RE: BMW M135i: Spotted
Discussion
3795mpower said:
I’ve had my car nearly two years & 10’000 miles.
It was purchased from Bmw approved used & was a one owner vehicle.
It’s been absolutely fantastic, a true all rounder.
It does everything you could reasonably ask of a car.
35+mpg when touring, great straight line pace when you need it.
I never minded the looks and they have grown on me more, it’s got
The nick name The Breadvan amongst some friends as it reminds them of
An old Z3 M coupe. It certainly has the pace.
I use it for everything, holidays, ring trips, track days, it’s done very well.
The only negative has been the need to replace the sloppy ZF gearbox with a fresh
Unit from Germany. This was done under warranty.
I can’t recommend these cars enough, but I would say if you can afford a warranty
Then buy with a warranty. Especially if getting an auto.
Interested in how it performs on track? How did the tyres, brakes and suspension hold up? Any issues with engine temps etc? My friend has one for sale and i am very tempted and would like to use it on track but only have experience of light weight cars such as west fields and MX5's on track and worried that it wouldn't be much fun and i would melt tyres and brakes in such a heavy car (relative to the cars i have used previously!) It was purchased from Bmw approved used & was a one owner vehicle.
It’s been absolutely fantastic, a true all rounder.
It does everything you could reasonably ask of a car.
35+mpg when touring, great straight line pace when you need it.
I never minded the looks and they have grown on me more, it’s got
The nick name The Breadvan amongst some friends as it reminds them of
An old Z3 M coupe. It certainly has the pace.
I use it for everything, holidays, ring trips, track days, it’s done very well.
The only negative has been the need to replace the sloppy ZF gearbox with a fresh
Unit from Germany. This was done under warranty.
I can’t recommend these cars enough, but I would say if you can afford a warranty
Then buy with a warranty. Especially if getting an auto.
Cheers Paul
paul n said:
Interested in how it performs on track? How did the tyres, brakes and suspension hold up? Any issues with engine temps etc? My friend has one for sale and i am very tempted and would like to use it on track but only have experience of light weight cars such as west fields and MX5's on track and worried that it wouldn't be much fun and i would melt tyres and brakes in such a heavy car (relative to the cars i have used previously!)
Cheers Paul
I drive it quite hard.Cheers Paul
It has pilot supersports, these are excellent on track.
I did a full day at Bedford Autodrome recently, I was pushing it hard,
The car held up really well, the front tyres are very second hand now !
The brakes are excellent and held up to full track day very well.
Needless to say pads needed changing & bleed was required afterwards but
On the day you never run out of brakes (which makes a nice change for a Bmw...)
No issues with engine temps (this is a stock factory car)
The intelligent cooling system actually runs the head at a cooler temperature
When it detects hard use....so you find yourself pulling into the pits reading 85C
Rather than 100+.
I have a scan gauge hooked up to obd so I can get proper engine temp readings.
As stock it doesn’t have a temp gauge which is pants.
Scottie - NW said:
3795mpower said:
Have you driven one yet ?
You’re a bit far away for a go in mine !
These handling issues...wow, they are really talked up by magazines who drive
Stuff like hire cars at 10/10ths on the road and declare it “bouncy”
I do two ring trips per year minimum, the M135i is awesome at the ring.
I have the adaptive set up. I never think to myself “wow must bin this suspension”
It’s really planted, stable and has tons of grip.
I could probably make it misbehave on an A road over here but I’d be driving at
A pace to make my passengers sick....and not the sort of pace you should be
Doing on a UK road.
I’d say try one.
In contrast we had a Golf R in our squad last year and I did a tourist lap in it.
Found it really boring by comparison.
Thanks, that is really useful info. The problem is on a test drive on the roads you are only getting an idea of how the car feels so I rely on certain journalists (Catchpole/Meaden etc) and road testers over the last 20 years to help me choose a car. Your experience of the Ring is very relevant, as when it's your own car you are not going all out as you need the car in one piece to get back to the UK.You’re a bit far away for a go in mine !
These handling issues...wow, they are really talked up by magazines who drive
Stuff like hire cars at 10/10ths on the road and declare it “bouncy”
I do two ring trips per year minimum, the M135i is awesome at the ring.
I have the adaptive set up. I never think to myself “wow must bin this suspension”
It’s really planted, stable and has tons of grip.
I could probably make it misbehave on an A road over here but I’d be driving at
A pace to make my passengers sick....and not the sort of pace you should be
Doing on a UK road.
I’d say try one.
In contrast we had a Golf R in our squad last year and I did a tourist lap in it.
Found it really boring by comparison.
