RE: BMW M135i | Driven
Discussion
J4CKO said:
Mr Whippy said:
Yeah at BMW too.
Looks almost like an estate.
Would be better as one.
Small wheels, looks daft. Boot has a lid in it.
Boot is not much bigger than my E81, not as big as my Mk5 R32.
Looks low inside, but tall outside.
Very wide/square at the back, no curve to it.
Looks like a Hyundai or something. May as well just buy one of those N thingies.
FWD with rwd when needed = boring dynamics.
It seems not that great inside given the compromises.
Audi, Mercedes, Ford, VW etc, all seem to make this kinda thing but look cool and desirable, not frumpy and s
t.
Plus backwards rpm gauge. Last refuge of the terminally desperate designer.
It worked on a TVR. This isn’t a TVR.
No, it didn’t work on the DB9 either.
For the money it’s a joke.
That reminded me of the Doge meme,Looks almost like an estate.
Would be better as one.
Small wheels, looks daft. Boot has a lid in it.
Boot is not much bigger than my E81, not as big as my Mk5 R32.
Looks low inside, but tall outside.
Very wide/square at the back, no curve to it.
Looks like a Hyundai or something. May as well just buy one of those N thingies.
FWD with rwd when needed = boring dynamics.
It seems not that great inside given the compromises.
Audi, Mercedes, Ford, VW etc, all seem to make this kinda thing but look cool and desirable, not frumpy and s
t.Plus backwards rpm gauge. Last refuge of the terminally desperate designer.
It worked on a TVR. This isn’t a TVR.
No, it didn’t work on the DB9 either.
For the money it’s a joke.
via Imgflip Meme Generator
Also wasn’t keen on speaker grills behind door handles.
Often you’ll have stuff in hands and push at doors and having the cheap plastic mesh there is asking for trouble.
Best case it just gets scratched and grubby.
Worst case pushed through.
Looking at it more, all the ‘benefits’ of its packaging don’t seem to result in any tangible benefits.
It’s a compromise top to bottom.
I got the front seat nicely placed. It was “Ok” in the back.
Back doors are hard work for an adult.
BMW are morons for turning what is in essence the “new” 3 series (3 is now a 5 imo) into a fwd pile of s
t.
DoubleD said:
Mr Whippy said:
BMW are morons for turning what is in essence the “new” 3 series (3 is now a 5 imo) into a fwd pile of st.
Its definitely a 1 series lolt.I would imagine that the morons at BMW will have looked into what will make their business more profitable.
The old 1 was a fair substitute for a 3 on price/size, while retaining the spirit, if not improving on it in some ways.
I genuinely considered a 1, but went for the 3.
The 1 is now... a fwd hatchback. It’s a squillion miles from a slightly smaller 3.
Yes profit.
It didn’t seem to bother BMW 15 years ago with the new 1er.
Or the 1er that’s just gone.
So when will the 3 fall under the profit hammer...?
I wonder if BMW will throw the 3 under the bus for money.
Mr Whippy said:
It didn’t seem to bother BMW 15 years ago with the new 1er.
Or the 1er that’s just gone.
So when will the 3 fall under the profit hammer...?
I wonder if BMW will throw the 3 under the bus for money.
Different market 15 years ago? They also didn't have the UKL architecture that underpins all FWD models from MINI to 225i Gran Tourer.Or the 1er that’s just gone.
So when will the 3 fall under the profit hammer...?
I wonder if BMW will throw the 3 under the bus for money.
Mr Whippy said:
The new 3 is certainly a size up on the old 3.
2.9ins longer, 0.6ins wider and 0.5ins tallerThat doesn't constitute a "size up" in anyone's book I'd argue
https://jalopnik.com/the-engineering-behind-the-ne...
Well the MINI wasn’t huge till recently.
How long until it’s platform creep is big enough to be a fwd 3er?
No the ‘new’ 3 isn’t much bigger. But it’s bigger.
The E46 wasn’t much bigger than the E36.
The E90 wasn’t much bigger than the E46.
Etc.
3in longer pushes the new 3er to be too big for my garage and being able to open the drier door, or the freezer door, at the far end.
It makes a material difference, not just a subjective one.
I’d have been happy to just buy a new 1er, that bit bigger (more E46/E90 sized), a ‘mini’ 3er...
But now the 1er is really so far removed from the 3er it’s not the natural choice.
It’s just a shame that to buy a premium product (well, drivetrain) now means buying a slightly bigger barge.
How long until it’s platform creep is big enough to be a fwd 3er?
No the ‘new’ 3 isn’t much bigger. But it’s bigger.
The E46 wasn’t much bigger than the E36.
The E90 wasn’t much bigger than the E46.
Etc.
3in longer pushes the new 3er to be too big for my garage and being able to open the drier door, or the freezer door, at the far end.
It makes a material difference, not just a subjective one.
I’d have been happy to just buy a new 1er, that bit bigger (more E46/E90 sized), a ‘mini’ 3er...
But now the 1er is really so far removed from the 3er it’s not the natural choice.
It’s just a shame that to buy a premium product (well, drivetrain) now means buying a slightly bigger barge.
