail of the new wheels and tires. Rays Engineering Volk Racing G2with Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta tires. We chose the elusive Formula Silver to bring out the beauty of this fine forged, tough racing wheel. The sizing we used was 18 x 8 +45 in the front, and 18 x 9 +50 in the rears with 225/40 and 255/35 Vredestein tires for an optimum, and well rounded street tire. We also used Macht Schnell 75mm stud kit, and Macht Schnell 10mm spacers for more aggressive fitment. We chose 18″ sizing for the light weight, and the variety of high performance tires available and chose H&R Sport springs to aid the factory sport suspension and keep the car planted.

A great shot of the ARC Power Brace over the menacing N54 motor. The ARC Power Brace was a flawless, and perfect fit with the addition of the CPM Lower Re-enforcement brace, it helped increase stiffness in the front end which aided to smoother turn in, and better predictability. The engine modifications were kept basic. We used a aFe intake kit with a Synapse blow off valve kit with charge pipe to keep the N54 breathe as well a Macht Schnell air scoop to help force air into the engine. All the parts are fine tuned using a ESS Tuned Stage II ecu flash.

Gauges are very important to a forced induction car. We used the 3D Design gauge pod ashtray retrofit which was a direct fit with 52mm Pivot Hybrid gauges that fit snugged perfectly in the pod. We opted to use Boost/Vac, Water Temperature, and Exhaust Temperature for the critical engine read outs. As you insert the BMW key fob, and start the ignition… You see the beautiful, LED gauge readings with the stepper needles doing the full sweep. It is a good feeling to know your engine vitals are properly read so you are ensured peace of mind of those hard, spirited drives.

Every interior needs a little personality. We kept it simple with the 3D Design Gauge pod and Pivot Gauges. But it needed something more… So we added some 3D Design aluminum sport pedals and 3D Design floor mats to give it a subtle yet look.

What kind of project car would this be without a proper test drive? We took the 135i for a mandatory tour through some scenic locations to test out some of the new goodies!

During our spirited drive, we had to try out some of new parts. I can tell you, it was pure enjoyment! Using the Pivot 3 Drive Flat Throttle controller, we set it to Sport Mode, and instantly the response of the car changed. It’s an amazing unit! I’ve always had a issue with newer cars and the laggy throttle-by-wire. Using the Pivot throttle controller, the lag was almost gone. It gave the car quick response and great feedback as you gave it throttle.

As we drove to a quiet forest preserve, imagine being in the opposite lane of traffic, you can see this car with the Bellof SIRIUS LED rings angel eyes, with the 3D Design valvetronic quad exhaust with Macht Schnell 3″ downpipe and Berk Technology cat-less, resonated mid pipe humming by…A definite sight to see and hear!

After giving it a bit of a cool down at the forest preserve. We needed a change of scenery. So we drove the car to the busy, and lively city of Chicago.

When we arrived, we took it to the last place anyone would ever want to drive and take photos of their car. I personally love this location, it brings out the qualities of any car being photographed, as the atmosphere is dark and grimey. You can see the details of the 3D Design urethane front lip, 3D Design trunk spoiler, and the BMW Performance shadow grills under the contrasting light. You might recognize this location.

We would like thank all of our 1Addicts members for viewing our previous project threads and keeping the interest!

Specials Thanks to:

3D Design Japan, Lager Corporation, Studie Japan, Ray’s Engineering/Mackin Industries, Macht Schnell, Berk Technology, A&L, IND.

The pre-2011 model year 135i’s came with the award-winning N54 powerplant as BMW’s premier engine for the reintroduction of blown engines to the Bavarian line-up. Our friend Steve Maguire from United BMW of Roswell (and famed co-pilot of the BMW X6 M from One Lap of America) posted up documentation of the first installation of the BMW-approved power kit into one of their long-time customers’ donor 135i.

However, from the video below, it seems that Mr. Woodward, the happy 135i owner, may have been an excellent candidate for the power upgrade as Steve has already has the BMW-spec uprated brakes, short shift kit and a number of other factory-approved modifications.

To test and verify the results of the power kit, Steve and Steve employed the help of a local dyno shop to run three tests both before and after the kit installation. On the first series of dyno pulls, the 135i put down an impressive 290HP to the wheels – which is indicative of the long-rumored underrated engine output typical of BMW. After the kit installation, three more dyno pulls indicated that the 135i pushed 309HP to the rear wheels equating to roughly 350HP before power loss to the wheels.

