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

[Lady Elanore]

Had a drive and now need sleep Having worked over 65 hours in the last 4 days I was serious tired so I didn't quite have the excitement I thought I would

:( But I have had a pootle about and got to grips with about 66% of the kit Car is quite brisk without ever using more than a light throttle and keeping it under about 3,500 rpm, which is a good sign for the future. LED headlights are pretty good. I cant decide how they compare to the Xenons but the colour is slightly different. The Adaptive main beam switch seems to work much more quickly than in my Merc, so I might actually use the feature in this car Can't say I have noticed the predictive gearbox doing it's thing, as there is so much going on in the new car to notice, but the actual gear changes are super smooth

 

The engine is a peach and everything I hoped for. Ultra sweet and silky, and the exhaust note is surprisingly ever apparent, but in a good way. Playing with the drive mode selector on the motorway, highlights the differences between the valve open and shut (Sport Plus seem to open it pretty much anywhere I think).

 

HK audio is 90% of the installation in the Merc imho, but some of that might be the smaller size of the interior and some might be the processing involved. Steering in Comfort is very light, but weights up much better in Sport. Also suspensions is surprisingly comfy, especially on the motorway, although I think I prefer it in Sport most of the time when not cruising. Limit and cruise work well

 

Eco Pro is a hoot with the 'coast' function

 

So far it seems a winner, it's just a shame I am going to park Willberpog up for the next 3 weeks

 

Steering is very very direct, and it's easy to put a tad more lock on than you were expecting, but I think this might be the variable rack thingie that BMW fit to this car. Feel I am getting used to it already

 

I haven't found a way of storing a destination using the 8 assignable buttons on the dash yet, it doesn't seem to work quite the same way as my previous 123D. It seems to store the map view rather than the destination :( Hopefully I will be able to read the instruction book in the next few weeks (I don't have a day off until mid May now) and figure it all out. Also haven't got myself set up with the BMW Connected thingymabob, as they are updating it at present so will try again later next week. I'm told you only have to ring BMW using the inbuilt call function and they can sort it out in a matter of minutes

[Furbytom]

Congrats! Glad you like, once you are not so tired and get to have a proper spirited drive fully opening the taps I'm sure you'll love it even more :-)

[Lady Elanore]

I just got back from work having taken a slightly longer route back That engine! It makes me wonder why I have never owned a straight 6 before. Even though I'm on a light throttle and watching my revs, the soft 'yowl' it produces is intoxicating. I almost don't missing being able to cane it as the noise is so sonorous and yet there is that unmistakeable hard edged 6 noise . It's true what they say about this car, the engine does dominate the driving experience.

 

Played a bit more with Eco Pro and found it to be Ok as the engine produces so much low down torque that even the Eco fairies can't hold it back too much. The gearbox if left to it's own devices is easily a match for the Mercs when it comes to smooth changes, although a fair bit quicker in the actual swapping of cogs of course Motorway performance is worrying though. I guess the top gear runs at about 35mph/1,000 rpms so traveling at illegal speeds is crazy easy. partly because of the lack of engine vibration to remind you of the speed it's turning at.

 

The only downside I have found today is the drivers wing mirror obstruct my view when turning right. It's hard to judge kerbs when turning into tight car parks as I noticed today.

 

Oh, one thing I also noted, was the ride over small imperfections and holes in the road is so much better than on my Merc. it really surprised me.

[Furbytom]

I just got back from work having taken a slightly longer route back That engine! It makes me wonder why I have never owned a straight 6 before. Even though I'm on a light throttle and watching my revs, the soft 'yowl' it produces is intoxicating. I almost don't missing being able to cane it as the noise is so sonorous and yet there is that unmistakeable hard edged 6 noise . It's true what they say about this car, the engine does dominate the driving experience.

Played a bit more with Eco Pro and found it to be Ok as the engine produces so much low down torque that even the Eco fairies can't hold it back too much. The gearbox if left to it's own devices is easily a match for the Mercs when it comes to smooth changes, although a fair bit quicker in the actual swapping of cogs of course Motorway performance is worrying though. I guess the top gear runs at about 35mph/1,000 rpms so traveling at illegal speeds is crazy easy. partly because of the lack of engine vibration to remind you of the speed it's turning at.

The only downside I have found today is the drivers wing mirror obstruct my view when turning right. It's hard to judge kerbs when turning into tight car parks as I noticed today.

Oh, one thing I also noted, was the ride over small imperfections and holes in the road is so much better than on my Merc. it really surprised me.

The engine is just sweet perfection isn't it?!

Like you I also enjoy just listening to it when driving normally, no need to wring its neck to get it to sound nice.

Hats off to you for being restrained enough to run it in by the book. Mine was having the odd blast up to 6k+ from day 1 lol!

Now Amanda.... Where's the pics? You've kept us all waiting long enough haha! ;-)

[Lady Elanore]

Tom I am so sorry I haven't posted any pics yet. I was at work at 7 this morning and am now getting set for a marathon 4 weeks without any time off. Most days are 12-15 hours long, so I just don't have the time to edit and take photos. I did take a few on the day I got it, but still need to edit out my number plate .

 

Sorry :( especially after I hassled you for the exhaust vid :peek:  :'( 

[Lady Elanore]

here are a few random snaps. They are the only ones that don't have my reg in them. so I can pretty much post them straight up

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Furbytom]

Tom I am so sorry I haven't posted any pics yet. I was at work at 7 this morning and am now getting set for a marathon 4 weeks without any time off. Most days are 12-15 hours long, so I just don't have the time to edit and take photos. I did take a few on the day I got it, but still need to edit out my number plate .

