BMW Performance Editions

By Eliott Farr

12th July 2011

To celebrate its sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic games, BMW has created performance edition models of its top-selling 1 and 3 Series that benefit from a host of sporty upgrades. 

The 1 Series' already bold look is enhanced by aggressive M bodystyling along with dark chrome 18-inch M light alloy wheels and high-gloss shadowline trim. At the back, a shapely bumper, darkened taillights and a larger diameter chrome exhaust appear. Subtle ‘London 2012’ badges round off the exterior changes, although the huge decals shown here won’t be added to customer cars.  

Inside, the interior features sport seats with Royal Blue stitching, a multi-function leather steering wheel and gearknob and floor mats with Royal Blue piping. Proving that the car isn’t all show and no go, BMW has fitted M Sport suspension for a firmer ride.  

Costing £1,500 more than the equivalent ES model, the additional kit on the performance edition represents a customer saving of £1,725 with prices starting at £19,530 OTR for a 116i three-door.

Also warming up for its pre-Olympic debut is the performance edition 3 Series. Available on the 118i and 118d versions of the compact-executive model, the performance edition upgrades again bring an M-sport body kit, multi-function leather steering wheel, sport seats, floor mats with blue piping, 18-inch alloys, chrome tailpipe and London 2012 exterior badges.

The performance edition 3 Series saloon costs just £500 more than the ES model upon which it is based, and the boosted equipment tally represents a healthy £2,030 customer saving, with prices starting at £23,195 for the 318i petrol.

Four winning colours are available – Alpine White, Titanium Silver, Bluewater and Black Sapphire. Both BMW performance editions are on sale now.