VIDEO: Just How Good Is The All-New BMW M135i? Put It On The 'Ring With An M3 And Find Out Now

The all-new BMW 1-Series launched in Europe is definitely an interesting ride. As always it is priced a bit steep and unfortunately for this generation its boasts the face only a mother could love. Yeesh.

But there is one bright spot and that, my friends, is the all-new M135i. To be honest since the M brand has been diluted significantly I am not sure if I would classify it as a proper M car but it seems most publications are at this point. That said, there's been a bit of a debate: how good could it be?

Well, there's only one way to truly find out. Put it on the track and give it the beans alongside a benchmark. I don't know about you but I'd say the E92 M3 is a good measuring stick.

That's exactly what recently happened. Now let's see how the little bugger did...

Satriani1 - 5/3/2013 4:11:33 AM

-3 Boost

Each lap was only about 9 minutes -- a mediocre, unimpressive lap time for the Nurburgring (either due to the drivers or the cars, or both). What's the use of designating the M3 and M135 as 'M' cars if they can't come close to breaking the 8 minute barrier at the Ring? Though BMW got the sound right, but this just fools people into believing the M135 is better than it actually is on a tough track like the Nurburgring.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

What happens when the little bugger is measured, by the Germans, against the Audi S3? German comparo test (Auto Motor und Sport):

- Audi S3 2.0 TFSI: 506 points (First place)

- BMW M135i x-drive: 486 points (Last place)

http://tinyurl.com/dxsshtc

Now imagine what happens when the M135 is measured against the S3's big brother, the RS3, next year.

mclaren428 - 5/3/2013 8:10:17 AM

+2 Boost

Interesting comparo, they clearly state the s3 won b/c it cost less, was more spacious, and economical, while the BMW cornered better, had the better engine, and was faster. A RWD 1 series probably would have been quicker yet.

But yes 1M/M2 vs rs3 should be good.

Satriani1 - 5/4/2013 1:40:40 PM

+1 Boost

mclaren428: yes, BMW's 1 Series M Coupe from the previous E82 generation would probably have been quicker.

I think both BMW and Audi could have put in even an more powerful engine into their cars in this segment -- but did not for fear of outdoing their larger car models as well as over pricing their cars for this market.

Firewombat - 5/12/2013 10:10:36 AM

+1 Boost

Imagine you weren't as insecure and didn't need to comment on BMW articles with negative feedback to make yourself feel better? Wow, what an awesome site it would be...

Satriani1 - 5/3/2013 4:27:08 AM

-2 Boost

BMW M135i xDrive's fastest lap on the Ring: only 8 min 58 sec, good for only the 278th fastest time on this list (actually No. 277 as the first two positions were incorrectly entered).
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

BimmersNme - 5/3/2013 7:53:01 PM

+2 Boost

It has beaten the RS3 in a comparo test made by someone who knows a little about cars: Chris Harris. Good enough for ya?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xwecTp91-o

Satriani1 - 5/4/2013 1:31:07 PM

0 Boost

Chris Harris? Lol, what is Chris Harris smoking? First, understand that Harris compared the RS3 of the previous generation (Typ 8P, 2003 - 2012) against lastest generation M135i (F20/21, 2012).

My Auto Motor und Sport link compared the latest generation Audi S3 (Typ 8V, 2012) against the lastest generation BMW M135 (F20/21, 2012).

Harris drove the latest BMW in the drag race against the outgoing RS3 to declare the BMW the victor.

Yet Harris's own video test results showed the Audi was actually faster than the BMW in what matters:

- Accekeration 0 to 60 mph (RS3's 4.17 sec vs M135's 4.49 sec)
- Acceleration 0 to 100 mph (RS3's 10.73 sec versus the M135's 10.92 sec)
http://www.motorward.com/wp-content/images/2012/10/Audi-RS3-BMW-M135i-3.jpg

- laptime: RS3's 1 min 17.18 versus the M135's 1 min 18.05
http://www.motorward.com/wp-content/images/2012/10/Audi-RS3-BMW-M135i-2.jpg

Furthermore, that outgoing RS3 was much faster on the Ring than that new M135:
- RS3 lapped the Nuburgring in 8 min 20 sec. (even the first generation S3 from 2000 model year did it in 8 min 41 sec)
- BMW M135i xDrive (latest generation F20/21) fastest lap was only 8 min 58 sec.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

Stick to German comparos of their cars:
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/bmw-m-135i-audi-rs-3-vergleich-3580252.html

Firewombat - 5/12/2013 10:13:15 AM

+2 Boost

@sitriadui I don't know of any respectable motoring publication that has chosen the RS3 over the 1M? Chirs Harris is one of the most respectable car journalists in the world, I thought you liked magazines.

The RS3 is not an M135i competitor, the S3 is, you know that, you should start doing more homework on your car models and then it won't be as tough for you to understand.

scenicbyway12 - 5/25/2013 5:15:46 PM

+1 Boost

Chris Harris comparison test Audi RS3 and BMW M135i
“The BMW M135I Nails the Audi RS3 on the road and kills it on the track”
On track driving in the Audi RS3 “One of the most unpleasant cars”
“Loads of people will but this car (Audi RS3) they shouldn’t, they should buy this car (BMW M135i)”
Those comments are after the BMW lost in 0-30, 0-60, and 0-100, and track time of 18.05 BMW and 17.18 Audi