BMW Car Magazine article - M Grudge Match: 1M vs Tuned 135i

[hybris4u]

So lets test versus a tuned 1M! ;-)

[hybris4u]

Funny that the argument is that aftermarket tuning stuff is better done that what the people at the M-division has done when creating the 1M! Sure you can get a 135 that is a great car. But just with the ESS tuning the 1M will outperform the tuned 135 that I also think will be more expensive.

I also think its strange that people with the 1M start changing parts on it even before they have driven it. Why change a great setup? I agree on the cosmetic details, ESS and if you can afford the Akra. But change stuff that change the handling? Its saying that you are better than the M-division.

We all know that the 1M is not just a tuned 135i. I would never have bought a 135i. Will not be a hot aftermarket car now with the new 1-series out. The 1M is already a classic. So no need for speed tuning of that car will help the aftermarket value of it. Sure it will make it quick and a great 1M wannabe but you will always know you don't have a 1M no matter how much you spend. That feeling will be a pain in your heart everyday! So sell your 135i and look for a 1M! ;-)

[bimmer ///man]

Lol, the 135 in this article revolves around the fitting M3 suspension pieces to the 135 (subframe bushings, control arms, etc) which is what the M division did in the creation of the 1M. It's because the M-Division did a good job in designing these parts.

Better is a subjective term. Better at what? Better MPG? Better stopping distances? Better NVH dampening? etc.

What do you mean the 1M is not a tuned 135i? That is what it is. Plain and simple. There is no denying that. The engine is from the Z4 3.5is/335is which is a tweaked N54 from any of the 135/335/535/X5 3.5i. The rear subframe is from an M3 as well as the diff. The brakes are from the M3 as are the dampers. The front subframe and most underpaneling are the same as the 135. The exhaust is the same as the 135i.

The interior is identical to the msport 135 as well as side from the orange stitching, alcantara and M gauge cluster.

It is a tuned 135 that has been tweaked. That is the POINT. If the 1M was a completely new project it would have never been made. It would have been too close in price to the M3 in price. By utilizing the M division part bin and turbo technology they were able to create a package that they felt deserving of the M badge.

Don't knock a modified coilover set up until you have tried it. Yes, M did a great job but they aren't going to sell adjustable suspension to the customer. It opens them up to liability and added cost.

Like I said in a previous post, I love the 1M, don't get me wrong but people are getting a little carried away. I guarantee that if it had been called a 135M and they produced thousands rather than hundreds, a lot of you wouldn't be on this forum nor debating how superior the "135M" is to the 135i.

[hybris4u]

Its the same with all M cars! They are based on the original series all of them! Same thing with the M5. Go tune the 550i and sure for a lot of money it can compare with the M5. But if that is what you want Alpina has already done it and probably do it way much better than you ever will. Sold by BMW. No need to play need for speed... ;-)

My point is that there are so many after market tuning experts on all forums that think they can do a better job than a the M-division. The 1M has been tested to perfection. Its also wider than the original 1-series. I currently drive a 1-series convertible. Its always cool to see those projects. My take is buy the M car and tune it and no 135 tuning will ever touch it. If you have a 135i? Good for you. It was the quickest 1-series once upon a time. Now its not... Change car! ;-)

[ozinaldo]

Too much debate on an obvious advertisement article. Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with ad articles, this one for example reminds me why I did choose 1M over anything else. Because it is the real deal and it does not need to be quicker or more powerful than every other tuning masterpiece.

All M cars are tunes...by the same company who produces these cars. M is their tuning department, remember?

There is an obvious and growing effort to make competitive tunes for 135i vs. 1M and since all 1Ms are gone (in US which is the biggest market for 135i as well as 1M) it just makes perfect commercial sense. In fact, I am coming to conclusion that the kind of "annoying" presence of 1M means a stimulant, or in other words potential big business for 135i tuners. Moreover, it means good advertisement for BMW itself for all of the following and commercial-wise much more significant M cars like the new M5 and coming M3 or future/possible M2 which will all be turbo powered cars.

1M was a test case, for a biggger purpose and I see that it did the job well.

[Papethova]

My 135 is faster than my 1M, it accelerates much more "violently". My M however is by far the superior car.

I do not have suspension mods on the 135, just changed the sway bar. To me the M and the 35 are totally different cars, night and day and you can feel it as soon as you start to roll. Maybe because one is almost 4 years old? I cant be certain, although I have doubts because I owned the 135 when it was new.

If a set of coilovers and an LSD is all thats needed to make the 135 feel and perform like the M then more power to whoever mods their 135. Youll have a great car!! I just dont know if thats the case.

[HALOTHANE]

Originally Posted by Papethova

My 135 is faster than my 1M, it accelerates much more "violently". My M however is by far the superior car.

I do not have suspension mods on the 135, just changed the sway bar. To me the M and the 35 are totally different cars, night and day and you can feel it as soon as you start to roll. Maybe because one is almost 4 years old? I cant be certain, although I have doubts because I owned the 135 when it was new.

If a set of coilovers and an LSD is all thats needed to make the 135 feel and perform like the M then more power to whoever mods their 135. Youll have a great car!! I just dont know if thats the case.

Agree.

[tkbr0wn]

I read the article again and here is what I came away with...

Questions to be answered by article

Could you modify a regular 135i and end up with a better machine?

And if so, would it be cost effective?

Then looking at 1M, here are the pros...

No Sunroof, (saving 35 lbs, but 77 over HPA's optioned car)

Center of Gravity Lower than 135

Increased Track imparts additional stability when cornering.

Steering Rack is much quicker ratio, steering inputs feel linear.

No lag to speak of when M Button is pushed.

1M Cons

Long throw in shifter


HPA 135 Pros

Better Fuel Mileage

400 hp / 420 ft/lbs of torque.

You can go faster and drive AS hard into the corners in your 135

HPA 135 Cons

Steering rack is good, 1M is better

DCT (They preferred Manual)

Cant put down power with limited tire options

Final Judgement

In the end, they answer their questions by saying yes, you end up with a better machine by building your own. Yet the ONLY thing that was better (performance wise) was the power and even then they couldn't put the power down to the road.

Then this, they give 0-60 runs for 1M with average driver, and then only say they are confident that the HPA 135 would beat it by a few tenths without giving numbers.

So this really was nothing more than an HP Autowerks Infomercial IMHO. Im not sure how you can honestly say the modded 135 is a better car when the 1M steers better, handles better (they even say ALMOST the same level of grip), and has many more tire options. Maybe CLOSE to equal, but definitely not BETTER.

[hybris4u]

Again put the ESS tuning on the 1M and try again... The 1M is still cheaper and... ;-)

[hybris4u]

For all 135 owners. Buy a new M5 if you want to win! ha ha! ;-)

[cooler2442]

Not to start another flame war, but I'm pretty sure even if you had the 1M tuned so both of them would be putting out the same power as HP's 135i then the 135i will handle better due to having high end aftermarket coilovers which are superior to the 1M's. As well as having negative camber and the ability for alot of adjustment for the track. I know for Harold's track set on the 135i he ran a 255 square setup. The rest of the suspension though will be the same since it is the M3 suspension. Obviously though the article writer didn't have the time to test the suspension well enough to tell the differences so it just felt the same for him and the biggest difference was power for him.

But we will never know any more since the car has been turned to stock and sold.

[tkbr0wn]

Except for the fact that he explicitly stated the 135 had ALMOST the same level of grip. Fail again.

[hybris4u]

Yes sure! Ha ha! Lets met on the track and see... Buy an M5 if you want to have a chance! ;-)

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by tkbr0wn

Except for the fact that he explicitly stated the 135 had ALMOST the same level of grip. Fail again.

Reread my post about what Harold uses for his track setup. Obviously they weren't running the 255 square setup on the street or the level of grip would have been better.

[hybris4u]

Or a tuned Cayman R! ;-)

[tkbr0wn]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

Reread my post about what Harold uses for his track setup. Obviously they weren't running the 255 square setup on the street or the level of grip would have been better.

"HPA Managed to fit a 9.5" wheel with a 245 but when compared to the 1M that comes STOCK with 10" rear wheels shod in 265's it becomes clear why the 1M doesnt suffer as severely from traction issues"

So even the 255 square setup is less tire than the STOCK setup on the 1M. The 1M can go to 10.5 in the rear and easily to 285's.

HPA chose the set up for tires and wheels to use for the test. If's and but's...

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by tkbr0wn

"HPA Managed to fit a 9.5" wheel with a 245 but when compared to the 1M that comes STOCK with 10" rear wheels shod in 265's it becomes clear why the 1M doesnt suffer as severely from traction issues"

So even the 255 square setup is less tire than the STOCK setup on the 1M. The 1M can go to 10.5 in the rear and easily to 285's.

HPA chose the set up for tires and wheels to use for the test. If's and but's...

Well the 1M crowd likes to do it's If's and but's so I'm just giving some 135i if's and but's. HPA could have fit 275's in the rear easily if Apex rims were used which HPA does stock but they look crappy. This article is comparing a aftermarket 135i vs a stock 1M so I am just saying different aftermarket options could have been considered which would have made certain differences moot and I still stand behind the HPA 135i being faster around the track due to the square 255 setup Harold has and the superior coilovers as well as other changes such as camber plates.

[tkbr0wn]

In the end, the Fully Maxed out Modded 135 may be faster around the track. But the question asked by the article was "was it better?" Maybe it is, but the writer of the article did a horrendous job proving it. I went through the entire article above and his points don't add up to the 135 being better in anyway but straight line speed and worse everywhere else. Most BMW owners are smart enough to know that is not what M cars are all about anyway.

All I can say is I've had both. A Modded (chipped, kw v2, swaybar, camber plate, non RunFlat Tires) 135 and a 1M. They are completely different animals to me. I just find the article rather suspicious.

[VO695]

Aside from all of this chatter about the 135i vs the 1M.. speed, handling etc.

If in fact we have seen the last of the 1M's for the US forever then all I have to say is!

Let's see how much a heavily modified 135i will be worth in 5 years vs the 1M?

So which vehicle is it better to spend your money on?

Maybe I am missing something here?

[bimmer ///man]

I'd be angry too if I bought KW V2's....a huge waste of money. No wonder you are so adamant that the 1M is better. Try a proper set of coilovers with linear springs and report back.

[bimmer ///man]

You said it yourself, the 1M was used for a test market. Obviously it was successful so what happens when the new 1M (M2) comes out and kicks the E82 1M's teeth in?

[tracer bullet]

The rear tire width thing confuses me. I took a set of (relatively) inexpensive Arc-8 wheels and took off-the-shelf 265mm width tires from Tire Rack and bolted them onto my car. Visually I have plenty of clearance inboard and out for a 275mm width tire.

I understand that different tire brand and models have different profiles and it's apples / oranges, but how is anyone having to "manage to fit" a 245mm tire on a 135?

Originally Posted by duvinclunk

It is NOT an article about what the resale value will be in 2 years time. It is NOT an article about what if's. It's NOT an article of what would you rather have. It's an article about which of the two cars performs better as they are setup and optioned and priced. They feel the 135i wins, deal with it.

Agreed.