DoubleD said:
All cars are bigger than they used to be. Thats just the way it is.
Yes that’s fine.If you could buy an E46/E90 sized car from BMW with a longitudinal engine I would.
A car that size without cheap leather (no upgrade options on new 1er)
Or individual paints.
Or memory seats.
That’s my issue. The new bigger but small cars are becoming inferior in spec.
Yes I have an E81 130i, a ‘cheap’ BMW. But it’s still got an expensive engine (was in 6/7 series premium models), gearbox, rwd, leccy seats, etc... and chassis elements from the 3er.
The new 1er isn’t a trimmed down 3er.
It’s a Mini.
So basically the 3er is the smallest BMW you can buy... and it’s now bigger than ever.
RIP a small/medium sized premium BMW.
Mr Whippy said:
Yes that’s fine.
If you could buy an E46/E90 sized car from BMW with a longitudinal engine I would.
A car that size without cheap leather (no upgrade options on new 1er)
Or individual paints.
Or memory seats.
That’s my issue. The new bigger but small cars are becoming inferior in spec.
Yes I have an E81 130i, a ‘cheap’ BMW. But it’s still got an expensive engine (was in 6/7 series premium models), gearbox, rwd, leccy seats, etc... and chassis elements from the 3er.
The new 1er isn’t a trimmed down 3er.
It’s a Mini.
So basically the 3er is the smallest BMW you can buy... and it’s now bigger than ever.
RIP a small/medium sized premium BMW.
Not sure why you've got an obsession with expecting the 1 series to be the 3 series tbh, if anything the 2 series comes closer to it if we're talking about the old 3 series - the E46 coupe and 2 series coupe are pretty much the same size car (closer than F30 to G20 even).If you could buy an E46/E90 sized car from BMW with a longitudinal engine I would.
A car that size without cheap leather (no upgrade options on new 1er)
Or individual paints.
Or memory seats.
That’s my issue. The new bigger but small cars are becoming inferior in spec.
Yes I have an E81 130i, a ‘cheap’ BMW. But it’s still got an expensive engine (was in 6/7 series premium models), gearbox, rwd, leccy seats, etc... and chassis elements from the 3er.
The new 1er isn’t a trimmed down 3er.
It’s a Mini.
So basically the 3er is the smallest BMW you can buy... and it’s now bigger than ever.
RIP a small/medium sized premium BMW.
There is an individual paint (Storm Bay Metallic), probably more to come when the MY changes or at LCI point.
Seeing it in the flesh I liked it more than I thought I would but then I wasn't expecting it to be a bargain 3 series, I've got a company 330e landing in a few weeks to be honest no 1 series was ever going to be on the potential list when that was ordered.
I have one of these as a loaner whilst my car is in getting some warranty work. Free of the baggae of M140i experience (never driven one) it's a better car to drive, sit in and daily than a Golf R, Focus ST, S3/RS3 and nearly as good dynamically as the Civic Type R.
Looks aside, and relative to the current market competition, mission accomplished BMW. Autocar and Sutcliffe rate it above the new A35.
Looks aside, and relative to the current market competition, mission accomplished BMW. Autocar and Sutcliffe rate it above the new A35.
981C said:
I have one of these as a loaner whilst my car is in getting some warranty work. Free of the baggae of M140i experience (never driven one) it's a better car to drive, sit in and daily than a Golf R, Focus ST, S3/RS3 and nearly as good dynamically as the Civic Type R.
Looks aside, and relative to the current market competition, mission accomplished BMW. Autocar and Sutcliffe rate it above the new A35.
A 2.0 AWD 4 pot hot hatch is like a cheese sandwich, it's pretty hard to screw the recipe up. Looks aside, and relative to the current market competition, mission accomplished BMW. Autocar and Sutcliffe rate it above the new A35.
I dislike so much about this car it's hard to know where to start. I'm biased having owned a 6 pot m135i LCI but still.
I'll start with the fact it is 5 door only. 5 doors for a practical family hatch is fine but I'd never buy a hot or hyper hatch in 5 door guise. Uglier and less sporty than a 3 door.
I could accept the xDrive if it was RWD biased, the old car was flawed and traction and handling was an issue on that car.
The horrendous digital dash with the rev counter going the wrong way. The traditional BMW analogue round dials are classic, clear and just right.
That grill, my God.
The looks???
The excess of tech. In a 5 series, yes but why do you need automated parking in a little car?
4 pot. I've not had a 4 cylinder car in years.
OK, now that is out of the way, this thing will sell and probably sell in more numbers. It's not one for the enthusiast but they make up a very small percent of the market so while we are being ignored, they will make money from the 1 which will hopefully translate into more and better enthusiast cars in the rest of their range in the years ahead.
I'll start with the fact it is 5 door only. 5 doors for a practical family hatch is fine but I'd never buy a hot or hyper hatch in 5 door guise. Uglier and less sporty than a 3 door.
I could accept the xDrive if it was RWD biased, the old car was flawed and traction and handling was an issue on that car.
The horrendous digital dash with the rev counter going the wrong way. The traditional BMW analogue round dials are classic, clear and just right.
That grill, my God.
The looks???
