M140i Shadow Edition

DereksDontRun said:
I've had my M135i just over a year now, so here's my quick thoughts on those options.

It's a great rwd car while also being v practical.

Auto - everyone raves about it, but in all honesty, if I was to spec again I'd go manual. It's my 1st auto car and I just find it less engaging to drive. I miss that additional connection/thought of choosing appropriate gear based on the corner coming up, etc. Yes, the car can only be quicker with the auto (and apparently about 10% better mpg, as it's got 8 gears to play with), but once away from booting it in a straight line (motorway slip roads) and on winding roads, I personally find it mutes the experience.

Adaptive - As far as I've read, the non adaptive is almost as firm as the adaptive in sports mode, so it effectively gives you a softer option when in comfort mode. Yes, it makes it smoother on bumpy roads, but if you're blessed with smooth roads near you (admittedly, who is these days?), then it's possibly not a must have? For the roads around here, I'd probably spec it again.
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Interesting, I have had my 135i about 9 months and really like it as well. I got the manual and wish I would have got the auto :p. I just find it a bit clunky.

The only options I wish I had are the adaptive suspension and the HK audio pack.

Otherwise a fantastic little car that is deceptively quick. When im looking to swap in a little over a year, it will be another 140i or the 240i.
 
If you enjoy listening to music at all (and not just the radio) then HK audio is a must, the standard audio is abysmal in comparison!
 
Will weigh in with the auto/manual. Also my first auto car and i ******* adore it. Its a beautiful gearbox IMO and while i'm not too fond of the paddles, i do love the tiptronic is it? where you knock the gear stick to the left and simply push forward/pull back to change gear.

When i was a kid, funnily enough i said to my dad i was going to have a gearbox like that in my car(as in forward/back() Little did i know i'd actually get one :p

All that said, I've not used the paddles on a proper spirited drive yet to be fair, i've use the tiptronic (?) a good amount and i'm a big fan.
 
90% of the time the auto is a better option, easier and quicker to use but for those moments when you have a bit of open road I would prefer a manual.
 
Out of interest, what would you guys consider to be the absolute must optional extras and the luxury extras?

I'm still trying to find the right specification M135i and it's proving to be a nightmare. I've seen cars with every single option ticked apart from pro nav for example, which is a deal breaker for me based on what owners have said on here. Yes, I know I could up my budget, but is it really worth the extra outlay considering the right spec cars do occasionally surface.
 
Guess it's all preference.... but I am looking at 440i or 420i XDrive both M Sport, albeit it 2nd hand (less than 20,000 miles) for similar price a month.
 
Scrutinize said:
I assume you're looking at broker prices though either broadspeed or carwow? Or leasing?

On base prices, Merc A45 AMG show discounted at £36k, M140 at £27k, S3 at £32k.

Of all the fast premium brand smaller cars the M140 is by far the sweet spot in pricing and deals at the moment especially given your budget.

That RS3 is a lot of money for a very bland car, and I could imagine you would easily be at £500-600pm on an approved used like the one linked to.
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It's certainly not cheap but it's very far from bland. The engine and dual clutch gearbox are a brutal combination.
 
panthro said:
It's certainly not cheap but it's very far from bland. The engine and dual clutch gearbox are a brutal combination.
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No questioning that it's quick but it looks like a normal A3. Doesn't have the same presence of say the RS4 and RS6. I'm not a fan of the interiors either.

It's not worth the amount (£10k) more than a new M140i imo but I appreciate there are plenty of fans of the RS who keep the market propped up.
 
I've drove a few M140i's now I would deffo take a manual over the auto
Makes it so much more fun and involved
 
pioneer2000 said:
The RS3 looks bland though... the styling is far too Audi copy and paste.

Hang on, the RS4 /6 are boring to look at too!
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I'd have to agree, the RS3 looks a tad bland looks wise but as a car it is immense.

Anywho I've driven the RS3 and it's a seriously impressive car. The one I drove had the sports exhaust and it sounded absolutely bonkers. But the prices they want for them are crazy high but I'd love to get one. Seriously very quick cars and the engine/dual clutch combo is very nice.
 
