E92 M3 to M135i
Discussion
Depends why you're considering the swap, unless for practicality reasons such as a hatch and/or running costs /age of the m3 I don't see the point as the M135i is nowhere near as thrilling to drive as a M3.
I've driven a manual M135i and preferred it to the auto I drove back to back with a DCT M3 in October. But still the gap remains night and day on all the true petrol head benchmarks such as handling, and engine note for example. Plus M3 in either guise looks a lot better.
If practicality for example is an issue, I'd still say the M135i is a cracking daily drive (I loved it's stealth like way of tearing up the numbing lanes of small hatchback and dull diesels) and I cannot think of another directly comparable car by any manufacturer which comes close. But it's just not that exciting as a M3.
Good luck.
I've driven a manual M135i and preferred it to the auto I drove back to back with a DCT M3 in October. But still the gap remains night and day on all the true petrol head benchmarks such as handling, and engine note for example. Plus M3 in either guise looks a lot better.
If practicality for example is an issue, I'd still say the M135i is a cracking daily drive (I loved it's stealth like way of tearing up the numbing lanes of small hatchback and dull diesels) and I cannot think of another directly comparable car by any manufacturer which comes close. But it's just not that exciting as a M3.
Good luck.
It probably will come down to the heart v head decision. Before I had a go in a manual, I was sitting in one in a showroom whilst waiting for a friend to see a salesman. The presence and feel of a gearstick altered the character of the M135i in my opinion. Made it feel a more fun, hooligan of a car and that sense increased when I drove one. The auto is very good, and having since driven a 335i auto with six speed, the auto in the M135i is streets ahead and the power delivery much better. But with the extra involvement of a manual, it made the M135i feel more like a fun hot hatch rather than an uber powerful but ultimately sensible* choice of car. *Sensible from a petrol head's perspective I mean, even in slow mode it is a million times sharper than the s**t that clogs our roads!!
FWIW neither car had the adaptive suspension so what I'm told is the default (sport) setting is more than comfortable. don't see any attraction in trying to make it more comfortable.
FWIW neither car had the adaptive suspension so what I'm told is the default (sport) setting is more than comfortable. don't see any attraction in trying to make it more comfortable.
I traded my manual e92 M3 in for an auto m135i in March.
The m3 was coming up for needing 4 new tyres and brake pads and disc's all round, so it was an opportune time to sell it.
The M135i is a seriously good car, its not an M3, but its not far off, yet its probably about 50% of the running costs.
The main weakness for me in the m135i is the lack of body control in comparison to the m3, the M3 didnt roll too much, whereas in the m135i theres a fair bit of roll. I have the adaptive dampers on the m135i, and in sport mode this significantly improves things, but its still not as well controlled as the m3.
The m135i is about as fast as the m3 in a straight line, and the auto gearbox is great. The fuel economy of the m135i is on a different planet, on the way down to collect the m135i, the m3 averaged 21mpg over 250 miles of motorway, on the way back in the m135i doing the same sort of speeds it averaged 32mpg, and thats on a brand new tight engine that has a lot of loosening up to do.
The m3 was coming up for needing 4 new tyres and brake pads and disc's all round, so it was an opportune time to sell it.
The M135i is a seriously good car, its not an M3, but its not far off, yet its probably about 50% of the running costs.
The main weakness for me in the m135i is the lack of body control in comparison to the m3, the M3 didnt roll too much, whereas in the m135i theres a fair bit of roll. I have the adaptive dampers on the m135i, and in sport mode this significantly improves things, but its still not as well controlled as the m3.
The m135i is about as fast as the m3 in a straight line, and the auto gearbox is great. The fuel economy of the m135i is on a different planet, on the way down to collect the m135i, the m3 averaged 21mpg over 250 miles of motorway, on the way back in the m135i doing the same sort of speeds it averaged 32mpg, and thats on a brand new tight engine that has a lot of loosening up to do.
Edited by julians on Sunday 18th May 15:47
Edited by julians on Sunday 18th May 15:49
My last m3 was a manual, went to an m135i auto, back into an m3 now, dct this time. For me the car is a toy for enjoying at the weekends and various trips etc and the m135i just wasn't special enough. The last 3/10th's it turned a bit jelly like at the same point as m3 begins hunkers down and delivers it best and most memorable drives.
If it was for an every day grind/work/school run etc I would have kept the m135i.
If it was for an every day grind/work/school run etc I would have kept the m135i.
RossP said:
Thanks for the feedback julians. Very interesting that you swapped from a MANUAL M3 to the AUTO M135i. How are you finding that decision? That's proving the hard part for me to decide upon!
