Test drive battle: '08 BMW M3 convertible vs. '13 BMW 135is coupe

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 06/23/2014 at 12:46 • Filed to: None

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I have a '13 BMW 135is DCT coupe. I got it last summer thinking it would be my only car, but since then I've bought a '99 Grand Cherokee to drive in winter, so !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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I found a 2008 M3 convertible at a local dealer here in Madison. 39k miles, silver on gray leather, not too many options, stick shift. I decided to take it for a spin, and these are my thoughts.

POWAAAAAA

Neither of these cars feels appreciably faster than the other. The M3 has 414 hp and weighs 3991 lbs for a power-to-weight ratio of 9.6 lbs per hp. The 135is has 320 hp and weighs 3439 lbs, for 10.7 lb/hp. So on paper the M3 should be a little faster. And yes, the M3 has more top end, but the 135is has more low end. The DCT in the 135is shifts faster than I can shift the manual in the M3. Point-to-point I'd probably give the edge to the 135is because it's easier to kick down 3 gears with the paddles, get near-instant boost and shoot away.

Transmission

The 135is has a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. It's great, one of the reasons I got the car. Sure it doesn't have a clutch pedal but shifts are super fast, and it's still engaging with pops and burbles and blips. Great transmission. The M3 has a 6-speed manual. Its shifter is...pretty decent. Nothing to complain about but ranks below many other cars. I was able to heel-toe it pretty easily and it makes lovely NASCAR noises when doing so. If you want a clutch pedal, easy choice. The M3's active diff puts power down better than the open diff in the 135is. Sometimes you can make the 135is traction control light go a little crazy with too much power, the M3 is much harder to provoke into one-tire fires like the 135is.

Handling

Very close. Body roll is about the same between both cars. The 135is has sharper steering responses, but the M3 feels a bit less tippy in corners, if only because of its extra width. The 135is is just small enough where it seems like you can toss it wherever you want. The M3 is almost as good, and somewhat more stable. But you're aware of its size, particularly because of the hilarious(-ly good) bulge in the hood. It feels like it's a size larger than the 135is and comes very close.

Sound

The M3 has a better engine note. It sounds like a pissed off V8 endurance racer. Sometimes. Other times it sounds like a normal car. The 135is also makes great noises, although it's a bit more heavy on the exhaust and turbo noise. You get a good I6 growl in the upper revs too. Honestly both are really good, just different. Hard to choose an overall favorite.

My 135is has the Harman Kardon stereo, the M3 didn't. I didn't actually turn the stereo on in the M3 so I can't compare. But they both have stereos with aux jacks. Close enough.

Looks

They're both late model 2 door BMWs. One is silver, one is black. Some parts of each look good. Not much to choose from. Both will cause other drivers to be surprised if you actually use your turn signals and park within the lines.

Comfort

The M3 takes this one. There's more room to spread out, whereas with the 135is I kind of fold myself up into it a little bit. The seats are wider and more padded. The roof goes down. The ride is softer—but this might be more because of it riding on Michelin Pilot Sport tires instead of the run-flat Bridgestone RE050s on the 135is. The 135is has a lower cowl line and is a little easier to see out of, and it barely has better cup holders although the cup holders in both are crap. This particular M3 was missing some options my 135is has like heated seats, comfort access start, I don't think it has homelink garage opener or dimming mirrors. The only one of these I really care about is the mirrors, those are mad nice on the 135is.

So.....what am I going to do?

Hell if I know.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 12:54

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Carmax bro! M3s are plentiful there.

jack > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 12:56

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yes but..... convertable?

Jayhawk Jake > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 13:18

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I still think you should buy a Corvette. Coupe, convertible, doesn't matter the top comes off either way

Textured Soy Protein > jack 06/23/2014 at 14:24

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Yes, I'm looking for a convertible.

Textured Soy Protein > Brian Silvestro 06/23/2014 at 14:24

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I think my main thought after this is, keep looking at all my options.

