2017 BMW M140i
Discussion
Hi all,
Thought I would start doing a thread on my current car, it’s the longest I have owned a daily car, and I figured it might be time to throw something together so I have some semblance of a record for the car.
As the title suggests, it’s a 2017 BMW M140i Shadow Edition, nearly as rare as the Corsa Limited Editions but not quite. I got the car when it was just shy of 4 years old from a local Vauxhall garage, when I accidentally wandered over to have a look at it whilst picking up some bits from Screwfix across the road from the dealership. Next thing I knew, sales chap was passing me the keys and I was driving it back home to see what the wife thought (and if the dog would fit). Cue a couple of comments from her about me “only going to Screwfix for some bits, not a bloody car”. Nevertheless, she approved, and a deal was done with my old F31 330d in part exchange.
From there, I didn’t really do much with it for a while until I purchased it outright as I wasn’t sure about how fuel and running costs would be on the car I wanted to run it for a bit and make sure it was a longer-term proposition. I only did one mod:
Once it was mine, there was a couple of big issues I had with the car, ride and handling. I have a bad back from years gone and was finding that every journey over 30 mins or so, my back would be aching and sore from the jarring ride. My other complaint was even as a lukewarm driving enthusiast, it never cornered that well or instilled any confidence when driving.
A common mod is the Bilstein B12 kit, which comes with Bilstein B8 dampers and Eibach springs. Not lowing the car much but living in the lakes and using the car daily, I didn’t want something that was scraping the floor and grounding out.
I also had a scorpion res delete fitted that I picked up second hand alongside a panel filter and silicone elbow for some more noise but nothing too intrusive. I have also fitted some spacers as I thought the stock wheels looked a bit lost in the arches.
Then the car was just used, it’s been all around the UK and Scotland, including Arran and parts of the NC500, driving to Heathrow for me and my wife’s honeymoon and then just the mundane drives to the office and seeing family.
This year I had some Polybush inserts on the rear subframe fitted, I am no driving god but they improved how the back of the car felt when cornering for me and combined with a session with Reg Local, really helped with my confidence in the car on corners.
Just recently I picked up xHP gearbox mapping software on a black Friday deal, aside from a layer 8 issue on my part when applying it, its improved just the way it drives overall. Hard to explain without a back-to-back comparison but it responds much sharper than factory would. The engine at the moment is stock, I don’t think it needs anymore power for public roads and I’m yet to find a situation where I find the power lacking, so until that happens I don’t think it will happen.
Enough of my waffling, here’s some photos of the car in various places at various states of ownership.
So far, in 30k miles the car has cost me, aside from mods, a set of brakes all round, 3 sets of tyres and just servicing. Long term running costs has it sitting at just over 33mpg in three and a half years with my best being 49mpg according to the onboard optimistic computer. Oh and the dog approves.
Thought I would start doing a thread on my current car, it’s the longest I have owned a daily car, and I figured it might be time to throw something together so I have some semblance of a record for the car.
As the title suggests, it’s a 2017 BMW M140i Shadow Edition, nearly as rare as the Corsa Limited Editions but not quite. I got the car when it was just shy of 4 years old from a local Vauxhall garage, when I accidentally wandered over to have a look at it whilst picking up some bits from Screwfix across the road from the dealership. Next thing I knew, sales chap was passing me the keys and I was driving it back home to see what the wife thought (and if the dog would fit). Cue a couple of comments from her about me “only going to Screwfix for some bits, not a bloody car”. Nevertheless, she approved, and a deal was done with my old F31 330d in part exchange.
From there, I didn’t really do much with it for a while until I purchased it outright as I wasn’t sure about how fuel and running costs would be on the car I wanted to run it for a bit and make sure it was a longer-term proposition. I only did one mod:
Once it was mine, there was a couple of big issues I had with the car, ride and handling. I have a bad back from years gone and was finding that every journey over 30 mins or so, my back would be aching and sore from the jarring ride. My other complaint was even as a lukewarm driving enthusiast, it never cornered that well or instilled any confidence when driving.
A common mod is the Bilstein B12 kit, which comes with Bilstein B8 dampers and Eibach springs. Not lowing the car much but living in the lakes and using the car daily, I didn’t want something that was scraping the floor and grounding out.
