BMW’s reputation for performance and driving excellence makes it very popular with enthusiasts. Often, BMW owners want to get a little more out of their cars without breaking the bank to acquire a model from its high-end, high-performance M series. Like most other brands, the available upgrades and accessories for BMW vehicles are numerous, but not all are worthwhile.

You may not be able to turn your daily driver into a fire-breathing M series by shopping on Amazon, but you can find what you need to improve your BMW’s handling, ride quality, efficiency, heat management and possibly bump the engine’s power a little bit. 

Here are some examples of what you can do with your BMW on Amazon. Examples shown are model or generation specific. A quick search will reveal if any are available for your particular BMW; most will be, some will not and others will require some additional parts or a different version entirely to work. 

Performance upgrades don’t get much simpler than a quick air filter swap. Catch Amazon at the right time and you can find one of K&N’s well-regarded performance air filters at a good price and with free shipping via Amazon Prime. The K&N filter is designed to increase air flow up to 50 percent over a standard paper filter. Unlike a paper filter, the K&N is washable and reusable, meaning the company can offer a 10-year, million-mile “life of the car” warranty. Keep in mind that what you gain in performance and convenience you lose in actual air filtration. But for BMW performance models and track day drivers, the tradeoff may be worth it. 

The number of plastic parts and pieces in performance BMW engines makes heat management a priority. This is especially true for the E36 (1992-1999) generation of the 3-Series, which is why we selected the Mishimoto MMRAD aluminium radiator made for the E36. There are versions for other BMW generations, too. The Mishimoto radiator uses aluminum rather than factory plastic end tanks, which are prone to cracking and leaking. It also increases cooling capacity over the stock BMW radiator and includes a magnetic drain plug to help filter any metal fragments out of the coolant. The MMRAD is designed to be a drop-in replacement, but some Euro-spec owners have reported fit issues. There are rare reports of leaks or other issues, but each MMRAD has a serial number plate for ease of registration in case of problems and Mishimoto customer service has been praised by owners. 

Infotainment systems and touchscreens that were cutting edge 10 years ago feel like ancient technology today. The aftermarket offers options to bring your system up to date, like this Eonon Octa Core unit for many 2005-2011 BMW models. The Octa Core is Bluetooth-equipped and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ready to use, both of which are basically industry-standard these days. The Octa Core also enables phone usage, apps like Pandora and Spotify and better usability with large buttons on the available nine-inch screen. Installation can be tricky and dependent on your car’s existing speaker setup and may require additional parts and pieces. Take extra care to make sure you’re getting everything you need for your BMW. The most common complaints say the included mounting screws are too short and that customer service is slow to respond (Eonon is located in China).  

A performance spring set is a relatively easy way to improve suspension response and reduce body roll. While not as pricey as more intense, involved “coil-over” sets, springs can still run a pretty penny. Eibach’s Pro-Kit set is a value in its segment and can be found for many BMW models on Amazon (linked is a set for the 2015-2020 M4 Coupe). Buyers like the value, lower center of gravity, improved ride quality and the improved appearance since the Eibach Pro-Kit lowers the body and reduces fender gaps. Common issues are sensitivity to bumps in city driving and noise over larger bumps at speed. Some drivers have needed a camber kit, dampers or adjustments to make the Pro-Kit springs work. 

If you switch your tires from summer to winter (and you do do that, right?) or run track days and need to haul racing tires around, these genuine BMW tire bags are a stylish, useful accessory. Fitting wheels from 17-22 inches in diameter, the side of each bag features the distinctive stripes of the M logo along with a diagram noting which corner to install each tire. Buyers appreciate the Velcro closure allowing for a better fit around smaller tires and the overall quality of the bags. Also, they come with a convenient zippered pouch for storage when not in use. About the only complaint is the cost of the set, but the general consensus seems to be that the cost is worth it. 

In order to determine the best upgrades and accessories for your BMW, we considered the products most accessible to the widest swath of consumers in the U.S., which also includes performance, price and value. We also considered a broad range of end-user ratings and evaluations by multiple testers.

Product specific measurements/evaluation methods: 

Forbes Wheels perused Amazon for available performance upgrades and accessories for BMW vehicles. Items featured where chosen based on price, consumer reviews and the level of performance. Items are available for various BMW models; consumers are urged to do due diligence to make sure the product they purchase is right for their specific car.  

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