RE: BMW M135i | Driven
Discussion
Mike335i said:
Wills2 said:
I doubt anyone on here has driven the new car but if it follows the trend of the G chassis cars being so far, much better to drive than the F chassis, I suspect this will beat the M140i in all areas.
The engine and gearbox are the obvious areas where the new car is demonstrable not as good, but the drivetrain moving to FWD is something that differs from the other F generation to G generation models. The 3 and 5 series retain the correct drivetrain layout and improve on it.But of course having not driven the car you'll know better in true PH style.....
nunpuncher said:
The 1 series has always looked a little awkward but this one has some very strange proportions. It appears to be somewhere between a hatch back and a people transporter. And that grille, please stop making the grille bigger and more angular BMW, it's not working.
I'm open minded about the rest of the car. Having covered many thousands of miles in an early M135i before moving to a mk7 Golf R I always much preferred the Golf. While the engine in the BMW was lovely it was really all that was worth commenting on. I felt the car could be vastly improved by spending some of the R&D engine budget on improving the chassis and steering.
Yeah, trouble is RWD is much worshipped by car enthusiasts but the M135i/M140i were not either fully developed to the point they should be, or deliberately hobbled so they weren't encroaching on proper M car territory.I'm open minded about the rest of the car. Having covered many thousands of miles in an early M135i before moving to a mk7 Golf R I always much preferred the Golf. While the engine in the BMW was lovely it was really all that was worth commenting on. I felt the car could be vastly improved by spending some of the R&D engine budget on improving the chassis and steering.
I think 4WD is the right move, 300 plus bhp and rwd with an open diff is a bit of a pain in the arse a lot of the time rather than being some driving nirvana, unless you are Chris Harris with a circuit and plenty of space you arent hanging the rear out all the time, would trade it for some traction in the wet.
With the auto option the old model is in between an old school RWD and the point and squirt modern 4wd hot hatch but it doesnt really gel as either, its just not that enjoyable to cover ground fast in, its effective to a point but it never quite translates your intentions into what you want it to do as a RWD car, my old 350Z was better in that respect even if it wasnt subtle or delicate in any way
You can address these things but really dont want to need to spend three grand on an LSD, Control Arms, springs and dampers to make it how it should be.
I think everyone got excited as you could get a 300 plus bhp BMW for 30k, or £300 a month.
I got one paragraph in before I realised I just don't care and stopped reading. The straight 6 rwd car I totally got, this is just the exact same blandness that every other manufacturer offers only uglier. Some marginal performance increase which there is no space to use is meaningless and I couldn't give a stuff about connectivity or whatever other new widgets they've stuck in there.
J4CKO said:
maniac886 said:
I will be replacing my M140i next year. Admittedly I do like the interior of the new M135i but that’s about it. I have been looking at the M2 but the interior is dated now compared to the new style interiors BMW have brought into the new 1,3,5,8 series models.
Seems a strange reason not to buy a 400 bhp, rwd, six cylinder, turbocharged, wide arched, big wheeled 2 door M car with nothing comparable available ?maniac886 said:
J4CKO said:
maniac886 said:
I will be replacing my M140i next year. Admittedly I do like the interior of the new M135i but that’s about it. I have been looking at the M2 but the interior is dated now compared to the new style interiors BMW have brought into the new 1,3,5,8 series models.
Seems a strange reason not to buy a 400 bhp, rwd, six cylinder, turbocharged, wide arched, big wheeled 2 door M car with nothing comparable available ?Wills2 said:
Mike335i said:
Wills2 said:
I doubt anyone on here has driven the new car but if it follows the trend of the G chassis cars being so far, much better to drive than the F chassis, I suspect this will beat the M140i in all areas.
The engine and gearbox are the obvious areas where the new car is demonstrable not as good, but the drivetrain moving to FWD is something that differs from the other F generation to G generation models. The 3 and 5 series retain the correct drivetrain layout and improve on it.But of course having not driven the car you'll know better in true PH style.....
Wills2 said:
And yet the article says ..... "feeling composed and confident on roads that the six-pot car would have begun to unravel on."
I have to say, I can well believe this. The M140i's damping (Adaptive on mine) is really poor. It's fine on a smooth road, but as soon as things turn bumpy, it rapidly falls apart. You don't have to be pushing on that hard over an uneven road surface before you get a horrible high frequency vertical jiggling motion that can shift your bum out of the seat, and really dent your enjoyment and confidence. It's not even overly firm, just really badly damped.
