BMW M135i AUTO vs MANUAL Test/Review 2016 LCI 

That scrap, is someone else's car. Maybe all they can afford. Nothing wrong with that. People need to get around.

Two guys having a blast in their cars. What a joyful vid :-)

This seems like the most fun thing ever, just cruising around in M135i's

Great video but digging someone out at the end for having a car that they can afford is not really classy is it? Someone filming an M5 video might think the same about your motor

The BMW auto box is so good. You will inevitably wish you had it if you drive the manual. You will feel more in touch with the car in the manual obviously but maaaaaan the auto box makes up for it hugely. Old BMW auto boxes were not so great but these days BMW is king for them I think. The M135i is hard to beat for its price tag. If you spend more you think you should have saved up for an M3 if you spend less you think I should be in straight 6 turbo not a 2 litre car and you arrive at wishing you got an M135i instead of a GTI or S3. It is not the best looking car but to me 10/10 for all the rest.

Sweet. My old 135i dct felt faster than my M4 6MT so I totally agree with you. Sometimes I feel lazy and want an auto but you can't beat the manual. Nice vids Joe.

Agree to a large extent. I took a long time test driving several cars - in the end (personal preference) chose 2013 auto m135i with adaptive ,having tried golf r, rs3 and manual m135i, it was the best compromise of adrenaline , power and excitement ... Ultimately whatever puts a smile on your face... gonna get another for my next car!

The zf 8speed is so good it even makes the dsg boxes redundant

That Estoril Blue is amazing... really contemplating between the Blue and Black..or perhaps mineral grey. less attention on the road I suppose.

I'd get the adapted dampers & I'd get the auto that's all I'd spec. I don't think you need any of the other stuff

Great vid, thoroughly enjoyed it!

Great video Joe - as the owner of a manual white LCI (with sunroof), I was keen to see this video for a while. Posted to the BMW M135i & M235i UK Facebook group.

Ahh the Bois! Know the area well and some great roads! Good vid Joe and good channel. Keep up the good work!!

This is the kind of thing that people want to see. The people that take driving seriously don’t need to know about anything that isn’t a BMW. All they need to know is the difference between the models of the range that suits them and their needs. I have always had manual BMW but the 8 speed ZF auto is the best dual clutch system available and it’s proven to be the better choice for a daily driver.

I'd loved to drive cars with my friends and talk to eachother like that. Awesome video !

I am so happy. Shopping for one now. Hopefully getting on by end of the year.

Great video mate keep it up! Just picked my M135i Auto up with the M performance exhaust and body kit. Absolutely love it!

great video, you guys are good at communicating and talking about the performance of the cars (I've got the 2012 1 series, not quite as much tech as you guys ;) )

I used to love manuals but now I’m getting on and lazy autos all the way

Best video yet Joe, nice one my friend!

Hey Joe, Love the vids. I am collecting my first M135I, auto box in blue tomorrow and can't wait. Thanks for the sound advice and action regarding these cars. Ant K.

Great video, love all your M135i videos - infact I just ordered a new one only this morning :)

Great video man! Can not wait to pick my auto up, 2 days before my 22nd birthday so will be a nice treat!

i know that roundabout at the beginning of the video, good road

Hi Jo, I am keen to know your thoughts on making my M140i auto more comfortable on our pot-holed roads. Like you, I love the car but should probably have specced the adaptive suspension - would your new Eibach springs and spacers make a big difference? Thanks!

Nice one bud. Thoroughly enjoyed that as usual. Top music too 😎👍

Hi Joe, thanks for the videos, I really enjoy them. I am looking for a pre-registered M140i, and although plentiful, most of them don't have adaptive suspension. How important do you think it is to have it? I can find a car with it, but it would probably mean compromising in other areas such as colour etc. Would be great to have your opinion on this if you have time.

I drive a M140i auto, although a manual would be fun on a track I can imagine it would be a bit of a handful on a damp public road... Then I'd be constantly worrying about the clutch 🤷🏻‍♂️

Never considered the dampers tbh, think it's now going to be added. Ordering my M240i in the next month or so, can't wait :) Great videos keep it up Joe

Great!!! The UK is wonderful, specially driving a BMW. I'm from Brazil, we don't have nice road to enjoy a sport vehicle, unfortunately.

