Luxury Lounge

part 1........
 
I am not missing. I have been in jail. NO! I haven’t! But, I have had some reservations about posting here. Why? Because I do not agree with the notion that I must always be “fair and balanced”. While I believe I usually am quite fair, quite honestly, I have my own personal bias at times, and I simply want to express and contribute my own personal perspectives without being insulted for doing so, and respectfully consider the contributions of others points of view. It’s really that simple.
 
That said, I owe all of you this 135i review. I promised it to you, and I will keep my word. I appreciated reading Clembo’s likes and dislikes about his 335i. It’s a great car and I wish him lots of enjoyable miles behind the wheel. I completely understand his choice of the convertible.
 
I have driven BMW’s 135i Coupe for about a month and 1,000 miles. The 135i has a wonderful, spirited personality, and in spite of its uniqueness and controversial appearance, it is somehow, in its own strange way, one of the most seductive cars I have ever driven or owned, regardless of price. So, here’s the scoop… This 135i Coupe is equipped with the 6-speed manual tranny, and most of the available packages and options. The 135i comes standard with the sport-tuned suspension. The car sits on 18” wheels and performance RFTs. The primary options on this “1” include leather interior, navigation, iDrive, premium sound system, comfort access, and park distance control. The rest are not as significant, although the built-in iPod and USB adapter option is one worth mentioning, because it finally integrates the iPhone and iPod directly into the audio system and is controlled with the iDrive controller and visible on the Nav screen.
 
Once underway in the 135i, it becomes noticeable that this car is fast… very fast. The engine’s torque comes on at 1400 RPM and pulls like a freight train without stopping all the way to redline. Second gear breaks the speed limit and there are four to go. This car is a small rocket. The gear shift moves nicely and shifting is so smooth that it is almost artificial, and in fact, a CDV is responsible for this feeling in the clutch that some may wish was more sudden and direct. It is obvious that BMW wanted to make this car easy to shift, and they have achieved that. Even on an uphill, the car automatically brakes itself for a few seconds so the car won’t roll back when working the clutch… nice touch.
 
Steering is very smooth and precise, but while so many praise the steering, the ratio is a tad too slow for my taste, and I believe that the wheel must be turned a little too far. Obviously BMW had an eye on safety here by not making the steering overly responsive, but for guys like me, there is a solution… Active Steering. While this car unfortunately doesn’t have it, Active Steering is an option for those that want a faster steering ratio.
 
Back to the engine… ah yes, BMW’s award-winning twin-turbo inline six. This engine is fantastic. 300 HP and 300 lb-ft of torque! There is absolutely no turbo lag whatsoever and, frankly, it feels as if there are no turbos at all. Just tons of power readily available across the entire band. I have no doubt that this car comes in at a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds, as Car & Driver and others have reported…. not far behind the M3! … Smooth as silk, and a wonderful exhaust note that really sounds terrific, without being offensive at all.
 
Handling is very good, but there is a bit too much body roll, and it is obvious again that BMW has placed certain limits on what this car will do… otherwise the lowly 1er would eclipse the mighty M3. There are suspension mods for addressing this. In addition, the car stays so firmly planted that it is almost on the difficult side to get the rear to break loose. A little surprising for this rear-wheel drive car. The stability of the 135i is amazing. Of course, the stability software can be turned off, for those moments when the driver wants to get a little on the daring side of driving, or more appropriately for the track. Also, the performance RFTs do an amazing job of grip, even on wet surfaces.
 
The brakes on the BMW 135i are spectacular. Few brake systems feel as good and perform as well. Period. The endless brake dust, however, is a nasty consequence. If you buy this car, stock up on wheel cleaner, cause you’ll need it. Worth it though, considering the level of stopping power that BMW gives the 135i.
 
