MODIFIED CAR: BMW Z4 sDRIVE35i

Modified Car Bmw Z4 Sdrive35i 1 Even if you’re a committed BMW cynic or are not entirely convinced by the new design direction the car has taken (relative to the first-generation, E85 model), you’d be hard-pressed to call the current-generation BMW Z4 ugly. Especially not when it has those angular lines, that graceful long bonnet and rearward-set cabin, the latter element echoing the silhouette of iconic BMW convertibles of yore (the 507 and Z8, for example).

Making the Z4 look even better is a bit of a tall order, but if anyone can do it, Hamann can. This Z4 is “dressed up” with a full complement of bodystyling accessories from the German tuner, and adding a particularly classy finishing touch, it’s clad in a matte white wrap. This has the effect of making the car look like a mobile slab of marble, which makes the matte black model and variant badges on the boot lid and front wings stand out more.

Modified Car Bmw Z4 Sdrive35i 5 The bodykit comprises a new front bumper with integrated LED daytime running lights (to supplement BMW’s “corona ring” ones surrounding the headlights), a pair of heavily sculpted side skirts, a new rear bumper, and the cherry on the cake, a boot lid-mounted spoiler. Completing the look is a set of two-piece, two-tone, deep-dish 19-inch BBS wheels with Michelin’s stellar Pilot Super Sport tyres wrapped around them.

This Z4 has the “voice” to back up its (even more) aggressive new looks as well. It comes packing new “lungs” in the form of a Hamann exhaust system, complete with quartet of chrome-finish, stainless steel tailpipes. Immediately apparent even at idle, the new exhaust setup lends this Z4 a throaty, metallic bark, a far cry from the stock car’s muted tones.

And this white Bavarian “stallion” will leap forward just as eagerly as its exhaust note will suggest as well, coming as it does with a Juzz Power throttle controller from Juzz For Cars. This useful little gizmo smooths out the stock throttle mapping, allowing for greater sensitivity to inputs, especially handy when attempting to summon some power, but nothing is forthcoming no thanks to a “hollow” spot in the throttle response.

Modified Car Bmw Z4 Sdrive35i 2 Helping that along further is an ECU reflash courtesy of Wetterauer. The German ECU tuner, hailing from the lakeside town of Bodensee, has boosted the output of the stock car’s 3-litre turbocharged inline-6 from 306bhp to 360bhp. Torque rises as well, from 400Nm to 480Nm. This healthy rise in power and torque isn’t too surprising, since Wetterauer’s motto is a “passion for power”.

Needless to say, this 18 percent and 20 percent improvement in power and torque respectively should make this Z4 quite formidable, providing more than enough “go” to match its “show”. For anyone who has ever driven a stock sDrive35i variant, we reckon the word “slow” would be the furthest thing from their minds, but that obviously has nothing on this tweaked Z4. BMW claims a zero-to-100km/h time of 5.1 seconds for the stock car, and with the improved punch here, we think a century sprint time that approaches 4.5 seconds isn’t too unrealistic.

That said, what goes very quickly must also come to a stop at some point, and with this car’s higher output, the ability to halt the car when you want it to becomes even more important. Providing stopping power for this Z4 are a set of ATE ceramic brake pads augmenting the power of the stock BMW callipers. According to ATE, these pads produce lowered amounts of dust, noise and best of all, last longer. Naturally, the brake lines haven’t been neglected, with some uprated braided steel lines from Stoptech.

Modified Car Bmw Z4 Sdrive35i 3 On the inside of this pale beauty, the owner has elected to keep things simple, with its ivory-coloured leather seat upholstery (that’s a great match for this Z4’s white exterior), though the more eagle-eyed observer might spot a few non-stock parts lurking within the its cabin.

These parts include some drilled aluminium pedals also from Hamann (including the footrest) and anodised a handsome gunmetal-grey. The even more astute spotter will also note the famous BMW roundel on the steering wheel has been replaced. The badge’s sky-blue sections are now silver carbon fibre, and this aftermarket badge treatment can also be found on the car’s exterior (on the bonnet, boot lid and front wings).

Modified Car Bmw Z4 Sdrive35i 4 Given all the enhancements to this Z4, it would be safe to conclude that beauty, like money or time, is something you can’t have too much of, though don’t think this Z4 is good only for boulevard cruising. Its upgraded performance puts it firmly in the “seriously quick” category, and should you be in any doubt about its performance potential, just listening to the rasp of the Hamann exhaust should clear that right up.