135i vs M3

[Wescuddles]

So I went to my local dealership today and they happened to have a e92 so I took a glance and went for a drive. All I've got to say is WOW. Hands down, in every way possible, the M3 trumps the 135i. I'm open to any car and never had hate for the M to begin with so I never went in with a biased opinion. The car has forgestars on it and an AA exhaust. Sounds beautiful! The one thing I noticed about the e92 is the feel it has - it was like an extension of me to the road, not just something i'm in control of but something that is effortless to drive, it almost feels like second nature.

So on behalf of all 1 series fanbois I would like to apologize, their idiots if they think the 1er is even in the same league as the m3.

[Z K]

I really like the smaller car feeling of the 1 series but the 135i is just not sporty enough. Too soft, too disconnected and lacks an LSD. The 1M, on the other hand, sounds perfect on paper. Unfortunately they aren't really available.

[Wescuddles]

Originally Posted by Z K

I really like the smaller car feeling of the 1 series but the 135i is just not sporty enough. Too soft, too disconnected and lacks an LSD. The 1M, on the other hand, sounds perfect on paper. Unfortunately they aren't really available.

The M3 really didn't feel that much bigger then my 135, inside there was a little more back seat room and width wise was bigger but the feel you get from it under acceleration and in corners makes it feel tight. My 135 doesn't feel nearly as nimble even with the sport suspension. You're right the 135 definitely lacks without the LSD.

[Z K]

I really felt the 135i felt more nimble and smaller. Less weight to throw around. I had a lot of fun in it. It felt more tossable around corners. The M3 as a package is definitely very capable, but doesn't feel have that small nimble feel.

[Darth One]

I miss my 135i for sentimental reasons. I agree, it's not really a good comparison and if you think it is you should have you doctor check you for fanboyism

[Mozgov]

how much heavier did it feel overall if you took it for some spirited driving?

[taleof2bricks]

Originally Posted by Wescuddles

The one thing I noticed about the e92 is the feel it has - it was like an extension of me to the road, not just something i'm in control of but something that is effortless to drive, it almost feels like second nature.

I had never owned anything worth noting prior to my M3. I had modded a handful of turbo Volvos & did the same with a Mazdaspeed 3. I still have most of those rides, but they were never the same, once I got into the M3. they have been reduced to moderately fast, rattle cans.

I said pretty much the same thing, about the car feeling like an extension of me. I described it as 'like wearing a robot suit on wheels'.

Hope you bought it...

[Wescuddles]

Originally Posted by taleof2bricks

I had never owned anything worth noting prior to my M3. I had modded a handful of turbo Volvos & did the same with a Mazdaspeed 3. I still have most of those rides, but they were never the same, once I got into the M3. they have been reduced to moderately fast, rattle cans.

I said pretty much the same thing, about the car feeling like an extension of me. I described it as 'like wearing a robot suit on wheels'.

Hope you bought it...

Exactly, great description! I haven't bought it... Yet. They have my 135 in for service and are going to tell me what I can get for it on trade. I`m in no hurry to buy an M3 just because they have one at the dealership. Ideally I want an E92 without mods.

[CCLSVTM3]

Originally Posted by Wescuddles

Exactly, great description! I haven't bought it... Yet. They have my 135 in for service and are going to tell me what I can get for it on trade. I`m in no hurry to buy an M3 just because they have one at the dealership. Ideally I want an E92 without mods.

Just don't even think about it and buy it..... Lol.... I want to test drive the 1M just for curiosity reasons.... Never even sat in a 1 series.... How's the room compared to a 3 series?

[m3buckeye]

When looking at convertible BMWs, we drove both 1s and the 335is. The 128 engine was like driving a toy, but the 135 was much better. That being said, the 135 did feel nimble and some power but again was too much like a toy. My wife didn't care that a few mods would bump the 135 or 335 up to M3 territory, but I didn't think that paying $53k for a loaded 135 or $70k for a loaded 335is made any sense when you can buy a loaded, used M3 for a great price.

Skip the 1s and the regular 3s, find yourself a good M3. The M3 is so much more car than the others as far as handling and performance - right out of the box - that it is not even close.

[Everfly]

I just test rode the e90 m3 yesterday and it feel great. I miss the high rev of the NA. Just got my 2012 135i Feb this years and it still missing something. Eventhough with AST coil still i dont feel connect to the road but the m3 is on the other hand i can feel every turn. Came from e46 M3 to the 135i i feel it slack so many things even with the M sport package. Now i hope i can get the E90 M3. Still neg since they only give me 36K for trade in my 135i with 4200 miles.

[burakkose]

comparing the mighty m3 to a 135i is an insult for me

[radiantm3]

I went from a modded 135 to the M3. The size of the m3 was definitely what took me the longest to adjust to. It just feels so much bigger. I actually enjoyed driving the 135i more on tight curvy roads. Other than that the M3 is a much better car. Instill miss my 135i though as it was a great car in itself. I think I would be extremely happy owning the 1M.

[Wescuddles]

Originally Posted by CCL16M3

Just don't even think about it and buy it..... Lol.... I want to test drive the 1M just for curiosity reasons.... Never even sat in a 1 series.... How's the room compared to a 3 series?

