| THE ESSENCE OF DRIVING THAT IS WHAT BMW MEAN WHEN THEY PROMISED SHEER DRIVING PLEASURE |
BMW 135i COUPE
WORDS & PHOTOS BY JUSTIN ONG
FEATURED: DECEMBER 2008
There have been times when I've been asked why BMW no longer use the line
'Ultimate Driving Machine', a line that has served it so well for over three decades. A
hazarded guess would say that they were struck by a sudden attack of modesty and
thought it a boastful motto to bandy about with such impunity. Perhaps they were
compelled to do so in pursuit of truth in advertising, an admission that while their cars
were generally very good to drive, they weren't really what you would call the
ultimate. Much like how some people theorised that the name change from 'Kentucky
Fried Chicken' to KFC was because the meat used no longer fell under the definition
of 'chicken' and 'Kentucky Fried Genetically-Modified-But-Safe-For-Consumption-
Meat' didn't quite have the same snappiness to it.
I'm slightly ashamed to say that I miss the line. Somehow, the cockiness of it all
summed up the company more accurately and 'Sheer Driving Pleasure' feels watered
down in comparison. But maybe, just maybe, they'll feel tempted to bring it back just
for one car that really qualifies for it: the 135i Coupe.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, this is a car that has been built by people who still
very much subscribe to the ethos of 'driver first, all others second' that all but
dominated the BMW mindset of the early days. The only place you'll want to be in
this coupe is behind the steering wheel; move even three feet to the left and it makes
no bloody sense at all.
You also can't say that you'd buy the 1 Series Coupe because it's a looker because
it's far from one, to tell the truth. It looks like it's stuck between the pre- and post-
Bangle eras of BMW, with the E46-esque front-end seemingly at odds with the flame-
surfaced flanks. The abrupt end to the tail also gives it an ungainly proportion. And
you're also unlikely to want to buy it because of the premium trappings because,
painfully so for a compact car that's going to set you back by RM424K, there's not a
lot of it to be had. By virtue of it sitting below the 3 Series, material quality is clearly if
unsurprisingly of a lower grade. Surfaces look and feel unimpressive, even if BMW
Malaysia have tried to tart it up with extra kit.
The interior is bare, even by BMW standards, and save for the iDrive option, there
isn't much to convince the unsuspecting of the selling price of the car. But then what
do you really need to enjoy your driving save for a nice, meaty steering (check) and
supportive seats (check)?
At the heart of the car is BMW's first turbocharged petrol in aeons. Three litres of
displacement with two turbochargers makes for some nice reading, along the lines of
306bhp and 400Nm. Praises have already been sung for this force-fed inline-6 since
its debut on the 335Ci but it is here in the diminutive 135i that it truly shines.
With all of its torque available from an unbelievably low 1300rpm, you have access to
the full complement of the engines grunt right from the moment you step off the line.
Acceleration that is satisfyingly vicious is the merest flex of a toe away, though it is
beautifully easy to modulate even when you choose to do away with traction control.
Despite the flat torque curve the engine's delivery has such a linearity that, were it
not for the hint of hesitation before the resumption of acceleration, one would easily
mistake for that of an over-endowed naturally-aspirated lump. After such a long
absence, turbocharging has come back with a vengeance at BMW. Acceleration
claims peg the 135i at 5.3 seconds though the early serving of torque makes the
coupe feel decidedly faster than that. The spacing of the 6-speed automatic also
does well in enhancing the sensation of speed, with the expertly judged placement of
gears endowing Bimmer's baby coupe with seemingly endless reserves.
Given that the 6-speed manual that was tested during the international launch had a
decidedly sloppy feel to it, this is one of the few times when you could honestly say
that the automatic is better, even if it is slightly slower. However, the same can't be
said about the toy toggles that BMW continue to flog as paddle shifters.
The 1 Series, both the hatch and coupe, has such an innate agility that it feels more
like the true successor to the 3 Series than the current 3 does. The way the whole
car gels as you approach a bend, turn in just enough to make the car settle and then
lean on the power to allow you to maintain your line while reducing your steering
angle feels so natural that you soon adopt this approach as your default.
