Picked up my M135i today- gentlemen get your Kleenex ready for some car porn...

[Lady Elanore]

Had a ride and a brief go in a Golf R Tom. I could easily live with one and was very surprised by how much pull there was down low, especially for such a heavily tuned engine. Still don't like DSG as it comes down the box in slow traffic, but great going up the box under power. I didn't get a chance to try and kill it in the damp, but I imagine it would have the legs on an Mlite on a wet cross country drive. however it doesn't sound anywhere near as good (inside or out imho) and doesn't feel as quick in many ways. The Baby Beemer feels like it has bigger lungs if you know what I mean. Overall I am happy I made the right choice for me at least, but I wouldn't consider the R a big step backwards if I had bought one of them instead.

[Furbytom]

Had a ride and a brief go in a Golf R Tom. I could easily live with one and was very surprised by how much pull there was down low, especially for such a heavily tuned engine. Still don't like DSG as it comes down the box in slow traffic, but great going up the box under power. I didn't get a chance to try and kill it in the damp, but I imagine it would have the legs on an Mlite on a wet cross country drive. however it doesn't sound anywhere near as good (inside or out imho) and doesn't feel as quick in many ways. The Baby Beemer feels like it has bigger lungs if you know what I mean. Overall I am happy I made the right choice for me at least, but I wouldn't consider the R a big step backwards if I had bought one of them instead.

Not driven an R yet but I had an S3 out for half a day which I imagine to be similar. Didn't feel as quick as the M-lite as you say. Obviously it's abit down on power compared to the Beemer but it was the significant torque deficit that was most noticeable for me. Then there is the noise.... ;-)

The R will obviously have the edge on wet roads pulling away and also booting it in low gear out of tight hairpins etc but I have to say traction and grip in the M135i is just awesome once rolling, even in the wet.

[Lady Elanore]

Not driven an R yet but I had an S3 out for half a day which I imagine to be similar. Didn't feel as quick as the M-lite as you say. Obviously it's abit down on power compared to the Beemer but it was the significant torque deficit that was most noticeable for me. Then there is the noise.... ;-)

The R will obviously have the edge on wet roads pulling away and also booting it in low gear out of tight hairpins etc but I have to say traction and grip in the M135i is just awesome once rolling, even in the wet.

The last properly quick turbo 2.0 I owned was a Scooby Impreza and found a big difference in the way a modern feels (minus the Boxer boogie beat of course), so big credit must go to VW. But the M235 I recently drove pulled seamlessly from very low down, the VW still gave good account of itself. It is possibly the more developed engine I guess, but it ain't no straight 6 I sat on the motorway and tugged the gears down a few, so sitting at high revs ready to test the depth of the carpet and in the M235, you felt you could have driven all day with the engine spinning around 5k rpm, really sweet sound on a light throttle The VW engine sounds more like a 4 cylinder, a very impressive 4 cylinder, "but you canna beat the laws of physics Capin' "

 

I'd like to have an R or S3 for a whole weekend, it wouldn't change my mind, but it would be fun. Can't wait to hear the sound of a powerful motor boat coming from my Mlite on start up though      :)

[fabdavrav]

The last properly quick turbo 2.0 I owned was a Scooby Impreza and found a big difference in the way a modern feels (minus the Boxer boogie beat of course), so big credit must go to VW. But the M235 I recently drove pulled seamlessly from very low down, the VW still gave good account of itself. It is possibly the more developed engine I guess, but it ain't no straight 6 I sat on the motorway and tugged the gears down a few, so sitting at high revs ready to test the depth of the carpet and in the M235, you felt you could have driven all day with the engine spinning around 5k rpm, really sweet sound on a light throttle The VW engine sounds more like a 4 cylinder, a very impressive 4 cylinder, "but you canna beat the laws of physics Capin' "

 

I'd like to have an R or S3 for a whole weekend, it wouldn't change my mind, but it would be fun. Can't wait to hear the sound of a powerful motor boat coming from my Mlite on start up though      :)

 

 

Glad you decided to go and drive an "R"........... :clap:

 

I think it's defo horses for courses..............on motorways yep the BMW is a better cruiser......but up where I am what's a motorway???.the nearest thing is the notorious A9! with average speed cameras!!!!..........

