[ttimbo]

Its been said many times before: the charm of the M135i is its chameleon character. You want shopping trolley? here-- have it. You want a TLGP hero? Yes, got that covered, too. Corner-carver? Oh yes!! And my personal favorite...me, officer?! I don't think so...some other car, perhaps. Do I even look like that sort of...hoon?!

[ericdad]

My 2014 Competition Package M5 is far superior to the 2012 M5. The handling, throttle response is sharper, suspension is firmer, tighter, engine sounds better, feels more powerful, and looks better as well. My 2004 E60 M5 was something else and it's hard to compare it to the F10 M5. Like you said, it may be a bit slower but felt quicker than the F10's. The sound from V10 is addictive and exciting. I think it was much purer M car than the newer F10's.

Originally Posted by MeganeTrophyGuy

Awesome to hear others with the same surprised yet delighted reaction to the M135i - who says that good (great!) things don't come in small packages?!! The amazing thing is that the more consecutive tight bends and harder you push it, the more you realize this is 100% a driver's car that delights and excels in delivering lightning fast yet fluid, smooth and tactile response in the twists...

Would be very interested to hear your reaction to the 2012 vs. 2014 M5. Though I tend to go for smaller. lighter weight sports cars, the V10 M5 with SMG III has been VERY high on my wish list since it came out (test drove it at least 3x). Engine sound is as important a part of the driving experience for me as handling and response and I thought the V10 one of the most glorious engine notes this side of a Ferrari! Though I know the F10 is faster on paper, I can't imagine it topping the combination of the V10 sound with the extremely sporty SMGIII transmission (I prefer paddle shift transmissions that are less than silky smooth as this is closer to the experience of a manual).

Anyhow, great post that every M135i owner will knowingly smile at!

[ericdad]

Originally Posted by ttimbo

Its been said many times before: the charm of the M135i is its chameleon character. You want shopping trolley? here-- have it. You want a TLGP hero? Yes, got that covered, too. Corner-carver? Oh yes!! And my personal favorite...me, officer?! I don't think so...some other car, perhaps. Do I even look like that sort of...hoon?!

Although I don't have much experience with M135i yet, I think I can understand what you mean. I think I liked M5 for the same reason. It's look is very understated and you would think it's a normal 5 series unless you look closer or you're a car enthusiast. It's a proper 4 door passenger sedan that is also pretty fast sport car as well. In that sense, there is a common thread between M135i and M5 (or other M series for that matter)

[ttimbo]

The proper "M's" (there, I said it!) all have more muscular shoulders and haunches than their series equivalents. Certainly noticeable if you are familiar with the marque. The M135i doesn't have this feature. At first glance, I have to do a double take at any F20 series hatch that has an M-Sport package. Some say this is the M135i's weakness, but it doesn't bother me at all.

[Steven1077]

I like that most people haven't got a clue what the M135i is, it looks like a 116i unless you know otherwise so people get a shock when they see how fast it is, I don't even have the badge on the back so only someone that knows the difference can spot it

[Bee Pee]

Steven

Ditto for me too on badge delete. Stealthy.

PD

[matthewcornish]

Originally Posted by MeganeTrophyGuy

You sure picked the right color!

@MeganeTrophyGuy it arrived on Wednesday and I have spent the last few days discovering the joys of this beautiful car

[AusF20/F48]

Originally Posted by Simon H

Steve,
Ive been seriously contemplating changing the M135i, for the new M4, and after a good days outing in a run in M4, was all ready to do the deed. But, you know what ?, i just cant bring myself to do it yet, and its because of how good the M135i is. Others will maybe not agree, but after more and more thought, my mind is changing, and im going to keep the M lite a while longer yet. When i factor how much money i have to put into the M4, and how much more the monthlys will be, for not that much more performance, i dont think its worth it, for me anyway, at this point. Im sure my next car will be an M4, but im not prepared to bail out early of the M135i, and rush to get one. I think that says a lot for the M135i, as it was supposed to be an inbetweeny car for me, until i made my mind up. I sometimes dont drive the M135i for a week or so, so when i do drive it, im always very surprised at how good its performance is, and how it feels on the road, that i ask myself the same question, do you really need much more than this ?. Obviously we all probably do, but the M lite has a certain something thats keeping me hooked, regards, SIMON.

I also think that the M4 & (4 series) are fantastic, I was seriously thinking about one. I had a long drive of friend's M135i then had a loan of 435i for two days. Great car until you have to get in or out of it at a shopping centre. I had forgotten that those long doors have to open so far before you can get in or out. and put against the practicality of the 1er, I also have put it on hold. Maybe when the M2 (soon to be released) comes out I might be swayed.

