07-05-2012, 11:02 PM | #1 | |||
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![]() ![]() BMW M135i Impresses In First Drive Reviews The press drives of the BMW M135i [official info] are underway and with that come the first reviews. CAR MAGAZINE Quote:
AUTOCAR In short, they found the M135i to have terrific performance, stunning grip, fine balance and decent steering, making the M135i a mighty road weapon. It’s value, too. Quote:
AUTOEXPRESS Quote:
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07-06-2012, 05:13 AM | #2 |
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M135 reviews wow
buy one! you lucky guys
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/2012...-review/263406 lets hope the 2 coupe has the same stuff for the usa. and this http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/...12-CAR-review/ http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/...view-bmw-m135i http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...bmw_m135i.html http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evoc...5i_review.html http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/b...ive-2012-07-05 Last edited by BMWDAD; 07-06-2012 at 05:27 AM.. |
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07-06-2012, 05:23 AM | #3 | |
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http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/b...ive-2012-07-05 |
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07-06-2012, 06:02 AM | #4 |
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Very good reviews. Very promising.
Saw a BSM M Sport on the road today and I must say I am warming to the looks. I think darker colours mask the ugly headlights better than say white. Looking forward to more news re the xDrive version comig later, hopefully to the UK. |
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07-06-2012, 06:12 AM | #5 |
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I think the headlights look quite good (at least with Xenon), but the gap between the kidneys and the lights is very disturbing. I find it ugly in the regular models, but in the M-Sport version there are some creases that makes it look fairly good. The gap is no longer a flat wall, but has a nice shape.
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07-06-2012, 06:43 AM | #6 | |
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07-06-2012, 07:01 AM | #7 |
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Here is an illustration of the difference. Notice the body coloured area between the kidneys and the headlight, how different the shape is:
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07-06-2012, 11:05 AM | #9 |
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Good review on a nice looking 1-series.
BMW Performance Division should consider offering a limited slip as an add-on or better yet offer it as an option at the time of purchase. Traditionally M cars will come with a LSD from the factory. |
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07-06-2012, 11:14 AM | #11 |
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wow... basically, this is the successor to the 1M, and that is saying a lot b/c that was a "true" M car. I am so jealous right now.
I'm curious about this "virtual/open LSD", is it just an ESP/Brake police type mechanism or is there actually an electronic monitor that's measuring slip between the wheels and directing torque appropriately?
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07-06-2012, 11:37 AM | #13 |
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The virtual/open LSD is just the ABS system braking the spinning wheel. The nice thing is that it for the first time in BMW history is enabled with DSC completely off. I have tested it on ice tracks, slalom and a dry racetrack, and it works really well with 316i/316d. I don't know how it would cope with a 320 hp engine, or long stints on the track. I guess it would eventually disable itself because of heat.
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07-06-2012, 12:13 PM | #15 | |
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07-06-2012, 12:42 PM | #16 |
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The princible is very different from the active M differential, but the end result is slightly similar. An open differential will always distribute the torque 50/50 between the rear wheels. If one wheel has less grip, the torque to the wheel with better grip will be reduced accordingly. By braking the spinning wheel, the differntial will see more torque, and send that torque also to the wheel with better grip.
Braking the inside rear wheel in a corner is also a way of reducing understeer, which typically happens when you accelerate out of corners (load transfer to the rear). The F20 does indeed have very little understeer at corner exits. |
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07-06-2012, 12:58 PM | #17 |
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AutoExpress keeps confusing this car:
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'09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather | ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL | link 1 / link 2
Mods: M Performance exhaust | ZCP retrofit | Euro airbox | GTS DCT flash | JPN 240 ECU flash | Euro LCI taillights | CRT lip | OEM alarm retrofit | Space Gray bumper plugs | BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem |
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07-06-2012, 12:59 PM | #18 | |
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07-06-2012, 01:46 PM | #19 | |
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The successor to the 1M will be the M2 coupe. If the brakes are used to simulate a diff in the same way as they are in the 135i (and I think it's similar if not the same type of system) then I would say it works pretty well. It's no replacement for a real diff, but it's certainly better than having an open diff without using the brakes to transfer torque. Porsche uses the same technology in its 991 and calls it "torque vectoring," the MP4-12c also uses the inside rear brake on cornering, but in that car it actually grabs the brake to help rotate the car on corner entry. In the 135i, when you get on the throttle in a corner and you lose grip on the inside wheel, the brake is gently applied on that wheel to prevent it from spinning. You barely notice it from the driver's seat, you just notice you can get on the power surprisingly early considering the massive torque of the N55 (or N54) and the open diff. There have been many times where I have planted my foot early in a corner and been surprised at how well the car handles it. |
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07-06-2012, 03:49 PM | #21 |
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07-06-2012, 03:52 PM | #22 | |
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"is" models are a joke, they're basically North American only "swan song" models as some sort of token of appreciation for us being the largest market, yet slighting us with a lot of the other performance models.
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