F40 M135i X Drive - what do people think?
Discussion
We've got a F39 X2 M35i (not my choice!!). Nice car, engine is fine, punchy enough, although not very economical, my B58 3.0 has better fuel consumption. The only real complaint is the amount of lag between the engine and gearbox. It really dithers when you're pulling out of a junction onto a roundabout etc, even when you take control of the gears and in sports mode. Feels like you can count to two before anything happens. Also, the X-Drive is very different that found in the 3, 5, X5 etc, can feel a bit of torque steer and front wheels slipping before the rear kicks in. Pretty average package really, but Mrs likes it.
Edited by scz4 on Thursday 14th December 19:45
I’ve actually just ordered one to replace my Mk7.5 GTi Performance.
It seems to be a bit more grown up than some of the obvious rivals such as the A35 and Golf R. To me, that appreals.
I’ll miss the GTi but it was time for a change.
I’ve gone for M Sport Pro, Tech Pack and Panoramic Roof.
Some good deals at the moment if you shop around. Should be here by the end of the month!
It seems to be a bit more grown up than some of the obvious rivals such as the A35 and Golf R. To me, that appreals.
I’ll miss the GTi but it was time for a change.
I’ve gone for M Sport Pro, Tech Pack and Panoramic Roof.
Some good deals at the moment if you shop around. Should be here by the end of the month!
I've had mine from new and just had the end of Warranty inspection and first MOT .
A 2020 car with all the options.
Coming out of an F30 340i I had some misgivings , but its been brilliant.
I replaced the original Bridgestone's with Pirelli Zeros at 16k .
Brake pads are on 6m 3 years and 31k down the line. So quite happy with that TBH.
As mentioned the interior is top notch compared with its rivals. As I have always said , your not driving the car from the outside.
You have made a good choice. Enjoy
A 2020 car with all the options.
Coming out of an F30 340i I had some misgivings , but its been brilliant.
I replaced the original Bridgestone's with Pirelli Zeros at 16k .
Brake pads are on 6m 3 years and 31k down the line. So quite happy with that TBH.
As mentioned the interior is top notch compared with its rivals. As I have always said , your not driving the car from the outside.
You have made a good choice. Enjoy
Moved from a F20 2015 manual M135i to a F40 2020 M135i auto obviously.
I found the F40 a massive step up in comfort but that took a lot of the character away from what it was meant to be. Between the comfort, auto and the x drive it just became a bit soft and uneventful.
We eventually part ex'd it for a family X6 and then added a 2021 5 door cooper S to the fleet as a replacement, not as fast off the line but bags more fun although smaller.
However we are looking at the M135i again due to the extra support they seem to be getting these days (c10% off list) and the step up in size again from the Mini. So we didn't hate it and it does a lot of good things but if I had my time again I'd hold onto the manual M135i we had. I also think manual M performance cars will hold a bit of weight in time to come.
I found the F40 a massive step up in comfort but that took a lot of the character away from what it was meant to be. Between the comfort, auto and the x drive it just became a bit soft and uneventful.
We eventually part ex'd it for a family X6 and then added a 2021 5 door cooper S to the fleet as a replacement, not as fast off the line but bags more fun although smaller.
However we are looking at the M135i again due to the extra support they seem to be getting these days (c10% off list) and the step up in size again from the Mini. So we didn't hate it and it does a lot of good things but if I had my time again I'd hold onto the manual M135i we had. I also think manual M performance cars will hold a bit of weight in time to come.
Had mine since 2020 and it's been great. It's fast and sure-footed and has decent tech. Gearbox is a bit dim but you can mostly drive round it's foibles. If it comes with Bridgestones then they aren't the best and I found PS4s were a lot better for better compliance and stops the tram lining.
Looks are subjective of course and we all know it's a Mini with BMW sprinkles which triggers the BMW purists. You're coming from a Golf so will feel familiar with it's front drive biased 4wd system. HK audio is decent and I love the Headup which yours will come with.
Not sure what wheels you've got specced but the 552s are a pain in the backside to clean. Look good though.
I was going to keep it for the foreseeable but Tony at TRL dangled a deal I couldn't turn down and I've a new one coming at the end of January. New one has 556 M wheels and I believe they've tweaked the suspension a bit.
There are decent deals around at the moment because there's a new model due next year. Looks like the interior won't have physical buttons for heating and it will also be mild hybrid. Just extra weight to drag around.
It's a good choice enjoy
Looks are subjective of course and we all know it's a Mini with BMW sprinkles which triggers the BMW purists. You're coming from a Golf so will feel familiar with it's front drive biased 4wd system. HK audio is decent and I love the Headup which yours will come with.
Not sure what wheels you've got specced but the 552s are a pain in the backside to clean. Look good though.
