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Motor Trends Quick Test: 2008 BMW 135i

theoptimisticpessimist submitted on 3/28/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 6:59:49 PM

46 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.motortrend.com

Tag Links: BMW, 135, M-Sport

BMW's new 1 Series really is just that-the only one in its class.

We recently took a 2008 135i out for numbers testing, track hot laps, and some real-world miles to see how it performed, and as we suspected, the small 2+2 BMW coupe scored high with editors and turned out some impressive numbers.

While BMW claims the 135i sprints to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, our test machine consistently ripped off 4.7-second runs, easily besting the factory estimate, and buzzed through the quarter mile in 13.3 seconds at 105.6 mph. Under braking, the 135i's six-piston front brakes, and wide, sticky tires haul it to rest from 60 mph in an impressive 102 feet, and the 1's average lateral acceleration checked in at 0.94 g.

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No matter where you go, there you are. -Buckaroo Bonzai
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

User Comments

theoptimisticpessimist.... I just noticed your Buckaroo Bonzai quote! Hilarious! Great movie! Really one of the best.

About the 135i.. I find it pretty revolutionary that you can buy a car like it that can hang with an M3 and IS-F, etc., at a price that is less than half their costs, and it is still a luxury car!
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 7:31:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7

I drove one Wednesday, holy crap what a car. I feel instantly in love. Keep the options low and it's a helluva a bargain. I concur on BB.
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 7:42:05 PM | | Votes: 5

TOLD you!

Look for some BIG news about the 135i on AutoSpies.com early next week!

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 8:00:21 PM | | Votes: 1

001, my you sure are original with your opinions! Keep up with the IN YOUR FACE attitude! It makes you look really cool! In fact, I think it suits your jean jacket and Fubu hat really well!
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 8:21:24 PM | | Votes: 1

LMAO
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 10:00:52 PM | | Votes: 1

Hyundai,

You know what they say...

NEVER wrestle with a pig.

Because you both get dirty and the pig LIKES it!

;)

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 11:59:50 PM | | Votes: 0

This is really an awesome machine, but I wouldn't be able to justify buying one over a 335i when the 1er goes over $40K quite easily.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 7:36:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I completely agree with you.
— SHOWTIME (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 1:25:18 PM | | Votes: 2

it's the best car ever. and i've never even seen one.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 10:25:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

BMW has done it again! I am just waiting for the Lexus, Audi fans to pick it apart but this car is going to sell despite them. I just wish we could get the european 5 door here.
— lyonboy (View Profile)

Posted on 3/28/2008 11:09:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

I love both Lexus and Audis, but this car has really grown on me. The one thing I am not a fan of though, is the rear tail lights - I don't like the shape... but that's all I can find to not like about the 1er.

You don't have to be a Lexus fan, or a BMW fan. You can be both. Just throwing that possibility out there for the people who didn't think it was a viable alternative..
— Hyundai (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 12:00:29 AM | | Votes: 4

I'm a fan of both BMW and Lexus.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 2:07:27 AM | | Votes: -1

Saw my first 135i at the local BMW dealer here in Austin last Sunday - black on black - what a car! Seven/eight other people were looking at the car/taking pics of it w/ their cell phones. BMW definitely has yet another winner on their hands.
— SixxFive (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 12:45:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I sat in the 135i at the NY Auto Show. The 135i is amazing. It looks good in black, red, and the blue shown in the pictures. I would only get black interior though.
— bmwfan1513 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 12:50:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

i hope to see lexus field a competitor. hell, i bet acura could churn out a good offering based on a next generation s2000 platform. how does a 2010 alfa gt sound?

...soon, suvs are dead as disco.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 1:12:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Can u say I350? I37?

001
— Agent001 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 2:20:07 AM | | Votes: -1

does any one have any news about the BMW autopilot project?
— BMWER (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 1:21:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I love the 1-Series, but it just isn't that great of a bargain. It's too close to the price of the 3-Series. I guess it all comes down to preference.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 2:06:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

the 135i costs the same as the G37, which was the point. It's not supposed to be "cheap", just "less expensive than a 3-Series", which it is.
— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 7:56:05 AM | | Votes: 4

Less expensive, yes, but add an accessory and it's not much cheaper than the 1-Series.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 12:58:24 PM | | Votes: -1

Yeah, that's basically a given with luxury cars. I'm just saying that the 1-Series should be LESS than the 3-Series, since it's a smaller car with less features. I never implied that it should be the price of a Corolla.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 1:39:48 AM | | Votes: 1

is it the same price as a G37? Less if you get a 128i? Yes.

The 335i beat the G in pretty much every comparison test last year, but despite whipping it in every category and being larger and more upscale it lost a couple (Motor Trend being one) because it was $6k more expensive.

The 135i is smaller (like the G), and cheaper (like the G). I wonder who BMW was targeting with this car? Oh yes, people who might have bought a G because it was less than a BMW. Because now it isn't.
— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 10:56:19 AM | | Votes: 3

The 1-Series has a great presence. It has a nice stance and looks much better in person than it does in photos. The greenhouse is less boxy than most people think. And of course, the performance is without question.
This car is going to do very well.
— gooch (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 8:05:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Other than the M4 being "more fun" than the boxster / Cayman S, I agree with you. I have driven an M4 and boxster S and honestly, the m4 comes up a bit short when you go around any curve. Just not the same.
— Targa (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 8:47:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

AmazinBimmer is spot-on...
— AgentOrange (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 9:45:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

How is the 7 Series "second?" It has never won a test against the A8, let alone the S550.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/31/2008 9:19:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I agree with amazinbimmer 100%...right on...
— KEVINBSL500 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/31/2008 2:14:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Was ugly 4 years ago and it still is.
— Heyhuub (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 2:01:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

"The only major strike against the BMW is its high cost. Though a stripper 135i starts at $35,675, ours came in over $10,000...You can get a nicely equipped 335i coupe for that much."

