M135i - best discounts and finance rates?
Discussion
TDS86 said:
Hi Guys - I'm off to Test Drive and hopefully buy an M135i this weekend.
It's the first time I've bought a new car, so does anyone have any tips at-all? Anything to look out for or ask about?
I've got about £4k to put down as a deposit so I'm hoping for a decent deal. Any help much appreciated.
Not sure what you're after (manual or auto, 3 or 5 doors) but Stratstone Harrogate had a very nice 5 door auto in stock two or three weeks ago. Mineral Grey with Oyster/Black interior and spec included professional media, sunroof, HK sound system, front & rear parking sensors, heated seats and folding mirrors; an order that went wrong so suspect they'd be prepared to do a good deal to shift it if it hasn't gone already!It's the first time I've bought a new car, so does anyone have any tips at-all? Anything to look out for or ask about?
I've got about £4k to put down as a deposit so I'm hoping for a decent deal. Any help much appreciated.
JNW1 said:
Not sure what you're after (manual or auto, 3 or 5 doors) but Stratstone Harrogate had a very nice 5 door auto in stock two or three weeks ago. Mineral Grey with Oyster/Black interior and spec included professional media, sunroof, HK sound system, front & rear parking sensors, heated seats and folding mirrors; an order that went wrong so suspect they'd be prepared to do a good deal to shift it if it hasn't gone already!
Ideally - Auto - 3 door in Estoril Blue. Not too fussed about the rest of the spec - heated seats nice, as is the HK audio.Time's more important though - I'll be buying something from stock as I need a car pretty quickly (my jag is making horrible noises and almost all of the warning lights are lit!) although the dealer doesn't need to know that!
TDS86 said:
I'm in Edinburgh! I'd be almost tempted to do a deal for the right car if transport etc could be arranged.
Sure....http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
gizlaroc said:
Sadly, having one free weekend between now and October does slightly preclude me from travelling 400 miles to buy a car.Thanks for the tip though!
I really like these cars and am thinking of getting one but have some questions that I'd be very grateful for some answers to.
- are they as fun as the e46 M3?
Tuning wise what will the standard engine/g'box/turbo take? Ideally would like a lot of power without having to upgrade much..
How expensive is an uprated diff? - would I need one to have fun?
What is the m adaptive suspension? Would I be able to make it soft for road then hard for track?
- would intend doing a lot of track miles. Would the standard stuff cope ok?
Thanks in advance for any help
- are they as fun as the e46 M3?
Tuning wise what will the standard engine/g'box/turbo take? Ideally would like a lot of power without having to upgrade much..
How expensive is an uprated diff? - would I need one to have fun?
What is the m adaptive suspension? Would I be able to make it soft for road then hard for track?
- would intend doing a lot of track miles. Would the standard stuff cope ok?
Thanks in advance for any help
git-r said:
I really like these cars and am thinking of getting one but have some questions that I'd be very grateful for some answers to.
- are they as fun as the e46 M3? No.
- Tuning wise what will the standard engine/g'box/turbo take? Ideally would like a lot of power without having to upgrade much..
Plenty of people running JB4 and 400bhp/400lbft and that makes the car quicker than an E92 M3 in a straight line.
- How expensive is an uprated diff? would I need one to have fun?
£1681+VAT for a Quaife ATB, drive in drive out @ Birds Auto
- What is the m adaptive suspension? Would I be able to make it soft for road then hard for track?
Yes.
- would intend doing a lot of track miles. Would the standard stuff cope ok?
You'll go through tyres and brake pads and fuel, but yes it should cope fine.
VerySideways said:
- are they as fun as the e46 M3?
No.
- Tuning wise what will the standard engine/g'box/turbo take? Ideally would like a lot of power without having to upgrade much..
Plenty of people running JB4 and 400bhp/400lbft and that makes the car quicker than an E92 M3 in a straight line.
- How expensive is an uprated diff? would I need one to have fun?
£1681+VAT for a Quaife ATB, drive in drive out @ Birds Auto
- What is the m adaptive suspension? Would I be able to make it soft for road then hard for track?
Yes.
- would intend doing a lot of track miles. Would the standard stuff cope ok?
You'll go through tyres and brake pads and fuel, but yes it should cope fine.
Will you take questions on non car related stuff too?? No.
- Tuning wise what will the standard engine/g'box/turbo take? Ideally would like a lot of power without having to upgrade much..
Plenty of people running JB4 and 400bhp/400lbft and that makes the car quicker than an E92 M3 in a straight line.
- How expensive is an uprated diff? would I need one to have fun?
£1681+VAT for a Quaife ATB, drive in drive out @ Birds Auto
- What is the m adaptive suspension? Would I be able to make it soft for road then hard for track?
Yes.
- would intend doing a lot of track miles. Would the standard stuff cope ok?