I was going to keep it for the foreseeable but Tony at TRL dangled a deal I couldn't turn down and I've a new one coming at the end of January. New one has 556 M wheels and I believe they've tweaked the suspension a bit.
There are decent deals around at the moment because there's a new model due next year. Looks like the interior won't have physical buttons for heating and it will also be mild hybrid. Just extra weight to drag around.
It's a good choice enjoy
I had an original M135i LCI and didn't even consider the new one when I changed it. It looks bland and has lost a lot of the character in terms of handling and the big engine in a small car appeal. I've not driven one and I'm sure it's decent enough but based on a FWD chassis, it just didn't register as a contender for me.
Edited by toon10 on Tuesday 19th December 08:49
Pugster said:
Had mine since 2020 and it's been great. It's fast and sure-footed and has decent tech. Gearbox is a bit dim but you can mostly drive round it's foibles. If it comes with Bridgestones then they aren't the best and I found PS4s were a lot better for better compliance and stops the tram lining.
Looks are subjective of course and we all know it's a Mini with BMW sprinkles which triggers the BMW purists. You're coming from a Golf so will feel familiar with it's front drive biased 4wd system. HK audio is decent and I love the Headup which yours will come with.
Not sure what wheels you've got specced but the 552s are a pain in the backside to clean. Look good though.
I was going to keep it for the foreseeable but Tony at TRL dangled a deal I couldn't turn down and I've a new one coming at the end of January. New one has 556 M wheels and I believe they've tweaked the suspension a bit.
There are decent deals around at the moment because there's a new model due next year. Looks like the interior won't have physical buttons for heating and it will also be mild hybrid. Just extra weight to drag around.
It's a good choice enjoy
Mine will have the 552M wheels, which I do prefer to the 556M but agree they’ll be fiddly to clean but oh well…Looks are subjective of course and we all know it's a Mini with BMW sprinkles which triggers the BMW purists. You're coming from a Golf so will feel familiar with it's front drive biased 4wd system. HK audio is decent and I love the Headup which yours will come with.
Not sure what wheels you've got specced but the 552s are a pain in the backside to clean. Look good though.
I was going to keep it for the foreseeable but Tony at TRL dangled a deal I couldn't turn down and I've a new one coming at the end of January. New one has 556 M wheels and I believe they've tweaked the suspension a bit.
There are decent deals around at the moment because there's a new model due next year. Looks like the interior won't have physical buttons for heating and it will also be mild hybrid. Just extra weight to drag around.
It's a good choice enjoy
The looks have grown on me over the years and the front bias isn’t a problem coming from the Golf.
I’ve also got a G22 4 Series so I’ve not abandoned RWD BMWs.
The interior (with buttons) was one of the reasons I’ve bought one now and definitely a reason for not buying another Golf.
It seems with the 19s that in the U.K. at least most come with Bridgestones but time will tell…
I’m looking forward to it!
I’ve had one for 2.5 years after 3 years in a G7R (manual) and 3 in a 7.5R DSG. I thought the Golfs drive much better and also sounded better (I quite liked the fake noise). I don’t rate the auto box in the 135 and the engine sounds awful. Feels slower to me and on paper it has a lot more torque but you’l don’t feel it. That said my OH loves the 135 and much prefers it to the Golfs…
I started off with an E87 130, moved onto an F20 135 followed by an F30 340 before the latest F40 135.
Of all of them it’s the best compromise for a small everyday car with occasional long trips. I like the anonymity and the refinement, I was surprised how much better it was than the 3 series at distance. If I could just drop in the engine from the E87 it would be perfect.
We bought it when we went from two cars down to one post pandemic, we no longer needed a small car and big car. It’s not as dynamic as the Cooper S we used to have, but on long journeys it’s much better.
Was bought back in 2022 when new cars were scarce, so only managed a small discount on a new one. Trade in sort of made up for that as second hand values were strong. It sounds like discounts are back to usual levels.
Of all of them it’s the best compromise for a small everyday car with occasional long trips. I like the anonymity and the refinement, I was surprised how much better it was than the 3 series at distance. If I could just drop in the engine from the E87 it would be perfect.
We bought it when we went from two cars down to one post pandemic, we no longer needed a small car and big car. It’s not as dynamic as the Cooper S we used to have, but on long journeys it’s much better.
Was bought back in 2022 when new cars were scarce, so only managed a small discount on a new one. Trade in sort of made up for that as second hand values were strong. It sounds like discounts are back to usual levels.
It’s a very tyre-sensitive car in terms of driving confidence/enjoyment.
Mine has the suspension updates etc but was delivered on Bridgestones which were absolutely shocking to the point of being dangerous in standing water even from new.