From watching the video it seems that Steve Woodward is quite a happy 135i with the noticeable performance gains from the power kit. Most important to Steve is the fact that, in addition to a nice power hike, he can also maintain the warranty on the engine as it is a BMW factory power kit. For those interested, the BMW power kit upgrade includes:

1. New electric fan

2. New spark plugs

3. New radiator hoses

4. Secondary radiator

5. New DME

Note:The 1 Series Power Kit also requires the installation of the BMW Performance Air Duct Kit.

The kit should now be available through certified BMW dealerships for those looking enthusiasts for extra power gains from their N54-powered 135/335′s without sacrificing the factory warranty.

(Video and Photos compliments of Steve Maguire and United BMW of Roswell)

BMW advises the repairs can begin immediate on dealer inventory, suggesting a quick resolution. The recall also affects certain 2008-2011 model year 1 Series coupes and convertibles.

The affected vehicles have insufficient clearance between the seat belt tensioners in the B-pillar and the insulating material surrounding it. In the event of a crash, the insulation could become overheated and catch fire.

Owners will be notified to bring their vehicle to BMW dealers to fix the problem. Dealers will trim the insulating material around the seat belt retractors free of charge.

Owners with questions should contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

[Source: Consumer Reports ]

To achieve this numer, the tuner made a few ECU changes to the ignition, fueling, and turbo. The result of electronically upgrades takes the standard 3.0-liter six cylinder twin turbocharged engine from 300 horsepower to 360 horsepower and from 394 Nm to 456 Nm at just 3359 rpm. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in 5.3 seconds, while the top speed remains limited to 155 mph.

Press Release

Thanks to its combination of small size and powerful 3.0-litre six cylinder twin turbocharged engine, BMW’s 135i has attracted a loyal following amongst owners and the motoring press.

Which is why Buckingham based Superchips Ltd, the market leading specialist in performance electronic tuning, is pleased to unveil a performance boosting ECU remap for the 135i.

The result of extensive investigation into the BMW’s Siemens MSD ECU parameters, Superchip’s highly experienced technicians successfully identified several performance enhancement opportunities with the original factory settings, enabling the company to refine the 135i’s ECU map to meet the needs of the BMW driving enthusiast who demands a sharper, more exciting drive.

Careful optimisation of ignition, fuelling and turbo boost settings via combination of extensive chassis dyno testing and road validation has produced a Superchips remap that elevates the performance of the 135i onto a different plane.

As measured on its in house four wheel drive chassis dyno’, the Superchips upgrade boosts the BMW 135i’s peak power from a tested standard output of 315 bhp, to a mighty 360 bhp, with a maximum power gain of 49 bhp at 5989 rpm.

The Superchips ECU remap also significantly enhances the 135i’s torque output, rising from a measured 394 Nm to an impressive 456 Nm at just 3359 rpm, with maximum gain of 70 Nm at just 3267 rpm.

Compared to the standard BMW 135i, the Superchips upgraded car produces peak torque over 1000 rpm lower down in the rev range, making it not only ultimately faster, but also significantly easier to drive.

Although not yet tested against the clock, the Superchips remapped BMW 135i is expected to better the standard car’s 5.3 second 0-60 mph sprint time, although for safety reasons the 155 mph speed limiter is left untouched.

The Superchips BMW 135i ECU remap also scores at the pumps – when driven on a like for like basis with the standard car owners will experience no fuel consumption penalty, despite the extra performance.

Installation of the Superchips ECU remap entails customers visiting one of approximately 100 Superchips dealerships in the UK who will undertake the remap procedure.

Customers can be assured the Superchips conversion is covered by a full Customer Service Guarantee and an industry-leading 12 month / 30,000 supplementary full vehicle warranty.

Suitable for both manual and automatic transmission variants of BMW 135i produced from 2007 onwards, the Superchips ECU remap is available now both directly from Superchips and its UK dealer network, priced at £445.00 including VAT @ 17.5%.

The N55 powerplant uses the the innovation of twin-scroll technology and the integration of VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake technology.

This new engine promises even better throttle response and even more fuel efficiency. Thanks to VALVETRONIC, VANOS, and the twin-scroll turbocharger housing, peak torque is reached 100rpm earlier than with the previous engine, and engine boost response is improved across the entire engine speed range.

