has anyone tested the 135 n55?

[cannonball]

I had on order a 2010 135, jan built/march delivery.
I talked to my dealer and they agreed to keep the car for their stock. So I orders a 2011 w/dct, which is going to be delivered in june.
I will like to hear comments if anyone has driven the n55 w/dct

[elusiv]

No one would have driven one yet, as they haven't made it to the dealers yet. Mar production would be late April at the absolute best i'd say.

[LBeamer1]

Hi All

I've had a 135i/N55 (AW, CR, Glass Roof + bits) on order since late February and have been given a delivery date of 16th April here in the UK - can't wait !!

Like others I am keen to hear from anyone who has tried the new car combination, appreciate it will be a bit longer before it hits the shores on the other side of the pond but some have started to arrive already in England. I'm running a Saab 9-5 Aero at the moment and, whilst fairly quick itself, is a much bigger and less agile package than the 135 so have great hopes for the new car.

I'll be sure to post some first impressions here after I take delivery and hopefully it will be of interest to others that are waiting.

Regards

[clausy]

They have a 2011 135i cab at the NY Auto Show. Nothing much to see though. Sadly everyone seems to look at the interiors of cars these days, not under the hood. The only places that had a hood up or even an engine on display where Porsche's Cayenne hybrid and Scooby's WRX boxer.

[Trimix]

Got my N55 Ragtop on Mar31st - . it's all you want and more. No fear re engine. Sound great, performs great. DCT is awesome.

[emtrey]

Originally Posted by Trimix

Got my N55 Ragtop on Mar31st - . it's all you want and more. No fear re engine. Sound great, performs great. DCT is awesome.

Had you driven an N54 engined car before--how do they compare?
Same question--steptronic vs DCT

thanks in advance

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by clausy

They have a 2011 135i cab at the NY Auto Show. Nothing much to see though. Sadly everyone seems to look at the interiors of cars these days, not under the hood. The only places that had a hood up or even an engine on display where Porsche's Cayenne hybrid and Scooby's WRX boxer.

That's because modern cars have nothing visually stimulating under the hood. It's just large plastic covers...

[NYC6]

Still curious to see some dynos on the 55.

[mineo77]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

That's because modern cars have nothing visually stimulating under the hood. It's just large plastic covers...

my large plastic cover is sexy! hahahaha

[quattrosaint]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

That's because modern cars have nothing visually stimulating under the hood. It's just large plastic covers...

the 2011's say Twinpower in plastic

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by quattrosaint

the 2011's say Twinpower in plastic

I saw that on the BMW site too, they are calling it "twinpower".
I think that's kinda weak though. It almost implies "twin" turbo.
Yes, it is called "twin scroll", but....I don't know. I'll give it some time to sink in to see. Maybe "twinpower" will work on me.

I am really interested in trying out the N55 WITH the DCT.
I'll bet it'll be faster than either the current 6spd and slushbox with the twin turbos, mainly due to 7 speeds. So, it should have a gearing advantage for rapid off the line accel and good MPG with the higher gear.

The manual still have 6 speeds, and I don't know if the DCT has the shorter final drive of the slushbox. If it does, it'll SCOOT.
It might be able to run close to the new Mustang GT with it's 4.3 to 60 with the 3.73 final drive option.
Our best 135i is the 6spd manual with 4.7. But, it'll be interesting above 100mph where the 115hp Mustang 5.0 advantage should eat the 135i alive.

[NYC6]

115hp is a huge disadvantage. The Mustang will walk/jog away at a healthy pace.

[quattrosaint]

Originally Posted by NYC6

115hp is a huge disadvantage. The Mustang will walk/jog away at a healthy pace.

yeah, but its still a Mustang. We can make a 135 faster, but it will never have that sweet american muscle sound. That new 5.0 is a great motor, but im just not a fan of stangs.

[NYC6]

Yeah, and the Mustang guy can make his faster also.
"Still a Mustang" sounds to have a bit of snobbishness about it.
I dont look down my nose at Mustangs, I bought a new GT in 88 and it served me well for years. Had this new one been out two months ago I might have gotten that instead on the 135.

[quattrosaint]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Yeah, and the Mustang guy can make his faster also.
"Still a Mustang" sounds to have a bit of snobbishness about it.
I dont look down my nose at Mustangs, I bought a new GT in 88 and it served me well for years. Had this new one been out two months ago I might have gotten that instead on the 135.

Oh no, I did not mean still a mustang in a snobbish way. I had a 5.0 back in the day, amazing sound and power but it handled like a pig. I'm more of a "all around package" guy not just straight line. For less money I would take a Genisis Coupe over the 2010 GT (2011 may not be a same story). I still feel the chassis and weight is what holds the car back. Its sad when a stock corvette can beat a GT500 in every way. Amazing looking car in Grabber Blue though.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by quattrosaint

Oh no, I did not mean still a mustang in a snobbish way. I had a 5.0 back in the day, amazing sound and power but it handled like a pig. I'm more of a "all around package" guy not just straight line. For less money I would take a Genisis Coupe over the 2010 GT (2011 may not be a same story). I still feel the chassis and weight is what holds the car back. Its sad when a stock corvette can beat a GT500 in every way. Amazing looking car in Grabber Blue though.

OK, you didnt mean it in a snobby way.
Just for arguements sake I pulled up Car & Drivers Lightning Lap times. I'm sure you're familiar with their ongoing series of timed tracking at VIR(Virginia International Race Track). Trying to have a Nurburgring type testing format here in the States.

In 2008 they tested the 135i and got a time of 3:13.7, in 2009 they tested a 2010 Mustang GT and......drumroll please.........a time of 3:13.3!! Low and behold, quicker than the BMW! Antiquated chassis and "weight" didnt hold the Ford back at all! I'm dying to see what the 2011 will do at VIR its going knock off a few leaders.

Not only did the stock Z51 Corvette beat the GT500, it also lapped quicker(VIR) than the Porsche 911 Turbo.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by quattrosaint

. Its sad when a stock corvette can beat a GT500 in every way. Amazing looking car in Grabber Blue though.

I don't get this statement at all.

It's sad that a (front)mid engined, rear transaxled, two seat, 3300lb dedicated sports car with a base price of $50k is outrunning a modified pony car that weighs 4000lbs?

The Corvette is the all around fastest car you can buy in that price range. Nothing can touch it. It's no surprise that the Mustang, which is based on a chassis that has a base price of less than $25k is having a hard time running with it.

[BForbes]

Okay, lets keep it on-topic. ;-) No more Mustang fights! Thanks, gents!

[Yay-Z]

do we have n55 dynos?

[InlineSix]

I'd like to see results from a N54 and N55 on the same dyno, and how about a DCT opinion from someone who has driven a Step as well. I'm in for that.

[JBW]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Had this new one been out two months ago I might have gotten that instead on the 135.

I agree. Just think about what you could do with the savings alone to that GT!

Yeah, yeah, yeah everyone ...I know it's BMW. And, I know that too. Totally different feel, etc. But, the new GT, and SS Camaro BTW, are great rides.

[JBW]

Originally Posted by BForbes

Okay, lets keep it on-topic. ;-) No more Mustang fights! Thanks, gents!

Whoops.