is it just me or is my new 135i slower than my last one??

[kizzorama]

Okay so I wrecked my 1st 135i (AW, 08 build, manual, idrive etc) in a very stupid accident where I was forced onto oncoming traffic. It was a head-on and both cars were doing about 50-60 on impact (after my brakes were fully applied).

I'll be glad to report that the cabin remained perfectly intact apart from the bits where the airbags deployed. The idrive monitor also kindly reminded me that I had just had an accident.

Anyway, my 1st 135i was blisteringly fast to the point where I was scared to go anywhere near WOT as the back wheels would light up like crazy and would chirp again as i shifted into 2nd. It felt very eager in the lower rpms and throttle response was pretty instantaneous.

I picked up the 2nd 135i late last year as an insurance replacement (tiAg 09 build manual, idrive etc). This car feels no where near as fast as the original. The back wheels never light up on WOT unless its a +3500k rpm clutch dump and have never chirped in 2nd gear. The car feels over all smoother, gentler, but less quick and less brutal.

Both cars have the same OEM conti tyres and both were picked up brand new. The 1st had 8k kms on it when it as written off. My current one now has +20k kms on it, has just had its fuel pump replaced and has just never felt as quick.

Is it just nostalgia thats inflating the performance of the original im my head, or is it something more?

[Jeef Beef]

Well my '09 build definitely has the tendency to light up the rear tyres when I got WOT on first gear, always chirps into second and sometimes third depending on the road surface.

It's blisteringly quick by any standards. Like you said, maybe second time round it doesn't seem so insane anymore.

[Lester]

I think it might be possible the 08's with the earlier version of the ECU (I think that was up to March '08 builds) had more liberal programming. There were a number of later '08 and '09 complaints on this forum about performance with the newer version of the ECU and the interim software updates.

[takahashi]

White is faster?

[SimonB]

Mine doesn't seem quite as 'cool' since I had a software update a few weeks ago, very hard to put ya finger on it though, just an overall feeling...

[Zuzu]

Originally Posted by SimonB

Mine doesn't seem quite as 'cool' since I had a software update a few weeks ago, very hard to put ya finger on it though, just an overall feeling...

After my software upgrade the car wasn't as brutey as it was beforehand. Smoother at idle. Not as throaty sounding under WOT. It just acted slightly more refined.

[aus135i]

Originally Posted by takahashi

White is faster?

+100!!!

[Mark M]

Agreed.....Scott leaked this to us about two months ago.

From factory all 2008 and 2009 Alpine White 135s with 6MT received special ECU programming that advanced the timing even further and enabled an incrementally greater level of boost throughout the rev range. Thus the standard 135 advertised HP was 300, however on these unique Alpine cars it was about 10% greater. This was done by BMW to pay hommage to their motorsport history and to award the real enthusiasts. Recall in Motorsports, BMW always uses a pure Alpine white shell.

This is why I have never had a reflash done on my AW '08 135 6MT.

[TimMc]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Agreed.....Scott leaked this to us about two months ago.

From factory all 2008 and 2009 Alpine White 135s with 6MT received special ECU programming that advanced the timing even further and enabled an incrementally greater level of boost throughout the rev range. Thus the standard 135 advertised HP was 300, however on these unique Alpine cars it was about 10% greater. This was done by BMW to pay hommage to their motorsport history and to award the real enthusiasts. Recall in Motorsports, BMW always uses a pure Alpine white shell.

This is why I have never had a reflash done on my AW '08 135 6MT.

I thought hard drugs were illegal in the US Mark?

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by TimMc

I thought hard drugs were illegal in the US Mark?

[kizzorama]

I may have jumped the gun, my rear tyres are pretty smooth at the moment and throttle is probably being cut by DTC fairly often. I also noticed the other day that the tyres would slip without squealing so im probably losing a fair bit of power to lack of traction. In this case I guess the simplest answer is the most likely.

So is there any truth to MarkM/Scotts theory or is my sarcasm detector broken?

[qship]

Mine is one of the very early 08s. The recent service by BMW has slowed the car significantly. My Lib is noe just as quick. Sad.

[MikeVictor]

Dyno run time to prove it maybe?

[qship]

Hopefully next week, The in gear times before and after are waaaay slower.