Another M135i review
Discussion
BMW have really messed things up with the M135i. They should not have made this car an "M Performance" model, because frankly it deserves to be a full on M car. Having owned an E60 M5 and currently running an E46 M3, both are not a patch on the all round ability of this car. The M3 still wins hands down for involvement, but it would no longer be the weapon of choice if I got an M135i. All this talk about it not being a proper M car because it doesn't have a mechanical diff, with the levels of grip this car has I am not sure what sort of speed/conditions would make you actually miss not having one...it would be suicidal on main UK roads.
Pros
- Engine is a masterpiece
- Exhaust note
- 8 speed auto box is brilliant..super quick
- Direct handling and road placement
- Grip, grip and more grip
- Fuel economy impressive considering performance on offer (25mpg after some spirited driving)
Cons
- Looks. Not the best looking car out there, but I think in Alpine white it looks fairly decent.
- Some plastics on the inside could be a bit better for a £30k+ car. Dash on my 130i has softer touch rubber
- Cannot see all the information available on the instrument cluster due to the steering wheel column being too big
Will probably wait to see what the reviews for the A45 AMG and Audi S3 look like before placing an order. The S4 also looks appealing, so if anyone has driven one recently would be good to know what you think. Not in a desperate rush to make a decision...although I think the drive back to the dealer tomorrow to hand back the loan car might change that.
Pros
- Engine is a masterpiece
- Exhaust note
- 8 speed auto box is brilliant..super quick
- Direct handling and road placement
- Grip, grip and more grip
- Fuel economy impressive considering performance on offer (25mpg after some spirited driving)
Cons
- Looks. Not the best looking car out there, but I think in Alpine white it looks fairly decent.
- Some plastics on the inside could be a bit better for a £30k+ car. Dash on my 130i has softer touch rubber
- Cannot see all the information available on the instrument cluster due to the steering wheel column being too big
Will probably wait to see what the reviews for the A45 AMG and Audi S3 look like before placing an order. The S4 also looks appealing, so if anyone has driven one recently would be good to know what you think. Not in a desperate rush to make a decision...although I think the drive back to the dealer tomorrow to hand back the loan car might change that.
Nice review, I totally want one of these and posts like this don't help!
Rahul uk said:
Fuel economy impressive considering performance on offer (25mpg after some spirited driving)
Agreed. To think a car of that output and speed can do 25mpg after 'spirited', and about 40mpg on a cruise is remarkable.Rahul uk said:
Not the best looking car out there, but I think in Alpine white it looks fairly decent.
I always find this an odd comment. You can't be looking at it's ugliness when enjoying the driving! I'll have Estoril with red leather, please! Rahul uk said:
Will probably wait to see what the reviews for the A45 AMG and Audi S3 look like before placing an order.
The M135i is £10k cheaper than those two, just as fast (if not faster) as those two and likely to be more economical than those two as well. Moreover, the 2.0 4-pot turbo engines count against the A45/S3, IMO.strike4A said:
Digger said:
25mpg here, and I live in central London! Lots of pootling about town, admittedly I live on the end of the A40 so also get up to cruising speeds quite quickly on the longer journeys.
Yours isn't a 5 door mineral grey is it?
strike4A said:
I work in the church on Cosway Street - been walking past an M135i a lot recently. Was convinced on an E92 M3 as replacement but starting to think the M135i might be a better option. Driving around in a 130i LE at the moment.
I am starting to think the M135i is a better option, I recently bought a E92 M3 but the M135i is basically as fast has more torque & has a combined 37.7mpg against 23mpg for the M3...it's a no brainer apart from the lack of a slippy diff but how often do you get the chance to hang the rear end out on the road safely. Rahul uk said:
They should not have made this car an "M Performance" model, because frankly it deserves to be a full on M car. Having owned an E60 M5 and currently running an E46 M3, both are not a patch on the all round ability of this car.
Nothing against this car at all, in fact I would like to replace the Mk5 with one at some point but I can't agree, an M car shouldn't be about all round ability, it should be noisy, a pain to drive around town and all the rest of the other annoying things we love about them so for me the M135 is named perfectly.strike4A said:
I've got a V8 itch that needs scratching though... Maybe get that done with then just trade in after a year for an M135i after the worst of the depreciation is out of the way.
Good point 
the V8 in the M3 is intoxicating & very additive you will have some fun with it if you get one that I guarantee! 
strike4A said:
I work in the church on Cosway Street - been walking past an M135i a lot recently. Was convinced on an E92 M3 as replacement but starting to think the M135i might be a better option. Driving around in a 130i LE at the moment.
My daily runner is an 07 130i. After dropping off the M135i I drove home in my 130i. Biggest difference other than the power of course is the refinement (multiple driving modes, gadget count etc). The M135i is so much more adjustable to your driving mood and conditions, but then again it is a whole generation ahead. One thing I did notice was that the steering feel of the Sport mode in the M135i felt like the standard set up on my 130i, for me that is a good thing. daz05 said:
an M car shouldn't be about all round ability, it should be noisy, a pain to drive around town and all the rest of the other annoying things we love about them so for me the M135 is named perfectly.
Having just come back from a blast in the E46 M3, I can say there is defo a charm to all of the above. However, modern day M cars cannot be all of those things if they are going to succeed against the competition, times move on. The good thing is that people have a choice to buy used or new. Having had an E60 M5 as well, the novelty of it being a pain to drive around town starts to wear off after a while. FamilyDub said:
Nice review, I totally want one of these and posts like this don't help!
I always find this an odd comment. You can't be looking at it's ugliness when enjoying the driving! I'll have Estoril with red leather, please!
True you cannot see the outside when your behind the wheel. But I can see the car when it sits on my drive, and if your gonna spend close to £35k (high spec) on any car I would want to at least think it looks half decent. The looks are growing on me, especially in Alpine White. I always find this an odd comment. You can't be looking at it's ugliness when enjoying the driving! I'll have Estoril with red leather, please!
Just need to try and convince the wife that the ideal garage would be an E46 M3 as a weekend toy, F10 M5 as the family car (not her X5) and M135i as the run around. Something tells me it will be fail on that one.
DMC2 said:
strike4A said:
Servicing on an M135i will be a lot cheaper than full on M car!
Especially if you got the all inclusive package for £300 before they put the price up!Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff