A new star in the BMW Tuning galaxy? The signs are looking good for this rather powerfully eloquent proclamation because with the M3 GT 500, the Gießen-based young enterprise Leib Engineering specializing in performance tuning is presenting its first project vehicle – and quite convincingly across the board too with a few technical gimmicks.
The M3 GT 500 succeeds perfectly well in completing the difficult balancing act between the fast club sport racing element and the element of the representative “Boulevard-Beau“: from a purely visual point of view, Leib Engineering has maintained a pleasantly cautious posture in the high-grade finishing of the M3 relying only on selected OEM carbon fiber parts that sharply contrast the alpine white paintwork: the carbon flaps under the front spoiler, side-view mirror made of carbon and the tear-off edge also made of carbon on the trunk cover are all taken from BMW’s Performance Program.
One absolute highlight of the vehicle is the in-house valve exhaust system (made of high-grade steel) as from the manifold, which covers a 100-cell HJS catalyzer, an X-pipe with middle silencers and an end muffler with vacuum-controlled Pierburg valves. The sound of the system is controlled through the M-key. The performance boost – in the opened or closed state of the valve – thus generated amounted to a good 27.5 Horse Power as a result of its special design. Further 25 Horse Power is generated by Leib Engineering through the optimization of the engine software in such a way that altogether, a good 470 Horse Power is sent in the direction of the drive train – Suction Tuning par excellence.
To maintain the balance of the newfound power, Leib Engineering also installed a potent Brembo GT braking system, whose red 6-piston fixed saddles on the front axle hold perforated 380×32-millimeter discs firmly in their grip. 4-piston saddles on perforated 320×28-millimeter brake discs act on the rear.
Leib Engineering waives the usage of Aftermarket rims. It preferred in its stead, to place the M3 coupé on black powdered BMW M220 forged alloy wheels of size 8.5×19 and 9.5×19 inches. Once running on operating temperature, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup semi-slicks in 235/35R19 and 265/30R19 glue to the asphalt like old chewing gum and thus enable virtually “indecent” curve speeds. The ABS software was especially designed for motor sport application with semi-slicks, in such a way that even shorter breaking distance can now be achieved. The dual clutch transmission system now functions with even shorter shifting times after a software update.
Even the electronic system of the KW DDC ECU chassis suspension was modified by Leib Engineering in such a way that the electronic damper control system of the high-tech coilover suspension can now be comfortably controlled through the original EDC key or M key (after pre-selection in M-Drive menu).
In spite of all sportiness, the interior is anything else but spartanic: Leib Engineering ennobled the passenger cabin with fine alcantara material, which also includes the BMW Performance seats. Soft alcantara gently caresses the hands also when the BMW Performance steering wheel with display and the company’s own shift paddle or DKG gear lever knob are held.
Source: Leib Engineering
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