The excess of tech. In a 5 series, yes but why do you need automated parking in a little car?
4 pot. I've not had a 4 cylinder car in years.
OK, now that is out of the way, this thing will sell and probably sell in more numbers. It's not one for the enthusiast but they make up a very small percent of the market so while we are being ignored, they will make money from the 1 which will hopefully translate into more and better enthusiast cars in the rest of their range in the years ahead.
Had a proper look around, and sit in one at the local BMW dealer the other day, having driven there in an M140i.
The showroom car was in Melbourne Red, which is one of my favourite BMW colours, so it was off to a good start there. The F20 was no looker, but I don't think the new one is either. It looks tall and a bit gawky, and has a whiff of MPV about it, compared with the old F20 model. I also can't un-see the angry birds pig every time I look at the front grille.
I liked the interior. While you can nitpick over some of the materials, overall it's a big step up in perceived quality over the F20, and it feels like another generation entirely in terms of design. The digital dials are perhaps a little fussy, but the displays themselves are crisp and sharp, and there's no doubt that it makes the F20's interior feel dated and plasticky by comparison. The latest incarnation of iDrive is brilliant, but I had no complaints with the older version in my car either.
I managed to get comfy in it, but for me it was slightly spoiled by not feeling like I was sat entirely down "in" the car, compared with the M140i. Some of that might be down to the lower transmission tunnel, but the whole car feels taller and narrower somehow, and you feel perched up a little.
I asked the salesman what the response has been like, and he said generally positive from people who've driven the car, especially those coming from other brands, or existing four cylinder 1 series models, and therefore without any 'baggage' or pre-conceived ideas based on the old model. He said people coming in with F20 M135i and M140is have had a much more cautious response, mostly around the engine. It is after all, two thirds of the M140i engine. Quite literally.
Piecing this, and the road tests together, I suspect BMW has delivered a car that actually improves on the old one in pretty much every respect, apart from straight line speed, and engine sound. The problem I suspect many existing owners are struggling with is that those are two things the old car really did well.
The showroom car was in Melbourne Red, which is one of my favourite BMW colours, so it was off to a good start there. The F20 was no looker, but I don't think the new one is either. It looks tall and a bit gawky, and has a whiff of MPV about it, compared with the old F20 model. I also can't un-see the angry birds pig every time I look at the front grille.
I liked the interior. While you can nitpick over some of the materials, overall it's a big step up in perceived quality over the F20, and it feels like another generation entirely in terms of design. The digital dials are perhaps a little fussy, but the displays themselves are crisp and sharp, and there's no doubt that it makes the F20's interior feel dated and plasticky by comparison. The latest incarnation of iDrive is brilliant, but I had no complaints with the older version in my car either.
I managed to get comfy in it, but for me it was slightly spoiled by not feeling like I was sat entirely down "in" the car, compared with the M140i. Some of that might be down to the lower transmission tunnel, but the whole car feels taller and narrower somehow, and you feel perched up a little.
I asked the salesman what the response has been like, and he said generally positive from people who've driven the car, especially those coming from other brands, or existing four cylinder 1 series models, and therefore without any 'baggage' or pre-conceived ideas based on the old model. He said people coming in with F20 M135i and M140is have had a much more cautious response, mostly around the engine. It is after all, two thirds of the M140i engine. Quite literally.
Piecing this, and the road tests together, I suspect BMW has delivered a car that actually improves on the old one in pretty much every respect, apart from straight line speed, and engine sound. The problem I suspect many existing owners are struggling with is that those are two things the old car really did well.
Wind the clock back six years to Christmas 2013, and I was in the market for a new lease car at work, my current diseasal Fiesta was due to go back in March '14.
I had a quote on an M135i 5-door manual which I liked immensely, I'd driven one, and I couldn't wait to order one. I held off ordering as the car wasn't needed until March/April. In January I returned to work after Christmas, and went to pull the trigger, except BMW had pulled the backing on the deals, and it wasn't available. Instead I ordered a Mk7 Golf R, which was one of the first, delivered in April 2014.
It was the quite possibly the most disappointing car I've ever had... I've grown up a bit since, and now have Mustangs instead of hatches, but I can't help thinking April 2014 - 2016 would have been much more enjoyable if I had been in a BMW.
I had a quote on an M135i 5-door manual which I liked immensely, I'd driven one, and I couldn't wait to order one. I held off ordering as the car wasn't needed until March/April. In January I returned to work after Christmas, and went to pull the trigger, except BMW had pulled the backing on the deals, and it wasn't available. Instead I ordered a Mk7 Golf R, which was one of the first, delivered in April 2014.
It was the quite possibly the most disappointing car I've ever had... I've grown up a bit since, and now have Mustangs instead of hatches, but I can't help thinking April 2014 - 2016 would have been much more enjoyable if I had been in a BMW.
Mr Whippy said:
The new 3 is certainly a size up on the old 3.
It's about 18cm longer, 5cm wider and depending on suspension options, about the same height, as the E90. The E60 is another 18cm longer, 4cm wider and 5cm taller.It's bigger than a 15-year-old 3 series, sure, but it's still quite a lot smaller than a 15+-year-old 5.
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