Unlike the M3, of which this is touted to be a poor man’s version, there is still some
understeer engineered into the geometry, regardless of how neutral the coupe feels
in most instances. Driven to extract maximum distance in minimum time brings forth a
display that becomes increasingly ragged the nearer you come to the limits, whereas
M-cars tend to revel in such instances.
Nevertheless, the poise and progressiveness of the 135i, coupled with the
communicative and responsive steering, represents the most rewarding driving
experience this side of an M3, more so than 335Ci that should naturally hold the
mantle of M3-lite.
Still, it needs pointing out that this car will only ever make even the slightest bit of
sense to the driver for whom the drive is all that matters, for there is little sense or
sensibility to it when viewed as anything other than an out-and-out driving machine.
Those under the illusions of buying this car other than to extract maximum pleasure
out of it will quickly fall foul of the abysmal rear legroom that was seemingly designed
with transfemoral amputees in mind. Nor will they be able to excuse the sometimes
uncomfortably firm ride, what with not having enjoyed the handling benefits. Most of
all, besides the driving heroics that the 135i comes fully equipped with, there is
nothing else in its reservoir of talents to even remotely justify its asking price,
especially not when you consider that the much better equipped 335Ci somehow
only costs a paltry 10% more. This is a car whose appeal and value is almost entirely
intangible; whose validation can come only from the person seated behind the wheel.
If you’re in the position to both afford and appreciate the BMW 135i, then it is both
easily and highly recommended. It won’t make an iota of sense when you break out
the chequebook to pay for it, nor will it ever impress the badge snobs who are certain
to look down on it, but it will all be worth it when you know you’re driving around in
The Ultimate Driving Machine. justin
BMW 135i 3.0L TWIN TURBOCHARGED INLINE-6 PETROL. 306BHP. 400NM. 0-
100KPH: 5.3S. TOP SPEED: 230KPH. RM424K. IMPORTED
WORDS & PHOTOS BY JUSTIN ONG
FEATURED: DECEMBER 2008
There have been times when I've been asked why BMW no longer use the line
'Ultimate Driving Machine', a line that has served it so well for over three decades. A
hazarded guess would say that they were struck by a sudden attack of modesty and
thought it a boastful motto to bandy about with such impunity. Perhaps they were
compelled to do so in pursuit of truth in advertising, an admission that while their cars
were generally very good to drive, they weren't really what you would call the
ultimate. Much like how some people theorised that the name change from 'Kentucky
Fried Chicken' to KFC was because the meat used no longer fell under the definition
of 'chicken' and 'Kentucky Fried Genetically-Modified-But-Safe-For-Consumption-
Meat' didn't quite have the same snappiness to it.
I'm slightly ashamed to say that I miss the line. Somehow, the cockiness of it all
summed up the company more accurately and 'Sheer Driving Pleasure' feels watered
down in comparison. But maybe, just maybe, they'll feel tempted to bring it back just
for one car that really qualifies for it: the 135i Coupe.
Beyond the shadow of a doubt, this is a car that has been built by people who still
very much subscribe to the ethos of 'driver first, all others second' that all but
dominated the BMW mindset of the early days. The only place you'll want to be in
this coupe is behind the steering wheel; move even three feet to the left and it makes
no bloody sense at all.
You also can't say that you'd buy the 1 Series Coupe because it's a looker because
it's far from one, to tell the truth. It looks like it's stuck between the pre- and post-
Bangle eras of BMW, with the E46-esque front-end seemingly at odds with the flame-
surfaced flanks. The abrupt end to the tail also gives it an ungainly proportion. And
you're also unlikely to want to buy it because of the premium trappings because,
painfully so for a compact car that's going to set you back by RM424K, there's not a
lot of it to be had. By virtue of it sitting below the 3 Series, material quality is clearly if
unsurprisingly of a lower grade. Surfaces look and feel unimpressive, even if BMW
Malaysia have tried to tart it up with extra kit.
The interior is bare, even by BMW standards, and save for the iDrive option, there
isn't much to convince the unsuspecting of the selling price of the car. But then what
do you really need to enjoy your driving save for a nice, meaty steering (check) and
supportive seats (check)?
