RE: G Power launches 440hp M140i upgrade
Discussion
gofasterrosssco said:
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..
IMVHO, it's the same for even the non-casual autobahn user. Sure there's some fun to be had in humbling a (lower end) Porsche once in a while, or sensing the acceleration when really flooring it after a construction zone -- but it gets old, one ends up wanting more and more power -- and there's still always something even faster. Perhaps it's just my advancing years or the amount of traffic where I drive, but I'm not sure I want more go from my humble 245 PS Golf. I was pretty sure to get a JB4 for it soonish, but I find the thing plenty fast as is. Even with that G Power 1er I doubt my travel time would be 5 minutes less on my usual 150 mile drive. Then there's the range thing, with 440 PS at speed, the 50l tank of the 1er will be good for 200 miles best case. Barely two hours of fun if the roads are clear. To really get places fast a big diesel or a petrol with a (much) bigger tank is the ticket...
What could be tempting is treating this as a 'muscle-car' exercise, for a fun car. Something with a good amount more power than it can easily deal with. Like a TVR, but with a slightly tamed instinct to kill the driver
. But personally I'd also look at fixing the suspension and adding the LSD first. Shame the M1XXi are pretty expensive over here. Hard to justify the purchase and running costs (> 30% over the regular hot hatch fare)...Be interesting to see if the N55 or B58 engines are used for putting in other stuff, they seem robust so far so dont need swapping in and out all the time, can produce a loads of power and are a conventional sort of size and layout, could make a great engine for conversion as x35i cars get crashed and engines are available ?
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.
Which 5-door, mass-produced family hatchbacks were "kicking out this sort of power in the early 90s"?rix said:
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!
As a recent new owner to a Megane RS 250 (well, 330 actually I still like it, but maybe the extra power could be a way of smothering its flaws!
), I can compare between my previous completely standard M135i and the Megane. The Renault is a proper hot hatch with suspension composure, compliance, brake and steering feel my previous M135i could only dream of. Not that the car wasn't fun in itself and it did handle well in comparison to many others 'general' cars, but should be considered a mini-GT rather than a bona fide hot hatch IMO.Now the BMW power train (I'd pick a manual if I had the choice again - auto is awesome and efficient, but detracts from the benefits of the engine), and the Renaults chassis would be... An M2..?
Article seems to readily exchange 135i and 140i, but their respective engines the N55 and B58 are quite different. One of the more interesting novelties is that the B58 is charge cooled, water cooled intercooler, just like an S engine. Great for response, harder to upgrade perhaps, are any kits available?
But as touched upon before, the sensible thing to do is probably to get a M3/M4 for a little bit more, UK is fairly unique in that kind of opportunity.
But as touched upon before, the sensible thing to do is probably to get a M3/M4 for a little bit more, UK is fairly unique in that kind of opportunity.
rix said:
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!
I'm afraid it won't make it better.I still like it, but maybe the extra power could be a way of smothering its flaws!
As another poster commented, the last thing any of these cars need is more power. The majority of the performance hatch sector has been ruined by manufacturers power blindness. It's refreshing when a manufacturer brings something out with sub 300hp and makes a point of mentioning money being spent on the bits that connect the road to the driver via the car.
LasseV 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.
Nope. No 400hp with those mods in real life.gofasterrosssco said:
rix said:
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!
As a recent new owner to a Megane RS 250 (well, 330 actually I still like it, but maybe the extra power could be a way of smothering its flaws!
), I can compare between my previous completely standard M135i and the Megane. The Renault is a proper hot hatch with suspension composure, compliance, brake and steering feel my previous M135i could only dream of. Not that the car wasn't fun in itself and it did handle well in comparison to many others 'general' cars, but should be considered a mini-GT rather than a bona fide hot hatch IMO.Now the BMW power train (I'd pick a manual if I had the choice again - auto is awesome and efficient, but detracts from the benefits of the engine), and the Renaults chassis would be... An M2..?
Onehp said:
LasseV 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.