Inside the cabin, the amenities are all there, but the appearance is simple and businesslike. Not much extra bling and fluff. Materials and workmanship are very good, and the choices for leathers, woods, metals, and carbon fiber are more than adequate. The start button is surrounded by engraved words “Year one of the 1”. The iDrive interface is a bit nerve rattling at first, but it actually begins to make a lot of sense after a while. In fact, to shortcut many of the functions, BMW has provided a bank of “memory” buttons that can be set to do a whole host of functions with just one press of the button. For example, to shortcut the i-Drive system and tune directly to a specific radio or satellite station, the memory button can be set for that purpose. The memory buttons can even be set to select navigation destinations, so that no navigation setup is required. Just push the button and the entire script is loaded and ready and the chosen destination guidance is on the screen, which is motorized, as it flips open and closed as instructed. There is voice command for the integrated Bluetooth telephone system, as well as the climate control, which is a dual system for the driver and the passenger, providing each with their own settings. The premium (Logic 7) audio system option is very good, but still not the very best out there. All the other little “luxury” niceties are equipped on this car… rain-sensing wipers, headlight washers, auto lighting, keyless entry and ignition, built-in remote home-link, etc., etc.
 
One surprise is the level of quiet inside the cabin. The road is quiet and is not harsh, as I would have been expected with the sport suspension. It’s a nice surprise actually, as the power seats with power-adjustable lumbar support are very comfy, and the ride is smooth.
 
The rear seat is adequate, but just barely. I had no problem with my wife up front and two kids in the rear, but I would not suggest that four large adults take this car on a lengthy road trip without making pit stops to stretch out. The trunk space is a surprise, as there is much more room in there than I would have first imagined. In addition, the rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split, and that makes for very good additional cargo capacity. ............
 
.......... end of part 1... continue to part 2

Replies to this message:
• houdini1 (May 03, 2008 4:57 am)
• anthonyp (May 03, 2008 12:31 pm)
• esf (May 03, 2008 3:55 pm)
• tx_buzzard (May 04, 2008 7:35 pm)
  • circlew (May 05, 2008 2:58 am)
    • houdini1 (May 05, 2008 6:23 am)

part 2..........
 
All in all, the BMW 135i is a surprisingly comfortable and fun-to-drive car that offers an almost unbelievable and practically ridiculous amount of excitement and enjoyment behind the wheel. The combination of the twin-turbo six, and the sport-tuned suspension, with its huge brakes, nice exhaust note, suspension dynamics, precise handling and great road grip make this car one of the most enjoyable and fun-to-drive cars that I have ever experienced. To illustrate this point, as much as I love my Carrera S Cab… I am quite often willing to park it in order to drive the BMW 135i.
 
Now, there is a little more to this story. On a personal note, I have been terribly frustrated about not being able to put the top down on my 135i Coupe. It originally seemed quite logical to me that my one convertible (Porsche) would take away the desire to have the 135i as a convertible. That logic has turned out to be meaningless, as there is no logic here anyway. I continue to want to put the top down on this 135i, and that’s all there is to it. Our weather here is truly spectacular most of the year, and just I love driving a convertible. Period. So… I have contacted my BMW dealer and explained this, and the management has ironed out a suitable arrangement for me to trade in my 135i Coupe on a 135i Convertible. In spite of what some might want to make of this, I feel no shame or embarrassment whatsoever for being true to myself on this and ordering the convertible. (I’m quite sure Clembo understands!) And, oh yes, I learned a little lesson with the Coupe and the convertible has been ordered with the Active Steering.
 
Lastly, I’ll address the question of why this car should exist next to the 3-Series. The evolution of the 3-Series has caused it to get bigger and bigger, as well as more elaborate and sophisticated. So big and sophisticated that there is now a gaping hole in the lineup for a smaller model. The 3-Series is a phenomenal car, and is perfect for someone wanting a sophisticated good-looking, good-handling vehicle of that size and stature. There is always the argument that a fully-loaded 1-Series is so expensive that one should buy a base 3-Series. But that’s not a new argument. Load up a 3-Series, and then one might consider a base 5-Series. But that reasoning is faulty because it suggests that someone doesn’t specifically want the car they are actually considering in the first place.
 
