RE: BMW M140i and M240i announced
Discussion
Ken Figenus said:
mikey k said:
Similiar view point from me. I'm 1100 miles in to my M140i 3dr auto having done 68k miles in a M135i 5dr manual
I HATE the run flats
I prefer the suspension on the 5dr M135i to the 3DR M140i
The M140i is TOO stiff even in "comfort" mode
Its seems BMW put the M235/240i suspension on the 3 dr and leave a more compliant suspension on the 5drs
I still preferred it over a A45AMG or Golf R (it was close with the Golf though!)
M235i came with PSS Mike - cant imagine its ride on RFT'sI HATE the run flats
I prefer the suspension on the 5dr M135i to the 3DR M140i
The M140i is TOO stiff even in "comfort" mode
Its seems BMW put the M235/240i suspension on the 3 dr and leave a more compliant suspension on the 5drs
I still preferred it over a A45AMG or Golf R (it was close with the Golf though!)
Thought they avoided the RFTs on sportier models as we all hate them? We tried that baby four pot AMG too - not in the same league!
I am struggling to like the electric steering though and there is no mode I prefer - all of them do something I don't like and driving it on the paddles is a PITA as it has so many gears :-(
Paddles take a bit of working out due to the number of gears
I've found few "tweaks"
1) knock the gear stick over to Sport and boot it, works for overtakes etc
2) I've also used (and prefer) dropping it two gears on the paddles doing what is needed then letting the box sort itself out (in comfort)
3) set sport not to stiffen the dampers and when you want to hoon either knock the lever over or hit the button next to it. That holds the gears for a much wide rpm band.
Dont get me wrong, I love the 8 speed box but, oh for the days of simply stirring the stick in the middle, prod of clutch and, hey presto, life was simple.
Fannying around with settings for this that and the other is a ball ache compared to when the manufacturer simply chose a setting and that was that, is it not?
Fannying around with settings for this that and the other is a ball ache compared to when the manufacturer simply chose a setting and that was that, is it not?
mikey k said:
Dewi don't fight the force
Paddles take a bit of working out due to the number of gears
I've found few "tweaks"
1) knock the gear stick over to Sport and boot it, works for overtakes etc
2) I've also used (and prefer) dropping it two gears on the paddles doing what is needed then letting the box sort itself out (in comfort)
3) set sport not to stiffen the dampers and when you want to hoon either knock the lever over or hit the button next to it. That holds the gears for a much wide rpm band.
LOL - new fangled electronickery! Is there any way to delay the revert to auto when you manually select a gear? I find it wants to override me too soon and go back to its Euro mpg 8th gear mode! I need to write some code LOL!Paddles take a bit of working out due to the number of gears
I've found few "tweaks"
1) knock the gear stick over to Sport and boot it, works for overtakes etc
2) I've also used (and prefer) dropping it two gears on the paddles doing what is needed then letting the box sort itself out (in comfort)
3) set sport not to stiffen the dampers and when you want to hoon either knock the lever over or hit the button next to it. That holds the gears for a much wide rpm band.
Ken Figenus said:
mikey k said:
Dewi don't fight the force
Paddles take a bit of working out due to the number of gears
I've found few "tweaks"
1) knock the gear stick over to Sport and boot it, works for overtakes etc
2) I've also used (and prefer) dropping it two gears on the paddles doing what is needed then letting the box sort itself out (in comfort)
3) set sport not to stiffen the dampers and when you want to hoon either knock the lever over or hit the button next to it. That holds the gears for a much wide rpm band.
LOL - new fangled electronickery! Is there any way to delay the revert to auto when you manually select a gear? I find it wants to override me too soon and go back to its Euro mpg 8th gear mode! I need to write some code LOL!Paddles take a bit of working out due to the number of gears
I've found few "tweaks"
1) knock the gear stick over to Sport and boot it, works for overtakes etc
2) I've also used (and prefer) dropping it two gears on the paddles doing what is needed then letting the box sort itself out (in comfort)
3) set sport not to stiffen the dampers and when you want to hoon either knock the lever over or hit the button next to it. That holds the gears for a much wide rpm band.
Only way round it is to leave it in Sport, hence the lever shove or the button next to it. One action in and one action out. Simples
Flat6 said:
I've gone from a manual M135 to an auto M140 and the change in hp only tell half the story....and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
Good to hear - what's it like on a undulating B-road when pressing on? Does it control its mass on rebound better than the M135i? That sensation killed any enjoyment I got from mine on passive suspension (and I was one of the many with ZF box whining issues) but I remain attracted to the RWD/6 cyl package on paper.Ken Figenus said:
LOL - new fangled electronickery! Is there any way to delay the revert to auto when you manually select a gear? I find it wants to override me too soon and go back to its Euro mpg 8th gear mode! I need to write some code LOL!
The only way to hold it longer is to click it into sport and use a paddle. Then it will stay in manual mode indefinitely Flat6 said:
I've gone from a manual M135 to an auto M140 and the change in hp only tell half the story. I'm still running in so keeping under 4500rpm and the increase in midrange oomph is VERY noticeable (50nm more torque).
It'll be interesting to see how the engine feels at higher rpms as the peak power on the 135 was just under 6k but I won't be past the recommended running in mileage for a couple more weeks yet so will have to wait and see. Early signs are great though with improved economy (seen 45mpg on a 70 mile motorway run over the pennines) and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
How do you find auto vs manual? There's been a lot of chat that the auto suits the engine better than the manual?It'll be interesting to see how the engine feels at higher rpms as the peak power on the 135 was just under 6k but I won't be past the recommended running in mileage for a couple more weeks yet so will have to wait and see. Early signs are great though with improved economy (seen 45mpg on a 70 mile motorway run over the pennines) and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
I have just ordered an auto 440i GC to replace my manual M135i and am a little nervous that the auto box will bore me.