 

So "our" fun roads are the back roads, hell some of the "A" class/designation roads are so narrow that they have no central dividing line!, so effectively a single track road!.then there are the "B" roads, & even "C" roads.......well those are rally tracks basically!. :sun: ............then we have the wet, mud, animals, snow..............exactly where the "R" excels!

 

I recon if you lived where I did you probably do the same as my mate, go from the Scobbie to the BWM to try it & then feel the same as he now does about the BMW......basically missing the 4wd..........

 

AS for the "ain't got no straight six"................I don't care the size, just the power, if you can get it from a smaller more efficient engine great, anyway we will all be driving electric cars with an electric motor in each wheel, & 4wd torque vectoring way more advanced than any conventional 4wd system!!..............if I could fit solar panels to the roof of my house I'd get a Tesla........... :sun:

[Lady Elanore]

I was lucky enough that a colleague and friend had an R, the deal being he will have a go in my M135 (once run in), so that should be interesting.

 

Coming from the North East originally and my family still living up there, I too am lucky enough to regularly drive some fantastic deserted roads, especially around the North Pennines, Co Durham and Northumberland, the 1er will be perfect for those roads and in part is the reason I went for it. My previous 1er was like a go-cart on those roads There are a couple of bends that you can easily do a 'squiggle' out of tightish bends with total safety and are highlights on my drive back to my parents. Even my big bus Merc has a fun time sliding out of those bends (460lb/ft helps) 

 

As a consequence of staying with RWD it means I have to keep a 4x4 for work use and to be able to get to and from my parents in winter. it's something I have done whenever I have had a RWD car, but as I now have built up a second insurance no claim allowance, it isn't too expensive, especially as my second car is a relatively cheap Grand Vitara (well the petrol isn't cheap, as its a thirsty little tyke). I do work up in Scotland too and can see the 1er being a blast on some of those roads (wonder if BMW do a 'Deer alert' system yet?)

 

I had great fun in my Scoobys up there and even managed to get out of Balmoral when the snows had hit and the snow gates were being shut. I witnessed a 7 series that had gone off one of the mountains an hour earlier too (it was in the days before winter tyres). Coming down the mountains was pretty hairy as 4x4 doesn't offer much advantage over RWD, but it definitely helped me get out of the area. I have owned 3 full time 4x4s and 2 part time 4x4s and prefer the predictability of the permanent solution, but FWD cars are really good these days, so sticking a Haldex 4x4 on to them can be used as a positive thing and make a car even more fun to drive.

 

With the 1er, I don't need to have anything else added (possible exception of a LSD, but I think I'll be aright without one) and can enjoy my 'squiggles' (as Mr Harris calls them) at will Ultimate cross country speed isn't my aim though, I'd buy a Caterham if it was, I just want fun and practicality on my terms and the 1er does this. It wont be possible soon, as nobody will make a small, powerful RWD hatch any more after this model finishes in a few years time :( It's the end of an era, so get it while you can I reckon Next car, finances permitting will almost certainly be something more akin to a Golf R (although a 340D X-Drive might be fun ) and I won't regret it I'm sure. It's just I will occasionally look with a misty eye at the older 1ers still blasting around putting a smile on their owners faces and remember mine (hopefully I haven't jinxed myself by saying this!).

[fabdavrav]

 

As a consequence of staying with RWD it means I have to keep a 4x4 for work use and to be able to get to and from my parents in winter. it's something I have done whenever I have had a RWD car, but as I now have built up a second insurance no claim allowance, it isn't too expensive, especially as my second car is a relatively cheap Grand Vitara (well the petrol isn't cheap, as its a thirsty little tyke).

 

I do work up in Scotland too and can see the 1er being a blast on some of those roads (wonder if BMW do a 'Deer alert' system yet?)

