Nick Lu showcases BMW M340i 'Poison' as Jamaica's car culture grows

Car builder Nick Lu says Jamaica's modification scene is expanding quickly, with more enthusiasts, more activity in motorsports and growing overseas interest in local events. Speaking about summer customisation, Lu said the culture now stretches across supercars, old-school builds and off-road machines, and he said he had even switched up his hair colour for a recent car show.

Lu said his interest started at home through his brothers Craig and Dwight, especially Craig, whose projects made car modification feel natural from childhood. He argued that nearly any vehicle can be customised once builders have a shell and chassis to work with, and said Jamaican ingenuity is visible in projects across the island, including a builder he referred to as Time Bomb from the countryside and a go-kart built by recording artiste SkilliBeng.

He also outlined current styling trends through his own car, a 2022 BMW M340i called Poison. Lu said the car recently got an exterior refresh through vinyl wrapping rather than paint. He explained that wrap gives owners freedom to change a vehicle's colour without damaging the original finish, but said it is costlier than spraying and not as durable as paint. He added that the film bonds to the paint and is not simply peeled off.

According to Lu, Poison runs BMW's B58 3-litre six-cylinder engine and now carries a larger turbocharger to force more air into the motor. He said the project was inspired by a friend who died in New York. The car started in factory condition, but has since received a different front bumper, a changed intake manifold, revised interior pieces, removed rear seats, a carbon-fibre seat, a carbon-fibre trunk, upgraded exhaust and suspension, and 20-inch Vossen wheels supplied by the US-based brand. Lu said the extra work gives him all the performance he wants without stepping up to a full M car.

Lu warned that inexperienced owners can ruin engines by pushing unsuitable setups too far, including frying pistons in cars never built for that level of tuning. He said brands such as Honda, Toyota and Nissan remain easy entry points for modifiers, while BMW has improved its appeal for custom work. He also welcomed the Jamaica Constabulary Force's growing involvement in motorsports and said he wants more young people to take their speed to the track instead of the road.