135i First Impression

steverodu2 · 01-20-2008, 10:46 AM

Well, they have a silver 135i at the Pentagon Car Sales dealership. My salesperson who sold me my 335i about a year ago was there today, on a Sunday, and I went in to see if they had the 135i in the showroom. He told me it was out back and grabbed the key! Wife and kids in the car out front, so I didn't ask to test drive it, but he let me start it up.

Wow. The engine note is spectacular.

Same engine, different pipes. Raspier, throatier on start up and when you press the gas. Not annoying, though, just a more assertive reminder of the power under the hood than the 335i. Want the same for my 3 series because I have always thought the 335i was too quiet. Dealer says he drove the car last night and it's really fun, totally different character than the 335i.

Next, I want to test drive the car and see what it sounds like on the highway. I'm starting to think that the reviews are right. BMW seems to have sharpened aspects of the 335i (engine note, tossability, maybe throttle response, not sure until I drive it) which appeal to the true enthusiast. I want those aspects, but like the bigger back seat and looks of the 335i. What to do?

just4kickz · 01-20-2008, 11:37 AM

one for daily, one for the weekend.

MTV · 01-20-2008, 12:22 PM

Ya, I saw it at the Detroit show this weekend. Looks much nicer in person than from what we see in the pics.

ArmyBimmerDude · 01-20-2008, 12:28 PM

Yeah, but unless your kids are under 5 years old or malnurished, I dont see them fitting in the back. Trust me, I sat in a 135. I would have had to amputate my legs to sit back there.

younghov85 · 01-20-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyBimmerDude

Yeah, but unless your kids are under 5 years old or malnurished, I dont see them fitting in the back. Trust me, I sat in a 135. I would have had to amputate my legs to sit back there.

lol

ages944 · 01-20-2008, 01:28 PM

I love being, ugh, 'vertically challenged'. I fit easily into most any car.

YYdoodle · 01-20-2008, 03:23 PM

Try asking on 1addicts.com too. Bet you'll get different responses than here

Excellence · 01-20-2008, 03:39 PM

it sorta looks sad....

Chunga · 01-20-2008, 03:44 PM

throttle response is there. And the feeling is even more real in the smaller car. And more. Driving is funny. Almost like the Mini. Same wheel placement - one in each corner. Drives like a gocart. Plenty of space in the back for normal kids. Space for a whole six pack in the trunk. Do you need more.
Gearbox is short, fast and perfekt for the engine.
Nice car. Just realy expensive when you consider the size of it.

ArmyBimmerDude · 01-20-2008, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunga

Plenty of space in the back for normal kids.

Please

Look towards the end of this vid. Maybe they grow them small in Denmark, I dunno.

ages944 · 01-23-2008, 12:54 AM

plenty of room back there for a child seat!

BK · 01-23-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ages944

plenty of room back there for a child seat!

I'll have to see that for myself to believe it. I have two car seats, and IMO the E90 is just barely big enough for that. I'd love a smaller car, I just don't think it's a practical option for me.

Robert · 01-23-2008, 04:02 PM

Kids stay home!

A suspension and exhaust mod are in order for you.

BoostedBMW · 01-23-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunga

throttle response is there. And the feeling is even more real in the smaller car. And more. Driving is funny. Almost like the Mini. Same wheel placement - one in each corner. Drives like a gocart. Plenty of space in the back for normal kids. Space for a whole six pack in the trunk. Do you need more.
Gearbox is short, fast and perfekt for the engine.
Nice car. Just realy expensive when you consider the size of it.

I'm definitely going to test drive the 135 when my dealer gets one in. After driving an s2000 with coilovers for a few years, I'm curious just how go kart like it really is. I wonder if it feels nimble like a light roadster, or nimble compared to a 3'er.

Some reviews that I have read have said how nimble the car was, but it seemed like they just assumed that it would be more nimble because of the size difference and were talking out of their ass. Other reviews said that it felt numb, and wasn't all that nimble like others made it out to be. I guess a test drive will settle it.

DrDomer · 01-23-2008, 09:30 PM

Road & Track had a short blurb that said too much understeer... Whatever. I can't get by the looks.

Robert · 01-24-2008, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoostedBMW

I'm definitely going to test drive the 135 when my dealer gets one in. After driving an s2000 with coilovers for a few years, I'm curious just how go kart like it really is. I wonder if it feels nimble like a light roadster, or nimble compared to a 3'er.

Some reviews that I have read have said how nimble the car was, but it seemed like they just assumed that it would be more nimble because of the size difference and were talking out of their ass. Other reviews said that it felt numb, and wasn't all that nimble like others made it out to be. I guess a test drive will settle it.

No way it will top s2k's handling abilities and one with coil over will make the 3 series feels like a boat

uberschnell · 01-24-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

No way it will top s2k's handling abilities and one with coil over will make the 3 series feels like a boat

You make a good point. If I was looking for a purely sport/track car I'm not sure a 135 would be at the top of my list. There are a lot of other less expensive options that would outperform even a moderately modified 135. As it is, I'm 6,2" with kids, so I need the 4 doors and size of a 3'er. What's nice is I get a luxury 4-door sedan that gets great gas mileage and is pretty decent on the track.

BoostedBMW · 01-25-2008, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbo

No way it will top s2k's handling abilities and one with coil over will make the 3 series feels like a boat

I agree with you, but I wasn't trying to compare the two in terms of what handles better, I was just trying to say that I'm not only accustomed to driving a 3'er so I'm curious just how nimble the car really is compared to other cars, not just the E9x.

