BMW M140i | PH Personal Space

It was clear, again on the finish of 2012, that BMW was positive to have a smash hit on its arms with the F20-era M135i. It was surprisingly inexpensive, it was fantastically quick due to a turbo straight six, it was rear-wheel drive, it was… acceptable to have a look at. Let’s say that. However after making an attempt and failing with a 3 Sequence Compact and the primary era of 1 Sequence, BMW lastly had a straight six hatch that individuals actually wished to purchase. Seems all they wanted to supply was 320hp for £30,000.

The Mk7 Golf R arrived not lengthy after, and gross sales of each typically made it look like no different sizzling hatches existed. Wherever you went, the BMW and the VW have been there in droves, as a result of each provided very nice interiors and a great deal of pace for not a lot cash. And a few good pop and bang maps, if that was your factor. Or a six-speed handbook gearbox as customary, if that was extra your factor. 

Each M135i and M140i, although not good, have been immensely likeable little automobiles, conventional BMW sizzling rods for the trendy age. They weren’t one of the best sizzling hatches to drive (due to sub par steering and damping), they weren’t probably the most sensible hatches ever (due to having to comprise such a giant engine) and BMW by no means made a very good-looking one, but it surely didn’t matter. With four-cylinder M Efficiency 1 Sequence actually not hitting the mark and plentiful secondhand sixes, the M135i and M140i have turn into used automobiles heroes. 

This is one of one of the best we’ve seen for some time. And we’re trying much more than is actually advisable. It’s a Melboure Purple three-door handbook, for starters, removed from the most well-liked spec and all of the extra fascinating for it. The eight-speed auto is after all excellent, and 5 doorways are helpful, however for full old skool cool this have to be the best way to go.

There’s round 470hp as effectively, a helpful uptick from the usual M140’s 340hp. However given seemingly no BMW B58 engine on the planet is unmodified, that’s not the large information right here. Nope, the large information is the raft of chassis adjustments made to take full benefit. The vendor notes within the advert that every part has been accomplished to handle ‘all of the out-of-the-box dealing with inadequacies’, and it’s exhausting to think about very a lot slop or slack left on this now. There are KW V3 coilovers, Yokohama R888R tyres, BMW’s M Efficiency restricted slip diff, uprated bushes, extra bracing, H&R anti-roll bars, braided lined, racier pads, a stronger clutch… you get the thought. It’s a fairly severe construct, most likely delivering one thing like an M1 expertise by no means provided from the manufacturing facility. 

Actually it seems the half, wheels tucked up proper within the arches and trip top good. All of the modifications have been carried out prior to now 12 months; the intention was for the BMW to stay round, however the arrival of one other little one has put paid to the vendor’s plans considerably. So it seems an ideal alternative for another person, with a uncommon spec and a few good upgrades. It’s not the most cost effective approach into an M140i, however £17,500 is rather a lot lower than it might price to create one thing like this from scratch. And all the brand new bits have solely coated round 2,000 miles or so. It guarantees to be a mega little BMW for somebody, and good ones are absolutely going to stay in demand for some time but. In spite of everything, what else like it’s there?