BMW M140i from Mini Cooper S - My first RWD
Discussion
Hi all,
Been running a Mini Cooper S the last couple of years. It was a 15 plate car, so the 2L turbo petrol. I had a racechip tuning box fitted which claimed 255bhp so it felt pretty rapid (to me anyway). Recent house move to my own place highlighted the shortcomings of having a car so small, I was constantly relying on family and fiends to help me out when it came to collecting furniture and moving my things. I started looking at replacements and settled on either a Golf R/S3 or an M140i.
A mate works at a local VW dealership so arranged me to test drive a 7.5R first. Being brutally honest, it felt ballistic from a standstill but from a roll it didn't feel much faster than my Mini - If anything it felt a bit competent and boring. I quite like the fight for grip in the Mini and the fact that you need to have your wits about you when you plant the throttle to avoid putting it in a hedge!
Having been in FWD hatches from passing my test, I wanted to avoid another of those. As a result, an M140i seemed the perfect choice. I'd been keeping an eye on these on AT for the last while giving me a good idea of what spec I'd want. I settled on HK (as my Mini had it), ProNav, 3dr, auto, and not Estoril blue. I'd found a black 2016 car in my ideal spec up in Aberdeen, however I narrowly missed out on it due to it being snapped up within a few hours of being listed.
Fast forward to yesterday, checking the BMW approved used website and I spot a listing for an Alpine White car with the Coral Dakota leather. A quick call to the dealership and a part ex agreed on with my MIni and the car is now reserved without the need for a securing deposit. The salesman sent me over a video walkaround of the car which appears to be spot on - however it hadn't been prepped yet so needed a good clean.
I've arranged to collect it on Saturday provided there is no delays on the dealer's side, so an early start on Saturday morning and a 2.5hr drive each way from Glasgow.
Which brings me on to my last point, my only experience of RWD is a test drive in a 435d a few weeks ago. It felt extemely planted and not the twitchy handfull I was expecting. Am I going to have a tough time getting used to the M140? I enjoy a bit of liftoff oversteer in the Mini but I'd imagine a RWD, open diff, 335bhp BMW is a fairly different prospect. I'll be taking it easy for a while.
Thoughts welcome.
Been running a Mini Cooper S the last couple of years. It was a 15 plate car, so the 2L turbo petrol. I had a racechip tuning box fitted which claimed 255bhp so it felt pretty rapid (to me anyway). Recent house move to my own place highlighted the shortcomings of having a car so small, I was constantly relying on family and fiends to help me out when it came to collecting furniture and moving my things. I started looking at replacements and settled on either a Golf R/S3 or an M140i.
A mate works at a local VW dealership so arranged me to test drive a 7.5R first. Being brutally honest, it felt ballistic from a standstill but from a roll it didn't feel much faster than my Mini - If anything it felt a bit competent and boring. I quite like the fight for grip in the Mini and the fact that you need to have your wits about you when you plant the throttle to avoid putting it in a hedge!
Having been in FWD hatches from passing my test, I wanted to avoid another of those. As a result, an M140i seemed the perfect choice. I'd been keeping an eye on these on AT for the last while giving me a good idea of what spec I'd want. I settled on HK (as my Mini had it), ProNav, 3dr, auto, and not Estoril blue. I'd found a black 2016 car in my ideal spec up in Aberdeen, however I narrowly missed out on it due to it being snapped up within a few hours of being listed.
Fast forward to yesterday, checking the BMW approved used website and I spot a listing for an Alpine White car with the Coral Dakota leather. A quick call to the dealership and a part ex agreed on with my MIni and the car is now reserved without the need for a securing deposit. The salesman sent me over a video walkaround of the car which appears to be spot on - however it hadn't been prepped yet so needed a good clean.
I've arranged to collect it on Saturday provided there is no delays on the dealer's side, so an early start on Saturday morning and a 2.5hr drive each way from Glasgow.
