Its taken me around 18 cars since I've been driving to find a car to match my old g40. I regret selling it, but i hope its being looked after by someone who likes it as much as i did. I've never really liked new cars but i do like new bmw's for their blend of performance and economy.

I've finally found a car which rivalls it for fun, speed, mpg etc. I've recently got a bmw 135i coupe. Its got the n54b30 twin turbo 3.0 engine and has no lag at all, much like the g40, only faster :-D

It gets around 35-38mpg on my commute and its comfy when you want to stop playing around, cant ask for much more.

Friend of mine has the same in white, pushing around the 300 bhp mark, they are quick little cars!

full blown win

Thanks :-D

They are seriously underestimated by most things on the road, mainly diesels

I've underestimated one of these in the past, they're definitely quick!

Looks good mate! Are you getting it dealer serviced cos their prices are PAIIIIIIIIIIIIINFUL!

I've underestimated one of these in the past, they're definitely quick!

Looks good mate! Are you getting it dealer serviced cos their prices are PAIIIIIIIIIIIIINFUL!

No chance! You can keep bmw warranty as long as its serviced using genuine parts. Ill either doit my self or take it to a specialist

£100p.hour labour costs at bmw is insane!

I'd definitely invest in a good aftermarket alarm with proximity sensors if I were you, too many of these things getting nicked lately!

Smartttttt!

I'd definitely invest in a good aftermarket alarm with proximity sensors if I were you, too many of these things getting nicked lately!

I know, its been on watchdog its got that bad! I've got a steering lock which is the best way to prevent it untill bmw release the update for the keys.

You can just move the obd connector and stow it somewhere else behind the dash though.

I've been tempted by a 116i badge to make it less appealing to theives and/or funny to let people think theve been outdragged by a 1.6

Edited 6 November, 201213 yr by shaun_89

my mum has the e93 335i and that is rapid, i can only imagine that this is faster! sweet motor mate

any plans? or just keeping it fresh

my mum has the e93 335i and that is rapid, i can only imagine that this is faster! sweet motor mate

any plans? or just keeping it fresh

Same horsepower, 200+ kg lighter :-)

Keeping it ultra clean and tidy mainly. I'm after some late spec darkline rear lights, and get my alloys refinished in nimbus grey. Wouldnt mind an exhaust and a remap aswell

I had one of these in on test a few years back. Awesome things out of the box, 295bhp iirc, about 5.5sec to 60mph, sweet handling and a great noise too.

So yeah good purchase, very much approved! Now get it remapped to 380bhp. Muahahahaha!

Same horsepower, 200+ kg lighter :-)

Keeping it ultra clean and tidy mainly. I'm after some late spec darkline rear lights, and get my alloys refinished in nimbus grey. Wouldnt mind an exhaust and a remap aswell

oh wow!

good lad! i hate when BMW's are over done

now that sounds minty fresh! looking forward to seeing it

I had one of these in on test a few years back. Awesome things out of the box, 295bhp iirc, about 5.5sec to 60mph, sweet handling and a great noise too.

So yeah good purchase, very much approved! Now get it remapped to 380bhp. Muahahahaha!

Its is tempting, near 400bhp and the same in torque are big numbers!

love these cars after driving a 123d

when insurance is a bit lower I'm thinking of getting one

Got a new exhaust this weekend, replaced the mid section with 2x2.5" pipes collected into 3" and then stepped down to the standard backbox flange. Its replaced 2 cats and 1 silencer, it now sounds like it always should have! Quiet when cruising, has that lovely straight 6 howl when your going for it. :-D

Lovely! Keep it up mate!

Jealous is an understatement

Thanks :-)

Ill try to get up a clear video of the sound now when i get chance. Failing that youll find me in birmingham tunnels with a big grin on my face

I recently took my car to the curborough boxing day event, which just about stayed dry, but however was very greasy and damp, perfect rwd weather

I had fun with the traction control turned 100% off for the day but progress was made scary by the lack of a proper lsd though. The electronic version did a fine job of making the car twitchy and unpredictable!

Anyway some nice pictures courtesy of my gf and a quick video of one of my runs at curborough, i was hoping for it to be a bit better but it was taken from my phone.

Edited 30 December, 201213 yr by shaun_89

Jealous! Love these cars, can't beat keeping it clean and OEM looking with a few mods under the hood

love it

Thanks for the positive comments :-)

Noticed my wheels were flaking earlier, after a trip to bmw it turns out my supllying dealer had the wheels refurbed and a crap refurb at that! It was pointed out the silver isnt even the right colour with the original colour showing through. Waiting to hear back from the dealer as they'll be funding a proper refurb.

Perfect time for a colour change, anyone know any nice darkish mettalic grey paints?

Edited 5 January, 201313 yr by shaun_89

Ordered my new tyres today as I've nearly killed my rears! Switching to non rft tyres, I've gone for michelin pilot super sports as I've only found excellent reviews. Cant wait to get them on!

Small update:

Had my new tyres on for 600 miles or so now. I cannot believe how much better the car is without rft's! It rides so much better, still hard but not crashy, composed and with plenty of grip. The michelins are by far the best tyre I've ever used, theres loads of grip, dry and wet, they have a nice progressive break away and communicate well whats going on underneath you. If youve never tried them and you can get them in your size, then id suggest you do, they are easily worth the extra premium. Another bonus is the sidewalls are pretty smooth, making applying tyre gel nice and easy :-D

I've also had the rest of my exhaust finished, so i now have 2x 2.5 inch pipes collected into 3 inch with a single rear box. Id presume its got more power, feels more free revving. Ill get it rr'd at some point to test it. Must have saved a fair amount of weight too which is a bonus :-) I've just been enjoying the noise more than anything, its not intrusive when cruising but when you get your foot down it chnages from a deep note at low revs, starts changing pitch around 3k then its got that mettalic howl from 4k onwards. It sounds like a proper staright 6 now, exactly how it should have been from bmw! I've also got my matte black kidney grilles fitted, which are much better than the previous chrome ones.

In between work and uni I've been doing loads of detailing lately and invested in loads of new gear. I'm waiting to get onto my own car soon as I've had no end of friends who have been getting there car done, some cars that I've done/been scheduled in:

BMW 116i hatch

VW Golf mk4 GTTDI

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage

Toyota Auris

Some random pics:

Exhaust

Tyres (I dont really see the point in these tyre ratings, how can my front and rears have different ratings even though they are the same tyre?)

Interior

Iron-x on my wheels for the first time. If youve never used it, check it out. Plenty of advice on detailing world about it.

Some of my new polishing compounds