Straight out of the box the M135i is a
cracking piece of engineering but can the addition of a swathe of Schnitzer
extras make it even better?
AC
Schnitzer BMW M135i Front View
I think by now you’ll be aware that we’re big fans of the latest
generation of M Performance cars emerging from BMW these days – not quite
full-on M machinery, but with enough of M’s DNA running through their veins to
be worthy of the M part in their model numbers. The M Performance models are
also providing an excellent base from which the tuning firms can strut their
stuff – turbocharged engines are easier to exploit than naturally aspirated
ones and as many M Performance cars come with upgraded brakes and sharpened
chassis, they’re definitely amenable to a few tweaks here and there.
We’ve already been fortunate enough to sample AC Schnitzer’s
excellent M135i in Germany but one can never be certain that what works on
superior German Tarmac will successfully translate to these shores so when the
opportunity arose to give another one of its hot hatches a try here in the UK
we jumped at the chance. Especially as it was fitted with Schnitzer’s new Sport
suspension which we’d not had a chance to try before.
Interior
a great place to while away the miles; Schnitzer upgrades kept to a minimum
with a pedal set and handbrake handle
We’ll deal with the looks quickly as I still struggle somewhat with
the dodgy headlights on the 1 Series hatches, and while the Schnitzer additions
are subtle they do give the car a little bit more of a visual edge. Spoiler
extensions on the front corners along with the rear roof spoiler do help
separate it from the crowd, but the best visual treat are the alloys which
really suit the car and fill the arches nicely. They are Schnitzer’s Type VIII
wheel and personally I prefer them as we have here – call me a traditionalist
but I like my alloys to be silver thank you very much – but if you’re otherwise
inclined them can also be had in a black and silver bi-colour finish, too. They
measure 8.5x19- inches all-round and would normally be fitted with Michelin
Pilot Super Sport rubber but when we visited the car was actually running
Michelin winter tyres. Having been caught out in the past AC Schnitzer UK’s
Chris Rossiter decided to equip the car with the winter boots to ensure he
could carry on getting to the office if the winter turned nasty, but somewhat typically
we’ve had one of the mildest – if wettest –winters on record.
Inside there are the minimum of changes – a pedal set, a handbrake
handle and a set of floor mats – but they work well with the standard BMW setup
which has been treated to a few choice options such as the Professional Media
package, Harman Kardon stereo upgrade and the eight-speed Sports auto transmission.
Spec’d with the right trim combination I’m becoming a fan of BMW’s latest
‘layered’ dash architecture and the inside of this M135i creates just the right
ambiance, with the black leather contrasting well with the Estoril blue
paintwork while the brushed aluminium trim sets the right sporting tone.
AC
Schnitzer BMW M135i Rear View
And on thumbing the starter button the sporting tone is fully
accentuated by the sounds emanating from the Schnitzer quad exhaust setup
sprouting from the rear valance. It’s not overly loud, just that little bit
more purposeful than you would get from the standard BMW setup. Running off to
our photo-shoot location there aren’t really many differences you’ll notice
over the standard car’s setup when driven slowly as the car comes up to
temperature, and this really is one of the plus points of the conversion – when
you are not on a charge this could be a normal M135i. No fuss, no drama, no
bone-jarring ride and no droning exhaust, were it not for the Schnitzer
interior embellishments you could almost forget you’re driving a tuned machine.
