Interior looks great, the red suits the car well.

The 10.3s 0 - 100 time is almost identical to a stock SL55 (10.2s).... that is a quick car you have there!!!

 

My fav colour too, thought you was getting estriol blue?
They don't look that loud if you get what I mean = a impressive sleeper.
I want that behind it

Have fun with it.

 

I think the grey "hides" the rear plastic valance/lower bumper bit quite well and almost hides the "ferric" mirrors. Almost matched the wheels too; I've always like subtle cars! I did quite like blue but the wife wasn't keen.

F1; I know it does seem rather nippy. Once it's run in, I will try some acceleration tests!

 

Looks great, well done.

 

umm
Lovely......

 

Very nice.

I sat in a vanilla 1 series the other day at the stealers, I was surprised at what a high quality interior it was. I reckon this car is going to be a hoot to drive, enjoy!

 

Nice car Matt, and all the performance one realistically needs on public roads in my opinion. Enjoy!

 

Cheers all! Just polished the paint (Dodo Supernatural Hybrid) and wheels (Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine). Just need to seal/protect the carpets once the spray arrives

Photos gone...
Now cleaned the exhausts - I missed them when I took the photos!!

 

Hey Mattee,

Your avatar needs updating

 

Taa daaaa!

 

Nice one

 

A shame it's a bit of a crap photo - the flash wasn't meant to go off….!

 

I'm not a bmw fan and TBH I don't like anything about it other than the power and rear wheel drive, but I do hope you enjoy it and that your happy with it.

 

Tut Tut Tut

 

I went to see these today, same as matts, red leather etc. looked better in the flesh,

What I wasn't aware of was this baby, but the Kits is 4k, but I have to admit if I could get this on a spec I may have one, the wheels cost WAIT for it 3500

don't you think it looks nice, id lose the stripe though

 

Looks like it had a runny nose at 100mph....

 

I don't like the white car - I prefer the more understated look of Matt's grey car. Plus that wheel and tyre combination just isn't practical in this country (well, where I live anyway) - they're a pothole nightmare waiting to happen.

 

We did look at a white (used) one and it looked better than expected with the grey wheels - kind of more sporty - but it's not really our thing. I've seen those wheels on a few 320ds with all the kit and I just don't really like them; too fussy and they would be a total kerb magnet. The standard wheels and tyres are easy to clean (the grey helps them hide dirt a bit too!) and the PSS tyres have a fairly good "lip" on them so I reckon they might resist the odd light kerb touch (maybe!). They'd be a sod to refurb though as the colour match will be tricky! I think you get inferior tyres on the bigger wheels too but I can't remember.

Some have put Ultraleggeras on white cars - these look good IMO and are very light too.

Just under a week in and we've tried a fair few scenarios to "test" it and it's passed all with flying colours. Stick it in Eco Pro and you have a pretty normal hatchback albeit with a lot of toys and a fair but of comfort. Comfort mode is the all rounder with an edge if you push it. Stick it in Sport and the throttle response is keener, the steering weightier and the exhaust gets louder - it really feels like it's goading you on to do daft speeds; it's bloody quick and the sound makes your spine tingle!

Some of the interior isn't as luxurious as say a 5 or 6 series (or even a 3) but it's only minor bits like the electric window switches, sun blinds and dash material. But we like it that way - the money has been spent where it matters - the drivetrain, engine and chassis!

Really pleased with it and I can't help but smile at the rather naughty noise it makes on cold start up… I know the looks aren't to everyone's taste at all but it seems to look better in the metal and we like it - subtle but with a wee hint of menace.

