Do you use a m135i or m140i every day?
Discussion
In the market for a new car and either one of these ticks all the boxes, I had a 125d previously which was great on fuel. This is my only concern doing 12k-15k a year.. is it going to cost me an arm and a leg to run or not a great deal more than a diesel?
What’s your experience and do you use it daily?
What’s your experience and do you use it daily?
RS93 said:
In the market for a new car and either one of these ticks all the boxes, I had a 125d previously which was great on fuel. This is my only concern doing 12k-15k a year.. is it going to cost me an arm and a leg to run or not a great deal more than a diesel?
What’s your experience and do you use it daily?
Hi, I run one as my daily, I've had it 3 years and done around 45k from new so pretty much what you are looking to do. I have averaged about 28mpg, not sure how that compares to diesel? It will get through a set of tyres in 20-25k. You can expect 30-40 mpg on motorways and low 20s in town.What’s your experience and do you use it daily?
AAD44H said:
Hi, I run one as my daily, I've had it 3 years and done around 45k from new so pretty much what you are looking to do. I have averaged about 28mpg, not sure how that compares to diesel? It will get through a set of tyres in 20-25k. You can expect 30-40 mpg on motorways and low 20s in town.
Great thanks for the reply,Do you own m135i or m140i ? I don’t know a great deal about the difference but have a budget of 15k and I’d ideally like a facelift so it appears a m135i is in budget but m140i fetching higher prices,
How have you found it in the 3 years of ownership? A slight drop in mpg as the 125d was hitting 45-50mpg but I really want to enjoy that 6pot sound!
Current M240i dailied for 3 and a bit years here so close enough.
Seriously rapid, B58 engine is genuinely brilliant, might as well be driving a 225d when it’s cold or wet (i.e. a lot of time). Servicing inexpensive considering the performance on offer and a perfectly comfortable cruiser in the softest damper setting (I’ve never driven a passively damped version).
I’ve averaged 19mpg since new but that’s almost certainly not representative as my journeys are almost exclusively stop/start in town and traffic.
Seriously rapid, B58 engine is genuinely brilliant, might as well be driving a 225d when it’s cold or wet (i.e. a lot of time). Servicing inexpensive considering the performance on offer and a perfectly comfortable cruiser in the softest damper setting (I’ve never driven a passively damped version).
I’ve averaged 19mpg since new but that’s almost certainly not representative as my journeys are almost exclusively stop/start in town and traffic.
I’ve owned both an m135i and and m140i from new and consecutively since 2013.
My wife ran them both as dailies - and they’re very capable in the daily grind, but depending on your expectation not hugely fuel efficient. On a run she gets mid 30s and stop start journeys will be mid 20s and possibly lower depending on how you drive. They’re crap mpg around town.
Personal i prefer the n55 engine in the m135i, it revs harder and sounds better - and is less noticeably turbocharged (in my opinion).
I wouldn’t touch one without eibach springs - be under no illusion, they’re lively on the limit and borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle - the springs are a huge huge improvement and relatively cheap. Transforms the car.
Ps. Mines for sale, but it’s a top spec run out so prob out of budget !
My wife ran them both as dailies - and they’re very capable in the daily grind, but depending on your expectation not hugely fuel efficient. On a run she gets mid 30s and stop start journeys will be mid 20s and possibly lower depending on how you drive. They’re crap mpg around town.
Personal i prefer the n55 engine in the m135i, it revs harder and sounds better - and is less noticeably turbocharged (in my opinion).
I wouldn’t touch one without eibach springs - be under no illusion, they’re lively on the limit and borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle - the springs are a huge huge improvement and relatively cheap. Transforms the car.
Ps. Mines for sale, but it’s a top spec run out so prob out of budget !