Which brings me on to my last point, my only experience of RWD is a test drive in a 435d a few weeks ago. It felt extemely planted and not the twitchy handfull I was expecting. Am I going to have a tough time getting used to the M140? I enjoy a bit of liftoff oversteer in the Mini but I'd imagine a RWD, open diff, 335bhp BMW is a fairly different prospect. I'll be taking it easy for a while.
Thoughts welcome.
iphonedyou said:
Presuming you've passed your test / can drive a car, it'll not be that much different to driving any other car. It's not going to kill you!
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
James76G said:
435d is four wheel drive, so not representative of an M140i really.
FWIW my M135i felt like a pussy cat. With Michelin Pilot Sport 2s or whatever they are there was loads of grip. I don't think I ever spun up a wheel (unintentionally) in the two years I had it.
Great! My skepticism mainly came from reviews etc where journalists had claimed they can be a bit skittish. My Mini is on Michelin Pilot SuperSports which I've been really impressed with - if the BMW doesn't have those I'll stick a set on.FWIW my M135i felt like a pussy cat. With Michelin Pilot Sport 2s or whatever they are there was loads of grip. I don't think I ever spun up a wheel (unintentionally) in the two years I had it.
Hammy98 said:
Deep Thought said:
I presume theres an opportunity to have the racechip reprogrammed for the M140i? 
Was bought second hand otherwise that would have been on the cards... 
https://www.racechip.co.uk/faq.html
Deep Thought said:
They'll just charge a set amount or reprogramming it - just checked there its £109. Cheaper than a new box!
https://www.racechip.co.uk/faq.html
Hmm, thats quite tempting actually. I just assumed they wouldn't update a second hand box. Mines is the ultimate without the phone connection, just one connector that splits off into all the various cables to the MAF sensor etc. I'll send them an email. Cheers!https://www.racechip.co.uk/faq.html
I'd ring them. Their customer service is patchy so i wouldn't rely on them coming back by email.
Worth doing. I had bluespark boxes previously and just got them reprogrammed when I changed cars.
Have a Racechip GTS on our MCS so would definitely get it reprogrammed come time to change.
Worth doing. I had bluespark boxes previously and just got them reprogrammed when I changed cars.
Have a Racechip GTS on our MCS so would definitely get it reprogrammed come time to change.
Hammy98 said:
Great! My scepticism mainly came from reviews etc where journalists had claimed they can be a bit skittish.
Most modern cars are very stable and easy to drive but journos can't keep writing that so they push them beyond limits and then comment on that. Pointless. It's a lovely car and probably all you'll ever need (apart from 5 doors), just expect that fuel consumption may be slightly different.Hi, just a little offering. Driven mainly FWD from passing test, initially a fire breathing Fiat 128 with 45bhp and progressing up. Last 2 being Mazda3 MPS and Mk2 2.0 TT - both again FWD. TT was very predictable and competent, the MPS skittish in the wet, 200 & 265 hp respectively.
Have now got all RWD cars, MX5, Cat 7 and m240i. The newer RWD ones are relatively benign, comparing the m240i to an E30 318 they are like chalk and cheese. The old RWD E30 would spin happily on roundabouts and was in my opinion unsafe, this was not a special weekend car as they are now but a daily drive in the 80s. Heavy rain & cold weather caused sphincters to twitch. Unpredictable and resulted in 2 RTC as it went side on. The Mondeo which came after was a blessed relief.
Scroll forward to the m240i, it's very planted, no issues with handling. It's on winter tyres now but there have been no dramas in the recent icy conditions and monsoon rains earlier this week. A quantum leap. No, I haven't floored it when it's adverse but the TT & MPS would try to kill you if you did that as well, any car will. Providing you drive to the conditions it's fine.
I was 'brought up' on FWD and approached RWD with some respect but really it's fine these days. If you want to reassure yourself do a track session where you can't hurt your self. I did one in a Seven with no leccy aids, you soon realise there aren't monsters there and you can explore the envelope.
