I decide to have a go in the new 2019 M135i and compare to the crop of 4 cylinder 2.0 Turbo cars. Hope you enjoy the video - give it a like and subscribe to the channel. Follow me on Instagram @k4byx #m135i #m140i #f40
Ahhh the voice of reason. No moaning, just a true straight up honest review. You cannot compare to a M 140, cause it's a completely different car. It's gone, it's not coming back, let it go and move on. Yes the 140 was and still is a true beast. Having driven one frequently it's a scary piece on engineering beauty. As soon as the company car I've currently got ends its term I'm opting out and getting one of these bad boys.
Saw this video 2 years ago and felt the same, now I have a M140i (from a 2014 m135i) and it is brilliant, this new m135i has only shown to get worse with age!
Good review. We chose it over a 240i, S3, A35 and Golf R. It's a great daily car with great seats, upgraded interior, loads of tech and fair discounts for a new car.
Saw 120d M Sport in red with 19" bi colour wheels at my local in the flesh. Lot lower/squatter than I thought which makes huge difference in real world. Shame it was sold as was very tempted
was taken for a ride in one of these earlier this week, beautiful car minus the grille, rapid! Although im still too young to drive I felt like the turbo ruined the cornering experience, 25 psi coming on at once round a corner isn't a nice thought lol, absolutely mooooooves though, one of the best rides I've ever been in :) It's a shame there's very little overrun :(
It grows on you the more you see it in real life. We ordered the 118i M sport one after our test drive. Too bad that the M135i wasn't available at the time.. Maybe it would have convinced me to sell my motorcycle and buy that. Thank you for the great review and common sense! 👍
@@DownShiftThrottle thank you! Just finished a sporty ride on my motorbike (triumph street triple RS) and yeah there is no comparing the two. Maybe when I am old and have kids this will change haha
Hi pal great vid as always 👍I’ve just swapped the g20 330i for one of these and honestly can not fault it, i just fancied a change and staying with bmw. It ticks a lot of box’s for me. Your right with everything you say. I personally think the move to fwd/xdrive is for the best and people need to let go ,times have change and practically is everything.this engines a peace and it still shifts and the handling is amazing.it’s Definitely no 6 pot tho I’ve own quite a few over the years but performance wise it’s not night and day in the real world over the 140i
Brilliant review. I do like the the M135i coming from the japanese cars background, being 4 pot and AWD,I’m yet to test drive one and see how it feels like. Die hard fans will say the 4 pot banger ain’t good for power lol
Great review. I'm hoping to order one this year. The car you reviewed didn't have the adaptive suspension. In your honest opinion if I ordered one on the standard 18's without the adaptive do you think the ride would be ok as a daily driver?
Good review, thanks. I'm considering to buy 118i as it seems to be the best drivers car in the Golf segment currently, even though it's no longer RWD. What's the name of the music in the intro?
It's a more direct competitor now to the Golf. Bigger boot and space inside than before and more practical. Music is some copyright free gangster music....even though I don't consider myself a gangster lol
It's a great car.....probably the best hot hatch from the current crop of AWD. It's not a M140i though or a replacement for that. Check out my X2 M35i vid I did recently.....
Honest review. I have a M140i and there’s no doubting this new M135i is a good car (I had a reasonably long test drive in one a few weeks back at a launch event). I think 140 owners may be underwhelmed, but owners moving from a competitor’s car will probably think it’s great. It is better than the old car in some areas as you mentioned: ride, refinement, feeling of solidity - front strut brace? - but the 140 has it nailed for engine, ZF auto box, steering, 50/50 weight distribution and looks (though looks are subjective I know). I’m waiting for the forthcoming 4 series, which I expect will have a M440i version and also the next 2, which will presumably have a M240i version as it does now. Both should have the six and rear biased X drive.
Nice and honest review. I do own a M140i now for 1 year, bought it new from factory. It's a great car and the engine is a beast. Gives me that feeling of driving a kart. Just something very special imo. This M135 is a new generation and something we have to accept. The big engines are gone in the smaller cars. It will drive good and maybe even better in corners, yes it's a good car, thats what we expect from BMW... but my petrolhead heart would take the M140 over this one.
