RE: 2021 BMW 128ti | UK Review

[BBenzzz]

pb8g09 said:

Cool, I think I prefer the idea of an S3 to an M135i and I'm a paid up BMW fan.

I know I'll be scorned for the old vs new debate- but in the real world it is a thing as the car buyer does have a choice - there are so many things I'd rather spend this amount of money on than a FWD (semi) hot hatch that (to me) looks like an MPV.

Each to their own, there wasn't a new S3 in my local dealer when I was making these choices but I have since been in and they have really cut back on their interior materials when I had a seat in (really off-putting for me). I also got a cracking deal from BM which was a big part in moving back to that side, I was originally going to stick to the four-rings. Enjoy whatever you decide to go for

[J4CKO]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

I would rather have a Toyota GR Yaris I reckon. Lighter, same sort of power but a 3 cylinder engine, so it'll sound better.

Yeah, but 3 door vs 5 door, no room in the back of the GR, this is aiming at the Golf GTI's target market which has a crossover, but not much with the Yaris.

I kind of prefer the look of this to the M135i, might be down to it not being blue like most seem to be.

There is a realm in the market for those that dont want a homologation special, 400 bhp, 4wd etc, most people dont do YouTube videos showing drag races and agonize over bhp and performance figures. They want a sporty ish car that goes well enough but not necessarily enough to turn your face inside out and it still cover off family duties and normal life.

As petrolheads we gravitate to the absolutely nutter bd version, then if they bring out another one up, only that will do and then we arent averse to fannying about with it to make it even faster or corner even faster, but some folk are happy with a 260 bhp FWD hatch, and if we admitted it, 99 percent of the time we would be too.

[ajap1979]

pb8g09 said:

BBenzzz said:

It actually feels a bit fatter, and slightly less nimble if I'm entirely honest. However to the same point, it also feels more solid and when it comes to interiors BM have actually out-done Audi with the newest iterations of hot-hatches. A nice place to be is important for me when I choose a car but criteria differ between people and I have also grown to really like the exterior design.

Cool, I think I prefer the idea of an S3 to an M135i and I'm a paid up BMW fan.

I know I'll be scorned for the old vs new debate- but in the real world it is a thing as the car buyer does have a choice - there are so many things I'd rather spend this amount of money on than a FWD (semi) hot hatch that (to me) looks like an MPV.

The Volkswizard S3 vs M135i video on YouTube was good, particularly given he's a diehard VAG fan.

[daveco]

aston addict said:

Still looks hideous. You’d have to hide it - or get in it when it’s dark

I wonder will BMW hastily bring out an LCI to correct the duff front end, hence the already heavy discounting?

[Kawasicki]

BBenzzz said:

Kawasicki said:

You're missing the point.

That's fine. A lot of the thread so far had been drawing comparisons to the previous M135i so I thought I'd throw my tuppence in with my opinion of that vs the new gen. Apart from missing 4WD and some power w. some suspension tweaks this car (128ti) wont feel worlds apart from the new M135i.

I may be a serial lurker but I'm not willing to boost up my post numbers just by telling someone I missed a point when I gave a brief rounded opinion of the car in the original article in the last line. I also made my initial point that it was a comparision of new vs old clear in the beginning of the post so if you don't like it, dont read it.

I should have written that your missing the point for me, so my comment probably came across as harsh, which wasn't really my intention. Sorry.

Your point/focus is obviously different to mine, and mine is no more right or wrong than yours.

[Fun Bus]

Another day, another BMW thread and another stream of the same, tiresome and predictable responses.

[BBenzzz]

Kawasicki said:

I should have written that your missing the point for me, so my comment probably came across as harsh, which wasn't really my intention. Sorry.

Your point/focus is obviously different to mine, and mine is no more right or wrong than yours.

Apologies too, I'll put the claws away. It can be hard to tell at times when you aren't looking at the whites in someones eyes.

I will say, when I saw the first in person models of the new 1 series I thought they were gopping. Something about it has grown on me (obviously enough to buy one) with a couple of the (probably considered chavvy) M-performance parts strapped on.

I did see someone further up remark about them all being blue.... Guilty as charged here!

[9k rpm]

Nice to see a viable alternative for the Golf GTi. A group test would be very interesting.

I actually quite like the red bits and think it would look great in black. Probably all the performance you need for our roads but where’s the fun in that!

[BFleming]

On pricing, the article and the BMW website have some anomalies.

