135i - is there a new engine?

[RobM77]

A friend of mine tells me that the 135i is getting a new engine with a single turbo, as fitted to the 5 series GT. Is that right or is he getting confused with the forthcoming "M" 1 series?

[Shropshiremike]

RobM77 said:

A friend of mine tells me that the 135i is getting a new engine with a single turbo, as fitted to the 5 series GT. Is that right or is he getting confused with the forthcoming "M" 1 series?

You did well to miss all the threads Rob...

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[RobM77]

Thanks! I'll call my BMW dealer tomorrow.

Any ideas of a release date yet? I'm googling now...

[aeropilot]

RobM77 said:

Thanks! I'll call my BMW dealer tomorrow.

Any ideas of a release date yet? I'm googling now...

A new factory order today would get you the new N55 engined car as production of the N54 car ends in a couple of weeks, with N55 production commencing at the begining of March.

[RobM77]

aeropilot said:

RobM77 said:

Thanks! I'll call my BMW dealer tomorrow.

Any ideas of a release date yet? I'm googling now...

A new factory order today would get you the new N55 engined car as production of the N54 car ends in a couple of weeks, with N55 production commencing at the begining of March.

Thanks. I don't really want to spend the money now, as my contract ends in two weeks and what I have sorted for the rest of the year isn't firm yet.

I was sold a nearly new Z4C by my local dealer based on a mis-understanding that there was a roof rack for it, so am interested in changing for something else with a roof rack. I'm interested in test driving this new 135i and if the engine responds better than the old one I will ensure that I put aside the money to change. I was after date when they might have one in, so it looks like the middle to end of March?

[Shropshiremike]

RobM77 said:

aeropilot said:

RobM77 said:

Thanks! I'll call my BMW dealer tomorrow.

Any ideas of a release date yet? I'm googling now...

A new factory order today would get you the new N55 engined car as production of the N54 car ends in a couple of weeks, with N55 production commencing at the begining of March.

Thanks. I don't really want to spend the money now, as my contract ends in two weeks and what I have sorted for the rest of the year isn't firm yet.

I was sold a nearly new Z4C by my local dealer based on a mis-understanding that there was a roof rack for it, so am interested in changing for something else with a roof rack. I'm interested in test driving this new 135i and if the engine responds better than the old one I will ensure that I put aside the money to change. I was after date when they might have one in, so it looks like the middle to end of March?

Be careful, it's a turbo Rob.....

[aeropilot]

RobM77 said:

I'm interested in test driving this new 135i and if the engine responds better than the old one I will ensure that I put aside the money to change. I was after date when they might have one in, so it looks like the middle to end of March?

The was a engine response comparison graph posted on one of the forums between the N54 and N55, but I can't find it now. It claimed that the new engine is a bit more responsive, as well as having a 10% better economy. It's also 20kg lighter as well, which should help the front end on a 135i.
The other big change, is the replacement of the Steptronic autogearbox option with the 7-speed DCT unit instead.
I'd say, it's more likely to be April/May before any dealer gets one in as a demo, and because of the new DCT option, I'd guess any demo cars ordered will likely these rather than a manual N55 engined 135i...?

[RobM77]

aeropilot said:

RobM77 said:

I'm interested in test driving this new 135i and if the engine responds better than the old one I will ensure that I put aside the money to change. I was after date when they might have one in, so it looks like the middle to end of March?

The was a engine response comparison graph posted on one of the forums between the N54 and N55, but I can't find it now. It claimed that the new engine is a bit more responsive, as well as having a 10% better economy. It's also 20kg lighter as well, which should help the front end on a 135i.
The other big change, is the replacement of the Steptronic autogearbox option with the 7-speed DCT unit instead.
I'd say, it's more likely to be April/May before any dealer gets one in as a demo, and because of the new DCT option, I'd guess any demo cars ordered will likely these rather than a manual N55 engined 135i...?

Thanks. If you can find a link to the graph then I'd definitely be interested in seeing it. I've never driven a DCT car, so I couldn't comment if that's what I'd want, but my experiences of BMW autos go beyond the shocking to the downright hilarious (I had an auto X3 a few years ago and my mates were queueing up for a go in it, purely because it was so bad it had us in tears of laughter, quite literally!), but hopefully the DCT would be better. I'd still want a demo in a manual as well though. I'm travelling around the UK a bit this year, so hopefully I'll find a manual one to drive even if my local dealership only have the DCT.

[aeropilot]

RobM77 said:

Thanks. If you can find a link to the graph then I'd definitely be interested in seeing it.

Found them.

[RobM77]

Thank you, that's interesting. I'd like to see a graph of throttle pedal input to engine response time though, as opposed to that lower graph which is engine throttle opening. This was the reason I didn't buy the 135i mk1 - I had enough time after accelerating to say "look" to the salesman before the engine responded. If they can fix that, my name's on the list, if they can't then it won't be

[aeropilot]

RobM77 said:

Thank you, that's interesting. I'd like to see a graph of throttle pedal input to engine response time though

Thought you'd say that

Which is why I was a little surprised that you'd come so close to buying a Z4C though (35i version?) as that has the same N54 engine as the old 135i....??

Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 20th January 18:01

[RobM77]

aeropilot said:

RobM77 said:

Thank you, that's interesting. I'd like to see a graph of throttle pedal input to engine response time though

Thought you'd say that

Which is why I was a little surprised that you'd come so close to buying a Z4C though (35i version?) as that has the same N54 engine as the old 135i....??

Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 20th January 18:01

It's the old Z4 Coupé with the N52 engine.



Bought purely because the throttle delay was smaller than the 135i I'm rather pissed off that it won't take a roof rack though, thus the excitement that the 135i is getting a different engine.

[aeropilot]

The other thing about this new N55 engine, is that it's got Valvetronic and a new ECU which BMW are claiming will be hacking proof rendering aftermarket tuning almost impossible. No doubt this is particularily aimed at problems with the USA market.

Sounds like a red rag to a bull to me....

[RacingTeatray]

Also, I think there was also a suggestion that the new engine definitely kicks out a regular 300bhp, whereas the old one was always rumoured to produced either 300 unusually healthy horses...or more than the stated number. If BMW are serious about the forthcoming M-version of the 1 coupe, then this would be a logical step in ensuring a clear demarcation in power/performance between it and the 135i.

[kenyon]

All the information you need on BMW http://www.bimmerfile.com/