You'll find the 140i a huge difference (the 240 is very similar), it'll bimble along quite happily and be very benign but put it in Sport or even Comfort and put your put down and it'll pin you back in the seat and it'll do it safely!
Have now got all RWD cars, MX5, Cat 7 and m240i. The newer RWD ones are relatively benign, comparing the m240i to an E30 318 they are like chalk and cheese. The old RWD E30 would spin happily on roundabouts and was in my opinion unsafe, this was not a special weekend car as they are now but a daily drive in the 80s. Heavy rain & cold weather caused sphincters to twitch. Unpredictable and resulted in 2 RTC as it went side on. The Mondeo which came after was a blessed relief.
Scroll forward to the m240i, it's very planted, no issues with handling. It's on winter tyres now but there have been no dramas in the recent icy conditions and monsoon rains earlier this week. A quantum leap. No, I haven't floored it when it's adverse but the TT & MPS would try to kill you if you did that as well, any car will. Providing you drive to the conditions it's fine.
I was 'brought up' on FWD and approached RWD with some respect but really it's fine these days. If you want to reassure yourself do a track session where you can't hurt your self. I did one in a Seven with no leccy aids, you soon realise there aren't monsters there and you can explore the envelope.
You'll find the 140i a huge difference (the 240 is very similar), it'll bimble along quite happily and be very benign but put it in Sport or even Comfort and put your put down and it'll pin you back in the seat and it'll do it safely!
I went from a Mini to an Audi S1 and then to an e89.
I test drove an m140i before the S1 and thought it was sanitised and too detached- something the mini was the exact opposite. The S1 too was dull with it’s Haldex- both the BMW and the S1 were very very quick, but ultimately really unrewarding. I think the auto gearbox on the m140 didn’t help.
So I swapped it for a manual tail happy 6 cylinder e89 and the rwd in that is awesome. Take off ESP on a roundabout, second gear, full lock, watch your missus s
t herself. All good fun.
I test drove an m140i before the S1 and thought it was sanitised and too detached- something the mini was the exact opposite. The S1 too was dull with it’s Haldex- both the BMW and the S1 were very very quick, but ultimately really unrewarding. I think the auto gearbox on the m140 didn’t help.
So I swapped it for a manual tail happy 6 cylinder e89 and the rwd in that is awesome. Take off ESP on a roundabout, second gear, full lock, watch your missus s
t herself. All good fun.iphonedyou said:
Presuming you've passed your test / can drive a car, it'll not be that much different to driving any other car. It's not going to kill you!
Enjoy.
I disagree entirely. Once you start to generate slip its totally different to a fwd car and you'll do well to mind that in lower grip situations.Enjoy.
If I treated my 320d (rwd) the same as my old Octavia Vrs (fwd) then i'm fairly certain i'd have had one or two trips into the undergrowth at best.
The geometry is set up to veer on the side of understeer as standard so you aren't about to go everywhere with the rear end overtaking the front every time you go round a corner or look at the accelerator. If you provoke it, it will oversteer and when it does it's not the best due to having an open diff and terrible steering that tells you absolutely nothing about what the front wheels are doing.
Which brings me to ask. Did you test drive one around Glasgow? I'm from Glasgow and I found the M135i terrible on the back roads around here. The steering was vague at best and the suspension constantly unsettled at speed anywhere other than the motorway.
Which brings me to ask. Did you test drive one around Glasgow? I'm from Glasgow and I found the M135i terrible on the back roads around here. The steering was vague at best and the suspension constantly unsettled at speed anywhere other than the motorway.
Frimley111R said:
Most modern cars are very stable and easy to drive but journos can't keep writing that so they push them beyond limits and then comment on that. Pointless. It's a lovely car and probably all you'll ever need (apart from 5 doors), just expect that fuel consumption may be slightly different.
Bone Rat said:
I was 'brought up' on FWD and approached RWD with some respect but really it's fine these days. If you want to reassure yourself do a track session where you can't hurt your self. I did one in a Seven with no leccy aids, you soon realise there aren't monsters there and you can explore the envelope.