OPOGTS said:
be under no illusion, they’re lively on the limit and borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle
This is horse, they're no more or less dangerous in the wet than any other powerful RWD car. Don't drive it like an idiot in the wet, and appreciate it for what it is and you'll be fine. Gentle on the throttle if it's wet/damp, don't boot it unless the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. They're brilliant cars, but don't expect something as focussed as an M car - that's not what they're meant to be.You don't need Adaptive, or aftermarket springs and dampers unless you're going to be thrashing it round at ten tenths all the time, as a daily driver the standard set up is fine, if a little crashy as you'd expect something with 'sports' suspension to be.
vacant-100 said:
OPOGTS said:
be under no illusion, they’re lively on the limit and borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle
This is horse, they're no more or less dangerous in the wet than any other powerful RWD car. Don't drive it like an idiot in the wet, and appreciate it for what it is and you'll be fine. Gentle on the throttle if it's wet/damp, don't boot it unless the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. They're brilliant cars, but don't expect something as focussed as an M car - that's not what they're meant to be.You don't need Adaptive, or aftermarket springs and dampers unless you're going to be thrashing it round at ten tenths all the time, as a daily driver the standard set up is fine, if a little crashy as you'd expect something with 'sports' suspension to be.
We came from an A45 to an M140i, yes, the M140i sometimes struggles to get all its power down but working with the car prevents the bulk of that.
I've certainly never found it to be "borderline dangerous" but then i dont try to drive it at 10 tenths on public roads in inappropriate conditions.
Very fast car when you want it to be, and a pussy cat around town or for the daily commute.
Deep Thought said:
vacant-100 said:
OPOGTS said:
be under no illusion, they’re lively on the limit and borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle
This is horse, they're no more or less dangerous in the wet than any other powerful RWD car. Don't drive it like an idiot in the wet, and appreciate it for what it is and you'll be fine. Gentle on the throttle if it's wet/damp, don't boot it unless the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. They're brilliant cars, but don't expect something as focussed as an M car - that's not what they're meant to be.You don't need Adaptive, or aftermarket springs and dampers unless you're going to be thrashing it round at ten tenths all the time, as a daily driver the standard set up is fine, if a little crashy as you'd expect something with 'sports' suspension to be.
We came from an A45 to an M140i, yes, the M140i sometimes struggles to get all its power down but working with the car prevents the bulk of that.
I've certainly never found it to be "borderline dangerous" but then i dont try to drive it at 10 tenths on public roads in inappropriate conditions.
Very fast car when you want it to be, and a pussy cat around town or for the daily commute.
I said on its limits......
For the OP prob worth checking out the specialist m135/m140i forum on babybmw.net - by far the most comprehensive resource on the web, loads of great info and passionate owners, well worth a look if you’ve any questions or doubts
Edited by OPOGTS on Sunday 1st November 21:39
OPOGTS said:
Exactly right, drive within it’s limits and it’s certainly not.
I said on its limits......
I think the main contention was actually "borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle" which is not that case in either count. I said on its limits......
Even in the soaking wet you have to actually try to unstick the rear end, and full throttle is perfectly manageable in most conditions.
HM-2 said:
OPOGTS said:
Exactly right, drive within it’s limits and it’s certainly not.
I said on its limits......
I think the main contention was actually "borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle" which is not that case in either count. I said on its limits......
Even in the soaking wet you have to actually try to unstick the rear end, and full throttle is perfectly manageable in most conditions.
I just dont like the message being propagated that the M140i is difficult / dangerous on the limits because it isnt. 99% of drivers will never get it to its limits on public roads anyway, and it has "limits" because (a) its not an M car and (b) its more of a cruiser than an agile hot hatch.
You can make seriously rapid progress in them cross country, but if someone wants / needs something that handles like its on rails then they'd be better off driving one of the generic four pot AWD cars out there.
On the country roads i drive i can make almost as quick a progress as i would have in the A45, BUT i'll have to actually drive the car to do it. Given how anodyne the A45 driving experience is, i dont necessarily think thats a bad thing.
Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 2nd November 14:37
Don't get me wrong chaps - I love the m135/40's - after all mine have covered over 100k across nearly 8 years now!
And personally I much prefer the RWD interaction Vs the 4WD alternatives.
But..... the rear axle & standard suspension isn't fully up to the job on a car of this power. Plenty and plenty of threads on this over on the specialist forums, it's a common topic.