Yas786 said:
But the prices they want for them are crazy high but I'd love to get one.
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This is why they work relatively easily on PCP deals. They hold their value exceptionally well. A friend of mine had a 1st generation one for around 3 years from new, put 25k on it, and only dropped a few grand in depreciation during his ownership (I think he said about £5-8k, which is nothing for 3 years on a new car really). That's why the TOC's for an RS3 are similar to that of a M140i or S3 or Golf R.
 
I've not read the entire thread but I've been an M135i owner for the last 4 years and I'm obviously biased in my opinion... As far as I'm concerned the R/S3 are not even comparable. They're marginally faster A to B in anything but completely dry conditions. They're also relatively speaking incredibly boring, dull and clinical. The 6 cylinder noise and RWD drivetrain give the 1 series a genuine sense of occasion. You can have so much fun in Sport+ mode where as, for me, the 4 cylinder hatches just leave me cold. The fact the M140i is so affordable to lease is the icing on the cake for potential buyers.

I've driven the R countless times and it's a bloomin' fast and capable car... but anyone who thinks it gives the drama and fun of 6 cylinder RWD BMW hatch is just wrong IMO :D

In an era of downsizing I don't know why anyone wouldn't opt for that 6 cylinder unless you are fussed about having clinical and consistent performance in all weather conditions - completely at the expense of fun and drama.
 
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DereksDontRun said:
I've had my M135i just over a year now, so here's my quick thoughts on those options.

It's a great rwd car while also being v practical.

Auto - everyone raves about it, but in all honesty, if I was to spec again I'd go manual. It's my 1st auto car and I just find it less engaging to drive. I miss that additional connection/thought of choosing appropriate gear based on the corner coming up, etc. Yes, the car can only be quicker with the auto (and apparently about 10% better mpg, as it's got 8 gears to play with), but once away from booting it in a straight line (motorway slip roads) and on winding roads, I personally find it mutes the experience.

Adaptive - As far as I've read, the non adaptive is almost as firm as the adaptive in sports mode, so it effectively gives you a softer option when in comfort mode. Yes, it makes it smoother on bumpy roads, but if you're blessed with smooth roads near you (admittedly, who is these days?), then it's possibly not a must have? For the roads around here, I'd probably spec it again.
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Interesting. It's all subjective but I would say the involvement is in the 320-340bhp through the RWD chassis. I think the engine is better suited to the ZF (in the absence of DCT). Everyone loves a manual and a high revving NA engine but to me it seems pointless buying these highly tuned turbo charged cars and not opting for the ridiculously fast auto gear changing technology offers. I wouldn't buy an M2 with a manual. I would buy a Porsche Cayman with a manual... if that makes sense?
 
Barks said:
I've not read the entire thread but I've been an M135i owner for the last 4 years and I'm obviously biased in my opinion... As far as I'm concerned the R/S3 are not even comparable. They're marginally faster A to B in anything but completely dry conditions. They're also relatively speaking incredibly boring, dull and clinical. The 6 cylinder noise and RWD drivetrain give the 1 series a genuine sense of occasion. You can have so much fun in Sport+ mode where as, for me, the 4 cylinder hatches just leave me cold. The fact the M140i is so affordable to lease is the icing on the cake for potential buyers.

I've driven the R countless times and it's a bloomin' fast and capable car... but anyone who thinks it gives the drama and fun of 6 cylinder RWD BMW hatch is just wrong IMO :D

In an era of downsizing I don't know why anyone wouldn't opt for that 6 cylinder unless you are fussed about having clinical and consistent performance in all weather conditions - completely at the expense of fun and drama.
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An 8V RS3 will show an M140i its tailpipes in any weather condition. I'm a huge BMW fan, having owned 2 E46 M3's, an E92 M3, a 330CI and a Z4 35i M Sport, however the new 8V RS3 is a beast. I could not believe how fast it was when I drove it. The 5 cylinder engine is anything but dull. In fact I would take that engine any day over an N54 or N55 engined car (except maybe an M2). It's probably the only modern Audi I've ever been enthusiastic about.
If you're comparing the S3 then yes it's a relatively dull car compared to the M135/40i.
It is quite dull looking though, they could have given it bigger arches like the RS4 and RS6.
 
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