They arent ill handling, wayward pigs or anything, but it dies tend to squirm a bit and get thrown off course by road imperfections, the damping seems a bit behind what the body is upto, might be virtue of the fact it is fairly fast so a chassis that is ok at seventy over a given road isnt at 90 plus which the engine allows you to end up at.
Interested to see what the next BMW mega hatch is like.
Haven't been to the ring... Yet... And I guess unless you're there a lot or happen to own the 919 then you'll have fun in anything reasonably fast - you're bound to be slower than a local Taxi driver in his E class anyway! (if you haven't seen it yet you tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQmSUHhP3ug - i've never managed to get my helmet to bounce around like that!)
I know it's a bit old now but for a reasonable comparison of what this car can do on a track, check out the lap times on the top gear track. It doesn't do too badly against some pretty exotic metal, quicker than an GT40, RS4, Gallardo Spider, a bunch of Astons and Porsche's... I can't help wondering what company a juiced up one would be mixing with given +20% hp.
A second here, or there who cares when cars get this powerful on the road most of us are either too Sensible/Scared/Incompetent (delete as appropriate) to get the very best out of them (excluding that 919 guy of course). Any way you look at it this is a pretty accomplished bit of kit and as a cheap daily driver its about as good as you'll get, I love that its subtle and out on the tarmac it won't embarrass you.
I know it's a bit old now but for a reasonable comparison of what this car can do on a track, check out the lap times on the top gear track. It doesn't do too badly against some pretty exotic metal, quicker than an GT40, RS4, Gallardo Spider, a bunch of Astons and Porsche's... I can't help wondering what company a juiced up one would be mixing with given +20% hp.
A second here, or there who cares when cars get this powerful on the road most of us are either too Sensible/Scared/Incompetent (delete as appropriate) to get the very best out of them (excluding that 919 guy of course). Any way you look at it this is a pretty accomplished bit of kit and as a cheap daily driver its about as good as you'll get, I love that its subtle and out on the tarmac it won't embarrass you.
3795mpower said:
I drive it quite hard.
It has pilot supersports, these are excellent on track.
I did a full day at Bedford Autodrome recently, I was pushing it hard,
The car held up really well, the front tyres are very second hand now !
The brakes are excellent and held up to full track day very well.
Needless to say pads needed changing & bleed was required afterwards but
On the day you never run out of brakes (which makes a nice change for a Bmw...)
No issues with engine temps (this is a stock factory car)
The intelligent cooling system actually runs the head at a cooler temperature
When it detects hard use....so you find yourself pulling into the pits reading 85C
Rather than 100+.
I have a scan gauge hooked up to obd so I can get proper engine temp readings.
As stock it doesn’t have a temp gauge which is pants.
Cheers for the info! I take it the pads and tyres were not new when you started the track day (as they would be abit much for my pocket to burn a set of pads and tyres every time i think!) sounds like it holds up well! I think the criticisms of the handling and the suspension is a little unfair and can be sorted pretty cheaply with new dampers/ springs. I have driven my friends on the road and it is sooooo much more exciting that a fast FWD hot hatch (I had a 300 bhp edition 30 at the time) just the noise and the connection and fun you have with the car is alot better. For those people saying a mapped hot hatch will make the same power forget that a mapped M135i will make 380-400! (but at that point i would deffinatley want better dampers and a LSD!) A bloody bargin i would say these cars are now! It has pilot supersports, these are excellent on track.
I did a full day at Bedford Autodrome recently, I was pushing it hard,
The car held up really well, the front tyres are very second hand now !
The brakes are excellent and held up to full track day very well.
Needless to say pads needed changing & bleed was required afterwards but
On the day you never run out of brakes (which makes a nice change for a Bmw...)
No issues with engine temps (this is a stock factory car)
The intelligent cooling system actually runs the head at a cooler temperature
When it detects hard use....so you find yourself pulling into the pits reading 85C
Rather than 100+.
I have a scan gauge hooked up to obd so I can get proper engine temp readings.
As stock it doesn’t have a temp gauge which is pants.
Agreed I loved my 66 plate. Small quick and a great everyday car.
I had mine in France up at top speed and was shocked how quick it got there.
They sound brilliant out the box, there are 70k cars that do t sound this good frankly.
They do need modified suspension although I didn't far that far with mine but only other fault is they are a bit small In The back seats.
I had mine in France up at top speed and was shocked how quick it got there.
They sound brilliant out the box, there are 70k cars that do t sound this good frankly.
They do need modified suspension although I didn't far that far with mine but only other fault is they are a bit small In The back seats.
