RE: Driven: BMW M135i

[kambites]

Fair enough, if looks of a car you don't even own mean that much to you I suppose.

[GroundEffect]

Really, really impressive value...and great performance too.

£31k for a car with the same performance as a Z4M?!

Pity it's so god-damn ugly :/

[Antj]

told you it was the bargain of the century. £29995 in 3 dr is a steal. VW take note me thinks,

[Johnnytheboy]

I do love the way new cars acquire a de rigeur talking point on PH, that all related threads must revert to chewing over.

When I was buying the Focus RS it was "it should have been 4wd".

Now with the GT86/BRZ it is "it's underpowered".

With this it's obviously going to be "it's ugly".

I'm still going to buy one!

[kambites]

GroundEffect said:

Pity it's so god-damn ugly :/

I actually think the profile is quite pleasant (much better than the previous generation). It's just those lights that are so hideously awful. A decent facelift could make it into quite a handsome car... however BMW have been giving no indications recently that they're capable of such a thing.

[Johnnytheboy]

I hope when we get proper UK road tests that they test a manual too, so someone else can make my mind up for me.

Instinctively I want a manual but the ZF 8-speed is a hell of a 'box and makes the 135i faster and more economical.

[roystinho]

kambites said:

Fair enough, if looks of a car you don't even own mean that much to you I suppose.

Ha! yeah quite a comprehensive answer. Some folk are funny on here so better to give the full picture than argue over a few posts

Still want a 1M though why won't they drop under the £30k mark goddamit

[Uncle John]

Does indeed look like a performance bargain although the style wise I neither like or loathe.

Have they fixed the OBD port/theft issue on this?? Would be nice to know for prospective punters.

[mannyg]

kambites said:

I actually think the profile is quite pleasant (much better than the previous generation). It's just those lights that are so hideously awful. A decent facelift could make it into quite a handsome car... however BMW have been giving no indications recently that they're capable of such a thing.

I'd go one further and say it is a much better looking car than the previous version. The only thing that was VERY wrong with the 1st Gen 1-series was the side 'droop' and the new one eliminates that. In my eyes, the front lights, rear lights etc..are much less significant than removing that styling feature.

Plus - it's an affordable turbo, RWD, manual hatch. Perfect.

[roystinho]

Uncle John said:

Have they fixed the OBD port/theft issue on this?? Would be nice to know for prospective punters.

Great shout. That would be deterrant to any potential buyer

[SSBB]

roystinho said:

I never liked the old 1 series, but the 1M put that thought to bed and gave a halo effect over the range in my eyes. This has done the same thing. I would never have looked at the new model, but again this has lifted the entire range (almost) I would plump for one of these over my beloved Renaultsport's megane 265 I think...

BMW marketing dept's wet dream

[chilled]

nickfrog said:

HurryUpAndWait said:

ic0n said:

Awesome.

Does it come with an LSD? I hope so.

Nope, just an open diff.

Which should be fine for road use, 245 section should offer decent traction as it is. Just less to brag about at the pub though.

It won't be fine at all. I have a previous gen 120d and it's in desperate need of an LSD to be able to pull out of junctions or attempt to have fun on roundabouts. Which doesn't help when the TC is massively intrusive. So for an enthusiastic driver it's a big issue.

It does have a "fake diff" apparently, braking individual wheels but the jury is out as to whether that will be enough.

[Chunkychucky]

kambites said:

There's a manual.

can see this selling in quite high volumes at the list price..

[TameRacingDriver]

It is fugly, but debadged it could be a proper Q-car this.

[s m]

chilled said:

It won't be fine at all. I have a previous gen 120d and it's in desperate need of an LSD to be able to pull out of junctions or attempt to have fun on roundabouts. Which doesn't help when the TC is massively intrusive. So for an enthusiastic driver it's a big issue.

I bet Birds will fit a Torsen type for £1500 if you ask them

[mc_blue]

Hopefully the 2-Series (1-Series Coupe) will address the styling concerns of the hatch. Performance and handling looks superb on this and especially at that price!

[Lemans Party]

Ugly looking MOFO from any angle.

[chilled]

s m said:

I bet Birds will fit a Torsen type for £1500 if you ask them

They will indeed, and I have considered it. however buying an M3 works out better in man maths.

[LCR265]

I like the looks actually - in a mean, weird insect sort of way.

[Mr E]

Looks to be bloody good value, as discussed. I assume that engine will make it into a 3 and 5 series?