RE: Driven: BMW M135i

[Wolands Advocate]

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11212...rlds-fastest-c...

[Huffy1]

What a great clip!!! Just adds a little something to Xmas this year!

[the-photographer]

The icing on the cake?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/m135i/firs...

The key difference is the addition of the intelligent xDrive four-wheel drive system. It uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch to distribute power between the front and rear axles etc

[mc_blue]

Sounds like a great system and given how difficult it can be to drive normal BMWs in the snow surely would make sense in the future?

[FamilyDub]

the-photographer said:

The icing on the cake?

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/m135i/firs...

The key difference is the addition of the intelligent xDrive four-wheel drive system. It uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch to distribute power between the front and rear axles etc

^ BMW seem to think 'there's no market for it' in the UK. A RHD x-drive M135i seems like an amazing all-weather package to me...

[nickfrog]

Having driven the rwd M135i in the (very) wet I was amazed how much traction the Supersports had. I wouldn't actually need any more for road use !

And I suppose for winter, no 4wd is ever gonna match winter tyres...

[JuanGandini]

nickfrog said:

Having driven the rwd M135i in the (very) wet I was amazed how much traction the Supersports had. I wouldn't actually need any more for road use !

And I suppose for winter, no 4wd is ever gonna match winter tyres...

Plus 4WD won't help you slow down quicker in the snow!

[e30m3Mark]

Excuse the thread bump but these are finally at a price where I'm considering one as a daily driver. I just wondered what there is out there to make them a little more track focussed and can they easily be tuned? I appreciate these are pretty competent straight out the box but I enjoy modding my cars and making them my own.

As I intend modifying though, is a 130i worth a look?

I know pretty much nothing about the modern BMW so any help and/or advice is appreciated.

Mark

[Limpet]

The M135i is ripe for modding. Replacing the standard open diff with an LSD will improve traction and make power oversteer more consistent and predictable. Suspension upgrades will improve handling and ride, as well as improve the chassis' general response and sense of precision. A remap, or tuning box will push the power up towards the 400 bhp mark, although my personal view is that these do not need any more straight line speed for even semi-law abiding road use.

I can't comment on the 130i as I've never driven one, but I have driven the N52 engine in a Z4, and it's a lovely thing. NA of course, so a very different power delivery and feel to the M135i, and also harder and more expensive to coax power out of, but they are well regarded for a reason.

The M135i has its limitations and flaws, but these are fairly minor, and can be fixed if they get on your nerves. For the money, there's not much out there to touch them at the moment IMHO.

[SidewaysSi]

Aren't PH doing this to their long termed? As for 130s, Birds seem the place to go. Think Yonex on here has a reader's car thread on his.

[e30m3Mark]

Thanks guys, will take a look.

I've seen a couple of nice M135i listed. I quite like this coupe 135 but really didn't want a black car.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-135i-M-SPORT-AA-INS...

This one caught my eye though. Just needs an M badge delete and alcantara steering wheel. I also figured I would look into an induction kit and exhaust de cat?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-M135i/162738262410?...