The 2 Series->ke2065 is BMW’s venture into offering a fun, sporty, luxury ride that’s somewhat affordable. The 220d model packs a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine under the hood, with a choice of either a two-door coupe or cabrio body style. While the base model convertible->ke144 could be seen as a bit bland, all the trimmings are still available to those souls cavalier enough to take a pen to the options list. Now, it appears as though that list just got a lot bigger with a capital M.

BMW’s tuning division, BMW M GmbH, is responsible for some of the greatest Bimmers to ever touch tarmac. From the Nordschleife to the autobahn, an M badge on a BMW->ke178 connotes one thing: complete seriousness about performance.

It’s the sort of clout that can sell just about anything, if it’s branded correctly. Case in point: the new performance parts for the 220d. Despite being a diesel-powered convertible, BMW thinks the 220d is ripe for speed tuning, or at the very least, the illusion of speed.

As you can probably guess, the majority of these upgrades are completely cosmetic, offering not much more than homage to sportier, more powerful BMWs classes ahead of the 220d. However, there are a few drivetrain upgrades that could amount to a substantial difference in driving experience. But are they worthy of the M badging? Read on and judge for yourself.

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW 2 Series Convertible With M Performance Parts.

Exterior

The M performance body kit does a decent job in distinguishing between an upgraded 220d and a stock version of the vehicle. In the front, we find an exclusive grille with black trim surround, leading to side racing stripes that stretch along the entire length of the car. There are carbon fiber exterior mirror caps, plus new skirts and M Performance decals. In the back is an upgraded diffuser, which is flanked by chrome-tipped tailpipes (you could also opt for carbon fiber tips if you think the chrome is weighing you down). Lightweight alloy wheels measuring in at 19-inches of diameter are available in two different styles, 405 M or 624 M, with the 624 M design presented in either a matte black/milled or polished look.

Somehow, the lack of a roof makes the whole thing look a bit odd, especially with that huge racing stripe stretching down the side. We suppose it is a bit “racier”, but in a tacky kind of way.

Interior

Alcantara and carbon fiber are the materials of choice in the M Performance parts package, starting with the gearshift lever and handbrake, both of which are covered in composite and sport Alcantara gaiters. Carbon is also used in the center console, center armrest, and interior trim strips. Alcantara can be found wrapping the steering wheel, which is offered with an integrated Race Display as an option. Details on this are fuzzy, but we believe it to include a shift light indicator, lap timer, and a few other track-oriented features.

M Performance floor mats, pedal covers, and a stainless steel footrest compose the upgrades to the cabin’s base, which are complimented by stainless steel doorsills adorned by additional M Performance badges in LED illumination.

Drivetrain

When it comes to BMWs with M badging, this is where it counts, Unfortunately, not much is happening in the drivetrain department. The stock 220d engine sees a few nice upgrades, including a stainless steel exhaust, retuned ECU, and a larger intercooler, but the result is a mere 14 liberated horses, bringing the grand total to 204. That helps cut the 0-to-60 time to about 7.1 seconds, a 0.3 second improvement. While not exactly awe-inspiring, the extra power doesn’t come with degraded fuel consumption or increased emissions, which is a welcome change in the world of performance tuning.

The best parts of this package, however, are the new limited slip differential and sport brakes. Drag racing is not exactly the 220d’s forte, but with these new handling upgrades in the outstanding 2 Series chassis, we could see come decent corner slicing from the cabrio.

Prices

Pricing for the 220d droptop starts at around £30,000, which is $45,490 US at the current conversion rate (1/13/15). Pricing on each performance part is unavailable at this time, but we could see something like five thousand dollars per segment (interior, exterior, and drivetrain), bringing a fully M Performance’d 220d close to legitimate M car territory in terms of cost.

Competition

Audi A3 Cabriolet

Featuring most of the same components from the popular hatchback model, the A3 Cabriolet is a cheaper, more practical German droptop. The interior is large enough to seat four adults comfortably, while the rear seats fold down for additional carrying capacity. Optional equipment includes adaptive cruise control, Audi side assist, Audi active lane assist and park assist, plus a Bang & Olufsen sound system and seven-inch monitor. The diesel option is a 2.0-liter TDI unit with 150 horsepower, which means it’s slower than the Bimmer. However, it’s also $10,000 cheaper, and that’s before all the added M Performance parts.

Conclusion

When you get down to it, the M Performance parts for the 220d represent a lot of money for not much more than a bunch of M badges. In our opinion, it’s not really worth it. If you want an M2 that badly, just wait a little bit- BMW says it’s already in development. Odds are it won’t be a diesel, though, so if your dream ride is a roofless oil burner that can hit 60 mph in seven seconds, then this is really your only option.