N55 develops maximum output of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 300 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200–5,000 rpm. The exciting part comes with the 7-speed Double-Clutch Transmission (DCT), the first time an option for the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible.

So, let’s have a look at their short review on track:

BMW’s 135i coupe and convertible may not look much different for 2011, but with a new turbocharged inline-six engine and a newly available dual-clutch automated manual transmission, the 2011 135i certainly feels different.

We generally prefer the driver involvement of traditional manual transmissions, especially when they’re as good as the ones offered on most BMW models. In the case of the 135i, the fitment of the DCT may close the preference gap for some, and will very likely improve acceleration times. The difference in character between the N54 and N55 seems minimal, at least in this application, but it’s the DCT’s quick shifts that improve the experience, keeping the engine in the power better than the automatic was able to. We expect that the DCT will bring 0-to-60-mph times down by a tenth or two compared to manual-equipped 135s, into the mid-four-second range. The quickest 135i we’ve tested, a manual-equipped coupe, took only 4.7 seconds to reach 60, while a three-pedal convertible completed the task in 4.9.

So the good news is that the switch from twin- to single-turbo six hasn’t affected the 135i’s character noticeably. As long as BMW’s output claims are on the up and up, performance should improve, too—we’ll wait for a formal test session to confirm that. Those who would have chosen the automatic last year will be happy with the dual-clutch upgrade. The better news is that the three-pedal manual is still available—at least for now. Let’s keep it that way, okay BMW?

Full Article

[Source: Car and Driver ]

The Amish are renowned for their restrained appearance, and a well crafted simplicity. Loath to emulate what they view as the discordant modern world, they have shunned any affect of modernity. Amish building and furniture making is highly praised but the superficial simplicity of styling belies a well conceived and carefully constructed core.

Two simple lines define the exterior of the 1 series. The beltline runs from the tip of the front fenders all the way through the rear decklid. Higher than the beltline of the 3 series, it tends to emphasize the vertical, when the 1er is actually only marginally taller than the 3 series.

The other prominent line is the curve that runs just above the rockers on each side of the car. With a bit of a sway towards the front – it ‘pinches’ the apparent size of the wheelbase. At 104 inches the 1 series has a fairly long wheelbase and only four inches shorter than the 3 series, but that lower line does a good job disguising it.

The upper beltline has an almost nautical appeal to it, being not unlike the gunwale of small row boat – broad at the beam and straight across at the transom. To carry that nautical notion forward, imagine extending the beltline from the front edge of the fenders to beyond the front of the car and you’ll envision it ending in a point, like the prow of a boat.

In reality, BMW could have made the 1er a mini 3, using the same styling for both vehicles. But to their credit they did not. The 3 series has a much more important place in the BMW portfolio than does the 1er coupe and subsequently BMW could take more risks with the styling of the 1 coupe. While it does not appeal to everyone, it does seem to have generated enough enthusiasm to satisfy the saturation point BMW is trying to achieve with the vehicle.

The interior is decently devoid of extraneous fiddly bits and appeals to a Germanic notion of restraint. Only the instrumentation needed is provided in addition to a minimization of additional knobs, switches, and dials in the secondary controls. In fact the reductio ad absurdum of this philosophy may be the notion of one controller for all functions (iDrive anyone ; -).

The interior materials and finish from the B pillar forward are very good to excellent. In a truly premium car the grain would be matched on the center console trim – but how much did you really want to pay for a 1 series?

Behind the B pillar though, the cost cutting shines through. The backseat is finished at a fraction of the level of the equivalent 3 series coupe. The interior space and layout of the 1er is optimized for front seat passengers and only an occasional use of the rears.

BMW 1 Series Coupe Photo Gallery

The new engine, codename N55, made its debut in the BMW 535i GT and it will be seen across the BMW line-up, starting with the facelifted 3 Series Coupe and Convertible. The engine comes matted to the new seven gear double clutch transmission with sports automatic.

The Twin-Scroll engine continues to produce 306 horsepower and takes the Coupe from 0 to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and the convertible in 5.5 seconds. These performance figures are not, however, taking a toll on the fuel consumption and the official numbers show 8.5 liter per 100 km respectively 8.6 liter per 100 km.

Inside, a new gear selector is featured for seven gear double clutch transmission with sports automatic.

