RE: BMW M135i: PH Fleet

[S30N]

Harry_mac said:

Not a hatch though is it?

Fair point (I'm assuming practicality)..

Still surprises me how the coupe seems to get overlooked so often - it's not much smaller than the F20!

Anything else?

[culpz]

Wolands Advocate said:

culpz said:

Wolands Advocate said:

The ZF auto is a good match for the engine, but it's just that an auto 'box in a pugnacious hot hatch doesn't quite seem right.

I now have an automatic 440i after 4.5 yrs in a manual M135i and they are far more different than I expected (in a good way). The 440i is an absolutely peachy Jekyll & Hyde sort of car, but I am not sure the same feel would sit as well on a hot hatch as it does on a mid-range fastback.

Hot-hatches are getting so big now that i think the automatics are suiting them much more. The 1 Series, in particular, is quite a big car for a hatch. The bonnet on it is as long as a saloon's!

The segment below i.e. The Clio's, Polo's, i can understand. Although, i'd still go for a decent auto/DCT if i can, regardless. It's great to have the option but i'm, not sure how much longer it will last.

Well, I had a 5-series (actually an E60 M50) before my M135i, so it felt pretty small to me, long bonnet or not. I still maintain that it's horses for courses when it comes to gearboxes, and that out-and-out sports car should have manual 'boxes. I drove a current-shape MX-5 last w/end and it was an absolute joy to drive with a short and sweet gearshift action - I wouldn't see the benefit of having an auto 'box in that kind of car.

I mean that's not surprising. I wasn't trying to compare it to much bigger cars. Obviously the M135i will feel much smaller and more nimble compared to a E60 5 Series. That goes without saying!

It's always going to be a big debate of auto versus manual and which cars should have which gearbox. It's all subjective. I'm just honestly bored of driving manuals now. I don't get much enjoyment out of it anymore.

[GregK2]

S30N said:

Fair point (I'm assuming practicality)..

Still surprises me how the coupe seems to get overlooked so often - it's not much smaller than the F20!

Anything else?

It was featured in a piece last month.
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...

[Mike Roberts]

I had a 135i coupe and it was great. They simply didn't sell in the same numbers, so the few out there have a quiet cult following in the shadow of the 1M.

[S30N]

GregK2 said:

It was featured in a piece last month.
https://www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-spottedyky...

Thanks Greg, crazy how it was overlooked so much considering most people recognised the 335i but I suppose the 1M generated massive attention..

Looking forward to the progress on the PH M135i and hope they document it well!

[crimbo]

sorry I missed how you got to 7k for tunning

Lsd =£1500
Remap = less than £1000
Springs and dampers can't be £1000

I would be looking at doing it for under 2.5K surely, why not go adjustable coilovers if the suspension is that much?

[oversteerer]

Here's a wonderful example of how to unlock the full potential of the N55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP5OkrSveXA&t=...

The suspension isn't that bad, after a few thousand miles behind the wheel, you will have adapted to the suspension's shortcomings.

[anonymous-user]

Not sure I agree with the OP on the handling (subject to differences between the 135 and the 140, which I had). The rear is solid, all be it stiff. It can be unnerving if you're not used to or expecting it, but it isn't wayward or frightening when you are. If anything it's communicating back to you better than if you felt nothing until the huge reserves of grip disappear into a hedge.

[Scottie - NW]

crimbo said:

sorry I missed how you got to 7k for tunning

Lsd =£1500
Remap = less than £1000
Springs and dampers can't be £1000

I would be looking at doing it for under 2.5K surely, why not go adjustable coilovers if the suspension is that much?

I think it depends where you go, Birds are well known for the amount they charge and no doubt have their reasons for doing so, therefore I can only assume this is tied up to some advertising deal or part of something bigger with PH as otherwise I'd expect PH to be impartial and source well priced upgrades that realistically test the options >90% or readers would go for.

[SidewaysSi]

culpz said:

Max_Torque said:

Value before tuning £17.5k
Tuning cost £7k

Value after tuning ~£12k


Yup, good value for money...... ;-)

It's still better than the values of EV's

Anyway, you don't need to worry about us "Dinosaurs", as you so eloquently wrote it, with our fossil fuel-powered cars. You just concentrate on getting us into those electric cars that were all destined to be in.

And if engineers actually did a proper job rather than a half-arsed effort...;)

To be fair, I pity the average automotive engineer who is vaguely enthusiastic about driving. Budget and legislative constraints must be incredibly frustrating.

I am throwing around £5k at my old E36 which I bought for a lot less than that. Mr Torque may not think that makes much sense but for me, it will be a lot more interesting and exciting than a new M4. Worth every penny IMO.

[MarJay]

I have the birds suspension package on my 130i and it's an absolutely staggering car. With another 150bhp it would be something extraordinary. You're talking supercar slaying performance.

[Limpet]

Broccers said:

Hmm how much is a M5? Oh same price....

Run them both and maintain them (properly) for 3 years, and then compare outlays.....

[mikeyscott]

I've been looking at these as I wish I went DCT on my 135i I can't bring myself to change to an M135i due to value free fall due to so many lease deals. Then add having to tweak things makes it an expensive deperciating lump.

I keep flapping between spending on my 135i which has Birds dampers on it or saving for a fair while and moving to M3 or something else...

If I'd gone DCT I think I'd not be looking at changing. Mistake made...

[Jamesp24]

Great cars,Seriously miss mine and have looked more than once at getting another.

[ChocolateFrog]

Without wanting to be a dick. Is this a paid for or supported promotion?

It's an interesting concept but if Birds are paying then we can all take the conclusions with a pinch of salt.

[Roncee]

steering really lets the package down. would like to try the lca mod but again its a shame to have to fix these things on a premium hatch

[Clivey]

Roncee said:

steering really lets the package down. would like to try the lca mod but again its a shame to have to fix these things on a premium hatch

It is...but which other gives you RWD, a 6-cylinder engine, a choice of manual or paddleshift auto gearboxes and a choice of 3 or 5 doors? Just think of it as an extra cost option.

[ZX10R NIN]

dumab said:

Max_Torque said:

Value before tuning £17.5k
Tuning cost £7k

Value after tuning ~£12k


Yup, good value for money...... ;-)

Surely more value in a new M140i? A friend bagged a new one for £27k.

Yes but the M140i still suffers from damping issues when pressing on so you can spend 27k & then get the suspension & diff at a cost of course.

So why not go about getting the car to handle the way you want it too for around 25k, yes you could go & buy an M5 but it's a different type of car therefore not fulfilling the roll someone who'd get this conversion done wants from their car.

I'm all for it I would rather buy a used car & then get it how I want it rather than just get a newer one & live with it's foibles.

[va1o]

I've had one since January and really like it. 3dr Auto with Adaptive suspension. Drives very nicely with awesome performance when you want it and relaxed cruising ability when needed. The obligatory Pro Nav and Harman Kardon speakers complete it nicely inside, along with an M Performance exhaust on the outside.

Only problem is I haven't a clue what to replace it with! Everything else seems a compromise some way. Even spending £40k on something brand new it's very hard to top IMO.

[nickpan]

I had one at the start of last year for 5 months.

The only thing I remember about it was the way the auto box used to punch through gear shifts on full chat in sports mode. Sounded AWESOME.

Replaced it for an BMW i3 and a 911 and the rest is history.