 

Sorry :( especially after I hassled you for the exhaust vid :peek:  :'( 

Haha don't worry, was just pulling your leg ;-)

Car looks fantastic! Reminds me just why I chose MIneral Grey. Bet you are soooo chuffed with it!

[Ally_bassman]

Lovely! :-)

 

Grey is my favourite colour for these.

[Lady Elanore]

Now parked in hotel car park for ever. ...... Some of the guys who are BMW haters (shocking I know, but there are some people who dislike BMWs) have said very positive things about it

[Bedford]

Absolute beasts of a car.

My girlfriend had the older shape one series and it was such A nice car even with just the 116i engine. Can't imagine what the 135i feels like to drive.... Maybe one day haha!

[vrskeith]

Top Gear review:http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/bmw-m135i-first-drive-2015-03-17

[vrskeith]

Interesting comment Tom,

 

https://disqus.com/by/stiggis_little_cousin/

[Lady Elanore]

managed to get an early bath at work tonight, so took the opportunity to pop home over the Snake Pass Even though I'm not using more than 4,000rpm and also just a touch of light throttle, I overtook (safely) several cars on my journey home Obviously I had the window open all the time, just to enjoy the 'Yowl'. Grip is great and although I had to be careful not to accelerate too hard (only 200 miles into the running-in period) it was super easy to maintain speed. Some of the more twisty bends were a joy, adding steering lock offering none of the usual FWD weighting up. The overall feeling is a reminder of why I chose the 1er in the first place. Of course now I becoming more impatient than ever to be able to try and test the true performance of the car

[fabiamk2SE]

Amanda.

Car looks stunning

+1 on what Tom says about running in, hats off to you.

I ride snake pass occasionally on the bike if i get a quiet evening and i fancy going over that road. Fantastic road. It thrives for higher revs and more throttle doesnt it haha.

[Lady Elanore]

Amanda.

Car looks stunning

+1 on what Tom says about running in, hats off to you.

I ride snake pass occasionally on the bike if i get a quiet evening and i fancy going over that road. Fantastic road. It thrives for higher revs and more throttle doesnt it haha.

I think it's up there with the Cat and Fiddle for fun.

I'm going to drive round in the car park for the next couple of weeks and run it in that way

[fabiamk2SE]

I think it's up there with the Cat and Fiddle for fun.

I'm going to drive round in the car park for the next couple of weeks and run it in that way

Gotta say, i dont enjoy the cat and fiddle much since the average speed cameras. 50mph is nout, and i end up speedo watching more than enjoying the ride.

If you're about this way (not sure where you're actually from? Sheffield?) try the Long Hill road. Buxton across to Whaley Bridge. Beats the cat hands down IMO (:

Oh and if you get a quiet evening the a6 from Bakewell to buxton is good, but lots of tootling drivers in the daytime, so i prefer it on a quiet evening (:

Lots of roads to test an M135i around here isnt there! Haha

[Lady Elanore]

^^

[Lady Elanore]

I've noticed soft woofles and chirrups now All car related of course

[Furbytom]

I've noticed soft woofles and chirrups now All car related of course

Turn the volume up and listen carefully and you can hear lots of exhaust pops on the overrun as I lift off the throttle after accelerating ;-)

[Lady Elanore]

Turn the volume up and listen carefully and you can hear lots of exhaust pops on the overrun as I lift off the throttle after accelerating ;-)

I think it may be some time before I am revving my car beyond the 4-4.5K range (still only got 350 miles on it and it wont turn a wheel for a fortnight after tomorrow :( )

 

Plus I don't think my exhaust will ever sound quite as extreme as yours (I must be getting old )

[sigarland1987]

Just caught up with this thread, car looks awesome,Hope your enjoying it, think the bmw is up there in the running for my next car, may be able to afford it at that time.

[Lady Elanore]

Drove over the Snake Pass a few times now and even on a light throttle and with the small rev limit, overtaking is a breeze I'm using the car in Sport mode a lot as it helps keep the car a gear higher than in Comfort and so I can drive with a super light throttle and gently bed the engine in Before anyone shouts "you are doing what to a new engine?" I am driving at say 2,250 rpm instead of say 1,500 rpm when going up the hills of the Peak district etc and let the engine gently sin away- no labouring  On the motorway it's hard to keep the revs above 'not much' as it runs at around 35mph/1,000rpm

[Ally_bassman]

Ahhh Snakes Pass, love that road! Will look out for you as its my neck of the woods. :-) I wouldn't worry too much about loading the engine. The manufacturing tolerances are much tighter now, they days of running in an engine are almost over.

Don't baby it, drive it how you mean to treat it!

[vrskeith]

Drove over the Snake Pass a few times now and even on a light throttle and with the small rev limit, overtaking is a breeze I'm using the car in Sport mode a lot as it helps keep the car a gear higher than in Comfort and so I can drive with a super light throttle and gently bed the engine in Before anyone shouts "you are doing what to a new engine?" I am driving at say 2,250 rpm instead of say 1,500 rpm when going up the hills of the Peak district etc and let the engine gently sin away- no labouring  On the motorway it's hard to keep the revs above 'not much' as it runs at around 35mph/1,000rpm

No substitute for Bedding-in the new motor, in the right way. (old money not always wrong, blood!) - imo.

[Lady Elanore]

1 hour to cover 2 miles into Glossop!!!!! I've got a sooty exhaust :( and police were nicking peeps with a gun at Ladybower. Parked up now for 13 days :(