Once I swapped to PS4S it transformed the handling to the point it feels like a different car.
Cross country it’s definitely faster on a B-road than and F20/21 but it lacks character and I find the lack of a sport+ mode disappointing as even in sport it isn’t quite there from a responsiveness point of view. I usually drive it in sport because in comfort it’s very slow to respond when pulling out at junctions etc.
It’s more economical as a daily driver for me compared to the M140i (averages about 32mpg compared to 25) but less efficient on a long run (38-40mpg where the M140i would do 45-48mpg).
Not many issues encountered thus far, but irritatingly it has a rattle in the engine bay which has been “fixed” twice but is still there.
It’s a good everyday car but not something I’d ever consider keeping forever.
Mine has the suspension updates etc but was delivered on Bridgestones which were absolutely shocking to the point of being dangerous in standing water even from new.
Once I swapped to PS4S it transformed the handling to the point it feels like a different car.
Cross country it’s definitely faster on a B-road than and F20/21 but it lacks character and I find the lack of a sport+ mode disappointing as even in sport it isn’t quite there from a responsiveness point of view. I usually drive it in sport because in comfort it’s very slow to respond when pulling out at junctions etc.
It’s more economical as a daily driver for me compared to the M140i (averages about 32mpg compared to 25) but less efficient on a long run (38-40mpg where the M140i would do 45-48mpg).
Not many issues encountered thus far, but irritatingly it has a rattle in the engine bay which has been “fixed” twice but is still there.
It’s a good everyday car but not something I’d ever consider keeping forever.
Sam.F said:
It’s a very tyre-sensitive car in terms of driving confidence/enjoyment.
Mine has the suspension updates etc but was delivered on Bridgestones which were absolutely shocking to the point of being dangerous in standing water even from new.
Once I swapped to PS4S it transformed the handling to the point it feels like a different car.
Cross country it’s definitely faster on a B-road than and F20/21 but it lacks character and I find the lack of a sport+ mode disappointing as even in sport it isn’t quite there from a responsiveness point of view. I usually drive it in sport because in comfort it’s very slow to respond when pulling out at junctions etc.
It’s more economical as a daily driver for me compared to the M140i (averages about 32mpg compared to 25) but less efficient on a long run (38-40mpg where the M140i would do 45-48mpg).
Not many issues encountered thus far, but irritatingly it has a rattle in the engine bay which has been “fixed” twice but is still there.
It’s a good everyday car but not something I’d ever consider keeping forever.
Completely agree with the tyres. Quite how Bridgestone have managed to produce a non-runflat tyre that behaves like a runflat is beyond me. They truly are awful.Mine has the suspension updates etc but was delivered on Bridgestones which were absolutely shocking to the point of being dangerous in standing water even from new.
Once I swapped to PS4S it transformed the handling to the point it feels like a different car.
Cross country it’s definitely faster on a B-road than and F20/21 but it lacks character and I find the lack of a sport+ mode disappointing as even in sport it isn’t quite there from a responsiveness point of view. I usually drive it in sport because in comfort it’s very slow to respond when pulling out at junctions etc.
It’s more economical as a daily driver for me compared to the M140i (averages about 32mpg compared to 25) but less efficient on a long run (38-40mpg where the M140i would do 45-48mpg).
Not many issues encountered thus far, but irritatingly it has a rattle in the engine bay which has been “fixed” twice but is still there.
It’s a good everyday car but not something I’d ever consider keeping forever.
Is this the "rattle" that sounds like tappets? Mine does that. My local dealer told me not worry about it and they all do it. Something to do with the turbo they said.
Pugster said:
Gearbox is a bit dim but you can mostly drive round it's foibles.
Dim is definitely a good description for it. I believe the 2021 cars are better, so perhaps a software update is available. We have 7 months AUC warranty left, although unlikely to get BMW to apply it - "they all do it sir"
Shame XHP don't have a flash available.
scz4 said:
Dim is definitely a good description for it.
I believe the 2021 cars are better, so perhaps a software update is available. We have 7 months AUC warranty left, although unlikely to get BMW to apply it - "they all do it sir"
Shame XHP don't have a flash available.
2022 car here. It’s not great. I believe the 2021 cars are better, so perhaps a software update is available. We have 7 months AUC warranty left, although unlikely to get BMW to apply it - "they all do it sir"
Shame XHP don't have a flash available.
Looked at some in September when I was replacing my M240i I didn't mind the looks and the interior was nice but I just couldn't see my way past the engine in it, I came to the conclusion if I was buying a hatch then there would be better options out from other manufacturers including VW and i'm a BMW fan.
I went for a slightly older M4 instead but I appreciate that's not exactly a logical comparison
I went for a slightly older M4 instead but I appreciate that's not exactly a logical comparison
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