Automobile Magazine By Sam Smith

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by palou

As much as I'd like the 135i to be great, that column smells of unralistic fanboism. It basically it says that the car is an understeering pig, but it's a good thing because BMW put in plenty on "intangibles" in it. Pretty dumb reasoning in there.

The part that interests me the most is about the steering feel. But because of the suspected fanboism, and the fact that it directly contradicts multiple reports so far, I will wait for more substantial and trustworthy reviews.

[TheoIam]

Man looks like the first two mods are:

1. Ditch the runflats for a maybe 235/255 set up.

2. Look for a thicker rear bar. UUC are you listening?

One of the first things I did to my 01 330ci when I bought new in august of 00 was slap UUC swaybariens on it. Looks like I will have to do that again with this car. :mad:

[inTgr8r]

surprisingly, the 135i checks in at a claimed 3440 pounds, or a mere 130 pounds lighter than the 335i coupe.
....
.
Chassis balance is one of our few complaints, as the 135i is plagued by tire-howling understeer-more so than with the 335i - a situation that's not helped by an open rear differential, a minuscule rear antiroll bar, ...
.
.
..the 135i isn't spec-box perfect (witness its pudgy curb weight), it isn't dynamically faultless (BMW engineers have hinted that their primary goal was ride quality, not balance at the limit)...

Not that I trust ANY review......
(The only test that matters is when I plunk my butt in the seat.)

If these are the true attributes of the 1er, then they just lost me!

[grant]

Nobody on this board is a bigger supporter for an LSD on the 135i than I, but people should realize that adding an LSD will make the understeer worse in tight corners, not better.

So, I would consider adjustable swaybars a necessity for anyone who wants to add an LSD. I imagine that we'll see a bunch of coilover suspension upgrade kits in the aftermarket too that will help this issue (for a price)...

[SCA]

In spite of what BMW's marketing department would like you to believe, the 1-series isn't a reborn 2002 - it's far too portly and thirsty for that - but it is a return to the principles that have made BMW great.


Well said.

[hector]

Originally Posted by robert

.



NICE. I never thought 5.3s is absurdly fast... there is something they are not telling us... If the 335i is really 4.8s then 135i might be 4.6s.... that will be absurdly fast for a nonM

it's 5.3s to 62.5mph(100km/hr); that's equivalent to about 5.0-5.1s to 60mph.

[atr_hugo]

Just read this in a review:

"There's too much inherent understeer, not enough steering feel and the sense that if you turned off all the safety systems and really drove the doors off it, then it might just reward your efforts with an unseemly excursion through the nearest hedge."

But it was an Edmunds.com review of the Alfa-Romeo 8C Competizione. Looks like the 135i is in good company at least. ; -)

[Bill K]

You know, i remember when all the mags said this about the S2000. Time marches on.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

In spite of what BMW's marketing department would like you to believe, the 1-series isn't a reborn 2002 - it's far too portly and thirsty for that - but it is a return to the principles that have made BMW great.


Well said.

Garrett, are you listening?

[mikeo]

Originally Posted by Jeff_DML

I wouldnt worry about the understeer. bummer it didnt come setup better from the factory but the 1 is not a nose heavy front wheel drive car. It is a balanced rwd car. Just a stiffer rear sway bar might solve most of it, if not then ditch the run flats and get the same size tires all around, thinking 235's. Only thing that cannot be fixed easily is the open diff

That would work by taking away some rear cornering grip, but I've learned to follow the "old racer's wisdom" of working on the end that has the problem. I would suggest wider wheels and tires for the front, 245s if they can be stuffed in there, and maybe more negative camber (crash bolts or even adjustable plates). This would add corning grip to the front without degrading the rear grip. Don't take that wrong, I'm also for larger swaybars (UUC SwayBarbarians on my M3), just go with a matched front and rear set from the same tuner.

[grant]

Originally Posted by mikeo

That would work by taking away some rear cornering grip, but I've learned to follow the "old racer's wisdom" of working on the end that has the problem. I would suggest wider wheels and tires for the front, 245s if they can be stuffed in there, and maybe more negative camber (crash bolts or even adjustable plates). This would add corning grip to the front without degrading the rear grip. Don't take that wrong, I'm also for larger swaybars (UUC SwayBarbarians on my M3), just go with a matched front and rear set from the same tuner.

That might be the way to go. Of course every solution involves a compromise. Going with wider fronts will reduce steering feel and increase tramlining (following grooves in the road) and also increased unsprung/rotating mass. As a plus, there will be more braking ability.

Negative camber is great at the track for cornering, but anything much more than -1 degree can be problematic on the road (and reduces straight-line braking ability on the track with significant settings). Camber plates can allow both a street and track setting, but there again, every change in camber also brings an unwanted change in toe, so you need to find a compromise setting there.

[mikeo]

Compromises, compromises, so true. Give a little this to get a little of that. Luckily, with the M3 and GC camber plates we were able to set toe on the street camber setting so that when I adjusted camber to track max negative (-3.0) the toe, without adjusting it, went to 1/8" toe-out, which worked great for helping turn in and transitions.

Will the 135i suspension respond the same as an E36 M3? Not likely, so we will be doing some trial and error to sort out the handling characteristics each of us prefer for our set of workable compromises.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Garrett

+10

The old DNA ..!

Man Garrett you are stirring up some storm on e90post. Especially from that guy O-cha

[MOTO69JOE]

Originally Posted by 135idrive

Driven: BMW 135i
By Sam Smith


It is also more fun than a caffeinated circus monkey.


http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews...35i/index.html

Man and I own one of these so I can attest to how much fun they're. I can't wait to get my 135i.

[UJackM]

I saw BMW 130 vs. Golf 32R on YouTube. Golf 32R actually handles MUCH better. 1-series suffer from oversteer regardless of 128, 130 or 135 there is some overhung of the L-6 engine and it is a small car. I still think it will be fun to drive.

[TESLAASTRO]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

Wow, that was such a great write up. Absurdly fast huh? Man I cant wait.

thats exactly how I like my fast - absurd

[adc]

Originally Posted by grant

Negative camber is great at the track for cornering, but anything much more than -1 degree can be problematic on the road (and reduces straight-line braking ability on the track with significant settings).

The E46 ZHP had about -0.9 to -1 stock front camber, and deleting the locator pin allowed up to say, -1.5 degrees, conservatively.

I drove with that setting on the street and could not find any negatives (except perhaps some tramlining with the hard Michelin PS1).

I guess we'll have to wait and experiment, but generally recent BMW's have responded very well to these small front camber increases. Let's hope it stays the same for the E82...

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by TESLAASTRO

thats exactly how I like my fast - absurd

Damn right Tesla, many dont understand that in FL its so helpful to be able to accelerate away from all the terrible drivers!!!

[kurichan]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

Wow, that was such a great write up. Absurdly fast huh? Man I cant wait.

Yeah, great when you smash into a tree as the understeer plows you across the apex of a hot turn...

Chassis balance is one of our few complaints, as the 135i is plagued by tire-howling understeer

I don't think I've ever seen a review of a BMW cite chassis balance as a complaint. This company is going down the toilet.

[kurichan]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Not that I trust ANY review......
(The only test that matters is when I plunk my butt in the seat.)

If these are the true attributes of the 1er, then they just lost me!

+1

[kurichan]

Originally Posted by TESLAASTRO

thats exactly how I like my fast - absurd

I think the "absurd" refers rather to combining fast and understeer. :wink::biggrin: