BMW M140 (at last!)

[Craikeybaby]

It is looking great!

[BenLowden]

Following with interest! Loving the level of detail OP and the quality of the photographs

[Dizeee]

Nice to see a fellow 40i owner looking after the car so well, just as I am with my 2 series. I have only had mine 3 weeks, but love it. Almost 2 years of research and contemplation before I pulled the trigger.

Interestingly , and reading the earlier comments about last of line, a large chunk of my rationale was thinking that these 40is are going to remain sought after and desirable owing to the engine, the fact they are 6 cylinder lumps in small cars and have moderately decent running costs. Dare I say that in 10 years they may be considered a modern classic?

Either way I intend to keep and remain as stock as possible, I am sure over the years I may dip into a few simple M cosmetic mods, and possibly an exhaust once mine corrodes.

[Court_S]

Thanks for the positive comments guys.

[Court_S]

Dizeee said:

Nice to see a fellow 40i owner looking after the car so well, just as I am with my 2 series. I have only had mine 3 weeks, but love it. Almost 2 years of research and contemplation before I pulled the trigger.

Interestingly , and reading the earlier comments about last of line, a large chunk of my rationale was thinking that these 40is are going to remain sought after and desirable owing to the engine, the fact they are 6 cylinder lumps in small cars and have moderately decent running costs. Dare I say that in 10 years they may be considered a modern classic?

Either way I intend to keep and remain as stock as possible, I am sure over the years I may dip into a few simple M cosmetic mods, and possibly an exhaust once mine corrodes.

I was drawn by the last of a kind element too. I think they already have a bit of a following. They’re not prefect but I don’t think any of the big engined hatches have ever been (R32, GTA, 130i) but they all end up with their own following. Jay Emm did a video the other day along those lines.

Your comment about the exhaust has reminded me about mine; the tips are starting to put and corrode after 10k miles. Seems like the finish is a bit pants because it’s a common complaint in BabyBMW. I might look into the brushed aluminium tips from a 435 because they’re supposed to last a bit longer. Or I might try some eBay specials.

[HM-2]

Court_S said:

Your comment about the exhaust has reminded me about mine; the tips are starting to put and corrode after 10k miles. Seems like the finish is a bit pants because it’s a common complaint in BabyBMW. I might look into the brushed aluminium tips from a 435 because they’re supposed to last a bit longer. Or I might try some eBay specials.

I can't remember who it was, but someone on here swapped on the tips from an F12 640i and they looked pretty good.

[BenLowden]

Have a chat with this guy to see what he may be able to do with your exhaust: https://www.exhaustmods.co.uk/

Not affiliated with PH, even though the logo is a bit similar...

[Court_S]

BenLowden said:

Have a chat with this guy to see what he may be able to do with your exhaust: https://www.exhaustmods.co.uk/

Not affiliated with PH, even though the logo is a bit similar...

Thanks Ben, a trip to PCW is on the cards at some point.

[Court_S]

HM-2 said:

I can't remember who it was, but someone on here swapped on the tips from an F12 640i and they looked pretty good.

Cheers for that, I’ll have a look into that too.

[Nik Gnashers]

Court_S said:

Your car looks lovely; the silver mirrors and canards work in every colour other than white. Who are you getting to map your car?

I have looked at a few options, but it means travelling a fair distance.
There is a company in Lincoln where I live, called P K Automotive, and they have mapped a couple of M140i's so far, they have a rolling road etc too.
He says he can get a safe 410-420 bhp, with a nice linear power & torque curve.
I think that should be enough, I'm not that fussed in chasing maximum numbers.

Cleaned mine today, it has a fair bit of light swirling all over, due to (I suspect), the previous owner using the local hand wash service.
Started with auto glym orange label wheel cleaner.
Then a quick spray of auto finesse iron remover on the wheels, and rinse.
Used a hosepipe foam gun, ebay purchase, worked very well. Only using foam as a pre-wash really so cheapo turtle wax.
Then a shampoo with auto glym green label, using my ebay lambswool wash mitt.
Then a thin layer of meguiars ultimate polish, finished off with a layer of meguiars ultimate paste wax.

Edited by Nik Gnashers on Wednesday 15th April 13:39

[HM-2]

I would speak to Litchfield RE maps, they're very highly regarded.
Stage 1 is ~420bhp done from a custom base with either dyno or on-the-road tweaking.
But I'd almost definitely be looking at a diff and wider wheels first!

