Now contemplating 135i vs E92 M3

[Cavpilot2k]

When my 135 lease is up in March, I have all along been planning on getting another 135 to enjoy for a few years until the initial buzz has worn off the M2 and go that route. Now for some reason I am considering a used E92 M3 coupe as the interim car.

Who has experience with both (135 and E90 M3) and what would your thoughts be?

I know some would say the M3 is the better car, blah blah blah, but I really love the 135, especially for its size. This will be a DD, and I rarely ever track.
Coming from the 135, will the M3 feel like driving a barge? I know people are polarized on how they feel about the E92 version of the M3.

Thoughts? (and please speak from a position of knowledge and experience, not speculation).

[Kgolf31]

Usability as far as the powerband will not be as preferred in the M3 over the 135i. You need to get revs up to get the torque from the engine...especially if it is purely a daily driver, you'll have trouble doing so.

As well, typical wear and tear items will cost more on a M3. For example, 10W-60 oil...at $15/liter

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Usability as far as the powerband will not be as preferred in the M3 over the 135i. You need to get revs up to get the torque from the engine...especially if it is purely a daily driver, you'll have trouble doing so.

As well, typical wear and tear items will cost more on a M3. For example, 10W-60 oil...at $15/liter

Yeah, I know the upkeep will be more $$.
You make a good point about the powerband for DD use. I've heard so much about the high-revving qualities of the M3, which I like (makes me think longingly about my RX-8, which redlined at 9000 and wasn't worth a damn below 5k). But I also love the fact that I rarely get above 4500 in my 135 in regular use because of the insane torque curve (as well as the noticeable drop off above 5k). I also love the tossability of the 1er, which I know would get lost in the M3.

[JimD]

My experience with both the 135i and the e92 M3 is limited but I've driven them both. When I did performance center delivery they only had 135s, no 128s like I own, so I drove a 135i. Later I did the 2 day M school and drove the e92 M3 and also the V10 M5s and M6s. My delivery was in 2009 and my M school was in 2011. All my driving was on the performance center track.

Of the M cars, my favorite was the M3. It was the smallest and lightest and felt the most nimble. The M6, in particular, was an extremely nice car. I think it would be a great long distance cruiser. But on a track it felt a bit ponderous. I would have loved to drive the 1M and almost went back to do another school when it came out. I believe it would be even more tossable than the M3 and therefore more fun to me.

I like the 135i but did not find it have have hugely more power than my 128i. But power delivery was different. The 135i has a whole lot more torque down low than either my 128i or the e92 M3. You have to wind the e92 for it to feel really fast and I have to wind my 128i for it to do the most it can do (which is less than the M3 or 135i). I kind of like that but the rev range of the M3 is very high and that might get a little annoying in daily driving. If you are cruising along and want to spurt into a hole in traffic, you could need to go down two gears. The 135i would either not need to downshift or only go down one.

So my answer is it depends. Do you like cars with more space? If so the e92 might make more sense. Do you prefer cars that build power through the rev band and only provide peak power near the redline, that also would favor the e92. On the other hand, if you like smaller more nimble cars and cars with lots of low end torque, that would be the 135i.

I think the e92 has enough torque for daily driving without having to go near redline but that depends some on how fast your daily driving is. If you want to lead the pack from all the lights, you are going to have to let it wind some. If you want to just keep up with traffic it will not need to wind to do that.

The interior of the M3 will also have a bit nicer materials. But all these differences are fairly small. I would think the main one is the power delivery but people's impression of what is just the right size vehicle also differs. I have no problem with driving bigger vehicles (even full size pickups or a bit bigger trucks) but what I most enjoy is smaller cars. Other people prefer a bit more space.

[lastMleft]

My best friend owns an e92 M3 and I've driven it a few times, the M has crazy handles, it would flat out leave the 1er around twisty roads, the power delivery like mentioned above is allot different NA/Turbo, I like the 135 power delivery better and so does my friend, I also like the way the steering feels on my 1 better so does my friend, but an M is an M period, it's engineered completely different.

