M135i threads

[Patrick Bateman]

Whittling down cars in to percentages of being an M car is just a load of nonsense.

It is or it isn't.

[Vladimir]

Patrick Bateman said:

Whittling down cars in to percentages of being an M car is just a load of nonsense.

It is or it isn't.

Read Evo then - the BMW head of something important explains it. Anyway, does it really matter? Yes it does to a select few painfully pedantic oddballs with a chip on their shoulders.

Try this in your ancient, leggy M5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5suVTG90YjI

Edited by Vladimir on Saturday 11th January 20:50

[RossP]

I thought this thread might get messy...

I don't think accelerating in a straight line is what M cars are all about though!

[Patrick Bateman]

You were mentioning chips on shoulders?

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Saturday 11th January 21:20

[Vladimir]

RossP said:

I thought this thread might get messy...

I don't think accelerating in a straight line is what M cars are all about though!

Of course not…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVwOmM3zA2w

[robsa]

Max M4X WW said:

If I'm going to get this reaction I will definitely be de-badging!

You getting an M135i then, Max?!

[Max M4X WW]

robsa said:

You getting an M135i then, Max?!

Don't want to go much more off topic, but yea I'm one of the Leasers!!

[Denno B]

Vladimir said:

RossP said:

I thought this thread might get messy...

I don't think accelerating in a straight line is what M cars are all about though!

Of course not…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVwOmM3zA2w

Blimey....very interesting

[Palmball]

Vladimir said:

Try this in your ancient, leggy M5:

Unnecessary. There was nothing personal in this thread up until this point.


Great link though....WOW, what a lap in that (non)M135i I wish I could drive the 'ring like that - impressive stuff.

[Patrick Bateman]

Palmball said:

Unnecessary. There was nothing personal in this thread up until this point.


Great link though....WOW, what a lap in that (non)M135i I wish I could drive the 'ring like that - impressive stuff.

He was just showing everyone what he's really like.

I don't know how I'll cope without launch control in my old bus...

[Vladimir]

Patrick; apologies. I was in a bit of a grump last night.
I've always liked the E39 M5 a lot.

The new M3/4 uses the same N55 block as our car (and all 35i ones). Is that a first? I always thought M engines were unique to M cars?

[Palmball]

The M3/4 engine has two turbos, the M135i has one. Can it therefore share the exact same block?

Regardless, I believe the 1M had the same engine to the 135i coupe and I'm pretty sue the 4.4 bi-turbo in the M5/6 is based on the normal BMW V8 engine (although I could be wrong with this). So, beyond the V8 in the e92 M3, M have had no unique engines. I'm pretty sure the M3/4 will so good that it's going to be an irrelevant point.

[brakes]

vescaegg said:

But they do consider the X6M one?! Urgh

Agreed - Perhaps BMW themselves should no longer be allowed to decide on what constitutes an M?

I don't really care what constitutes an M car, although the dilution of the brand is a bit upsetting. Call the M135i whatever you want, it makes no difference to its capabilities as a fantastic machine. But surely, surely, the M135i is closer to the original E30 M3 ideology than a horrible compromised Tonka toy that wants to be a racecar?

[Palmball]

So, it's more of an M car than others that BMW define as M's so....we're friends again and in agreement that M135i discussions stay in the M section? Why change the habit of the last 12m+ and in any case, I'd find it most inconvenient having to switch between sections

[Leins]

I really love the M135i, as a quick BMW hatch is just a thing of joy (I will unashamedly rob BMW's cheesy tag-line in this case). However, comparing it to an E30 M3 in any way, shape or form is a bit of a stretch of the imagination, they share a bonnet badge and that's about it IMO. The M135i is not an //M-car, an E30 M3 is, and there are no percentages involved. That is not meant as a negative towards the modern car though, as there are lots of areas where it would invariably perform better

Much as I also love the 1M, I think BMW really missed a trick. A stripped out 1-series bodyshell with a screaming 4-cyl turbo and an LSD would have created something much more in keeping with some of the early //M-cars I feel. This was the rumoured plan at one point if I remember correctly

BTW, nothing wrong with an ancient leggy M5

[General Zod]

On a tentatively related note, what is the most "LSD-like" setting on the M135i? I have an auto/adaptive suspension. Does it go:

Sport < Sport+ < DSC off?

If you are in Sport+ and press the DSC off button once, it goes into "TRACTION". What the hell is that? It seems to slide less than before pressing the button. I tried reading the manual. Twice. And yet I'm still not sure. Also, if you press and hold "DSC off" when you're in Sport+ it seems to go into Comfort mode. I'd have thought go into Sport+ then hold DSC off to get everything off, but no.

