600bhp 1 Series

[D4MJT]

Good morning PH'ers.

For the past few years I've been running an increasingly leggy E66 BMW 730Ld. It's been delightful to drive, and horrifically expensive to maintain. At the start of this year, having spent more of the previous year driving a Ford Ka Collection 2 whilst said 7 series was being continually repaired, I decided it was time to part ways with it. But what to replace it with? I've never owned a new car and tend to buy older money pits, sinking vast quantities of cash into maintenance and proclaiming it to be far cheaper than depreciation whilst sobbing softly. I enjoy driving, I love my cars, but I also need a decent car for work, and cover around 20-25k miles a year. I stuck my sensible hat on and tootled off to look at new or nearly new 320d's.

The world of new vs nearly new car's was an eye opener, and sadly it makes very little sense to buy a slightly used car over a new one currently. I also couldn't bring myself to pay fortunes for a 320d, and back in February I placed an order for an M140i.

On the face of it this seems a bit daft, however it'll either turn out to be an utterly brilliant idea, or we can all point and laugh as it goes tragically wrong. I'm basing this decision on the fact that I've been able to spec the car up so it should be comfy and nice to drive for long distances, and with the auto box I'm hoping I'll be able to average above 26mpg, which was what I got from my 7 series. If that's the case I'm laughing, as I have a new warrantied car with no random maintenance costs to worry about for the forseeable future. If it averages 17mpg I'll be pennliess and it'll have been a terrible idea, but I'll probably have enjoyed it.

So, having spent months hassling salesmen and the BMW Genius team for information on my order, it's now in the country and on it's way to my dealer, and I'm hoping to collect it next week. I've handily chucked a weeks holiday in for the week after and I'm intending to drive it to the Nurburgring to get the 1200 mile run-in period over with promptly.

There's not masses online about these, so if anyone's interested I'll keep this updated with what it's like to live with, whether or not it's terrible, what's less terrible about it, and generally how I get on with it. It's basically a 1 series with a 3.0 turbocharged inline-six dropped in the front, mated to ZF's rather lovely 8-speed auto box. It's supposedly making around 340bhp and 500nm. BMW claim it will average 38mpg which seems hilarious, I'll be overjoyed with late 20's.

My car should look vaguely similar to this:





Spec-wise it's all a bit random, I want the car to be a good daily driver and as 7 series-esque and wafty as I can manage for dull commuting life, but it'll be great to have a bit of a pocket rocket for weekend hoons and driving trips away. With this in mind I've not really gone for the common driver focused options like adaptive suspension, and I've plied it with comfort bits and the better stereo etc, as 90% of the time these will be more useful to me.

In case you're not already bored to tears, the full spec is:

Mineral Grey Metallic over Oyster Leather with black dash, carpets and headlining
High Gloss Black interior trim with a silver finisher
Pro Media Package

• 8.8" Widescreen Monitor
• Professional Nav
• Online Entertainment
• Concierge Services
• Remote Services
• Black Panel Display - Full

Driver Comfort Package

• Cruise Control with Brake Function
• Rear Parking Sensors

Harman Kardon Hi-Fi Upgrade
Sun Protection Glass
Steering Wheel Heating
Electric Front Seats & Driver Memory
Extended Storage
Seat Heating Front
Adaptive LED Headlights
Sport Auto Transmission
Apple Carplay Prep
Reverse Assist Camera

I'm hoping all things being equal to collect it next Monday, so I'll get some photo's of it then. I've got a few small cosmetic mods planned initially, then I'll just get the hang of it and see how I get on with it before I do anything else.

Cheers!

[D4MJT]

Cheers Jon. That sounds encouraging.

I like that it isn't really very shouty, and seems comparatively understated compared to other "hot" versions of competitors. The Focus RS / Civic Type-R / A45 AMG etc are all very visibly jacked up as it were, and this sort of just looks like a 1 series with 2 exhausts. I guess that works both ways though and it will be too understated for some folks.

I've bought a 116d badge to lash on the back. Maximum stealths.

[D4MJT]

1Toomanycars said:

I think it's quite a good call nowadays to lease rather than buy a car tbh.

With service inclusive deals especially, you are limiting your monthly outgoings to a known payment and no unforseen maintenance bills.

Certainly up until this April when the taxing of new cars became a lot more expensive, the amount of cars with pretty serious performance that could be taxed for £30 a year was quite astounding.

Our lease for our main vehicle is slightly different, so how do the new tax costs affect your lease on the 140i? I would assume with the extras you've chosen, you've kept the list price quite a bit under£40k?

Good luck with your car when it arrives!

It's come in just under £40k which was handy. I think I've sort of struck lucky with the timing, as I ordered in late February on the proviso that they would tax the car for me for the first year. Since my car will be registered this week, the initial years tax will be around £800 which BMW are paying, however the year after it's cheaper than it would have been had the car been registered before April, down to £140 a year from £155 I think?

Something like that anyway.

That's basically my logic regarding the monthly outgoing. At least I know what it is and can account for it. The warranty is 3 years unlimited mileage and I've got a 3 year servicing pack with the car.