I also had a scorpion res delete fitted that I picked up second hand alongside a panel filter and silicone elbow for some more noise but nothing too intrusive. I have also fitted some spacers as I thought the stock wheels looked a bit lost in the arches.
Then the car was just used, it’s been all around the UK and Scotland, including Arran and parts of the NC500, driving to Heathrow for me and my wife’s honeymoon and then just the mundane drives to the office and seeing family.
This year I had some Polybush inserts on the rear subframe fitted, I am no driving god but they improved how the back of the car felt when cornering for me and combined with a session with Reg Local, really helped with my confidence in the car on corners.
Just recently I picked up xHP gearbox mapping software on a black Friday deal, aside from a layer 8 issue on my part when applying it, its improved just the way it drives overall. Hard to explain without a back-to-back comparison but it responds much sharper than factory would. The engine at the moment is stock, I don’t think it needs anymore power for public roads and I’m yet to find a situation where I find the power lacking, so until that happens I don’t think it will happen.
Enough of my waffling, here’s some photos of the car in various places at various states of ownership.
So far, in 30k miles the car has cost me, aside from mods, a set of brakes all round, 3 sets of tyres and just servicing. Long term running costs has it sitting at just over 33mpg in three and a half years with my best being 49mpg according to the onboard optimistic computer. Oh and the dog approves.
Edited by PistonbrokePaul on Friday 31st January 21:46
That looks and sounds a superb buy 
How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
Jazoli said:
Looks like you bought it from the now gone Hargreaves/Arnold Clark Vauxhall in Kendal then, I think I’ve spotted you as I did follow a red 140i with the PH smiley passing through Windermere a while back.
Yep that was me probably, its apparently not a common colour for an M140i. danb79 said:
That looks and sounds a superb buy
How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
Cheers Dan, you and court_s topics are what motivated me to do my own! How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
B12 kit was genuinely a revelation, I was close to selling the car and taking a hit on it due to the ride causing my back to be in agony but thought for the money it was worth a gamble and really made the car how it should have been from factory. Not too hardcore that it can't be used daily on our wonderful roads, but vastly improving how it handled bumps and undulations, no sharp jarring but actual damping. The rear subframe inserts I'm not sure if its placebo but it feels like they have removed the initial movement from the rear when turning, but it could just be me trying to convince myself it was money well spent.
PistonbrokePaul said:
My other complaint was even as a lukewarm driving enthusiast, it never cornered that well or instilled any confidence when driving.
Had one of these new in 2017 and this is very much how I remember it. I got rid of it prematurely, rather than modify (age/insurance). Glad to see you’ve found a solution. Enjoy!Beautiful car and spec, as a poster mentioned, it's a lot of car for the money in the shadow edition spec or with a good spec.
I have the M240i 67 plate albeit a manual and it's also the longest I have owned a car. 3 years 4 months. I drove it to Munich and back in early December, what a peach of an engine, at home on the autobahn.
Have you considered remapping yours yet? I held back on it for a year and a half as I didn't want to interfere with the car too much however it was an absolute game changer. I got it done at DMS, they put it on the dyno and mine made 460 ps
I have the M240i 67 plate albeit a manual and it's also the longest I have owned a car. 3 years 4 months. I drove it to Munich and back in early December, what a peach of an engine, at home on the autobahn.
Have you considered remapping yours yet? I held back on it for a year and a half as I didn't want to interfere with the car too much however it was an absolute game changer. I got it done at DMS, they put it on the dyno and mine made 460 ps
PistonbrokePaul said:
danb79 said:
That looks and sounds a superb buy
How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
Cheers Dan, you and court_s topics are what motivated me to do my own! How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
B12 kit was genuinely a revelation, I was close to selling the car and taking a hit on it due to the ride causing my back to be in agony but thought for the money it was worth a gamble and really made the car how it should have been from factory. Not too hardcore that it can't be used daily on our wonderful roads, but vastly improving how it handled bumps and undulations, no sharp jarring but actual damping. The rear subframe inserts I'm not sure if its placebo but it feels like they have removed the initial movement from the rear when turning, but it could just be me trying to convince myself it was money well spent.