So basically, its an engine with some seats attached. Luxury my ass.

1998 Supra ran the same numbers. big deal. Once again, BMW's late to the party but thanks to marketing, its revolutionary.

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=44256/pageNumber=1?synpartner=edmunds&pageurl=www.edmunds.com/used/1998/toyota/supra/13236/roadtestarticle.html&articleId=44256
0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds
60-0 mph in just 124 feet.
skid pad .96 gs.
"Consider this; these numbers were generated at an elevation of 2,500 feet on a 100+ degree-day. Imagine what this car could do at sea level with the temperature in the mid-seventies."

Too slow, check out the UK model numbers.
"The official UK cars pumped out 326 bhp and 4.9 second 0-60 times"
http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/feature.jsp?id=1173&page=10

Now, I'd like to see BMW get these times with a 4banger like Subi and Mitsu do.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 3:24:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8

I'm just wondering how much BMW might be shooting itself in the foot. 1 Series just seems redundant with 3 Series coupes, especially considering its price point.
— senorgato (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 3:48:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

Damn, your comment hit the bull's eye!!!
That was exactly my thought..this thing w/little plastic 1-series sticker on the car won't mean anything in the U.S. market. I predict that most folks will opt for a 3 series or IS250 instead. As much as 1-series will try to challenge the IS250 and steal away their sales in the market..it just wont happen IMO. Especially with their reliability problems clouding them around the world..I think bMW will go extinct or be bought out by some Indian Co. in about 10 yrs. from now. they need to wake up and smell the gasoline and build cars that makes some sense and not fallapart and stop showing off by shoving gargantuan horsepower and ripping off hard working folks around the world. Its a damn shame.
— Homer008 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 4:47:44 PM | | Votes: -6

LOL.... wow are you delusional.

I think it is more likely that Lexus is sold off to a Chinese or Korean company before BWM goes through what you just described. As the American economy goes down, Lexus is going to feel the pinch. They don't sell well anywhere else.
— Targa (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 8:50:29 PM | | Votes: 2

I haven't driven the 135i yet, but I have driven the 335i coupe. My feeling is BMW is lying about this car.
It definitely feels like it has substantially more than 300 HP, which is what they advertise. At a minium I would guess around 330 HP. Oh well, the talk is that the Nissan GT-R is in the same boat with an extra 70 or so HP more than they advertise. The true power in the high performance cars today is so high no manufacturer wants to admit it.
— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 4:42:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

The N54 engine in the 135,335,535 definitely has over 300HP. BMW understates it so as not to syphon sales from the latest M3. Hindreds of dynos on the BMW message boards prove it. Many come in around 270-280RWHP which equates to somewhere around 320HP.
— lewishamiltonpimp (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 9:55:02 AM | | Votes: 3

theres nothing wrong with underestimating power!!!!!
— stash84 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 9:39:57 PM | | Votes: 4

German magazines have been reporting this past week of an M version of the 135i called M135 coming out in March 09.

Quoting the famous Scott from another board:

Why so serious? M division have many intentions but the output war is over , it is not defeat for BMW or surrender. Just the priorities have changed
As I have mentioned before M-Division will become the pinnacle for BMW's "Efficient Dynamics" programme. Lower emissions are what is capable with turbo charging . As I said a few years ago on the annoucement of BMW turbo-charged future. "Turbo charging would be on BMW's terms" And the fear alluded when the 335i appeared in 2006. M-Division have some interesting developments upcoming that do use twin and quad-turbos.

First of all you will see M fettled model of the 1er Coupe and Cabrio it wont be known as the M1 but M135i it will use a boosted output of the current 135i to 355 PS , why M135i? There was no original M6 the E63 is the first M6 the latter was simply the M635 , that is why it makes more sense to follow this tradition. Also to be available will be a CS package (Coupe only) that will involve the addition of lightweight body panels such as Carbon Fibre reinforced roof and additional performance enhancing equipment . An M120i will be the entry model again using a four cylinder turbo charged powerplant of 240PS again with option of the CS package. As of now the 135i is doing well it wont be disturbed or unleashed of it's potential until late 2009.

It is best to move the benchmarks before being taken off the road altogether.

http://www.germancarzone.com/bmw-lou...duction-2.html
— investor27 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/29/2008 6:17:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

investor,
It's 2008, BMW is just doing this now. Toyota last did it in 1998.

The HP wars are stupid, serves no purpose. I'd rather have the best engine regardless of what HP it makes.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 4:44:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

...And SAAB did it in the 70's and so on....

— Matthew1 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/31/2008 12:08:08 AM | | Votes: 3

Personally I can't wait to hear a BMW M1 is coming :-)
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/30/2008 9:54:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

1-series is just too ugly just like the rest of the BMW range!!!
— ubercool (View Profile)

Posted on 3/31/2008 6:49:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

i wouldnt go so far, i was skeptical on it's looks at first...but being rite by the BMW dealer gave me a first hand view of the machine. the front has grown on me and i can say, i do like it now...it's nice. the side profile is very appealing...it's aggresive (135i) the rear, thats my turning point. it doesnt flow well IMO with the rest of the car...

but with the engine and 3/4ths of an appealing vehicle, who can say no...wait the price!!! another turning point...
— r15mohd (View Profile)

Posted on 3/31/2008 11:01:53 AM | | Votes: 2

As a 335i owner, I think it is awesome. $7k less and 200lbs lighter (tho less attractive). The M-version will be a killer.
— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 3/31/2008 7:10:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

What Saab matched the Supra's performance? The current ones can't even do it.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 12:12:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

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Motor Trends Quick Test: 2008 BMW 135i

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