If you're anything like us, you'll find just as much to hate about the BMW M235i GranCoupe as there is to love about it. Many of us long for the glory days when a BMW was exclusively rear-wheel-drive and almost always came with a straight-six engine up front. One such vehicle was the relatively affordable BMW 135i, and it was the first of its kind.
With a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six developing 300 horsepower, it was a lot of fun, which is why I bought one. But what if you want even more of an old-school vibe from your Bimmer, just with the modern niceties and power? The guys at Everytimer have the answer.
With styling heavily influenced by the iconic BMW 2002, this is a restomod that works on a newer platform with older styling, rather than an older car with new technology. It appears that Everytimer is making use of the LCI, or facelifted, 135i, which features the more reliable N55 engine, but exact details as to the powertrain are not given, leading us to believe that there is no additional power from this motor. That could be a problem if this restomod adds weight, but we have to say that this isn't the kind of car that we would expect to see on a track. In any case, with most of the new body panels crafted from carbon fiber, it may be even lighter than the 135i was originally.
Updates over the regular 135i include the addition of a retro speedometer, an aftermarket navigation system, 19-inch wheels, and a leather tarpaulin. There are many more options too, like a Nappa leather steering wheel with contrast stitching, carbon fiber door sills, carbon interior trim, carbon shift paddles, and a pair of carbon mirror caps. You can also get carbon bumper strips and your choice of a custom leather interior in a multitude of color options. But, as with any other modern classic, or attempt at such, the ETA 02 Cabriolet is not cheap. The German tuner has listed one example on a Dubai-based car sales site for AED549,000. That's just under $150,000.