BMW M135i review: I prefer it to a 1M!

After the furor that surrounded the launch of BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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’s pocket rocket, based on its last generation 1 Series CoupeBMW 1 Series M CoupéGermany, 2011 > present20 photos
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, called the 1M it feels a bit like the M135iBMW M135i SportGermany, 2012 > present3 photos
has fallen under the radar, but you’d be wrong to discount it.

BMW won’t like me for saying this, and it is fashionable to revere the 1M, but I never really got on with the car. It felt like it was constantly fighting you on the kinds of roads I actually drive on every day…those little ‘B’ roads that have bumps and errant pheasants at every turn. The dampers were so hard that it made progress at any decent speed a seat of the pants experience not helped by a turbocharged engine that, while very good, lacks the ultimate precision of a naturally aspirated unit. Feel free to disagree if you like.

Let’s deal with it from the top shall we? It’s good news straight away with the M135i, especially in white with these natty blue brake calipers, smoked alloy wheels and contrast-colour door mirrors. The car looks purposeful but not over the top, especially with its swanky badging that leaves you unsure whether it is indeed an ‘M’ car or something somebody stuck on afterwards…let’s face it, it’s going to take us a while to understand all of the subdivisions in the BMW brand.

The long and the short of it though, is that you could drive the M135i through a slightly dodgy area in Liverpool or turn up at a track day and not look too out of place in either.

BMW 1 Series M Coupé 2011 182 cu in 340 hp @ 5900 rpm 155 mph 4.9s

BMW M135i AT 2012 182 cu in 320 hp @ 5800 rpm 155 mph 4.9s

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When you climb inside you are greeted by BMW’s trademark chunky ‘M’ steering wheel, sports seats and the latest BMW architecture, which it is impossible to criticize in any significant way. Personally I would prefer a steering wheel that transferred a bit more feel instead of deadening it with all that padding but overall it is really very good, and doesn’t feel markedly different, in terms of quality, to its ‘3’BMW 3 SeriesGermany, 1975 > present6 series
953 versions
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or ‘5’ SeriesBMW 5 SeriesGermany, 1972 > present7 series
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brethren.

The car I drove was an automatic so it was going to have to be special to convince me as a driver’s car. It all started off positively with a slightly naughty burble coming from the exhaust and a chunky but compliant ride as I trundled through the quiet village in the Cotswolds. I wonder, could this be a surprise package?

My notes went a bit like this: ‘it’s bloody fast – quicker than the old 135i by miles, and has plenty of throttle response especially mated to the 8 speed auto. It might be the best sounding 6 cylinder BMW that they make and the chassis balance is really good.’

That’s pretty good then isn’t it? I’d like to return to the ride quality again. Like a lot of the current crop of BMW’s the M135i rides well and the handling on English roads benefits from the extra compliance. There is a nice balance to the chassis too. The front end isn’t too keen to understeer and like the Toyota GT86Toyota GT 86 Gen.1Japan, 2012 > present14 versions
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I raved about a few months ago there is a bit of ‘play’ in the rear to encourage the enthusiastic driver.

Overall the M135i simply feels like a lovely car. The kind of thing that you could use every day, take to a track day if you wanted to and put the dog in the boot. It is beautifully well rounded for a 320bhp BMW and did I mention that it is only £29,995?

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