2011 BMW 135i Reviews

Stepping down from a $240,000 car into a $40,000 one takes some discipline. Of course it's not going to be as good, not by any stretch of the imagination. But you know what? BMW's little 116i hatch ain't half bad either. VALUE Launched in 2011 the 116i is priced from $37,300. The only option fitted to our test

But traditionalists will tell you that the folding metal hard-tops that have become fashionable recently aren't worthy of consideration. The folding metal hard-tops boast of being the best of both worlds but the folding roof takes up what little cargo space is on offer in these sports machines, not to mention adding weight - the enemy of true performance.Anyone who grew up with traditional sports cars will - once the rose-coloured glasses are removed - recall leaks, draughts, opaque plastic windows and fussy installation and removal. Modern fabric hoods are becoming much sturdier and are better insulated for noise and the elements, so much so that the snowballing trend of folding metal roofs has slowed.The open-air thrills of a convertible need not be pinned to a property-sized pricetag, with plenty of open-topped opportunities available for less. We look at five of the best here.MAZDA MX-5The designers of Mazda's MX-5 looked long and hard at the original Lotus Elan before embarking on the Japanese sports car that is now a modern classic and record holder for global sales. The true spiritual successor to such cars as the Austin Healey Sprite and the MG B - the lightweight, nimble, open-topped, rear-wheel-drive sporty - has maintained its focus on remaining true to the vehicles that inspired it.Only recently has the company strayed from its traditional path and offered a folding hard-top in the MX-5, thankfully without removing the cloth-topped variant from its range. All the vital items are here: airconditioning, cruise control, dual front and side airbags, stability and traction control, plus drilled aluminium pedals, sports leather seats and steering wheel, a Bose sound system, a torque-sensing limited slip differential and a six-speed manual gearbox with a rifle-bolt action. Enough said.Price: From $44,265Engine: Two-litre 16-valve four-cylinderTransmission: Six-speed manual or automatic, rear-wheel drivePower: 118kW @ 7000rpm.Torque: 188Nm @ 5000rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 7.6 secondsFuel consumption: 8.1litres/100km, tank 50 litresWheels: 17-in alloys.ALFA ROMEO SPIDERAlfa Romeo's Spider is a convertible steeped in tradition. The current Spider is the latest in a long line of Alfa drop-tops, perhaps the most famous being the little Italian sports car that featured in The Graduate. The Italian marque has rarely put a foot wrong when it comes to styling its convertibles - some of its sedans were questionable to say the least - but the design talent of the artisans at Alfa Romeo, Giugiaro and Pininfarina all had hands in this rag-top.While there is a V6 on offer the 2.2-litre 16-valve four-cylinder is lighter and therefore less prone to affecting the front-wheel drive's cornering prowess. The features list for the 2.2 includes dual front, side and driver's knee airbag, six-speaker CD sound system, a full electric roof, trip computer and leather trim. The 2.2 JTS also comes standard with anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control and hill-holding functions.Price: From $69,990Engine: 2.2-litre 16-valve four-cylinder, front-wheel driveTransmission: Six-speed manual or Selespeed automaticPower: 136kW @ 6500rpmTorque: 230Nm @ 4500rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 9 secondsTop speed: 220km/hFuel consumption: 9.5litres/100km, tank 70 litresWheels: 18-in alloys.BMW 135i CONVERTIBLEThe BMW brand's littlest machine (before dropping into the Mini model range) is the 135i Convertible. The littlest Beemer is by no means a dud, particularly if the wallet extends to the 135i Convertible's $82,000-plus asking price.One of the most spirited rides within the BMW range, the rear-wheel drive, twin-turbo six-cylinder punches well above its apparent station in life, with the drivetrain offering unfussed cruising or giant-killing ability. It might look like a bit of a hairdresser's car but dropping the roof and stretching its legs will do little for the 'do.Price: From $82,200Engine: Three-litre twin-turbo 24-valve six-cylinderTransmission: Six-speed manual or seven-speed double-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drivePower: 225kW @ 5800rpmTorque: 400Nm @ 1200rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 5.6 secondsTop speed: 250km/h (governed)Fuel consumption: 8.6 litres/100km, tank 53 litresWheels: 18-in alloys.MINI COOPER S CABRIOLETAnother one from the BMW stable of products that can make a mess of a hairstyle in the best possible way is the Mini Cooper S Cabrio. It has features like climate control airconditioning that has a Cabrio mode, a MP3/USB port-compatible sound system, pop-up roll bars, cloth/leather trim and a split-folding rear seat to improve cargo space.The brattish upstart of the Cabrio market, which can now run in targa-top or full Cabrio mode, is powered by a 128kW/240Nm 1.6-litre, turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine, enough to whip it to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds. But more gentle throttle applications can see fuel consumption as low as the official figure of 7.2 litres per 100km.Price: From $48,000Engine: 1.6-litre 16-valve turbocharged four-cylinderTransmission: Six-speed manual or automatic, front-wheel drivePower: 128kW @ 5500rpmTorque: 240Nm @ 