Fortunately I've had the FK8. It's a great...in fact best FWD car for thrills and handling with the best in business 6 speed manual. It's more fun to drive than a M135i
Great review, borrowed one for 2 days and did the same thing. My last BMW was an M240i coupe (went 2 years ago) and that was my favourite car of all time. This new m135i is also brilliant on fuel (38mpg I managed rather than 25 out of my 240) plus puts the power down in the wet like the 240i did in the dry (only!). Anyway, my new one arrives end of December and I can't wait. Thanks for the review, agree with everything you said except the sound pumped inside I too didn't like, but found you can turn it off in the idrive. So, remus exhaust from Motech and that's that sorted 🤘
It's a decent car....looks are subjective. A think though a Golf R is better looking car and the A Class by far has a better interior. Unless you want a BMW that's the only reason you'd have it.
Great vid, really nice to see a review focused on the car and it's merits, and not just talking about the negative comments elsewhere. Given the choice, what would you have between the A35 and this?
Thanks mate.....you really did appreciate the vid Haha. It's a tough choice.....the A35 has a way better interior no doubt. It feels more expensive. The M135i though has a better drive and is a more focussed drivers car. I would probably go for the A35 though only because of the way that car looks inside and out.
A good balanced review. I am a fan of the M140. I owned one for a couple of years but changed to a 435 x-drive last year. It doesn’t have the same power or urgency of the M140 but I know if the weather is bad I can still carry on using it!
Iv loved these since they came out. Personally I think they look nicer than the m140i. Bmw have to keep up to date and I think they've done well with this yoke.
Fair point. The car is much modern inside than the outgoing 1 series as a whole. It's a very capable car in this form too. Die hard fans of 6 cylinder engines will not give it a chance I know lol
One of the most balanced reviews. Comparisons against the M140i are pointless as they are completely different cars like 911 vs R8 or Veyron vs Huayra. Speaking of grip, the M140i has an undeserving rep. Mine has an MP LSD and it grips and gets all its power done in corners with no issues. I floor it from stand still and out of tight corners and haven’t had to ever correct the car.
I have always enjoyed your videos but you haven't sold it to me with the new 1 series. Unless I end up buying a true M car I will be hanging onto my M140i long term. Looking forward to more videos around your M4.
Thank You Andrew. That's a fair comment to be honest. See I reviewed the M135i (review if you wanna call it that lol) by not directly comparing it to the M140i but more to the other crop of 2.0 4 cyl turbo engines. It's not bad when compared to those. It's a bit better in certain areas than the M140i but the engine is definitely not an improvement. Definitely hold onto the M140i. More to follow on the M4 soon! Thanks mate!
Nice review good work....although like everyone on RU-vid you fell into the trap of:- "I'm not going to compare to the M140i" Then continue to mention the M140i in almost every sentence.
See it's hard not to mention the M140i especially when I ran one for over 2 years. The new M135i is great all rounder but it's not the best in the pack and certainly doesn't have a USP over any other hot hatch.
Update.....after test driving the m135i have place an order Tamworth BMW, admittedly with a few options (pro pack, tech pack, sunroof, red seats and sapphire black metallic paint) but they've made this car a much more attractive option. The trade in on m140i was too good September 21 delivery 👍
You said you have a G20 3-series? I've driven neither, but sat in both the similar 2-series Gran Coupe and G20, and to my amazement, I think Iike the ergonomics in the 2GC better than in the 3. The rear in the 3 is MARGINALLY roomier, and in the front you sit a bit more "within" or "behind" the cockpit, but otherwise, I did NOT like it more than the 2 GC. What's your take on that? Am I nuts to consider the M235i over the G20 330i? BMW, with their packaging and pricing schemes, blur the lines, and make it hard to sort out.
I have recently bought the m235i and although the dimensions are similar it isn’t as roomy as the 3 series because of the shorter wheel base. I bought the m235i to save a bit of cash and I didn’t need the extra space in the rear as my kids have all grown up. My previous car was a tuned 430d m sport gran coupe and by comparison I preferred the engine in the 430 (I just really like the torque feel in a diesel 6 cylinder) coming from a diesel to a petrol I am loving the sound of the engine but I know it doesn’t compare to the sound of the old 240i. All in all though this car gives me far more confidence through the bends with precision handling and grip. One thing I disagree on is that you say the interior of the A30 is better but I think the build quality and user interface of the m235i just takes the podium top spot. The Mercedes is more glitzy and futuristic looking but a bit over the top for my liking. I guess it’s just a matter of taste. The biggest disappointment for me is the gearbox, it’s not bad but just not as refined as the gearbox in my 430d. I’m not sure if it’s the same gearbox and could just do with a software update but it’s a bit harsh and the changes don’t occur at the right time (hard to explain) The m235i in my opinion is prettier than the m135i and both look far better looking in the flesh. Great review, very refreshing to not be comparing to the all so different 140i.