This is most likely the latest update to the current 1 Series line-up, as we approach the launch of a new, redesigned model at the end 2011. But, before new models enter the market, BMW will send off the current design with a BMW M1 version based on the Coupe platform.

More on that, later this year.

The N55 powerplant uses the the innovation of twin-scroll technology and the integration of VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake technology.

This new engine promises even better throttle response and even more fuel efficiency. Thanks to VALVETRONIC, VANOS, and the twin-scroll turbocharger housing, peak torque is reached 100rpm earlier than with the previous engine, and engine boost response is improved across the entire engine speed range.

N55 develops maximum output of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 300 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200–5,000 rpm. The exciting part comes with the 7-speed Double-Clutch Transmission (DCT), the first time an option for the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible.

As we mentioned last week, the old school M3 shifting paddles make a comeback. The shift paddles now feature dedicated paddles for upshifting and down shifting. The driver now pulls the right paddle for upshifts and the left for down shifts.

A more detailed article on the N55 will follow in the next days. Enjoy our amazing photo gallery!

Photos credit Shawn Molnar

The new six-cylinder (N55 designation) develops maximum output of 300 hp at 5,800 rpm, with peak torque of 300 lb-ft available all the way from 1,200–5,000 rpm. This is the same level of performance as the current 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder but with the innovation of twin-scroll technology and the integration of VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake technology, this new engine promises even better throttle response and even more fuel efficiency. Thanks to VALVETRONIC, VANOS, and the twin-scroll turbocharger housing, peak torque is reached 100rpm earlier than with the previous engine, and engine boost response is improved across the entire engine speed range.

In order to enhance the sporting character of the optional 7-speed Double-Clutch Transmission, the shift paddles now feature dedicated paddles for upshifting and down shifting. The driver now pulls the right paddle for upshifts and the left for down shifts. Manual shifts may also be accomplished via the console mounted e-shifter.

Harman Kardon Surround Sound System replaces HiFi System Professional as the upgrade sound system option.

The 2011 BMW 135i Coupe and Convertible will go on sale in the United States as 2011 models in Spring 2010.

[Source: BMW ]

Last June we revealed our very own Project 1 (v1.2). It was wearing an array of parts that suited the 135i well. We received many compliments on what we had done, however we were not finished.

Our attention first went to the rear of the car. Bastuck had released a prototype US-spec quad exhaust system for the 135i. We still call it prototype as we feel the fitment is a little off for the US Spec cars with the charcoal canister. We did a little customization on our end to make the fit flawless and look like it was built in Bavaria. We are working with Bastuck to remedy the situation. The quad system just like the dual is a full cat-back system (aft of secondary cats) and utilizes Bastuck‘s own non resonated y-pipe. We opted for the non-resonated version for 2 reasons; less restriction and so we could hear the engine sing. This exhaust really lets the turbo engine sound come through. Slightly more rumble, a bit louder, and a little more “open sound” made for music to our ears.

This time around, we wrapped the 4 huge double walled 85mm Bastuck tips with 3D Design’s Carbon Fiber Diffuser. This is a 100% carbon fiber diffuser beautifully crafted in Japan. The 3D Design diffuser integrated seamlessly into the existing lines of the 1er while accentuating the aggressiveness of the car with its center mesh opening and slightly flared openings for the quad exhaust tips. Installation was simple, utilizing all the stock clips and attachment points as well as stock screws on the bottom. Fitment with the OEM bumper and larger Bastuck tips was next to perfect.

Of course, being WheelSTO we could not overlook the wheels. We feel as though wheels will either make or break a car. Although the design of the wheel plays a major role, it is not just one factor but a combination of design, offset, color, drop in height and even the rubber that defines the overall feel and look of the car. For months we have been debating what wheels to go with after we decided to bid farewell to our 3pc Klassen wheels. The Klassen wheels were a thing of beauty with smoked lips and sophisticated liquid metal color and 3pc design, but we knew it was time to carry on the aggressive racy theme of the quad exhaust.

We had always been infatuated with Yokohama Advan’s design styles, and build quality. We even thought about trying to fit the aggressive sizing Advan RS (fitment meant for the E90 3 series). I am sure that we could have pulled it off with some fender rolling and camber adjustment and Frank (our resident drifter would have loved it too). Too bad for Frank, Advan released news of the Advan RZ for BMW fitments and even better, an E82 specific fitment. We jumped on the opportunity by calling our Yokohama distributor to pre order a couple of sets.

