140i. Daily

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The Motorist

Original Poster:

105 posts

144 months

Friday 4th January 2019
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This is probably covered elsewhere so apologies if I’m going over a well read topic.
Although not a BMW enthusiast I was taken with the 140. Not flash, good value and practical.
So have bought an 18 month old 5 door auto with a good spec including adaptive suspension.
I’m not one for yarping about town with traction control off in rudeboy style, but just like a useable car with an unstressed engine.
It seems rather good and quite economical. I’m not into comparisons with other hot hatches or some Golf R debate. I’m sure they all have their merits and appeals to different people. I just liked the 140 as a package. Road noise a bit loud, but I’m not driving with the radio on at present.
Anyway I’m sure some of you have one and just wondered what you think or what motivated you to buy one.
Kindest wishes
Steve.

Easy_Targa

463 posts

193 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Yes, i’ve had mine from new in October ‘17. It’s a grey 3 door “shadow” edition with auto and adaptive suspension. My wife liked the 1 series but I was initially reluctant because there are so many on the road here in SE London. Even as a petrol head I had not realised that the M140 was a “thing” but then I saw one (in orange) and was sold. It has a real presence, I parked next to an M135 the other day and mine was noticeably lower. The sound on start up is addictive and though I don’t get much opportunity to use the power, when I do it’s genuinely exciting. Thanks to the fancy electronics it’s probably less close to the edge of traction than you think but it’s fun. I did buy an extra set of wheels with winter tyres on. I need to stay mobile and safe during all weathers for my job.
We don’t need anything larger anymore and this just ticks every box. Not regretted our choice for a moment.

Staterunner

8 posts

62 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Great choice; sure you'll love it. I have similar views. Fast, RWD, moddable, comfortable... I don't see any drawbacks (though personally I don't like coloured callipers and other signs of hotness.)

Tried a remapped Golf R on the way to buying. Didn't really like at all. Hard to say why. I've come from torquey, big bore cars (SL500, XKR). So the noise was boring, and it's very evidently front wheel drive in bias.

[In the end, after some tests, bought a new 340i rather than the m140i. Really only because it was in stock and cheap - due to model being replaced. It's awesome, but would have been just as happy with m140.]

aww999

2,068 posts

260 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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I tried a C63 AMG, Golf R, Golf GTi and found the M140 more exciting to drive than the three of them put together. I figure that there will be limited time to buy a 3.0l, RWD hatchback before everything becomes 2.0l or less FWD/4WD - a theory confirmed by the recent reveal of the 1-series 2019 replacement.

I bought mine new due to generous discounts and a decent interest rate, it's on a three year deal bu I can well imagine paying the lump sum at the end to own it, I've only done 100 miles in it so far and it's a real pleasure to drive. Trying to observe the 4k running in rev limit but the torque and the RWD handling balance is very enjoyable. This is my sensible daily driver so no plans to mod it, it's nice to know that plenty more power and noise is available if I get bored of it as standard though!

Smokey32

359 posts

92 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Road noise could well be runflat tyres assuming it has them on. BMW have a fascination with runflats for some reason.

Staterunner

8 posts

62 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Yes, fun flats are much better than last time I had them (5ish years ago). But still rough. I think the cabins in 1s and 3s (glass thickness? seals?) are generally noisier than the plush competitors. Bit annoying.

Clio200pat

143 posts

187 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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I've got a sapphire black 140i, 5 door, auto that I've had from September 2016.

I came from a manual 130i which I loved apart from the lemon coloured seats. Got the opportunity to try a late 135 & was smitten so chopped the 130 in for the 140. It's a brilliant car & does everything very well as well as going under the radar, I don't regret buying an auto but always wonder if a manual might have been more fun.

AAD44H

410 posts

158 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Smokey32 said:
Road noise could well be runflat tyres assuming it has them on. BMW have a fascination with runflats for some reason.
I doubt it has them, does not come with them as standard.

AAD44H

410 posts

158 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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I currently daily my M140i and put approx 20k miles on per year. Its a great all rounder, I had an M135i in the past then foolishly had an S3 for 18 months, hated it so went straight back and bought an M140i Shadow Edition. Brilliant car and very addictive when 'on it'.

JackReacher

2,118 posts

214 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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I've had my m240i for 16 months now and about 18k miles. To be honest, it's been a bit of a disappointment. On paper, it seemed like a good "one car does all" compromise. Modern enough for my 70 mile a day commute, comfortable, lots of good tech, and reasonable mpg for the power, while in theory it could offer an exciting rear wheel drive and power at the weekends.

The reality is somewhat different, sure it's good on the commute, but hardly ever get to enjoy the power which just proves frustrating. I could just as well be in a 220d getting twice the mpg.

That wouldn't be an issue if it delivered fun at the weekend, but it just doesn't. The steering isn't great, and the suspension is pretty poor. The engine is a monster, and it is pretty quick, but never find myself just taking it out for a drive for the sake of it. I've tried hard, taken it around the NC500, and on other good drives, but just can't really get on with it.