YYimports · 01-25-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbo

No way it will top s2k's handling abilities and one with coil over will make the 3 series feels like a boat

Yep, comparing a much heavier car to a s2000 isn't exactly fair. Of course the s2k will feel more nimble. But the 135i will out-torque the s2k by leaps and bounds and that's part of the fun too.

Robert · 01-25-2008, 07:41 PM

We want your reviews!

01-20-2008, 10:46 AM	#1
steverodu2 Enlisted Member 6 Rep 36 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 335i Coupe -- Rott!! Join Date: May 2007 Location: KMC, Germany iTrader: (0)	135i First Impression Well, they have a silver 135i at the Pentagon Car Sales dealership. My salesperson who sold me my 335i about a year ago was there today, on a Sunday, and I went in to see if they had the 135i in the showroom. He told me it was out back and grabbed the key! Wife and kids in the car out front, so I didn't ask to test drive it, but he let me start it up. Wow. The engine note is spectacular. Same engine, different pipes. Raspier, throatier on start up and when you press the gas. Not annoying, though, just a more assertive reminder of the power under the hood than the 335i. Want the same for my 3 series because I have always thought the 335i was too quiet. Dealer says he drove the car last night and it's really fun, totally different character than the 335i. Next, I want to test drive the car and see what it sounds like on the highway. I'm starting to think that the reviews are right. BMW seems to have sharpened aspects of the 335i (engine note, tossability, maybe throttle response, not sure until I drive it) which appeal to the true enthusiast. I want those aspects, but like the bigger back seat and looks of the 335i. What to do?
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01-20-2008, 11:37 AM	#2
just4kickz boku no namae ha... 349 Rep 11,023 Posts Drives: 2006 BS 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S. Bay Area, CA + Newark, NJ + ChiCity + True Blue iTrader: (11) Garage List 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	one for daily, one for the weekend. __________________ looking for a PreLCI Black Sapphire e90 front bumper without license plate holes "Akimbo shotguns. Broken wrists anyone? And don't give me that 'it's just a game' bull**. Where the are my akimbo interventions then?! One scope on each eye mother**er!!"
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01-20-2008, 12:22 PM	#3
MTV Banned 271 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: E60 M5, Volvo S60R Join Date: May 2007 Location: Montreal iTrader: (1)	Ya, I saw it at the Detroit show this weekend. Looks much nicer in person than from what we see in the pics.
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01-20-2008, 12:28 PM	#4
ArmyBimmerDude Major General 159 Rep 5,497 Posts Drives: Lola Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Georgia iTrader: (3) Garage List 02/2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Yeah, but unless your kids are under 5 years old or malnurished, I dont see them fitting in the back. Trust me, I sat in a 135. I would have had to amputate my legs to sit back there. __________________ 2007 E92 Montego Blue 335i
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01-20-2008, 01:28 PM	#6
ages944 Captain 99 Rep 990 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago 'burbs iTrader: (0)	I love being, ugh, 'vertically challenged'. I fit easily into most any car. __________________ BMW : Sine qua non Mods: Blacklines \| Rear Seat Power Outlets \| Rear Fog Lights \| Ashtray Garage Door Opener
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01-20-2008, 03:23 PM	#7
YYdoodle Captain 124 Rep 666 Posts Drives: E92 M3 fanatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Try asking on 1addicts.com too. Bet you'll get different responses than here
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01-20-2008, 03:39 PM	#8
Excellence G-STAR 217 Rep 1,897 Posts Drives: E90 to A5 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Richmond, BC iTrader: (0)	it sorta looks sad....
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01-20-2008, 03:44 PM	#9
Chunga Captain 37 Rep 903 Posts Drives: E90 black saphire 2008 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Denmark, sealand iTrader: (0)	throttle response is there. And the feeling is even more real in the smaller car. And more. Driving is funny. Almost like the Mini. Same wheel placement - one in each corner. Drives like a gocart. Plenty of space in the back for normal kids. Space for a whole six pack in the trunk. Do you need more. Gearbox is short, fast and perfekt for the engine. Nice car. Just realy expensive when you consider the size of it. __________________
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01-23-2008, 12:54 AM	#11
ages944 Captain 99 Rep 990 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago 'burbs iTrader: (0)	plenty of room back there for a child seat! __________________ BMW : Sine qua non Mods: Blacklines \| Rear Seat Power Outlets \| Rear Fog Lights \| Ashtray Garage Door Opener
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01-23-2008, 04:02 PM	#13
Robert Major General 444 Rep 6,967 Posts Drives: 135i -> is350 -> Tesla M3 perf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Socal iTrader: (1)	Kids stay home! A suspension and exhaust mod are in order for you. Last edited by Robert; 01-23-2008 at 04:38 PM..
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01-23-2008, 09:30 PM	#15
DrDomer Major 43 Rep 1,349 Posts Drives: 2004 330ci ZHP, 1999 Miata Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0)	Road & Track had a short blurb that said too much understeer... Whatever. I can't get by the looks. __________________ Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. ~Albert Einstein
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01-25-2008, 07:41 PM	#20
Robert Major General 444 Rep 6,967 Posts Drives: 135i -> is350 -> Tesla M3 perf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Socal iTrader: (1)	We want your reviews!
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