BMW M135i Reviews

The hot hatch in the pair of BMW’s entry-level model, the 1 Series, is the M135 xDrive, which starts at $82,500 before on-road costs.

The new BMW 1 Series has lost rear-wheel drive for the new third-generation F40 model, replacing it with more conventional front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It’s also fundamentally a better car all round. Which part matters?

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the BMW 1 Series with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the updated second-generation F20 BMW 1 Series 118i, 120i, 125i, M135i hatch, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict at its Australian launch.

The premium car manufacturers have traditionally stayed away from the hot hatch market, but that's no longer the case.

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

Big engine, little car - good start. Front straight-six, rear drive - even better. BMW and M badges, no run flats - bring it on. Seating for five, every-day practicality - a necessary evil, but for the BMW M135i, a small price to pay.Those passing a first glance will possibly dismiss the bodykit and wheels as accessory overload on a little German shopping trolley, but big stoppers, twin exhausts and the engine note will suggest otherwise, particularly when it rapidly shrinks into the distance.If you are prepared to pay for the performance then the M135i is a bargain at $68,400 - sitting squat on 18in alloys, with low profile (40-series tyres on the front, 35s on the rear) conventional rubber, peeping through "startled-eyes" bi-xenon headlights, the little five-door boasts leather trim, the $4000 optional eight-speed auto, remote central locking and keyless ignition to get the fun underway.The M-spec gear also includes the chunky leather steering wheel with paddleshifters, climate control, Bluetooth phone and audio link as well as USB connectivity and split-folding rear seats for loadspace versatility.Among the options fitted - apart from the auto - were a glass sunroof (at $2920), parking sensors front and rear (worth $600) and the satnav (BMW calls it Navigation system professional) for $3500.The top-spec 1 Series hatch gets the rather confusingly named TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder - rather than the twin-turbo of its recent forebears, it has a single twin-scroll turbocharger, as well as direct injection, variable valve and camshaft systems controlling the three-litre 24-valve six-cylinder.The result - 245kW at 5800rpm and 450Nm (including an overboost surge) between 1250 and 5000rpm, propelling a vehicle that weighs just over 1500kg. Just two decades ago those figures were V8 muscle-car numbers, although the little Beemer's kerb weight is not far off either.The six-speed manual is standard but stepping up to the eight-speed auto drops the sprint time to 100km/h from 5.1 to 4.9 seconds, as well as slicing 0.5 of a litre from the thirst, which sits at a claimed 7.5l/100km.While the clever ZF auto gives it long legs - as well as 200-millisecond shift times - it also keeps its appetite for PULP down using a start-stop system, brake energy regeneration, electromechanical power steering and an Eco Pro mode to put the car into fuel-miser guise and only using the car's pumps and systems sparingly.The M bodykit does a good job of butching up the little hatch, which has a surprised look on its face thanks largely to the headlights.It's balanced up a bit by larger air intakes added as part of the M-body kit and the rear diffuser gives it plenty of purpose - but woe betide anyone who mistakes it for a pretender away from the lights.The interior is snug front and rear, but not uncomfortable - at 190-odd cm I'm a little larger than the mainstream buyer but a comfortable position is achievable.Space in the back makes it mostly a pre-teen domain but at least headroom isn't eroded by a descending roofline.Bootspace is useful without being cavernous - 360 litres in five-seater mode or 1200 with them folded flat.As seems to be par for the course in this price range, it's a five-star car - the airbag count is six (front, front-side and curtains), as well as the beefier M Sport Brake package with four-pot front calipers, fade compensation and disc-drying system and an electronic diff lock.The list also includes anti-lock brakes (including the cornering brake control system to apportion braking where it is best applied), a cruise control with braking function, anti-dazzle interior mirror, stability and traction control, a rain sensor function within the automatic headlight system, and rain-sensing wipers.Having been lucky enough to drive some very quick Beemers, I wasn't expecting as much as I would had it just been a consonant and a number on the rump.But the first proper prod of the right-hand pedal - even before I'd started playing with Sport and Sport Plus modes - offered a surprising surge of acceleration.Anything claiming around 5 seconds or less to hit the state limit is not hanging around and the M135i is one of the quickest ... at least until the Mercedes-Benz AMG A45 gets here in September.Meatier steering than expected - it is electric assistance now, not hydraulic - and an eagerness for corners hasn't completely ruined the ride.It's a choppy ride around town and that would make the $2200 adaptive damping option money well-spent if you have a deep desire for more compliance - forget the sunroof.But drivers are going to like the standard suspension set-up, which allows for a work ethic and a bit of play-time.The M Sport suspension has stiffer spring and dampers, dropping the ride height by 15mm and the ride quality issue fades into the background after the first series of switchback bends.Turn it in and it is immediately obedient, with impeccable balance - straights feel very short, such is the rapid pace from the straight-six turbo.It sings with gusto, devouring revs and talking back on over-run, even without playing with the paddleshifters it's more than amusing - the ZF auto's brains (in Sport modes) leave both hands to deal with the helm, working with the driver even in twisty switchbacks.The electronic nursemaids are from the school of positive reinforcement - put them down for a nap and they still manage to keep you heading in the right direction without being a complete killjoy with the rear axle.The driver's seat was endowed with adjustable side bolstering that was more than welcome when pushing the little hatch harder. 