Nope. No 400hp with those mods in real life.You will see anywhere between 390-410 with "good" with bolts ons including the decat (catback not needed). Due to the sheer volume of cars with this powerplant here and stateside all in that band with the turbo at >1.8bar. All of those dynos collectively wont be wrong..
Like all tuning at everyday man level , nobody puts these things in a climate controlled engine dyno room at mahle to be sure..
J4CKO said:
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.
And if you are the sort to modify a car then starting with an M3 which is an 8second car to 100mph with bespoke suspension and brakes is a very good base.
None the less engineering these days is wonderful loads of power efficient and reliable. What’s not to like.
And if you are the sort to modify a car then starting with an M3 which is an 8second car to 100mph with bespoke suspension and brakes is a very good base.
None the less engineering these days is wonderful loads of power efficient and reliable. What’s not to like.
Mr Whippy said:
V8 M3 or a laggy 140i... hmmmm
Er, have you driven one ?As standard 370 lb/ft of torque from 1400 rpm, 70 plus more than a V8 M3, easier to be out of the power band in the M3 than having any lag on the 140i, especially with an 8 speed auto, remember its still a three litre straight six, its a well sorted installation and the boost pressure isnt that high as standard.
Not saying its better than a V8 M3 but it isnt laggy and its as fast most of the time, faster in a lot of circumstances.
Onehp said:
If the exhaust is a turbo back incl. metal cat downpipe, then yes 400 irl. But it's just a number to throw around at the pub. Either engines can be pushed to silly numbers, irl the limiting factors are elsewhere and already mentioned here.
I haven't seen any dynograph with mild mods that shows 400hp. Don't get me wrong, there are good gains to have and 2.0 tsi is powerful engine, but there is also a lot of BS in the web considering how much you can get. And it is not only for these cars, people just exeggerate hp numbers in general. And also reports too good MPG numbers 
J4CKO said:
Er, have you driven one ?
As standard 370 lb/ft of torque from 1400 rpm, 70 plus more than a V8 M3, easier to be out of the power band in the M3 than having any lag on the 140i, especially with an 8 speed auto, remember its still a three litre straight six, its a well sorted installation and the boost pressure isnt that high as standard.
Not saying its better than a V8 M3 but it isnt laggy and its as fast most of the time, faster in a lot of circumstances.
Fast fast fast speed speed... who cares?As standard 370 lb/ft of torque from 1400 rpm, 70 plus more than a V8 M3, easier to be out of the power band in the M3 than having any lag on the 140i, especially with an 8 speed auto, remember its still a three litre straight six, its a well sorted installation and the boost pressure isnt that high as standard.
Not saying its better than a V8 M3 but it isnt laggy and its as fast most of the time, faster in a lot of circumstances.
Cheap leather.
Cheap crap manual seats unless leccy.
Laggy. It’s turbo and it’s laggy. Not bad but it lags.
8spd is boring. It’s ok in a diesel or a normal car, but it’s not a sporty box. Works fine with a turbo engine though.
Cheap thin carpets.
Fairly bland noise. I gather most is via speakers.
The V8 M3 will be on another planet for having fun with the performance on hand.
Plus the E9x generally are much nicer quality, with the M leather even nicer again.
Mr Whippy said:
V8 M3 or a laggy 140i... hmmmm
In a segment consisting entirely of four cylinder 2-2.3L turbo competitors, the M140i can hardly be described as "laggy". It's not really comparable to an E9x M3, any more than that would be to a Lotus Exige.
Edited by ManOpener on Wednesday 26th September 22:57
C70R said:
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.
Which 5-door, mass-produced family hatchbacks were "kicking out this sort of power in the early 90s"?yonex said:
C70R said:
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.
Which 5-door, mass-produced family hatchbacks were "kicking out this sort of power in the early 90s"?E36 M3 320hp is around 1500kg kerb irl easily and still is far short in power
Escort Cosworth perhaps at irl 1350kg kerb, but again nowhere near the same power with similar mods.
None indeed.
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