One seriously fast 135

[96OCTNE]

Don't know why everyone is making a big deal about this. You can mod several cars and they will beat a stock M3 (regardless of the driver). Even the stock Nissan GTR gets beat by tuned cars. Those interested in drag racing just wait for future FI kits and other mods. Regardless of who beats who, I love my M3!

[Heat00]

funny, I got stopped twice today by guys in 335's.. asking me questions, checking out the M etc....

My 335 that got traded was a great car and very fast..... I will not ever bash the x35....but it is a different machine....

[watrob]

I think you are going to see a lot more fast 135's, they are priced well and can be moded heaverly.

Power to Weight is a good reason to buy! plus nimble in size!

[ase2dais]

I've sat and driven one and wasnt impressed
I much rather have a e90 335 with its 50/50 wt distribution

Originally Posted by spearfisher

impressive for a car that cost what it costs

wasnt sure if the M3 was 6MT or DCT

I know the i35 was chipped and about 200lbs less than the 335i
(w/c can very well be taken by his additional passenger taking the vids)

anything else Ive missed

[footie]

Originally Posted by kmac1980

I have to agree, im all for FI, with supercharging, lag isn't an issue (check the new audi supercharged v6 S4, or the amg 5.5s of the last few years)

But careful you might offend the "purists" in the crowd with such an inflammatory statement Sometimes I wonder why we still don't have carburetors instead of this radical new EFI technology!

Talk is that the new S4 can very easily be made to produce over 400hp so it may prove to be the motor of choice for the street racer looking else whether than American muscle.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

I've sat and driven one and wasnt impressed
I much rather have a e90 335 with its 50/50 wt distribution

anything else Ive missed

335i coupe: 51.2/48.8
135i coupe: 52.3/47.7%

Straight from bmw's website. If you can feel .9% difference or 0.009*3200lbs of difference, or 28lbs more in the front then more power to you.

[watrob]

If you want to put a modded 135 or 335 up against a M3 that's fine but to be fair the M3 should be modded equally.

If that is done they won't beat a M3 with the same amount of modding, otherwise it's all BS about a 335 or 135 beating a M3.

Standard 135 or 335 won't beat a M3, there all wannabees!

[wuyichao]

you m3 owners should be careless about this

why did you buy m3? for drag racing?

[BIGNTASTIE]

lol M3 can def beat a 135 without a doubt, but who cares 135 is still a 135... honestly if anyone had a choice for 135 or m3, i'm sure 100% will choose m3.. 135 is if you have no choice

[adc]

Originally Posted by footie

Unlike the Cayman vs 997 argument where the Cayman may be cheaper but it's still the better car, when you decide to chose the 135i/335i you are only doing so only because you don't have the cash for the other.

Wrong.

What the 135i has going for it is less weight and a shorter wheelbase. Driven back to back with the 335i (and M3), you can tell it's the nimblest of the 3 by a significant margin.

What it has going against it is the suspension is not good enough stock and there is no true limited slip.

Anybody who has driven all 3 seriously will come to the same conclusion.


I'm still on the fence for what will come after the 335i: the rational me demands 135i (even with mods) and the emotional me screams M3 with the Eisenmann race exhaust. So I'm sitting back, looking at them fight and waiting to see who will win come ordering day.

[addy85]

Originally Posted by bmstyle71

Pretty fast but still no ///M. It's a good alternative for people who are looking for a relatively cheap bmw that's fast.

lol have you hit puberty yet?

[TLud]

Originally Posted by adc

What the 135i has going for it is less weight and a shorter wheelbase. Driven back to back with the 335i (and M3), you can tell it's the nimblest of the 3 by a significant margin.

What it has going against it is the suspension is not good enough stock and there is no true limited slip.

I agree completely with your assessment, but it's incomplete without taking into account the magic of the M3's V8. Upgrading the suspension, switching to a non-staggered setup, and adding a top-notch LSD makes the 135 a seriously formidable beast, but it still won't have the screaming S65.

[GreenBeret]

They are quick but like other people say, "its not an M"

[addy85]

Originally Posted by GreenBeret

They are quick but like other people say, "its not an M"

Your input is amazing! Thanks

[spyderco10]

does anyone else but me think the 1 series is kind of ugly?

[Turbo>NA]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

every time i buy a car it turns to be the slowest in the market

Sucker!

