Had a passenger ride in an M135i today

O

original guvnor

Elite
 Nottinghamshire
So I'm collecting my car after having a new tyre fitted at Stratstone BMW Chesterfield, just as one of the salesmen rocks up in a new black M135i that they've hired from BMW for 3 days for customer test-drive purposes. So I start chatting to him and he says "get in" so off we go for a 10 minute hoon.

First impressions - bloody hell it's quick, properly rapid. Makes a really nice snarl as well. It's easily as quick as our M's in a straight line and probably a lot quicker in the gears.

The interior build quality was also to a high standard. It had the dark grey/black coloured wood trim (not sure what it's called) as an optional extra, nice high quality leather, prof nav and was a really nice place to be.

The front end doesn't look half as bad with the M-sport front bumper and in black.

The salesmen are tickled pink with it. I get the impression that they have been inundated with enquiries. So if you fancy a go, give them a call!

At the £30k entry price-point it's an awful lot of car.
 
They really appeal to me too, you seem to get a lot performance for the money, I still struggle with the looks but if you are in the driving seat that doesn't matter!

I even ordered a brochure from BMW to get the low down on them, I can see them doing well with this car :thumbsup:
 
Epic car, but it all has to be there for me... the looks are an absolute killer it may be a great car and be fantastic value for money but the looks are very very important. It fails miserably in that respect. They just seem to make such a mess of a car that really should be one of the best sellers as the entrance point to the brand.
 
The looks are nothing that an LCI can't fix Tom. It's only the front headlights really.

This will be a best seller for them regardless of looks. I don't think hatchbacks are lookers anyway - they are nearly all bland and boring to look at.

I wouldn't buy one myself because I've no need for one but if I ever decided to keep the M and go back in the company car scheme at work I'd consider one. Because its cheap I'd probably be able to get a fully loaded one as well.
 
I do love the idea of this, my 1 series (118d) was perfect all-rounder, along side my Elise.

However a 1 series, faster than the Elise. WOW a perfect go to ring car, few laps and home again!

Just checked my company car scheme, £660 a month all in for 3 years - OUCH, how much is a yearly ticket at the ring! ...... :)
 
I'm sure they are going to have to put this engine in the coupe/convertible version of the one series :D
 
I think there are strange anomalies in the BMW range right now.

For £30k you can buy a 1-series that according to the Pistonheads video is quicker than the Z4 35i and 35is (which are between £10-15k more expensive) and an E92 M3 (£25k more expensive). Anyone else find that odd?

If the new M3 has 450hp (as has been widely speculated in the press) and weighs a little bit less than the current one (also widely speculated) you'd think it will probably do the 0-100 in a fraction under 10s. There won't be much change out of £60k and yet you have a car that is hardly any quicker than a non-M hatchback costing half as much.
 
Stats vary from site to site:

From the BMW site:

M3:

Acceleration 0-62 mph (sec) 4.8 (4.6)
Acceleration 50-75 mph in 4th (sec) 4.9 (4.2)

35i:

Acceleration 0-62 mph (sec) 5.2 (5.1)
Acceleration 50-75 mph in 4th (sec) 4.9

35is:

Acceleration 0-62 mph (sec) 4.8
Acceleration 50-75 mph in 4th (sec) N/A

M135i:

Acceleration 0-62 mph (sec) 5.1 (4.9)
Acceleration 50-75 mph in 4th (sec) N/A

from fastestlaps.com:

M3:

0 - 40 kph 1.8 s
0 - 50 kph 2.0 s
0 - 100 kph 4.3 s
0 - 130 kph 7.1 s
0 - 200 kph 15.2 s
0 - 60 mph 3.9 s
0 - 100 mph 9.4 s
0 - 150 mph 24.6 s
1000 m 23.5 s @ 230 kph
1/4 mile 12.4 s @ 114 mph

35i:

0 - 40 kph 1.9 s
0 - 80 kph 4.0 s
0 - 100 kph 5.0 s
0 - 200 kph 18.4 s
0 - 60 mph 5.0 s
0 - 100 mph 11.5 s
1000 m 24.7 s @ 216 kph
1/4 mile 13.3 s @ 107 mph

35is:

0 - 40 kph 1.7 s
0 - 50 kph 2.1 s
0 - 100 kph 4.7 s
0 - 200 kph 17.2 s
0 - 100 mph 10.7 s
1/4 mile 13.1 s

M135i:

0 - 40 kph 1.5 s
0 - 80 kph 3.4 s
0 - 100 kph 4.7 s
0 - 130 kph 8.0 s
0 - 180 kph 14.8 s
0 - 200 kph 19.1 s
0 - 60 mph 4.5 s
0 - 100 mph 10.9 s
 
I think the results Peddy pretty much confirm what OG has just stated, especially against the zeds, however it would be interesting to see how the M3 and M135i compare in lap times
 
When I first saw the new 1 series I was a bit disappointed .. But after watching this video...

http://youtu.be/2xwecTp91-o

I'd be very tempted!
 
Peddy,

Have a look at Chris Harris's video on Pistonheads. I think he tested the M135i at 0-100 in 10.3 or something similar and 0-60 in 4.4!! :o

Certainly not enough difference to justify £15-£25k premium for the top Zeds/M3.

EDIT - it's 10.9 to 100 and 4.5 to 60 on the vid.
 
i'm not sold on the looks but the performance is very good and i might be tempted into one at some point
 
Epic car but the whole package needs to be there for me and the 1 series is a package lacking big time. Looks, appeal only thing it has going for it is the price, and obviously this little pocket rocket.
 
original guvnor said:
EDIT - it's 10.9 to 100 and 4.5 to 60 on the vid.
Click to expand...
Now that is insanely fast for £30k. Plus it's nicely specced including cow and xenon lights.

I like them.
 
Makes the Golf R look very expensive! I'd definitely have one, could be a good replacement for the Z4 in a couple of years.
 
Better MPG and lower emissions than the Z4 also so lower road tax!! Shame it looks such a dog in comparison!! :o

Just tried the configurator and specing it up to my Z4 level + Harmon Kardon Hi Fi, £35,530 for the 3 door. About £10K cheaper than my Z4 cost new!
 
I passed one of these in Estoril blue yesterday and have to say it looks miles better in the metal than pictures. It certainly caught my attention from quite a distance away. £30k for that level of performance and prestige is an incredibly attractive deal. The fact that it's perceived as ugly/non-descript would only make the immense performance all the more satisfying for me as I'm a bit of a Q-car fan. Will hopefully be a used bargain in a couple of years. 8)
 
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