Hey Joe, this is quite interesting since I was thinking about getting an auto or a manual. But I'm missing some technical information here. Since the automatic has the much longer gearing (0,67 vs. 0,85) I would like to know the benefit in fuel consumption in different driving situations. Is there any at all? How big is the drag in different gears auto vs. manual or does the auto really do what the driver wants it to do? For example how long does is take to switch from first to rear when parking? Do you have to wait a second until the wheels turn backwards? Can you stay in 8th downhill and just roll or does it shift back so you have to put your foot down to keep going the same speed? What's the real weight of both cars?

Another great video, thanks for sharing. I am very pleased with mine so far. TBH, even in theory it's slower I would say I will pick up a MT all the time. Its more about the feeling of getting connected and the fun of driving. There is only one thing I am not happy with the MT in m135i, the gearing changing is still a bit too long especially for the first 3 gears. I think it makes sense since it's not an actual 'M' car. But overall, what an amazing car ! Would recommend for anyone who is interested in getting one!!

The auto box is a dream,It costs more(£1600 approx) but worth every penny,also reflected in a 0-60 time of 4.9 secs

8:54 ouch!

You guys legit talking about speed as opposed to how much you can feel the car engagement between aut and manual. Yes auto is faster, but is it fun? Can you actually feel the car?

Hi Joe, on the manual is there much of a fuel saving between comfort and eco? Or sport and comfort?

my first impression of the m140 auto vs manual is the auto seems so much faster ive compared it on a few straights i know well and it achieves a much higher speed over the same distance but its not as enjoyable in some ways, sports auto and sports mode are just plain crazy.

Great review lads, well done.

The jump John gets will be the bluetooth delay in those drag races

Love your videos joe. Very entertaining.

As always great content Joe. Like you, I thought the gear change speed would affect more the distance between the two cars but after all it's quite even. And that EstorilBlue vs AlpineWhite, I mean , I am digging the more noticeable contrast between the black lower part in the back in the white version, but still I think these blue ones are awesome :) I am finally driving my lci with a manual, and that gear stick is stiff and vibrates as hell while idling. Gearbox on the jcw was way smoother but I guess it's because is still brand new. I have a question, not sure if it's stupid or not but well ... When you downshift, why do the revs go up without releasing the clutch pedal? I mean this is a first for me, so ieah quite surprised, doesn't give the chance to fix you messing up 5th to 2nd by mistake lol Take care mate

Thanks Joe & John, that was very useful. The only reason I was leaning towards a manual was from the experience of driving a Saab Aero auto on tight country roads & wishing I was on on top of the revs in a manual. I resorted to leaving it in 3rd gear. I suspect, from what you say, that the BMW box is more responsive? The second question is whether there is a sports option for the auto box? I am slightly confused because I see cars listed as having a sports box as an option - when it seems logical to equip all M series cars with one! So is there a sports option and did John's have it - if not did he wish he had?

another awesome video mate. my m135i is manual and my dad's m235i is the auto. because of the instant response and changes it still does well against my stage 2 m135i and I'm running nearly 100bhp and lbft more. cracking gearbox in sport but I find it useless as any auto around town in comfort. really not for me and I love the manual and how you actually have to drive the car.

Great video this is what driving is all about More than just getting from a to b

Picking up the 2016 auto this weekend. Can't wait to see what it can do :)

what a car! took delivery of my 2016 m135i auto, your videos made me buy one, enjoyable watching as usual!

you need to do same vid with m2 manual vs dct what would you go for in them? thanks

Enjoyed that great video, when i searched for my M135i i was looking for manual, but they are so rare here i could only find an auto, after driving manual cars all my life i have to say that i am definitely not disappointed that ZF8 works great.... keep em coming man.

Really interesting watching how much your hands are moving around with the steering wheel as soon as you push on. Had one of these and stashed it in for a golf r the other week partly because I hated the steering and how uninspiring/confidence killing the steering feel was. Good comparison though

that's quite a good review...nice looking cars by the way, you can never go wrong with a bmw.

