Fact: 9 out of 10 car enthusiasts will modify their car. Stock is never enough for these carnuts, and it's only a matter of time before they look to making their ride look and go faster.
Photos: Low Fai Ming
Modifying a car can be tricky business though. The wrong parts can produce undesirable results and make a car look worse than before. But parts that have been through proper R&D for that specific car, and have the correct fitment and finishing can't go wrong.
That's what BMW Performance does for BMW owners. In a nutshell you're getting a host of yummy go-fast and look-fast enhancements that have been approved by the factory - it doesn't get any better than that.
The car here is a 335i that has been tweaked with parts from the BMW Performance inventory. We'll guide you along on the parts as you scroll through the photos, but let me just say that this is one wheel-spinning, tyre-screeching, pulverising powerhouse. And it's a result of the sum of all its parts. Read on...
One look at the car and immediately you get the sense that this is no ordinary 335i. Suited with the full Aerodynamics Kit, the lower front bumper instantly adds aggression to the otherwise standard 3-Series front end. Blacked-out kidney grills also give the car a no-nonsense attitude.
Side skirts and a sporty rear bumper with dual exhaust cut-outs finish the look. I would have preferred for the rear diffuser section to be in black though.
Step inside, and you'll be greeted with a thick Alcantara-wrapped multi-function steering wheel. Grippy and chunky to hold, it features an LED display on the upper section of the wheel no larger than a mini Van Houten Chocolate bar. From this screen you can view your oil and coolant temperature, lateral and longitudinal acceleration and gearshift points.
One of the most delectable items fitted on this 335i has to be the tasty BMW Performance bucket seats. Finished in black Alcantara, they not only look sexy, they offer perfect support while retaining high levels of comfort for long-distance driving.
Carbon fiber wing mirrors add to the sporty exterior, as do the two-toned decals.
Coupled with a sports suspension system that lowers the car by 25mm, 19" light-alloy wheels with twin 5-spoke design fill the arches well. This setup is very apparent on the road, with the car feeling a lot more 'darty' with the increased turn-in and feedback from the road.
Not sure how much more downforce this slim carbon bootlid spoiler will help generate, but it does add a nice contrast to the white-painted car.
This has to be the best part. The Power kit increases power by 20 bhp and torque by 50 Nm. It may not seem like much, but on the road, all the additional horses can be felt via the rear wheels. The final figures of 326 bhp and 450 Nm will help propel this 335i to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
No modification process is complete without a sweet exhaust system. This lovely dual-piped system is finished in chrome and emits a vicious growl when the accelerator is floored. Even starting the car is a joy with a nice bark accompanying every engine crank.
Also available but unfortunately not fitted to our test car, is the Sport Brake Kit that features enlarged cross-drilled and slotted discs and 6-piston calipers.
So it seems like BMW Performance has a very comprehensive range of products for BMW owners looking to enhance their rides. But it does come at a cost. The list of goodies fitted to our test car cost almost S$45K! Good enough to buy you a used BMW Z3 for kicks.
Ultimately, if modifying your car with a peace of mind is a top priority for you, the premium is a small price to pay for the guarantee of quality and support that comes with every BMW Performance part.