This may sound like heresy, but I'm actually considering this. I need to replace my car by March (lease is up) and am i crazy to consider the 135? It's lighter than the 335, which is already as quick as the M, and according to the mags, might very will be the most fun to drive of any car in BMW's portfolio. Install a Vishnu chip, a bit of suspension work, and you could have a sleeper of major proportions.

What do you guy's think?

that's a very hard question to comment on at this point I think. I've read lots of good things about the 1 series but who knows. I'm sure they're going to be good cars but not an M3..

Might work- let us know how it does

Do it. Not to mention you won't have to worry about warranty issues.

Why not give it a try. Sounds like the 135 is a fun car. And with the 3.0 liter twin turbo engine it should really move.

It wont be an adequate replacement, but it will be different and fun. I say do it, as long as you like the design and size of the 1 series.

an m3 is small...and you want to go smaller 0.0?

If you are going to be using it everyday, i say keep the m3. I understand that the 1 series isn't that much smaller..but still smaller at that lol.

The only problem i see with the 135i is that the rear seats dont fold down, and thats a big problem for me.

What's the price tag going to look like with mods that BMW will allow with warranty?

When I sold my M3 ... I was preparring myself to move into the new M3. But after reading all the news, facts & figures about the new M3. It is no longer a feasible option for me. While I would love to be back in another M3... 420hp is definitely nice, but 3800lbs, 13mpg and a near $80,000 price tag are not something I can deal with for a daily driver to work. I would love to be able to "deal" with it, but the 135 is looking to be more my speed.

With the 135 having almost the same HP of the E46 M3, the same basic weight, width, wheelbase... it is going to be a very similar car. But, what I learned when jumping from the M3 to the M Roadster, even though it has the same components, it can be engineered to be two totally different feeling cars (my M Roadster feels nothing like the M3 did).

If there is the optional limited slip differential available on the 135, it will definitely be on my list. Plus, if the rumored Tii is coming, that will definitely be the car I use to replace the M Roadster.

But, what I learned when jumping from the M3 to the M Roadster, even though it has the same components, it can be engineered to be two totally different feeling cars (my M Roadster feels nothing like the M3 did).

Better, worse, or just different?

It's not a better or worse car... overall, it's just different and I mean, really different. It does some things better than the M3 but it also does some things worse. I jumped into it expecting it to drive identically to the M3 just be smaller and faster. Wrong. Well, it is smaller and faster... but the experience is different.

Why not give it a try. Sounds like the 135 is a fun car. And with the 3.0 liter twin turbo engine it should really move.

True. There are all sorts of goodies for the turbos in the 335 like blowoff valves and other fun things. Could be a car that you could get alot of extra power out of with mods (well not with the blowoff valve)

i'm considering doing the same thing. warranty is up on my 04 pretty soon, and i don't want to foot the bill for repairs and inspections :D

the LSD is a huge deal breaker for me. price is too. it needs to be under 40k speced out, and the dealer needs to give me what i owe on the M. i can't really take a loss on it to afford the 40k price tag, because then it turns into 45k+

My configured 135 was $45k ... if the Tii comes, I expect the price tag to jump to about $51k. Rumors say there will be an optional "dealer installed" limited slip under the BMW Performance moniker... but I don't know if I want to have them R/R a differential in the delearship if they don't have to.

where did you configure it at? the website doesn't have much of anything last i checked.

The only problem i see with the 135i is that the rear seats dont fold down, and thats a big problem for me.

In the latest Roundel they have an article on the 135i and show the rear seats folding down. 60/40 split.

In the latest Roundel they have an article on the 135i and show the rear seats folding down. 60/40 split.

Well thanks alot for making my decesion alot harder :rofl:.

Im glad they went with the folding seats though.

I glad to hear I'm not alone in this consideration. I thought it would be considered insane to go from a M to a 135, but thankfully that isn't so. I know it won't be like the M, but I'm prepared to sacrifice some of the feel and feedback for reliability. Thanks for all the feedback, guys.

