M135i

[fredgroves]

Economics?

[Exonian]

Was reading this on Sunday, quite amusing in its scathing!
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-hatch/twin-test-bmw-m135i-vs-mercedes-amg-a35#1

I’ve got to agree with the conclusion though, pretty much what we’ve been saying all along.

[Hertsman]

Was reading this on Sunday, quite amusing in its scathing!
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-hatch/twin-test-bmw-m135i-vs-mercedes-amg-a35#1

I’ve got to agree with the conclusion though, pretty much what we’ve been saying all along.

Like you said, what we all been thinking

I wanted to fall in love with the A 35 and be tempted to AMG as 300 BHP and AWD and the latest and best modern cabins should have done that, but no matter how hard tried I could not and having been in the MB forum and seen some reviews since, such as this, seems my spider senses were correct - When/If they refine it then it maybe worth a look at as do like the style

The more you see the BMW the less you like it, and thats not usually how it works, but its seemingly becoming more like an X1 bolted to a Mini and though I would have looked at it have little doubt I would have done same as did for every other BMW 1 series looked at, walked away.

The ground is set for Audi and VW to secure this territory if they get their next generation performance generation right, and personally feel that the performance models will be well received and sale as equally well as the previous generation

[fredgroves]

That was a brutal review from TG and no mistake.

And versus the Audi S3 or VW Golf R that’s been on sale for the past six years and is about to be killed off? Both of these newcomers are alternatives, but not really improvements.

I think that is probably the only thing that was a fair comment there - VAG is the leader in this space and BMW and Merc have caught up.... just as VAG launch into the next chapter.

Which was definitely true with the current Mk7/A3 vs the previous BMW and Merc.

The one thing I just really hope is that VW find a sensible price for a performance Golf. If they can't and they get into AMG A35 territory....

[ar899]

Was reading this on Sunday, quite amusing in its scathing!
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/hot-hatch/twin-test-bmw-m135i-vs-mercedes-amg-a35#1

I’ve got to agree with the conclusion though, pretty much what we’ve been saying all along.

Like you said, what we all been thinking

I wanted to fall in love with the A 35 and be tempted to AMG as 300 BHP and AWD and the latest and best modern cabins should have done that, but no matter how hard tried I could not and having been in the MB forum and seen some reviews since, such as this, seems my spider senses were correct - When/If they refine it then it maybe worth a look at as do like the style

What are the issues with the A35?

The more you see the BMW the less you like it, and thats not usually how it works, but its seemingly becoming more like an X1 bolted to a Mini and though I would have looked at it have little doubt I would have done same as did for every other BMW 1 series looked at, walked away.

The X1, X2 & MINI all use the same chassis - way of the world these days, I guess. I did think the one looked better in the flesh and was a very nice place to sit in. That's a bit more important to me than exterior looks. I might look at a 120i if/when one comes out.

[fredgroves]

Well, I got too twitchy about it and went to see the M135i in the flesh...

Didn't drive it yet but just from a quick sit in with the engine on:

1) Seats are great (not the leather, just alacantra (sp?)). Possibly too narrow for the larger gentleman though. Definitely narrower than my Mk7.5 GTD. Seemed comfy and supportive enough but harder than my GTD seats.
2) Cabin is really nicely done, very classy. Only niggle - the central airvent opening wheel thingy is bright silver metal and looks right out of place. Looks like chav jewelry.
3) HUD is bloody brilliant!
4) Displays and MIB unit look really nice - very clear and stylish. Niggles are that the central panel and the dash panel don't actually align - OCD time! From watching the sales guy play with the system, the menus are a little clunky though but maybe he knew as much as I did. Major issue for me is that BMW don't support Android Auto. You can't even pay for it. Life without Waze might be a pain. If you are an Apple (freak) it does have wireless carplay and wireless charging.
5) ACC is not standard. Not sure if its in the Comfort pack, its not in the Tech pack which this car had. I use ACC a lot.
6) In real life the car looks pretty good exterior wise. Quite Golf-like lol. Salesman upset when i  said that!
7) Engine made a lovely burble when i fired her up.
Looking at the long term fuel economy of the demo vehicles, its averaging 26mpg. That's not great. I guess I should have expected it to be R like given that its 300bhp 2l and 4wd. Not sure I can live with 26mpg.
9) The boot looked as big as my Golf GTD (the figures are identical but pure litres vs actual boot shape can tell a different story)


Anyway, a test drive is booked.

