RE: BMW M135i: PH Fleet

[anonymous-user]

janesmith1950 said:

That's interesting, as I've moved from a 140 to an M3.

The 140 feels like a soft barge in comparison. The front end of the M3 is in another league and the whole car feels more nimble and easier to place on the road (not that the 140 was difficult, in the first place).

I have to agree with the front end of the M3, it was that, and the balance of the E90 that really impressed me. The main issue was you had to be really travelling for it to feel 'alive'. That and the fact it was only doing 20 odd to the gallon along with the associated running costs on the commute. It's a big and quite heavy car, the grip comes at a cost.

[va1o]

git-r said:

jjr1 said:

And herein is the lesson: adaptive dampers.

I think this is right. At the touch of a button you have a barge or something that will corner much flatter. Lap times support this.

I agree, but doesn't this car have them as mentions EDC dampers in the article?

[anonymous-user]

yonex said:

I have to agree with the front end of the M3, it was that, and the balance of the E90 that really impressed me. The main issue was you had to be really travelling for it to feel 'alive'. That and the fact it was only doing 20 odd to the gallon along with the associated running costs on the commute. It's a big and quite heavy car, the grip comes at a cost.

I've not run an E90, however the engine/gearbox in the F80 feels a bit too lazy in 'efficient' mode, and a bit psycho in up and at 'em mode. In that sense it's not great fun ambling along a motorway or A road commute (a 440 would probably be nicer), and the comment would stand.

I think the F80 is slightly better on fuel than the E90, though. I average about 22-23mpg urban commuting (av speed about 17mph). In a trip to Spa and back from Leeds it averaged 30mpg, keeping with the traffic and giving it some decent application of beans in between.

Bringing it slightly back in topic, compared to the 140, it's about 2 or 3 mpg worse in commuting and 5 or 6 on an extra urban motorway journey. I haven't had much chance to test as it's only just run in, however on a 90 mile circuit of faster run over Dales A and B roads, they both averaged 16-18mpg.

Both great fun, though.

[jimPH]

Watching with interest, though the M-lite we have is my wife's and I'm banned from modifying it. Great car though, I love it!

[ZX10R NIN]

jimPH said:

Watching with interest, though the M-lite we have is my wife's and I'm banned from modifying it. Great car though, I love it!

Air filter Remap & she'll never know

[nickfrog]

janesmith1950 said:

The 140 feels like a soft barge in comparison. The front end of the M3 is in another league

It's mainly just 1 deg of neg camber away, ie £400 fitted and aligned.