Here is another look at the BMW 135 Coupe performing on the racetrack, this time with 001 driving. The note of the engine and the exhaust in the video, doesn't do it justice, it is a sweet, smooth sound that grows gradually in volume and throatiness the further along the RPM range you go.
A look into this video will give you a sneak peak at what's about to stun the automotive world, in that you can see how well it performs on the track, and just how fast out of a corner the twin turbo engine propels this lightweight "3-Series", and how the competition (what little there is in this market right now) is going to be left in the dust wondering how they couldn't have been prepared for such a car.
It's only somewhat negative trait was to understeer in every corner. This can definitely be attributed to its extremely small rear swaybar. Measuring in at about 3/4", it will in no doubt be a racers first modification.
Brake fade was minimal with BMW's first ever 6 piston calipers, but even if it was more noticable, a simple pad swap would remedy that problem. Everything else about the car made it a real pleasure to drive on the track. It was easy, predictable and down right fun...and that's with the DSC on. With DSC off, it was as predictable and as easy, but even more fun and quicker in turning laps. Being able to jam the throttle coming out of a turn without having the DSC pull back the power meant that the turbos could get up into their power quicker, as well as not have to worry about DSC grabbing the rotors with the brakes.
Even at 6'3", I found the front seats extremely comfortable and roomy. There is less room than in the 3 Series, and it is a little noticable, but not so much that it made it prohibitive in getting comfortable. On the track, the tighter interior helped keep you locked into the steering wheel and centered over the pedals.
If I could change one thing on this car today, I would swap out the tires for some better ones. It comes with Bridgestone runflats. Runflats are a 50/50 toss up between love and hate, but the Bridgestone brand doesn't go along with the luxury brand, and they definitely don't go along with the sport centric brand. Having received both Michelin and Continental tires on previous BMWs, I can say the Bridgestones rated the worst of the 3. They had a tendency to follow grooves in the road a bit, giving the impression that the car felt like it was wandering at higher speeds.
There is truthfully very little else I would change about the car. With an estimated market price of mid to low $30,000, and the fact it is closer to a 3 series than the E46 chasis is, it is hard to argue that this is not the perfect around town car with weekend racer roots. It's fast, it's nimble, it's inexpensive for a luxury brand, it offers most of the features of a 3 series, it's sharp looking, it's masculine in its coupe form, feminine in its convertible form, it turns heads and, well, it's a BMW.
If you have trouble viewing the video, please use this link.