[D4MJT]

True!

Top lurking by the way!

[D4MJT]

HJMS123 said:

Did you take a look at the TRL offers on baby bmw before ordering? It's a lovely high sec but still seems an awful lot of money for the M140i, I think a basic 3door manual can be had for something like 27k using his deals.

I did indeed, I'm not paying anything like £40k, however as that's the list price before discounts etc, that's the relevant price for the VED sadly!

Good solid advice though, you can indeed get brilliant deals on these cars. I ended up buying from my local dealer as they got very close to where I wanted to be, and I didn't have to drive to London to pick it up.

[D4MJT]

1Toomanycars said:

Ha, just seen what you mean, 10 years+ and you took my cherry!!

How was it for you?

Only just really found the Readers Cars forum tbh, rubbish with computers, but I'm currently in Spain and am for the next 3 months, so found it while relaxing.

Nice to read other people's motoring adventures......and misery, and see how they compare to mine!

Haha

There are some brilliant threads to tide you over for the next few months. MWStewart's various threads make for brilliant reading, as does one about a Mercedes SEL.

[D4MJT]

Tomy90 said:

Congrats on your purchase I am sure you will love it.

I have been daily driving a BMW M235i Auto for nearly 3 years now (it's on 44,000 miles currently)

On my commute to work (B roads and 2 village / town centres) I get between 30mpg to 37mpg on a 25 mile drive.

Motorways etc my record is 42mpg average.

And from what I have heard the new version of my engine is slightly better to the gallon etc.

From my experience it is very much a do it all daily, I do a combo of B road blasting, a track day and motorway driving and so far it's not missed a beat.

Edited by Tomy90 on Thursday 4th May 12:14

This is exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks!

[D4MJT]

Spoof said:

I got my M140i about 2 months ago. I've done 4000 miles now and the car keeps on getting better.

On a run, I've managed 43mpg, day to day I'm seeing 32mpg with a mix of town and fast country road driving. I consider it exceptional considering my RS4 struggled to get 20 and was noticeably slower in a straight line.

I still find electric power steering odd, but I'm slowly getting used to it.

Mines in next week for an exhaust rattle (valve in back box - common problem) which I'm using as an excuse to get the M performance exhaust, but apart from that, I'm very happy with it and don't feel short changed moving from an RS4.

(When did you sell the P38 Matt? My FiL still bangs on about how much that engine cost him)

Edited by Spoof on Thursday 4th May 14:15

Hi Chris, hope you're well.

How bizarre you're currently in one too! I sold the P38 back in 2012 probably I think. I'm quite taken with BMW's currently, they seem quite well sorted.

I looked at the MPE, be interested to hear how you find it. Mine's arrived at the dealer this afternoon, so they rang me and I'm collecting it on Monday morning now. Looking forward to it!

[D4MJT]

malucnojes said:

Sounds like a great spec and hopefully you'll love every minute of it!

I've had my M135i for just over 2 years now and it's been awesome, in terms of MPG I normally see high 20's day to day and then high 30's on a Motorway drive so hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised!

The difficulty will be when you come to replace it as I'm really struggling to know what to go with at the moment, my dream is an M2 but they're still far too expensive so it may be an M240i instead.

Completely agree that some of the other offerings are a little too 'brash', I happened to see a Civic Type R the other day and I just couldn't imagine being seen in it!

My best mate has an FK2 Type-R, it's probably one of the less lairy looking ones as it's in the steel grey they do. It's a funny thing, because the looks are probably a bit in your face for me, but then other times it just looks mega from certain angles, I really like the back of them.

Technically it's fantastic, it's a riot to drive and quite easy to press on with, the diff is brilliant.

It'll be interesting to see how the M140i stacks up against it.

[D4MJT]

I've just been sent 2 photo's from the dealer, so here's the actual car awaiting prep. Potato grade photo's sadly, but photo's nonetheless!

[D4MJT]

SebringMan said:

A great choice of car! I was debating getting one as a car that covered all of the bases. But I am also busy trying to save ; which is why I bought an E46 M3 ; my logic is strange and flawed!

I have to ask though. What kept going wrong on the E66? I'm curious to hear. Did you get it repaired or let the garage do them?

Nice, I love an E46 M3.

I think I was sort of unlucky a little with the E66, but also in hindsight I'd never get a diesel one again. I averaged 26mpg, and I don't think a petrol V8 would have been far behind. My E66 was absolutely loaded with gadgetry and tech, none of which went even mildly wrong in my ownership. The 3.0 diesel drivetrain however...

I was unlucky with one bill, for some reason 3 exhaust manifold studs snapped in the cylinder head, so what sounded like an exhaust blow turned into a £1500 bill for a cylinder head removal and repair, and new timing chains etc as it was all in bits.

But bar that I also pretty much had every other diesel issue, I had to replace an injector, the EGR, the MAF sensor, the starter motor died, the alternator died, the list went on and on.

Put it this way, I'm saving several hundred pounds a month buying the M140i over continuing with the average maintenance bill for my E66. And I everything bar the cylinder head job myself.