I'm going in for another service tomorrow (Inspection I) and plan on getting as much info on the 135 as I can. I sat in it in at the LA show and agree, it is smaller than a 3 coupe. However, I've got a 'vert so keep in mind, "smaller" is relative and I don't have fold down rear seats as it is! I'm not in love with the styling of the 135...unlike the E46 which still looks great IMO...but then again the E92 doesn't exactly blow my skirt up either. It's not ugly, but I'm not compelled to turn around and look at it as I walk away, if you get my meaning.

I drove the S5 last week and will be also testing the G37S, GT500, and 997 (used) tomorrow. I don't know if the Pcar will work as the pre-owned examples don't lease well. We'll see...

S5 is WAY overpriced... wait like a year if u want that thing. it looks great from some angles and horrible in others. the 135 will be a great lease + a nice piggyback system and u will have one beastly DD. its not very good looking but u'll have extra money for mods laying around just don't go crazy with options. G37S - nah. 997 unless it has crazy miles are averaging around 65-70, a little high for my taste and like u mentioned pre-owned leases are horrible deals. GT500 is okay but u will be on a whole other spectrum, drive one first.

I was also contemplating this decision. I will be done with school in a year hopefully start into a nice job once I'm done. After loosing the 99M3 I need something that gives me that rush again.

I love the e46 M but the 135i is also tempting, especially in a year once tuners get their hands on it. Who knows the 135i could be making 450whp this summer for all we know.

Although this is were it will still be a tough decision. "do I want a 1series? or do I want to stay with the line of the ///M, even though the 135i would smoke a stock M3.

I've seen vids of the 1 series already claiming to do 0-60 in a range from 5.1-5.3 seconds. can anybody verify this?

To me, the new M3 is a BMW's answer to what the M5 should have been offered in (two door coupe). gorgeous car but too big.

I think the 135i and the 335i are going to take up a bunch of BMW's sales that they were hoping for the new M3.

I was seriously considering a 135i but it would have been a bit of a stretch for me financially. DC living costs suck!! My other choice was an E46 M3 but it had to be 2003 or newer and had to have at least a year of CPO or some sort of equivelant warranty left, less than 40k miles, all records, perfect condition, orig. paint, etc.

Luckily, I found that M3 a few weeks ago and got it for well under $30k! However, I will still be test driving a 135 and following the reviews very closely. If I wanted to, I think I'll be able to sell the M3 for my purchase price or more until the end of the summer so the 135 is still an option. I'm going to see how much I enjoy owning a vert over the spring and summer and we'll see how it goes. If I do get a 135i, I definitely won't be able to stretch for a vert.

I would want to see some road test on the 135i first.

Well... to make the decision even harder...

M3 pricing announced puts it at $54k for the sedan and $57k for the coupe... not as expensive as original thought.

However... BMW has thrown a wrench into the plans. They are now welding the differentials making the old cores no longer usable. That means instead of a $2100 differential upgrade, you are now looking at a $4000 upgrade because you have to buy a whole new unit with no core refund charge.

That messes up the game plan a bit...

I would want to see some road test on the 135i first.

you and me both....i was planning to keep my e46 m3 and get the 135 but after seeing some feedback from the journalists, i may sell the m3 and get the new m3. apparently the 135 will be tuned softly to compensate for shorter wheelbase, being narrower, taller, and "twitchier" than the 335 (which is no handling machine either). i've been buying bimmers for its handling prowess (for a 4 seater) not for the straightline speed and it appears that the 135 will be more focused on straightline and less so on handling.

Well... to make the decision even harder...

M3 pricing announced puts it at $54k for the sedan and $57k for the coupe... not as expensive as original thought.


Oh, great.

Where did you find that pricing Kev and is it confirmed? If so, that changes the playing field quite a bit as I was expecting the new M3's in the mid $60's.