Oh and while I was there, I saw the 118 too - its quite nice but the demo one in the showroom had orange leather seats.... which were looking ever so tired already. How long has that car had people getting in and out of it? That's terrible! The leather was saggy, the drivers door edge squashed down and some stains already. I'll try and see if I can find out the mileage but it can't be high...

[sjw]

Well, I got too twitchy about it and went to see the M135i in the flesh...

Didn't drive it yet but just from a quick sit in with the engine on:

1) Seats are great (not the leather, just alacantra (sp?)). Possibly too narrow for the larger gentleman though. Definitely narrower than my Mk7.5 GTD. Seemed comfy and supportive enough but harder than my GTD seats.
2) Cabin is really nicely done, very classy. Only niggle - the central airvent opening wheel thingy is bright silver metal and looks right out of place. Looks like chav jewelry.
3) HUD is bloody brilliant!
4) Displays and MIB unit look really nice - very clear and stylish. Niggles are that the central panel and the dash panel don't actually align - OCD time! From watching the sales guy play with the system, the menus are a little clunky though but maybe he knew as much as I did. Major issue for me is that BMW don't support Android Auto. You can't even pay for it. Life without Waze might be a pain. If you are an Apple (freak) it does have wireless carplay and wireless charging.
5) ACC is not standard. Not sure if its in the Comfort pack, its not in the Tech pack which this car had. I use ACC a lot.
6) In real life the car looks pretty good exterior wise. Quite Golf-like lol. Salesman upset when i  said that!
7) Engine made a lovely burble when i fired her up.
Looking at the long term fuel economy of the demo vehicles, its averaging 26mpg. That's not great. I guess I should have expected it to be R like given that its 300bhp 2l and 4wd. Not sure I can live with 26mpg.
9) The boot looked as big as my Golf GTD (the figures are identical but pure litres vs actual boot shape can tell a different story)


Anyway, a test drive is booked.

Oh and while I was there, I saw the 118 too - its quite nice but the demo one in the showroom had orange leather seats.... which were looking ever so tired already. How long has that car had people getting in and out of it? That's terrible! The leather was saggy, the drivers door edge squashed down and some stains already. I'll try and see if I can find out the mileage but it can't be high...

Point 5) is a biggie, and shows how well-equipped the Golf is.

Note to Apple freaks, Car Play is a subscription service with BMW! Or at least was before.

Point 4 - why can't any car manufacturer come up with a decent interface! This is why Android Auto / CarPlay are important. Leave the software to the software companies, guys!

[fredgroves]

It was funny actually, he was talking about all sorts of things like bendy LED automatic headlights, collision avoidance and digital dash and I'm like "what you mean like the old Mk7.5 Golf that's end of life and about to be replaced?".

When I asked about ACC and he said "you can buy it"... I was saying how I thought it was a pretty much essential item to keep hold of your licence...

And yes, the CarPlay is an annual subscription - no idea how much because it doesn't interest me.

We'll see - this car is going to have to be damned special to drive or I'm sticking to VW.

PS while I was looking another guy came along who currently has a M140i and he was saying that the new M135i was worse looking than his current car. Really? You be hard pushed to find something as ugly as that - whether it drives well or not, nobody ever said it looked good!

[davyk31]

Fred, as regards the seats you can adjust the side bolsters in and out so if you are a little on the larger side you can push them out a bit.

As regards the looks compared to the old models I also cannot understand the criticisms. There are owners of the old M140 saying the front of the new car is not nice, have they not seen the fronts of their cars, they are abut as ugly as can be.

Doesn't have active cruise as standard and would be nice but for all I use it I didn't feel it was worth paying for.

[fredgroves]

Is acc in any of the packs or is it a single option?

The seats were fine width for me but I'm a skinny old guy.