335i vs 135i

alexc93 · 11-01-2010, 04:22 PM

This isnt a thread bashing either cars to start! i just am gauging some opinions...i currently drive an AT 335i e90 and used to drive a 6spd JCW Mini cooper. I miss the MT and am wondering if i should trade my e90 for a MT 135i or a MT 335i Coupe.

Please give some opinions!
Is the 135i a lot more of a stiff drive?

Whats the handling comparison etc etc?

Thanksss

timmahh · 11-01-2010, 04:26 PM

Do you need a backseat that is useful? My friend has a 135 and while the back seat works for quick trips I wouldn't want to be back there for more than an hour.

Crimson92 · 11-01-2010, 04:29 PM

id go with the e92 on looks alone.

FVM3 · 11-01-2010, 04:29 PM

based on do you need backseats or not. If i were you, i would go for 335i mt.

carve · 11-01-2010, 04:36 PM

The 135 is lighter (but not by as much as you'd think), and the shorter wheelbase makes it a bit more nimble. It's slightly more fun to drive, and slightly less expensive. However, it's stranger looking, less luxurious, and less practical.

235Dude · 11-01-2010, 04:45 PM

Call me crazy but I was looking for a 135i when I got my 3. Actually I was initially looking for a Z4 3.5 to lease but they were just too expensive because they just came out. So next I tried to find a leftover 2009 135i with Sport Package and 6spd MT, (finding a manual car in stock was almost impossible

). So I ended up buying a CPO 335i coupe.

I'm still very happy with my purchase and think the 335i is way better looking. BUT in terms of which is more fun to drive, a shorter wheelbase and a 300lb diet is just what my 335 needs! Oh and another thing the back seats never get used so that was a non-issue

EDM92 · 11-01-2010, 04:49 PM

The 135 is uglier, but smaller/lighter and therefore a bit quicker. In the end it's up to you. Tough decision.

lesha · 11-01-2010, 05:00 PM

can't stand the 135 look, just something about it, can't even put a finger on it
3 series is already an entry level bmw and pretty small, i don't really see the point for 1 series

but it seems like there is a big fan base for the 1, i guess people have different tastes

just an observation, whenever i see 1 series around where i live, it is usually 128 and its either some old lady who wanted a sport car or a 16 year old girl driving it

alexc93 · 11-01-2010, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the input everyone! Still stuck depending on if i need the back seats or not...

Rustler · 11-01-2010, 05:13 PM

I've owned both. I don't think you'll find much support for the 135 in here unless a 1addicts member is cruising around. People have a visceral reaction to the 1er around here. I suspect that 3 series owners feel threatened that the the "cheapest" BMW should be every bit as good as their car.

Whether the opposition to the 1er in this forum is due to feelings of 3er inadequecy or well founded, one thing is for sure, the styling is polarizing. I happen to like it a lot but I wouldn't begrudge anyone who disagreed. Most of my friends and family think my 335i is much better looking than the 135.

Although they have the same drive train and a lot of the same specs, they drive very differently. I'm certainly no engineer, but I think the shorter wheelbase on the 1er really changes the handling. The 335i is much more composed, while the 135 is more lively. I would light up the traction control way more on the 135. I also found that the 135 wallowed more in corners. It felt like the suspension was softer but I've read that the 1er is narrower and a little taller, so maybe that accounts for the difference.
So in the end I suggest that the 335 is a better all around handling car, but the 135 was more exciting (on a side note, I drove a 2010 WRX the other day and although it has absurd turbo lag I was grinning ear to ear when that thing spooled up, lesson being an advancement on paper may not be an advance in driving enjoyment).

I found no discernable difference in acceleration although I gather the 135 is a scoche faster if you have a stop watch that reads in 10ths. I think the quality of the interior (or the entire car for that matter) was identical to that of my 335. It had a more snug feel and the dash wrapped around the occupants as opposed to curving away like in the 3. The backseat is more or less worthless for human use although when folded down there is a ton of room to haul stuff like tires, boxes, or sports equipment. I put some snows on it and used it to drive out to my weekly ski races all winter with no drama.

Another factor that made the 1er appealing to me was th e 135's relative rarity. Everybody and their dental assistant drives a 3 series. As fantastic a car as it is it turns about as many heads as a Camry. The 1 series got some attention (albeit some of it in the form of a gag reflex), but it was never looked over.

I think it comes down to what your looking for/what you need in a car, and not that one is, objectively speaking, "better" than the other. Good luck with your decision.