Price: £32,780 (article), £33320 (BMW)
Price as tested: £35480 (article), £37020 (BMW) - PH missed off the £1000 sunroof option

Bit of a difference.

[roadie]

I comment from the perspective of a current 130i owner and former owner of an RS Megane 265 Cup.

Aside from the looks, which are awkward from many angles and well resolved from few, this would be seriously tempting with a manual gearbox and at the right price. From experience of the 118i, the chassis is great, the interior is excellent and it has plenty of space.

I'd still rather have a CTR though!

[biggbn]

Is this chassis based on the F56 mini platform or am I totally wrong as usual? If it is, it is a cracking chassis and am sure it will be a hoot to drive

[BFleming]

daveco said:

aston addict said:

Still looks hideous. You’d have to hide it - or get in it when it’s dark

I wonder will BMW hastily bring out an LCI to correct the duff front end, hence the already heavy discounting?

Of all the latest BMW offerings, and those about to appear, this is positively gorgeous!

[nickfrog]

Mr Tidy said:

More boot space, more rear seat space, etc. just means bigger and lardier to me!

To you perhaps but cars are getting lighter for their size so probably not a reality.

Mr Tidy said:

I'd rather have RWD with an open diff than FWD of any description, but maybe that's just me.

Probably you as this makes no sense. An old DC2/5 or any Megane RS will be a better steer, better handler more neutral and less understeery than any open diff BMW. I should know, I had a E82 125i, a M135i and x2 Meganes in the space of 5 years. In fact, they would be in a different league to the BMWs.

Mr Tidy said:

I doubt the 128ti will feel more potent than a 3 litre N52 but would need to drive one to find out - but I can't find any enthusiasm for that.

And that's the thing, your "opinions" are based on not driving cars that you criticise.

Mr Tidy said:

For now I'll console myself with my much cheaper Z4M Coupe with way more power, manual gearbox only, hydraulic PAS, RWD, LSD and £580 a year road tax - but who cares?

What ? An old car is cheaper than a new car? You have a Z4M?

[nickfrog]

daveco said:

I wonder will BMW hastily bring out an LCI to correct the duff front end, hence the already heavy discounting?

The discounts are half what they were on a LCI M135i or M140i.

[Nik Gnashers]

Deadlysub said:

The M135/40 never came on run flats.

Yes it did.
Mine came with Potenza RFT's.

This is no worse than any of the other FWD warm hatches on sale, and a direct competitor to the i30N and Golf GTi.
It's a good alternative to the market it's aimed at, not horrible looking, efficient, and the interior is maybe a step above it's direct competitors.

Those of us who don't want another copycat 4-pot, FWD, warm hatch can buy something else (or stick with the previous generation M140i like I have done).

[richinlondon]

more pig snout than angry gopher teeth on this one but I'm strangely liking it. There's something refreshingly normal about it.

[Mr Happy]

Deadlysub said:

aka_kerrly said:

The article puts the 128ti at 1450kg , the previous generation 140i weighs in at up to 1580kg depending on spec which is a significant saving especially when the 128ti is hardly lacking power and with its drivetrain setup I'd wager it puts more power down in a useful manner than the 135/140i ever did.. why is it in every 135/40i thread everyone seems to conclude you need to spend upwards of £3k to have better shocks/springs a limited slip diff and decent non run flat tyres??

I realise you are very much happy with your z4m and not at all surprised you have mentioned it but that's a completely different car to the 128ti and no one will be considering either.

The M135/40 never came on run flats.

The M135i sitting in my garage on Bridgestone RFTs from the factory begs to differ.

MPSS were a zero-cost option.

I am not the first owner of the car.

[nickfrog]

Mr Happy said:

The M135i sitting in my garage on Bridgestone RFTs from the factory begs to differ.

MPSS were a zero-cost option.

I thought it was the opposite where the MPSS was the default tyre and Runcrap a free option?

[anonymous-user]

Its a boring looking thing isn't it, could quite easily be a Kia Ceed or Hyundai i30 (actually they look better). As good as it may be, isn't the whole idea of one of these is 6 cylinders and rear wheel drive, I know its probably a sign of the times but now its just the same as all the others

[Mr Happy]

nickfrog said:

Mr Happy said:

The M135i sitting in my garage on Bridgestone RFTs from the factory begs to differ.

MPSS were a zero-cost option.

I thought it was the opposite where the MPSS was the default tyre and Runcrap a free option?

God knows, but it has option 258 selected on the build sheet. I was always of the impression that RFTs were the default across the range, and MPSS were the option at build.

Not that it matters, of course.