1600rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 7.4 secondsTop speed: 222km/hFuel consumption: 7.2 litres/100km, tank 50 litresWheels: 16in alloys.AUDI TT ROADSTERAudi's TT Roadster is a sharper-looking machine than its predecessor and it has plenty going for it. There's a range of TT Roadsters on offer, starting with the front-wheel drive, two-litre turbo, a mid-spec model with the same engine and all-wheel drive or the highly-entertaining TT S at a tickle more than $100,000.All are entertaining little sports cars to drive - with the nippy front-wheel drive two-litre a worthy machine for a leisurely drive in the country. The TT S is also a smile-inducing drop-top but a leisurely pace, while easily achieved, is not its forte.Price: From $78,000Engine: Two-litre 16-valve turbocharged four-cylinderTransmission: Six-speed double-clutch automatic, front-wheel or all-wheel drivePower: 147kW @ 6000rpmTorque: 280Nm @ 1800rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 6.5 secondsTop speed: 237km/hFuel consumption: 7.8 litres/100km, tank 55 litresWheels: 17-in alloys.

BMW has always been strong at being able to produce compact cars with soul and spirit.It is a fine art, an art where engineering integrity generates the DNA that dictates whether a small car will be an all-round track and field star or purely a one-dimensional athlete.A newcomer to BMW's small car fleet, the 1-series coupe, is no one-dimensional squib nor is it a decathlete.This pretty two-door is a track performer that is flexible enough to cut it with the one-event stars and yet muster the strength and stamina to do the hard yards with the middle-distance types at the same time.The 135i reflects everything that has made BMW's values as engineering driver's cars.Starting with the time-honoured recipe of putting a large engine in a small car, the 1-series had a lot going for it before the chassis boffins began to weave their tuning magic.It runs with the fabulously strong 3-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engine that is well matched to a sweet chassis, which gives it composure to tackle the smoothest, roughest and lumpiest black tops.The evocative coupe is a car for all conditions and all distances, where it is a cool place to be for a sprint along the coast or for a hike to longer distances for border crossings.The 135i rides on run-flats — not the most compliant tyre going — so in between a sports suspension and rock-hard tyre walls there is not a lot of plushness going on in the ride department.It is firm rather than a bone-jarring hard ride, but it nevertheless is quite tolerable at highway speeds around challenging mountain terrain. The run-flats have more compliance in the side walls and are more closely linked to the suspension tune than in previous generations.There is minimal turbo lag and the six-speed manual box is well gated and nicely matched to one of the most refined inline force-fed six cylinder engines on the market.Aside from a modicum of ride harshness, everything about the 135i feels just about right — from the close heel/toe savvy pedal placement, to the excellent driving position in relation to vision, console controls and the gear shifter.Out on the road the 135i turns in with typical BMW sureness and the whole affair feels for all intents like you are driving a 3-series, save for a lighter feel which translates to a more compact driving experience.Unfortunately BMW did not have any 125i coupes available for the press launch so there is no base to go on for the newest two-door on the block.On a drive from Albury up to Thredbo the 1-series coupe sucked 12.3 litres but the two-door worked hard for its money, getting a fair workout higher in the rev range.It is the only rear-wheel-drive in its class, so there is no opposition.If a British test is to be believed the 135i can give a Porsche Cayman, worth around $50k more, a licking on a track.There is no doubt the 135i performs well above its weight division, a genuine weight-for-age competitor that is throwing down the challenge to higher-end stuff like the Cayman.If the 335i coupe is a teenage M3 then the 135i is a juvenile master blaster.It is the modern-day version of what the 3-series was 20 years ago, so rather than cannibalise BMW's bread-and-butter car, it provides entry into crackling turbo performance at about $40,000 less than a 335i coupe.Just as the 2002 turbo coupe created a cult following in 1973, the 1-series coupe stands to replicate history 35 years down the track.There are no real visible signs of compromises on the launch drive.A rattle in the dash provided some annoyance and the one and only cup holder in the centre console cannot house a drink bottle without first unplugging the iPod and USB leads underneath the centre arm rest.It's nit-picking, we know, but it was frustrating all the same. Snapshot BMW 1-Series CoupePrice: $54,400 125i manual ($57,200 auto), $71,400 135i manual, ($74,200 auto).Engine: 2996cc inline six cylinder (125i), 2979cc twin turbocharged inline six (135i).Power: 160kW @ 6100rpm (125i), 225kW @ 5800rpm (135i).Torque: 270Nm @ 2500rpm (125i), 400Nm @ 5800rpm (135i).Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed Steptronic automatic.Dimensions (mm): 4360 (length), 1748 (width), 1423 (height, 125i), 1408 (height, 135i), 2660(wheelbase).Kerb weight: 1405kg (125i, manual), 1485kg (135i, manual).0-100km/h: 6.4secs (125i, manual), 5.3secs (135i, manual).Fuel consumption: 8.7litres/100km (125i), 9.6litres/100km (135i) combined city/highway.Fuel capacity: 53 litres.Boot capacity: 370 litres (815 litres with the 60/40 split rear seats down). 