Brey335i · 11-01-2010, 05:30 PM

The 135i does not have enough of a weight advantage. I expected to see a more radical weight loss. It's 0.1 second faster acceleration is not enough to make up for the fact that it is taller and narrower, attributes that don't lend themselves to flat cornering.

I'm not elitist. I don't care if there is a car faster than my 3 series for less money. I just wished the 135i was wider, with a short wheelbase like now, not so tall, and looked better

07E92TT · 11-01-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexc93

This isnt a thread bashing either cars to start! i just am gauging some opinions...i currently drive an AT 335i e90 and used to drive a 6spd JCW Mini cooper. I miss the MT and am wondering if i should trade my e90 for a MT 135i or a MT 335i Coupe.

Please give some opinions!
Is the 135i a lot more of a stiff drive?

Whats the handling comparison etc etc?

Thanksss

but the LCI sedans are so sexy...

alexc93 · 11-01-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07E92TT

but the LCI sedans are so sexy...

I know

i love it but its AT and getting dull...

turb0mik3 · 11-01-2010, 05:58 PM

I drive my buddies fully modified 135i all the time, and I really do like it, but for driving every day, I would take the 335i any day of the week. The longer wheel base is WAY more comfortable and 4 doors is way more practical and mature (I think). If you want a track car then I would have gone with the 135i, but for everyday comfort and ballerness, I like the 335i. Plus, I can fit 5 ladies in the car without lifting my front seat forward

Nightfly · 11-01-2010, 06:03 PM

If there were a greater price differential between the 1-series and the 3-series it would be a harder decision, but since there's not, it seems to me a pretty easy choice.

skiernan36 · 11-01-2010, 09:20 PM

i love the 135. the only reason i got the 335 is because i could not find a CPO 135 at either of the 4 dealerships in the area

but the 335 is a great car, you really cant go wrong with either, it just comes down to what you like/need. do you want more space? do you want more exclusivity? personally i would buy a new 135 with DCT

username604 · 11-01-2010, 09:26 PM

2011 sti
let the bashing begin

hipnotic · 11-01-2010, 10:44 PM

335

BenTrovato · 11-01-2010, 11:10 PM

Its tough... I think if you go for a drive, you're question will be answered. I was interested in the 135 but when I sat inside, it was just too small. It's a fun car to drive, but the wheelbase wasn't suited to my driving characteristics. I think the 135 is more of a lifestyle car. You spend lots of time in the city, don't need cargo room or transportation of people often, and parking is a concern then the 135 would suit your needs.

Also there are some well done 1 series over in 1addicts. I think they are lacking in stock form, but a few slight modifications really make it stand out but I feel the same way about the e9x's.

Trojan4evr · 11-02-2010, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexc93

This isnt a thread bashing either cars to start! i just am gauging some opinions...i currently drive an AT 335i e90 and used to drive a 6spd JCW Mini cooper. I miss the MT and am wondering if i should trade my e90 for a MT 135i or a MT 335i Coupe.

Please give some opinions!
Is the 135i a lot more of a stiff drive?

Whats the handling comparison etc etc?

Thanksss

My E90 335i (ZSP AT) feels a bit more refined and believe it or not a bit stiffer than my 135i(E82 ZSP). 135i doesn't have that much more of a weight advantage than E90 335i and I have to say that it has more body roll than E90. At the end of the day, you have to go test drive a 135i.

michaelthepsycho · 11-02-2010, 12:34 AM

If the 1-series looked better, I would've bought it in a heartbeat. They're just too damn ugly! Perhaps it's the femininity... Really can't picture a grown-ass man driving that vehicle; would look all weird and mismatched.

thechocolate6MT · 11-02-2010, 12:54 AM

Go for the e92, you wont regret it.

