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Author Topic: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?  (Read 24312 times)

Offline RussZS

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Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« on: August 26, 2011, 08:06:49 pm »
I've had my Edition 30 since April, and whilst I really like it. there's something missing for me, especially on the handling front, when compared to my old cars - Clio R27 and Megane R26!

So it's got me looking at what else is out there, and I really fancy a BM 135i, like this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3106068.htm

Does anyone have any views on them please?

I understand you can get them to 400hp pretty easily...?

Russ.
www.midlandscarcare.co.uk - www.facebook.com/midlandscarcare

I used to be indecisive.......... but now I'm not so sure!

Offline Beddie

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2011, 08:08:41 pm »
Mr Danza on here has one, it's ace!  :happy2:

Sunglasses Ron (Ben) also has one and went from an ED30 too  :happy2:
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 08:12:24 pm by Beddie »


Tornado Red ED30 : Number 1644 - Gone

Carbon Grey Edition 35 - Here

Offline MitchGTI

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2011, 08:21:58 pm »
i took one out for a drive when i had my gti as i wanted to make the change aswell.... all i can say is what a car! they are awesome!! ide have one anyday!

Offline no golf clubs at all

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2011, 10:10:08 am »
I took one out a few months back. Totally fab car, handling and acceleration were sublime. For me though I decided against it as the one I was looking at had the older less efficient engines. I'm sure someone will chip in the actual details of the differences. Also mine had a poverty spec and I decided it was too soon to move my gti on.




They are the dogs danglies though ... If you don't need lifting and shifting space and don't mind with frequent petrol stops.

Offline baldwined30

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2011, 10:17:28 am »
I'm in agreement with you guys! I would defo chop my eddy in for one of thse and of course a little map and downpipe would help it along!
Ed30

Offline baldwined30

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2011, 10:21:14 am »
Check out youtube, there is one keeping up with a lambo!
Ed30

Offline PDT

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2011, 02:02:59 pm »
I have one, its a brilliant car.

Standard 306hp and 300ft/lb. Stage 1 map = http://www.dyno-tuning.co.uk/gallery/bmw135iTwinTurbo.htm

So a gain of 65hp and 95 ft/lb is available with a really good mapping session. The car has a crappy 'e-brake diff' as standard which brakes the spinning rear wheel. I  fitted a Quaife LSD which makes a world of difference. Also fitting a really good set of tyres in favour of the runflats (225 front and 255 rear) and a Remus exhaust gives great handling, confort and grip and livens up that brilliant exhaust note.

Stage 2 includes cattless downpipe and a centre section from the n55 (later engine version as it has no cat in the centre section) then mapping=  410hp and 440 ft/lb

Auto box is very good and very strong. Makes fitting a diff easier as well as cheaper as manuals have a welded diff gear.

Go and drive one and you will want one.   

Offline TurboTrev

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2011, 02:07:28 pm »
Don't know anything about the BMW, but you could get a Golf R for that price.  :popcornsoda:

Offline PDT

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2011, 02:07:36 pm »
Older n54 engines are a true twin turbo, newer n55 are a small/big turbo single unit. Newer cars are a bit more efficient but its negligible. The 1m uses the older (better) engine.

I see 26-27 average and 30-32 if I try and stay sensible on a run. 14 is lowest I have seen when having fun. My monthly fuel spend is about 10% more than my stg2+ ed30 but its worth it just for the exhaust noise.

Offline baldwined30

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2011, 02:08:08 pm »
These are a real sleeper! I can see many a 911 owner flying up behind one of these only to get blown away!!! Defo a good next choice!!!
Ed30

Offline tony_danza

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2011, 03:28:48 pm »
I've got one, what do you want to know??

I loved my old GTI, but I'm no badge whore - I've had most makes and buy on merit, rather than loyalty. As good as my old GTI was with all the work I put into it, the 135i is a better car in every respect straight out of the box, other than practicality. It seats 4 just and the boot whilst big in volume, is tight in terms of the small letterbox opening you have.

I get 340 miles to 50lts commuting. Not much different to my st2+ DSG GTI to be fair. It rinses through fuel when giving it some, but what 6-pot, twin turbo car doesn't?

Similar power-weight ratio of my old Golf, however my old Golf had coils/ARBs/Alcons/WALK etc etc and despite all that, the 135i was quicker around Rockingham t'other week on nothing more than a set of decent tyres. The handling out of the box is astonishing, however they are appalling on runflats which most will be on - so don't let the test drive fool you.

You need confidence to get the best out of them, the Golf you grab by the scruff of the neck and you can drive it at 10/10ths immediately... the BMW you need to learn, and it rewards accordingly.

Quirks:

'box almost feels like it has straight cut gears and the race-type clutch has to be treated with a bit of care, don't rush it. Heel and toe very much required for fast downchanges, otherwise you'll swing the back out.
Long gearing (LSD sorts this with lower final drive) does 115 in 3rd!
Very linear, so N/A like delivery with flat torque. Can feel slow, really isn't.
215 front tyres too skinny. Apparently downsized to build in safety understeer, up them to 225 and it becomes more neutral again.

Common faults:

HPFP/coilpacks/injectors/valve lifters - all should have been sorted on recall/warranty.

Mods:

Power is obvious, a map alone giving c.370BHP. I'd do this last.

Brakes are already superb, lasted all day on track with no issues. Pads and Fluid are all that's required for serious action.

Handling lots of scope. Because it shares the E90 3-series running gear, pretty much all the M3 kit bolts straight on (which is what they've done with the 1M). Straight off the shelf from BMW, I got the following for around £550:

M3 wishbones. Spherical bearings, lighter, adds 1.5degrees neg camber in addition to knocking out the camber pin on the strut.
M3 ARBs and all associated bushes, clamps etc
I also got spherical bearings for the front tension struts and uprated rear subframe bushes. The steering feel now on the old-skool PAS quick 'rack is soooo nice, feedback is near Porsche like.

Now, aside from a few differences, my underpinnings (well, the important parts) are pretty much the same as the 1M. Only the track width can't be replicated.

An LSD is very expensive around £2k for a manual via the aftermarket like Quaife, the stumbling block swapping to the E90 M3 being the input shaft on the prop, but now the 1M has engineered its way around this, I expect conversions will start soon when people have looked into it fully.

It's a wonderful car, and the closest thing I've driven to an E30 back in the day.


« Last Edit: August 27, 2011, 05:47:05 pm by tony_danza »
Sideways yo!

Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #11 on: August 27, 2011, 03:37:51 pm »

Sounds very impressive  :party:

Offline theo

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2011, 05:28:16 pm »
I have to say I am also considering one of these as a replacement for the Ed30 eventually.

That car you picked out is pretty well specced Russ, one of the few options is missing though is heated seats if that matters to you!

I've driven the 135, the M3 and the 1M, all fantastic cars but I think as an all rounder and a day to day car it would be the 135.

The other option if you want a bit more space is the 335i. You can pick up a very well specced one and have several £k in change to tune it for the price of the 135!

Offline PDT

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2011, 05:37:34 pm »
335i is a good option but don't have the same feel as the 135i. Feel more like a cruiser than a hatch and don't have the same fun factor.

Not much in it when it comes to weight either, the 135i is a lardy little thing for it's size.

Offline no golf clubs at all

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Re: Anyone tried a BMW 135i?
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2011, 07:03:53 pm »
 :signLOL:

Beginning to wish I had bought the one above now.... oh well   :sad1:

Was a great price too ...