Im thinking to buy a BMW 135i…………..but i still dont know if i should buy a stick shift manual or the BMW Automatic system SMG-like!!!!!!!!!

normaly im a fan of the manual - shifting!!!!!!!!!! but just a few days ago i drove the BMW M6 with SMG wich was a grade experience!!!!!!!! so i would like to know if its the same in the new BMW 135i………………
so please send me your ideas/knowledge/facts

thanks

To your point - I wasn’t really happy with the S4’s stock suspension either - so I actually put on a set of sport springs which made enough of an improvement for me. I don’t race on a track (my daily driver at least) so that was enough of a sporty improvement.

In terms of BMW vs Audi - if your comparing stock suspensions I would definitely choose the BMW’s as it seems to be more sorted from both a comfort and sporty perspecive. It is a good comprimise- although I already have my eyes on a set of coil-overs for the 135 ;).

Hope that helps and thanks for the good wishes - it’s exciting to be one day from my 135 !

I am happy you got the 135I. I just drove my Dad’s 335I convertable. 1 series or 3 series, I think that engine is the finest I have ever driven. I hear the 1 series is a more fun car to drive over the 335I, too.

Either way, I don’t think there is anything “wrong” with the 1 series, and the whole “prestige” thing is something you will only hear about on the net. Besides, the 135I is a spitting image of BMW’s roots, the 2002.

I am just curious about what you think about the S4’s suspension in contrast to the 135i’s. A long time ago, I drove a 2001 S4 (biturbo6-i think) and really didn’t like the suspension. but that was 7 years ago. I think this is one of the largest differences between Audi and BMW, as both have fantasic engines, transmisions, and over all performance.

What do you think, engine and tranny aside, Audi suspension, or BMW suspension? Till then, enjoy your 135i and it’s diesel like torque!

1) I’m afraid that you represent the current moral fiber and intelligence of the US poulation today. This would be a VERY scary thing for the rest of us.

2) You seem to be so concerned about the “status” that your 335 affords you over others. I might be accurate in guessing that you have a big BMW key chain that you plop down face up at the bar so everyone can admire your success and general awesomeness! You are the MAN! Better hide it though when a 5,6,or 7 series owner walks in! Lol

I just sold my Audi S4 to make room for my new jet black 135i which arrives tomorrow. You could compare my S4 to a 335ix in your world (hey that’s a more expensive car than YOURS- gasp!)I was enamored by the car’s sports orientation and quality fit/finish.I have been on the waiting list for 4 months now - after my test drive of the 135i and 335i the same day I can say that I am happy with my decision. It fits the perfect niche for me in the performance auto world - enough to sell my excellent S4.You will not find too many of the masses purchasing the 135i as the officially released price plus options places this car well about the practical financial range of most who were initally looking to purchase after the press release.So rest assured that there won’t be any Honda Civic customers encroaching on your elite BMW status In fact, most of the 135i owners will have considered both cars (and could afford both) - but went with the 135i because of the specific niche it fills for them - which the 335 may not.

There you have it - your idiodic post concerned me enough to spend this time on my flight to respond.You must have purcahsed your 335 for specific reasons? Did those all go away when the 135 came out? Of course not - go enjoy your car and don’t worry about it. You sir - are an idiot!

If you’re going to tell someone that they belong in the BMW class, you should at least understand the difference between “you’re” and “your.”

As far as being concerned that the 135 will somehow diminish the 335 because it’s cheaper and a tenth of a second faster, that’s totally absurd. Having ordered a 335 a few months ago, I could have waited a couple of months for the 135, but I’m happy to have what I feel is a better car. Though I would have bought an M3 if I could afford one.

Manimal

I have a 6 speed manual in my car as did the 135i I had the pleasure of driving. I’m not sure if the gearboxes are different - I assumed that they were the same. I can’t say I noticed any difference really. I’m happy with my 6 speed, it is smooth enough.

Sounds like two BMW’s perform in a near-similar fashion, and are not so different to be a deal breaker (like the Z4 maybe as it will perform very differently), if that makes any sense, speaking from a performance perspective.

