Drove 1 yesterday

[D$]

Thanks for all the great posts and pics.
I have been living vicariously through all of you for the past few months and have enjoyed seeing all the delivery pics and reviews.

Jimmy Anderson...great sales associate at Checkered Flag BMW and visitor to this blog...shot me an email saying that he had a 135i demo if I would like to take it out...let me think...sure.

Drove it for about 30 minutes around Virginia Beach and I can definitely confirm a few things:
1) This is an epic vehicle...the engine is phenominal and pulls as well as my old 2002 E46 M3, but with a much better sound...low and rumbling, but not obtrusive...no need to ever turn the stereo on. The car simply accelerates like a demon...and immediately at that...no lag at all and in any gear. Drove on some twisties and interstates...the front end definitely pushes a bit, but it is not that annoying, more like a creamy smooth reminder to stay in your lane...a little camber adjustment and bigger rubber up front should take care of that. The car sticks to the track welll and is very confidence inspiring. VERY solid car...no shakes, rattles, or crashes over train tracks or bumps. Also noted by other posts...it likes to go fast while cruising...I was passing cars in multiple lanes on I-264, just having fun and looked down to realize I was doing 90...felt so solid and right.
2) Trannie...This 1 was an automatic and the paddle shifters were alot of fun to play with...they work best keeping your hands at 9 and 3 with fingers to upshift and thumbs to downshift. Another nice feature is that they are ambidextrous meaning left and right hands both pull for upshifting and push for downshifting...nice for the lefties out there. This was new to me as the only BMW SMG I have ever driven was an E46 M3 in Germany which I believe was right hand for up and left for down. The 1 shifts very smoothly...I will stick with a stick, but it was fun nonetheless.
3) Looks absolutely incredible in person...I couldn't find an angle I didn't like. The headlamps do not look too big, the sag in the side looks appropriate, and the rear 1/4 view is incredible with the scculted line high on the side transitioning into the tail...absolutely beautiful. This 1 was jet black with coral...the coral is toned down and not as bright as some photos make it out to be...not sure if this is a US vs UK thing or what. If you ordered coral, you will definitely be happy with it.
4) Polarized glasses...can't read the stereo with them on, but can see the climate readings. Not sure why BMW didn't shift the LCD's 45*, but oh well. Seems like a detail they don't normally miss.
5) The gray poplar trim definitely has a brown hue to it that I have seen in other photos, but it is growing on me. Looks nice.
6) M be damned...I will be interested to see if BMW does an M on this car. Fully loaded, the 135 should be $42-45K...just add the Dinan download for about 2 grand and you have a fully warranteed M3 killer. Not sure what the point of a naturally aspirated M would be other than tradition.

This is absolutely the car I have been waiting for. Next to my current E46 330i sedan, it looks about the same size...a little shorter, a little taller, and narrower. Inside, it fits like a glove. Great driving position, the leg tunnels hold you tight in corners and are quite comfortable, the beltline is higher than I expected, but gives a great sense of safety, nice placement of the driver's arm sill...nice for comfortable cruising if you want to abandon the 10 and 2.

[edge350]

I can't read enough reviews like this. Awesome!! Thanks!

[slipkmaggot]

good review, very thurough

[D$]

Thanks.
Sorry for the early thread...i think I hit enter once too early here.
Just a few other comments above.
Keep those pics of color combos coming...great to see everyone's taste coming through.
I think i will have to go with SGM over black and gray poplar

[Duckw]

D$, you're singing my song. My SGM is due early next week at the latest. Glad to hear one more real-world assessment to whet the appetite. Thanks.

[D$]

Again, I am a stick man, but you are going to have a blast with the SMG.
I went to a BMW driving school at the Lausitzring in Germany in 2002 where we drove SMG M3's...so much fun...like driving a video game.
I remember the E46 SMG being very abrupt and clunky even in a softer mode...the 135 is smooth, smooth, smooth...nice advance in technology for BMW

[D$]

Another thing that I haven't seen commented on...maybe I just missed the thread.
The early photos that were coming out showed the steering wheel with the chrome accents at the bottom on both sides...which I believe is from the E90/92 3-series.
Every picture I have seen of 1-addicts 135's including the car I drove yesterday has a solid black M steering wheel with no chrome...which I think is a great decision by BMW.
And it is thick, thick, thick and spongy...feels great while driving.
Makes my E46 feel like spaghetti

[atr_hugo]

Not getting the sport package will get you the aluminum trimmed steering wheel.

[Oregon]

Thanks for the review, D$. A most excellent read.

[UR2SLOW1]

Thanks so much for the review, I can't get enough of them even though I get to drive it tomorrow !

[SlickShift]

Great review. My dealer just emailed me today and told me they were here! I'm gunna call them up tomorrow and schedule a test drive!