We turn the spotlight on the car world's newest and brightest stars as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. But there's only one question that really needs answering — would you buy one?This is the kick off point for BMW's new range of M-enhanced cars as opposed to fully blown M cars. They use selected hot bits from the M operation and also performance bits from the general parts bin to produce higher performance versions at more affordable prices.The six speed manual five door hatch is $68,400, four grand more for the eight speed auto. Also available are a three door hatch and a convertible.Not many really. The hot front wheel drive Euro hatches that recently came onto the market - Focus ST and Renault Megane RS 265. Not forgetting the Golf R and even WRX and Evo. M135i is rear wheel drive.Generous performance comes from a twin scroll 3.0-litre turbo straight six with direct fuel injection and fully variable cam timing and cam lift. Power is 235kW with 450Nm from a low 1250rpm.You won't be disappointed. Sub 5.0-seconds for the 0-100kmh sprint, superb roll on mid range response, cracking of the mark zip. Screams right through to redline at about 7000rpm. Rolls on Michelin 18s, has variable gearing steering, huge brakes, adjustable sports dampers.Surprisingly so. We recorded 8.0-litres/100km without trying. BMW says it will do 7.5 on 98 octane.Yes, the engine is super efficient and passes Euro5 emissions regs Car also has auto stop/start to reduce emissions in city driving.Five gongs.In a sporty way. The Comfort mode is still firmer than your average hatch or family slush box but the M135i has plenty of luxury and high quality components inside and out.Sensational. The four mode drive select system really changes how the M135i behaves from relatively benign right through to full race mode.This is the sort of car you would get up early on a Sunday morning for - to take it for a spin on your favourite road almost unencumbered.Extremely so for the level of performance and luxury you get.Standard kit includes premium audio, voice control, multi media connectivity, Bluetooth phone and audio, leather, body aero kit, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenons, auto high beam.Not a shadow of a doubt.BMW 135i five-doorPrice: from $68,400Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmCrash rating: 5-star ANCAPEngine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl, 235kW/450NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; 8-speed auto, RWDDimensions: 4340mm (L), 1765mm (W), 1411mm (H)Weight: 1430kgThirst: 8.0LL/100km, 188g/km CO2

