M135i - best discounts and finance rates?

[RossP]

Agreed. The M135i is good value.

[Sir_Dave]

JuanGandini said:

I'd take this advice with a pinch of salt. Cars bring about subjective reactions. For me, the M135i is the best car I've ever owned although that's not saying much based on my limited car history before that. It's a 6 cylinder turbo rear wheel drive hot hatch - pretty unique by modern hot hatch standards. It makes a great sound, goes link stink and handles the everyday tasks of a boggo hatch.

I guess it depends on what you're used to
My list is mostly hot hatches & BMW's, so i had a decent enough idea of what would make a good combination of both: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

For me, the M135i was just too barge like as standard, the steering is terrible & the suspension boat like. With coilovers/diff/M4 wishbones etc it would no doubt be far improved, but personally, id rather just buy a better car in the first place, this is my "daily" after all ... i pour all £££'s at my mini instead

I will caveat my comments by saying that i will own another however, a 5 door auto for family duties when that need arises. They are fantastic VFM and a great all rounder, just not particularly brilliant in any one area.

[DibblyDobbler]

TB303 said:

If you like driving however, it's very dull.

So dull in fact that you had to replace it with a 2 ton 10 year old auto barge which is the automotive equivalent of a coffin on wheels. Hmm.

[TB303]

DibblyDobbler said:

So dull in fact that you had to replace it with a 2 ton 10 year old auto barge which is the automotive equivalent of a coffin on wheels. Hmm.

Hah! You're not wrong

However, it doesn't pretend to be anything else, and more reliable than an S Class/7 Series.

M135i weight is around 1500kg. LS430 is 1810kg.

I know which one is and honest a barge, and which one is a bit of a barge in all but name.

I have a comparatively light weight 981 Boxster Spyder and Ferrari 360 spider for my kicks.

LS430 is an old but solid luxo-barge for smoking around in.... wafting along passengers and dog in quiet comfort, racking up motorway miles. Not slow on the road either, as it happens.

I'm not knocking M135i, it's all about expectations. I expected it to be a bit more of a driver's car, that's all. It's been pitched as exciting in the reviews etc. I do not expect a Lexus to be a drivers car.

[DibblyDobbler]

TB303 said:

DibblyDobbler said:

So dull in fact that you had to replace it with a 2 ton 10 year old auto barge which is the automotive equivalent of a coffin on wheels. Hmm.

Hah! You're not wrong

However, it doesn't pretend to be anything else, and more reliable than an S Class/7 Series.

M135i weight is around 1500kg. LS430 is 1810kg.

I know which one is and honest a barge, and which one is a bit of a barge in all but name.

I have a comparatively light weight 981 Boxster Spyder and Ferrari 360 spider for my kicks.

LS430 is an old but solid luxo-barge for smoking around in.... wafting along passengers and dog in quiet comfort, racking up motorway miles. Not slow on the road either, as it happens.

I'm not knocking M135i, it's all about expectations. I expected it to be a bit more of a driver's car, that's all. It's been pitched as exciting in the reviews etc. I do not expect a Lexus to be a drivers car.

Ah now that makes sense - with a fleet like that I would probably fancy a barge too

However I would maintain that for most folk who are struggling by with but a single car the M135i is quite a nice compromise

[JNW1]

TB303 said:

JuanGandini said:

Fair comment as it's a turbo so doesn't benefit much from a crazily exciting top end - I'm like a small schoolboy when it comes to fast cars though, so I find any sort of fast acceleration fun. Planting my right foot on the M25 slip road near where I live never gets dull for me!

Slip roads are fun in the M135i, I agree. Not massively responsive (auto) in comfort mode at times however. In sport it sorts it out!

It's just hard when you've had 987 Boxsters and the like. Steering feels awful, and some complain about the 981 steering, but to me it's leagues ahead of the BMW system. It is so feel-less that it evokes comments like "...but I can still place the car where I want it" from journalists.

A £1000 old MX5 feels good, so I don't see why a £30k BMW can't.

Manual may make the M135i a little more exciting, I don't know.

My advice to toon10 would be to get yourself a decent length test drive - preferably over roads you know - and make up your own mind. I've driven a couple of M135i's - the other half and I actually got very close to buying one - and, while it's not an M-car, I'd say it's a pretty decent machine. If I was buying new I'd give a Golf R a close look before deciding but that's probably not an option if you're looking at used with a budget of £22k; however, I drove an M135i back to back with a Golf GTi and for me the BMW was certainly the pick of those two. Always interesting to hear the opinions of others but ultimately it's what's right for you that counts!

[TB303]

DibblyDobbler said:

Ah now that makes sense - with a fleet like that I would probably fancy a barge too

However I would maintain that for most folk who are struggling by with but a single car the M135i is quite a nice compromise

Agreed. It's a good package. Made a lot of sense with the lease deal!

[Flat6]

Before I took delivery of my m135 I was a little worried it might make my weekend toy (Elise) a bit redundant. Quite the opposite happened...it made me appreciate just how far away "sporty cars" now are from "sports cars".

The Elise, despite it's lack of comparative oomph is just a different level for driver enjoyment, so the BMW never got a look in on weekends...but then I'd hate to have to drive the Lotus every day, all year round!

That's what makes the M135i a great allrounder IMHO. It's a new car with all the benefits of running a new car, economical,practical, modern tech etc but with enough oomph and rwd to make it that bit more interesting than the next electric power steered eurobox.

Drive one expecting this and you'll be happy, but as with some of the posts above, if you've come from a more focussed sports car or are planning on using m135 as a weekend toy then you'll likely be disappointed.

[snorkel sucker]

nickfrog said:

toon10 said:

Some disspointing reviews on the M135i on here.