Textured Soy Protein > Jayhawk Jake 06/23/2014 at 14:25

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Certainly still considering.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 14:52

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True! There are so many choices, it's hard to go wrong here. E60 M5s are also at low prices at Carmax. Lexus IS-Fs are also and option.

E92M3 > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 15:04

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Convertible AND grey leather will be a hard resale later.

alexotics > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 15:24

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Carmax M6 Convertible so you can have more room, more power, more style, and bypass 70% depreciation. Plus a V10 with a warranty, you can't beat that. Find one with a stick for extra points.

Jayhawk Jake > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 15:57

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Go drive one. You'll buy it.

Textured Soy Protein > Brian Silvestro 06/23/2014 at 15:57

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M5 & IS-F /= convertible

Textured Soy Protein > E92M3 06/23/2014 at 16:02

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Well, I'm only looking at convertibles. Not necessarily only M3s though.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 16:02

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Oh yeah...

Boxster/911/Lotus/RS4/S5???

Textured Soy Protein > alexotics 06/23/2014 at 16:15

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Probably a bit out of my price range.

alexotics > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 16:19

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Are you sure? In my neck of the woods M6 Convertibles are about 5-10k cheaper than similar era M3s.

Textured Soy Protein > alexotics 06/23/2014 at 16:25

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The dealer was asking $35k and change for this M3 which is probably more than I want to spend. I live in a smaller market and to find any cars I like here locally is usually a challenge, which is why I checked it out even though it was toward the higher end of my range.

E92M3 > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 16:26

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Do yourself a favor and get a black interior then.

Textured Soy Protein > Jayhawk Jake 06/23/2014 at 16:32

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Have driven them in the past. The only ones in my price range that are even close by are still kinda far away. I'll get around to it eventually.

alexotics > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 16:34

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Ah I see. Would an 04-05 E46 M3 convertible with a six-speed be tough to find? You'd be spending around 20k for a good one and they're a ton of fun, well built, and beautiful. Of course it wont be as explosive and "on call" as your 135is (I used to own a 135i), but they're a lot of fun and you'll be able to sell it in a few years time just being out insurance, maintenance, and fuel.

Textured Soy Protein > E92M3 06/23/2014 at 16:40

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Yeah I'm not a huge fan of gray leather.

This was literally the only E92 M3 convertible anywhere remotely close to me so I figured I'd go check it out.

Textured Soy Protein > alexotics 06/23/2014 at 16:47

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I'm not opposed. They're not tough to find, just tough to find here in Madison, WI. People here mostly buy sensible cars and the overall metro area is only about 300k people, so more often than not when looking for a specific combination of vehicle/price it involves looking somewhere out of town. In this case the closest E46 M3 convertible I could find was 77 miles away.

Textured Soy Protein > Brian Silvestro 06/23/2014 at 17:00

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I'm looking at assorted Porsches and Corvettes. Just kind of picking off the low hanging fruit of what's here in town before I start heading to places that require an actual drive.

E92M3 > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 17:05

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I hear you. I ended up buying mine 1000 miles away in Nebraska because I couldn't find what I wanted here.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 17:06

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I think a nice '09 Carrera convertible is in your future.

Textured Soy Protein > E92M3 06/23/2014 at 17:10

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Several years ago I went down to Chicago to get a Mazdaspeed 6. But that was only 150 miles away.

Textured Soy Protein > Brian Silvestro 06/23/2014 at 17:18

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Probably several years older to get it down to what I want to spend.

My 135is lease payment is $447/month. If I got a convertible, I'd want to keep the loan to 60 months tops, and I know I qualify for 2.79% for 60 months through my credit union.

$25k financed at 2.79% for 60 months is...$447/month.

The farther under $25k, the better.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 17:31

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I see a nice '06 Boxster in your future. I've driven one for extended periods of time, very fun.

Textured Soy Protein > Brian Silvestro 06/23/2014 at 18:20

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I test drove an '06 Boxster S. In 2006. I liked it a lot. I want to reacquaint myself with one and see what's up.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein 06/23/2014 at 18:31

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The one I drove had 60k miles on it and was rock solid the entire time. Damn I loved that car...I wish my dad never sold it.