It's probably running brilliantly now for it's new owner, as it's pretty much new lol.

[D4MJT]

Spoof said:

That looks lovely. You won't be disappointed at all with it Matt.

I had to go for the 'infant friendly' 5 door unfortunately, but I think the 3 door looks much better.

That's a very smart looking motor. You don't see many in black, nice choice!

[D4MJT]

russy01 said:

Did 25k in a M135i a couple years back...

I averaged 25mpg, but enjoyed the car. Sure, the car will do 40mpg (or the computer says it is!!), but please don't be disillusioned. The car has a great honking engine that wants to spank you down the road at light speed and if driven hard will return you low 20's Max.

To get these high 30 averages you have to be very controlled - which is all well and good, but then what's the point of having the M if you are not gonna bury your foot at every chance!!
Admittedly we are all different and it very much depends on your drive (my commute was across the mendips with splendid B roads everyday, so I had no chance of good Mpg.)
Either way the car is great, goes very well and has a great combo of performance and comfort...

Best of luck with it, I'm sure you'll love it. I'd happily have one again as a second car...

Totally get what you're meaning. I think the main attraction of the car to me is that it "can" do both. I don't have the space or means for a nice comfy daily and something fun for the weekend, and this appears to have the ability to do a bit of both pretty well. In all honesty the roads I tend to commute or drive on are the single lane sections of A1 north of Newcastle or the A69 to Carlisle, neither of which offer much in the way of opportunity for hooning.

If I can relax and be comfy and get anywhere near 30-35mpg on those days, and also have a 340bhp rwd toy for a blast to Hartside at the weekends, that seems a very happy medium to me.

I'll let you know next week haha!

[D4MJT]

Yipper said:

They are a nightmare in the wet. And it rains a lot in Britain. And a nightmare on bumpy, twisty roads. Saw a (predecessor) red M135i nearly spin out under heavy braking on the M1 just a few days ago. The driver was racing another vehicle and had missed the slowing traffic ahead, slammed on the anchors at the last second, and the backend swung round to a 45-degree angle. Missed the central reservation and a couple cars around him by inches. Looked a right piece of junk.

While I appreciate I haven't taken delivery of the car yet, I'm afraid I don't agree with this at all. I suspect it has a lot to do with the driver.

There are frequent threads cropping up on BabyBMW etc. comparing the car to the likes of the Mini Cooper JCW etc, and berating it for not being as easy to push hard, but there seems to be very little in the way of understanding shown about the differences in how you can push a rwd car compared to a fwd one.

Modern cars are equipped with so many "get out of jail" type electronic safety systems nowadays that you can get away with an awful lot.

I'm far from proclaiming myself to be a great driver, but I suspect if you treat it with the respect it deserves and accept it will never handle like a FWD hot hatch you'll probably be fine.

The fact that the driver quoted was racing another car before slow moving traffic sort of clarifies my point perfectly really.

[D4MJT]

zed4 said:

Nice spec OP. I hope you're pleased with it.

My girlfriend has a BMW M135i with the ZF8 and it really is fantastic. When the time comes, we will only replace it with a newer one.

Easy man, I've had enough grief already about getting a girl's car haha.

That's good to hear buddy, cheers!

[D4MJT]

Tomy90 said:

Considering I have driven my M235i through a snow storm for over 2 hours on Pilot SuperSports without much difficulty on single carriage A roads etc.

You should not have much trouble in the rain.

Just when it rains back off like you would normally do and if you are unsure keep it in comfort mode or eco pro mode.

However I would only advise using Eco Pro mode on motorways etc, as it severely dumbs the throttle down which I don't like in my humble opinion.

Edited by Tomy90 on Friday 5th May 14:36

Yeah the EcoPro looks good for dull commuting duties!

You echo my thoughts exactly re the rain, I've spent a bit of time in the damp in my mate's E61 M5 and I didn't end up upside down on fire.

The next post will be a picture of it upside down on fire

[D4MJT]

MuZiZZle said:

Any pics of this sexy mate?

He sounds like a sexy hero

He needs to be, he owns a Civic Type-R.

[D4MJT]

Tomy90 said:

Haha do not say that, you should be fine considering I jumped from a basic Peugeot RCZ to a M235i you should be fine.

Edited by Tomy90 on Friday 5th May 15:04

Due to my 7 series selling in 90 minutes when I expected it to take months, I've been driving a 68bhp Ford Ka since February.

I doubt I'll make it out of the collection bay without fire and explosions

[D4MJT]

Crafty_ said:

The problem with the Golf R (to my mind) is its a bit boring, it goes very fast but there is no feeling, you may as well get a 1.4 model and drive slower. The mlite has better driver involvement and therefore, satisfaction.

This. Very this.

The Golf R / S3 / Cupra R are basically the same car as well. I'm sure they're great cars but they do little for me, the main attraction of the M140i to me was the 6 cylinder engine and RWD drivetrain.

[D4MJT]

The car is now registered and has had my plate assigned to it. In a sterling effort to make the longest weekend in history seem even longer, my sales dude has kindly sent me another photo of it.



Roll on 11am Monday!