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

[Furbytom]

Ok, so the M-Performance Exhaust is now fitted!

Sounds absolutely epic. Really chuffed with it :-). The pops and crackles on the overrun are stunning, I used to think the standard exhaust was impressive but this is on a whole new level. Absolutely zero drone when cruising about which is a big plus. Not massively louder than stock so not chavvy or too antisocial but has a much deeper/more meaty aggressive tone. Oh and did I mention the pops/crackles?!

My mate did most of the filming and photography so will hopefully have some decent pics and vids in the next few days but here are some iPhone pics of the install in progress (it's my brother in the pics not me lol) :

Tight fit to get the new exhaust box in the car haha-

Car on lift:

Unboxing:

Selecting a spot to make the cut......

The point of no return.....

Chopped!

Old exhaust removed:

Performance exhaust in position and clamped in place:

Chrome tips attached:

Shiny ///M pipes!

Will post up some more pics and a decent vid in due course. :-)

Tom

[fabdavrav]

Ok, so the M-Performance Exhaust is now fitted!

Sounds absolutely epic. Really chuffed with it :-). The pops and crackles on the overrun are stunning, I used to think the standard exhaust was impressive but this is on a whole new level. Absolutely zero drone when cruising about which is a big plus. Not massively louder than stock so not chavvy or too antisocial but has a much deeper/more meaty aggressive tone. Oh and did I mention the pops/crackles?!

My mate did most of the filming and photography so will hopefully have some decent pics and vids in the next few days but here are some iPhone pics of the install in progress :

Tight fit to get the new exhaust box in the car haha-

Car on lift:

Unboxing:

Selecting a spot to make the cut......

The point of no return.....

Chopped!

Old exhaust removed:

Performance exhaust in position and clamped in place:

Chrome tips attached:

Shiny ///M pipes!

Will post up some more pics and a decent vid in due course. :-)

Tom

 

 

I like the fact you get separate slide on chrome tips which of course will be easily replaceable...............  .....................just wish others like Miltech etc did the same instead of welded on...............our salted roads in winter really affect the tips............

[Lady Elanore]

Not sure what's happened but I can get the pictures to display properly :(

[Lady Elanore]

Good grief, did a reboot and the first picture I see is a pipe cut in half!!!! It looks very serious, but in a good way

 

Your's looks very big Can't wait for the vid. Can you do a natural start and warm up to the valve opening please

[Furbytom]

I like the fact you get separate slide on chrome tips which of course will be easily replaceable...............  .....................just wish others like Miltech etc did the same instead of welded on...............our salted roads in winter really affect the tips............

BMW do M-performance carbon tips which look incredible. Incredible price too though sadly!

[Lady Elanore]

popped back onto this thread after a couple of minutes and there is still no vid. Tooooooooooooooom we need audio

[Furbytom]

Good grief, did a reboot and the first picture I see is a pipe cut in half!!!! It looks very serious, but in a good way

 

Your's looks very big Can't wait for the vid. Can you do a natural start and warm up to the valve opening please

Yeah will do! A mate of mine brought his M135i along too so we have a vid comparing stock to M-Perf which should be quite good.

We are installing his M-performance exhaust on Friday..... :-)

[Furbytom]

popped back onto this thread after a couple of minutes and there is still no vid. Tooooooooooooooom we need audio

Haha ok give me a few minutes and I'll see what I can rustle up....

[Furbytom]

[Furbytom]

Just for you Amanda :-) Small sound clip. Not great quality as recorded on my phone in haste though! Better ones will hopefully follow...

[Lady Elanore]

Woot woot.

[Lady Elanore]

Actually a side by side would be great (just don't forget the valve thing please ). There is one some lads did on a phone, comparing stock, MP and BACs. The BACs was crazy loud. It sounds astonishing, almost Nascar growly, but I couldn't live with the racket on a daily basis and I know my neighbours couldn't

[Ally_bassman]

Epic.

