BMW M135i

RedvGreen · 27 May 2014 at 18:26

DAIR said:
Bmw don't offer engine performance upgrades for the 2 or 135i

Yet...

It is only a matter of time. It'll be the same old performance power kit with uprated radiator fan and some additional oil cooling with a joke effort of a tune of around 10-15BHP. BMW play these very safe to accommodate the total variation of engines, whilst tuners like DMS can push it to the limit as each tune can be tailored to each vehicle.

DAIR · 27 May 2014 at 19:06

Never suggested it couldn't pump put more power. Just pointing out that there are no power upgrades for it (from bmw).

blade007 · 27 May 2014 at 20:58

Got an M135i Auto Estoril blue 3 weeks ago, on lease.

I have to say that it's ferocious as it is. 2/3 throttle and the back end can step out.

Is the new M3 engine the same as M135i and delivering an extra 100bhp?3

thewanted · 27 May 2014 at 20:59

blade007 said:
Is the new M3 engine the same as M135i and delivering an extra 100bhp?3

The M135i uses the N55 engine, and the F80 M3 uses the S55 (link). From that page it sounds like it's a heavily tweaked version of the N55:

It's been rumored to be an extensively reworked and reinforced N55 6-cylinder engine with a strengthened aluminium block with a heavily modified cylinder head

RedvGreen · 28 May 2014 at 00:37

blade007 said:
Got an M135i Auto Estoril blue 3 weeks ago, on lease.

I have to say that it's ferocious as it is. 2/3 throttle and the back end can step out.

Is the new M3 engine the same as M135i and delivering an extra 100bhp?3

2/3 throttle in which gear and doing what? Cornering or straight line?

If straight line, in the dry, with properly run-in correctly inflated tyres then you've got a problem if it's getting tail happy. I'd leave stability control on if it is that bad...

Oh and you'll get the itch as everyone does. You'll get used to the power and you'll desire some more!

Stephen B · 28 May 2014 at 07:40

RedvGreen said:
BMW play these very safe to accommodate the total variation of engines, whilst tuners like DMS can push it to the limit as each tune can be tailored to each vehicle.

I'd argue they don't want to push the power level close to the next model up and lose potential sales of the more expensive car.

417.5 WHP is achievable with a decat, exhaust and JB4 stage 2

RedvGreen · 28 May 2014 at 11:41

Stephen B said:
I'd argue they don't want to push the power level close to the next model up and lose potential sales of the more expensive car.

417.5 WHP is achievable with a decat, exhaust and JB4 stage 2

With the N54, very easily. With the N55, not that easy.

BMW themselves have always underplayed the awesomeness of the 135i and 335i (hence the 235i and 435i now too) as it was scaringly close to the M variants in straight line performance. Handling and suspension were way off the mark though. (it's nearly the same engine in them all too, just with reinforcement heads etc).

DMS have nothing to lose for pushing the engines hard.

This is why you can get VAG engines and Impreza/Evo engines which are a humble 2.0 which are delivering huge figures after ridiculous money is thrown at tuning and mods - yet you see that these engines have a large failure rate of components.
BMW appear to have an engine that is capable of 400BHP+ with comparably little fettling yet they reign it in to save economy, emissions, wear and tear and the authority that their M-cars achieve.

Besides, all that power will require new wider tyres, and I grimace at the thought of the insurance mark-up.

DAIR · 28 May 2014 at 11:59

I think the car has more than enough power in standard form. Can't see why people feel the need to increase it.

Stephen B · 28 May 2014 at 12:09

RedvGreen said:
With the N54, very easily. With the N55, not that easy.

Besides, all that power will require new wider tyres, and I grimace at the thought of the insurance mark-up.

without wishing this to appear like a smackdown, I am speaking from personal experience, mine made 417.5 [email protected] and over 460 ft lb @3.5k with the mods stated.

still managing to drive it on std rubber

insurance with all mods declared and some lowering springs which have still to be fitted was an additional £250

Stephen B · 28 May 2014 at 12:11

DAIR said:
I think the car has more than enough power in standard form. Can't see why people feel the need to increase it.

better power to weight ratio than an M5 is a pretty compelling argument

and before anyone runs to the defence of an M5, I wasn't comparing them as a whole

DAIR · 28 May 2014 at 12:14

Impressive to say the least. M5 power......

I'm still getting use to my car lol. Who knows I may become bored of it. Can't see that happening though.