BMW's M tag is far less exclusive than it once was but still signals high performance. Forty years ago in Munich BMW decided to step up its commitment to motorsport and create a specialist division. It focused on racing engines and one car in particular: the 3.0 CSL.With 270kW from a 3.3-litre straight-six -- and weighing a mere 1.1 tonnes -- it won everything European touring car racing had to offer. A few years later, BMW wanted a car to compete in a Formula 1 undercard race and made a mid-engined supercar called the M1. To meet the rules, it had to build at least 400 road-legal versions. As well as a stunning shape, the M1 was the fastest German sportscar of the time. Just 456 were made, so it's very collectable now. That car gave the division its name and within a few years it was turning out the M3 and M5 performance variants that cemented BMW's reputation as a driver's badge. When it applied M-ness last year to the 1 Series two-door, it wanted to reserve “M1” for the 1970s original -- or its heirs -- so it broke with convention and called it the M Coupe. Which suggests that behind the scenes BMW may be working on a new M1 supercar. In a way, that's exactly what it needs because the blue, violet and red tricolour is being applied increasingly liberally across almost everything BMW makes. That M Coupe saw the division embrace turbocharging for the first time, but any inhibitions about how far M could legitimately go had already been dismantled a couple of years earlier when it allowed offroaders, inherently non-racy vehicles, to qualify for performance tuning.The X5 M and X6 M were the result; amazingly capable SUVs but a long way from where it all started. There's more. To maximise the potential of the badge, there's now a sub-brand called M Performance. This is sort of M-lite, with a performance wand waved over the chassis but assembly on the standard line rather than specialist construction.VALUEThe prices start from $68,400 BMW M135I, $292,500 BMW M6 (coupe) and $308,500 (convertible). Its debut vehicles are powered by M's first diesel, a triple-turbocharged six-cylinder in the M550d versions of the X5 and X6. BMW admits this diversification was inspired by the success of its M Sports packages, which apply racy cosmetics such as sports seats and aero kits to standard cars.M Sport versions have just become available for the 3 Series launched early this year and BMW expects 40-50 per cent of buyers to opt for it -- on a car already available with a so-called Sportline trim. Depending on which model you start with, this can add $8900 to the price.M Performance parts are the latest twist. They leverage the M Performance sub-brand to offer buyers a selection of aftermarket add-ons. In effect, the M badge has been parlayed into a huge Sports-R-Us superstore. If it used to stand for Motorsport, perhaps it now stands for Marketing.In fact it's difficult to say what it stands for, so diverse are the offerings. The two latest are effectively bookends for the non-cosmetic side of operations. At one extreme is the M135i, an M Performance model that spices up the mainstream hatchback launched last year.For the price the M135i’s performance is sensational: 4.9 seconds to 100km/h (slightly slower with the manual). That's identical to the M Coupe, which was $30,000 more. At the other is the M6 Coupe or Convertible, which is the most expensive M you can buy and, aside from the V12-powered long-wheelbase 7 Series limousine, the most expensive BMW.TECHNOLOGYOnly a year after it debuted in an M car, they both use turbocharging. Thanks to emission regulations, turbocharging is needed to meet the challenge of getting performance and economy from smaller capacity engines. In M cars, it changes the character of their power delivery. Previously, you had to rev the daylights out of them before you could tap into their potential. With turbos delivering huge torque virtually from idle, that's no longer the case.It has made the M6, which is a mechanical twin to the M5 launched earlier this year, much more like its AMG rivals from Mercedes. The engine, downsized from the previous 5.0-litre V10 to a 4.4-litre V8, uses turbos to get 39kW more power and a whopping 160Nm more torque. The redline arrives 1000rpm lower, at 7200rpm, but peak torque is accessible across virtually the entire rev band, from 1500-5750rpm.It's some compensation for turbocharging's downside: lag between throttle and response. But what it means in practice is wheelspin on demand and power oversteer if you turn all the settings to max and take it to a track, as BMW did for the launch.The M6 Coupe can hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds and twice that in just 12.6, making it BMW's fastest car. The Convertible, being heavier, is a fraction slower but still quicker than its rivals from Jaguar or Maserati. Of course, there's an option called the M Driver's Package, which lifts maximum speed from an artificially limited 250km/h to 305km/h. I've little doubt it could get there.DESIGNThe Convertible is heavier and less rigid than the carbon-fibre-roofed Coupe, but they are both the wrong side of 1.9 tonnes. The M6 has piled on 200kg since the 2006 original. It's a splendid luxury express with one of the best cabins I've seen in a BMW. However, it's a long way from where M started and although everything works -- the brakes held up well, for example -- I wanted to be less remote from the car.That's something you get more of in the M135i. Even though this is not a full-dose M car but an M Performance model, it's closer to the first M3 than anything bar the M Coupe mentioned above -- which is now, sadly, unavailable. The M135i looks like a frumpy little hatchback rather than a performance car and, initially, seems too softly sprung for a performance variant.DRIVINGThe Lakeside circuit in Queensland is much tighter and twistier than Phillip Island, where it took the M5. Any overzealous throttle use brought the tail out and the traction control light was almost permanently on. Disappointingly, there was less subtlety and feel to the steering, throttle and brakes than I'd like and where the M5 was a hoot at Phillip Island, the M6 felt large and weighty at Lakeside. I was acutely aware my daring depended on fat rubber and it seemed like hard work from behind the wheel. No wonder, given the speeds achievable. However, brilliant front-end grip means you can point it around corners with confidence. The rear can stutter a little, but it tracks through bends with superb composure. It's also relatively light, at 1.5 tonnes.The M135i’s engine -- a familiar 3.0-litre turbo six -- sounds great when pressed and comes with an unsampled six-speed manual or excellent eight-speed automatic. There are issues, such as tyre noise and wide A-pillars, but against rivals such as the Audi S3 it looks an absolute bargain.VERDICTWith more M cars on the way, including an M3 Coupe and Convertible rebadged as the M4, it's a vital reminder of where the whole M thing started.BMW M135IPrice: from $68,400 Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged 6-cylinder petrol, 235kW/450NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic, RWDThirst: 8.0L/100kmBMW M6Price: from $292,500 (Coupe) to $308,500 (Convertible) Engine: 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 petrol, 412kW/680NmTransmission: 7-speed automatic, RWDThirst: 9.9L/100Km (10.3L/100Km)