The 1 Series Coupe is a little wider in the track, longer in the wheelbase and a whole lot more focused in performance. It may well be the pot of gold at the end of the 1 Series rainbow.“These cars are going to appeal to a wide selection of buyers looking for performance in a small coupe,” BMW's product manager Paul Ryan said at the Australian launch this week.“The sort of customers we are expecting are the dual-income families aged 35 to 45.“They may come from brands like Subaru, Nissan's 350Z the TT or even the S3. We expect a lot to be new to the brand - customers who've never previously considered a BMW.”The hero car of the two-model Coupe range - and the only one available for drive at the launch - is the crackerjack 135i Sport using the brilliant bi-turbo 3.0-litre inline six already doing duty in the top end of the 3 Series range.At $71,400 for a basic off-the-floor car, the 135i Coupe is hardly cheap, but it does represent a good value performance package - as long as you like white. Any of the other five colours available immediately bring a $1600 premium for the metallic paint treatment.The only other options you might consider are basic navigation ($2700 - the full version with maps is $4200) and - why anyone would bother with it is a mystery - an electric glass sunroof at $2750. If you must have automatic, the six-speed Steptronic is an extra $2800 but it seems a shame to cast aside the wonderful six-speed manual that comes standard.It is not that BMW has had an epiphany and thrown the always extensive options list out the window. No, there are still plenty of extras for the excited new owner to spend their dollars on - a 10-speaker hi-fi upgrade ($1950), front seat heaters ($685), adaptive headlights ($860), alarm ($900), active steering ($2750) and front parking aids ($675) - but the basic package is so good you really are not going to miss the add-ons.The 125i Coupe, which will be available at the same time as the bi-turbo model in May, also uses the classic 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine but in naturally aspirated trim. The base price for the 125i is $54,400 for the manual and there is a longer options list which includesBi-Xenon headlights ($1820), M Sport suspension ($800) or the full M Package at $2300.The Coupe twins will also be joined by a convertible with a similar engine strategy about the same time to complete, at least for some time, the 1 Series range, which now stretches from the original 120 hatch, through diesel, to the 135i Sport at the top of the tree.For Australia, the 135i Coupe will come standard with the full M Sport pack - suspension, aero kit, badging, interior trim, chunky steering wheel and 18-inch alloys - but will still carry the runflat tyres that work so poorly with the M Sport pack on the 3 Series cars.While not ideal - the car still has a tendency to “hop” when the fully loaded suspension finds an extra bump mid-corner - the suspension/tyre combination is less offensive on our harsher roads than previous experience would suggest.BMW's explanation is that a combination of improvements in the tyre technology and a more specific tune for the suspension is responsible for the improved behaviour and ride quality and, while it remains something short of perfect in ride refinement, the dynamics, grip levels and sheer enjoyment of a torque band that stretches across the rev range make it all forgivable.Peak power of 225kW is nice and allows for the impressive top-end performance but, without the 400Nm of torque the twin blowers squeeze out of the engine, this would be just another hot hatch rather than a genuine spiritual successor to the classic 1972 2002 Tii, generally considered pivotal in BMW's core value as a driver's car.However, the 135i Coupe has no need to call on its antecedents for credibility. That comes within a couple of kays of firing up the engine for the first time. With almost instant response from the lightweight turbos, the 135i Coupe can be driven for relaxed cruising or wild thing attacks on twisting mountain roads with equal ease.There is nothing outside the expected BMW levels within the cabin. A relaxed driving position is easily achieved with ample seat movement and a good range of tilt and reach adjustment on the chunky steering wheel. The semi-sports seats grip well and remain comfortable for hours, embracing, rather than squeezing, the driver.Rear seat space is reasonable, with two dedicated seats, while the boot will hold enough for a shopping trip or weekend away, but can be more than doubled by folding the rear seats.BMW claims a zero to 100km/h sprint of 5.3 seconds and there is little reason to question that, but it is not the off-the-mark exhilaration that makes the 135i Coupe so desirable. Such is the spread of the torque and its availability that it was not unusual to find the car pulling so enthusiastically on the open road that you would check just to confirm the car is in top gear.The absence of the active steering was well appreciated in a spirited run through the twisting roads of the Snowy Mountains this week. While the steering is a touch heavy it is comforting in the level of connection between driver and front wheels. There is never any question of a breakdown in feedback with the unruly behaviour of the suspension/tyre package - as limited as it was - restricted to the rear of the car.It is difficult to not leave the 135i smiling. It is not a lightweight racer but there are cars out there for that. What the 135i does - and does exceptionally well - is reinforce that, when push comes to shove, BMW is still capable of producing a diamond from a coalmine. 