If you can afford the fuel on the M get the M as a DD

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

Yeah, I know the upkeep will be more $$.
You make a good point about the powerband for DD use. I've heard so much about the high-revving qualities of the M3, which I like (makes me think longingly about my RX-8, which redlined at 9000 and wasn't worth a damn below 5k). But I also love the fact that I rarely get above 4500 in my 135 in regular use because of the insane torque curve (as well as the noticeable drop off above 5k). I also love the tossability of the 1er, which I know would get lost in the M3.

Just from driving my S54 alot, knowing it acts similar to the S65...the power really doesn't come until 3.5+

You can really feel the turnover, almost like VTEC on an S2000 on 3rd gear+

The car is still a blast to drive, but I always find a way to ring the engine out because it is a lot more fun to do it that way

[JimD]

The other point I should probably mention is I liked the power of the e92 so much up high that I kept getting yelled at by the instructors (over the radio) for hitting the rev limiter so much. It pulls hard when you get it up above 5500 rpm - the same rev range where the 135i starts to run out of grunt.

[Jettt]

Two totally different cars.

The 135i is alot of fun on the streets because of the insane torque the engine pushes out after being modded. But the M3 feels like a whole different beast. Much better handling, high revving screamer. My M3 has been supercharged and is putting out 650hp and its pretty much straight piped.

If I had to choose one I would always choose the M but that doesnt mean the 135i isnt badass in its own right. Also the M3 does half the milage the 1er does for me. Maybe because I have a heavy foot.

But I drive the 135i as the DD and the M is the garage queen.

My advice. Own and drive both.

[lastMleft]

Your M looks just like my friends but with out the wing.

[IEDEI]

before i got my 1M, i had a 135is. During the time i was shopping for a 135is----i had cross shopped against the E9X M3. During my test drives of the M3, there were a few observations i had made.

The steering and handling were great. I really didn't care much for the way the E9X M3 looks, although i prefer the E90 sedan over the Coupe. The braking and gearbox were great.....but for me the Engine was a real issue for city driving (where i tested and where i drive quite a bit). The V8 lacks low-end feel during everyday driving----whereas the 135s i have driven are way more exciting in the lower end. IMO if you have more freeway or highway type driving the M3 will suit you----but if you have a lot of stop and go or low speed driving the 135 is more enjoyable.

For me, handling wise, the M3 is great----BUT it does NOT feel 'tossable' like the 135. The 135 always felt a bit wild to me, which i loved but the M3 doesn't have that 'wild' feeling.

not to boast too much....but i feel the 1M combines those 2 cars into one

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

before i got my 1M, i had a 135is. During the time i was shopping for a 135is----i had cross shopped against the E9X M3. During my test drives of the M3, there were a few observations i had made.

The steering and handling were great. I really didn't care much for the way the E9X M3 looks, although i prefer the E90 sedan over the Coupe. The braking and gearbox were great.....but for me the Engine was a real issue for city driving (where i tested and where i drive quite a bit). The V8 lacks low-end feel during everyday driving----whereas the 135s i have driven are way more exciting in the lower end. IMO if you have more freeway or highway type driving the M3 will suit you----but if you have a lot of stop and go or low speed driving the 135 is more enjoyable.

For me, handling wise, the M3 is great----BUT it does NOT feel 'tossable' like the 135. The 135 always felt a bit wild to me, which i loved but the M3 doesn't have that 'wild' feeling.

not to boast too much....but i feel the 1M combines those 2 cars into one

I know, I know. I'd love to get a 1M, and my local dealer has one just to my liking (CPO, black on black and 11k miles). But I just can't justify the $62k asking price. Also, I don't have a garage, so I would feel just wrong leaving a 1M out in the elements in my driveway year-round (and this car is gonna be a year-round DD).

If I could get a 1M for $40k-ish like I can with an M3, I would do it, but over $60k? Nah - I'll just wait for the M2.

