[Jack_is_Back]

Thought I would post a quick "hello" before I collect the new motor tomorrow (Friday).

At 9am I'll be swapping my M135i for a F30 330d M Sport (EB, M Sport Plus, pro nav, heated seats, plus a few other minor bits).

The background:

Life has changed from when I ordered it and unfortunately the M135i no longer suits my personal or work needs very well. I hardly ever get to use it 'properly' as I commute in traffic or drive up and down the M1. At the weekend it sits on the drive as we use the wife's X1 to ferry about child and accompanying crap.

I hadn't considered changing as I thought it would be financial suicide to trade-in a 1-year-old M135i, but then got a call out of the blue from my dealer to say he had a customer who was looking for a car in my exact spec, and would I be interested in swapping to something else.

With some haggling he cut me a superb deal (approx 19% off list) on the 330d. There's only a small increase in monthly payments (pretty good considering it is a fair chunk higher list price), and I reckon I'll be saving about £100 per month on fuel. The 3-series is a great looking car and a nice place to be IMO, so it's no real hardship. I'll miss the insane speed of the 135, but the 30d should still feel pretty brisk.

It will be sad handing over the M135i, but I am still really looking forward to seeing how I get on with 330d.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Congratulations, I believe some forum users have transitioned from M135i to 330/335 already and no donut will let you know more.

From my test drives, loved feel of the 330 smooth and relatively quiet, lots of power without having to work it. That's how I felt my test drives went.

[PrinceBarin]

Congrats. Will be very interesting to hear how these two cars compare.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

Congrats. Will be very interesting to hear how these two cars compare.

I will be very interested indeed as considering a M135i to replace the Z4, to be a little more practical but yet a significant step up from the 335d as a drivers car.

[NISFAN]

Welcome!!!

Funnily enough I went for a test drive in a M135i the other week. Was looking for something a little more responsive and fun (currently drive an F30 330d). After getting back in my 330d I came to the conclusion that it wasn't a big enough step to warrant a change, and in some ways the 330d is better (certainly better at putting the power down). So am keen to hear your views.

[Spoonhead]

Welcome to the forum, will be interesting to know your thoughts on the 330D in comparison.

Still waiting for mine, so enjoy your pick up tomorrow.

[DazC]

Welcome to the forum.

I had a deposit down on an M135i and cancelled it for my 335D.

Dont regret it one bit tbh.

Let us know your thoughts once you collect the car.

[alex_chung]

Welcome and Congrats on the new car. I was interested in the M135i for a while but it would have cost me a pretty packet at the fuel pumps (doing 12.5-14K a year) but its a great car from what I have heard and been told by owners.
Alex

[JohnM]

Welcome to the club had a M135i swapped to a 330 d with ppk may go back to a M235I serial car changer and all that.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Welcome!!!

Funnily enough I went for a test drive in a M135i the other week. Was looking for something a little more responsive and fun (currently drive an F30 330d). After getting back in my 330d I came to the conclusion that it wasn't a big enough step to warrant a change, and in some ways the 330d is better (certainly better at putting the power down). So am keen to hear your views.

Interesting to hear.. but it was better, just not sufficiently so? Would you say that the M135i wasn't good at putting it's power down? ie. The TC was cutting in too much?

[Irnbrukid]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Welcome!!!

Funnily enough I went for a test drive in a M135i the other week. Was looking for something a little more responsive and fun (currently drive an F30 330d). After getting back in my 330d I came to the conclusion that it wasn't a big enough step to warrant a change, and in some ways the 330d is better (certainly better at putting the power down). So am keen to hear your views.

Really? I found the exact opposite when it comes to putting the power down (M135i v F31 330d)

Originally Posted by alex_chung

Welcome and Congrats on the new car. I was interested in the M135i for a while but it would have cost me a pretty packet at the fuel pumps (doing 12.5-14K a year) but its a great car from what I have heard and been told by owners.
Alex

Going by your average not a massive difference in mpg. My old man took mines from Scotland down to Yorkshire and back and averaged 39mpg. It would do over 40 no problems, but it's too much fun...

[alex_chung]

Originally Posted by Irnbrukid

Really? I found the exact opposite when it comes to putting the power down (M135i v F31 330d)



Going by your average not a massive difference in mpg. My old man took mines from Scotland down to Yorkshire and back and averaged 39mpg. It would do over 40 no problems, but it's too much fun...

My car has only done 600 miles so its still running in. So I'd expect it to get better as time goes on.
Alex

[Steven1077]

My 335d is only getting worse on fuel as it's running in lol

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Interesting to hear.. but it was better, just not sufficiently so? Would you say that the M135i wasn't good at putting it's power down? ie. The TC was cutting in too much?