More recently, BMWs have come in the form of fat SUVs, wedge-shaped roadsters and pimp coupes with bulbous bums, most of which are made in the US mainly for Americans.Now comes another such device, derived from a misbegotten 2+2 whimsically presented in hatchback form made mainly for the European market.We take a backseat to no one when it comes to deriding the 1 Series; not least because no one can fit in the backseat. Now, a derivation of the 1 Series; conceived ironically enough for the hatch-allergic Yanks; which is upon us.Due to reach our shores in June alongside a cabrio cousin, BMW's 135i has got to have an early shot at being one of the cars of 2008.Yep, the 1 Series is an excellent compact performance coupe, the sort of thing Bimmer have not done for for too long amid that plethora of profitable, but not so pure, products.Indeed, the range-topping pocket rocket evokes the 1972 2002 Tii, an iconic turbo-charged compact two-door. It is the sort of car that has been among BMW's core competencies.Packing the same 225kW/400Nm 3.0 litre, bi-turbo inline six introduced last year on the 3 Series Coupe, the more petite 135i transcends the merely competent by the width of its torque band.The 135i's planes and creases succeed in the metal to a far greater extent than the printed image implies. The traditional BMW style cues work with a high, muscular shoulder line, flared wheel arches and the standard-fit M Sports kit including lightweight 18-inch alloys.Markedly shorter in the wheelbase and smaller in overall dimensions than the 3 Series, it is, at 1485kg, only 50kg lighter than its big brother.Within, it is a legitimate four-seater. A burly type can survive the rear pews comfortably with just a little consideration from those up front as they sit among one of almost 200 posited trim combinations.The work station is generic BMW, with the perfect driving position readily obtainable, the short shifting gearstick falling readily to hand. There is 370 litres of boot, more than 800 with the split fold rear seats folded flat. Bluetooth and the now slightly less enigmatic version of the i-Drive multi-media system are among the options, as will be a six-speed Steptronic auto transmission.When the 135i comes our way it will be launched with its drop-top equivalent and the 125i, a circa $60K model using BMW's 2.5 normally-aspirated six. But the impressive-sounding diesels are not for us.With a claimed 0-100km/h capability of 5.3 seconds, the 135i outdoes the 3 Series in a straight line by a good few tenths. It is not the relatively affordable shrink-wrapped version of the 335i we half-expected, but a hugely gratifying car that provides rewards of its own.Completely devoid of lag, the twin turbo unit accesses all of its towering 400Nm from an exceptionally low 1300rpm. Beautiful match with a paddle-shifted ZF auto that it is, it will pull so emphatically in sixth when open roading in the manual that you almost believe you are in fourth. Linear effortless performance is a given.What the 135i brings to BMW's rich table that is uniquely its own is handling that befits a compact performance coupe, a species of which this is the only extant example.The DTSC system bites hard when it judges too rash a deviation from the correct cornering line, but it can be disabled at a button's push. This locks the electronic limited slip differential, which allows a good deal more latitude and a great deal of grin-inducing adjustability. The runflat tyre/M-sports suspension set-up makes for an adroit concerning stance and a ride that might be bearable even on our roads.Electric power steering provides feel to complement the trademark combo of rear-wheel-drive and almost 50:50 weight distribution. This coupe is decidedly more at home on a winding B-road than the track, where its still-hefty weight and tall gearing can hinder progress.That said, where the 135i succeeds brilliantly is in its performance and handling capabilities being so readily accessible while its demeanor remains extraordinarily forgiving.Purists might sniff that the new Bimmer is not all it could be; not as lithe nor quite so focused. That misses the point, which is that it is absolutely what BMW customers want.And if their motor show stand reminded us that there is a BMW for most shapes and circumstances, here is one that will win both hearts and minds.

