BMW shows off its latest M Performance accessories. Image: BMW
If you’re passionate about your ride, chances are good it isn’t stock. The most afflicted among you have probably spent as much on aftermarket performance as the car cost to buy, while others are happy to change out a gearshift knob or add a deck lid spoiler.
BMW is well aware of how much Americans spend to personalize their cars, so the Bavarian automaker is introducing a line of M Performance accessories for the new 2012 BMW 3 Series sedan, as well as 2011 and later 5 Series sedans. Some items, like the M Performance steering wheel, the Brembo big brake kit or the high-flow exhaust system, are functional and may actually increase your car’s performance.
BMW shows off its latest M Performance accessories. Image: BMW
Other items, like the carbon fiber mirror caps or the carbon fiber and Alcantara interior kit, are cosmetic only. Some accessories fall into the gray area in between cosmetic and functional; the 20-inch forged wheels, for example, save just 2.2 pounds per corner, which really won’t add much of a performance gain. We suspect there are plenty of aftermarket wheels available that cost less money and save significantly more weight.
That’s really not what the M Performance parts program is about. Sure, you can spend your money on aftermarket parts, but they won’t be backed by a BMW warranty or installed by a BMW dealer (in most cases, anyway). If you’re more concerned with convenience and a warranty than outright gains, the BMW M Performance parts may be worth looking into, and your dealer can give you complete details on availability and pricing.
Just promise us that you’ll skip over the hideous vinyl stripe that’s part of the M Performance collection, okay?
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
