Monday 22nd July 2013

BMW 4 Series M Performance - pics!

Standard 4 Series too subtle? Step right this way (with some extra cash) says BMW

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So here's the white display 4 Series 'with a ruddy great black stripe' that was mentioned by Chris Harris in his first drive last week. His story mentions some of the M Performance upgrades available, but today we have pictures of said car.

Not such a Rich Tea 4 Series now...

As mentioned, the Power Kit gives the 435i another 34hp and 37lb ft, taking its totals to 340hp and 332lb ft. Nothing is yet available for the 2.0-litre 428i but the diesels can be Power Kitted also. So equipped, the 420d gains 16hp/29lb ft and the 430d 27hp/29lb ft.

But these images give a first look at the exterior alterations; they certainly make the 4 Series more distinctive, don't they? The bumpers are noticeably more aggressive, plus there's plenty of carbon (spoiler, mirror caps and front splitter); the obligatory rear diffuser features also. Just in case that wasn't enough, the sills are M Performance-embossed as well. Some will welcome the additional visual punch, but the changes could also be seen as unnecessary chintz on the subtle standard car. Wonder what the M4 will be like...

Interior 'inspired by racing'. With sat-nav.

The interior gets more carbon, more badges and plenty of Alcantara, including a lovely steering wheel with 'Race Display'. The true M connoisseur will surely be eager for some M Performance floor mats and 'a specially designed driver's footrest' too.

Following the car's October launch, the M Performance 4 Series accessories will be available from January 2014. Prices remain unknown, but it's interesting to note this new direction for M Performance; there was the technical innovation with the M550d, followed by the performance bargain M135i. Hopefully a trio will be completed soon and M Performance doesn't simply become an accessories range.

 

[Contigo]

Wait for the M4 thanks!

[b14]

Surely with just some flared arches, obligatory "power bulge" 4 exhausts and a modest power hike from the same engine, you've got the M4.

[hy789]

M4 is gonna be a monster

[j90gta]

Guten tag. Ich heisse Barry und ich komme von Essex! Hier ist mein auto. Es geht sehr schnell. Alle die schnellmachenteile hab ich in Halfords gekauft! Apologies for my poor German but I think you get the drift. That is absolutely horrid. Let's stick some bits of carbon fibre on it and hope the mugs will part with their hard-earned cash for the privilege. Don't know what they are thinking about. Just stick to the mechanical modifications please!!!

[kambites]

That is absolutely foul!

[Bear Phils]

So the cheapskates get to have carbon and some diffusers on their 420ds? Great...

[il sole]

looks great to me. big improvement on the standard 4...I wonder if the x35i power upgrade will be available for the rest of the 3 series range...

[rastapasta]

j90gta said:

Guten tag. Ich heisse Barry und ich komme von Essex! Hier ist mein auto. Es geht sehr schnell. Alle die schnellmachenteile hab ich in Halfords gekauft! Apologies for my poor German but I think you get the drift. That is absolutely horrid. Let's stick some bits of carbon fibre on it and hope the mugs will part with their hard-earned cash for the privilege. Don't know what they are thinking about. Just stick to the mechanical modifications please!!!

Hey thats pretty decent german. Even here in Switzerland the BMW race cars on posters have BMW Original Zubehor written on them or 'Genuine Accessories' ... So I think they are going to be selling car body pimping parts also from now on

[GTEYE]

There have been M performance upgrades available for several years on the previous 1 series and 3 series...both in terms of chipped engine upgrades (120d/320d) and in terms of interior/exterior tackifications.

It is probably destined only to be seen in the BMW accessory catalogue - judging by previous attempts.

IMHO this looks more of the same - would you ruin your £40k 4 series and try to make it look like a chavved up Saxo....I think not...

[TNH]

Bear Phils said:

So the cheapskates get to have carbon and some diffusers on their 420ds? Great...

They've been able to do that for years... BMW Performance range. You can even have them for your diesel 1 series if that tickles your fancy.

[Esseesse]

Much better with the sport bumpers without the carbon tat.

[panholio]

Looks awful.

The whole car looks car looks awful. BMW have totally lost it.

[LordPetroleum]

Ahhhhhhh Ambassador BMW wiz zees extra plasteek bits to add to our automobiles.... you are boring us, desist, guten abend.

[tomoleeds]

looks like a prototype with a stripe

[Noe]

Got to say it


Boring Mans Wheels

Booyah boring cars for the boring motorist ......

[matrignano]

BMW are obviously trying to tap into the large tuning market that exists for BMW cars, rather than letting only others profit from it.

What BMW don't appear to understand, is that most tuned BMWs are not current generation models, but mostly the older versions which tend to be acquired (to a greater extent) by people of less savoury backgrounds, and who might be more prone to modifying their vehicles with such addenda that BMW wants to be selling.

From my observations, people who tune current gen models tend to do it properly and go for the high-end, full on upgrades/conversions offered by the likes of AC Schnitzer, Hartge, G-Power etc. Or they just buy an M-car or an Alpina.

I can't help but feel that BMW are wasting time and money on this one...

[Nors]

Is it just me, or is the whole exhaust arrangement at the back of that Blue M-Sport, very very basic and old fashioned looking?

[em177]

The standard M-Sports look stunning in the flesh.

[Tarico]

Ummm, have you guys missed the LSD option? Or was this smoke and mirrors/wishful thinking from other journos?

[Bear Phils]

TNH said:

Bear Phils said:

So the cheapskates get to have carbon and some diffusers on their 420ds? Great...

They've been able to do that for years... BMW Performance range. You can even have them for your diesel 1 series if that tickles your fancy.

Yeah but it used to be a bit more subtle, that is way too OTT.