The sizing that was released was 19×8 +45 and 19×9 +50 and we opted for the Gunmetal finish to complete the dark menacing look. We wrapped them in Yokohama Advan AD08, 225/35/19 and 255/30/19. These tires perform incredibly when carving through corners and look great when parked. They run slightly wider than most other major brands and therefore we did encounter some rubbing with our aggressive drop on H&R Sport Springs. With a slightly narrower tire design (perhaps Falken or Toyo), this setup should be a perfect no rubbing solution. Either way, the car felt great and the rubbing was minimal.

Our 1er (version 1.1) grabbed a lot of attention with the matte black vinyl work we had done on the door panels. Whereas this door panel with huge “WSTO” on the side worked very well for us “commercially”, we wanted a more subtle design that will be the envy of other BMW enthusiasts. The vinyl scheme was stripped but we decided to keep the matte black. Only this time, we added two stripes stretching from the headlights all the way back to the tail lights for a subtle street look. We think that this was an especially nice design by our resident designer/photographer, Johan.

WSTO is proud to present you with video of our Project 1 v.1.2

We decided to launch a video in addition to the numerous photoshoot to try and truly capture the essence of what WSTO has been trying to do with the 135i.

Our goal for the video was to show the potential of not only the 1 series, but any other car and show that with passion and creativity and of course a mix of the right modifications, you can truly achieve your dream ride, which would be totally unique to you.

The focus was also on making sure that all components used to build the project 1 are off-the-shelf, bolt-on items that can easily be acquired and put on by anyone.

Your imagination is truly your limit when it comes to modding your cars and in today’s tuning world, you can get an array of products that will not only make your car faster, but look different and unique.

Lastly, we truly believe that modding should be about you and not about what others say it is and that it should be fun.

Disclosure: WheelSTO is a sponsor of our website

In a way, this surprises us since in his review, he mentions how much he enjoyed the 135i Coupe model, a vehicle that is very similar to the convertible. design, dynamics and performance of that car are nearly identical with the convertible model, hence our confusion, but let’s take a look at what Jeremy had to say.

“Joy’s not really a German thing, I suppose. We do joy. The Americans do joy. The Italians do joy, even though they never laugh. Germans, though? They’re rather better at precision and accuracy and following orders. Which is why I can’t quite understand what went wrong with the new convertible version of the 135i.

It is featured right at the start of the “joy” commercial. The driver is an old man in a hat who is smiling enormously, presumably because he’s just caught a glimpse in the rear-view mirror of his comedy moustache. Certainly, it’s not because of the car.

I like the hard-top 135 very much. In a road test on these pages, I said it harked back to the big engine/small car philosophy that crystalised the BMW range back in the early Eighties. I even gave it five stars, and so I was looking forward to driving its convertible sister.

The 3-litre engine’s unchanged and it’s still great. You have one little turbo that gets you going and then another enormous turbo that kicks in if you really need some clout to overtake. The result is better economy allied to a seamless, relentless, muscular stream of power that’s never exciting or zingy, but always there, ready to arm wrestle its way into your consciousness.

However, the convertible is 254lb heavier than the coupé and that iron lard makes its presence felt every time you put your foot down. This car is as zesty as Stonehenge.

Of course, you’d imagine that with 254lb of strengthening material, it would at least be rigid and strong. But no. All the time the steering wheel is wobbling and vibrating, and sometimes you can actually feel the flex that is sort of inevitable when the front and the back are joined together by only the floor and a bit of Millets canvas.

I don’t doubt that, in extremis, the 135 will handle nicely. And we know it’s quite fast. But there is no excitement here. Not even a crumb of joy.”

Full Article Continued

Our close friends and long time supporters of our blog, Julius and his team at WheelSTO, have an exciting project to share with us: a BMW 135i Coupe which went through a series of modifications. As always, we will let them share the story behind the Project 135i.

We picked up our 135i in September 2008. We instantly fell in love with its gorgeous looks, well designed interior, powerful motor, and more importantly the way it made the driver feel completely in control. We chose Black Sapphire Metallic as it’s a beautiful spin on the standard black. Understated and looks brilliant in the sunlight. The car came with the beautiful Coral Red interior as well. As soon as we got it back to the shop we knew we were in for a really good experience.