I've found it's actually better to leave it in Comfort mode, and accept a little bit of unwanted body movement and roll. At least it will then ride the bumps with a degree of composure.
It's not hard to see how BMW could have transformed its replacement in this respect, especially if they're saving a few quid on the engine, and the platform sharing.
Limpet said:
I have to say, I can well believe this.
The M140i's damping (Adaptive on mine) is really poor. It's fine on a smooth road, but as soon as things turn bumpy, it rapidly falls apart. You don't have to be pushing on that hard over an uneven road surface before you get a horrible high frequency vertical jiggling motion that can shift your bum out of the seat, and really dent your enjoyment and confidence. It's not even overly firm, just really badly damped.
I've found it's actually better to leave it in Comfort mode, and accept a little bit of unwanted body movement and roll. At least it will then ride the bumps with a degree of composure.
It's not hard to see how BMW could have transformed its replacement in this respect, especially if they're saving a few quid on the engine, and the platform sharing.
Agree 100% with this. I can think of a number of instances where mine was outright unpleasant to hustle along.The M140i's damping (Adaptive on mine) is really poor. It's fine on a smooth road, but as soon as things turn bumpy, it rapidly falls apart. You don't have to be pushing on that hard over an uneven road surface before you get a horrible high frequency vertical jiggling motion that can shift your bum out of the seat, and really dent your enjoyment and confidence. It's not even overly firm, just really badly damped.
I've found it's actually better to leave it in Comfort mode, and accept a little bit of unwanted body movement and roll. At least it will then ride the bumps with a degree of composure.
It's not hard to see how BMW could have transformed its replacement in this respect, especially if they're saving a few quid on the engine, and the platform sharing.
If BMW wanted to create a gap between the F20 M-lites and the full fat M-cars, then they should have pegged-back its power and given it a proper chassis.
The new one sounds like it addresses every weakness the old one had (bar looks) but has sadly chucked out the few good things too.
Just a photocopy of every other Euro 4WD Hot Hatch
BMW RIP....you lost to Audi
4WD and Turbo's
No one down the pub cares for RWD and N/A, it's all about those cheap digital dashboards, made for pennies in a chinese factory and sold as an EXTRA.
Real dials and buttons cost money. Rolex vs Apple Watch
BMW RIP....you lost to Audi
4WD and Turbo's
No one down the pub cares for RWD and N/A, it's all about those cheap digital dashboards, made for pennies in a chinese factory and sold as an EXTRA.
Real dials and buttons cost money. Rolex vs Apple Watch
KPB1973 said:
Limpet said:
I have to say, I can well believe this.
The M140i's damping (Adaptive on mine) is really poor. It's fine on a smooth road, but as soon as things turn bumpy, it rapidly falls apart. You don't have to be pushing on that hard over an uneven road surface before you get a horrible high frequency vertical jiggling motion that can shift your bum out of the seat, and really dent your enjoyment and confidence. It's not even overly firm, just really badly damped.
I've found it's actually better to leave it in Comfort mode, and accept a little bit of unwanted body movement and roll. At least it will then ride the bumps with a degree of composure.
It's not hard to see how BMW could have transformed its replacement in this respect, especially if they're saving a few quid on the engine, and the platform sharing.
Agree 100% with this. I can think of a number of instances where mine was outright unpleasant to hustle along.The M140i's damping (Adaptive on mine) is really poor. It's fine on a smooth road, but as soon as things turn bumpy, it rapidly falls apart. You don't have to be pushing on that hard over an uneven road surface before you get a horrible high frequency vertical jiggling motion that can shift your bum out of the seat, and really dent your enjoyment and confidence. It's not even overly firm, just really badly damped.
I've found it's actually better to leave it in Comfort mode, and accept a little bit of unwanted body movement and roll. At least it will then ride the bumps with a degree of composure.
It's not hard to see how BMW could have transformed its replacement in this respect, especially if they're saving a few quid on the engine, and the platform sharing.
If BMW wanted to create a gap between the F20 M-lites and the full fat M-cars, then they should have pegged-back its power and given it a proper chassis.
The new one sounds like it addresses every weakness the old one had (bar looks) but has sadly chucked out the few good things too.
With regards to pegging back power, the trouble is that adding more power is relatively easy / cheap and gave it some headroom against stuff like the Golf R / S3.