[Palmball]

General Zod said:

On a tentatively related note, what is the most "LSD-like" setting on the M135i? I have an auto/adaptive suspension. Does it go:

Sport < Sport+ < DSC off?

If you are in Sport+ and press the DSC off button once, it goes into "TRACTION". What the hell is that? It seems to slide less than before pressing the button. I tried reading the manual. Twice. And yet I'm still not sure. Also, if you press and hold "DSC off" when you're in Sport+ it seems to go into Comfort mode. I'd have thought go into Sport+ then hold DSC off to get everything off, but no.

If you are already in Sport+ mode, you're already in DTC mode (the half-way house). This is effectively like pushing the DSC off button once, but by selecting Sport+, you're also sharpening the throttle and, if you have adaptive dynamics, putting your suspension into it's harder setting.

When you subsequently hit the DSC off button again (remember, you've already effectively selected it once by putting your car in Sport+), it puts the traction back on fully (effectively placing back in Sport mode - in fact, when you do this, you should see the display go back into Sport). It must be a safety feature so you don't inadvertently turn it all off. To turn the DSC fully off, you need to hold the DSC off button in any drive mode (except Eco-Pro) for a couple of seconds, then it'll then tell you everything is off.

The most LSD-like setting is called 'Birds'

Alternatively, I think the halfway house DTC setting is meant to mimic an LSD, but I don't think it's that effective as it'll still spin up an inside rear wheel.

HTH

Edited by Palmball on Sunday 12th January 17:26

[Vladimir]

Palm:

I believe turbos aren't generally fitted inside an engine block ;-) just like the 30d/35d/40d/50d share the same basic block so does the N55 (35i/M135i/M3&4). The 1M has the older N54 block just like the pre 2010 (I think) 335i.

[Palmball]

Vladimir said:

Palm:

I believe turbos aren't generally fitted inside an engine block ;-) just like the 30d/35d/40d/50d share the same basic block so does the N55 (35i/M135i/M3&4). The 1M has the older N54 block just like the pre 2010 (I think) 335i.

Yes, yes, I know that But I thought the block had to at least have something designed for the turbo to attach to (and in this case, I may well be wrong!)

[Palmball]

Leins said:

I really love the M135i, as a quick BMW hatch is just a thing of joy (I will unashamedly rob BMW's cheesy tag-line in this case). However, comparing it to an E30 M3 in any way, shape or form is a bit of a stretch of the imagination, they share a bonnet badge and that's about it IMO. The M135i is not an //M-car, an E30 M3 is, and there are no percentages involved. That is not meant as a negative towards the modern car though, as there are lots of areas where it would invariably perform better

Much as I also love the 1M, I think BMW really missed a trick. A stripped out 1-series bodyshell with a screaming 4-cyl turbo and an LSD would have created something much more in keeping with some of the early //M-cars I feel. This was the rumoured plan at one point if I remember correctly

BTW, nothing wrong with an ancient leggy M5

If the definition of an M-car is an E30 M3 (and it's fully understandable if some people think thats the case), most of us may as well leave now.

However, I personally don't think many modern-day M cars (E36 onwards, with a few exceptions like E46 CSL) follow that same ethos and a such, the cars you see today are a reflection of the brand as it has been for a very long time. Wasn't the E30 derived out of a genuine Motorsport need? I don't think many subsequent M cars since (if any, possibly bar the stripped out specials?) have had the Motorsport authenticity behind them.

Like it or not, I highly doubt the majority of potential customers would want such a focussed stripped-out car for everyday use so BMW instead quickly evolved 'M' to appeal to the masses, adding refinement, technology and luxury to each iteration. I'll be honest (flame suit at the ready), I probably wouldn't be a customer if the cars were still of the same ethos as the E30 and I like the fact that current M-cars have all the technology, refinement, luxury etc. I do admit that I wish my car was a bit more focussed and (a fair bit!) lighter but, for the price I paid, I sure wouldn't want to give up any of the luxury or refinement (so BMW M, you need to work harder!). I am very excited about the M3/4 which promises just this - lighter, more focussed and yet probably more luxurious than it's predecessor....all at the same time.

As such, I don't think any of the cars mentioned are a dilution of the modern-day brand - they're all (even the SUV's...flame suit now fully on!!) super high-performance iterations of the respective base car - they have a sporting focus if not the outright sports-focus that so many seem to think they should be. So one can mourn the dilution of the M-brand, but I'd suggest it's about 20 years too late!

Also, had BMW made the 1M as a stripped-out racer, then reading many of the stories on PH from the actual owners of 1M's, I doubt many of these would've been used in the way they have been (essentially as fun, mini-GT's). Therefore, many of these punters wouldn't have existed for such a car and the question is whether those who would've been actually would've have bought one?

Edited by Palmball on Sunday 12th January 17:09