I am seriously tempted with coilovers; but the B12 kit I think would be really well suited to my 130i - but for not a lot more & with full adjustability, the ST XTAs are still a serious contender; more so as I've my motorsport mechanic pals to fit it all and set the car up properly...
I'll do the rear subframe inserts; sounds like they'll do what you've said and reduce that waywardness on the rear
danb79 said:
PistonbrokePaul said:
danb79 said:
That looks and sounds a superb buy
How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
Cheers Dan, you and court_s topics are what motivated me to do my own! How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
B12 kit was genuinely a revelation, I was close to selling the car and taking a hit on it due to the ride causing my back to be in agony but thought for the money it was worth a gamble and really made the car how it should have been from factory. Not too hardcore that it can't be used daily on our wonderful roads, but vastly improving how it handled bumps and undulations, no sharp jarring but actual damping. The rear subframe inserts I'm not sure if its placebo but it feels like they have removed the initial movement from the rear when turning, but it could just be me trying to convince myself it was money well spent.
I am seriously tempted with coilovers; but the B12 kit I think would be really well suited to my 130i - but for not a lot more & with full adjustability, the ST XTAs are still a serious contender; more so as I've my motorsport mechanic pals to fit it all and set the car up properly...
I'll do the rear subframe inserts; sounds like they'll do what you've said and reduce that waywardness on the rear
PistonbrokePaul said:
danb79 said:
PistonbrokePaul said:
danb79 said:
That looks and sounds a superb buy
How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
Cheers Dan, you and court_s topics are what motivated me to do my own! How do you find the B12 kit and the rear subframe inserts?
I'm toying with the inserts for my E81 130i when I do the suspension overhaul (also considering ST XTA coilovers - not dropping stupidly low); but the B12s cross my mind a lot. it's on B4s with Eibach pro kit springs currently and they're ok, but not as good as they could be
B12 kit was genuinely a revelation, I was close to selling the car and taking a hit on it due to the ride causing my back to be in agony but thought for the money it was worth a gamble and really made the car how it should have been from factory. Not too hardcore that it can't be used daily on our wonderful roads, but vastly improving how it handled bumps and undulations, no sharp jarring but actual damping. The rear subframe inserts I'm not sure if its placebo but it feels like they have removed the initial movement from the rear when turning, but it could just be me trying to convince myself it was money well spent.
I am seriously tempted with coilovers; but the B12 kit I think would be really well suited to my 130i - but for not a lot more & with full adjustability, the ST XTAs are still a serious contender; more so as I've my motorsport mechanic pals to fit it all and set the car up properly...
I'll do the rear subframe inserts; sounds like they'll do what you've said and reduce that waywardness on the rear
But agree. It is coilovers I've got my mind set on for that full adjustability but also so the ride height can be properly dialled in.
Did you not get tracking and alignment done when you fitted your B12 kit Paul?
Nice OP red is rare for these I wanted red or Valencia orange when I bought mine but wasn’t any in my price bracket.
Iv had mine nearly 4 years as my daily and track car and it’s had zero issues except the window mechanism breaking.
I did the same with suspension, went with B14 coilovers, all the polybush inserts, chassis brace, LSD etc and it’s a completely different car I couldn’t believe the difference going from stock to this set up.
Iv done a few engine mods as well to a smidge under 500bhp and it total changes the car it’s really very quick for a small hatch the low down torque is savage, managed 173mph at a straight liners event.
There’s nothing I can think of to replace as a one car all rounder really. Done lots of big journeys does great MPG on a steady cruise, big enough for me the mrs and the dog, small in the back if you have kids or carry passengers regular though. Fairly cheap to maintain compared to proper M cars.
Last summer me and mrs did a trip down to Cornwall with a days worth of stuff, on the way back stopped at Donington for a track day, was quicker than quite a few more ‘exotic’ and expensive/ trailered track toys, packed back up and carried on home.
Iv had mine nearly 4 years as my daily and track car and it’s had zero issues except the window mechanism breaking.
I did the same with suspension, went with B14 coilovers, all the polybush inserts, chassis brace, LSD etc and it’s a completely different car I couldn’t believe the difference going from stock to this set up.