There are BMW M cars and now, there are other M cars from BMW, not quite as hard-edge but still with the characteristics to qualify as a seriously sporty drive, oh, and much more affordable.VALUEThe new M135i is a case in point. It's pitched about half way between a garden variety BMW and a fully blown M car such as the M3 but for the six-speed manual it costs a much more accessible $68,400....half what you'll pay for the M3. Eight-speed auto is an extra $4,000.But it isn't half the car - by any stretch of the imagination, more like 80 per cent in outright performance and handling terms. BMW leverages the M brand in M135i with a smattering of go fast bits and the rest from the regular parts inventory.Inside gets a good amount of luxury kit like premium audio, voice control, multi media connectivity, Bluetooth audio and phone, leather sports seats while the exterior has a body aero pack, LED daytime running lights, bi-xenon headlights with auto high beam and blacked out body hardware.TECHNOLOGYWhen you take parts from there, you have a really high baseline and that's why the M135i is such a crackin' good thing to drive. The engine for example sees duty in a range of other models including the 335i, the 535i, the X5, the Z4 and others.It's a single twin-scroll turbo six cylinder petrol unit with fully variable valve adjustment in Valvetronic and double Vanos as well as direct injection. BMW calls it Twin Power in reference to the dual boost effect of the twin scroll turbo. They used to have two individual turbos. The 3.0-litre engine is good for 235kW/450Nm output from just 1250rpm _ in a car the size of a Toyota Corolla.DESIGNIt's a bit of a sleeper in the looks department but presents a more appealing face than the regular 1-Series.PERFORMANCENeedless to say, it pays attention to the right foot like few other small cars. Lucky drive goes to the rear wheels because that much grunt through the front would be a challenge. The eight-speed automatic we drove is a conventional torque converter unit but changes like a dual-clutch system.The powertrain can propel this compact five door hatch from 0-100kmh in better than 5.0 seconds while sipping fuel at an average of 7.5-litres/100km. It is truly amazing engine performance on a number of fronts and sounds unreal, then you point it at a series of corners and it moves up a notch.DRIVINGThe M Sport-specific suspension rides 10mm lower than a standard model and features adjustable sports dampers. The steering is likewise upgraded with variable gearing with different response at low, intermediate and high speeds. You can see and feel the effect even at parking speeds or turning around. Even the brakes are upgraded with large rotors and multi piston callipers from the M-Sport division. Wheels are 18-inch with Michelin Pilot low profile tyres.We were treated to a good long drive in the M135i in a number of driving environments, in all of which the car excelled. It's particularly handy on a winding mountain road but is also comfy and safe on the freeway. Around town, the eight speed auto comes into its own but when you're in sports mode, it flicks through the gears rapidly with small increments between each cog. There's even auto stop start and EcoPro drive mode to maximise fuel efficiency in the city.VERDICTWe are not fans of the look but the car itself is fabulous to drive. It's engaging, forgiving and satisfying to drive, even down to the shops. Just needs to be less of a Q-ship _ a tad more overt would be good so people know what you are driving and how discerning you are.BMW M135iPrice: from $68,400Warranty: 3 yearsSafety rating: 5-star ANCAPEngine: 3.0-litre 6-cylinder, 235kW/450NmTransmission: 6-speed manual; RWDBody: 4340mm (L); 1765mm (w); 1411mm (h)Weight: 1430kgThirst: 8.0L/100km 188g/km CO2