2009 · E82 · N54, single turbo
The 1M, for a quarter of the price
2009 BMW 135i 1M Conversion
Overview
This car started as a joke. Lucas and Nick were watching 1 Series videos one night when Lucas said he'd find someone to trade his 1982 E24 633CSi for a 135i. Not long after, he did.
Like a lot of 135i's, it came with a bit of power chased and the maintenance forgotten. The plan was Lucas's own idea of what the 1M should have been, for a fraction of what a real one costs. The exterior is a full OEM 1M conversion with the LCI updates. The rear quarters were made in steel rather than fiberglass: the arches were cut out, brackets welded on and the arches welded to the brackets. The car is wrapped in 3M satin white aluminum and still has its sunroof, the one tell that it isn't a real (always slick-top) 1M.
Under the hood, a Speedtech top-mount kit with a Garrett GTW3684R replaced the twin turbos. It wasn't built to chase numbers or the track: Lucas wanted a fast street car that's easy to live with, and the single turbo frees up room in the engine bay. No more dropping the subframe to reach the water pump.
Parts & tools
Everything Lucas has named on this car. ▶ jumps to the moment in the video.
| Part | Category | Video | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM 1M exterior conversionBMWEverything from the dealer except the rear quarters. | Exterior | ▶ 1:30 | No link |
| Steel rear arches, fabricated and weldedArches cut out, brackets welded on, arches welded to the brackets. Factory 1M quarters are about $9,500 a side. | Exterior | ▶ 1:39 | No link |
| LCI conversionBMW | Exterior | ▶ 2:13 | No link |
| 2080 Satin White Aluminum wrap (2080-S120)3M | Exterior | ▶ 2:11 | Shop · Amazon |
| M3-style cowl | Exterior | No link | |
| BR Series coiloversBC Racing | Suspension | ▶ 2:15 | Shop · Turner Motorsport |
| 18-inch M Parallel wheels (E38 750)BMW | Wheels & tires | ▶ 2:17 | No link |
| Firehawk Indy 500 tiresFirestone | Wheels & tires | ▶ 2:23 | Shop · Tire Rack |
| Wheel stud conversionFCP Euro | Wheels & tires | ▶ 2:26 | Shop · FCP Euro |
| Top-mount single turbo kitSpeedtechZero issues during installation. | Engine | ▶ 2:33 | No link |
| GTW3684R turbochargerGarrett | Engine | ▶ 2:37 | No link |
| 3-port MAC boost solenoidMAC | Engine | ▶ 2:47 | No link |
| Ignition coilsTurner MotorsportTurner's blue coils. | Engine | ▶ 2:51 | No link |
| Spark plugs, one step colderNGK | Engine | ▶ 2:51 | No link |
| Walbro 450 bucketed fuel pump kitFuel-It | Engine | ▶ 2:56 | Shop · Turner Motorsport |
| 7.5-inch Competition intercoolerVRSF | Engine | ▶ 3:01 | Shop · Turner Motorsport |
| Oil catch can | Engine | No link | |
| Stage 3 twin-disc clutch and flywheel kitDKMThe old clutch lasted exactly one pull on the new turbo. Flywheel bolt count depends on build date; check fitment. | Drivetrain | ▶ 3:05 | Shop · Turner Motorsport |
| Crank seal guardTurner Motorsport | Engine | ▶ 3:12 | Shop · Turner Motorsport |
| Aluminum valve cover kitECS Tuning | Engine | ▶ 3:14 | No link |
| Custom exhaustNick PFull custom system built by Nick (@NicholasPetrachuk). | Exhaust | No link | |
| Oil pan gasket, water pump, thermostat and coolant hosesDone while the engine was apart for the turbo swap. | Maintenance | ▶ 3:20 | No link |
Wheels & suspension
- Wheels
- 18-inch BMW M Parallel (from an E38 750)
- Tires
- Firestone Firehawk Indy 500
- Suspension
- BC Racing BR coilovers
- Studs
- FCP Euro wheel stud conversion
Gallery