Welcome to differ of course but I do strongly recommend trying one with Eibach's and/or an LSD.
Just offering some constructive thoughts
Cheers!
And personally I much prefer the RWD interaction Vs the 4WD alternatives.
But..... the rear axle & standard suspension isn't fully up to the job on a car of this power. Plenty and plenty of threads on this over on the specialist forums, it's a common topic.
Welcome to differ of course but I do strongly recommend trying one with Eibach's and/or an LSD.
Just offering some constructive thoughts
Cheers!
I concur, I have had my m240i from new and I have done 32,000 miles so far. i love the car, but the steering is too light and the springs too soft for a powerful car like this. In the wet with factory installed Michelin MPSS, they are borderline dangerous if you do not drive with care and only progressively increase your acceleration and only when straight. I feel safer in my peugeot 208gti BPS and M6 GC than the m240i
However when sunny and dry and tyres warm up, they way the car takes off like a bulldog is something else. i intend to keep mine for long
However when sunny and dry and tyres warm up, they way the car takes off like a bulldog is something else. i intend to keep mine for long
OPOGTS said:
I wouldn’t touch one without eibach springs - be under no illusion, they’re lively on the limit and borderline dangerous in the wet or full throttle - the springs are a huge huge improvement and relatively cheap. Transforms the car.
Ps. Mines for sale, but it’s a top spec run out so prob out of budget !
It sounds as though there may be a problem with yours, as they really shouldn’t have any strange handling defects like you are getting.Ps. Mines for sale, but it’s a top spec run out so prob out of budget !
Are you running the right tyre pressures, or have you monkeyed around with the geometry?
I’ve been using am M140i as a daily for the last few months.
It’s pretty capable around town and plenty fast when you need it.
Getting about 24 Mpg but that is with a lot of town driving and stop/start.
Nothing dangerous about it provided you understand the car and learn to use it properly.
I recommend it.
It’s pretty capable around town and plenty fast when you need it.
Getting about 24 Mpg but that is with a lot of town driving and stop/start.
Nothing dangerous about it provided you understand the car and learn to use it properly.
I recommend it.
I ran an m140i for two years. At no point did I ever think it was dangerous.
You can drive it nice and sensibly and it never does anything to surprise you.
If you've got a relatively economical car the switch to an m140i might be a bit of a shock. I found myself at the petrol station far more than I was used to (I was doing 9k miles a year).
I'd get one again though, it's fast, can be fun to drive and on long motorway journeys where you more or less stick to legal speeds can actually do 40mpg.
I don't consider myself to be a particularly good driver and I never once came close to losing control. Not sure who these lunatics are that found the car dangerous?
You can drive it nice and sensibly and it never does anything to surprise you.
If you've got a relatively economical car the switch to an m140i might be a bit of a shock. I found myself at the petrol station far more than I was used to (I was doing 9k miles a year).
I'd get one again though, it's fast, can be fun to drive and on long motorway journeys where you more or less stick to legal speeds can actually do 40mpg.
I don't consider myself to be a particularly good driver and I never once came close to losing control. Not sure who these lunatics are that found the car dangerous?
Deep Thought said:
Jesus, i really really wish people would stop using phrases like "borderline dangerous" when describing the M140i.
It seriously isnt. Its a powerful, RWD car. Learn to drive it, or buy some AWD generic four pot turbo.
Totally agree.It seriously isnt. Its a powerful, RWD car. Learn to drive it, or buy some AWD generic four pot turbo.
I’ve had mine for coming up to 18 months now and haven’t died. I did have one near miss with some bad standing water and it aqua planing, but that could happened in my previous cars such were the conditions (biblical rain).
The MPSS’s are fine too, but what I have found is that once they get to 3mm they’re s
t. My rears went off the boil big time around 3.6mm. The new ones feel so much better even in the wet / cold. The old ones lasted 17k before I swapped them which I don’t think is all that bad with 340bhp going through them and lots of torque. My old 330 would need new rears at 18k.The suspension thing again isn’t as bad as the internet makes it out to be. It is a shortcoming of the car, but by the time it starts to make itself known you’re driving too fast for public roads anyway and if caught, a bouncy rear end is the least of your worries. I have lowered my car on H+R springs and it is a bit better but ultimately the rear dampers are the real short coming but it looks better lower anyway.