Court_S said:
Whilst the M140 is far from perfect handling wise (it can feel a bit floaty / bouncy on really poor roads) I don't think it is as bad as the internet makes out. I enjoy mine and by the time it's feeling a bit loose, I'm travelling at a fair old rate and a slightly wobbly chassis is the last of my worries. Maybe I'm just easily pleased.
With regards to pegging back power, the trouble is that adding more power is relatively easy / cheap and gave it some headroom against stuff like the Golf R / S3.
Interesting that they've now relinquished that headroom though - probably dictated by lower capabilities of the 4-pot.With regards to pegging back power, the trouble is that adding more power is relatively easy / cheap and gave it some headroom against stuff like the Golf R / S3.
Perhaps your M140i is a bit better resolved than the M135i. I believe they tried to, but didn't fully eradicate, the pogo-effect.
The most alarming memory I had of my M135i's chassis involved trying to follow a Golf R through a mildly damp S bend.
It’s not a looker, but no 1-Series ever has been or probably ever will be. It also has no USP anymore, so I’m unsure who would buy this over a Golf R. I can see it growing on me but I probably wouldn’t pick it over a Golf.
The biggest question mark for me is why have they ditched the ZF 8-speed?
The biggest question mark for me is why have they ditched the ZF 8-speed?
asimmalik said:
culpz said:
It’s not a looker, but no 1-Series ever has been or probably ever will be. It also has no USP anymore, so I’m unsure who would buy this over a Golf R. I can see it growing on me but I probably wouldn’t pick it over a Golf.
The biggest question mark for me is why have they ditched the ZF 8-speed?
I was thinking the same regarding the gearbox. Is it because the ZF is now being used in the M5 so they don't think this deserves it any more? The biggest question mark for me is why have they ditched the ZF 8-speed?
Spot on
robertdon777 said:
Just a photocopy of every other Euro 4WD Hot Hatch
BMW RIP....you lost to Audi
4WD and Turbo's
No one down the pub cares for RWD and N/A, it's all about those cheap digital dashboards, made for pennies in a chinese factory and sold as an EXTRA.
Real dials and buttons cost money. Rolex vs Apple Watch
BMW RIP....you lost to Audi
4WD and Turbo's
No one down the pub cares for RWD and N/A, it's all about those cheap digital dashboards, made for pennies in a chinese factory and sold as an EXTRA.
Real dials and buttons cost money. Rolex vs Apple Watch
KPB1973 said:
Interesting that they've now relinquished that headroom though - probably dictated by lower capabilities of the 4-pot.
Perhaps your M140i is a bit better resolved than the M135i. I believe they tried to, but didn't fully eradicate, the pogo-effect.
The most alarming memory I had of my M135i's chassis involved trying to follow a Golf R through a mildly damp S bend.
Oh it still bounces around a bit, but I only really notice at pretty naughty speeds. Those that have fitted the underbody brace seem to report a decent improvement in feel for not much cash. I’m the first to admit that it’s not perfect, but I do t believe it’s quite as bad as some would have you believe.Perhaps your M140i is a bit better resolved than the M135i. I believe they tried to, but didn't fully eradicate, the pogo-effect.
The most alarming memory I had of my M135i's chassis involved trying to follow a Golf R through a mildly damp S bend.
I don’t have a six pot 135 or 140i but I’d like one when the £s allow, and as a prospective buyer it’s great to hear some balanced and informed opinions on this thread from actual owners rather than vicarious rants about the new 135 and halcyon eulogies about the old six pot models from people who’ve not driven either. I mean, I could manage those myself...
apm142001 said:
I don’t have a six pot 135 or 140i but I’d like one when the £s allow, and as a prospective buyer it’s great to hear some balanced and informed opinions on this thread from actual owners rather than vicarious rants about the new 135 and halcyon eulogies about the old six pot models from people who’ve not driven either. I mean, I could manage those myself...
See my post a few above, I have a 2016 M135i, its alright but its not the drivers car I expected, its pretty good in a lot of ways but feel its missing something.J4CKO said:
apm142001 said:
I don’t have a six pot 135 or 140i but I’d like one when the £s allow, and as a prospective buyer it’s great to hear some balanced and informed opinions on this thread from actual owners rather than vicarious rants about the new 135 and halcyon eulogies about the old six pot models from people who’ve not driven either. I mean, I could manage those myself...
See my post a few above, I have a 2016 M135i, its alright but its not the drivers car I expected, its pretty good in a lot of ways but feel its missing something.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff