RE: BMW M135i: PH Fleet

[nickfrog]

git-r said:

Hehe hey Nick

The Megane had different alignment so not really a fair comparison, the BMW can still do turn in oversteer but then hold it until the tyres go pop!

I got the BMW lsd fitted to mine too, want to go back to Bedford with it, reckon 1:26.5 easy even with me driving!

Edited to add - you might remember my friend with the focus rs? His is tuned with the mountune kit taking power to about 380 bhp I think. He recently went to Bedford to try and beat my time in the 1 series, he managed it but only by 0.4 seconds I seriously think the 1 is quicker than the focus on track

I had done something similar on my M135i to what you did on the Megane and went to 1.5deg of front neg camber by simply fitting M4 LCAs.

It did transform the car, turn-in feel, neutrality, steering feel etc... And it (kind of) prevented premature wear on the outer shoulders of the front tyres.

Amusingly 1.5 deg is what the FRS comes with as standard (good move), but you're lumbered with the 1.7t weight, 4wd and assisted oversteer / drift thing.

[Flat6]

ZX10R NIN said:

Yes but the M140i still suffers from damping issues when pressing on

My experience of 2 years in a pre-LCI M135 and now 1 year in a M140 says it really doesn't. The M140 is SO much more composed that roads I found buttock-clenching in the M135 at speed can be driven considerably quicker in the M140 without breaking a sweat.

[f1ten]

I loved my little estoril blue lci 2016 m135i. Quick and pretty pointy but I agree the standard dampers were very bouncy and struggled with fast B roads which I used it for. I too had to back off even when overtaking on bumpy straights as it would bounce around quite a bit. It is a proper pocket rocket and I could see myself having gotten another one in the future.

I highly rate the car and I've come from owning some proper supercar metal and I cannot praise the m135i enough. Pound for pound it is unbeatable. It makes a damn good noise as well !

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

Flat6 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Yes but the M140i still suffers from damping issues when pressing on

My experience of 2 years in a pre-LCI M135 and now 1 year in a M140 says it really doesn't. The M140 is SO much more composed that roads I found buttock-clenching in the M135 at speed can be driven considerably quicker in the M140 without breaking a sweat.

Couldn't agree more. The 140 is fantastically composed when pressing on and by far the easiest car I've had to drive fast on UK roads, including 911s, M3s, Elises and Caterhams due to the supple and composed adaptive dampers.

[jjr1]

And herein is the lesson: adaptive dampers.

My friend has a new 240i with the passive dampers and I genuinely fear for my life every time we go down a B road. The fking car is like a pogo stick. Added to my fear of his driving and my fear of his piloting skills (2 planes) it is a wonder I am not institutionalised

[sixpistons]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

I put the Birds kit on my 130i and while quite firm it's actually got softer spring rates (but firmer anti roll bars) than the standard setup and the damping is a different league. I've been in a few M135is and the factory setup is vastly better than a standard 130i - if I owned one myself I'm not sure I'd be in such a rush to change it, but I very much doubt that they will 'ruin' it.

[git-r]

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.

[anonymous-user]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

That's just a daft thing to say. The point of the Birds kit is that the parts are complimentary to each other. The lack of an LSD is criminal on the 35/40.

[SidewaysSi]

yonex said:

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

That's just a daft thing to say. The point of the Birds kit is that the parts are complimentary to each other. The lack of an LSD is criminal on the 35/40.

Yep a load of rubbish. Decent suspension should transform most cars. Whilst not similar, I have just spent a chunk on my E36 328i and it now drives properly and is far more competent on road.

[Billy_Whizzzz]

SidewaysSi said:

yonex said:

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

That's just a daft thing to say. The point of the Birds kit is that the parts are complimentary to each other. The lack of an LSD is criminal on the 35/40.

Yep a load of rubbish. Decent suspension should transform most cars. Whilst not similar, I have just spent a chunk on my E36 328i and it now drives properly and is far more competent on road.

You've got an M135i, so you know do you? Or because you've got an e36 you 'know' about M135i suspension?

Also, For what it's worth, most 'experts' agree that an LSD is totally unnecessary on a 135/140 for road use.

[F355GTS]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

SidewaysSi said:

yonex said:

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

That's just a daft thing to say. The point of the Birds kit is that the parts are complimentary to each other. The lack of an LSD is criminal on the 35/40.

Yep a load of rubbish. Decent suspension should transform most cars. Whilst not similar, I have just spent a chunk on my E36 328i and it now drives properly and is far more competent on road.

You've got an M135i, so you know do you? Or because you've got an e36 you 'know' about M135i suspension?