At the heart of the car is BMW's first turbocharged petrol in aeons. Three litres of
displacement with two turbochargers makes for some nice reading, along the lines of
306bhp and 400Nm. Praises have already been sung for this force-fed inline-6 since
its debut on the 335Ci but it is here in the diminutive 135i that it truly shines.
With all of its torque available from an unbelievably low 1300rpm, you have access to
the full complement of the engines grunt right from the moment you step off the line.
Acceleration that is satisfyingly vicious is the merest flex of a toe away, though it is
beautifully easy to modulate even when you choose to do away with traction control.
Despite the flat torque curve the engine's delivery has such a linearity that, were it
not for the hint of hesitation before the resumption of acceleration, one would easily
mistake for that of an over-endowed naturally-aspirated lump. After such a long
absence, turbocharging has come back with a vengeance at BMW. Acceleration
claims peg the 135i at 5.3 seconds though the early serving of torque makes the
coupe feel decidedly faster than that. The spacing of the 6-speed automatic also
does well in enhancing the sensation of speed, with the expertly judged placement of
gears endowing Bimmer's baby coupe with seemingly endless reserves.
Given that the 6-speed manual that was tested during the international launch had a
decidedly sloppy feel to it, this is one of the few times when you could honestly say
that the automatic is better, even if it is slightly slower. However, the same can't be
said about the toy toggles that BMW continue to flog as paddle shifters.
The 1 Series, both the hatch and coupe, has such an innate agility that it feels more
like the true successor to the 3 Series than the current 3 does. The way the whole
car gels as you approach a bend, turn in just enough to make the car settle and then
lean on the power to allow you to maintain your line while reducing your steering
angle feels so natural that you soon adopt this approach as your default.
Unlike the M3, of which this is touted to be a poor man’s version, there is still some
understeer engineered into the geometry, regardless of how neutral the coupe feels
in most instances. Driven to extract maximum distance in minimum time brings forth a
display that becomes increasingly ragged the nearer you come to the limits, whereas
M-cars tend to revel in such instances.
Nevertheless, the poise and progressiveness of the 135i, coupled with the
communicative and responsive steering, represents the most rewarding driving
experience this side of an M3, more so than 335Ci that should naturally hold the
mantle of M3-lite.
Still, it needs pointing out that this car will only ever make even the slightest bit of
sense to the driver for whom the drive is all that matters, for there is little sense or
sensibility to it when viewed as anything other than an out-and-out driving machine.
Those under the illusions of buying this car other than to extract maximum pleasure
out of it will quickly fall foul of the abysmal rear legroom that was seemingly designed
with transfemoral amputees in mind. Nor will they be able to excuse the sometimes
uncomfortably firm ride, what with not having enjoyed the handling benefits. Most of
all, besides the driving heroics that the 135i comes fully equipped with, there is
nothing else in its reservoir of talents to even remotely justify its asking price,
especially not when you consider that the much better equipped 335Ci somehow
only costs a paltry 10% more. This is a car whose appeal and value is almost entirely
intangible; whose validation can come only from the person seated behind the wheel.
If you’re in the position to both afford and appreciate the BMW 135i, then it is both
easily and highly recommended. It won’t make an iota of sense when you break out
the chequebook to pay for it, nor will it ever impress the badge snobs who are certain
to look down on it, but it will all be worth it when you know you’re driving around in
The Ultimate Driving Machine. justin
BMW 135i 3.0L TWIN TURBOCHARGED INLINE-6 PETROL. 306BHP. 400NM. 0-
100KPH: 5.3S. TOP SPEED: 230KPH. RM424K. IMPORTED
This car will only
ever make even
the slightest bit
of sense to the
driver for whom
the drive is all
that matters, for
there is little
sense or
sensibility to it
when viewed as
anything other
than an
out-and-out
driving machine.
ever make even
the slightest bit
of sense to the
driver for whom
the drive is all
that matters, for
there is little
sense or
sensibility to it
when viewed as
anything other
than an
out-and-out
driving machine.
CLICK FOR PHOTOS