[MeganeTrophyGuy]

Originally Posted by matthewcornish

@MeganeTrophyGuy it arrived on Wednesday and I have spent the last few days discovering the joys of this beautiful car

Awesome! Definitely post your impressions.

One of the neat things about this car is as good as my initial impressions were when I first got it, as time has gone by I have become more and more amazed by the depth of it's abilities (and character).

[MeganeTrophyGuy]

Originally Posted by ericdad

My 2014 Competition Package M5 is far superior to the 2012 M5. The handling, throttle response is sharper, suspension is firmer, tighter, engine sounds better, feels more powerful, and looks better as well. My 2004 E60 M5 was something else and it's hard to compare it to the F10 M5. Like you said, it may be a bit slower but felt quicker than the F10's. The sound from V10 is addictive and exciting. I think it was much purer M car than the newer F10's.

Ahhh, that V10 was one of the most glorious engines BMW has ever made (I think it even won a few awards)! What a sound that beast made! And at the time it came out it was so fast compared to the competition, it was considered a Ferrari killer! All this in a stealthy, 4 door family sedan body. What fun!

[MeganeTrophyGuy]

I know this is a dead thread, but just went on another great drive in my M135, on a road called "Irohazaka" in Nikko, Japan, consistently appearing on lists of the top 10 driving roads in the world. Did 3 "laps" on this one way mountain drive starting slow on the pre-dawn run (just too dangerous to go very fast while its still dark), but ear-to-ear grin fast as it got light out. Though I loved this road in my 987 Boxster S and Megane 265 Trophy, I think the softer, more fluid motions of the M135 (along with this screaming engine which just explodes out of turns) are better suited to this road. Below are a few shots of the drive...

[Gorro47]

Men that road it´s just to sexy for me.

Wish i lived there.

Hope it was awesome.

[ovekvam]

That sure looks like an F20-road!

[MeganeTrophyGuy]

I actually prefer the roads of Hakone and Izu I posted at the beginning of the thread but Irohazaka is far more famous. Irohazaka's course has 46 turns, one for each letter of the Japanese alphabet and you can see I stopped and took a picture of the sign for one of them (turn 12). Its an amazing road, but (1) is a little short, only taking 15-20 minutes to complete and (2) gets too crowded with tourists to drive hard on at any time of day other than early morning (which is what I did). Still, the scenery is breathtaking and the turns very technical and challenging. the M135 is actually the perfect kind of car for this kind of drive as you can really explode out of the sharpest hairpins, taking enough speed into the next turn to slide the tail out a bit - fun!

[johnnydad]

Looks like a great drive indeed. Thanks for posting the pictures too.

It sounds a bit like the steep side of Stelvio - legendary and certainly a great drive but with plenty of more varied and satifying passes nearby.

[SomeRandomer123]

I've never seen a road like that before - that is INCREDIBLE!

And the M135i is the most fun I've ever had in a car - absolutely adore it!

[matthewcornish]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

And the M135i is the most fun I've ever had in a car - absolutely adore it!

Amen to that

[MeganeTrophyGuy]

Brings a smile to my face that there are others that the M135 brings a smile to their face - fast, fun, fantastic car!

[oldmancoyote]

Very nice photos (and roads - if you don't suffer from vertigo). Thank you for posting!

[SteveC]

So tomorrow I'm going to test drive in an 2014 M5 with a view to turning in the M135i for a Competition Pack M5

Have to say I'm still in two minds...you'd think turning in a 1 Series for an M5 would be a no brainer, but let's see. That M135i is so much fun

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Have to say I'm still in two minds...you'd think turning in a 1 Series for an M5 would be a no brainer, but let's see. That M135i is so much fun

Why would that be a no brainer? Seems like two rather different cars that would suit different needs. One big family car and one hatchback. The cost is also rather different.

If I had both those cars in the garage, the M5 would almost never be used.

[oldmancoyote]

Originally Posted by ovekvam

Why would that be a no brainer? Seems like two rather different cars that would suit different needs. One big family car and one hatchback. The cost is also rather different.

If I had both those cars in the garage, the M5 would almost never be used.

+1. Not to say I wouldn't be tempted, but they are definitely VERY different. And for me at the moment the 135 is the right car - for long trips etc. I can use the comfortable washing machine - erm, Audi A6 that the company pays for.