You'll go through tyres and brake pads and fuel, but yes it should cope fine.
Excellent reply - thank you!!
When you say it's not as fun to drive as the e46 do you mean in terms of steering and braking or looks and sound? The latter wouldn't bother me but I find the e46 steering a bit long.
Geez that's expensive for the diff... Is this something that can be specced up from BMW when the car's built?
I wouldn't be surprised if people are pushing over 500 bhp in time, with the cars weight and balance I can't help thinking it'd make a superb track car. MSV used to use the basic 118 or 116 models for teaching at brands, I've seen some very quick 1 series at the 'ring too.
Things like suspension and brakes are big costs for making a good track car but modern cars possibly don't need the same investment. I'd definitely say that's the case for the E46, would be hoping the newer m135 would be ok with the standard stuff though. Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks all
git-r said:
Will you take questions on non car related stuff too??
Excellent reply - thank you!!
When you say it's not as fun to drive as the e46 do you mean in terms of steering and braking or looks and sound? The latter wouldn't bother me but I find the e46 steering a bit long. Excellent reply - thank you!!
- E46 M3 steering (not standard E46) provides a lot more feedback than the M135i steering, and to me feels more direct. The M135i steering is quick, but relatively dull.
Standard M135i brakes are much better than standard E46 M3, but that's in capability rather than feel. Put AP Racing 6 pots on the E46 and it swings the other way.
Again, stock the E46 M3 sounds better, but i recently spent a week with a JB4 equipped M135i and an aftermarket exhaust (not sure which one) and that car sounded every bit as good as an E46 M3, in some ways even better. Turbo whistle, pops and bangs, six cylinder roar, the lot.
Geez that's expensive for the diff... Is this something that can be specced up from BMW when the car's built?
- Nope. But i would assume the forthcoming M2 would come with a LSD as standard (unlike the M235i).
Things like suspension and brakes are big costs for making a good track car but modern cars possibly don't need the same investment. I'd definitely say that's the case for the E46, would be hoping the newer m135 would be ok with the standard stuff though. Can anyone confirm this?
- Stock suspension on the E46 M3 is better for track than stock set up on M135i. The adaptive set-up improves on this, but isn't perfect. Stock brakes on the M135i are definitely better than on the E46 M3, and i'd suggest that if the M135i brakes aren't up to the job then you may want to consider driver training as perhaps you're using them too much?
Stock E46 M3 brakes are barely adequate for the road and woeful on track.
All IMHO of course.
Verysideways - thanks again for your advice, much appreciated!
After a bit more research and thinking I've decided my idea was stupid... Like the rest of them!
One day I'd like to have a 1 series though, it'd probably be a sideways step after the m3 (not in the oversteer sense!) but something really appeals about the 'sleeper' qualities it has.. Nothing more fun than tussling with a super car in a bread van
I do love my M3; it's comfy, economical and a lot of fun in the wet. Would like better suspension and brakes but can live with the standard stuff. Not a big fan of the diff either, find it really unpredictable when straightening up after a slide.. Probably more to do with my skills tho.
Understand the theories about braking but would always benefit from tuition. Have been lucky enough to have some good ones in the past
Cheers,
Sam
After a bit more research and thinking I've decided my idea was stupid... Like the rest of them!
One day I'd like to have a 1 series though, it'd probably be a sideways step after the m3 (not in the oversteer sense!) but something really appeals about the 'sleeper' qualities it has.. Nothing more fun than tussling with a super car in a bread van
I do love my M3; it's comfy, economical and a lot of fun in the wet. Would like better suspension and brakes but can live with the standard stuff. Not a big fan of the diff either, find it really unpredictable when straightening up after a slide.. Probably more to do with my skills tho.
Understand the theories about braking but would always benefit from tuition. Have been lucky enough to have some good ones in the past
Cheers,
Sam
M135 is not a great trAckday car, it lacks many features of an M car that make track use a bit more user friendly and also reliable.
If you were using an M135 hard on track I guess it wouldn't last very long tbh.
I absolutely guarantee E46 M3 is substantially faster on track than an M135 even stock.
If you were using an M135 hard on track I guess it wouldn't last very long tbh.
I absolutely guarantee E46 M3 is substantially faster on track than an M135 even stock.
shim said:
M135 is not a great trAckday car, it lacks many features of an M car that make track use a bit more user friendly and also reliable.
If you were using an M135 hard on track I guess it wouldn't last very long tbh.
I absolutely guarantee E46 M3 is substantially faster on track than an M135 even stock.
Thanks for thisIf you were using an M135 hard on track I guess it wouldn't last very long tbh.
I absolutely guarantee E46 M3 is substantially faster on track than an M135 even stock.
Yup, I shelved the idea...
I'd still like one though, maybe one day
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