Actually, if you slice the mismatched roof off the old-shape coupe, it looks a lot better.

Ugliness is relative; the 02 was never lovely.

Best thing you could do was shove its oily bits up an old Glas 1300GT to make a BMW 1600GT. Which they did.

 

Everyone is confused Nick. Mdilution

It's simple (not really)

You have a 1M, a few hundred of them over here, pricey, quick, fugly, coupe only. 340bhp tuned N54 (as per 335i) £40k. Held their value really well. Sold out. These engines suffer turbo issues I believe

Now they launched the M135i N55 engine 302bhp, same as the 135i. That is £30k, hatch only

Calling a 116D MSPORT is silly marketing but ho hum, if it allows Pirelli to screw Rep Ronnie for £250 a corner wgaf?

Anyway the latter (not the 116!) is a cheap hot hatch which is > better than a Golf GiT, a Vauxhall WnkR or a Ford f@#kUp aRSe as a proposition

IMHO

I liked the N54 but not as much as the S65 v8, having driven both I just thought the latter suited me better. And it scratched the v8 itch my inner child had

I need decent back seats, decent boot etc as the other family car is a golf with a tiny boot

When he's big enough I'll chop it for an Exige. But I'll be too f@#king old to get in it

 

Thanks, Notts.

I remember now that M-spot is like S-lime; a sort of perimeter c unt detector. Or is that M-sogyny?

I understand the M135i is supposed to ride, etc acceptably well on yUK roads & thus actually be a useable BMW. Plus it's got a straight-six and no sign of cancer engines.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not after one. But I would like to double the number of modern cars I currently consider worthwhile and actually buyable, IYSWIM.

 

I had a new model M135i on demo for a week. Second only in my all-time mentalest cars driven list to Kitesurfer's turbo'd S.

Unfortunately it was an auto, which is a bit faster than the manual, but robs you of a bit of control. The auto 'box is undeniably good, but the combination of 320hp and kick-down is seriously strenuous on the neck muscles.

I had the Active Hybrid 3 after that. It's probably the most complete piece of engineering I've ever driven - 300+hp, 30 mpg when spanking it home from work and runs on its own leccy charge at 30-40mph with nothing more than the straight-six purr to tell you it had swapped back from battery to petrol power. But at almost £50k it should be that good!

I've driven a load of the latest 1's, 3's and 5's and they're all bloody good to be honest.

I've got a Cooper S on the go at the moment. I know I shouldn't confess this, but I was looking forward to driving it because I've still got a big soft spot for buzzy hot hatches, but the combination of stiff suspension, and wide, ultra-low profile Bridgestone run-flats - the perfect storm for rubbish tyres in my humble opinion - totally ruins it. If you think an S2000 has issues in the wet (I don't, for what it's worth) take a drive in a Cooper S - one minute it's grippy and predictable, then it just goes completely numb, apart from the tram-lining. When will they give up on that run flat nonsense?

 

Yeah; I realise that most can be improved with a can of goo & real rubber. But one shouldn't NEED to, it's true.

 

I drove boggo mini and that felt quite chuckable but ultimately also felt like style over substance in design, not a trait i particularly like

The reviews all reckon the early ones were the good 'uns but they break like somehow Fiat got involved?

the E92 has a stiff ride, too stiff for UK roads i guess but it is very friendly compared to the S2 imo for a ham fisted bast like me. I was talking to Don Palmer on this very subject as i'm going on one of his training days next month, i'm sure he wont mind me quoting him. I entirely agree with what he says here. Ultimately he said "bring the S" which i'm pleased about as the tyres/fuel is cheaper and everything is at lower speed

 

why would anyone want one of these over a used M3 V8?

 

Ironically, the boggo Cooper on crappy 15" wheels is a great little car to throw about.

 

Which one? The 1M or the M135?

I can see why the latter but looks on the former mean its a no.
The latter will have a warranty, be cheaper to run etc.
But thats absolutely not a heart choice.

I drove the 335 and i knew i'd regret buying it vs the M3. It was newer, had the service pack for 2/3 years and DCT which i did want. It also had the hdd sat nav and stereo and was the colour combo i wanted.

But it was sub M3 in all driving measures. I'm really getting rather fond of the E92 now. Yes its thirsty and it really shreds rear tyres but its fun and it can be a very comfortable place to be on a freezing winters' commute. It has power in spades, plenty of torque and revs to over 8k. It also feels like a tank in terms of solidity and is very practicle for nipper.

So i think we agree, whichever you meant.

The 1M is supposed to be a widowmaker too. Not ideal as family transport then

 

Size? The M3 is a huge beast these days. I dunno, none of them appeal to me personally, but I do prefer the more compact dimensions of the 1M. I also prefer the noise of a six to an eight (Again that is my opinion).

Nottm - This is the thing I really don't get any more. I have been driving around in a 2008 Mondeo 2.0 Diesel. Infact in the past two weeks I have done >1500 miles in it. It was the perfect 'car' in that it could do 130 leptons, had cruise control, air cons, heated front/rear screens, comfy seats, 50mpg and very well built (This one had 130k on it and felt great). Don't get me wrong, it was dull, but then how exciting is a motorway commute?