We drove the car stock, and really enjoyed BMW’s masterpiece. Being WSTO and car enthusiasts, it didn’t stay stock for long. Within 1 week we had our Bastuck 2x85mm exhaust system, Bastuck y-pipe, and Riss Racing downpipe installed on the car. It surprisingly opened up the feeling of the engine, and gave it a great deep powerful sound. Even with a cat-less downpipe, the sound was not “too loud”, and it’s almost silent inside the cabin while cruising. But push the pedal on the right closer to the floor, and almost as if the engine knows what you want, the turbo’s spool and a glorious sound fills your ears. After we were done making our ears happy, we moved onto our eyes.

3D Design makes quality aero products coming straight from Japan. We opted for the front lip spoiler and rear trunk lip. The front lip is understated, and flows very well with the stock body lines. The trunk lip spolier, swoops up finishing the flow of the already rounded trunk lid.

The addition of BMW performance shadow line grilles finished off the exterior. Next we needed to work on the stance of the car. Thanks to some H&R sport springs, lowering us 1.8″ up front and 1.2″ out back, it brought us closer to the ground and set there car where it should be from the factory. Two months after we picked up the car it looked and sounded great!

As good as it looked, we of course, were not done. We knew we needed some wheels. Here at WheelSTO, your premium wheel depot, we needed something that would stand out. Our good friends at Klassen Leichtmetallrader had just what we needed. We opted for their 5.1, which offered a classic and sporty design. The 3 piece construction meant that we could pick out the perfect offset, and get the largest lip possible. We went with 19×8.5 +40 in front and 19×9.5 +48 in back. The spokes were finished in their liquid black, and completed with a liquid smoke lip. Wrapped them in some super sticky Toyo Proxes T1R sized, 225/35-19 and 255/30-19. Combined with the nice drop this really set our car apart from the rest. Our wheel fitment was perfect and to this day we have yet to experience any rubbing.

Next place that needed attention was of course the engine bay. We got some extra power from the addition of an AFE dual cone intake. It gave the car a nice tone and some extra power up top. The good guys over at Synapse Engineering helped us increase the life of our lovely turbo’s with their charge pipe and blow off valve kit. The best upgrade we did was a new tune from L.E.T. Motorsports (Eurocharged). The upgraded boost and fuel/timing maps turned the car into a rocket. Merging onto the freeway is now a fun process thanks to our engine modifications.

We love the OEM interior but thought it needed some little performance oriented additions. Some simple upgrades from 3D design gave us just what we needed. 3D design pedal covers, as well as their dead pedal cover gave us more grip on the pedals and a sporty look. Sitting next to those we place a set of 3D design floor mats to keep the carpet free from the dust and dirt of daily driving.

We are far from done with our 135i and love it more and more each day. Keep checking our blog for more information and beautiful pictures from Johan, as we transform our 1er from a grocery getter to a really fast grocery getter!

Many BMW owners, tuning and modding shops had and still have fun modifying the standard features and convert the Coupe into an iconic racecar. The white painted 135i Coupe featured in our article belongs to David S., a long time reader of our blog and an even bigger BMW fan. The tuned up 135i made its debut this year at the 24 hour race at Nurburgring and was praised by the press and the community present at the event.

Together with his friends, David S. created a 135i Motorsport kit that turns the 135i Coupe into a real race car. With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the changes implemented by them:

Engine

The standard 326 horsepower has been increased to 360 ponies coming out of  the award-winning N54, but all of this with a hefty price: 2,400 euros.

Bodywork

As with any respectable racing car, the exterior design elements revolve around the use of fiber carbon, starting with the M3 E92 style hood, trunk, front-bumper and doors.

Suspension/Wheels

The 135i Motorsport runs on 18″ wheels and uses the Intrax Suspension 4-way(around 5,500 euros).

Interior

Again, plenty of carbon fiber parts, a performance steering wheel, sifter and of course, the beautiful Recaro Pole Position seats.(1,550 euros each)

For complete pricing, details or more photos, feel free to visit Motorsport24.de (English Translation)

Thanks for the tip David!

You always help us with stories, tips and wonderful comments, so it is only fair that we would give something back, from time to time. The “BMW Of The Week” series is a way for us to express our gratitude by featuring some lucky cars in our weekly post, a car that will be seen by hundreds of thousands of readers every month.