Its great, for me its automatic/DCT all the way now, as long as they're as good as this one. If you want involvement just put it in manual and change the gears yourself,you get full control just like in a manual, but you pull a lever rather than press a pedal and move a lever. if you want ease of use just leave it in auto.Edited by RossP on Sunday 18th May 17:52
I know this opinion goes against the grain of popular PH opinion a bit, but for me manuals are now an obselete technology, superceded by a good auto/DCT. The auto is faster and more fuel efficient, why would you choose manual?
I also have a caterham 7 , which has a manual, and when I drive it the gearbox does not make it feel more involving, its involving because of everything else, not because it has a manual gearbox.
creepy coupe said:
I've come from an E92 M3 to an M135 and now the M235i. I don't miss the M3. The running costs are half that of the M3 and the performance 90% for everyday road use. If you track day a fair bit things might be different.
Not sure the E92 M3 is that good a track proposition. LSD/ better suspension on the 135/235 and that should be it.joema said:
Is the 1 series actually practical though?
^^This with whistles and bells on. I have a 5 door M135i (bought in mind with practicality) and there is less storage room in there than my old FN2 Civic. If you have a young child and need a child seat and base your front passenger will struggle to get in. If you've got a dog as well you'll need a roof box to go anywhere else. Its a right PITA. Great car yes, practical no.
RossP said:
creepy - what's your take on manual v auto in the 135?
Hi RossEdited by RossP on Monday 19th May 12:52
Auto all day long for me. I'm not a fan of BMW's manual gearboxes. Have always found them a touch notchy with a longish throw. Don't like the CDV valve either. I did try both 6MT and auto before buying.
Edited by creepy coupe on Monday 19th May 13:20
Mermaid said:
Not sure the E92 M3 is that good a track proposition. LSD/ better suspension on the 135/235 and that should be it.
I was really talking of the cars "out of the box" My M3 was much firmer and you did feel every matchstick. I had/have adaptive dampers on both cars and for me it's a must. especially at only £500 on the M135i.buckline said:
^^This with whistles and bells on. I have a 5 door M135i (bought in mind with practicality) and there is less storage room in there than my old FN2 Civic. If you have a young child and need a child seat and base your front passenger will struggle to get in. If you've got a dog as well you'll need a roof box to go anywhere else. Its a right PITA.
Great car yes, practical no.
Practicality is as subjective as looks I think.Great car yes, practical no.
buckline said:
^^This with whistles and bells on. I have a 5 door M135i (bought in mind with practicality) and there is less storage room in there than my old FN2 Civic. If you have a young child and need a child seat and base your front passenger will struggle to get in. If you've got a dog as well you'll need a roof box to go anywhere else. Its a right PITA.
Great car yes, practical no.
Depends how you define practical I guess, its not a large car thats for certain,but the the clue is in the name (ie 1 series - the smallest car bmw make) and it's probably got the least interior space in its class, but whether it suits you should be obvious the moment you look around one, ie its black and white, its not something that you only realise after having lived with one for a couple of years. If its not big enough, dont buy it.Great car yes, practical no.
It is fairly practical though, 5 doors, takes roof bars, boot lip is fairly low, seats fold flat. It wont tow anything though if thats a factor for you.
I have an SMG e46 M3 and a manual M135i. I've also driven a lot of cars with the ZF 8 speed.
Unless you're doing a LOT of stop starts, get the manual. It's a great box, the engine has more than enough torque to not miss the extra 2 cogs, and it allows a bit more of a hooligan element to the drive.
Ultimately I think you'll be faster with the auto, but smiling more with the 6 speed stick. It's a nice amount of involvement.
Unless you're doing a LOT of stop starts, get the manual. It's a great box, the engine has more than enough torque to not miss the extra 2 cogs, and it allows a bit more of a hooligan element to the drive.
Ultimately I think you'll be faster with the auto, but smiling more with the 6 speed stick. It's a nice amount of involvement.
jon- said:
I have an SMG e46 M3 and a manual M135i. I've also driven a lot of cars with the ZF 8 speed.
Unless you're doing a LOT of stop starts, get the manual. It's a great box, the engine has more than enough torque to not miss the extra 2 cogs, and it allows a bit more of a hooligan element to the drive.
Ultimately I think you'll be faster with the auto, but smiling more with the 6 speed stick. It's a nice amount of involvement.
I am with julians above. ZF Auto in manual mode trumps a manual, and then there's the benefit of auto mode on top.Unless you're doing a LOT of stop starts, get the manual. It's a great box, the engine has more than enough torque to not miss the extra 2 cogs, and it allows a bit more of a hooligan element to the drive.
Ultimately I think you'll be faster with the auto, but smiling more with the 6 speed stick. It's a nice amount of involvement.
No more or less hooligan with the auto I reckon.
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