That is all. :-D

[solwood]

A genuine question.

You may have seen my other thread on a search for a second car. I have now driven the fiesta st and the m135i.

Very different but loved then both, heart says bmw head fiesta.

The m135 was in performance terms epic even better than I expected. What a great engine and great ride comfort too. Loved the auto box and week look for one with that.

Question is do you always feel you are driving so within the cars limits at legal speeds you get frustrated. At 70 it was just bimbling, ready to accelerate. Or does the build quality, engine note, overall package make it a great ownership prospect

[fabdavrav]

The m135 was in performance terms epic even better than I expected. What a great engine and great ride comfort too. Loved the auto box and week look for one with that.

Question is do you always feel you are driving so within the cars limits at legal speeds you get frustrated. At 70 it was just bimbling, ready to accelerate. Or does the build quality, engine note, overall package make it a great ownership prospect

 

Any fast car will feel as you are just bimbling along at 70mph..................Golf R, Audi, Lambo, BMW M3, M5.etc etc...................

 

It is more a question of "legally" how fast do you want/cope with on a day to day basis............I have the means to go & buy various very fast cars, but I don't as on the roads up here I wouldn't get anywhere near using all the car that I purchased. The only way to do that is on track. But then I would get beaten by a lightweight track car eg Westfield, Radical etc..........

 

I just go with the more "logical" & practical choice, for me that is. You need to think carefully about how you are going to use it & the driving situations you are going to put it through. As I have mentioned in previous posts my mate is pee'd off with his M135I 3dr auto.................His father has just bought a 5dr manual version (M135I)...............son wishes he had got this version as now he realises after 2ys of owning a 3dr auto that the 5dr manual is more what he needs & suits his style of driving............

[solwood]

Thank you.

Current car is a stage 1 vrs estate so not slow.

I would like to hear from the owners of a m135 for their experience. Tbh for our planned use the auto would be my choice.

If you friends is selling give him my details I might be interested

On my other thread I have mentioned other cars as possible. Cayman S, and fiesta st are also on the list

Not driven a Cayman yet and it may swing it that way. Back to the M135 owners...

[Ally_bassman]

 Or does the build quality, engine note, overall package make it a great ownership prospect

 

 

I think you've answered your own question there.

 

If you have the means to get the 1'er, then go for it. The Fiesta ST is ruddy good, no question about it, but you're comparing too very different cars.

 

It's not all about speed, handling, driving within the cars comfortable performance or on the ragged edge.

 

Cars are such large investments, so the best overall package that suits your needs is what you want surely?

 

No matter what you buy, you'll always think 'Oh what if I bought that instead?'

 

I'm sure Tom will be along to give you his opinion on living with one. :-)

[fabdavrav]

Thank you.

 Tbh for our planned use the auto would be my choice.

If you friends is selling give him my details I might be interested

 

 

He's got the car on some form of contract or PCP...............dealers did phone him up about a month ago asking if he would like to exchange as they have a market for his due to high spec/colour etc.........................not seriously thinking at moment as he his moving to a new house so getting dragged around carpet/wallpaper places by his other half...............  ..........

[solwood]

Just to add car would be a second car mileage of no more than 3k to 5k per year.

[solwood]

It's going to be our second fun car. Hence the quite disparate cars and normal practical issues are less of a consideration.

I have decided to spend some money on something other than the mortgage

[Furbytom]

Thank you.

Current car is a stage 1 vrs estate so not slow.

I would like to hear from the owners of a m135 for their experience. Tbh for our planned use the auto would be my choice.

If you friends is selling give him my details I might be interested

On my other thread I have mentioned other cars as possible. Cayman S, and fiesta st are also on the list

Not driven a Cayman yet and it may swing it that way. Back to the M135 owners...

Hellooo,

I've had my M135i since last July and I'm absolutely thrilled with it.

The RWD handling balance and ride quality are sublime. Build quality is excellent too and I don't have any rattles yet I'm pleased to say.

