Monday 2nd December 2013

BMW 2 Series M Performance upgrades

More power, M suspension, a louder exhaust and a limited-slip diff for the M235i? Sign us up!

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How to improve on what's an already pretty attractive sounding package in the BMW M235i? Well, one short of the off the shelf race car revealed last week, a plundering of the BMW M Performance parts catalogue sounds like a pretty good punt.

Aesthetics altered/improved according to taste...

BMW has confirmed its range of parts for the 2 Series, which includes all manner of Alcantara and/or carbon trim bits for the cabin and various aero additions for the body. Black grille trims, carbon details, M-badged side skirts, M Performance stripes and wheel options are all included but beyond this 'optical' tuning as our German friends call it there are more substantial mechanical ones too.

A power kit for the 220d adds another 16hp to give you 200hp in total and there's an M Performance suspension kit with recalibrated dampers, 20mm ride height drop and shorter (red painted!) springs and a 'high capacity' braking system with a choice of caliper colours too. The latter two are available across the 2 Series range but it's the parts for the M235i that'll be of most interest to the likes of us.

The sports exhaust produces a "striking, sports-style sound" which tickles our fancy more than the branded "tailpipe trim elements" in carbon or chrome. Best 'til last though - yes there'll be an official mechanical limited-slip differential upgrade too. BMW talks euphemistically of "traction optimised distribution of drive torque" and an ability to "accelerate out of a bend more dynamically" but we all know what that means in reality...

...sports exhaust and diff of more interest

Next questions you'll be pondering are 'when', 'how much' and 'can I put the diff on a 1 Series?' A BMW UK spokesman was a little vague on all of the above, describing M Performance parts as "a grey area" and "if the diff fits and works" on the 1 Series he sees "no reason why not" it wouldn't be available. Pricing, fitting costs and availability on all models are according to dealer discretion so if you're looking to order an M235i for March onwards delivery and fancy the sound of some of the upgrades best start making eyes at them now.

Or you could just bypass that and go aftermarket, Birds offering an off the shelf Quaife differential for the 1 Series fully fitted for a smidge under two-grand. Stands to reason this would fit the 2 Series too if your BMW dealer seems a little non committal about plundering the darkest recesses of the official accessories catalogue there is an alternative.

You can read the full 2 Series M Performance parts press release here.

 

[Aaron W]

what a car its really got something to it

[Yadash]

looks horrid though

[rtz62]

"A power kit for the 220d adds another 16hp to give you 200hp in total"

Go on, I'll be the first to say it, a bit of a pathetic increase in power for your (no doubt substantial sum of) money, but I guess the suits will say its because BMW have to conply with allsorts of regs, whereas an aftermarket tuner can lob a 30bhp grenade at it with impunity?

[RobM77]

Yadash said:

looks horrid though

Sure, it's no looker, but it's not so ugly that I couldn't buy one, like the present 1 series and those MINIs on stilts I keep seeing. Making a car that isn't laughably ugly is the first step forward for BMW design

[jcl]

I think the bumpers are overly aggressive looking but overall I think it looks quite nice.

[Escort3500]

RobM77 said:

Yadash said:

looks horrid though

Sure, it's no looker, but it's not so ugly that I couldn't buy one, like the present 1 series and those MINIs on stilts I keep seeing. Making a car that isn't laughably ugly is the first step forward for BMW design

Totally agree. Far easier on the eye than the woeful looking 1 Series (and I include the coupe here) and the comically ugly MINI. I'm a big BMW fan but haven't been tempted since I bought my E46! But this would change my mind if it looks as good in the flesh.

[DMC2]

How much for some steering feel?

[RobM77]

DMC2 said:

How much for some steering feel?

I think that's part of the options pack that includes throttle response and a supple ride. The last time I checked it was currently unavailable due to lack of demand.

ETA: Seriously though, this may well be a great car and I look forward to my first drive of it. I've already registered an interest with BMW.

[MarJay]

It's got what Jeremy Clarkson described about the E30 3 series and the 2002. "A Non styling driven appeal". It's not wilfully ugly like the 1 series and the like, but it's definitely purposeful!

[jonstable]

What a thread title! SPAG has long gone!

I do quite like the looks of the car, but recent threads with old Bavarian metal have got me hankering more for an old E34 than this.

[rb5er]

Wow, a modern BMW that actually looks pretty decent, is not overly bloated and should be compact enough to have some fun with.

Good stuff.

[kambites]

To my eye the visual mods to the front and sides work quite well; the back is awful (I think it would look better if the panel the exhaust tips are cut out of was black). The wheels are too big for my tastes too, I think it would look (and almost certainly drive) better with them at least an inch smaller, possibly two.

It's never going to be a pretty car, but it's a definite improvement on the other recent BMWs.

[Dave Hedgehog]

41k to my spec ..

[Vladimir]

Too shouty and those wheels are grim (I've seen them close up).

Part of the appeal of the "ugly" M135i to us is that it's very subtle.

[Debaser]

Wonder how much the LSD is?

[CraigyMc]

Debaser said:

Wonder how much the LSD is?

About £6. http://www.idmu.co.uk/lsd-prices-2011.htm

[TNH]

I really do think that is an awesome looking thing.

[365daytonafan]

rtz62 said:

"A power kit for the 220d adds another 16hp to give you 200hp in total"

Go on, I'll be the first to say it, a bit of a pathetic increase in power for your (no doubt substantial sum of) money, but I guess the suits will say its because BMW have to conply with allsorts of regs, whereas an aftermarket tuner can lob a 30bhp grenade at it with impunity?

I take it there won't be the 225d with the 218bhp version of the 2.0td seen in the 1 series?

[TNH]

365daytonafan said:

I take it there won't be the 225d with the 218bhp version of the 2.0td seen in the 1 series?

Yes there will be. Auto only, starting north of £31k...

[Axionknight]

Looks great from the side but those large black grills at the front remind me of the RS3, I.E, crap.