[spearfisher]

Price has something to do with it also, someone looking at the 135 is not going to look at purchasing a vehicle that cost almost twice as much. I think people shop within their price range 1st, then makes their choices. But it's interesting that BMW can build such a great performing vehicle for the $$ in the 335 and 135

[adc]

Originally Posted by TLud

I agree completely with your assessment, but it's incomplete without taking into account the magic of the M3's V8. Upgrading the suspension, switching to a non-staggered setup, and adding a top-notch LSD makes the 135 a seriously formidable beast, but it still won't have the screaming S65.

There is certainly that, the V8 with a proper exhaust sounds like no other.

But as far as the fury is concerned, I've had the JB3 on my 335i for awhile and I was satisfied with the power (and power delivery) even on the low boost map. There is even a way to create your own "sport" mode for the throttle sensitivity.


For everything, there are trade-offs - the twin turbo will make a much better daily driver due to low end torque and fuel economy. But once you get to stretch its legs, the V8 is astonishing. Choose with the heart, or with the head? Go for the complete OEM package, or build it up and try to enjoy the process?


I think part of the problem is that for the previous 2 generation cars, the M3 was playing one full level up from the rest of the 3 series (perhaps even 2 levels up in the E46). But now it's more like half a level.

[TLud]

Originally Posted by adc

There is certainly that, the V8 with a proper exhaust sounds like no other.

But as far as the fury is concerned, I've had the JB3 on my 335i for awhile and I was satisfied with the power (and power delivery) even on the low boost map. There is even a way to create your own "sport" mode for the throttle sensitivity.


For everything, there are trade-offs - the twin turbo will make a much better daily driver due to low end torque and fuel economy. But once you get to stretch its legs, the V8 is astonishing. Choose with the heart, or with the head? Go for the complete OEM package, or build it up and try to enjoy the process?


I think part of the problem is that for the previous 2 generation cars, the M3 was playing one full level up from the rest of the 3 series (perhaps even 2 levels up in the E46). But now it's more like half a level.

You're exactly right. There is not nearly as much of a gap between the power output of the current 3er and the M3 as in past generations, especially in terms of torque. That issue is compounded by the fact that mods to the 335 will result in much greater performance gains than to the NA V8 in the M3.

One area in which the performance gap has not narrowed is in the suspension department. I felt that the suspension on my E46 with the ZHP package performed far better than the suspension in the E92 335 with the sport package. Hopefully, BMW comes out with a similar performance package for the 335.

You're also right that it comes down to personal preference. When I was younger, I preferred building my cars up myself. Now, I simply don't have the time. I also prefer the M3 as a daily driver despite the fact that it has less torque in certain situations because the throttle response is much quicker and sharper. It reacts much more quickly to throttle inputs, which is important in traffic. Also, the M3 is perfectly comfortable cruising around at 4k rpms, where I normally keep it. Plenty of torque there, and with the flat torque curve and high limiter, I don't have to shift as much. I do understand though why many people like the kick in the pants feeling you get down low from the TT in the 335, and I definitely won't argue the fuel economy point.

[adc]

Originally Posted by TLud

One area in which the performance gap has not narrowed is in the suspension department. I felt that the suspension on my E46 with the ZHP package performed far better than the suspension in the E92 335 with the sport package. Hopefully, BMW comes out with a similar performance package for the 335.

This is proof that BMW is smart after all.

If they had a ZHP package for the 135i I'd go for that in a heartbeat (used to own a ZHP before the 335) - but the fact is that I'm not convinced even their Performance Catalog suspension is as good. And there is no EDC, which I would definitely get in the M.

What would totally pull at my heartstrings would be a hardcore 1 series tii - lightweight, strong sequential twin-turbo 4 and track ready suspension. Until that happens, the M3 is what I yearn for.

[NYSPEM3]

Originally Posted by BIGNTASTIE

lol M3 can def beat a 135 without a doubt, but who cares 135 is still a 135... honestly if anyone had a choice for 135 or m3, i'm sure 100% will choose m3.. 135 is if you have no choice

I respectfully disagree. I bought a E90 M3 largely because I want a fast and nimble car, while my wife wants a 4-door fast car.

If I were to make the decision myself I probably would have gotten a 135i, even if money is not a factor. When I get bored with the stock 135 I will start putting Dinan bits in, but I will be under no illusion that a modded 135 will offer the same all-around performace as the M3.

The 135 truly reflects BMW's return to its roots--small, simplistic, and fast cars. I love my E90 M3, but the 135 is still awfully tempting.

[C17MooseDriver]

I think the 135 headlights are ugly. Plus, isn't the 135 only slightly lighter than the 335? Like 200 lbs lighter.