 

I had great fun in my Scoobys up there and even managed to get out of Balmoral when the snows had hit and the snow gates were being shut. I witnessed a 7 series that had gone off one of the mountains an hour earlier too (it was in the days before winter tyres). Coming down the mountains was pretty hairy as 4x4 doesn't offer much advantage over RWD, but it definitely helped me get out of the area. I have owned 3 full time 4x4s and 2 part time 4x4s and prefer the predictability of the permanent solution, but FWD cars are really good these days, so sticking a Haldex 4x4 on to them can be used as a positive thing and make a car even more fun to drive.

 

With the 1er, I don't need to have anything else added (possible exception of a LSD,

 

A nice Quaife LSD, Birds BMW do tuning & fit these, defo make a huge difference, surprised BMW didn't fit similar as standard really!

 

Nice to know that you realise the limitations of RWD & have the option of a second car which is 4wd for when the conditions get too bad for the RWD BMW!!

 

My mate has the BWM winter alloy package, & yes it does improve things, but he said his G.F.'S car (was his) Suzuki Swift on winters has more grip! So as I said earlier the "R" is a more overall winner for a one car solution, for those not able to run a summer car & a winter car ...... :p

 

Oh & when you are up here watch out for the diesel on the corners, more stupid tractors spilling it, also pheasants, sheep, cows, big logging lorries (mainly when you go around a corner & confront the front end of a huge Scania rig with more lights than the Blackpool illuminations on the front).............  ..........& the caravans in summer..............arrrrggggghhhhhhh............

[Lady Elanore]

I think BMW didn't fit the diff as apart from cost, it would really start to eat into the M3's territory and certainly the M2's.  The limitations of RWD are exactly the reason I bought it though. Inline engines and efficient, simple RWD are a great combination, plus the steering does just that, even if electric power robs cars of ' steering feel' the BMW should feel much less corrupted. I think the diff is available as a MP part from BMW on the M235 (?). When I sold cars at Bauer Millet I got to drive the odd car with a proper old school limited slip diff (very high percentage lock) and they aren't a very friendly thing in a city centre on a cold morning, actually they are quite horrible until warmed up and not performing sharp turns.

 

I know what you mean about getting out into the sticks. I grew up in a quiet Pit Village and spend almost all my free time up in Northumberland (England least inhabited county) So I am used to the bonkers hazards that lie around each corner. Sliding on slurry has given my a moment more than once. I once rounded a bend and found a full sized snowman in the middle of the road!!! The highway code never mentioned snowmen. I'm driving up to the North East tomorrow and no doubt will have to face mad sheep and pheasants/grouse etc. They breed them for shooting up there and on my route there are dozens of them stand around on the roads and chuck themselves at the expensive breakable parts of my car.

[stever750]

M4. All the car anyone could wish for. The new giulia has going to have to be stunning!

[Lady Elanore]

the new 1 series adds are coming out on You Tube and they star..........................COOKIE MONSTER   YAY!!!!!!!

[vrskeith]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/m135i/first-drives/2015-bmw-m135i-review

http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/m135i/15492/bmw-m135i-review-price-specifications-and-0-60-time

Edited 18 March, 2015 by vrskeith

[Lady Elanore]

I have been reading the latest mags online reviews of the 1er and it seems pretty much what I expected, ie if it ain't broke..... Mind you they have all got some of the facts wrong at some point in their reviews. I stuck links to most of the reviews  here  they links are in subsequent post to each other

 

also Autobild has done a video review of the 120D X drive which has a tiny bit on the M135 at the end. Haven't a clue what it says however

[Lady Elanore]

Tom, I see that the exhaust tips are allegedly 5mm bigger, so I am hoping that this means they will resist the discolouring better than the originals. But I have heard this sound clip of the pipes and they sound a little more meaty than I remember. Almost with a touch of the MP zorst. What do you think?

 

Facelift zorst noise

[Ootohere]

'Allegedly',

 best check the measurements yourself,  the BMW Media person might be a man.