The Flickr BMWBLOG Group gives us  plenty of choices when it comes to choosing the weekly bimmer, but those choices can be very difficult. Some cars stand out with their tuning jobs, others with mods and extraordinary photography. In some cases, the car itself needs to “pampering” and can be simply stunning.

Well, today we’re going back to the 1 Series – last week we saw a modded 135i Coupe that belongs to Mohammad, one of our long time readers – and we’re bringing you another stunning 1 Series Coupe.

The beautiful 135i Coupe belongs to Mark Jardine and the license plate says it all: he is a true “1Addict”. As usual, words cannot describe it best, so we’ll let the photos do the talk.

Thanks for the shots Mark!

At this moment, there are almost 400 photos of your own bimmers and it’s growing every day. Our goal is to reach 1,000 within the next few months and eventually create the largest BMW photo gallery.

So let’s recap a little bit what we’ve done in the past. Week 1 winner trophy was awarded to not one, but three bimmers: 1987 E24 M6, 1992 E36 325iS and 1974 BMW 2002. In the second week, the award went to the previous generation E83 Z4 Roadster with some of the best scenery photos we have seen so far. Third week and the most controversial one, was all about this “funky” modded E36 BMW which went a bit over the top.

So…….the week four award for the most interesting BMW goes to…..Mohammed, one of our longest time readers here at BMWBLOG. Mohammed’s 135i Coupe is one of those bimmers that just stands out. Of course, the suspension upgrades help also, giving the car an even more aggressive stance, not that it ever needed.

We won’t reveal all the details about this 135i Coupe since we will give it an entire article very soon, showing the visual differences prior and after the upgrades.

In the mean time, enjoy the photos and please head over to our Flickr BMWBLOG Group and add some more.

“Is 300 hp too much power for a compact, four-passenger sport coupe? Back in 1974, singer Barry White softly spoke the timeless line, “I’ve heard people say that too much of anything is not good for you, baby.”

Although White, of course, was referring to the love of a woman, nearly everyone who got behind the wheel of our Four Seasons 2008 BMW 135i coupe had similar thoughts about the twin-turbo six under its hood: was it simply too much for this little car?”

Before you jump into their lengthy article, here are some of the overall stats posted by them:

RUNNING COSTS

Mileage
20,683 miles
Warranty
4-yr/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper
4-yr/50,000-mile maintenance
4-yr/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
12-yr/unlimited-mile corrosion
Scheduled maintenance
15,548 mi: $0
Warranty repairs
5696 mi: Replace low-pressure fuel pump, per service bulletin
Out-of-pocket
16,909 mi: Purchase, mount, and balance four Pirelli SottoZero run-flat winter tires, $956Recalls
None
Fuel consumption
EPA city/hwy/combined
17/25/20 mpg
Observed 21 mpg
Cost per mile
(Fuel, service, winter tires) $0.20
($0.77 including depreciation)

Continue reading 2008 BMW 135i Coupe Review

As BMW mentions on their Performance Accessories page, the exhaust system invigorates engine output by allowing engine by-products to exit the vehicle more efficiently. Performance is being slightly increased as well, up to 5 horsepower at 6,000 RPM.

But probably the most exciting thing about this BMW Performance Exhaust is the sound, that “roaring”, deep sound that makes our skin crawl. While the original exhaust already “screams of power”, the upgraded Performance system takes it a bit further.

Click here to view the embedded video.

BMW North America advertises the Performance Exhaust System as $1,095, but the final price may vary based on installation costs and taxes. As we mentioned earlier, all the Performance Accessories are automatically covered under the original warranty or 2-years/24,000 miles.

Thanks for the video Mohammed!

On the other hand, the Lancer EVO is powered by a 291 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine and has the same amount of torque, 300 lb-ft. Both cars weigh around 3,500 lbs, with the 135i Coupe being slightly “skinnier”.

So, the specs are fairly close to each other, but let’ see how they handle on track.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Eisenmann 82/83 exhaust system seen in the video and photos below is priced at around $1,800, but according to many 1 Series fans, it is absolutely worth it. I haven’t had the chance to test it, but after seeing the video below, I have no choice but to join Nate and his team for a ride.

Beside the cool look, the Eisenmann exhaust sound is phenomenal, proving once again that the BMW 1 Series Coupe belongs to the true bimmer fans.

I would tell you more about the exhaust, but I would rather let you enjoy the great video, and wait about three minutes in and you will have another surprise. You’ll see why we like the “IND dudes”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo gallery after the jump