You'll find the 140i a huge difference (the 240 is very similar), it'll bimble along quite happily and be very benign but put it in Sport or even Comfort and put your put down and it'll pin you back in the seat and it'll do it safely!
You'll find the 140i a huge difference (the 240 is very similar), it'll bimble along quite happily and be very benign but put it in Sport or even Comfort and put your put down and it'll pin you back in the seat and it'll do it safely!
pb8g09 said:
I went from a Mini to an Audi S1 and then to an e89.
I test drove an m140i before the S1 and thought it was sanitised and too detached- something the mini was the exact opposite. The S1 too was dull with it’s Haldex- both the BMW and the S1 were very very quick, but ultimately really unrewarding. I think the auto gearbox on the m140 didn’t help.
So I swapped it for a manual tail happy 6 cylinder e89 and the rwd in that is awesome. Take off ESP on a roundabout, second gear, full lock, watch your missus st herself. All good fun.
Appreciate the responses. I hear the comments on the journos, I doubt I'd ever push it as far as they do especially with the current state our roads are in! Not the kind of car I'd really look to do a trackday in either as I'd imagine it would be quite heavy on consumables compared to my MCS.I test drove an m140i before the S1 and thought it was sanitised and too detached- something the mini was the exact opposite. The S1 too was dull with it’s Haldex- both the BMW and the S1 were very very quick, but ultimately really unrewarding. I think the auto gearbox on the m140 didn’t help.
So I swapped it for a manual tail happy 6 cylinder e89 and the rwd in that is awesome. Take off ESP on a roundabout, second gear, full lock, watch your missus s
t herself. All good fun.The difference between the modes on the 140i was part of the appeal, in comfort with the box in auto for the boring run to work then sport with the paddles when I'm out for a blast at the weekend.
The point made about the boring nature of haldex equipped cars rings true with me as well. I caned the R when I drove it and that was a wet day, it felt so sure footed even in the wet that it made it obvious there wouldn't be much chance for a play in the dry.
nunpuncher said:
...
Which brings me to ask. Did you test drive one around Glasgow? I'm from Glasgow and I found the M135i terrible on the back roads around here. The steering was vague at best and the suspension constantly unsettled at speed anywhere other than the motorway.
I had a quick go in a demonstrator from BMW in Giffnock. I said I wanted to try the car on some backroads as that's what sold me on my Mini, couldn't even tell you where we went as I'm not from that area but the car in question had the adaptive dampers and coped with bumps and undulations in the road fairly well - less bouncy than my Mini. It was a fairly new 140i, possibly suspension changes on later iterations?Which brings me to ask. Did you test drive one around Glasgow? I'm from Glasgow and I found the M135i terrible on the back roads around here. The steering was vague at best and the suspension constantly unsettled at speed anywhere other than the motorway.
Hammy98 said:
Appreciate the responses. I hear the comments on the journos, I doubt I'd ever push it as far as they do especially with the current state our roads are in! Not the kind of car I'd really look to do a trackday in either as I'd imagine it would be quite heavy on consumables compared to my MCS.
.
save yourself some cash then and get a 120 and cane it.....
I don't think they changed the suspension at LCI or when they changed to the b58 engine.
I had use of an early M135i auto with adaptive as a company car and it was scary (not in a fun or exciting way) on Scottish B roads. I remember visiting a client out around Stirling and swearing something in the suspension was broken the handling was that unnerving. General consensus seems to be that eibach/HR springs plus M4 LCAs improve things.
I've since had a Mk7 Golf R, Cupra 290 and am currently in a MCS and all outshine my memory of the M135i.
I had use of an early M135i auto with adaptive as a company car and it was scary (not in a fun or exciting way) on Scottish B roads. I remember visiting a client out around Stirling and swearing something in the suspension was broken the handling was that unnerving. General consensus seems to be that eibach/HR springs plus M4 LCAs improve things.
I've since had a Mk7 Golf R, Cupra 290 and am currently in a MCS and all outshine my memory of the M135i.
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