Stephen B · 28 May 2014 at 12:19

DAIR said:
Impressive to say the least. M5 power......

I'm still getting use to my car lol. Who knows I may become bored of it. Can't see that happening though.

its not all about the power, the sound is also superb to my ears.

RedvGreen · 28 May 2014 at 12:21

Stephen B said:
without wishing this to appear like a smackdown, I am speaking from personal experience, mine made 417.5 [email protected] and over 460 ft lb @3.5k with the mods stated.

still managing to drive it on std rubber

insurance with all mods declared and some lowering springs which have still to be fitted was an additional £250

No smackdown received, it's ok!

I appreciate that there may be exceptional cars out there, but the majority of the N55 are way behind on the tuning circles as the N54 has simply been out for far longer, so people know it better. The N55 had issues with 2011+ vehicles have enhanced encryption algorithms in place which the tuners just couldn't crack for overwriting the ECU.

Burger Motorsports got around that by just doing a form of 'man in the middle' interception and modification of the data communication to the engine, and have the advantage of being easily removable if you ever need to take it to BMW. My experience of the JB3 was that it threw up EMLs intermittently if you were running it on several of the preset high modes - and my car had all the performance kit variant 2 add-ons for cooling too.

Since blowing too much cash on my last car, i've opted to simply purchase a standard car, which is fast enough out of the box, and keep it that way for the duration of my ownership. Tuning is like an illness and it is so addictive!

Stephen B · 28 May 2014 at 12:29

my advantage is its a pneumatic actuator on the turbo [early car], the electronic ones are not performing as well yet, but they should prove even stronger on power output when that is sorted out

I have zero fault codes btw after entering hidden menu on car

Monster · 28 May 2014 at 12:52

Does the Sat Nav in these fold down when the car is locked or anything? Looks like it does/should...

DAIR · 28 May 2014 at 12:56

The screen is fixed

Dangerous Dave · 28 May 2014 at 17:49

Stephen B said:
without wishing this to appear like a smackdown, I am speaking from personal experience, mine made 417.5 [email protected] and over 460 ft lb @3.5k with the mods stated.

still managing to drive it on std rubber

insurance with all mods declared and some lowering springs which have still to be fitted was an additional £250

What is the traction like ? my friend is thinking about getting his remapped but in the damp/wet even standard it can be tricky getting traction when nipping out of junctions/roundabouts etc so he was going to get a LSD fitted at the same time.

blade007 · 28 May 2014 at 21:07

RedvGreen said:
2/3 throttle in which gear and doing what? Cornering or straight line?

If straight line, in the dry, with properly run-in correctly inflated tyres then you've got a problem if it's getting tail happy. I'd leave stability control on if it is that bad...

Oh and you'll get the itch as everyone does. You'll get used to the power and you'll desire some more!

Was just coming out of corner and going straight. Damp road though (not wet). Just hooned it a bit from 30 into 70 and it stepped out. Even passenger noticed. Oh it was in its Sports mode using the auto gearbox, with traction control on.

I think it was the damp road.

Can't help it in this car. It's always lurching and can't wait to shoot offer with a little throttle.

I even enjoy the thought of going out for a drive in it. It's insane.

The thought of going to a petrol station only conjures up the thought of .. we're going to have more fun shortly

Stephen B · 28 May 2014 at 22:33

Dangerous Dave said:
What is the traction like ? my friend is thinking about getting his remapped but in the damp/wet even standard it can be tricky getting traction when nipping out of junctions/roundabouts etc so he was going to get a LSD fitted at the same time.

torque curve is flatter after remap, I have no problems driving the car in wet or damp conditions, sideways is always an option but some restraint makes it no harder than any other car to drive IMO

I only use map6 when I'm on the open road and car fully warmed up, around town & roundabouts and my daily drive to work stock map is the norm

tyre pressures also have a big effect in my experience, I tend to run them a bit higher than recommended to protect sidewall a bit, and it also seems to give the car a more predictable slide when induced.

Monster · 28 May 2014 at 22:50

What's the difference between the different nav options on this car and what is standard?

You seem them advertised with pro nav and business nav - is it simply the screen is wider with the pro?

What comes as standard? No screen? Whats the benefit of the pro nav?

Seems a little confusing!

Had a sit in one of these today, was pretty nice but felt like sitting very low compared to my Leon. Might have to take one for a test drive.