"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you'll go far". We believe the original context was used to describe negotiating peacefully but for the 1 Series, putting a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six where a 1.6-litre turbo four normally resides is more like bringing a gun to a knife fight.
The M135i is the upscale 'ang moh' equivalent of the Subaru STI or Mitsubishi Evo X that should appeal to the Ah Beng made good.
Exterior
Nope, no big roof spoiler here. Despite the significant mechanical makeover, BMW's designers have done very little with the car's styling. But small tweaks make a big difference. The new front bumper incorporates large air intakes at the lower extremities, giving the M135i a much more aggressive (and palatable) mien.
The M135i is the upscale 'ang moh' equivalent of the Subaru STI or Mitsubishi Evo X that should appeal to the Ah Beng made good.
Exterior
Nope, no big roof spoiler here. Despite the significant mechanical makeover, BMW's designers have done very little with the car's styling. But small tweaks make a big difference. The new front bumper incorporates large air intakes at the lower extremities, giving the M135i a much more aggressive (and palatable) mien.
Subtle side skirts, twin-exit exhausts and silver-finish mirrors are the only real clues to its potential. Of course for the boy racers, Munich Automobiles has factory 'go faster' racing stripes as an option. Xenon headlamps are of course standard equipment and the blue painted brake calipers help draw attention to the oversized brakes.
Interior
The 1 Series already has good fit and finish, even if the interior was a tad boring. Changes to the cabin include a thick-rimmed sports steering wheel and more aggressively bolstered front seats with the M logo on the headrest.
We would have liked BMW to take the radical route and include a fixed-back 'racing' seat but we guess ingress to the rear bench was a consideration.
The 1 Series already has good fit and finish, even if the interior was a tad boring. Changes to the cabin include a thick-rimmed sports steering wheel and more aggressively bolstered front seats with the M logo on the headrest.
We would have liked BMW to take the radical route and include a fixed-back 'racing' seat but we guess ingress to the rear bench was a consideration.
Being the ranger topper, creature comforts such as cruise control, navigation, and sunroof are all present. Oh, and for those who appreciate some bling, there's a M135i script on the sidestep garnish and M-performance emblazoned on the engine cover.
For audiophiles, there's a head banging Harman Kardon sound system - complete with an amp in the boot.
For audiophiles, there's a head banging Harman Kardon sound system - complete with an amp in the boot.
The Drive
The numbers. Turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six with 320bhp 450Nm of torque. That's 14bhp and 10Nm more than the same engine found in the 335i courtesy of ECU tuning.
The standard transmission sold by Munich Automobiles is an eight-speed automatic and it's so good, it makes you wonder who would special order the six-speed manual. It upshifts - downshifts - as fast as a double clutch gearbox and its silky smooth. And being an automatic, it means no skill is required to achieve the sub five-second BMW quotes for the century sprint.
Driven sedately at 90km/h, the engine barely ticks over 1,500rpm in top gear, making it perfect for those jaunts up north. Put your right foot down and the car reels in the horizon with gusto and if you're in 'manual' mode, the transmission won't shift up even if the tachometer strays into the red zone. Perhaps, the only complaint is the lack of an invigorating exhaust note...
On the handling front, however, there is nothing lacking. The M135i is fitted with M-sport suspension which is lower and firmer with different elasto-kinematic tuning for the front suspension. A variable ratio, sport steering rack helps provide even better feedback with direct yet not overly twitchy steering.
The numbers. Turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six with 320bhp 450Nm of torque. That's 14bhp and 10Nm more than the same engine found in the 335i courtesy of ECU tuning.
The standard transmission sold by Munich Automobiles is an eight-speed automatic and it's so good, it makes you wonder who would special order the six-speed manual. It upshifts - downshifts - as fast as a double clutch gearbox and its silky smooth. And being an automatic, it means no skill is required to achieve the sub five-second BMW quotes for the century sprint.
Driven sedately at 90km/h, the engine barely ticks over 1,500rpm in top gear, making it perfect for those jaunts up north. Put your right foot down and the car reels in the horizon with gusto and if you're in 'manual' mode, the transmission won't shift up even if the tachometer strays into the red zone. Perhaps, the only complaint is the lack of an invigorating exhaust note...
On the handling front, however, there is nothing lacking. The M135i is fitted with M-sport suspension which is lower and firmer with different elasto-kinematic tuning for the front suspension. A variable ratio, sport steering rack helps provide even better feedback with direct yet not overly twitchy steering.
And yes, the ride is a tad firm but never harsh and should be even more at home on B-roads compared to the 118i we drove up to Kuala Lumpur in.
The battery is mounted low in the boot for better weight distribution and there's no spare tyre. Twin-prong / five-spoked designed 18-inch rims are wrapped by tacky Michelin Pilot Sport in 225/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear. They not only give prodigious cornering grip but allow the four-pot front calipers and two-pot rear to provide stop-on-a-dime retardation.
Conclusion
Until the new 1M comes along, enthusiasts will have to make do with the M135i which is not shabby at all. Dynamically and power wise, the M135i is already class leading but it'll be nice to have a sportier exhaust note and perhaps a more special interior. But this is really just nit-picking a car that would be on the top of our wish list…
The battery is mounted low in the boot for better weight distribution and there's no spare tyre. Twin-prong / five-spoked designed 18-inch rims are wrapped by tacky Michelin Pilot Sport in 225/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear. They not only give prodigious cornering grip but allow the four-pot front calipers and two-pot rear to provide stop-on-a-dime retardation.
Conclusion
Until the new 1M comes along, enthusiasts will have to make do with the M135i which is not shabby at all. Dynamically and power wise, the M135i is already class leading but it'll be nice to have a sportier exhaust note and perhaps a more special interior. But this is really just nit-picking a car that would be on the top of our wish list…
