Tuner, tuner on the wall, who is fastest of them all? Tuningwerk from Germany just launched its upgrades for the factory BMW M135i hatch, a body style and trim name not sold in America. This upgrade goes far beyond engine management, with big changes under the hood, in the suspension and on the limited-slip diff out back.
Power is a quoted 355 horsepower for the light upgrade, and a whopping 443 horsepower with everything included. From a posh commuter car, this Tuningwerk M135i is a triple threat with its monster sprint pace, high-speed overtaking power that is on par with supercars, and its track and racing prowess
In the magic world of aftermarket performance, verified claims are always hard to nail down.
Even so, an extra 50 or more Tuningwerk horsepower creates quite a handful of a sports car, and one that is so powerful that driving it safely on the road can become part of the thrill and challenge.
Tuningwerk really cranks up the menace of the BMW 1 Series, and this humble hatchback is suddenly a lot more like the ‘breadvan’ Z3 M Coupe as a real banshee of power over-steer.
All good things. After all, hatchback car guy is grumpy when trouncing big Audi’s or Porsche’s in stoplight drag races.