[r3dbimmer89]

Originally Posted by bimmerjph

Good review.


Although I do wish people would give BMW a slight break on the badge thing. In fairness there is a history with the MXXX nomenclature.

+1 Everyone forgot about the ///M535i E28s back in the 80s.

[pOKa]

Remove the ///M badge! There are 25 other alphabets to choose from! i.e. ///P for poser

[Robin_NL]

Originally Posted by r3dbimmer89

+1 Everyone forgot about the ///M535i E28s back in the 80s.

That was I was thinking as well mate.
Puberty had some nice things to remember.

Cheers
Robin

[logiclee]

Originally Posted by Feli_330i

did he just say "it has a proper automatic gearbox"? that's weird.

Yep, he's not a fan of sequential manuals, automated manuals or dual clutch boxes.

Cheers
Lee

[radiofrequency]

What a beautiful bit of prose, while I dislike (subjective) Clarkson, I find myself agreeing (objective) with him more often than not, we're of the same generation, he is so spot on with this evaluation, however, his narrative describes life more so than cars, but the again, what is life without cool cars?

[smashhell]

Anyone knows where I could read more of his reviews?

[amdmaxx]

Bbc.co.uk or top gear (online, magazine ).
Ye - what's the deal with automatic?
Love jc reviews

[logiclee]

Originally Posted by amdmaxx

Bbc.co.uk or top gear (online, magazine ).
Ye - what's the deal with automatic?
Love jc reviews

He hates as he calls them "Flappy Paddle" automatics and that started with the first Ferrari, Aston and Lamborghini automated manuals. DCT's/DSG's dual clutch boxes have improved automated manual boxes but you still get that low speed jerkiness and occasional hesitation.

In Clarkson's view if you are going to have an Automatic then get a "Proper" conventional auto with a torque converter.
With the ZF 8 speeder being so good I have to agree with him, far better than the VW DSG in my other car.

Cheers
Lee

[Patrick BMW]

I used to hate Clarkson. He's getting better !

[Brenyaman]

Having driven both VW's DSG dual clutch 7x gearbox in a 122CV 1,4l Golf and BMW's torque converter 8x gearbox in my present F20, I must admit that changes are slightly (0,05 seconds) faster in the VW's. However, and this might sound contradictory, the BMW's response to the driver's push on the pedal in quicker. Overall response and gear progression make the BMW's a winner, though.

[grimlock]

The M135i succeeds because the car is small enough and the engine output high enough, showing you can make a satisfying car at low cost.
Why would you get a 335i which is less fun, but doesn't cost less?
Turbo charging doesn't have to be a recipe for disaster like the F10 M5, if BMW pursues the philosophy of rewarding customers by giving them more, not 'enough, but very unsatisfying'.
N55 un-de-tuned, 8-Sp auto, 1-series chassis = formula for success
N55 de-tuned, 8-sp, F30 = unsatisfying.. not enough.. saving it for the M3 =extremely annoying
'S'63 over-tuned, unnecessary DCT, F10 = cheap-ass M car

[HondaGoneRogue]

Originally Posted by propkaPT

ugly car...how can he call the e82 a breadvan? agh....He is right m does stand for marketing

He didn't. He called the E87 a breadvan; comparing hatches to hatches.

[k-lo]

why is bmw putting "M" in cars like this? i know its a good make that great car but its diluting the M brand. just my 0.02

[amberzombie]

I'm with Clarkson here. I'm still in awe of the gearbox

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by Brenyaman

Having driven both VW's DSG dual clutch 7x gearbox in a 122CV 1,4l Golf and BMW's torque converter 8x gearbox in my present F20, I must admit that changes are slightly (0,05 seconds) faster in the VW's. However, and this might sound contradictory, the BMW's response to the driver's push on the pedal in quicker. Overall response and gear progression make the BMW's a winner, though.

It's not contradictory, you're absolutely right. All manufacturers have a certain lag built into the software for their shift paddles and it varies between them. Mercedes has a very, very long lag for example while BMWs tend to have much less software lag. There are a number of reasons for this, I know on my 335is I'm glad there is a tiny bit of lag because it lets me double or even triple tap the downshift paddle before the shift actually happens, this way I can go straight from 7th to 4th instead of going through each individual gear.

I mentioned Mercedes specifically because I was looking at an early year C63 which had annoyingly laggy paddles and I found out you can get a transmission tune that reduces the lag. Newer year C63s have much more responsive paddles because they were reprogrammed.

[AusF20/F48]

History,
The first real road registered M car was revealed at the Paris Motor Show in 1978. The original M1 as it was known was more of a racecar in domestic trim than an everyday drive.

The direction that BMW took with the M cars changed in 1979 with the release of the M535i, which was a high performance version of BMW’s 5 Series mid-size sedan. They realised that if they were to be profitable they would have to appeal to a wider market and price ranges, hence the later M3 and even later M1.


It is a fact of life that BMW had to incorpoate the 'M' into their mainstream products.
BMW recognised that their 'Motorsport' division allowed them to sell a specialised version of a stock model in additional volumes.


It must be remembered that the first M div road built cars were tuned BMW engines and suspensions so it could be agrued that they have somewhat gone back to their roots here.

I agree, that in recent times there is a softning of the M cars so they appeal to the wealthier people who want fast but still wanted luxury.

In a ironic twist, the M135i in 'basic' trim is what the M Motorsport was at all those years ago. Remember it was M who put the turbo in and tweeked a standard car to make it a everyday car with track credentials.

Perhaps BMW needs a new division for their 'Racing' cars.

[SeaBeast]

Clarkson's reviews are legendary. annnddd ridiculous.

[logiclee]

Originally Posted by k-lo

why is bmw putting "M" in cars like this? i know its a good make that great car but its diluting the M brand. just my 0.02

Audi have the S-Line and BMW have the M-Sport which is basically a sporty trim level.

Audi have the RS and BMW have the M both their top end perfomance models tuned by specialist in house engineers.

Audi have the S and this competes against the ultra high end hot hatches like VW's R branding.
Up until the M-Performance models BMW never had any direct competitors. Yes there have been high powered M-Sport cars but nothing you could lift above the mainstream to compete with the Audi S etc.

It's marketing I agree but if it produces cars like the M135i then I'm all for it.

Cheers
Lee

[rickk]

Originally Posted by logiclee

It's marketing I agree but if it produces cars like the M135i then I'm all for it.

[135iMike]

So does this thing eat up 135i's (w/ ppk1) or are they relatively on the same playing field?

[Racing Teatray]

Originally Posted by 135iMike

So does this thing eat up 135i's (w/ ppk1) or are they relatively on the same playing field?

No idea what "w/ppk1" means but I had an N54 135i coupe and, even though it's not run in yet and therefore hasn't been over 4,000rpm, based on my experience, I do think a standard M135i would eat a standard 135i coupe. Much improved throttle response in sport mode.

[135iMike]

Originally Posted by Woland's Advocate

No idea what "w/ppk1" means but I had an N54 135i coupe and, even though it's not run in yet and therefore hasn't been over 4,000rpm, based on my experience, I do think a standard M135i would eat a standard 135i coupe. Much improved throttle response in sport mode.

Performance Power Kit from BMW.. Essentially 20hp/tq