Sunday 22nd May 2016

BMW M140i and M240i announced

Come in M135i, your time is up - there's a new (and more powerful) straight six 1 Series

---

Remember that time when the only hot hatch the Internet wanted to talk about was the BMW M135i? It was right up until the arrival of the Golf R. Now, cars like the latest AMG A45, Audi RS3 and Ford Focus RS have taken further attention away from BMW's hot rod hatchback.

Styling unchanged; good for the 2 Series at least...

Keen to regain some ground, BMW has replaced both the M135i (plus its M235i coupe sibling) with the M140i and M240i respectively. Thanks to a new turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six, power is up in both cars from 326hp to 340hp and torque climbs from 332lb ft to 368lb ft. BMW says this is sufficient for both hatchback and coupe to hit 62mph in 4.9 seconds with the standard six-speed manual, shaving a few tenths from the old 35i cars. Opt for the eight-speed auto and that sprint time falls again, with 4.6 seconds claimed. Even the Golf might struggle to match that... The M240i Convertible, if you're interested, is said to reach 62mph in 4.7 seconds with the automatic. All are limited to 155mph.

Fuel consumption is improved too with the increase in performance, which sounds like a win-win. The manual cars are officially rated at 36.2mpg and 179g/km (M140i) or 34mpg and 189g/km (M240i), with the automatic 'box offering significant improvements: the figures are 39.7mpg and 163g/km (M140i) or 38.2mpg and 169g/km (M240i).

Pricing still looks competitive though, despite the new engine. The M140i is available now from £31,875, the M240i from £35,090 and the Convertible £38,535. You don't need us to remind you of the plethora of hot hatches available at the same money, or that the BMW is the only one to offer a six-cylinder engine and rear-wheel drive. It's always a tempting proposition! A replacement further depresses M135i values too; they're edging ever closer to £15K...

[court]

Looking forward to this. The last 6-cyl rwd hatch... from 2018 it's all 4-cyl fwd/4wd. 368 foot pounds is excellent - more than a new RS3.

I may well order one in October for Christmas delivery when the Golf R goes back. I wonder if they'll do another colour. The current ones are a bit bland except Valencia, but I can't see me in that hue. Fingres crossed for Melbourne Red like the coupe.

Edited by court on Tuesday 17th May 01:40

[court]

cerb4.5lee said:

A manual M240i fitted with a LSD would do me just nicely I reckon

I wonder what the labour time is to fit the LSD? Looks like I could get it delivered from leebmann24 for £2k.

[court]

Dion20vt said:

39mpg??? really????

Yes really if the M135i is anything to go by. It's so economical at low revs.

[court]

Tom_Spotley_When said:

What to replace it with that does circa 30mpg, costs between £400 and £500/month and can carry a dog in the boot?

440i GC or 340i Touring shirley?

[court]

nickfrog said:

PTF said:

court said:

440i GC or 340i Touring shirley?

The £9k discount on the 340i is tempting. Brings it down to M135i money.

Well not really as the M135i/M140i can be had with serious discount too. 23%+.

Once you factor in the crippling balloon payment there's not much in the monthlies. I'll certainly be having a quote on all 3, a high spec 140i, a 340i touring and a 440i GC. The GC is well specced and doesn't need much.

[court]

UK press release here

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/united-kingdom/arti...

To the poster thinking of changing their M135i build to a 40i, even if everything else was the same I'd do it just for the entertainment/navi changes.



Looks like it's the emissions that has changed the list price.

M135i auto - 175 CO2s band H. £300 first year tax - £210 subsequent years
M140i auto - 163 CO2s band G. £185 first year tax - £185 subsequent years

Edited by court on Thursday 19th May 10:05

[court]

I really hope Melbourne Red is confirmed like the guy from Berry Heathrow on babybmw.net thinks it is. I'd like to think I've got the balls to spec a red/coral trim M140i like this 2er