11-01-2010, 04:22 PM	#1
alexc93 Colonel 382 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: na Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: na iTrader: (8)	335i vs 135i This isnt a thread bashing either cars to start! i just am gauging some opinions...i currently drive an AT 335i e90 and used to drive a 6spd JCW Mini cooper. I miss the MT and am wondering if i should trade my e90 for a MT 135i or a MT 335i Coupe. Please give some opinions! Is the 135i a lot more of a stiff drive? Whats the handling comparison etc etc? Thanksss
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11-01-2010, 04:26 PM	#2
timmahh ghey 484 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: Viertürigen Fahrzeugs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	Do you need a backseat that is useful? My friend has a 135 and while the back seat works for quick trips I wouldn't want to be back there for more than an hour. __________________ 21 G05 > 20 G05 > 17 G30 > 14 F30 > 08 E90
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11-01-2010, 04:29 PM	#3
Crimson92 Smiling Politely 1383 Rep 29,118 Posts Drives: Like a boss Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Whales Vagina iTrader: (3)	id go with the e92 on looks alone.
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11-01-2010, 04:29 PM	#4
FVM3 Major General 273 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	based on do you need backseats or not. If i were you, i would go for 335i mt.
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11-01-2010, 04:36 PM	#5
carve Major 177 Rep 1,105 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	The 135 is lighter (but not by as much as you'd think), and the shorter wheelbase makes it a bit more nimble. It's slightly more fun to drive, and slightly less expensive. However, it's stranger looking, less luxurious, and less practical.
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11-01-2010, 04:45 PM	#6
235Dude Captain 106 Rep 925 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Potomac, MD iTrader: (19)	Call me crazy but I was looking for a 135i when I got my 3. Actually I was initially looking for a Z4 3.5 to lease but they were just too expensive because they just came out. So next I tried to find a leftover 2009 135i with Sport Package and 6spd MT, (finding a manual car in stock was almost impossible ). So I ended up buying a CPO 335i coupe. I'm still very happy with my purchase and think the 335i is way better looking. BUT in terms of which is more fun to drive, a shorter wheelbase and a 300lb diet is just what my 335 needs! Oh and another thing the back seats never get used so that was a non-issue __________________ 2016 M235i \| BSM \| 6SPD \| BMS JB4 \| Dinan Intake \| Wagner Evo 2 Comp IC \| VRSF DP \| ER CP \| Dinan Exhaust \| M Performance LSD \| M Performance Springs Gone: 2016 F30 340i, 2015 Corvette Z06, 2011 E92 335i, 2007 E92 335i, 2008 Corvette Z51, 1999 E46 323i, 2001 Boxster, 1999 Carrera 2, 1997 Corvette, 2001 Camaro SS
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11-01-2010, 04:49 PM	#7
EDM92 Colonel 159 Rep 2,561 Posts Drives: Low&Slow Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida iTrader: (9)	The 135 is uglier, but smaller/lighter and therefore a bit quicker. In the end it's up to you. Tough decision. __________________ Montego Blue 2007 E92 335i - ZSP / ZPP / Steptronic / Logic7 Broadway Static - CCW - Megan - Orion Instagram: bmwforlife
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11-01-2010, 05:00 PM	#8
lesha Lieutenant 81 Rep 399 Posts Drives: 2009 - 335 coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Alexandria, VA iTrader: (1)	can't stand the 135 look, just something about it, can't even put a finger on it 3 series is already an entry level bmw and pretty small, i don't really see the point for 1 series but it seems like there is a big fan base for the 1, i guess people have different tastes just an observation, whenever i see 1 series around where i live, it is usually 128 and its either some old lady who wanted a sport car or a 16 year old girl driving it
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11-01-2010, 05:03 PM	#9
alexc93 Colonel 382 Rep 2,384 Posts Drives: na Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: na iTrader: (8)	Thanks for the input everyone! Still stuck depending on if i need the back seats or not...
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11-01-2010, 05:13 PM	#10
Rustler First Lieutenant 43 Rep 314 Posts Drives: '10 E90 335i Space Grey Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bozeman, MT iTrader: (4)	I've owned both. I don't think you'll find much support for the 135 in here unless a 1addicts member is cruising around. People have a visceral reaction to the 1er around here. I suspect that 3 series owners feel threatened that the the "cheapest" BMW should be every bit as good as their car. Whether the opposition to the 1er in this forum is due to feelings of 3er inadequecy or well founded, one thing is for sure, the styling is polarizing. I happen to like it a lot but I wouldn't begrudge anyone who disagreed. Most of my friends and family think my 335i is much better looking than the 135. Although they have the same drive train and a lot of the same specs, they drive very differently. I'm certainly no engineer, but I think the shorter wheelbase on the 1er really changes the handling. The 335i is much more composed, while the 135 is more lively. I would light up the traction control way more on the 135. I also found that the 135 wallowed more in corners. It felt like the suspension was softer but I've read that the 1er is narrower and a little taller, so maybe that accounts for the difference. So in the end I suggest that the 335 is a better all around handling car, but the 135 was more exciting (on a side note, I drove a 2010 WRX the other day and although it has absurd turbo lag I was grinning ear to ear when that thing spooled up, lesson being an advancement on paper may not be an advance in driving enjoyment). I found no discernable difference in acceleration although I gather the 135 is a scoche faster if you have a stop watch that reads in 10ths. I think the quality of the interior (or the entire car for that matter) was identical to that of my 335. It had a more snug feel and the dash wrapped around the occupants as opposed to curving away like in the 3. The backseat is more or less worthless for human use although when folded down there is a ton of room to haul stuff like tires, boxes, or sports equipment. I put some snows on it and used it to drive out to my weekly ski races all winter with no drama. Another factor that made the 1er appealing to me was th e 135's relative rarity. Everybody and their dental assistant drives a 3 series. As fantastic a car as it is it turns about as many heads as a Camry. The 1 series got some attention (albeit some of it in the form of a gag reflex), but it was never looked over. I think it comes down to what your looking for/what you need in a car, and not that one is, objectively speaking, "better" than the other. Good luck with your decision.
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11-01-2010, 05:30 PM	#11
Brey335i Banned 113 Rep 4,771 Posts Drives: e46 ///M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (11)	The 135i does not have enough of a weight advantage. I expected to see a more radical weight loss. It's 0.1 second faster acceleration is not enough to make up for the fact that it is taller and narrower, attributes that don't lend themselves to flat cornering. I'm not elitist. I don't care if there is a car faster than my 3 series for less money. I just wished the 135i was wider, with a short wheelbase like now, not so tall, and looked better
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11-01-2010, 05:58 PM	#14
turb0mik3 242 Rep 2,781 Posts Drives: E90 335i Racecar Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [8.90]	I drive my buddies fully modified 135i all the time, and I really do like it, but for driving every day, I would take the 335i any day of the week. The longer wheel base is WAY more comfortable and 4 doors is way more practical and mature (I think). If you want a track car then I would have gone with the 135i, but for everyday comfort and ballerness, I like the 335i. Plus, I can fit 5 ladies in the car without lifting my front seat forward __________________ HG Motorsports \| Motiv Motorsport \| Sparta Evolution \| BBS Motorsports \| Sabelt \| JRZ \| NASA ST1 SoCal --- 554whp/487wtrq --- 3200lbs <<YouTube Channel w/ Race Videos>>
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11-01-2010, 06:03 PM	#15
Nightfly Private 1 Rep 97 Posts Drives: 09' E93 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	If there were a greater price differential between the 1-series and the 3-series it would be a harder decision, but since there's not, it seems to me a pretty easy choice.
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11-01-2010, 09:20 PM	#16
skiernan36 stick to your guns 20 Rep 441 Posts Drives: 2007 335i 2012 Audi Q5 2.0T Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fredericksburg, Va iTrader: (0)	i love the 135. the only reason i got the 335 is because i could not find a CPO 135 at either of the 4 dealerships in the area but the 335 is a great car, you really cant go wrong with either, it just comes down to what you like/need. do you want more space? do you want more exclusivity? personally i would buy a new 135 with DCT __________________ "Speed has never killed anyone...suddenly becoming stationary, thats what gets you."-Jeremy Clarkson
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11-01-2010, 09:26 PM	#17
username604 Colonel 124 Rep 2,554 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: repair shop iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [10.00]	2011 sti let the bashing begin
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11-01-2010, 10:44 PM	#18
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	335
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11-01-2010, 11:10 PM	#19
BenTrovato Driver 37 Rep 1,577 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	Its tough... I think if you go for a drive, you're question will be answered. I was interested in the 135 but when I sat inside, it was just too small. It's a fun car to drive, but the wheelbase wasn't suited to my driving characteristics. I think the 135 is more of a lifestyle car. You spend lots of time in the city, don't need cargo room or transportation of people often, and parking is a concern then the 135 would suit your needs. Also there are some well done 1 series over in 1addicts. I think they are lacking in stock form, but a few slight modifications really make it stand out but I feel the same way about the e9x's.
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11-02-2010, 12:34 AM	#21
michaelthepsycho Lieutenant Colonel 76 Rep 1,644 Posts Drives: 11 Montego Blue E90 335i Step Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	If the 1-series looked better, I would've bought it in a heartbeat. They're just too damn ugly! Perhaps it's the femininity... Really can't picture a grown-ass man driving that vehicle; would look all weird and mismatched. __________________ Former car 2011 BMW 335i Step - Montego Blue / Chestnut Brown
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11-02-2010, 12:54 AM	#22
thechocolate6MT Private First Class 13 Rep 123 Posts Drives: 340i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Go for the e92, you wont regret it.
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