BMW M140i

[AdamFX]

Hi all

With the B7 RS4 knocking on a bit & now handed off to a family member, I recently replaced it with a BMW M140i. Mineral Grey, black interior with Pro Nav, Harman Kardon, Adaptive suspension - most things besides heated seats & sunroof. It's an LCI car as opposed to the LCI 2 with the more fancy back-lit speedo; I did also want coral interior given the lack of sunroof but overall it doesn't feel as much of a dungeon as I thought it might.

First thing I did was replace the stock 436M alloys with 19" 405Ms (excuse the glamorous building site backdrop):




So far so good up to that point - incredibly capable, great (possibly slightly too quiet) B58 soundtrack with the stock exhausts & far more comfortable/easy to live with than my RS4.

Two weeks after collection some moron decided to do this outside a friend's house:



2 weeks & nearly £1000 later, it's back to how it was. This time did allow me to think about what else I wanted to do with it cosmetically, as engine upgrades are off the table for me until the warranty expires.

So far we're up to the following, sorted in order of soonest > latest, to ensure it doesn't go a bit OTT!

- Gloss black Maxton splitters
- Gloss black RK-Tuning rear diffuser
- BMS chrome exhaust tips, although these will probably be temporary while I decide on whether it's going to be Remus, BCS Powervalve, etc.
- Carbon F80 M3-style wingmirrors & bigger carbon boot spoiler
- Front canards wrapped in gloss black & de-badged
- Steering wheel changed to alcantara & carbon inserts
- A trip to Motech Performance for Eibach springs (-25mm F / -20mm R) with 12mm TPI spacers.

Watch this space!

[s70rmp]

do you mind me asking how much the 405Ms were as I really like those wheels

[JackReacher]

Personally , I would start with money on proper suspension first and move on to cosmetics later. Birds/Bilstein b12 for example.

[peetee7]

welcome bud, would love to hear your thoughts on how the M140i compares to the B7 RS4

lovely car. sorry to hear about your incident

[AdamFX]

s70rmp said:

do you mind me asking how much the 405Ms were as I really like those wheels

Can't remember the exact amount but around £1900 with tyres from Cotswold BMW

[AdamFX]

JackReacher said:

Personally , I would start with money on proper suspension first and move on to cosmetics later. Birds/Bilstein b12 for example.

You're right - that one was supposed to be higher It'll probably be done at the same time as the splitters but a bit concerned about ride height, as I have a history of beaching cars of every high kerb I can find

[steedy27]

AdamFX said:

I recently replaced it with a BMW M140i. Mineral Grey, black interior with Pro Nav, Harman Kardon, Adaptive suspension - most things besides heated seats & sunroof.

I have been thinking about a late LCI M135i or early M140i once my lease goes back early next year, this would be my ideal specification, not many about on Autotrader, they normally have 2 of the 3 (ProNav, HK and Adaptive) not all 3. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

[chrismc1977]

Are the dimples of the cushion foam meant to be visible through the drivers seat?

[AdamFX]

steedy27 said:

I have been thinking about a late LCI M135i or early M140i once my lease goes back early next year, this would be my ideal specification, not many about on Autotrader, they normally have 2 of the 3 (ProNav, HK and Adaptive) not all 3. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

I noticed that too. I got lucky with this one being at my local dealer when I dropped in. I drove both - I thought the 135 gives you a bit more of a kick in the back under heavy acceleration, but the 140’s delivery is relentless at 70+mph speeds

chrismc1977 said:

Are the dimples of the cushion foam meant to be visible through the drivers seat?

I’d just had my bony behind on the seat for an hour - it’s back to normal now!

[HM-2]

AdamFX said:

JackReacher said:

Personally , I would start with money on proper suspension first and move on to cosmetics later. Birds/Bilstein b12 for example.

You're right - that one was supposed to be higher It'll probably be done at the same time as the splitters but a bit concerned about ride height, as I have a history of beaching cars of every high kerb I can find

A limited slip differential, IMO the M Performance one, needs to also find its way onto that list alongside the suspension IMO. Having driven a diff'd M235i, the difference it makes it absolutely massive.

[J4CKO]

steedy27 said:

AdamFX said:

I recently replaced it with a BMW M140i. Mineral Grey, black interior with Pro Nav, Harman Kardon, Adaptive suspension - most things besides heated seats & sunroof.

I have been thinking about a late LCI M135i or early M140i once my lease goes back early next year, this would be my ideal specification, not many about on Autotrader, they normally have 2 of the 3 (ProNav, HK and Adaptive) not all 3. Looking forward to see what you do with it.

I bought an M135i with nothing apart from the auto box and metallic paint, mainly as it was at the local BMW place and had looked at some hounds at independent dealers, mismatched tyres, fresh paint, scuffs and four owners in three years for example.

I would say decide what you have to have and not worry about it too much.

I didnt think the HK sounded all that much better than the one in mine, the car is really quite noisy on the move so its a bit wasted.

Adaptive was a novelty but a bit hard in sport and a bit wallowy in comfort, I dont think about it.

Pro Nav is better but still behind Waze or whatever, I have used my business Nav a couple of times in the year I have had the car and it does the job, I think the main thing is people want the posher looking screen not the "Council Nav" as I saw it called on the M lite FB group.

Heated Seats, the car warms up pretty quickly with that big six cylinder engine, would have been nice for a couple of weeks but two miles down the road its blowing warm anyway.

Sunroof, meh

Cruise, never really use it when I have had it.

I would have gone for a car with more stuff if it were there on but the basic package is pretty good for me and couldnt be arsed chasing all over when there was a super low mileage, mint car with the correct gearbox, 5 doors and in a colour I liked.

I would say try one with the various bits and see what you are bothered about as wanting every option narrows down the selection of cars massively.

[AdamFX]

HM-2 said:

A limited slip differential, IMO the M Performance one, needs to also find its way onto that list alongside the suspension IMO. Having driven a diff'd M235i, the difference it makes it absolutely massive.

Yeah it's a consideration of mine but I'll need to try one out first. I'm not really a bonkers driver (most of the time) - never done a track day etc. - so I wonder how much value I'd get out of it?

The cosmetic (cheaper!) mods are being done in the next few weeks. Suspension & spacers penciled for June. Exhaust, LSD need to be looked at further

[Hammy98]

Just got one of these a couple of months ago in a similar spec to yours:

White with Coral interior
HK, ProNav
Adaptive
Auto

Have to say the longer I've had it the more fond I've grown of it. It can be a bit unsettled when pushing on over bumpy surfaces, but on the right road its immensely capable and its abilities outweigh my bravery by a fair bit. Cracking cars.

Interested to hear how comfort is impacted with the springs as that's something I'd considered myself - the last thing the car needs is less compliance in sport!

[martin mrt]

Nice buy, in one of the best colours for these. I just wish mine wasn’t black.

I’ve seen so many of these with the maxton splitters and M4 style mirrors and I’m afraid to say they cheapen the look imo. Too boy racer ish.

I’d rather put the money towards the much needed rear diff or an m performance exhaust

[Luke.]

Gene G said:

This is the most recent addition to our collection.

Think you took a wrong turn somewhere.

[Luke.]

Damn, he deleted.... :