BMW M140i PE

Performance Edition edges closer to full M-Status

- Trent Giunco

THEY don’t make them like they used to is a saying anyone premidlife crisis has heard all too often. Yet, in terms of BMW, with every model in the range now sporting a turbocharged engine, it holds some weight. The days of highly tuned, naturally aspirated offerings seem to be long gone for the venerable Bavarian marque. However, it’s not all bad news.

Few would consider the 1 Series to be a part of the silver lining, but the M140i is already a gem. To up the ante even further, 60 Performance Editions are now available with a host of extra kit for a $71,900 price tag.

So, what makes this special edition, ahem, special? As the brainchild of BMW Australia, the fettled M140i comes with a host of M Performance goodies such as 19-inch alloys finished in Orbit grey, hand-crafted, carbon fibre wingmirror covers, a gloss black kidney grille and a matte black, hatch mounted rear lip spoiler. A new exhaust also sports chrome tips.

On the inside, the 1 Series cabin has been swathed in Alcantara, which covers the steering wheel (with red centre line), shift knob and dash. Like the M4 GTS, the baby Bimmer also scores open-pore carbon fibre and a plaque signifying the build number.