More recently, Bimmers have come in the form of fat SUVs, a wedge-shaped roadster and a coupe with a bulbous rear; most of them made in America, mainly for Americans.Now comes a device, derived from a misbegotten two-plus-two, whimsically presented in hatchback form mainly for the European market.We take a back seat to no one when it comes to deriding the 1 Series, not least because no one can fit in its back seat.Now, a derivation of the 1 Series (conceived, ironically, for the hatch-allergic American market) is upon us. Due to reach here in June alongside a cabrio cousin, BMW's 135i has to have an early shot at being one of the cars of 2008.Yep, the 135i is an excellent compact performance coupe; the sort of thing BMW hasn't done for far too long amid that plethora of profitable, but not so pure, products.Indeed, this range-topping pocket rocket evokes the 1972 2002 Tii, an iconic two-door road rocket. It's the sort of car that has, as BMW doesn't mind saying itself, long been among the marque's core competencies.Packing the same 225kW/400Nm three-litre, bi-turbo inline six introduced last year on the 335i coupe, the more petite 135i transcends the merely competent bythe width of its torque band.We were introduced to the newcomer on the Swedish island of Gotland last week, driving it on public roads and the tight, twisting local racetrack.“BMW is the only one doing this,” chief designer Adrian van Hooydonk told us.Hooydonk, whose Concept CS has starred at the Australian International Motor Show, was standing before a pristine Tii and a 135i painted in a similar shade of burnished red.“We didn't want to do a retro car, but because of the 2002 we were more willing to do the 135i.”The 135i's planes and creases succeed in the metal to a far greater extent than printed images imply.The traditional BMW style cues work with a high, muscular shoulder line, flared wheel arches and the standard-fit M Sports kit, including lightweight 18-inch alloys.Although markedly shorter in the wheelbase and smaller in dimensions than the 335i, the 1485kg 135i is only 50kg lighter.Within, it's a legitimate four-seater. A burly six-footer can survive the rear pews comfortably with just a little consideration from those up front as they sit among one of almost 200 trim combinations.The work station is generic BMW, with the perfect driving position readily obtainable and a short-shifting gearstick readily to hand.There's 370 litres of boot, or more than 800 litres with the split-fold rear seats folded flat.Bluetooth and the now slightly less enigmatic version of the i-Drive multi-media system are among the options, as will be a six-speed Steptronic auto transmission.When the 135i comes our way, it will be launched with its drop-top equivalent and the 125i, a circa $60Kmodel using BMW's 2.5-litre atmo six. But the impressive-sounding diesels aren't for us.With a claimed zero-to-100km/h capability of 5.3 seconds, the 135i outdoes the 3 Series in a straight line by a good few tenths. It's not the relatively affordable, shrink-wrapped version of the 335i we half-expected, but a hugely gratifying car with rewards of its own.Utterly devoid of lag, the twin-turbo unit accesses all its towering 400Nm from an exceptionally low 1300rpm.Beautiful match with a paddle-shifted ZF auto that it is, it will, when open-roading in the manual, pull so emphatically in sixth that you almost believe you're in fourth. Linear, lag-free performance is a given.What the 135i brings to BMW's rich table that's uniquely its own; is handling that befits a compact performance coupe, a species of which this is the only extant example.Electric power steering provides feel to complement the trademark combo of rear-wheel drive and almost 50/50 weight distribution.This coupe is decidedly more at home on a winding B-road than the track, where its still-hefty weight and tall gearing can hinder progress.That said, where the 135i succeeds brilliantly is in its performance and handling capabilities being so readily accessible while its demeanour remains extraordinarily forgiving.If the dynamic envelope is rigidly defined, there's acres of room in which to roam before tearing point.Purists may sniff that the 135i isn't all it could be: not as lithe, nor quite so focused. That misses the point, which is that it's absolutely what BMW customers want.And if the show stand reminded us that there's a BMW for most shapes and circumstances, here's one that'll win both hearts and minds. Snapshot BMW 135i COUPEPrice: $80,000 (approx)Engine: 3.0L/6-cylinder turbo, 225kW/400Nmeconomy: 9.2L/100km (combined)0-100km/h: 5.3 seconds