Kenny Powers said:
I love these cars. I find the looks somewhat “challenging” but they have an honesty and integrity about them. The engine sounds rich and expensive, certainly compared to the normal box of spanners 4-pot buzzbombs. For me personally an engine is at least 75% of a performance car 
Earl of Petrol said:
This is timely as I’ve been looking at M140’s for the end of this year when I change. I was set on a Civic type R but cannot reconcile myself with £35k for a Honda Civic no matter how good it is. Also as a gentleman of a certain age the wings and splitters are starting to look a little conspicuous. However back to the subject matter, I was thinking these (M135i/M140i) are not going to be around forever and the ministry of misery in Whitehall are bound to outlaw this type of car before too long in their bid to get us all into something with a hairdryer motor. So I thought what can I get, new or nearly new for less than the cost of a box-fresh CTR GT? Depending on how broad your horizons are the answer is quite a lot.
So i landed on the M140i planet. I’ve read how it comes unravelled a bit at 11 10ths whereas the cheeky 4cyl upstarts don’t and it might become a chav-mobile at some point (not sure that will happen) but what a classy bit of kit for c. 25k with low miles and 1-2 years old!
I think they’re a bit niche and dare I say gone somewhat under the radar. So I’ve narrowed it down to 5 dr auto with under 15k in Estoril Blue or Valencia Orange. But don’t tell anyone as prices may go up!
Conversely and seriously there are currently 50 135s And 140s on BCA’s stock list, going through the block in the next 2-3 weeks, many of them with very low miles, which tells me they’re not great forecourt fodder where the world still wants something that looks the part but powered by a 3 cyl diesel.
Just an FYI if you look around there are plenty of new m140i (all shadow editions) being sold off for between £24k and £27k So i landed on the M140i planet. I’ve read how it comes unravelled a bit at 11 10ths whereas the cheeky 4cyl upstarts don’t and it might become a chav-mobile at some point (not sure that will happen) but what a classy bit of kit for c. 25k with low miles and 1-2 years old!
I think they’re a bit niche and dare I say gone somewhat under the radar. So I’ve narrowed it down to 5 dr auto with under 15k in Estoril Blue or Valencia Orange. But don’t tell anyone as prices may go up!
Conversely and seriously there are currently 50 135s And 140s on BCA’s stock list, going through the block in the next 2-3 weeks, many of them with very low miles, which tells me they’re not great forecourt fodder where the world still wants something that looks the part but powered by a 3 cyl diesel.
Edited by Earl of Petrol on Thursday 26th July 11:26
One recently sold on the owners page from a dealer for £24.5k.
All the cars in this spec come with park assist, pro nav and HK audio.
I paid 25.5 for my 3 month old m135i which was a well specced car albeit the m140i was already out. That's bloody good value if you can buy a shadow for that price.
I can't think of anything new or 1 yr old which has this performance for that price. Never driven the merc but don't like the looks or image it has. The Audi looks good but obviously is a lot more expensive.
I can't think of anything new or 1 yr old which has this performance for that price. Never driven the merc but don't like the looks or image it has. The Audi looks good but obviously is a lot more expensive.
Rawwr said:
Broadspeed are currently knocking out new M140is for a shade over £27k, which is a pretty chunky saving:
Based on the depreciation of previous m135i and m140i models could anybody hazard a guess at what these 27k cars would be worth at 3 years old with 30k miles? I appreciate this is an estimate but would be interested to see what that works out to over 36 months of depreciation, I'm guessing better than a lot of others.I like these, and agree they can be surprisingly wayward. Ultimately the 1 series is a cheap car, built to sell at £18k+ VAT with a fat margin for BMW in even the base model. Not surprising that when you ask that much of it you find the limits. This has pretty much always been the case when you stick an engine with 3x the power of the base model in a car without a major reworking like an M3 or M5, but for me a clearly overpowered car can be a lot of fun.
Rawwr said:
Just had a look and BMW reckon a £13.5k balloon after 3yr/30,000m.
That's quite conservative though. The first of the M135i from 2012 are only just hitting those values. I'm guessing you could probably add a grand or two to that £13.5k figure, which would be your equity to roll into another PCP deal, and that would be the likely "trade" price.At two years old with 20k miles ours was up for sale at CarGiant for £20k. It's now up for sale at another dealer at 4.5 yrs old with 30k miles for £16k.
You can pick up a 1-2 yr old M140i from motorpoint for £20k with 10-20k miles.
e.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
And based on how our M135i depreciated, you could reasonably expect it to be worth around £15k-£16k at 4 yrs old if you keep the mileage sensible. That's not too bad in terms of depreciation
Rawwr said:
Just had a look and BMW reckon a £13.5k balloon after 3yr/30,000m.
If only we could buy a three year old one for 13 and a half grand !I paid 21k for a two year old one with 9k miles, wasn't anything significantly cheaper at that age/miles.