Now that I have an auto on my 4 series I don't think I can ever go back to manual. They're so good these days, and they will make manual obsolete eventually

Excellent video, my last couple of cars have been a e46 330ci and then a r56 mini cooper s JCW which I'm now looking at changing and the M135 is one of the options very high on my list so this was a relevant video to me. wish you hadn't of dissed the Ford KA though... that's somebodies car and you should never criticise a person for what they choose to drive, I'm sure it meets their needs perfectly (and the KA is a fun little car)

Another great video Joe, where about's did you film it ?

Great video. I'm going to order an M140i when it's launched.

Manual every day of the week.

Really good video boys, well done

good review I went without the adaptive suspension on me little m235i but I didn't think it needed it as it is sold as a sports coupe as such

is this Sussex/Surrey near Gatwick?

Hi joe I am ordering a m140i and wondering on weather to go for auto or manual most of my driving is around town what is your opinion if you don't mind

Great video Joe! Having now driven the cars back to back, if you were picking up a new one tomorrow would you go for auto or manual? The 135 I've put a deposit down on doesn't have active dampers and is well below my budget so I'm now thinking that is a must! Thanks again for sharing.

I have just one question, I want to buys a bmw 520 d, but no idea about manual or automatic transmission. which is the best for you? I am afraid about the crack of the auto box. please help

Another interesting and useful video Joe.

That gear change crunch made me cringe😆

Mines not got heated seats but I will take the hk over a heated seat all day long

Nice one again Joe! What trick did you pull at 21:20? Looks like a type of e-brake boosting ;-)

Why is the chrome grill only on the blue model? Id prefer black grill on blue

@12:47, @16:22, and @20:09 why you censored the speedometer? Haha +Joe Achilles

Hey Joe,Nice comparison between the auto and the manual. Around minute 15 you say its not a test to see wich is quicker,and 2 minutes later you Guys are dragracing them😋 We have to be honnest,we always ask ourself wich is the fastest,because we are car-guys😀 Me and my girlfriend orderd a 5door m135 in februari and it schould be available at the end of may. I did a testdrive with a m235 auto and i have to say they drive verry well,not a fan of auto cars at all (my currently daily car is a 520d touring auto from 2007)but i was plezantly surprised. But i always prefer a manual in a performance car,i think it connect you more with the car than an auto. So I orderd a manual m135 and i am trilled to discover how they drive and perform against the auto🤔 Keep the vids comming and greetings from Belgium 👍🏻

stuck in the middle of a 125i/m135i or 3 series 325i/330i coupe/convertible ... 2012-2014 or even a 4 series any suggestions fuel wise, driving **reliability!..

I can't wait to go and collect my 1 series manual but should be good, Nice video!

Loved the comparison Joe. I've ordered a manual but it's a tough choice. After running back to back if you were buying another one today would you opt man or auto?

Great videos Joe! One Q, can you not configure to have 'Comfort' suspension on the adaptive's while steering, throttle etc. in sport mode?

Brilliant. Your best video yet Joe. Great insight into both cars. You can't really say one is better than the other. Just depends what you use it for! 5 months in and I love my auto Estoril Blue 5 door!

Looking to buy one of these and this exact car is currently for sale at Renault Enfield! Anything to be aware of?

Great video Joe, I've got an LCI manual and was surprised about how it likes revving out to the red line for a big turbo engine.

