[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by DarrenL_007

Great write up!

How does the M135i sound compared to the 340i?

Have heard a couple if M135i's and they sound fantastic but would like to know how the 340i/440i, which is likely to be my next car, compares?

Thank you for reminding me.

The exhaust. Oh how I love it. Silent on a cruise, but give her some gas...I spent a large chunk of yesterday's journey changing down, slowing down and then accelerating on the motorway, just to hear the exhaust.

I'm particularly looking forward to starting it this morning as I'm parked in an underground parking area.

[philiper1]

brilliant glad you are enjoying yours, it is going to be a long wait for me

[....,,,,..,,..]

Are you going to write a letter to Santa Lorcan?

http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/perfo...rom-3127-p.asp

http://shop.ac-schnitzer.co.uk/aerodynamics-42-c.asp

Remember to tell him what a good boy you have been ....

Just make sure you sign it Pinocchio

http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/fileadmin...3-06_M135i.pdf


http://ac-schnitzer.co.uk/pdf/M135iEVO.pdf

[leon1984]

Good stuff, after 6 months it's worth getting the MP exhaust, really turns the sporty moments up a notch!

Neighbour two doors down has an M135i, so every day I get to listen to his cold start! proper kick in the nuts that is

[creepy coupe]

My neighbors must be over the moon I no longer fire up the M235i with the MP exhaust. Especially as it was in the garage.

[Drisser]

do you not find the auto box frustrating in a car like the 135 ?

When I test drove one, it really put me off, I just cant get my head around the mismatch between a high torque / power petrol turbo and a gearbox that has too many ratios to exploit the power band.

While it is perfect in a diesel where you have a 1500 rpm sweet spot I found it constantly frustrating in the M135 - didn't know which gear I was in, always swapping cogs, I really wanted a manual to exploit say 3rd gear, extending all the way through the rev range and enjoy the engine but I was constantly shifting gears which I found got in the way of the driving experience a bit

The usability of the auto box is of course great but I found it really at odds with that engine..

[creepy coupe]

Funny as I didn't like the manual. BMW don't make good manual gearboxes although the M235i I tried was one of their better efforts. With the 8SP Auto there is always the option of manual with paddles if you're really on it.

[leon1984]

Originally Posted by Drisser

do you not find the auto box frustrating in a car like the 135 ?

When I test drove one, it really put me off, I just cant get my head around the mismatch between a high torque / power petrol turbo and a gearbox that has too many ratios to exploit the power band.

While it is perfect in a diesel where you have a 1500 rpm sweet spot I found it constantly frustrating in the M135 - didn't know which gear I was in, always swapping cogs, I really wanted a manual to exploit say 3rd gear, extending all the way through the rev range and enjoy the engine but I was constantly shifting gears which I found got in the way of the driving experience a bit

The usability of the auto box is of course great but I found it really at odds with that engine..

Different strokes for different folks isn't it (argued to death for some reason over a preference!) I found that the auto flattened the power delivery so much that it didn't ever feel fast... sure the speedo wizzed round and the gears changed ferociously but there was no sense of power turning up? I was in an N52 Z4 at the time, and it felt lifeless compared to that engine. Drove a manual and was giggling the first time second got into it's stride. For me a bit of lag is good, it is more exciting to feel the engine peak

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Drisser

do you not find the auto box frustrating in a car like the 135 ?

When I test drove one, it really put me off, I just cant get my head around the mismatch between a high torque / power petrol turbo and a gearbox that has too many ratios to exploit the power band.

While it is perfect in a diesel where you have a 1500 rpm sweet spot I found it constantly frustrating in the M135 - didn't know which gear I was in, always swapping cogs, I really wanted a manual to exploit say 3rd gear, extending all the way through the rev range and enjoy the engine but I was constantly shifting gears which I found got in the way of the driving experience a bit

The usability of the auto box is of course great but I found it really at odds with that engine..

Quite the reverse.

I needed to learn how to use it properly.

I wont be going back to manual.

[Sussex_G20]

Originally Posted by Drisser

do you not find the auto box frustrating in a car like the 135 ?

When I test drove one, it really put me off, I just cant get my head around the mismatch between a high torque / power petrol turbo and a gearbox that has too many ratios to exploit the power band.

While it is perfect in a diesel where you have a 1500 rpm sweet spot I found it constantly frustrating in the M135 - didn't know which gear I was in, always swapping cogs, I really wanted a manual to exploit say 3rd gear, extending all the way through the rev range and enjoy the engine but I was constantly shifting gears which I found got in the way of the driving experience a bit

The usability of the auto box is of course great but I found it really at odds with that engine..

Sport Auto is the must have. Slip it into sport mode and then use the paddles guaranteed to make you smile. My 435i regularly sees use in two or three gears in the 'power band' round the Sussex lanes. What really dampens enthusiasm is our UK speed limits and that it is just too easy to pick up points.

[JustChris]

Nice.

[Drisser]

Originally Posted by Sussex_F32

Sport Auto is the must have. Slip it into sport mode and then use the paddles guaranteed to make you smile. My 435i regularly sees use in two or three gears in the 'power band' round the Sussex lanes. What really dampens enthusiasm is our UK speed limits and that it is just too easy to pick up points.