Then there is the argument about weight. What’s the point? The 135i Coupe gets from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds. Is that not fast enough? And, BMW will answer the weight concern for those diehards that need even more spectacular performance from a small vehicle… there will be a performance 1-Series in the future… possibly 2011 when the 1-Series will likely undergo a change. The 1-Series doesn’t need to justify its existence. The latest scope of the 3-Series makes it obvious. It reminds me of the way the Honda Civic evolved to the point of no longer being the smallest car in the Honda lineup. While the BMWs and Honda cars don’t directly compare, the example is appropriate. In addition, for those that understand the trends in the automobile industry and the automotive marketplace, smaller cars are absolutely going to continue to be more and more popular with the American public.
 
The BMW 1-Series is a gift that comes at the right time. Counterpoint, however, is that the 135i is simply too much fun and not enough value or practicality. That, of course, depends upon one’s point of view. Me? I’m hooked on the 1.
 
Regards to all,
 
TagMan

Replies to this message:
• lexusguy (May 02, 2008 11:56 pm)
  • tagman (May 03, 2008 1:18 pm)
    • lexusguy (May 03, 2008 1:53 pm)
• jlbl (May 03, 2008 1:07 am)
• clembo (May 03, 2008 3:38 am)
• circlew (May 03, 2008 7:26 am)

Replying to: tagman (May 02, 2008 9:59 pm)

Replies to this message:
• tagman (May 03, 2008 1:18 pm)
  • lexusguy (May 03, 2008 1:53 pm)

Replying to: tagman (May 02, 2008 9:59 pm)

Hi, TG, welcome back and many thanks for your review, which I found to be very informative. I missed your posts in this forum. Every time I saw a 1-Series on the roads, I asked to myself 'How would TG feel in his?'
 
I agree with you that there is no need to attack poster's personal opinions on cars or whatever (provided these are not offensive). I believe each poster can nicely post his/her personal opinion just for the pleasure of sharing it but not for purposely attacking other's. Every possible opinion is biased to some extent—how could it not be ? Other posters which do not share that particular opinion are free to post theirs. That will keep the forum fair, balanced and enjoyable to ourselves in the first place, and then to any reader. If only, every poster should keep him/herself restrained in order to not offend the antagonists. (That said, a bit of sparky provocation from time to time may well keep the discussion alive!!!)
 
Regards,
Jose
 
PS: 'There is not Justice but judges'

Replying to: tagman (May 02, 2008 9:59 pm)

Tag - nice to hear from you again. The review of your 135 was excellent and I can understand much of it since getting my 335 last week. You really described the engine well, it is truly the magic soul of these cars. I am glad that you are enjoying the 135 as much as it seems you are - it is a wonderful car.
 
I also fully understand why you are getting the Cab version, there is something about driving with the top down on a beautiful day (or night) that is hard to pass up, especially in a great car. I get your theory that the 997 was supposed to play that role but why not have as many options as you can, I own 2 convertibles as well. If I didn't use may Cayman as a weekend car in Porsche Club Autocross and Track Days, it would be a convertible as well.
 
Now on to your point about the need to be "fair and balanced' in our opinions on the board. I don't buy into that, most posters here have strong opinions (or even bias) about what they like best. We have had a few dust ups that maybe went too far but for the most part I believe our individual thoughts, ideas, and passions are what makes this board interesting to read on a daily basis. I hope you continue to contribute your comments to the board as things have gotten a bit dull during your absence.

Replying to: lexusguy (May 02, 2008 2:38 pm)

Replies to this message:
• lexusguy (May 03, 2008 12:35 pm)

Replying to: circlew (May 02, 2008 9:45 am)

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• houdini1 (May 03, 2008 4:50 am)
• circlew (May 03, 2008 8:42 am)

Replying to: houdini1 (May 02, 2008 10:57 am)

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• houdini1 (May 03, 2008 7:59 am)
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