Performance as you know is fantastic.

It's the engine and noise though which really dominate the whole driving experience. Nothing else in this price bracket comes close on that score imho.

It's thrilling to drive flat out in a straight line for sure and the grip is so good that you have to be doing "straight to jail" speeds in the corners on the public road to inadvertently breach the limits.

One if the reasons I bought it though is that it is huge fun driving at far less than 10/10ths. The noise and handling feel mean you don't need to rag it to have fun. If driving everywhere in max-attack mode is your thing it's just too quick for the public road really so a lower-powered motor might be a better option. Putting it in Sport-plus mode backs the ESP/TC off a little to allow some back-end-out action if you want. Can also be disabled completely if you wish to end up in a hedge or are a driving god lol.

Running costs and fuel economy are excellent too considering the performance on tap.

It's practical too in 5-dr guise although rear legroom is obviously not quite as good as a similar sized FWD hatch.

The looks aren't to everyone's taste but I love it.

I've not driven the fiesta ST yet so can't comment on that but hear great things about them. Very different car but I suspect just as fun all be it in a different way.

Hope that helps! Any more Qs let me know.

Tom

[Furbytom]

Actually a side by side would be great (just don't forget the valve thing please ). There is one some lads did on a phone, comparing stock, MP and BACs. The BACs was crazy loud. It sounds astonishing, almost Nascar growly, but I couldn't live with the racket on a daily basis and I know my neighbours couldn't

Ok so here it is, side by side comparison of M-Perf and Stock M135i exhausts. A mate of mine owns the white car, the grey one is mine. :-)

[FinFerNan]

Thank you.

Current car is a stage 1 vrs estate so not slow.

I would like to hear from the owners of a m135 for their experience. Tbh for our planned use the auto would be my choice.

If you friends is selling give him my details I might be interested

On my other thread I have mentioned other cars as possible. Cayman S, and fiesta st are also on the list

Not driven a Cayman yet and it may swing it that way. Back to the M135 owners...

 

Which Cayman?

 

987 or 981......?

 

The 981 would absolutely trounce the others, but to be fair the ST is a total hoot and amazing value, but it does not compare to the Porsche IMO. The Beemer is a cracker of an engine gearbox, but again simply not in the same league as the Porker. Naturally aspirated flat six wail to die for.

 

Do I sound biased, you bet your life I am.

 

Edited 9 April, 2015 by FinFerNan

[Lady Elanore]

Ok so here it is, side by side comparison of M-Perf and Stock M135i exhausts. A mate of mine owns the white car, the grey one is mine. :-)

Well that answer that question Sounds terrific Tom

[Lady Elanore]

A genuine question.

You may have seen my other thread on a search for a second car. I have now driven the fiesta st and the m135i.

Very different but loved then both, heart says bmw head fiesta.

The m135 was in performance terms epic even better than I expected. What a great engine and great ride comfort too. Loved the auto box and week look for one with that.

Question is do you always feel you are driving so within the cars limits at legal speeds you get frustrated. At 70 it was just bimbling, ready to accelerate. Or does the build quality, engine note, overall package make it a great ownership prospect

I don't pick mine up until Tuesday, but I previously owned a 123D 1er. The big difference between the 204bhp 123D and the m135i was apparent immediately as the BMW genius turned up in the test car for me to have a go. I could hear it's 6 cylinder engine approach from down the street and as he pulled up noticed the sweet exhaust note, it's quite a sophisticated and complex sound. It reminded my about the sense of drama that some cars have. My 123D was a great car to drive and pretty quick for a diesel at that time. But it lacked drama. the M135i already had me excited before I had climbed in and nothing in the test drive changed that opinion. As it wasn't my car I couldn't really try anything too silly, but you can feel the back of the car load up and it is pretty apparent it's RWD  Everything is as you would expect from a modern BMW. Fit and finish are generally excellent and if you can live with the slight reduction in interior space compared to class rivals, I believe you will be repaid many times over.