I think everyone is just getting lazy

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Drisser

do you not find the auto box frustrating in a car like the 135 ?

When I test drove one, it really put me off, I just cant get my head around the mismatch between a high torque / power petrol turbo and a gearbox that has too many ratios to exploit the power band.

While it is perfect in a diesel where you have a 1500 rpm sweet spot I found it constantly frustrating in the M135 - didn't know which gear I was in, always swapping cogs, I really wanted a manual to exploit say 3rd gear, extending all the way through the rev range and enjoy the engine but I was constantly shifting gears which I found got in the way of the driving experience a bit

The usability of the auto box is of course great but I found it really at odds with that engine..

6MT in a hot hatch for me yup

[Drisser]

I have to say even in my 330d its the one thing I still find frustrating with this and all auto boxes... with the 330 I don't know which gear I am in coming to a corner. What would be fantastic is if you could see your gear in the HUD.. OK I know you can shift into manual or sport mode, but in an 8 speed box, what should I take a corner in ? 4th, 5th, 6th ?

With a manual transmission you know what a "3rd gear corner is" regardless of the car.. so that is what annoyed me in the 135. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't have a 330d with manual because its a different beast entirely.. and maybe once you have had the car for a while you get to know that a 3rd gear corner becomes a 5th gear corner !!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Drisser

I have to say even in my 330d its the one thing I still find frustrating with this and all auto boxes... with the 330 I don't know which gear I am in coming to a corner. What would be fantastic is if you could see your gear in the HUD.. OK I know you can shift into manual or sport mode, but in an 8 speed box, what should I take a corner in ? 4th, 5th, 6th ?

With a manual transmission you know what a "3rd gear corner is" regardless of the car.. so that is what annoyed me in the 135. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't have a 330d with manual because its a different beast entirely.. and maybe once you have had the car for a while you get to know that a 3rd gear corner becomes a 5th gear corner !!

Isn't it a case we have more choices of gears and rpm these days? Partly the autobox, (close ratios) partly the engines, with their wider/flatter torque curves and a more linear power delivery.

I recall when drivers lamented the passing of a decent close ratio 4-speed MT. The addition of gears wasn't always welcome, even in a manual transmission, many felt 5-gears were plenty enough.

Getting to know the drivetrain setup, certainly helps get to grips with the 8-speed.

HighlandPete

[robwils]

Sounds good Nick, now that I've been driving the Mrs new gti I must admit I'm thinking petrol is a possibility for my next car and if the 135 is as refined as you say it is then it would be worth considering for me.
Rob

[Redben]

Great engine, had both manual and auto. However round the bends its pretty pants. Shame really but too short a wheelbase for that drivetrain. Preferred the golf gti PP i ran for a few months.

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Redben

Great engine, had both manual and auto. However round the bends its pretty pants. Shame really but too short a wheelbase for that drivetrain. Preferred the golf gti PP i ran for a few months.

Don't find this at all tbh. RWD gives me more 'options' than fwd, which is degrees of understeer. But you have to be comfortable with the car moving around, which may cause some people to back off and be more comfortable going quickly in fwd

[robwils]

Originally Posted by Redben

Great engine, had both manual and auto. However round the bends its pretty pants. Shame really but too short a wheelbase for that drivetrain. Preferred the golf gti PP i ran for a few months.

Gti ppk is what we bought the Mrs, I do like it , she did test drive the 135 too.

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by robwils

Sounds good Nick, now that I've been driving the Mrs new gti I must admit I'm thinking petrol is a possibility for my next car and if the 135 is as refined as you say it is then it would be worth considering for me.
Rob

I would highly recommend it.

If the new engine is launched next year to be the M140i, it's likely to have slightly better economy, that would go part way to addressing my one criticism, which is of shortish range.

I could see myself moving to a M140i, just before BMW fuck the1 series range by going fwd and 4wd in 2017.

Your opportunities to get into an 'old school' hatch (rwd, big engine up front, six cylinders) are very quickly coming to an end. A prospect I believe is a tragedy!

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Drisser

I have to say even in my 330d its the one thing I still find frustrating with this and all auto boxes... with the 330 I don't know which gear I am in coming to a corner. What would be fantastic is if you could see your gear in the HUD.. OK I know you can shift into manual or sport mode, but in an 8 speed box, what should I take a corner in ? 4th, 5th, 6th ?

With a manual transmission you know what a "3rd gear corner is" regardless of the car.. so that is what annoyed me in the 135. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't have a 330d with manual because its a different beast entirely.. and maybe once you have had the car for a while you get to know that a 3rd gear corner becomes a 5th gear corner !!

I am now unable to comment on the diesels performance as I am being censored. However, the M135i has a flat torque curve of 332 lb / ft torque from 1300 rpm. Therefore, at any engine speed above 1300 rpm, it just goes

[robwils]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

I would highly recommend it.

If the new engine is launched next year to be the M140i, it's likely to have slightly better economy, that would go part way to addressing my one criticism, which is of shortish range.

I could see myself moving to a M140i, just before BMW fuck the1 series range by going fwd and 4wd in 2017.

Your opportunities to get into an 'old school' hatch (rwd, big engine up front, six cylinders) are very quickly coming to an end. A prospect I believe is a tragedy!

You could be right there.