A great car for a great price - I'd say the ethos of the car is to keep options lightish (we've gone mid spec) to keep it from being a £40k car. IMO the middle nav and speaker system (BMW Advanced - extra speakers and a 250W amp) are more than enough unless you're a serious tech head. Black panel display (£125) is essential as a lot of info is then stuck on the dash (phone, nav, etc, etc) and so is the comfort pack (cruise and rear park sensors). We didn't want tinted rear glass and that helps it stay "under the radar" (plus you can't see out of the back at night or see that kids from outside when they're asleep!) which is unusual but TBH, a base spec 3 door manual would still be an absolute hoot - and lighter too. Add the top stereo (12 speakers - speakers are HEAVY), electric seats, mirrors (electric motors are HEAVY!) and a few other bits and I think the car loses it's focus a bit.

We nearly ticked adaptive suspension but found the standard set up to be really good; apparently many find the firmest adaptive mode too firm and the comfort too soft - the standard suspension is somewhere in the middle of the two.

The auto box is great though; it's SO quick to change! A massive step up from the 335d one.

Anyway it doesn't matter - the engine is a peach as is the chassis!

Anyone thinking about one, please join the gang!

 

well I went to test drive one today, bloody fast, guy who took me out was a speed freak and did rallys at the weekend so he drove first,

I was actually nervous he was going so fast. Then it was my go, Was surprised at traction and handling, Liked the way the gearbox works keeping the revs if you knock the arm across, Paddles were fun

Power delivery was red hot apart from I did feel 2 or 3rd seems flat spot, but soon as it gets going blimey easy quicker than the scoob.

S3 drive next week, and then I,ll decide

best thing was knock it into D and comfort and the beast wthin goes to sleep and it becomes normal

 

Sounds good!
You had a much better test drive than me too!

 

I actually quite like the white one, seems to show the lines better (without the stripe though) looks very cat like at the front with the black grill contrasting the white nicely.

Pleased you like it matty, i'm sure it will put a big smile on your face when the weather gets better and your a bit more use to it.

 

2nd and 3rd flat spots are probably more related to traction and stability interventions than mapping or other fault. On many systems they will perform mild interventions without flashing a light in the instrument cluster, sometimes rear pads wear out before the fronts for this reason.

 

Well it's gone already...



Actually it a load of strange marks on the roof, a bit like the paint hadn't been mixed properly. Plus a small v shaped dent/crease on the back.
Initial reaction was a little lacking so after kicking up a small fuss, the sales guy drove upon a 420d we have while ours gets sorted.
He's a nice guy who I trust with the car so hopefully it'll be okay!

The 420d is a bit "all show not much go" but it's nice inside.

 

yeah the 20s are gutless

 

Sorry, can someone humour my ignorance by telling what the 'M' stands for in M135i? I though that the M cars were the M1 M3 M5 and M6 and that all other models had numbers reflecting the series and performance - I've not seen a BMW with both 'M', series and performance indicators.

 

A very old, very tired argument.
It's around 30% "M" engineered, BMW called it an M135i, it's as quick as most M cars, it'll hang with an M3 on a track but it also does civilised motoring rather well.

The ones that go on and on about it not being an M car haven't driven one; more than a few journos reckon it's more M than most bloated, heavy proper M cars anyway.

 

Thanks.
I dont really care what its called, it looks like a flipping nice car and wouldn't knock it for having a particular shiny badge on the boot. If BMW deem it fit to put a M badge on then there must be a good reason and thats good enough for me, I just didnt know what that reason was. Anyway congratulations.

 

I'm not sure about the whole "almost M" thing either but the cars seems to work.
There's an M550d (tri turbo loon diesel), the M235i is on it's way and probably more I've forgotten. But unlike the terrible M Sport its that are simply cosmetic, these semi M cars so actually have both chassis and engine input from the M boys.
It's confusing and a bit misleading TBH but I reckon an M135i is a lot more "M" than an X5M!

 

Matt, I'd be rejecting it and asking for a brand bnew replacement.

You really want it back with a repainted roof and possbly rear if the dent won't massage out?

 

It's honestly very minor and most people wouldn't spot it. I'll want a free service or similar though and I will be bringing my death beam torch to inspect the finish. Anything less than perfect and I will reject it.