On a side note, the S5 is a definite non starter after driving a 335i coupe and G37s. It's just not very sporty, has overboosted steering, and you can feel every ounce of its 3900lbs. The 335 was more refined and had better interior materials than the G37s, but don't bag the Infiniti just because it isn't from der faterland. Dynamically, it's very close to a 335i. Sure, the 335i has a better mix of compliance and handling (the G37s is every bit as firm as the M) but the difference is certainly not night and day. Steering feel is actually superior to the non-active steering 335i I tested and brake modulation was about equal. It was a lot noisier, which was a bit surprising. The biggest difference is the level of equipment. Equipping a 335i equal to the loaded G37s I drove equates to a $9k premium.

That ain't hay.

The Shelby was gone so I was unable to try that. Perhaps later in the week.

Oh, great.

Where did you find that pricing Kev and is it confirmed? If so, that changes the playing field quite a bit as I was expecting the new M3's in the mid $60's. .

i heard 80k which put it completely out of my reach. can't swing that with the mortgage...
57k is sorta in reach... but still a stretch. a 2nd year trade in would be ~50k or less and well within my budget.


I like the e46 M a lot. hell, i love the car. I'm just not too fond of having a $2k bill for inspections every year...

arrrrrrrrr too many choices :(

E90/92 M3 Pricing: http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/m-lounge/8789365-4.html

I'm sure it's on other forums too, but this is where I saw it.

I called my dealer to check on the prices. He said they just ordered their first E92 M3 coupe.

Base price was $63,900 and they didn't have pricing on the sedans yet.

If the prices are in the $50's, I'd like to know where this is coming from. It wouldn't be the first time my dealer was wrong...

The prices were announcd at the detroit auto show...

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2007-bmw-m3-e92-pricing-leaked.html

Talked to the sales manager and he confirmed Kev's prices. I asked to not work with that particular salesperson anymore as I don't care to be lied to.

The prices are a nice suprise, but I think I'm going to stay away from the first year of the E92 M3. New engine, new technology...rod bearing recall anyone? I've had enough "surprises" with my car and think I'll give them a year or two to work the kinks out.

Thanks for the info guys.

This may sound like heresy, but I'm actually considering this. I need to replace my car by March (lease is up) and am i crazy to consider the 135? It's lighter than the 335, which is already as quick as the M, and according to the mags, might very will be the most fun to drive of any car in BMW's portfolio. Install a Vishnu chip, a bit of suspension work, and you could have a sleeper of major proportions.

What do you guy's think?

No LSD, no buy.

I wonder if BMW are going to build the 135tii concept and bring it to the US. How sweet would it be if that car was 300 lbs lighter, tuned to about 350 Hp by BMW, and had a real LSD? Now that would be sweet!

Greenmeansgo-

The salesperson might not have lied--the price might have included a dealer mark up. I remember a 10K mark up on the C6 vette when it first came out, I wouldn't be surprised to see the same on the new M3.

I wonder if BMW are going to build the 135tii concept and bring it to the US. How sweet would it be if that car was 300 lbs lighter, tuned to about 350 Hp by BMW, and had a real LSD? Now that would be sweet!
When questioned... they could not confirm that a Tii would be available, but if it would be available it would be available with a upgraded version of the 3.0L 300hp motor making approximately 340hp. The boy racer trim will more than likely not come standard due to it's poor reactions at auto shows. It was said too many equated it to a boy racer sema car ... not the image they are looking for.

There will be weight savings, but nobody knows how much and the funny part is, the designers were trying to get the round tail lights back similar to what was on the original... but the design never left the drawing board.

Since no confirmation that the car was going to come... there was no confirmation that it would come with an LSD either, but seeing as how it is essentially an M car, I do not see why it would not. The car wears M badges all over it to let you know that it has been massaged by the M team, it just does not carry the M1 monikier.

Rumor also had it that it may be limited production as well... but limited today could turn full blown production by tomorrow. (a la Honda S2000).

The 135i won't be as good on the track IMO.