Debating whether to chop it in for an Up GTi for the commute and lotus/Cayman for the weekend.

HM-2

12,467 posts

168 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Had my 140i just shy of a year now. April 2017 car. Still enjoying it a great deal, can't really think of much else which does the whole Jekyll/Hyde thing so well. Not the last word in handling refinement, much more at home on smooth, wide, sweeping A-roads than anything narrow and windy, but that suits me just fine.

Very easy to unstick the rear SuperSports with weather being how it is at the moment!

The Motorist

Original Poster:

105 posts

144 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
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Thank you.
It is interesting. I was brought up on a diet of 3.0 Litre Granadas ( you may have to Google that) S Class Mercs and XJ 6’s. I’m 56.
This in Eco Plus mode reminds me of those lazy autos. Of course it goes well. I bought it because it was good value and will do the things I want.
I like a car that can be equally good if one is in de- escalation mode not just fast all the time.
Plus it’s one of those cars that people who know, just know and to the rest of the world it’s just an ordinary albeit smart car.

SouthHamsGaz

614 posts

122 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
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Don't want to derail the thread, but I have a quick question for owners.

The other half will be replacing her E91 335d at some point and these are on the radar.

Given the amount of miles it will be doing on her commute mpg is important.

What kind of miles are people getting when cruising along at 75mph ish? And is that calculated or OBC.

Scobblelotcher

1,724 posts

111 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
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SouthHamsGaz said:
Don't want to derail the thread, but I have a quick question for owners.

The other half will be replacing her E91 335d at some point and these are on the radar.

Given the amount of miles it will be doing on her commute mpg is important.

What kind of miles are people getting when cruising along at 75mph ish? And is that calculated or OBC.
Here's my experience as a long time M135i owner. The MPG is a little higher in the 140i but it's only a few MPG at best.

For reference I see around 40mpg on a run around 70mph if it's quiet and there isn't much traffic around. If your wife's run is busy with constantly changing speeds expect much lower, low/med 30's depending on how heavy the traffic is. Driving style also is of great importance with the 135i/140i because its ability to drink fuel when used hard is fairly impressive as you'd expect.

Still with that said, being able to see over 40mpg on a motorway with gentle running is impressive given what the car does!

LocoBlade

7,621 posts

255 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
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SouthHamsGaz said:
What kind of miles are people getting when cruising along at 75mph ish? And is that calculated or OBC.
My 20 mile rural A Road commute in my M240i gets 31-32mpg measured at the pumps, but the few times I've gone on longer motorway journeys the economy has been pretty amazing considering the size of engine and performance available. Here's a particularly good run I did up to Milton Keynes from mid Hampshire so about 20 miles of A roads followed by M3 - M25 - M1 on a Sunday afternoon. There was about 15 miles of enforced 50 through roadworks but the rest was on ~70-75mph mostly on cruise. This was all in standard Comfort mode (not Eco Pro) and you can be seen from the average speed I wasn't crawling along trying too hard to save fuel.



The reverse journey in similar traffic was just under 42mpg IIRC, but I wouldn't expect that kind of mileage every time. The traffic was light enough that I didn't get held up at all but on a week day with more traffic and some enforced slowing/speeding up for traffic I'd expect mid 30s or so.

Edited by LocoBlade on Sunday 6th January 17:29

SouthHamsGaz

614 posts

122 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
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Thanks for that guys.

Working in construction she is up early and at work before the roads get busy. She will also be lodging away during the week, thanks to the new site from next week being 2 hours from home.

Given the E91 gets around 40mpg, and with fuel now costing 10p less for petrol, one of these is a real possibility.

HM-2

12,467 posts

168 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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SouthHamsGaz said:
What kind of miles are people getting when cruising along at 75mph ish? And is that calculated or OBC.
My OBC record is 45.6mpg between Warrington and Cheltenham. That was all CC at 72, interspersed with 50mph average speed cameras.

The Motorist

Original Poster:

105 posts

144 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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Haven’t used mine enough to define an average, but would reckon on 30 and anything above as a bonus.

Tea Pot One

1,842 posts

227 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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18m months in mine ... just over 6K miles only and 90% used 5 miles each way to work - 22mpg. On a run I have had 27-32mpg roughly.

JackReacher

2,118 posts

214 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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SouthHamsGaz said:
Don't want to derail the thread, but I have a quick question for owners.

The other half will be replacing her E91 335d at some point and these are on the radar.

Given the amount of miles it will be doing on her commute mpg is important.

What kind of miles are people getting when cruising along at 75mph ish? And is that calculated or OBC.
My commute is 35 miles each way, mostly motorway. Driving very carefully I have seen 37mpg, but on average just driving normally see about 32-33mpg. Mine is a manual though, I'd expect an auto to get an extra 4-5mpg given the gearing.