Few points to note..... Gearbox is different to your 430d. That was a ZF and this is made by Asin. Differently configured and slower to respond. The infotainment and idrive is decent but it's not as good as the A35 MBUX system....trust me I've used both a lot. Perhaps a personal preference but this is better than what you had in your 430d. Overall it's a good car.....the M235i at least looks a bit better than the M135i
DownShift Throttle I definitely plan to haha, I currently have a 118i F20, has all the power i need for a drive round town, affordable insurance wise, cheap running costs so i just decided to upgrade to the new shape 118i as I personally love it, ordered it 4 weeks ago and don’t look like im getting it for at least another 4 weeks, im told its in production with a chassis number but its been that way for a while now, the wait is killing me
AMG A35 is a good all rounder....prettier, way better interior, sounds quieter than this though but has a better gearbox.....however the M135i does drive better and more focussed around corners. Both cars I drove had the same tyres too....
I drove a new M135i a few weeks ago very underwhelming for me I'm afraid!!! I have a old M135I lci which I've had from a few months old , which I've done a few mods to its far better .
I understand where you coming from also. If you've owned a F20 M135i or M140i you will most definitely be disappointed at this as a current flagship 1 series. If however you look at it in the same light as a the current crop of hatchbacks then it makes sense....soon though people will change towards it.
I can almost live with the fact it’s a 2.0L and 4wd, but I’m not a huge fan of the looks, the gearbox has got awful reviews from everyone who’s test drove one and it sounds awful!! I think those seats will age quickly too and can’t justify the premium BMW charge for leather. I certainly won’t be changing my M140i any time soon. Great informative video though Mo 👍
I think I agree with pretty much everything you have said. Seats look good but after about 10k miles they will look terrible....that I know for a fact . Gearbox is hard to gel with especially when left in drive mode. Thanks for commenting mate!
It be interesting to see how this sells against the previous 1 series. I'm sure the the BMW share holders may have something to say if the consumer decide to go to their competitors.
Previously the M140i only made up like 5% of overall 1 series sales. They'll be more interested to see if the 1 series outsell previous model as it's where they have made much more improvements in drive, practicality and engineering.
So you've had it for a day and thought it was a good car the Audi and VW will soon be updated like this and the Mercedes have been. I'll be interested to see which one you'd buy of those four high end hot versions when as I said they've all been updated.
It's a close one between this and the A35 as the A35 is also one of the newest cars on the market... .A35 interior is as good as it gets. M140i just has that edge over on driving dynamics. Golf R is still the sharpest to drive and more race car!
@@DownShiftThrottle and that's what I believe people will decide upon as these cars are so generic now and perform exactly the same how do you separate them if not by looks
I think ultimately now it comes down to what brand, style and tech you prefer. BMW has lost its USP of rear wheel drive however.....the M140i didn't sell in huge numbers compared to the Audi S3, Golf R and the like. As the saying goes....if you can't beat them....join them! That is exactly what has happened here.
I understand your point but it has to now be viewed as a true competitor to the crop of Hot Hatches. Yes its lost its USP but it is a far more usable car than the M140i.....I'll miss the 6cyl too but it's a different car altogether
Some reviews say X-drive can throw 15% to rear wheels. Others say it's 50%. Big difference! Can someone shed light on the facts? If it's only 15% it hardly seems worth the trouble.
History is proof....no one like the E87 1 series when it launched in 2004 but then everyone liked it. No one liked the F20 1 series when it was launched in 2012 but then everyone liked it....now no one like the F40 1 series....but give it a few months and you've guessed it.....everyone will like it.
Can't compare the new 135i to the f20 140i, this last one is to replace the old 135i... another 1 series will be released with more than 400 bhp hybrid to replace the old 140i...
Lets look at the good things on it..the seats are nice.. the cars slower than the old car it's uglier than old car. it's been down graded to four cylinder. those digital dials are like something out of a playstation. and ugly as hell. R.I.P BMW you just ruined a perfectly good hot hatch.. this things gonna loose alot of sales you really should sack the idiot who thought of this idea of a car from design to engine. keep the seats though xD
They will sell loads of them Mark my word! It is clearly obvious they will make a M140i or maybe even call it M145i and give it at least another 60 or 70bhp on top! Just like Merc have done with the a class and done both a A35 and A45.
I'm in an 2018 m2 dct & I am definitely keeping it , it's just so full of character & I don't care if its slower than this m135i , they have even pumped 6 cylinder noise in to the cabin !!