Well my car is finished in service today so we will see. The salesman is getting the M3 warmed up for me when I show up

Originally Posted by m3buckeye

When looking at convertible BMWs, we drove both 1s and the 335is. The 128 engine was like driving a toy, but the 135 was much better. That being said, the 135 did feel nimble and some power but again was too much like a toy. My wife didn't care that a few mods would bump the 135 or 335 up to M3 territory, but I didn't think that paying $53k for a loaded 135 or $70k for a loaded 335is made any sense when you can buy a loaded, used M3 for a great price.

Skip the 1s and the regular 3s, find yourself a good M3. The M3 is so much more car than the others as far as handling and performance - right out of the box - that it is not even close.

Agree completely.

Originally Posted by Everfly

I just test rode the e90 m3 yesterday and it feel great. I miss the high rev of the NA. Just got my 2012 135i Feb this years and it still missing something. Eventhough with AST coil still i dont feel connect to the road but the m3 is on the other hand i can feel every turn. Came from e46 M3 to the 135i i feel it slack so many things even with the M sport package. Now i hope i can get the E90 M3. Still neg since they only give me 36K for trade in my 135i with 4200 miles.

$36k?! Move to Canada - I'm getting (ballpark) $32k for my '08 w/ 44k kms (27k miles).

Originally Posted by burakkose

comparing the mighty m3 to a 135i is an insult for me

That was the point of this thread. I keep seeing 135/335 owners trying to say that they're something close to the M3 and the fact is it's not even close.

[laurenxesq]

I had both the (2011) 135 M sport and (2012) M3 competition package.

The 1 series is tight, nimble, nice roar in the engine during acceleration, easily zip in & out of traffic.

Now the M3, that's a totally different beast. You can hear it ROAR, handling & corners so perfectly. I flew 80mph in a recent thunder-storm. The M3 grasps the road, never hesitated or spinned, took me safely to and from client and back in the worse thunder storm in socal history, bare in mind, it was on the fwy.

Can't compare the two; different engine size, weight. Thus I love them both

[Wescuddles]

Well we couldn't make a deal on the M3 they had in the lot. I wanted a lower price because of the mods and higher mileage and they wouldn't budge much more over $2000. No hard feelings my salesman is on the look out for an untouched low mileage E92.

A funny side note, on the way home i came up to a red light next to a 2012 Camaro SS. He gave me the wave and we waited for the green... We both got decent launches (no burning through first) and were neck and neck for about 10 feet lol. We ran to 200kmh and I had atleast 3 lengths. Keep in mind too that my car had no jb4 as it just went in for warranty work. So a stock 135i beat a 2012 SS. The guy was a major douche though I gave him a thumbs up and he didn't even look at me he just did the whole "ricer fly-by". All in all a fun afternoon.

[Kayani_1]

A 135i vs M3 is not a fair comparison by far. The tuned 1M vs M3 can be a fair argument but not 135i. The M next to the 3 is there for reason. No non M car can be fairly compared to a proper M car at least stock vs stock.

[burakkose]

Originally Posted by Wescuddles

That was the point of this thread. I keep seeing 135/335 owners trying to say that they're something close to the M3 and the fact is it's not even close.

I've driven a friend's 1M coupe. Yes, the car is fun and all but, still not comparable to M3 imo.

tuned 135/335 owners are probably only living on 100-200kph rolls, soon should break pistons soon

M3 is well known as the "sportscoupe benchmark" and hands down

[Wescuddles]

Originally Posted by m3alabama

wow something was wrong with his SS. 135 is quick but a bone stock gets eaten alive by the SS with 420 plus horsepower or more and weighs only 3900 pound. It gives the m3 a run. He was in the wrong gear perhaps

Doubt it. He chirped a bit in 1st and I saw his nose drop with every shift. He had one passenger though, his 12 year old son

[py0413]

I had a 135i with DCT for a little while and I have to say that was one little fun but powerful car to drive. It even felt quicker driving around in the city than my M3 but I think DCT could have a lot to do with that. I really enjoyed it and was really serious about getting a 1M but the dealer's mark-up just didn't make sense to me. That was the time I first got taste of how much fun a small/light weight car can have. And now I have one that people say its engine is in the wrong place lol.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by py0413

I had a 135i with DCT for a little while and I have to say that was one little fun but powerful car to drive. It even felt quicker driving around in the city than my M3 but I think DCT could have a lot to do with that. I really enjoyed it and was really serious about getting a 1M but the dealer's mark-up just didn't make sense to me. That was the time I first got taste of how much fun a small/light weight car can have. And now I have one that people say its engine is in the wrong place lol.

The 1 series is far from light. well under 2000-2500 is light. 2500-3000 is pretty light for a high-horsepower car. The 135i is on the porky side for the size. It's just considered light for a modern BMW.

[ashtaron14]

I drove my buddy's 1M just a few months back. I had a blast. The clutch had a sporty feel, the throws on the shifter was shorter (Basically perfect if on the M3). The car felt tight and nimble.

My problem with the car was the quality. Popping the hood and the trunk, there are a lot of sharp bare metal, Can't they cover it up with some fabric?

Also the traction control lamp kept flashing, basically whenever the turbo kicked in. Fun car, wouldn't be my daily driver though.