I thought I read somewhere that the latest 8-speeders were now capable of dropping more than one gear if you give the relevant paddle a longer pull?
I do recall that when I had the M5 with the 7-spd SMG, the need to sequentially flip down through the desired number of gears was, shall we say, sub-optimal.....
I do recall that when I had the M5 with the 7-spd SMG, the need to sequentially flip down through the desired number of gears was, shall we say, sub-optimal.....
S3_Graham said:
Ken Figenus said:
LOL - new fangled electronickery! Is there any way to delay the revert to auto when you manually select a gear? I find it wants to override me too soon and go back to its Euro mpg 8th gear mode! I need to write some code LOL!
The only way to hold it longer is to click it into sport and use a paddle. Then it will stay in manual mode indefinitely 
Wolands Advocate said:
I thought I read somewhere that the latest 8-speeders were now capable of dropping more than one gear if you give the relevant paddle a longer pull?
That's correct, the gear indicator on the dash shows you the optimum gear for the current throttle position so if it says for example 2<8 it means you are in 8th with your foot floored at 25mph, if you click the down paddle it will go straight from 8th to 2nd and you will move...quickly! kpb said:
Flat6 said:
I've gone from a manual M135 to an auto M140 and the change in hp only tell half the story....and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
Good to hear - what's it like on a undulating B-road when pressing on? Does it control its mass on rebound better than the M135i? That sensation killed any enjoyment I got from mine on passive suspension (and I was one of the many with ZF box whining issues) but I remain attracted to the RWD/6 cyl package on paper.I've not driven the M140 a great deal in sports chassis setting yet as comfort seems to give a good combination of control and compliance on all the roads I've driven at moderate pace on (still running in so not pushed it too much). The adaptive dampers are probably the one option I'm happiest with over my M135 (the HK being the biggest disappointment!)
Edited by Flat6 on Monday 31st October 20:48
Wolands Advocate said:
Flat6 said:
I've gone from a manual M135 to an auto M140 and the change in hp only tell half the story. I'm still running in so keeping under 4500rpm and the increase in midrange oomph is VERY noticeable (50nm more torque).
It'll be interesting to see how the engine feels at higher rpms as the peak power on the 135 was just under 6k but I won't be past the recommended running in mileage for a couple more weeks yet so will have to wait and see. Early signs are great though with improved economy (seen 45mpg on a 70 mile motorway run over the pennines) and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
How do you find auto vs manual? There's been a lot of chat that the auto suits the engine better than the manual?It'll be interesting to see how the engine feels at higher rpms as the peak power on the 135 was just under 6k but I won't be past the recommended running in mileage for a couple more weeks yet so will have to wait and see. Early signs are great though with improved economy (seen 45mpg on a 70 mile motorway run over the pennines) and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
I have just ordered an auto 440i GC to replace my manual M135i and am a little nervous that the auto box will bore me.
What I would say is the paddles are essential on the fun bits, I still enjoy the feel of having full control over engine braking and selecting the gear I want when I want it but the 8sp auto plays this role very well shifting quickly and smoothly whenever needed. You can also temporarily override the full auto mode with a flick of a paddle which is useful (especially when you're running in and want to avoid kickdown!)
One of the issues I had with the manual was the long gearing, 3rd being good for 3 figures which meant wringing it's neck in anything above second gear put you in licence losing territory. The 8sp obviously had much more closely stacked gears so this is overcome with more chance to enjoy the top end of the rev range. I'd also say you what you lose in the interaction of using a manual you gain to some extent in more choice of gears and flappy changes (and it makes nice noise on changing too
)I think in the 440 GC it'll be a perfect match for the car
Flat6 said:
kpb said:
Flat6 said:
I've gone from a manual M135 to an auto M140 and the change in hp only tell half the story....and revised chassis feeling less floaty at higher speed and less fidgety at low speed.
Good to hear - what's it like on a undulating B-road when pressing on? Does it control its mass on rebound better than the M135i? That sensation killed any enjoyment I got from mine on passive suspension (and I was one of the many with ZF box whining issues) but I remain attracted to the RWD/6 cyl package on paper.I've not driven the M140 a great deal in sports chassis setting yet as comfort seems to give a good combination of control and compliance on all the roads I've driven at moderate pace on (still running in so not pushed it too much). The adaptive dampers are probably the one option I'm happiest with over my M135 (the HK being the biggest disappointment!)
Flat6 said:
think you're confusing me with someone else!
tstorm and be called names for daring to question the qualities of their old car soon.I wonder, assuming there was an actual problem (which no review or reader report ever mentioned of course (cough ), if the fix could be as easy as dropping in a set of these new Bilstein B6 'Damptronics' [1].
Takes 'presuming' to a new level really, but I had good results with the standard B6ers on various cars. Just that tad firmer and better control due to their construction. Sounds like what the N55 cars need?
[1] https://www2.bilstein.com/en/perfect-replacements-...
), if the fix could be as easy as dropping in a set of these new Bilstein B6 'Damptronics' [1].Takes 'presuming' to a new level really, but I had good results with the standard B6ers on various cars. Just that tad firmer and better control due to their construction. Sounds like what the N55 cars need?
[1] https://www2.bilstein.com/en/perfect-replacements-...
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