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BMW’s new mini-me M-car (the 1-Series M Coupe) is a marvel, yet it’s still considered only lukewarm by the madmen of the German aftermarket tuning industry.
You’d think its twin-turbo 250kW in-line six engine would be good enough, but alas, no.
BMW’s 1-Series M is considered simply too slow by Robert Kelleners, one of those German aftermarket tuning specialistS for whom "ex-factory" is a euphemism for "underpowered".
As a solution, Kelleners now offers the world’s first tuning package for BMW’s 1-Series M, called, rather simply, the KS1-S. Crafted is his workshop, based close to the Luxemburg border, in Merzig, all those BMW modifying has been poured in the KS1-S project, to make the M3-killer BMW always feared it could be.
Visually, the modifications are not what one would class as radical. KS1-S gains a three-piece grille insert and more pronounced front lip spoiler (ostensibly increasing front-axle downforce), whilst white decorative strips (running fore to aft) add some graphic contrast, as do the white side mirrors.
Rolling in the KS1-S’s flared wheel arches are 20-inch alloy wheels. Featuring 15-spokes, these Kelleners sourced alloy wheels are available in either flush (Berlin) or split-end (Hamburg) spoke configuration.
PROPER M3-KILLER?
Beyond the styling upgrades, the KS1-S features a (substantial) power boost and trick coil-over suspension components at each wheel corner.
The 1-Series M is powered by BMW’s ‘older’ twin-turbo N54 version of the ‘Werke’s much-vaunted three-litre, in-line six; rated at 250kW and 450Nm.
Admittedly, most M-car fans had hoped for a peak of 260kW...Kelleners happily obliges by crafting a custom stainless-steel freeflow exhaust system (gas-exchanging courtesy of four 83mm diameter exhaust ends) and fiddling the M-Sport engine control module to liberate the engine’s operating parameters.
The result? Peak power is boosted from 250- to 301kW, with torque swelling by 100 units from 450- to 550Nm. With those quad 83mm exhausts, the acoustic signature is sure to match the KS1-S’s manic performance.
Although Robert Kelleners is not keen to attach specific performance figures to his KS1-S, the 20% gain in power should see a 0-100km/h benchmark sprint time in the low (very low) 4 second bracket…
HANDLES BETTER TOO...
It’s not all about crushing straight-line performance though.
Kelleners is cognisant that only a properly harmonised dynamic package will possibly woo 1-Series M Coupe customers.
To this end Kelleners technology partner, KW suspension, were commission to provide an expert coil-over suspension solution.
KW, headed by German suspension engineering genius Klaus Wohlfarth, started out in a small facility located in Murrhardt back in 1992.
It has over the next decade and a half grown to become a cutting edge suspension dynamics specialist.
Now employing over 200 people and operating from a sizeable headquarters in Fichtenberg, KW is a major player, providing motorsport participants and enthusiast drivers with performance suspension solutions.
For Kelleners, KW’s adjustable coil-over suspension system has been developed on the basis of racing experience and tuned in cooperation with eponym and racing driver Ralf Kelleners, scion of the German racing family, with victories in both the Spa and Nurburgring 24 hour to its name. Besides the continuously variable height adjustment, the suspension can also be adjusted independently in terms of both rebound and compression. Nice.
So, if you think (like many) that BMW’s purposely undercooked its 1-Series M Coupe as not to upset E92 M3 owners, and would like to unleash its true performance potential, the Kelleners KS1-S is a (very) swift solution.
You’d think its twin-turbo 250kW in-line six engine would be good enough, but alas, no.
BMW’s 1-Series M is considered simply too slow by Robert Kelleners, one of those German aftermarket tuning specialistS for whom "ex-factory" is a euphemism for "underpowered".
As a solution, Kelleners now offers the world’s first tuning package for BMW’s 1-Series M, called, rather simply, the KS1-S. Crafted is his workshop, based close to the Luxemburg border, in Merzig, all those BMW modifying has been poured in the KS1-S project, to make the M3-killer BMW always feared it could be.
Visually, the modifications are not what one would class as radical. KS1-S gains a three-piece grille insert and more pronounced front lip spoiler (ostensibly increasing front-axle downforce), whilst white decorative strips (running fore to aft) add some graphic contrast, as do the white side mirrors.
Rolling in the KS1-S’s flared wheel arches are 20-inch alloy wheels. Featuring 15-spokes, these Kelleners sourced alloy wheels are available in either flush (Berlin) or split-end (Hamburg) spoke configuration.
PROPER M3-KILLER?
Beyond the styling upgrades, the KS1-S features a (substantial) power boost and trick coil-over suspension components at each wheel corner.
The 1-Series M is powered by BMW’s ‘older’ twin-turbo N54 version of the ‘Werke’s much-vaunted three-litre, in-line six; rated at 250kW and 450Nm.
Admittedly, most M-car fans had hoped for a peak of 260kW...Kelleners happily obliges by crafting a custom stainless-steel freeflow exhaust system (gas-exchanging courtesy of four 83mm diameter exhaust ends) and fiddling the M-Sport engine control module to liberate the engine’s operating parameters.
The result? Peak power is boosted from 250- to 301kW, with torque swelling by 100 units from 450- to 550Nm. With those quad 83mm exhausts, the acoustic signature is sure to match the KS1-S’s manic performance.
Although Robert Kelleners is not keen to attach specific performance figures to his KS1-S, the 20% gain in power should see a 0-100km/h benchmark sprint time in the low (very low) 4 second bracket…
WHEELS OF FORTUNE: Those 20-inch wheels will ruin the ride, but the coil-over suspension conversion is sure to increase grip levels appreciably…
It’s not all about crushing straight-line performance though.
Kelleners is cognisant that only a properly harmonised dynamic package will possibly woo 1-Series M Coupe customers.
To this end Kelleners technology partner, KW suspension, were commission to provide an expert coil-over suspension solution.
KW, headed by German suspension engineering genius Klaus Wohlfarth, started out in a small facility located in Murrhardt back in 1992.
It has over the next decade and a half grown to become a cutting edge suspension dynamics specialist.
Now employing over 200 people and operating from a sizeable headquarters in Fichtenberg, KW is a major player, providing motorsport participants and enthusiast drivers with performance suspension solutions.
For Kelleners, KW’s adjustable coil-over suspension system has been developed on the basis of racing experience and tuned in cooperation with eponym and racing driver Ralf Kelleners, scion of the German racing family, with victories in both the Spa and Nurburgring 24 hour to its name. Besides the continuously variable height adjustment, the suspension can also be adjusted independently in terms of both rebound and compression. Nice.
So, if you think (like many) that BMW’s purposely undercooked its 1-Series M Coupe as not to upset E92 M3 owners, and would like to unleash its true performance potential, the Kelleners KS1-S is a (very) swift solution.