[Dizeee]

BenLowden said:

Have a chat with this guy to see what he may be able to do with your exhaust: https://www.exhaustmods.co.uk/

Not affiliated with PH, even though the logo is a bit similar...

Would love to have a chat, but having called,the answer machine says he doesn'tttake incoming calls?

[Court_S]

Dizeee said:

Would love to have a chat, but having called,the answer machine says he doesn'tttake incoming calls?

I think it’s best to get hold of him via messenger. He seems pretty busy and does get a lot of jokers booking in and not turning up etc.

[MB140]

Court_S said:

BenLowden said:

Have a chat with this guy to see what he may be able to do with your exhaust: https://www.exhaustmods.co.uk/

Not affiliated with PH, even though the logo is a bit similar...

Thanks Ben, a trip to PCW is on the cards at some point.

Ive contacted him a couple of times for my m135i to have its exhaust done. Never got back to me but hear his work is very good quality. If you get it done I look forward to hearing how you get on with it and what you think.

Edited by MB140 on Wednesday 15th April 18:05

[MrC986]

Court_S said:

Who are you getting to map your car?

FYI, Performance Torque at Wombourne have remapped a few friends cars on their rolling road if you’re interested & have a good reputation.

[Court_S]

Popped out to grab a few bits of shopping locally yesterday, parked slightly out of the way to avoid the carnage near the Co Op and upon returning to my car I found two shifty fkers next to it in tracksuits, face masks (wannabe gangster ones not protective ones). As I got back to the car park, they jumped back into a black Mk2 Octavia vRS with illegal tints (all windows blacked out) and drove off saying to me that they’ll get it next time.

Nice. First bit of trouble I’ve ever experienced, in broad daylight next to a main road. Reported it to the police and had a follow up call today and apparently something very similar was reported at this car park last month. Looks like I’ll be parking with everyone else next time! Absolute scum.

[Dizeee]

That's a worry. However, the only real way to nick these cars is to mirror the digital key signal ( what normally happens overnight when at home and its gone from the drive the next day ) or to confront the owner with violence. Luckily you weren't car jacked at the roadside, this happens.

Maybe next time, if you spot them as you approach, walk past as if your not the owner, call 999 covertly and await assistance before coming forward. You will have to sell a bit more than shifty behaviour to get a good response though. Plus, if in the 8 minutes or so it takes police to arrive they actively make moves to try and take your car, your going to have a difficult decision to make.

[Court_S]

Dizeee said:

That's a worry. However, the only real way to nick these cars is to mirror the digital key signal ( what normally happens overnight when at home and its gone from the drive the next day ) or to confront the owner with violence. Luckily you weren't car jacked at the roadside, this happens.

Maybe next time, if you spot them as you approach, walk past as if your not the owner, call 999 covertly and await assistance before coming forward. You will have to sell a bit more than shifty behaviour to get a good response though. Plus, if in the 8 minutes or so it takes police to arrive they actively make moves to try and take your car, your going to have a difficult decision to make.

I think they were mostly low level scum looking for an easy opportunity because they scarpered pretty quickly. My first thoughts were my lad if I’m honest, not the car. He want to go and find them to kick them in he balls! That’s his response to most bad stuff. The joys of being five I guess.

My car doesn’t have comfort access, so as far as I’m aware, the key is needed to remove it.

It’s literally the first tine it’s been noticed in nearly a year; no one really pays it any attention.

[MB140]

Court_S said:

Popped out to grab a few bits of shopping locally yesterday, parked slightly out of the way to avoid the carnage near the Co Op and upon returning to my car I found two shifty fkers next to it in tracksuits, face masks (wannabe gangster ones not protective ones). As I got back to the car park, they jumped back into a black Mk2 Octavia vRS with illegal tints (all windows blacked out) and drove off saying to me that they’ll get it next time.

Nice. First bit of trouble I’ve ever experienced, in broad daylight next to a main road. Reported it to the police and had a follow up call today and apparently something very similar was reported at this car park last month. Looks like I’ll be parking with everyone else next time! Absolute scum.

I’d be looking to make sure there is no tracker been stuck to it. Or maybe park it not on your drive until you have had it looked over.

[Court_S]

MB140 said:

I’d be looking to make sure there is no tracker been stuck to it. Or maybe park it not on your drive until you have had it looked over.

That was the second thing I did last night when I got back (reported it first). Nothing under the wheel arches or bumper lips or anywhere easily accessible.

The police popped round today and gave me a faraday pouch to keep my car key in. They’ve also popped to where I was parked to see if there was any CCTV etc.