Just looked at a new m135 and took it for a long test drive, was very impressed, had uprated backbox and steering wheel, not getting nearly as good a deal on it offered, car is 38k once extras are on and it's about £450 a month with 4k down and value of 10k after 4 years

 

Are those mods both factory fit? Not heard of either upgrades but they sound cool!

 

It will sell inside a week.

 

My fingers are firmly crossed - I really hope so.
Gone with the "suggested price" from AT - we shall see.

 

Don't want to put a downer on things but in winter/xmas I doubt folk are looking for cars/bmws

But fingers crossed, does sound attractive for a secondhand car buy.

P.s I do like the new 3 series m sport touring but the deals aren't as good as the 135i, I'll just keep the 'older' BMW for now and start saving

 

Is the M135i sufficiently different to your 335d to want to change? I like everything I have had to do with any x35x engine, but prefer the looks and space of your 335 to the 135. I realised that I have only ever bought cars because I wanted something better not because the old one had worn out. Not saying you should feel the same, just curious if the 135 is so different?

 

John; it's significantly quicker and sounds much nicer and is 200kgs lighter. I don't think it will be a huge difference but they sound fun.
Testing one next week just to make sure!

 

That "cost to change" is a lot of fantastic continental road trips mattee

 

Another month in Europe planned for the Summer in our camper ;-)

 

Ahah, nice one mattee

I have just informed the wife that when the kids are all at college we are going overland to china in the landcruiser

 

xmas doesn't make a difference to people that have 11k to spend on a car.

 

They are dealer fit, it's the suede wheel with inbuilt shift lights and a display of some sort, I remember seeing it as an option ages ago in one of the mags long term cars, think it was evo

I took out an e60 m5 out before the 135 with uprated exhaust and the 135 won hands down, not quite as practical but you can see hoe things have moved on since 2008

 

Now that sounds like fun!!

 

Mmm, you havn't met my wife!

 

Shall we say "an interesting challenge" then?!

Chrispy; sounds good. Not sure about the steering wheel but the back box must be nice.

I'm going to be bombarded by dealer calls today as several are on the case; might be able to test one tomorrow...

 

Found the wheel

Watch "BMW M Performance Steering Wheel." on YouTube

 

Hmm, about gimmicky for me.
There was a new 320d in the dealers with just about every Performance extra. Looked a bit daft!
The new 4 series is quite nice as is the new X5.

 

Not surprised you preferred the 135. Its a stunning package (especially with the auto gearbox)

I suspect Matt will find it very different to his 335d

 

I hope so. Hoping to test one tomorrow...

I bought both the current car and camper without trying one first. Risky but fine in both cases.

 

I'm sure you'll be impressed.

The only "let down" for me was that it didn't feel that "special" a place to be seated in normal use. To be expected though - the cabin is, after all, exactly the same as a 116i M sport. But, that engine and gearbox in that bodyshell is very impressive. Chassis is very good too.

In summary it goes better/harder than you might expect but its still a 1 series (and I'm a fan)

 

For anyone interested in a M135i, I would contact forum member TRL on the Baby Bmw forum. He seems to offer some cracking deals upto 20% off and has supplied many cars too members of the forum

 

Yep, he's on the case too! He seems to be THE M135i man! He has one in pretty ideal spec and colour but we'll see what they offer for ours (unlikely to be good) and what the price on the M135i is.

 

I've been lurking on teh approved used website for ages now;

Seems one of my spec is very rare (ignoring the lack of x-drive ) - 3 door manual, with active suspension, DAB plus a few other bits.

Only two were available at the last check...one was a nice dark grey one that was overpriced. I also found a cheap white one plastered with very naff M-stripes (nasty...if someone is going to "stripe" a white car, FFS make sure they are Martini Stripes )

Edit: none available now.

But I did find the stickered one:

http://www.approved.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/...tance_ASC|list

Good god thats nastier than I remebered.

 

Have to give him a try, the 2014 car is coming with launch control, that's what I've been offered but seems quite expensive compared to the figures I've seen

 

Ali; yep, a tricky one.
I'm after grey if possible, red leather if possible, nav, hifi upgrade, heated seats, comfort pack (rear sensors and cruise); anything else is a bonus but it must be 5 door sport auto.
Quite a few around.
Tonys got a cracking one so I'm keen to see some numbers.

 

I've been told the adaptive suspension is a must have on them, the hifi upgrade is pretty impressive as well, better than the logic 7 in the m5

I'm looking at 3dr in grey with the heated red leather, auto, adaptive suspension, professional nav and the parking sensors and hifi upgrade, comes in at around 36-38 roughly, total price paid including interest is 35k, think I've been given a fairly good deal, just got to decide if I really want to commit myself to that much

 

I'm hearing mixed reports on the adaptive suspension; I certainly wouldn't mind it but it's not essential to us.

Will see who comes up with the best "price to change" deal. More interesting than the money sitting in the bank earning naff all.

 

Are there any essential options?

What is better than E60 M5? I was most impressed by the refinement, ride, engine noise, acceleration over 6000RPM. How does the M135i compare in these respects?

 

To be fair the 135 seemed like the better car to me personally. The ride was very good, the straight six sounded good, yes the v10 was better, the 135 felt much quicker, that could because I didn't have a salesman sat next to me though. It's a very good ride, the car I drove had the adaptive suspension, it just felt more my cup of tea

 

Think the turbo and the 4.? secs makes it a better dd point to point car