RE: BMW M135i xDrive confirmed with 306hp four-pot

[Esceptico]

The two things that appealed about the M135i as compared to the opposition (and main reasons we bought it) were the 3.0l 6-cylinder engine and the RWD. Without those I think we would have gone for the Golf R.

[Big GT]

I think the 1 series has now lost its USP

[rayyan171]

bodhi said:

rayyan171 said:

So, judging by the way the 1 series AND the 2 series is going, are we going to have a front wheel drive M2 in the future?

2 Series Coupe is staying RWD, based on a shrunken 3 Series Platform. The Gran Coupe will be FWD, but doubt the M Division will touch that one.

Oh thank god. I did read that, must have got mixed up. 2 series gran coupe will go FWD. I still bet there will be a M235i gran coupe, based off how the X2 went.

Saying this, the 2 series gran coupe is starting to make sense for the US at least. It is becoming a thing that in the US the premium German manufacturers are making small saloons. Audi's A3 is currently only available in the US in saloon format, there is no 1 series at all in the US, only 2 series coupe, and thee is no A-Class hatchback in the US either, only the all new A-Class sedan. Starts to make sense that BMW make it for the US market, and as we seem to get every model that BMW make anyway, it would come to our market for those who want it. I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 series gran coupe is manufactured in the Spartanburg plant in the US.

[toon10]

Esceptico said:

The two things that appealed about the M135i as compared to the opposition (and main reasons we bought it) were the 3.0l 6-cylinder engine and the RWD. Without those I think we would have gone for the Golf R.

Exactly this. I bought the M135i LCi 3 years ago and didn't even consider the Golf. I'm due to replace it next year and if I'm to settle on a non RWD 4 pot, them I'd buy the Golf.

[GTEYE]

Easy to look with rose tinted spectacles- the old M135/140i were great engines but the car they were mounted in was pretty unspectacular, very cramped and mostly ugly.

I’m looking forward to the new one - is a 6 cylinder such a big deal, I’m not so sure it really is outside of PH. I looked at buying a 140 but to be honest I was a bit underwhelmed- sure it was very powerful but the chassis was far less capable than the engine.

[Vee12V]

Go home BMW, you're drunk.

[ashleyman]

Shame it's not an AWD 6 cylinder with the different drive modes like the M5. That would be excellent but probably too much for a small car like this.

[aeropilot]

ashleyman said:

Shame it's not an AWD 6 cylinder with the different drive modes like the M5.

That's because its a TRANSVERSE engine layout - you couldn't physically fit an inline six and the gearbox etc across the engine bay

[cerb4.5lee]

The engine noise is pumped in artificially through the cars speakers in the M135i/M140i, and it will be pumped in the same in the new one. No one will even notice any difference from inside. I will admit I was a little tempted to have the M4's noise coded in when I had my 640d!!

It is a shame in some ways that things are changing...because the old 1 series did offer a nice individual difference with a larger engine/Rwd against its competitors.

[aaron_2000]

apm142001 said:

And....the reason for choosing the 1 series over the others is gone.

Hot hatches are so lacking in individuality now you may as well just choose the one with the best finance deal and be done with it.

I always liked that BMW bucked that trend, sad to see them give in.

+1

Just another generic hatchback with a different badge on it. If I was shopping for a new car, I'd probably just say sod them all and get a Volvo V90.

[Jack4688]

It looks like a Mercedes from the back, granted this is through all the camouflage

[WCZ]

Vee12V said:

Go home BMW, you're drunk.

this

[Ninja59]

bodhi said:

2 Series Coupe is staying RWD, based on a shrunken 3 Series Platform. The Gran Coupe will be FWD, but doubt the M Division will touch that one.

But the question is not really that is it?

Because you mean the current 2 series coupe (F22/F23/F87) is RWD. Just like the "current" 1 series (F20/21).

The reality is that come (and if BMW decide to replace it) then the new 2 series coupe will likely move to the UKL platform which will complete exactly what BMW have been moving towards for years in efforts to reduce the number of platforms the cars are based on, and all those platforms will be modular.

Minis and BMW 1 series, X1, 2 series, X2 based on the UKL variants
BMW 3 series and X3 up to 7 and X7 cluster architecture (CLAR).
Rolls utilising the Architecture of Luxury platform (and won't be reusing any platform from the larger BMW's like the Dawn, Wraith, Ghost do/did)

Edited by Ninja59 on Wednesday 27th March 15:43

[C70R]

PerfectDark said:

According to Top Gear the XDrive will only send a maximum of 50% power to the rear. Apparently the M135i / M140i only accounted for 3% of sales too which is odd given the rave reviews and near god-like status these things have thanks to some bloke called Chris Harris, and the USP of having a big engine in a practical body with rear wheel drive.

That's because more than 97% of people buying a small hatch couldn't give two hoots about how many cylinders it has or which wheels are driven.
The mistake you're making is judging that PH opinion has any relationship with the real world.

[aeropilot]

Ninja59 said:

The reality is that come (and if BMW decide to replace it) then the new 2 series coupe will likely move to the UKL platform which will complete exactly what BMW have been moving towards for years in efforts to reduce the number of platforms the cars are based on, and all those platforms will be modular.

Unlikely, as the 2 Series coupe market is huge in the USA, and that market will likely not 'accept' a fwd version....remember they never got the 3-dr or 5dr hatch versions of the original E8* 1 Series, only the coupe and vert.,
Sources within BMW have already hinted that the next gen 2 Series coupe will stay rwd.

[Timbo_S2]

Aren't comparisons with the golf R a little out of step, as by the time this launches with 308bhp, the golf R Mk8 will be nearly here with a rumoured 350bhp...

Appears a bit odd. BMW have always trod their own pah, this is just joining the masses and selling on the badge.

[Shakermaker]

C70R said:

PerfectDark said:

According to Top Gear the XDrive will only send a maximum of 50% power to the rear. Apparently the M135i / M140i only accounted for 3% of sales too which is odd given the rave reviews and near god-like status these things have thanks to some bloke called Chris Harris, and the USP of having a big engine in a practical body with rear wheel drive.

That's because more than 97% of people buying a small hatch couldn't give two hoots about how many cylinders it has or which wheels are driven.
The mistake you're making is judging that PH opinion has any relationship with the real world.

yup, nearly every 1 series you see is a 116d or a 118i. Fine enough cars I'm sure, but nobody buys a 116d because it has rear wheel drive

[Frimley111R]

Depends if there is a 1M version though... This M140i seems like the (very) warn version only.

[nickfrog]

toon10 said:

Exactly this. I bought the M135i LCi 3 years ago and didn't even consider the Golf. I'm due to replace it next year and if I'm to settle on a non RWD 4 pot, them I'd buy the Golf.

Even if you prefer the BMW ?

[chriscoates]

Looks like I'll be sticking with my 130i for the forseeable then. I understand why engines are getting smaller and no doubt I wouldn't see which way the new car went compared to mine, but the six-pot/rwd are what made the 130i/M135i different to the rest of the hot hatch crowd. You only have to look at how well the M135i/M140i sold, especially in the early days when the competitive price and cheap lease deals were available, to see how much they appeal. I suspect that many of those customers looking to move onto something new will now be lost.

At least if the 2 series keeps RWD that would be an option, but you'd still have to put with the four-pot turbo engine

Edited by chriscoates on Wednesday 27th March 16:31