New Toy - M140i

[Maxf]

I picked up my first new car on Friday - a 3 door M140i

Coming from a Clio 200 Cup, the car is a perfect blend of quick and comfortable - while being small enough to drive around SE London easily. I'm still running it in (and will be for some time, given I bike to work), so sticking below 4,500rpm, but first impressions are that it's as quick, if not a little quicker in gear, than my old E39 M5.

idrive is great (pro nav, so has all of the online widgets) and being able to plan a journey on my phone and send it to the car satnav (from inside the house/office) is brilliant. HK speakers are really quite good.

In short, I'm happy. I'm looking for an S1 Elise as a second car soon, which will give me my perfect (non-millionaire) garage.

A couple of quick pics:

[Maxf]

I bought mine too. I wanted a few extras so leasing got pretty expensive - especially as I wanted a 3 door (I'm fairy tall so felt like I was sitting by the door pillar in the 5 door).

I got about £8600 off the list price. In hindsight, I maybe could have got a bit more as getting that wasn't a struggle.

[Maxf]

Krisj88 said:

What is the exhaust sound like? I've ordered a 140i for January when my Golf R goes back. The golf is great but sounds a bit crap

It's ok - start up is nice but it quietens down quickly. The engine note is nice though. I might end up with the upgraded exhaust, but wouldn't want a drone when I'm on the motorway, so need to hear one first.

[Maxf]

PTF said:

personally i think they look better with the privacy glass. and my last one was a manual with standard m-sport suspension and both the gearbox and ride were pretty rubbish and not in the same league as that glorious engine. i would imagine an auto with adaptive would be a proper little weapon

The auto 'box is nice, its just like 1 long gear - great around town, but a bit dull. Paddles are yet to make much sense to me - I'll have more of a play once its run in.

I dont have adaptive suspension - I do wish I'd held out for it though, not for the ride but because the idrive still brings up the options for the 'sports chassis' whenever you go into sports mode... which is annoying as I dont have it!

[Maxf]

CarsOrBikes said:

I'd definitely have the adaptive, and auto, but also the M Performance brakes, not the blue M Sport plus, but the bigger ones to make it stop as well as it goes. 3 door, and with the MP exhaust too, it'd be nice. As above, don't see so many in Red.

The Brakes aren't too bad as they are, although there is definitely room for improvement - BMW wanted something like £3k to add the performance brakes, which was getting on for 10% of the value of the car, so I decided I'd just press harder, same goes for the nicer wheels I'd very much have liked

Adaptive seemed to just make the car softer in 'comfort', rather than firm it up more in 'sport'. That didnt bother me too much - although I'd probably spec it if I was buying another one. It's not a lot of money and nice to have the option on the rutted tracks I drive on (central London).

Does anybody know if the MP exhaust is valved - so still quiet when in comfort mode?

[Maxf]

Almost got the car run in now - about 50 miles off, so starting to push it a bit more.

It's a bit of a beast, but also power delivery is slightly diesel-like - it will rev to 7000 (I've not been there yet), but power delivery is all between about 2000-4500 rpm. It pushes you back into your seat though - and the 'in gear' acceleration is fast... really fast.

Manual mode (with paddles) is great - especially when you're pushing on a bit. 1st-2nd can be a bit odd but when you're going it's great... downshift blips are fun.