this is mine …….Vehicle options S1CA Selection of COP relevant vehicles S230 Extra package, EU-specific S258 Tire with run-flat functionality S2PA Wheel bolt retainer S2TB Sport automatic transmission S2VF Adaptive M suspension S302 Alarm system S3AG Reversing camera S3AP Windshield with grey wedge S403 Glass roof, electrical S420 Sun protection glazing S423 Floor mats, velours S428 Warning triangle and first aid kit S430 Interior/outside mirror with auto dip S431 Interior mirror with automatic-dip Vehicle options S459 Seat adjuster, electric, with memory S493 Storage compartment package S494 Seat heating driver/passenger S4AD Interior trim strips, alu, brushed, fine S4DL Accent strips, black, high-gloss S4NE Blow-by heater S4UK 5-seater S502 Headlight cleaning system S508 Park Distance Control (PDC) S521 Rain sensor S522 Xenon Light S524 Adaptive Headlights S534 Automatic air conditioning S544 Cruise control with brake function S563 Light package Vehicle options S575 Supplementary 12V sockets S5AC High-beam assistant S5DA Passenger airbag deactivation S5DC Rear-seat headrests, folding S5DP Park Assistent S609 Navigation system Professional S654 DAB tuner S674 Hi-Fi System Harman Kardon S698 Area-Code 2 for DVD S6AC Intelligent emergency SOS call S6AE Teleservices S6AK Connected Drive Services S6AM Real-Time Traffic Information S6AN Concierge Services S6AP Remote Services Vehicle options S6AR Internet S6FV Online Entertainment S6NR Apps S6NS Convenience phone, expanded Smartphone S6WA Instrument cluster, expanded equipment S6WA Instrument cluster, expanded equipment L812 National version England / Ireland S850 Dummy-SALAPA S880 On-board vehicle literature English S8KA Dummy-SALAPA S8S2 Coding alarm signal S8S3 Automatic locking when driving off S8SM Car ident. Number visible from outside S8TG Thief proofing device S8V1 Label Vehicle options S1CB CO2 package S249 Multifunction f steering wheel S2NH M Sport brakes S2PG BMW LA wheel M Double Spoke 436 S2VL Variable Sport steering S481 Sports seat S4AE Armrest front, retractable S710 M leather racing steering wheel S715 M Aerodynamics package S760 High gloss shadow line S775 Headlining anthracite S853 Language version English

The 4 wheel drive in mine just launches with no wheelspin so i guess thats why i got better traction

Watching this made me miss home!

FYI for your spec, search for a BMW VIN decoder and stick the last 7 digits of your VIN in :) Great video, currently have a 130i but will end up with one of these some day...

Any auto Rev macthing with your manual transmission

Fugly cars but the Engine brilliant,i hinted to my missus what a good deal this car looks and she just said it's horrible and Fugly so how now to convince her as she don't give a shit about speed?

Great vids. But I'll have to buy one now!!

I was looking at one of these in Auto, but my only concern was when in paddle shift manual mode does it allow you to lean on the gear your in like a manual does or does it automatically change?

Shoutout Amersham crew!

Good job guys wish someone would do a video with the Lci AND a LSD im saving up for that but cant find alot of info on it

love the look kinda like the Ferrari ff style. very unique

Joe what’s your fav all time beemer mate?

American here... just wondering what is percentage breakdown for which gearbox most of you choose over there for this car and BMWs in general? I read most people spec the higher priced luxury cars with autos or dct over in Europe.

Had a race with a m135i against my 335d xdrive and had it off the mark up to about 60mph then the tables turned and it overtook me at about 80 they are little rockets great car sounded better too

I'm specking up an m135i at the moment. In the video you mentioned that the blue car has the harman kardon and the white has the bmw advanced. How much better is the hk if at all? Thanks.

What's you're reasoning behind choosing to have the model number removed?

11:42 its call footrest

You do realise that there's a slight delay when talking on the phone so there's no chance of getting a fair start.

Nice work on blurring the speedo Joe! 😂

Quick question how is the 2012 120d I mean it's got a big engine is it any fast...

Der pre lci gefällt mir rundum besser. Finde den neuen vorn zu brav und "allerwelts-like" und hinten stören mich die zu großen Rückleuchten und somit der Wegfall des gecleanten Hecks. Ganz schlimm sind die Rückstrahler im Heckstoßfänger. Absolut unschön und überflüssig, da es vorher auch ohne machbar war. Bin froh mich nach Release dennoch für den pre-LCI entschieden zu haben... 😁

subbed mate, I'm looking for a 135 but an e82 model

Why 3 door, not 5?

Thinking I'm going to sell my fn2 type R and get one of these!

i ve the 140i xdrive but i can't feel the very pontentiality of my car... the next one surely MANUAL