It is difficult to sum up. Pro's of the M135i are the revviness of the engine , the sound, the smooth progress. Straight line launches it is OK at putting it's power down, but whilst cornering, it really wants to go sideways, probably due to the short wheelbase and relatively high CG of the hatch. Outright speed, it is difficult to tell, but doesn't feel any faster than my F30. You also have to wring it's neck to get the best out of it. Surprisingly the 35i engine has a lot of low down torque for a petrol.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

It is difficult to sum up. Pro's of the M135i are the revviness of the engine , the sound, the smooth progress. Straight line launches it is OK at putting it's power down, but whilst cornering, it really wants to go sideways, probably due to the short wheelbase and relatively high CG of the hatch. Outright speed, it is difficult to tell, but doesn't feel any faster than my F30. You also have to wring it's neck to get the best out of it. Surprisingly the 35i engine has a lot of low down torque for a petrol.

I quite like the sound of all that! How did the steering feel compared to the 330d? Any more feel or does it turn in a little sharper?

I guess what I'd like is something that drives a bit like the Z4 - sharp, agile, fun, with 6 cylinder smoothness and the ability to rev it out, yet has more of the low down effortlessness that a diesel offers. I'd also like it to be roughly as quick as the 335d is, and offer back seats and everyday comfort.

Sounds like the 135i could offer most of that. The Z4 does not want to go sideways without serious provocation, or unless it is wet though. I'm guessing the lower CoG and lack of torque low down helps that compared to the M135i though.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I quite like the sound of all that! How did the steering feel compared to the 330d? Any more feel or does it turn in a little sharper?

I guess what I'd like is something that drives a bit like the Z4 - sharp, agile, fun, with 6 cylinder smoothness and the ability to rev it out, yet has more of the low down effortlessness that a diesel offers. I'd also like it to be roughly as quick as the 335d is, and offer back seats and everyday comfort.

Sounds like the 135i could offer most of that. The Z4 does not want to go sideways without serious provocation, or unless it is wet though. I'm guessing the lower CoG and lack of torque low down helps that compared to the M135i though.

Steering felt very similar to be honest, mine also has VSS like the M135i. No more or less feedback.

Sounds like the M135i (or M235i) could well suit your needs

Not sure if it was just the test car, but wind noise on the 135 was bloody awful.

[Irnbrukid]

Originally Posted by alex_chung

My car has only done 600 miles so its still running in. So I'd expect it to get better as time goes on.
Alex

That's when the car had less than 1000 miles on it. For the performance & power that's on tap it's a great figure compared to the 320. The Xdrive will hurt your car though.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Steering felt very similar to be honest, mine also has VSS like the M135i. No more or less feedback.

Sounds like the M135i (or M235i) could well suit your needs

Not sure if it was just the test car, but wind noise on the 135 was bloody awful.

Yes I think it could. Have to say that the 1 series looks have really grown on me, and that the 2 series looks a bit dull and characterless in comparison!

I can't imagine that the refinement will be worse than the Z4! Not that the Z4 is particularly bad given it's a convertible, but road noise is an issue if you're on the phone at motorways speeds.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by NISFAN

Welcome!!!

Funnily enough I went for a test drive in a M135i the other week. Was looking for something a little more responsive and fun (currently drive an F30 330d). After getting back in my 330d I came to the conclusion that it wasn't a big enough step to warrant a change, and in some ways the 330d is better (certainly better at putting the power down). So am keen to hear your views.

Just wondering what else you may be considering test driving now then?

[Irnbrukid]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I quite like the sound of all that! How did the steering feel compared to the 330d? Any more feel or does it turn in a little sharper?

I guess what I'd like is something that drives a bit like the Z4 - sharp, agile, fun, with 6 cylinder smoothness and the ability to rev it out, yet has more of the low down effortlessness that a diesel offers. I'd also like it to be roughly as quick as the 335d is, and offer back seats and everyday comfort.

Sounds like the 135i could offer most of that. The Z4 does not want to go sideways without serious provocation, or unless it is wet though. I'm guessing the lower CoG and lack of torque low down helps that compared to the M135i though.

As nisfan says it has the vss, the steering is very quick but not a lot of feedback as with all electric steering. Turns in is far sharper and is far more agile than the F30/F31.
Has plenty low down torque and can cover ground well without having to rev its guts all the time. It has the same 0-1000m time as the F30 335d.
It is a little soft and leans a bit in the bends, the 235i is mean to be a bit stiffer.. sounds like what you should try.

I'm speaking from owing both cars, not test drives

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Irnbrukid

As nisfan says it has the vss, the steering is very quick but not a lot of feedback as with all electric steering. Turns in is far sharper and is far more agile than the F30/F31.
Has plenty low down torque and can cover ground well without having to rev its guts all the time. It has the same 0-1000m time as the F30 335d.
It is a little soft and leans a bit in the bends, the 235i is mean to be a bit stiffer.. sounds like what you should try.

I'm speaking from owing both cars, not test drives

Yes, I will hopefully have a test drive of them both soon. It does sound a reasonable compromise - fine for the daily drive, and not horrifically expensive to run (unlike an M3), but still worth getting up super early on a sunday morning and going for a blast, just for the sake of it!

The suspension can always be fettled and an LSD added!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

My 335d is only getting worse on fuel as it's running in lol

Or is it a case of you getting used to the amount of power and using it more?

Taking corners faster, applying power quicker etc.

Just as you meld with the car more.