Also, For what it's worth, most 'experts' agree that an LSD is totally unnecessary on a 135/140 for road use.

I agreee with Billy_Whizzzz, after 10k+ miles in mine I find it difficult to believe you could improve the handling on an M135i with adaptive for use on British roads equally what's the point of more power? it's a quick car as standard and as for an LSD it's utterly pointless on a road car, sure if you're going to track it but otherwise leave it as is.

[SidewaysSi]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

SidewaysSi said:

yonex said:

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Absolute total rubbish about the suspension - with adaptive dampers and non run flats they are brilliant on UK roads. It isn't a track car and finally there's a fast, road biased BMW that is supple and compliant. Watch as PH ruins it with over firm Birds dampers.

That's just a daft thing to say. The point of the Birds kit is that the parts are complimentary to each other. The lack of an LSD is criminal on the 35/40.

Yep a load of rubbish. Decent suspension should transform most cars. Whilst not similar, I have just spent a chunk on my E36 328i and it now drives properly and is far more competent on road.

You've got an M135i, so you know do you? Or because you've got an e36 you 'know' about M135i suspension?

Also, For what it's worth, most 'experts' agree that an LSD is totally unnecessary on a 135/140 for road use.

I have driven an M135 extensively on UK roads. I assume you have experience of the Birds setup?

[nickfrog]

Not sure the question of an LSD on M135i is that black and white. I do think it will add a decent amount of traction in the wet, even on the road. Whether the £2k+ price tag represents good vfm is the (subjective ) issue.

[anonymous-user]

F355GTS said:

I agreee with Billy_Whizzzz, after 10k+ miles in mine I find it difficult to believe you could improve the handling on an M135i with adaptive for use on British roads equally what's the point of more power? it's a quick car as standard and as for an LSD it's utterly pointless on a road car, sure if you're going to track it but otherwise leave it as is.

LSD pointless on a road car, really, i guess that's why every M car has a proper one?

The benefit of the LSD is enormous in the wet or damp. I'd suggest you go and drive a Birds demo car before making any more sweeping comments?

[cerb4.5lee]

yonex said:

LSD pointless on a road car, really, i guess that's why every M car has a proper one?

I agree and the four cars that I've had with a LSD have been a big benefit for me, I don't understand why all performance Bmw's don't have one, maybe it's because bmw think the 1 series is just used for pottering around in or going shopping in so they don't bother!

All joking aside though bmw always used to fit a lsd to their cars years ago, and I think it's a shame that only the full fat M cars get them now for me, the M135i would be much more enjoyable to drive with a lsd as far as I'm concerned.

My old 200sx had less than 200bhp as standard yet still had a lsd, it makes a difference for sure...not only in terms of grip but it ramps up the fun too.

[ZX10R NIN]

F355GTS said:

I agreee with Billy_Whizzzz, after 10k+ miles in mine I find it difficult to believe you could improve the handling on an M135i with adaptive for use on British roads equally what's the point of more power? it's a quick car as standard and as for an LSD it's utterly pointless on a road car, sure if you're going to track it but otherwise leave it as is.

Get yourself down to Birds & try their car you might just be surprised at the difference even when just driven on the road.

[s m]

cerb4.5lee said:

I agree and the four cars that I've had with a LSD have been a big benefit for me, I don't understand why all performance Bmw's don't have one, maybe it's because bmw think the 1 series is just used for pottering around in or going shopping in so they don't bother!

All joking aside though bmw always used to fit a lsd to their cars years ago, and I think it's a shame that only the full fat M cars get them now for me, the M135i would be much more enjoyable to drive with a lsd as far as I'm concerned.

My old 200sx had less than 200bhp as standard yet still had a lsd, it makes a difference for sure...not only in terms of grip but it ramps up the fun too.

Not only a LSD but the factory also saw fit to install a diff cooler to make sure it operated effectively in extremis as well

[anonymous-user]

SidewaysSi said:

I found the M3 too big, heavy and detached for my liking. Old 3s and 1s are more fun IMO.

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).

[toon10]

I'll be watching this one with interest.

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.

I didn't get on with the manual box in the M135i and I'm currently running my first ever auto car, a 3 door LCI. It took me a while to get my head around having an auto in a hot hatch and whilst I'd normally argue that manual is better than auto, in the 1 series I found the opposite to be true. The auto is superbly matched to the car.

I'm struggling to think of what I can replace it with. As much as I'd love a more focused M car, I can't justify the costs of running one. The 440i has always been in the back of my mind. It's much nicer looking than the 1 series for a start and a bit more grown up to quote my partner. How do the two cars compare if you don't mind me asking?