Iv done a few engine mods as well to a smidge under 500bhp and it total changes the car it’s really very quick for a small hatch the low down torque is savage, managed 173mph at a straight liners event.
There’s nothing I can think of to replace as a one car all rounder really. Done lots of big journeys does great MPG on a steady cruise, big enough for me the mrs and the dog, small in the back if you have kids or carry passengers regular though. Fairly cheap to maintain compared to proper M cars.
Last summer me and mrs did a trip down to Cornwall with a days worth of stuff, on the way back stopped at Donington for a track day, was quicker than quite a few more ‘exotic’ and expensive/ trailered track toys, packed back up and carried on home.
Edited by Glenn63 on Tuesday 7th January 11:48
danb79 said:
Haha yeah. I saw that offer on Autodoc too. Think it was c£480 delivered for the B12 kit just before Christmas. It's ended now of course
But agree. It is coilovers I've got my mind set on for that full adjustability but also so the ride height can be properly dialled in.
Did you not get tracking and alignment done when you fitted your B12 kit Paul?
I did get it aligned but I was never happy with how it drove so got it done by a specialist in Manchester not long after. I don't think it will ever win prizes for handling but at least it doesn't hit a bump and But agree. It is coilovers I've got my mind set on for that full adjustability but also so the ride height can be properly dialled in.
Did you not get tracking and alignment done when you fitted your B12 kit Paul?
itself now! Glenn63 said:
Nice OP red is rare for these I wanted red or Valencia orange when I bought mine but wasn’t any in my price bracket.
Iv had mine nearly 4 years as my daily and track car and it’s had zero issues except the window mechanism breaking.
I did the same with suspension, went with B14 coilovers, all the polybush inserts, chassis brace, LSD etc and it’s a completely different car I couldn’t believe the difference going from stock to this set up.
Iv done a few engine mods as well to a smidge under 500bhp and it total changes the car it’s really very quick for a small hatch the low down torque is savage, managed 173mph at a straight liners event.
There’s nothing I can think of to replace as a one car all rounder really. Done lots of big journeys does great MPG on a steady cruise, big enough for me the mrs and the dog, small in the back if you have kids or carry passengers regular though. Fairly cheap to maintain compared to proper M cars.
Last summer me and mrs did a trip down to Cornwall with a days worth of stuff, on the way back stopped at Donington for a track day, was quicker than quite a few more ‘exotic’ and expensive/ trailered track toys, packed back up and carried on home.
This is the problem I am finding, can't really justify anything else for the money without it being a significant jump in running costs. Amusingly, I spotted the ISF that was on here when browsing eBay but didn't realise it was a PH car until it had sold! Iv had mine nearly 4 years as my daily and track car and it’s had zero issues except the window mechanism breaking.
I did the same with suspension, went with B14 coilovers, all the polybush inserts, chassis brace, LSD etc and it’s a completely different car I couldn’t believe the difference going from stock to this set up.
Iv done a few engine mods as well to a smidge under 500bhp and it total changes the car it’s really very quick for a small hatch the low down torque is savage, managed 173mph at a straight liners event.
There’s nothing I can think of to replace as a one car all rounder really. Done lots of big journeys does great MPG on a steady cruise, big enough for me the mrs and the dog, small in the back if you have kids or carry passengers regular though. Fairly cheap to maintain compared to proper M cars.
Last summer me and mrs did a trip down to Cornwall with a days worth of stuff, on the way back stopped at Donington for a track day, was quicker than quite a few more ‘exotic’ and expensive/ trailered track toys, packed back up and carried on home.
Edited by Glenn63 on Tuesday 7th January 11:48
Have you not been worried about reliability after engine mods? I still pay for a BMW warranty as I still have flashbacks of past cars leaving me stranded due to engine remaps and hear some horror stories about injectors failing and taking out the engine.
AllyM said:
PistonbrokePaul said:
My other complaint was even as a lukewarm driving enthusiast, it never cornered that well or instilled any confidence when driving.
Had one of these new in 2017 and this is very much how I remember it. I got rid of it prematurely, rather than modify (age/insurance). Glad to see you’ve found a solution. Enjoy!That said, the noise and straight line performance was fantastic. Glad we had it.
