Despite its neat-looking design and compact size, the BMW First Series has become one of the most sought-after models among car enthusiasts who appreciate simplicity and ultimate driving pleasure. With bigger, heavier, and more technologically advanced modern 3 and 4 Series models, BMW has gone a long way from the compact and nimble E30, which once was a golden standard of a light sports car.
Luckily, the engineers at BMW know how to listen to the market, and with the First Series, they’ve brought us exactly what we asked for – a compact rear-wheel-drive sports car with design elements of the E30 and insanely powerful 4- and 6-cylinder engines that turned it into a real pocket rocket.
Key Upgrades:
- The car features 1M-Style bumpers and other OEM+ touches
- Air intake and exhaust systems are upgraded to maximize the performance of the 3.0L Turbo engine
Despite being much smaller than modern 3 and 4 Series models, it actually has a very similar size to the E30. Among various configurations of engines and body styles, there are a few models that stand out to car enthusiasts the most – a 2-door coupe and convertible, as they practically replicate the original layout of the E30 M3.
135i Convertible Build
Engine-wise, the 135i and 1M, capable of producing slightly over 300 horsepower, are crafted to bring ultimate driving enjoyment on both streets and track. With the 1M being more expensive and harder to obtain, the 135i equipped with the N54 3L turbocharged engine gives out only about 30HP less than the 1M, making it a perfect option for any enthusiast looking to experience the ultimate driving sports car. And this is the route chosen by the hero of our today’s feature, who picked up a mint BMW 135i convertible and modified it into the 1M-worthy alternative at a fraction of the cost.
Exterior Mods
To improve the visual appeal of the car and give it a sporty touch, he decided to outfit it with 1M replica front and rear bumpers, carbon fiber rear diffuser, and M4-style rear spoiler made of carbon fiber, which made the car look almost identical to the 1M (with the only difference being that it’s not a wide body, as the original 1M features wider front and rear fenders to hide slightly widened tracks).
Further exterior modifications include blacked-out aftermarket headlights and taillights, gloss black grills, M-style mirror caps, and of course, a 3M gloss sunflower wrap, which looks particularly well with contrasting exterior elements and makes the car even more special, bringing similarities with brightly colored BMW M cars.
Performance Mods
To improve the performance of the engine, the owner has installed a slew of performance upgrades featuring the MHD Stage 2 Plus tune, SSR dual cone air intakes, 7.5-inch VRSF RACE intercooler, charge pipe, and tail blow-off valve. The factory exhaust system was replaced with a VRSF race setup with catless downpipe, which unleashed the wild nature of the N54 engine and made the car sound like a true sports car.
Suspension & Wheels
The stiff factory suspension provided just enough handling precision, so it was decided to keep it stock. However, the wheels were replaced with an aftermarket set of VMR V710 18-inch rims in a staggered configuration and wrapped in slightly wider 245/35/18 front and 265/35/18 rear tires to provide better grip during spirited driving.
List of mods
Wheels
- VMR V710 18 inch rims
- Staggered 245/35/18 front and 265/35/18 rear tires
Suspension
- Stock
Exterior
- 1M replica front bumper,
- 1M replica rear bumper
- Carbon fiber diffuser
- Black line taillights
- M4 style spoiler (carbon fiber)
- M style mirror caps
- Gloss black grills
- 3m Gloss sunflower wrap
- Aftermarket headlights
Performance mods
- MHD stage 2+ tune
- SSR dual cone intakes
- Charge pipe and TIAL BOV
- Catless downpipes
- VRSF race exhaust
- 7.5 inch VRSF RACE intercooler
Questions & Answers
Why did you choose an E88 for your project(versus an E93 for instance)?
– I just love the way the E88 looks, very small, nimble but powerful and not so common in my area!
What was the most difficult part of the project?
– No one can install my exhaust 🥲
What do you love the most about your car?
– The way it looks and sounds!
Conclusion
This 135i is a perfect example of a simple performance-oriented build that stays true to the E30 M3 DNA. Tastefully selected exterior upgrades are only visible to a trained eye, yet them make the car look and feel far more than jut a compact convertible.
Build Complexity Score
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Performance Mods: | 7.5/10 |
| Exterior Mods: | 8/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
Even though the car maintains clean OEM+ styling, it’s hiding numerous modifications in the exterior department scoring with 8 out of 10 possible points, with comprehensive bumper swaps and carbon fiber additions that converted it to a 1M Cabrio.
Performance modifications followed closely with 7.5 points, showcasing a well-rounded approach with the MHD Stage 2+ tune and VRSF racing components. Despite being a performance-oriented build, the vehicle retained its stock suspension setup, indicating a focus on preserving the original BMW handling characteristics.
Watch the progress and find out more about this BMW 135i Convertible project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @slow_bmw135i!
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