Thursday 29th January

Up to 340hp for Dahler M135 Competition Line

Even with an M Dynamic Pack, the 300hp 1 Series is too plain Jane - might the Swiss be able to sort it?

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The continued ordinariness of the M Performance 1 Series continues to baffle. BMW has made very successful small cars for enthusiasts before, after all. Rival manufacturers like Mercedes-AMG, Audi and Volkswagen have invested in torque vectoring rear axles to make four-wheel drive more fun (to say nothing of some very exciting powertrains). The rest of the M car catalogue right now is really very good indeed. And yet the M135 continues to plod along as a swift five-door hatchback with a nice interior - but nothing more than that. Even, it seems, with an M Dynamic Pack. 

It’s well primed for some modification, then, and that’s exactly what Swiss specialists Dahler now offers with its Competition Line catalogue of upgrades for the F70 update. Power is not the main attraction here; 340hp and a stout 354lb ft is on offer from the 2.0-litre B48 turbo with an entry-level tune, and more is said to be coming if desired. Whatever the power output, though, and even with an exhaust, it’s never going to offer the thrill of a Mercedes M139 or the charm of an Audi 2.5, so it doesn’t feel like an essential upgrade. 

The chassis changes are much more interesting. Now equipped with ‘built by Dahler’ coilovers that offer adjustable damping as well as ride height, ‘further sharpening of the driving dynamics’ is promised. Whether that’s helped or hindered by 20-inch wheels isn’t exactly clear; we’d err towards the latter given they’re mentioned ‘for visual refinement’. Those after the meaner look with just the wheels can opt for lowering springs paired with the factory adaptive dampers. But the coilovers on standard wheels (or even something lighter and smaller; you ain’t buying an M135 for looks) could be really good. 

There isn’t a price for the suspension yet, though Dahler asks £1,221.80 plus tax for the app-controlled performance tune, so M Performance modifying is going to take some budget. That being said, M135s with just 5,000 miles are already £13k off list, so that opens up quite a potential kitty. There has to be a fun car in there somewhere - doesn’t there?

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• 2026 BMW M135 M Dynamic Pack | UK Review
• Dahler cranks M5 Touring up to 11

[Bencolem]

Thought that was an EP3 Civic Type R initially!

[juice]

Still looks like a Focus

[wistec1]

BMW went down a cul de sac with the 1 series. Nuff said.

[fantheman80]

juice said:

Still looks like a Focus

Think more I30N. Silver wheels look too big but gold look good. Cant see the sales over here being too big of any of the kit though

[Demonix]

F70 is just such a non descript design could be mistaken for a Kia or any other generic 5 door hatch, why mod this characterless thing when the money for an M135 + Dahler upgrades could be better spent on a nicer looking M division offering or a used RS3 or AMG A45. I can't see the appeal?

[AB]

It's relatively inoffensive compared to the gopping monstrosities the rest of the range have become.

[fflump]

It’s still like polishing a very bland turd.

[David87]

They could do a really crazy one and call it the Jeffrey Dahler.

[EyeHeartSpellin]

What a completely pointless article. Here is a list of stuff we don’t really recommend doing on a car we don’t rate that won’t really make it any better. Really?

[Firebobby]

Demonix said:

F70 is just such a non descript design could be mistaken for a Kia or any other generic 5 door hatch, why mod this characterless thing when the money for an M135 + Dahler upgrades could be better spent on a nicer looking M division offering or a used RS3 or AMG A45. I can't see the appeal?

And yet you seem to think an RS3 or A45 has appeal?
Surely just two more characterless nondescript hatchbacks? Just like any other hatchback offering from both companies!

[fantheman80]

Firebobby said:

And yet you seem to think an RS3 or A45 has appeal?
Surely just two more characterless nondescript hatchbacks? Just like any other hatchback offering from both companies!

The RS3 has one of the best engines ever now in a playful chassis, and the A45 with highest output of any 2.0 banger has great reviews. So yes, it will appeal to many of us.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Can we get over the "big wheels ruin cars" thing please? It's not the 1990s anymore. Tyre and suspension technology has come a long way in the last 30 years and, while fitting 20" wheels might come with some compromises, the implication that big wheels automatically mean a car is worse is a bit old-fashioned, especially given how many cars there are out there with large wheels that drive brilliantly.

EyeHeartSpellin said:

What a completely pointless article. Here is a list of stuff we don t really recommend doing on a car we don t rate that won t really make it any better. Really?

The tone of the article is poor in my view. It makes perfect sense to write about this car, as it might be of interest to some members, but the slightly disparaging way in which they talk about some of the changes seems somewhat unnecessary, especially when they haven't even tried the car in order to form a proper opinion.

[CMTMB]

Maybe I'm getting old but those wheels look far too big and just look like they'd provide a horrible drive on UK roads. I'd much rather see a set of purposeful 18" wheels with some actual sidewall.

[toon10]

I was hoping for different mods to be honest. Maybe add more cylinders by putting the B58 in it. Possibly making it RWD too. If anyone from BMW is reading, I think my suggestions could make a really iconic, mad and fun car.

I'm not convinced with the Dahler styling changes.

[nismo48]

That looks good with the gold wheels. Sets it off somewhat from its rather ordinary standard look.

[Wills2]

It's pity they couldn't/wouldn't keep the 1 series RWD/Longitudinal, a modern M140i with the close to 400hp B58+MHT would have been a cracking car.

[MarkosGTV]

fantheman80 said:

Think more I30N. Silver wheels look too big but gold look good. Cant see the sales over here being too big of any of the kit though

I thought it was something from Hyundai until I read the headline!

[JJJ.]

Is it a MINI or a BMW, always confused with these 1 Series.

[HighwayStar]

I’m well past hot hatches but can still appreciate them. BMW are such a capable company in general and their M division in particular, I’ve never understood why the didn’t push the boat out on the 1 Series, the Z4 and build a proper supper car. I clear they simply chose not to compete which is a real shame.

[trails]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Can we get over the "big wheels ruin cars" thing please? It's not the 1990s anymore. Tyre and suspension technology has come a long way in the last 30 years and, while fitting 20" wheels might come with some compromises, the implication that big wheels automatically mean a car is worse is a bit old-fashioned, especially given how many cars there are out there with large wheels that drive brilliantly.

Technology may well have moved forwards, but I suspect there are far more potholes now than in the 90s...wheels look stupid as well, the silly rubber band profile compromising the ride and dynamics unless on a consistently smooth surface, imo at least.