Fifth Gear 135i vs. Cayman

[WhiteOne]

I love it. My future daily driver (grocery getter) will run with a modern mid engine Porsche. A car I might add, the magazines rave about......:thumbup:

[larryn]

Another link to the streaming video, in divx format - much better quality than youtube.

[gemini330zhp]

Originally Posted by soolman32

This make it even harder to wait for a chance to drive the car. Great clips and thanks for sharing.

Gemini06M3_ I ll probably never need the extra power and probably should focus on becoming one with the 1, but how would you get a hold of that Dinan Flash and how much does it cost?

The 335i shares the same engine as the 135i and Dinan has a Computer softeware for 2000 dollars they increase the Boost from 8.8 to 13.2 psi http://www.dinancars.com/store/Perfo...13-p-3832.html

[e49er81]

compared to other fifth gear episodes this was not very good they did seem to try to keep the porsche from being embarassed jmo

[larryn]

I think the most telling part was the first of hte three tests. A timed slalom between two cars, in the exact same conditions, is a great test of a car's handling abilities. With equal drivers, which these two are both skilled, power becomes less of a determining factor, and handling and grip are the two big forces in play.

If you've ever seen a cayman at autocross, they handle slaloms very well. I was esctatic to see the 135i pull ahead.

Another thing to see was the two wheeled, dry pavement, burning out donuts. The eLSD was behaving much like a regular LSD... (by the way, the cayman has the porsche equivalent of an eLSD too)

[DaSlowMoseS]

larryn


divx link above

[mdynamics]

Originally Posted by moff

I think my point is that it could have better. I have ordered the car so obviously I like it, I just wish it came from the factory 'perfect' e.g. no understeer and weighing 1400kg, not 1540kg.

All the UK reviews summarise the car as good but not as 'exciting' as they would have hoped for, something that I can agree with having driven the car.

This in part is due to the front end breaking away quite early in corners due to the narrow tyres. This has nothing to do with the car not being 'track focused'.

I for one was hoping the car was going to be closer to the original E30 M3, but it is also heavier than I expected.

I fully agree that understeer is generally 'dialled' into most cars handling from the factory, but this has not been a criticism of the 335i Coupe by the same motoring press.

moff I couldn't agree with you more. The 135i is a great car but i'm still not sold on the present understeer (which Tiff constantly mentioned) and as we saw, it was challenging for plato to get it to drift nicely when he is capable of drifting the M3 at a much more heigher level. (

)
Another thing is the 335i seemed to drift flawlessly without putting that much effort in it (

) and yet it doesn't have a e-diff.
Also as everyone commented out the body roll which is soo obvious





I really like the 135i but I think they could of made it better. I can't wait for the Top Gear review of the car

[Dave]

hmm i think both guys are great drivers but tiff after years of watching def could push the cayman to the limit..

i think the margin of victory would be HUGE if tiff was in the 135

[Advevo]

Guys it s so easy to make a 135i better.

Just put in some eibach springs they cost 218 euro. 225/40 front tires and some camber adjustments. Then you have the factory understeer countered. My 135i is awesome now.

[clived]

Originally Posted by moff

I think my point is that it could have better. I have ordered the car so obviously I like it, I just wish it came from the factory 'perfect' e.g. no understeer and weighing 1400kg, not 1540kg.

Surely you'd be looking at ditching rear seats, aircon and a lot of the metal that makes the car a safe and secure place to be to have that sort of weight loss? Or maybe use a lot of CF... either of which is fine if you don't want it too comfy, safe or practical, or you've got an extra £15k to spend

The issue boils down to the difference between what a minority of enthusiasts might have wanted the car to be, and what BMW product management folks think they can sell a lot of. Neither is wrong, but only one is going to get produced.

[larryn]

I think it's absolutely hilarious that we're faulting the 135i after it beats a Porsche Cayman, because of a little understeer and some body roll. This isn't an M car folks, but it's not that far from it. The Cayman is $15000 more to start and options are insanely priced in comparison.

I'm perfectly fine with my $35k 135i beating the Cayman, even by a slight margin. Roll will be reduced on mine, as well as understeer in the first few days.

If BMW made the 135i a 10/10ths car, first, it would be an M version. Secondly, we'd be seeing kids getting killed in these things regularly (which I don't think is out of the realm of possibility now).

[john970]

Originally Posted by clived

Surely you'd be looking at ditching rear seats, aircon and a lot of the metal that makes the car a safe and secure place to be to have that sort of weight loss? Or maybe use a lot of CF... either of which is fine if you don't want it too comfy, safe or practical, or you've got an extra £15k to spend

The issue boils down to the difference between what a minority of enthusiasts might have wanted the car to be, and what BMW product management folks think they can sell a lot of. Neither is wrong, but only one is going to get produced.

It'd cost more to make the car lighter and we'd probably end up with a smaller car too. That, and it would have the letters "c-a-y-m-a-n" written across the back.

[adc]

Links no longer working? Does anybody have a working link?

I'm dying here...

[SA135i]

Originally Posted by adc

Links no longer working? Does anybody have a working link?

I'm dying here...

Still works for me. You can try going direct to YouTube if the problem persists.

[adc]

Originally Posted by SA135i

Still works for me. You can try going direct to YouTube if the problem persists.

Aaah yeah... sigh... all spent now.

Thanks. :thumbup:

[moff]

1540kg is a very heavy car, lets be honest here for a minute.

Please don't feel that I am being a 'hater', I love the car, but it's not perfect!

If Audi can make a similarly sized car but with a Quattro / Haldex drivetrain for under 1400kg (S3) why couldn't BMW make the 1 series lighter?

From what I have read the main reason is that they had to make the car more ridgid to deal with the extra power, the downside being the additional weight. At the end of the day the 135i is only 40kg lighter than the new 635d which is a much bigger car.

That confuses me!

[BForbes]

Advevo, at some point please weigh your car so all these people can SHUT THE F UP. Thanks.

-2k

[Disasterpiece]

Sick video. That was the Caymen not the S right?

[ChrisK]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

Advevo, at some point please weigh your car so all these people can SHUT THE F UP. Thanks.

-2k

What he said! :drinking:

[BMWeber]

Originally Posted by larryn

I think it's absolutely hilarious that we're faulting the 135i after it beats a Porsche Cayman, because of a little understeer and some body roll. This isn't an M car folks, but it's not that far from it. The Cayman is $15000 more to start and options are insanely priced in comparison.

I'm perfectly fine with my $35k 135i beating the Cayman, even by a slight margin. Roll will be reduced on mine, as well as understeer in the first few days.

If BMW made the 135i a 10/10ths car, first, it would be an M version. Secondly, we'd be seeing kids getting killed in these things regularly (which I don't think is out of the realm of possibility now).

[Advevo]

LOL i try to weigh the car asap.

[OPTIMO]

Curious how the 135i will compare to the '06 Nissan 350Z Track edition I just bought (as my track car). I'm currently using the Z as my DD as well but toying with picking up a 135i at some point should the need for a car seat arise.

The 135i and 350z are both 300bhp and (I believe) both weigh 3200lbs. Difference is that the 135i has an electronic diff, 2 more seats and better FR weight ratio. The 350Z has Brembos (4/2 pot) and a viscous LSD. So far I'm really enjoying the Z but I'm also eager to test drive a 135i. I was initially going with the new M3 but for that kind of $ I can buy a track car (used Z) and a new 135i. I'm still out on the styling of the 1er though...