PistonbrokePaul said:
Glenn63 said:
Nice OP red is rare for these I wanted red or Valencia orange when I bought mine but wasn’t any in my price bracket.
Iv had mine nearly 4 years as my daily and track car and it’s had zero issues except the window mechanism breaking.
I did the same with suspension, went with B14 coilovers, all the polybush inserts, chassis brace, LSD etc and it’s a completely different car I couldn’t believe the difference going from stock to this set up.
Iv done a few engine mods as well to a smidge under 500bhp and it total changes the car it’s really very quick for a small hatch the low down torque is savage, managed 173mph at a straight liners event.
There’s nothing I can think of to replace as a one car all rounder really. Done lots of big journeys does great MPG on a steady cruise, big enough for me the mrs and the dog, small in the back if you have kids or carry passengers regular though. Fairly cheap to maintain compared to proper M cars.
Last summer me and mrs did a trip down to Cornwall with a days worth of stuff, on the way back stopped at Donington for a track day, was quicker than quite a few more ‘exotic’ and expensive/ trailered track toys, packed back up and carried on home.
This is the problem I am finding, can't really justify anything else for the money without it being a significant jump in running costs. Amusingly, I spotted the ISF that was on here when browsing eBay but didn't realise it was a PH car until it had sold! Iv had mine nearly 4 years as my daily and track car and it’s had zero issues except the window mechanism breaking.
I did the same with suspension, went with B14 coilovers, all the polybush inserts, chassis brace, LSD etc and it’s a completely different car I couldn’t believe the difference going from stock to this set up.
Iv done a few engine mods as well to a smidge under 500bhp and it total changes the car it’s really very quick for a small hatch the low down torque is savage, managed 173mph at a straight liners event.
There’s nothing I can think of to replace as a one car all rounder really. Done lots of big journeys does great MPG on a steady cruise, big enough for me the mrs and the dog, small in the back if you have kids or carry passengers regular though. Fairly cheap to maintain compared to proper M cars.
Last summer me and mrs did a trip down to Cornwall with a days worth of stuff, on the way back stopped at Donington for a track day, was quicker than quite a few more ‘exotic’ and expensive/ trailered track toys, packed back up and carried on home.
Edited by Glenn63 on Tuesday 7th January 11:48
Have you not been worried about reliability after engine mods? I still pay for a BMW warranty as I still have flashbacks of past cars leaving me stranded due to engine remaps and hear some horror stories about injectors failing and taking out the engine.
Not really the B58 is very reliable and some on the forums are running over 600bhp no issues. Iv tuned almost all my cars over the years i don’t do mega miles so happy with the risk.
There was a batch of bad injectors on 16’ plate cars, which mine is, but had no issues so far.
Not really much to report on this, I fitted an obligatory rear diffuser thing that somebody was selling quite cheap and as I was driving past the town they lived in it seemed worth grabbing so I can blend in with all the other modified M140i's. Its been cleaned a few times as the local birds seem to aim for my car over my wife's mini but nothing really too exciting to update.
Also fitted an MST intake, not for any performance benefits but just for more turbo noises to satisfy my inner child.
Quick pic from a day out we had, blending in at a National Trust property.
Also fitted an MST intake, not for any performance benefits but just for more turbo noises to satisfy my inner child.
Quick pic from a day out we had, blending in at a National Trust property.
These do look good in red.
I had one, I bought new in 2019 and never really gelled with it. Perhaps I should have gone further with the suspension mods, I did H+R springs, underbody brace B8 dampers and a good alignment but it never quite clicked for me. The B58 and ZF8 is a fantastic combo but I always felt that it wore cheques that the chassis couldn’t cash.
The diffuser is an obligatory mod because the stock one is a bit meh. I splashed out on the dry carbon interior which was lovely.
I had one, I bought new in 2019 and never really gelled with it. Perhaps I should have gone further with the suspension mods, I did H+R springs, underbody brace B8 dampers and a good alignment but it never quite clicked for me. The B58 and ZF8 is a fantastic combo but I always felt that it wore cheques that the chassis couldn’t cash.
The diffuser is an obligatory mod because the stock one is a bit meh. I splashed out on the dry carbon interior which was lovely.
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