We'll back on track with the initial posting of the thread, the M135i, I managed for the first time yesterday to have a good couple of hours drive in an M135i with my preferred choice of 19" alloys (of course minus adaptive dampers which you weirdly can't spec with 19" wheels).
It's so easy to get carried away with the new tech in these cars and think how far ahead they are compared to the MK7.5 (which in some instances they are), but you just have to remember that the F40 BMW 1 series is less than a year old and the MK7 platform is 7-8 years old, so there would be something very wrong if the BMW didn't feel newer ?
There's a lot written about how the M135i slams the VW for quality (especially the interior), but TBH, I've found it a bit of a wash between the two of them. So briefly below I'll summarise the goods and bad points for both cars (trying to be fair)
BMW M135I Good- Lots of high tech kit
- great driving position (though no better than the golf)
- Very fast (but then R owners will probably be less impressed)
- Very sure footed
- Very quiet (low road and wind noise)
- Excellent B&O stereo which blows the Dynaudio away (and my Dynaudio is very good)
- HUD is superb
- Seats very comfortable and slightly better so than the GTI with the fact the BMW has extended squab and electrically adjustable side bolsters.
- Superb ambient lighting set up with lighting to front / rear as well as centre console. Also 5 colours to choose from.
- Great to be able to control the multimedia centre from either touchscreen or the superb IDrive wheel
- Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (when it comes) are both wireless
Not so good- Quite thirsty (only managed 29 mpg with very careful driving) - a moot point I suppose as you don't buy these cars for economy
- Too much alcantera on the insides. Prefer VW's implementation with alcantera on the seats base and back rests, with everything else (door cards, rear of seat, side bolsters etc.) leather. Leather option on the BMW makes the interior too dark in my view.
- Fabric insert on door cards felt hard and scratchy
- Plastics lower down felt harder and poorer quality than the GTI, and no fleck lined door bins either.
- Very thick A-Pillar
- Don't care what people say, the active info display on the VW might not be the best implementation but for clarity is light years ahead of the that in the BMW, which I just find plain hard to read and clacks clarity (I would definitely need HUD to improve this).
- Lots of people on forums experiencing new car gremlins like electrical and software issues
- No android auto (though to be fair I understand it's being pushed out now via a software update)
- When specc'd to a similar level as my GTI very expensive and exceeds the £40k VED threshold.
- Rear view camera and load through (with rear armrest) and lumbar support not standard but options.
- No front fog lamps (like the R), not that I’ve used them on the GTI that much.
- No overhead sunglasses holder.
GTIGood- Still feels very taught and modern looking, and especially looks great with the red accents in the lights and grill.
- Adaptive dampers on my car give the GTI a great ride especially on 19" wheels. Now to be fair the BMW on 19's with it's passive dampers rides very well (firmer yes, but not crashy), but not as fluid or smooth as the GTI
- My car has the heated windscreen which is superb in winter and BMW doesn't have that as an option. Although they do counter with a heated steering wheel.
- ACC standard but on the BMW is only part of the assistance package (for £1000). Also, weirdly, in the literature for the adaptive cruise control in the BMW it states "This function can be limited by darkness and fog" (never seen that before) ?
- Although the M135i is obviously fast, it didn't feel like night and day against the GTI (weird, maybe I wasn't trying hard enough)
- Has Car Play and Android Auto free of change (which I think BMW have only just stared doing)
- As mentioned above has a much clearer digital display than the BMW, with coloured detail maps showing up in the centre, unlike the M135i which shows a vert simply monochrome "line" drawing of the map.
- Some lower level plastics actually feel better.
- Don't care what the figures say, with the drivers seat in my position, there is more rear legroom in the GTI than an M135i with the seat positioned similarly.might be to do with the M135i coming with sculptured sport seats with integrated head rests ?
- No option for space saver spare wheel on the M135i with 19" alloys unlike the GTI (just a tin of gloop)
- Obviously cheaper to insure and run than the M135i
- Better steering weight and feel than in the BMW
- Rear camera not exposed but comes out of the VW emblem to keep it clean and protected.
Not so good- On board tech and sat nav for example starting to look a little old
- Ambient lighting setup on the GTI not as advanced, configurable or pretty as the BMW
- Noisier inside than the BMW bit that doesn’t mean the GTI is loud, just the BMW quieter.
- Can't have electric seats in the GTI unless you spec the hideously expensive leather upholstery, but in the BMW you still can with cloth (alcantera)
- Overall just (just) starting to feel it's age now -but still a great car)
- Much smaller choice of options (e.g. wheels) than the BMW
- No online software updates unlike the BMW which would therefore mean a trip to the dealers.
- Infotainment screen mounted lower down than the BMW, and combined with the option HUD makes it easier to not take your eyes off the road when driving.
- Apparently BMW water pumps aren’t made of chocolate unlike VW
So there you have it. The jury is still out, but it just shows for an older car, how good the GTI still is, but how much better the MK8 could have been (without touch everything interface) ? The M135i is a superb car, but maybe doesn't beat the MK7.5 down in all areas as I had incorrectly seemed, assumed? This is not going to be an easy decision.
