BMW 128ti Vs M135i

[Julian Scott]

Mrs S is about to change her car, she's narrowed it down to the 128ti or the M135i

Either brand new or a very lightly used '24. Difference is £2-3k on price at the moment (and deals to be had with the new model incoming), so cost insignificant. Insurance is within £50/yr of each other so again insignificant.

Has anyone had extended experience of either/both?

We've had 2hr test drives in them both, I marginally preferred the 128ti, a more fluid drive - but the M135 is a spunky hot hatch. Mrs S prefers the M135 because she likes the gold metallic grill surround(!). The M135 has the benefit of xDrive.

Neither car is going to get used to within 50% of its potential when she is driving.

[911Spanker]

Get a 118i?

[Julian Scott]

1) she got that now, she wants something a little more special
2) I want something more special for when I drive it

[EmailAddress]

Does fuel consumption play any part in your consideration?

[Julian Scott]

EmailAddress said:

Does fuel consumption play any part in your consideration?

No. She does 4,000 a year max.

And they are not much different anyway....and both seem like Greta's choice compared to my supercharged 5.0 V8

[EmailAddress]

[zsiddyy]

I used to work for BMW in sales, so I've had quite a bit of experience with both models.

I'd have the 128ti over the M135i 100%. I always thought it was much more fun to drive, had the feel of a proper hatch (although I wish they did it in a manual).

The M135i was great but I just felt the xDrive took away from how fun it could've been to drive. Also, the competition in it's class like the S3 were just more fun to drive, and also felt a lot quicker (imo)

[blue_haddock]

Long term the M135 will probably be more in demand so more likely to keep a higher residual so if cost of ownership is similar i'd always go with the M135

[Julian Scott]

blue_haddock said:

Long term the M135 will probably be more in demand so more likely to keep a higher residual so if cost of ownership is similar i'd always go with the M135

My initial thoughts.....and we are cash buying....but, the 128ti is being discontinued, whereas the M135i is being replaced....

[GeniusOfLove]

"The S3 is more fun to drive"

Wow. Things I never thought I'd ever, ever hear said about a BMW.

[Julian Scott]

zsiddyy said:

I used to work for BMW in sales, so I've had quite a bit of experience with both models.

I'd have the 128ti over the M135i 100%. I always thought it was much more fun to drive, had the feel of a proper hatch (although I wish they did it in a manual).

The M135i was great but I just felt the xDrive took away from how fun it could've been to drive. Also, the competition in it's class like the S3 were just more fun to drive, and also felt a lot quicker (imo)

Thanks, was kind of my summation about the drive of the 128.

But we drove the S3 (and A35) and ironically found them dull in comparison to the 135, and even more so to the 128.

[V 02]

BigBootyR said:

M135i Vines BMW North Oxford


BMW M135i, £399 Per Month £399 down 3.9% - BMW M135i xDrive Finance Offer
text

Quoted a poster from another thread^

Worth considering over cash. Another poster just got this even cheaper than the listed price on that offer on a well optioned car and a bigger contribution from BMW

[Julian Scott]

V 02 said:

BigBootyR said:

M135i Vines BMW North Oxford


BMW M135i, £399 Per Month £399 down 3.9% - BMW M135i xDrive Finance Offer
text

Quoted a poster from another thread^

Worth considering over cash. Another poster just got this even cheaper than the listed price on that offer on a well optioned car and a bigger contribution from BMW

Thanks - that is interesting.

[zsiddyy]

GeniusOfLove said:

"The S3 is more fun to drive"

Wow. Things I never thought I'd ever, ever hear said about a BMW.

It's the only BMW I'll say it about. I don't think the S3 is the most exciting, but it felt a lot nicer than the M135 to me

[zsiddyy]

Julian Scott said:

zsiddyy said:

I used to work for BMW in sales, so I've had quite a bit of experience with both models.

I'd have the 128ti over the M135i 100%. I always thought it was much more fun to drive, had the feel of a proper hatch (although I wish they did it in a manual).

The M135i was great but I just felt the xDrive took away from how fun it could've been to drive. Also, the competition in it's class like the S3 were just more fun to drive, and also felt a lot quicker (imo)

Thanks, was kind of my summation about the drive of the 128.

But we drove the S3 (and A35) and ironically found them dull in comparison to the 135, and even more so to the 128.

Suppose different people have different opinions! I also thought the A35 felt a little bit more special than the 135i

[Julian Scott]

zsiddyy said:

Julian Scott said:

zsiddyy said:

I used to work for BMW in sales, so I've had quite a bit of experience with both models.

I'd have the 128ti over the M135i 100%. I always thought it was much more fun to drive, had the feel of a proper hatch (although I wish they did it in a manual).

The M135i was great but I just felt the xDrive took away from how fun it could've been to drive. Also, the competition in it's class like the S3 were just more fun to drive, and also felt a lot quicker (imo)

Thanks, was kind of my summation about the drive of the 128.

But we drove the S3 (and A35) and ironically found them dull in comparison to the 135, and even more so to the 128.

Suppose different people have different opinions! I also thought the A35 felt a little bit more special than the 135i

The A35 was certainly a lot better than the S3, preference was more about familiarity for the M135 I suspect, but I preferred the throttle response, steering and gearbox on the BMW - th ride was better on the Merc though.

[blue_haddock]

Julian Scott said:

blue_haddock said:

Long term the M135 will probably be more in demand so more likely to keep a higher residual so if cost of ownership is similar i'd always go with the M135

My initial thoughts.....and we are cash buying....but, the 128ti is being discontinued, whereas the M135i is being replaced....

is it being discontinued because its not sold well?

[Limpet]

A good friend of mine bought a new 128Ti a couple of months ago. I've driven it, and it was a pleasant surprise. Plenty of performance, nice direct, accurate steering and had a generally very pleasant taut, responsive feel to it. And the interior is lovely for the class of car. Very well put together, good quality materials, and it hasn't gone "all touchscreen", and is so much better for it. I think it would be an easy car to live with, and provide a bit of entertainment when you wanted it, but having had a couple of years in an i30N, I just found it a little lacking in character. Very smooth, very capable, pretty quick, but the Hyundai had an infectious sense of slightly childish "up for it" enthusiasm about it which I loved, and found to be missing in the BMW. Looks good in black though, with the red detailing. He's also added a set of eyebrows to the tops of the lights in body colour which appear to slightly extend the corners of the bonnet and grille. Combined with the black grille, it really does make the front end look a lot less gawky.

A colleague has had an M135i for a year and it's been interesting to see how he raved about it for a couple of weeks, and now seems a bit "meh" about it. He loves the performance and the grip, but you get the sense from the generally faint praise when you talk to him about it that he's a bit bored with the rest of it. He keeps half-heartedly talking about changing it for something else, but it's not like you're spoiled for choice these days with hot hatches. More of the turbocharged German AWD same with another brand, or slim (and rapidly slimming) pickings in the FWD arena.

[BricktopST205]

What about the hot mini version. Are they basically not the same as a 1 series these days?

[CSK423]

The M135i is renowned for not being a particularly engaging drive. We've had both the 2020 model and now the run out 2024 model. The 2024 drives a lot different due to suspension adjustments etc. the 128ti is meant to be better again but not as capable.

Noting that it's more about the day to day drive and living within 50% of capabilities I would purchase the M135i for residuals, the xdrive (although predominantly FWD anyway) and options either available or as standard.

It's a quicker car which adds to the event when you do take it out and test it. The PCP difference is minimal.