I’d love to drive a Z4, but these damn Minnesota winters keep any such cool cars away. Already I crashed my 325i into a snow bank, hit my garage trying to avoid a snow bank (diff time), and got royaly stuck and had to have a POLICE 4X4 physically push me out of the snow. So im jelous.

Well, I just have one last question for you. BMW gear boxes are traditonly notchy, as is mine, and according to CNET.com, so is the 335i’s gear box. However, I did read in a indepenant reveiw, that the 135i’s gear box is dead on and silky smooth, with no notchyness. I’d think they’d share the same gear box? Whats your take?

Thanks for all the help again!

Manimal
Freezing Minnesota

I would have to say…that the 135i is more fun to drive. I know where you are coming from having sold my previous car - BMW 330cd convertible - for not being as much fun to drive as my Z4 was. Both convertibles but the little Z4 had the E46 licked on the twisty roads. I bought the 335i because I need 4 seats at the moment and it comes close to the Z4 for sheer thrills. I’ll be looking at the Z4’s replacement or a Porsche Boxster next time around precisely because of the fun factor and I’ll want to return to open-top motoring.

135i vs 335i for fun? As I typed above, I would have to conclude that the 135i has the edge here - it is slightly lighter albeit not that noticeable really but the smaller car did inspire me with more confidence in the tight twisty stuff - the better brakes will be a factor here too.

The 335i is a brilliant car and suits me just fine at present so I’m not tempted by the 135i personally but I can certainly appreciate why many will want one! I like the 335i’s stance, looks, power and handling and I like all those things in the 135i too - but I do prefer the looks and space of the 335i when it comes to choosing between them.

Either way, both are fantastic cars and will put plenty of smiles on their owners faces but I suspect the 135i owner may just have a slightly wider grin on twisty country roads; just my personal opinion though!

Question: Whats more fun, 135i or the 335i?
(For those who know, be specific, steering, brakes, ride, what you notice that isn’t realy described on spec sheets)

BMW should have released the 135 most definately as they can attract a larger market share of the younger crowd, but they could have gotten away with this with making it ALMOST as fast as the 335i.. near 335 speed. That would be much more appropriate for its pricing and target audience, and to seperate the 335i on the performance scale. The younger crowd can this buy the 135 and add performance parts to it as they wish.

And lastly, I personally think the 135 looks horrible. It loooks like a bubbly girly version of the 335i and is much to small looking. The 335i has that big body aggressive look which holds consistent to what it packs under the hood. The 135 screams “look at me! im a fast beamer with wanna be deformed looks!”

Time to sell my 335i and buy a g37..

If you think a company like BMW has not already considered the effects of the dropping US dollar when pricing what they expect to be their highest volume selling car than you are clearly as economically sound thinking as ben bernanke. If the dollar continues to decline faster than expected they would simply…. whoa… wait for it…. its monumental…… omg… here it comes…. increase the sticker price ??? Wow.. how simple, traditional and non decietful a solution is that eh? And… Whats wrong with emulation software? Odds are greater of a real lsd breaking than a computer program. They weren’t going to put a real lsd on it, so would you rather nothing? or some software to help out?

Anyways.. the greater point here is… If you don’t think the car is a smart buy for the price its at don’t buy it. They were asking about how people like it compared to the 335. Care to answer that instead of ranting about off topic silliness?

Firstly, the 135i feels faster. It is faster by BMW’s official figures but not by much due to the fact that the 135i is not nearly as light as some were thinking it would be; indeed, the difference is that of a small child which in modern luxury cars is negligible. The brakes are better and the car feels better on narrow, twisty roads.
It is quite a bit smaller so it is not as practical as the 335i. It doesn’t look as classy or as nice as the 335i but is more aggressive - we shared this opinion. In the UK, a reasonably specc’ed 135i is very close in price to that of a standard 335i.

On the road and in side by side runs, there is nothing between them it would seem. The 135i didn’t prove to be faster in real terms than my 335i. Off the line we shared honours - the difference is so small that the slightest driver error would dictate the outcome.

The 135i is a very nice package overall - it is sporty and is fast. It looks like it will definitely appeal to the younger crowd who don’t need a larger car. Personally, I prefer the 335i - mine in particular with 230-style wheels looks way better to me, it handles better than my driving ability and is just awesome.