Absolute bottom of the market 2012/2013, i.e 5 year old cars with higher mileage tend to still be 15k plus, the odd one below that but tend to be leggy, rough, broken or Cat D/C.
J4CKO said:
If only we could buy a three year old one for 13 and a half grand !
I paid 21k for a two year old one with 9k miles, wasn't anything significantly cheaper at that age/miles.
Absolute bottom of the market 2012/2013, i.e 5 year old cars with higher mileage tend to still be 15k plus, the odd one below that but tend to be leggy, rough, broken or Cat D/C.
I suspect the chap asked because he was trying to calculate PCP payments based on the Broadspeed discounted price I paid 21k for a two year old one with 9k miles, wasn't anything significantly cheaper at that age/miles.
Absolute bottom of the market 2012/2013, i.e 5 year old cars with higher mileage tend to still be 15k plus, the odd one below that but tend to be leggy, rough, broken or Cat D/C.
Rawwr said:
I suspect the chap asked because he was trying to calculate PCP payments based on the Broadspeed discounted price
Yes am also thinking how it works out monthly in other ways, if the Broadspeed price is £27k and the car could sell for e.g. £19k at 3 years old and 30k, then should you find the £27k yourself and the asset is 19k at the end it has cost you £222 per month to own.Obviously you have to factor in other items, the loss of the interest you would earn on the £27k sum over 3 years at 2% PA (a very good fixed non ISA rate) is 27000 x 1.02 x 1.02 x 1.02 so £28652 or £1653 difference which over 36 months is £46.
So total would be 222 + 46 = £268 a month done this way with no up front payment and ownership of the car, which has pros and cons.
If you think the car is going to be worth less, adjust the figures accordingly.
Scottie - NW said:
Rawwr said:
I suspect the chap asked because he was trying to calculate PCP payments based on the Broadspeed discounted price
Yes am also thinking how it works out monthly in other ways, if the Broadspeed price is £27k and the car could sell for e.g. £19k at 3 years old and 30k, then should you find the £27k yourself and the asset is 19k at the end it has cost you £222 per month to own.Obviously you have to factor in other items, the loss of the interest you would earn on the £27k sum over 3 years at 2% PA (a very good fixed non ISA rate) is 27000 x 1.02 x 1.02 x 1.02 so £28652 or £1653 difference which over 36 months is £46.
So total would be 222 + 46 = £268 a month done this way with no up front payment and ownership of the car, which has pros and cons.
If you think the car is going to be worth less, adjust the figures accordingly.
I bought mine cash as my employer decided they no longer required my services any more as apparently IBM can do it better and cheaper.
Finished there, took cash, started new job the following Monday on same money for less responsibility, bought a shiny thing before it got spent on other stuff.
xjay1337 said:
Just an FYI if you look around there are plenty of new m140i (all shadow editions) being sold off for between £24k and £27k
One recently sold on the owners page from a dealer for £24.5k.
All the cars in this spec come with park assist, pro nav and HK audio.
Not sure Pro Nav is standard, think it's still only Business Nav. Relatively cheap upgrade though £900ish IIRC One recently sold on the owners page from a dealer for £24.5k.
All the cars in this spec come with park assist, pro nav and HK audio.
I leased one for 2 years back when they were <£300 a month.
It was very, very quick in a straight line. Faster than a Golf R or first series RS3
But I found it very disconnected and not enjoyable to drive fast. Yes it would get you 300 motorway miles somewhere quickly, but a B road blast wasn't fun and I never once took it out for a drive 'just because'. When it went back I got a Clio Cup and much, much preferred it. Horses for courses I suppose!
It was very, very quick in a straight line. Faster than a Golf R or first series RS3
But I found it very disconnected and not enjoyable to drive fast. Yes it would get you 300 motorway miles somewhere quickly, but a B road blast wasn't fun and I never once took it out for a drive 'just because'. When it went back I got a Clio Cup and much, much preferred it. Horses for courses I suppose!
DanGPR said:
But I found it very disconnected and not enjoyable to drive fast. Yes it would get you 300 motorway miles somewhere quickly, but a B road blast wasn't fun and I never once took it out for a drive 'just because'. When it went back I got a Clio Cup and much, much preferred it. Horses for courses I suppose!
I had one too and can relate 100% to this. I decided to move at less than 2 years old after throwing well over 2 grand on upgrades, that included adaptive KW coilovers. Even after that it was still fast but numb and lacked LSD (my plan was to also try an MP LSD but common sense prevailed). It was a fast motorway cruiser (although not as enjoyable after I got the MP exhaust which introduced a slight drone which only existed around 2k RPM which is roughly where 70-80mph is in 8th gear in these).Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff