so after a few days with the "one"

[smarm]

So after a hectic day of flying back after a couple of weeks away for work, picking up the keys to our new house, I finally picked up the keys to the 135 on Friday evening. After the usual delivery talk, the dealer much to my surprise and his credit had installed the performance pedals for me as a thank you for ordering. Also loaded me up with M apparel. Nice touch and he'll be sure to get my business again.

So, it's been a hectic couple of days moving and working, so I haven't had a chance to fully push the car over some of my favourite roads. That said, this car has impressed me more then I was expecting since the moment I pulled out from the deaership and put my right boot into. There's not a lot I can say about the engine/drivetrain that hasn't been said already, I'm a bigger fan of the stock exhaust then what I thought I'd be. The snarl it gets from 3000+rpm gives me a semi everytime I hear it. The whole car makes the TT feel like a yaris.

The auto box is also a better deal then expected. D is the expected lazy changing system you'd expect, and it suits the missus driving it perfectly. DS is how I'm driving the daily commute. It holds the revs higher and the changes are quick, yet quite civil for the mindless commmute. Manual mode is quite brutal on the changes, and the runs I've done with have quite impressed me. The throttle blip on the change is nice. Yes, I know it's not a true manual, but I'm happy with the comprise that the auto box has offered. Hope this helps anyone thinking about the 135/auto combo.

Anyway, here's the obigatory pics. I'll be taking it Andrew for an oil change and the AA unit after 1500km or so. Does the AA unit change the docile behaviour of the car at low revs? The beauty of this car is the missus can baby it around for her day to day mundane activities, then I get to put the boot in for a bit of spirited driving

PS. does anyone know how to shuffle songs with the ipod through the idrive system?

[jksgoh]

nice pics, the black looks awesome!

[cozza]

Looking good! Congrats.

RE: shuffling songs...

Select "songs" from the menu option, depress the iDrive button and you'll see:

Tone
Repeat
Details
Random

..or something along those lines. Select random, and you'll have all the songs on your iPod shuffled.

Dunno if this works in albums or artists though, yet to find out.

[harpoon]

looks good smarm! the other thing that not many people have mentioned is the brakes. These are some good standard brakes! Excellent feel and excellent response.

Just hit the RND button on the stereo smarm.

[Jaymz]

It does look awesome. Almost making me change my mind about AW!

[SimonB]

Looks great, can't wait!

[xa-coupe]

looks the goods !! I am having a lot of trouble deciding on colours ... black..white..red.. they all look great.
Good feedback abut the auto...... *When* I finally am in a position to order I will probably go auto as I will commute and I am truly sick of manuals in stop start traffic !

[ichiban]

everytime i set my eyes on your cars with clear corner lights i want to chock someone from bmw NA.

[DTNJNQ]

Smarm - Looks great. Looks just like mine in the photos, except mine is a manual

[Zuzu]

Looks great Smarm...Love the BSM..but I am slightly biased..:biggrin:

[hummel]

As said on FI, needs tint, but apart from that very impressed

So whens the next cruise?

[135man]

Originally Posted by ichiban

everytime i set my eyes on your cars with clear corner lights i want to chock someone from bmw NA.

Are the clear corner lights standard for the 135i in Australia?

[ExMX5]

Originally Posted by ichiban

everytime i set my eyes on your cars with clear corner lights i want to chock someone from bmw NA.

Actually I believe it's a Federal law that orange-coloured cornerlights are required for all vehicles these days, much like red brakelights. I don't think you're allowed red turn signals anymore either...

Also, the/an additional side indicator must be on the front 3 quarter which is why the side indicator was moved forward for US MX-5's

[BMWDave]

Nice car smarm. :smile:

I'm glad that you are enjoying it and i'm sure it'll develop into a beautiful car + driver relationship. Seriously, i was so close to posting yet another "appreciation" thread the other day. Everytime I drive my car, i'm smiling from ear to ear if not laughing to myself. It's un-f**k-ing believable how good a car this is. I'm sure there are flaws when you take it to the track etc like "soft" handling, lack of LSD, RFT's, etc but seriously, on the street, there's few cars that can match it's outright pace, fewer that can match its handling, fewer again that deliver the comfort and quality of interior and none that deliver all three at that price point.

I absolutely adore it.:wub:

[MikeVictor]

Nice wheels, Smarm

[amk2912]

Bewdiful car Smarm!

I have found a big problem with my car. It induces anxiety, hypertension and severe perspiration everytime I push the accelerator pedal too hard!!

[d3syd]

Congrats swarm. Noice, real noice. Later when you get a chance, start experimenting with DTC and DSC/DTC off. It's feral!

[MikeVictor]

Originally Posted by d3syd

Congrats swarm. Noice, real noice. Later when you get a chance, start experimenting with DTC and DSC/DTC off. It's feral!

I thought the wildlife that likes jumping into your front grill was feral d3! :biggrin:

[Alpine*]

Nice Smarm, I am sure it was worth the wait.

Nice touch from the dealer :wink:

[AussieRacer]

Superb! Only word.

Apart from the colour, I think it is almost identical to what is currently on its way to the Port of Melbourne.

And damn those pedals look nice. I trust they feel good to use too?

[d3syd]

Originally Posted by mattyv

I thought the wildlife that likes jumping into your front grill was feral d3! :biggrin:

You joker

Actually the wildlife was a native. Speaking of feral wildlife, I caught a feral cat in my cat trap last week. Just didn't have the heart to do what I should have done, ie. kill it (getting soft in my old age), so I took it for a drive 25km away and released it. After it shot off into the bushes, I began to kick myself for not being harder.

Damn thing is probably chomping on furry little natives at this moment.

[WAY]

Ryan, how did I miss this thread? Welcome to the club, finally! When is our next drive day again? Can't wait to see how an auto 135i keep up. I reckon it is just as quick!