Tuesday 25th September 2018

G Power launches 440hp M140i upgrade

Goes as fast as an M3, looks like any other 1 Series - perfect!

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While a good few years old now, the inherent appeal of the BMW M Performance 1 and 2 Series models hasn't yet waned: put a large, powerful engine in a relatively compact, rear-wheel drive car, make it reasonably affordable and the popularity is easy to understand. Sure, it's perhaps not the most dynamically adept hot hatch out there, but it is unique in the sector.

Since its introduction in 2012, the turbocharged M135i (and M140i successor) has attracted plentiful attention from tuners, and this latest kit from G Power proves that work continues apace. Following on from a recent V1 upgrade for the 40i engined cars, G Power is now onto V2, and that means 440hp...

Yep, 440hp in a pretty standard looking 1 Series. Allied to 435lb ft and a delimit, G Power claims more than 174mph is possible. Building on the V1 software upgrade - or "optimised maps for the engine electronics" in G Power speak - V2 for the 40i 3.0-litre introduces stainless steel downpipes which are claimed to add another 40hp. Yes, a bold claim to say the least. But getting air in and out of turbocharged engines is key to power gains, and if they've been designed to work with the remap... Alright, 440 might be overstating their effectiveness, but however much more than 400hp it actually is, it remains a very exciting prospect in a small, five-door hatch. G Power says its work "remains within the technically acceptable limits with regard to the usable potential of the engines", while also offering M3 levels of performance.

Sounds ideal, right? Best of all, G-Power is marking its 35th anniversary by offering 35 per cent off its wares - that means the 400hp V1 upgrade is €1,740. With early cars now down to less than £14k, there's the potential for a pretty affordable 400hp there. But if that leads to a full overhaul of brakes, suspension, tyres and the like, then don't blame us...

[Source: Carscoops]

 

[housen]

k

[cookington]

I'm far from an expert but I think the Golf R/Audi S3 2.0 TSI can make 400hp with intake, exhaust and remap. I would think 400hp would easily be achieved in the BMW.

[gofasterrosssco]

Probably appealing for the casual autobahn user/ straight line hero, but in the UK at least, the last thing these cars really need is more power / torque through the standard open diff and using the standard suspension IMO..

[J4CKO]

had a quick go in a 140i with a reputed 450 bhp and it was savage, they are routinely hitting these kind of numbers with a remap and downpipe. The M135i will make 400 fairly simply.

Problem is traction really, the scope is definitely there but as standard they can be a tad unruly, add just a remap/box to 370 ish and its getting a bit more frantic, 450 bhp really easily overwhelms the available grip from the rears, its fun and more is usually better but really the more power you add, the more you need that LSD and some suspension mods to contain it.

Mental though, how easily you can get hold of a 400 bhp car these days, but really hey do need more work to be a proper package other than just engine tuning.

[TartanPaint]

Here's the link to 140s in the classifieds.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=u...

[Shiv_P]

cookington said:

I'm far from an expert but I think the Golf R/Audi S3 2.0 TSI can make 400hp with intake, exhaust and remap. I would think 400hp would easily be achieved in the BMW.

Apparently they are easier to extract more power from than the 140i

[ManOpener]

Shiv_P said:

cookington said:

I'm far from an expert but I think the Golf R/Audi S3 2.0 TSI can make 400hp with intake, exhaust and remap. I would think 400hp would easily be achieved in the BMW.

Apparently they are easier to extract more power from than the 140i

The quoted power output for the B58 engine is a little, er, pessimistic. Many seem to be putting out ~350bhp unmodified.
A JB+/JB4 or Dinan stage 1 is ~380-400bhp without other supporting modifications. This one made 410bhp with just a JB4 Map1.

Fuel system seems to be the limit. With Water/Methanol injection and bolt-on modifications (intake/exhaust/map) US cars have made over 450whp. The Big Boost M240i is putting out more than 600whp, but I don't know what supporting modifications that has.

[LasseV]

cookington said:

I'm far from an expert but I think the Golf R/Audi S3 2.0 TSI can make 400hp with intake, exhaust and remap. I would think 400hp would easily be achieved in the BMW.

Nope. No 400hp with those mods in real life.

[Mackofthejungle]

Wheels are far too big, ride height is too low. Looks cheap.

[sicasey]

Sublime, arguably the perfect weapon for regular mundane use.

[Gameface]

So how much is the V2 modification that's the actual subject of the article?

[MrC986]

I've a PH friend with a stage 2 AC Schnizter M135i & with circa 390 bhp that's more than enough IMO (& it's got uprated brakes & super sticky tyres). God knows what 450 bhp must be like...I bet it's putting a substantial amount more stress on the drivetrain as it's not the bhp but the torque that pushes the transmission to the limits.

[xjay1337]

440hp has been done on the m140 engines quite a lot recently since the b58 ecu got uncracked.

[J4CKO]

By the time you have tuned it to that level, sorted the handling, the traction and possibly the brakes (which are quite good as standard) on an M140i that starts at about 22k, you may as well look at an M3/4 that now starts at about five grand more.

[Fleckers]

De badge it

Be a bit of a Q car

[deltashad]

Looks cheap boy racer with those callipers also. Were performance cars in the early 90s not kicking out this sort of power with much less weight? Not exactly progress.

[Speed_Demon]

deltashad said:

Looks cheap boy racer with those callipers also. Were performance cars in the early 90s not kicking out this sort of power with much less weight? Not exactly progress.

Yes but they were Ferraris...

[J4CKO]

deltashad said:

Looks cheap boy racer with those callipers also. Were performance cars in the early 90s not kicking out this sort of power with much less weight? Not exactly progress.

Early Nineties would be a Sierra/Escort Cosworth with a fully built YB engine for 450 bhp, bigger turbo, different cams, porting, different pistons, bigger injectors etc, it would need an uprated clutch as well. It would more than likely be horrendous on fuel and potentially a bit fragile. Similar deal with Imprezas, Evo's and even Skylines.

The Lotus Carlton was the fastest thing around at the time with 375 bhp, just over what these make standard.

Compare and contrast with buying a standard M140 and getting it mapped and a bit of the exhaust change.

[rix]

As a m240i owner, I can say its fairly brisk as standard, but I'm still tempted to upgrade/remap and I havent done that to a car in 10 years+! The thing is, it's just not exciting, the acceleration is fun but, and maybe its my overcaution with rwd, but it does not feel agile or chuckable, even in comparison with my previous mk3 tt! The m135i I drove previously was obviously pretty similar but its not got the feel of a hot hatch. Btw the low speed ride is poor, the steering has way less feel than my 10 year old mondeo, and I struggle to get into a comfy driving position...

I still like it, but maybe the extra power could be a way of smothering its flaws!

[HannsG]

Can the standard out the box suspension give the driver confidence with this sort of power?

I have a E82 125i which has been tuned and yes its older and less powerful. But the suspension is dogst to say the least.