I would test drive one for yourself before ruling it out - I find mine a pretty good package. It was even quite good at Spa and the Ring last year - cheap M4 lower control arms do help the front end no end. A LSD also helps. A properly driven M135i is certainly not dull, even compared to a E46 M3, even if not quite as tactile. IME anyway.

How "cheap" are the M4 parts? I've currently got a 125d, which is perfectly fine, but I bought it for what was a 30+k annual mileage. Now doing about 5k which is not doing the car any good I expect.

Anyway, an M135i at £20k is an interesting proposition, but I'm not a huge fan of the 1 series' handling, especially having lived with it for 2 years. Granted, mine probably needs a refresh, but if the M135i could be improved by some simple, cheap modifications that would certainly make the argument to stick with a 1 series rather than try a Golf GTI / R more compelling.

Even though it was dynamically OK, my old 130i was made all the more special simply because of that engine!

[Accelebrate]

Flat6 said:

That's what makes the M135i a great allrounder IMHO. It's a new car with all the benefits of running a new car, economical,practical, modern tech etc but with enough oomph and rwd to make it that bit more interesting than the next electric power steered eurobox.

Drive one expecting this and you'll be happy, but as with some of the posts above, if you've come from a more focussed sports car or are planning on using m135 as a weekend toy then you'll likely be disappointed.

I think that's an accurate summary.

I've just requested a price for purchasing mine (not due back until the end of April) as it'd be a decent replacement for my wife's car. I suspect it'll be 20k+, which will rule that out as the discounts on new models bring them close to some of the prices requested by Network for 2y/o examples.

WBAC are currently offering 18k for it, which seems about right (manual, metallic paint, comfort pack, heated seats).

[kith]

My G2L lease expires at the end of this month. Just been quoted £21.5k by Network to purchase my 2yo 20,000 miler (5dr, auto, satnav). Feels a bit rich given that an equivalent spec brand new one can be had for under £27k via coast2coast.

[nickfrog]

snorkel sucker said:

How "cheap" are the M4 parts? !

£280 for the M4 lower control arms + 1 hour labour and alignment.

This will give you 2 deg of front neg camber and will almost perfectly neutralise the car's handling.

[snorkel sucker]

nickfrog said:

snorkel sucker said:

How "cheap" are the M4 parts? !

£280 for the M4 lower control arms + 1 hour labour and alignment.

This will give you 2 deg of front neg camber and will almost perfectly neutralise the car's handling.

Cheers Nick. That isn't a great deal of cash for what would be a pretty effective modification.

Could sacrifice some additional front tyre wear for better turn in!

[nickfrog]

Actually, if you lean on the lateral grip this will balance wear as with the std 0.5 deg the outside shoulders take a hammering before the rest. I shagged a front set at Spa+Ring at the end of last year. I would go as far as saying it's the first mod to do on that chassis. They simply didn't want the M135i to have a front end as pointy as the cars twice the price...

[toon10]

Flat6 said:

That's what makes the M135i a great allrounder IMHO. It's a new car with all the benefits of running a new car, economical,practical, modern tech etc but with enough oomph and rwd to make it that bit more interesting than the next electric power steered eurobox.

Drive one expecting this and you'll be happy, but as with some of the posts above, if you've come from a more focussed sports car or are planning on using m135 as a weekend toy then you'll likely be disappointed.

Just to update, I pulled the trigger on a new M135i at the weekend. 3 door in mineral grey with coral red leather, a few extras and sports auto. Your comments make a lot of sense. I've never had a focused sports car (I'm used to sporty saloons) so it feels brilliant to me. If I had an Elise or a similar hardcore focused car like that then yes, it may dissapoint. Pick it up in March and can't wait.

[Max M4X WW]

toon10 said:

Just to update, I pulled the trigger on a new M135i at the weekend. 3 door in mineral grey with coral red leather, a few extras and sports auto. Your comments make a lot of sense. I've never had a focused sports car (I'm used to sporty saloons) so it feels brilliant to me. If I had an Elise or a similar hardcore focused car like that then yes, it may dissapoint. Pick it up in March and can't wait.

Did you pick black panel and comfort pack? Essential really. Possibly the storage pack too (some of this may be factory now, not sure)

I really liked the HK audio in mine, but depends what you want from the system really.

[toon10]

Max M4X WW said:

Did you pick black panel and comfort pack? Essential really. Possibly the storage pack too (some of this may be factory now, not sure)

I really liked the HK audio in mine, but depends what you want from the system really.

Yes the comfort pack was my first choice. Folding mirrors, parking sensors and cruise control. I nearly went for the HK audio (as the standard audio in my 3 series is woeful) but I'd already went over my budget chosing the auto box so decided against. I hope I don't regret it!

[jon-]

toon10 said:

Yes the comfort pack was my first choice. Folding mirrors, parking sensors and cruise control. I nearly went for the HK audio (as the standard audio in my 3 series is woeful) but I'd already went over my budget chosing the auto box so decided against. I hope I don't regret it!

One advantage of the synthetic engine note on these cars is that the base audio gets the two extra under seat speakers.

[nickfrog]

Both black panel and storage pack are std now.

[spicjt]

toon10 said:

Just to update, I pulled the trigger on a new M135i at the weekend. 3 door in mineral grey with coral red leather, a few extras and sports auto. Your comments make a lot of sense. I've never had a focused sports car (I'm used to sporty saloons) so it feels brilliant to me. If I had an Elise or a similar hardcore focused car like that then yes, it may dissapoint. Pick it up in March and can't wait.

Hi Toon, what deal did you get (if you're OK to put on here) - seriously thinking of one for the missus (plus me to use as a bit of a toy!).

cheers.