[chris82]

I have the 128i but have driven friends' 135i and E92 M3

What I like about the 1 are the smaller size/lower weight/more nimble.

Although the M3 feels/is bigger, in my opinion it is superior in all other ways (looks is of course subjective). I think the concerns of it not having a power band 'suitable' for daily driving are laughable.

In your position I think the only thing to do is test drive!

[chris82]

Originally Posted by JimD

The other point I should probably mention is I liked the power of the e92 so much up high that I kept getting yelled at by the instructors (over the radio) for hitting the rev limiter so much. It pulls hard when you get it up above 5500 rpm - the same rev range where the 135i starts to run out of grunt.

That is awesome/hilarious

[ilikebmxbikes]

they are both cars. The 135i will feel faster around town as it has more torque. The M3 will feel slower around town and to really get the car to perform you have to rev her up and on the streets... you well... kinda look like an jerk but in the canyons and on the track, it is a glorious motor.

Overall though, the m3 is a much finer car. The interior is nicer, the motor more refined, the suspension better and as you are considering an e90, it will have four doors. The 135i is lighter, has more torque, sloppy out of the box suspension, cheaper interior ( i love the basic e82 interior, but it is cheap) has better MPG. Maintenance between the cars is a bit of a toss up. Generally my N54 friends actually pay more to upkeep their tuned 135i's than my m3 friends.

You have already enjoyed the 135i, why not try something different? Which is better? that is really for you to decide. They both are great cars and it all boils down to what you value and how you intend to use the car.

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by Jettt

Two totally different cars.

........

If I had to choose one I would always choose the M but that doesnt mean the 135i isnt badass in its own right. Also the M3 does half the milage the 1er does for me. Maybe because I have a heavy foot.

But I drive the 135i as the DD and the M is the garage queen.

My advice. Own and drive both.

advice taken. Mine are heavily modded but I have an e92 m3 that is joining the stable with my 1series. Both amazing.

[Gray_Panther]

I had my uncles E90 M3 for a week. It definitely begged to be on open roads with little or no traffic. If there was traffic I was screaming on the inside because others had to hinder my fun.
It definitely felt bigger but the sound of the engine was intoxicating and the car attracted a lot of attention, it made me feel more sophisticated. I liked driving it and would happy to own one. But if that meant giving up my 128i....as Vince McMahons theme song goes, "No chance, no chance in hell..."

Dem seats tho

[lastMleft]

Originally Posted by Gray_Panther

I had my uncles E90 M3 for a week. It definitely begged to be on open roads with little or no traffic. If there was traffic I was screaming on the inside because others had to hinder my fun.
It definitely felt bigger but the sound of the engine was intoxicating and the car attracted a lot of attention, it made me feel more sophisticated. I liked driving it and would happy to own one. But if that meant giving up my 128i....as Vince McMahons theme song goes, "No chance, no chance in hell..."

Dem seats tho

And da seats

[mike@x-ph.com]

The M3 will get you more attention, bigger, usability, engine sound is intoxicating.
If you need the extra space, get the M3.
If not i would stick with the 135, much more fun to drive (in my opinion).

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

The M3 will get you more attention, bigger, usability, engine sound is intoxicating.
If you need the extra space, get the M3.
If not i would stick with the 135, much more fun to drive (in my opinion).

I don't care about attention. My car is for my own enjoyment.
Also I don't need the space. I have no kids and my dog doesn't go in my car - that's what the truck or the GF's car is for (I can't imagine a 90 lb pit bull's claws on the leather...)
.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

I don't care about attention. My car is for my own enjoyment.
Also I don't need the space. I have no kids and my dog doesn't go in my car - that's what the truck or the GF's car is for (I can't imagine a 90 lb pit bull's claws on the leather...)
.

Easy choice in my opinion get the 135i

[CAVU]

What is the residual on your current 135i? Have you considered buying it from BMW?

[Overpar56]

e92 M3 at WOT just sounds so good.