[Lady Elanore]

'Allegedly',

 best check the measurements yourself,  the BMW Media person might be a man.

the tips do physically look bigger. It isn't of concern to me, but it might point to a different finishing on the tips, which is important to the 135/235 brigade, as the old ones had a tendency to require a bit more attention than you might like. in order to keep them clean. I reckon they are bigger, but size isn't everything, or is it?

Edited 18 March, 2015 by Lady Elanore

[Ootohere]

Not really,

the difference between oo and ah i believe.

[Lady Elanore]

Not really,

the difference between oo and ah i believe.

Thats what you tell all the girls ?

[vrskeith]

Clarkson at his best!?

[Lady Elanore]

Clarkson at his best!?

It's one of the reasons I bought the car, it has good taste. He is a knob though. Flat out, aquaplaning conditions and in a very powerful small RWD hatchback What did he expect to happen? But like all bullies, he didn't like it when someone (or something in this case ) had a go at him.

[vrskeith]

It's one of the reasons I bought the car, it has good taste. He is a knob though. Flat out, aquaplaning conditions and in a very powerful small RWD hatchback What did he expect to happen? But like all bullies, he didn't like it when someone (or something in this case ) had a go at him.

But has the face lifted model been re-engineered to make any improvement at the limits?

Or is it just cosmetics, with more power!?

Edited 19 March, 2015 by vrskeith

[Lady Elanore]

But has the face lifted model been engineered to make any improvement at the limits?

Or is it just cosmetics, with more power!?

Actually the upgrade in power happened last year, so many 2014 M135's have the higher figure (BMW typically didn't mention it). The Aussies seem to think some work has been done, but hopefully not too much I'm getting old enough that the X-drive version is starting to sound appealing, but this might well be my last blast in a fast RWD car (unless I buy a classic one day, or a Corvette ) so I am going to make it count and enjoy the last powerful RWD hatchback left. The other improvements are mainly in lesser engine models. 3 cylinder engines and upgrades to spec etc. The M135 does get full LEDs and the predictive gearbox as well as small other touches, but as for handling, we will have to wait and see. hopefully they won't have mucked with it too much. Besides if I want a LSD diff I'll pop along to Birds and get one fitted (no real need though a the car won't be track'd)

[Furbytom]

Tom, I see that the exhaust tips are allegedly 5mm bigger, so I am hoping that this means they will resist the discolouring better than the originals. But I have heard this sound clip of the pipes and they sound a little more meaty than I remember. Almost with a touch of the MP zorst. What do you think?

 

Not sure if they are bigger or not we'll have to break out the rulers and measure 'em when the facelift cars are here lol!

That vid does sound good but difficult to say through my iPad speakers if it's much different to the pre-LCI. I know mine sounds a lot fruitier now it's got some miles on it. Plenty of pops in sport mode :-)

I hope the LCI does have a bigger meaner 'zorst. Will help tempt me into one at some point haha!

[Lady Elanore]

Not sure if they are bigger or not we'll have to break out the rulers and measure 'em when the facelift cars are here lol!

That vid does sound good but difficult to say through my iPad speakers if it's much different to the pre-LCI. I know mine sounds a lot fruitier now it's got some miles on it. Plenty of pops in sport mode :-)

I hope the LCI does have a bigger meaner 'zorst. Will help tempt me into one at some point haha!

Does the car do blips on downchanges in Comfort mode or just Sport mode

[Furbytom]

Does the car do blips on downchanges in Comfort mode or just Sport mode

Only noticed it doing the blips in Sport mode, but it's an occasional treat rather than on every change it seems.

[Lady Elanore]

Only noticed it doing the blips in Sport mode, but it's an occasional treat rather than on every change it seems.

 

It will be interesting to see if the predictive gearbox makes any difference? Not holding my breath

[Furbytom]

It will be interesting to see if the predictive gearbox makes any difference? Not holding my breath

Yeah that is very interesting indeed. Will be keen to hear some feedback on how that goes! I'm not sure it would make much difference for me when pressing on as I'm always in manual mode on the paddles for that type of driving. Might make for even smoother progress when cruising about in D tho?