Fuel economy wise, I’m averaging 29.5mpg overall according to the trip computer since I’ve owned it (dropped this year with no commute and more short journeys). The fuel tank is diddy though which is a pain in the arse.
Overall, I really like it. It’s easy to live with, can be economical but more than quick enough when you want it to be. It was a compromise car (I bottled buying an E90 M3 be of the running costs). For the person offer, they’re cheap to run - £150 VED, three years servings for £300, rear tyres are £140 each and it’s doing more or less 30mpg. Insurance is a bit steep, but I have a minor fault claim and my car has a few cosmetic mods which add £200 or so to my policy. Insurance generally seems to be on the up though, I guess the cost of them getting cheaper.
Court_S said:
Deep Thought said:
Jesus, i really really wish people would stop using phrases like "borderline dangerous" when describing the M140i.
It seriously isnt. Its a powerful, RWD car. Learn to drive it, or buy some AWD generic four pot turbo.
Totally agree.It seriously isnt. Its a powerful, RWD car. Learn to drive it, or buy some AWD generic four pot turbo.
I’ve had mine for coming up to 18 months now and haven’t died. I did have one near miss with some bad standing water and it aqua planing, but that could happened in my previous cars such were the conditions (biblical rain).
The MPSS’s are fine too, but what I have found is that once they get to 3mm they’re s
t. My rears went off the boil big time around 3.6mm. The new ones feel so much better even in the wet / cold. The old ones lasted 17k before I swapped them which I don’t think is all that bad with 340bhp going through them and lots of torque. My old 330 would need new rears at 18k.The suspension thing again isn’t as bad as the internet makes it out to be. It is a shortcoming of the car, but by the time it starts to make itself known you’re driving too fast for public roads anyway and if caught, a bouncy rear end is the least of your worries. I have lowered my car on H+R springs and it is a bit better but ultimately the rear dampers are the real short coming but it looks better lower anyway.
Fuel economy wise, I’m averaging 29.5mpg overall according to the trip computer since I’ve owned it (dropped this year with no commute and more short journeys). The fuel tank is diddy though which is a pain in the arse.
Overall, I really like it. It’s easy to live with, can be economical but more than quick enough when you want it to be. It was a compromise car (I bottled buying an E90 M3 be of the running costs). For the person offer, they’re cheap to run - £150 VED, three years servings for £300, rear tyres are £140 each and it’s doing more or less 30mpg. Insurance is a bit steep, but I have a minor fault claim and my car has a few cosmetic mods which add £200 or so to my policy. Insurance generally seems to be on the up though, I guess the cost of them getting cheaper.
Finding the same RE: tyres. 15.5K on the car now, needing rears soon. Going for PS4s but would be happy with MPSSs again.
By comparison our previous A45 was "down to the wire" (oops) by 9,000 miles on the front tyres and needed two sets of fronts and a set of rears by 18K miles.
Easy to live with, easy to run.
Deep Thought said:
Exactly - very well articulated.
Finding the same RE: tyres. 15.5K on the car now, needing rears soon. Going for PS4s but would be happy with MPSSs again.
By comparison our previous A45 was "down to the wire" (oops) by 9,000 miles on the front tyres and needed two sets of fronts and a set of rears by 18K miles.
Easy to live with, easy to run.
I nearly changed all four tyres for Good Year Asymmetric 5’s but I was too tight to bin front with 5/6mm of tread and Black Circles had extra money off the PSS’s the other week so it was a no brainer to stick with them. Finding the same RE: tyres. 15.5K on the car now, needing rears soon. Going for PS4s but would be happy with MPSSs again.
By comparison our previous A45 was "down to the wire" (oops) by 9,000 miles on the front tyres and needed two sets of fronts and a set of rears by 18K miles.
Easy to live with, easy to run.
Too many seem to treat the throttle like an on/off switch, so it’s no wonder they have issues. People with C63’s etc don’t seem o age the same complaints.
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