Mate if you're in a M2 why would you be interested in this.....I don't see the logic there.... the M2 is a M car.....this is a completely different car for a completely different customer base at a completely different price point.....but I appreciate your concern and comment....
Sorry mate have to disagree with you on that , this car replaces the m140i & you bought that car because of its engine noise power speed, maybe even the way it looked but this replacement is just like the rest of the crowd out there , I thought about selling my m2 for something more practical like a 5 door m140i but won't even consider the m135i, so ill keep her another year, I enjoy your reviews though buddy .
Sorry mate but this car is 🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮 At £43K you could get last year's M2 comp. 2017 C63. And to be fair I much prefer the A35 AMG - better looking inside and out and comes with the snap, crackle and pop! 😂 BMW have ruined this car. No from me 👎🏽
Nice vid Mo, but i find the sound utter shite I just hate it & like you say the box is also rubbish. For me the car is a massive let down I just love my M140i too much.
I know what you Steve. It's best not to look at it as a M140i successor. It's pretty much on par with the other 2.0 hot hatches....better in some respects and not as good in others....
yeah spot on it sounds shit, its probably dynamically a much better car than the outgoing deathtrap, but they need to work on the sound and that grill before I get my wife one, it is a nice wife car I suppose, I can cancel her life insurance once the M140i is part exchanged
And BMW could of given more options to change the dials after all it been a LCD screen........Cupra have alot more choice when it comes to different options on the speedo so why couldn't BMW have done that?
@@DownShiftThrottle Sorry mate but I agree with MrFreebieJeebs. I love your M140i reviews but in this one I don't see from you the same excitement, your mood is changed.
I tried but i just cant find anything to like on this thing. Actually the interior is decent there you go found something nice to say about it. Other than that its garbage
Put a different badge on it & it could almost be anything (ford, vauxhall,Mazda,Kia) 👎🏻 you can't polish a turd my friend 🤪 I also don't mean to be rude but it's not over 300 HP running through all 4 wheels but just the front 2 wheels.. this car only uses the rear wheels when the front wheels slip !!!
See I'd rather have the Hyundai i30N with similar power to the Megane but with a nicer interior. I think what this shows is that there is a HOT HATCH choice at this level for a variety of people!
@@DownShiftThrottle it does 😉 but BMW were different with a RWD car, it set us apart, gave us individualality, fun, the ultimate driving Machine.. 🤔 the new 1 series is a nice car perhaps as a 116 or 118 but to have it as an *M* for me isn't justified.. the *M* cars were always special.. something to look up too.. a raw sporty car that stands out from the crowd 🤔 the M135 join's the crowd that is already over crouded !
I think the issue with this m135i isn’t its ability, yes it’s a standout car and dynamically it’s better than the competition. But that isn’t what we wanted or the market needed. The previous gen was different it was unique, it wasn’t available anywhere else and it was a monster, one he’ll of a machine. 6pot RWD Proportions Manual And people bought the m135/40i because they wanted something different. Now there is much much less reason to get a bmw 1 series over a Golf R, S3, A35 etc
@@DownShiftThrottle no problem, i also like your G20 aswell. we have an m sport plus 320i in Portimao Blue. hope your enjoying yours as much as we are!
sorry but skip the new 1 series ,apart from the interior they have ruined it ,they have turned it into a ford focus, get the new m340i instead , m340i keeps the better zf gearbox not the worse assin gearbox, it keeps the fun rear bias x drive not this front bias pish, and best of all it keeps the glorious 6 pot turbo and not a crappy 4 pot they found in a skip, job done
@@DownShiftThrottle very true but its just that they kept all the good stuff we love on the m340i , can i ask you which gearbox do you prefer the assin in the 135 or the zf from your 140? which x drive do you prefer the front bias 135 or rear bias on the 340 ? which engine do you prefer the 4 pot of the 135 or the 6 pot in the 340 ? genuine questions man , for me anyway the extra cost of those things alone is worth it , what do you reckon ?
The ZF is a better box. Obviously the M135i has been built to a cost. The assin is slower to respond but still decent enough for every day driving. Hence why I went M4 from my M140i lol
Eine Mischung zwischen etwa Art vom Englischen Akzent und ein kleines bisschen Indisch, aber als bin Englischer Muttersprachler, kein Problem für mich damit. Es tut mir Leid, aber es sei Du.
You should have a look at Ssangyong models and you'll soon take your words back.....lol unless you drive a Ssangyong as I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
