2012 BMW 135i Test Drive

"Bryan doesn't drive a 1M" (bryantakespictures) 01/15/2015 at 13:56 • Filed to: BMW, 135i

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Whenever there are gushing reviews about a car from auto journalists, it seems like the inevitable backlash is pretty strong. Pretty much every review I remember of the 135i praised it as a return to form for BMW, even comparing it to past generations of the M3. Once the backlash kicked in, it sounded like the 135i was an unreliable, overpriced, heavy, understeering dog. Hmmm, I'm thinking the reality lies somewhere in the middle.

The 135i is the first BMW I've driven, so I was pretty surprised to find out that the turn signal stalk does in fact exist, it works, and it didn't even hurt to use it. I know, I'm as surprised as you are. The interior is almost exactly to my taste. The things that matter are easy to get to and the things that don't matter... who cares. Yes, iDrive, blah blah, terrible, of course. Which car has gotten it right yet? The steering wheel is small and fat. The seats are adjustable in a million ways and very comfortable. Overall, the inside of the car is a nice place to be.

Driving the 135i was fun. So fun. The exhaust sounds good, and you can just barely hear the turbos. No matter what gear you're in, it never seems to run out of power. The steering is insanely heavy. My current car is a Saab 9-3 with pretty light steering, and my wife's car is a Nissan Versa, so my steering muscles have clearly atrophied. Once I got used to the weight of the steering, the car handled beautifully and it was well composed on the shit asphalt that somehow passes for a highway around here. The 135i feels small, light, and nimble even though it is packing a few extra pounds. It was just right on the highway, but I'm curious at how it would fare in something like autocross. The short wheelbase should help, but the heavy steering would cause me to feel like a weakling and possibly even make me do the unthinkable... go to the gym.

About the exterior: um, it has one. It's not the prettiest car in the world, but at least it stands out. It's the only BMW other than the 2002 and the Z3 that's brave enough to look goofy (most BMWs being understated, nice, or just plain ugly). It doesn't bother trying to look mean and intimidating because it has 300 angry horses under the hood. Even Subarus and Mazdas look pissed off these days, so it's kind of nice to look at a car with an earnest, curious face. Maybe I'm anthropomorphizing too much, but I imagine the little BMW thinking "I wonder what 160 mph feels like?" The goofy, tallish looks pay off in the ergonomics department. The cabin is roomy for the size of the car, especially compared to something like a Mustang or BRZ.

Now that the 128i/135i has depreciated a little, their price is finally reasonable. I can't imagine paying almost $50k for one, but $20k-30k seems just right.

Exterior: 7/10

Interior: 8/10

Ride: 8/10

Handling: 8/10

Acceleration: 8/10

Audio: 7/10

Toys: 9/10

Turn signals: 2/2

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 14:06

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Okay then, new BRZ or used 135i?

Sn210 > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 14:06

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I love these, I like them better than the current 2 series. Hopefully I'll get one as a toy someday when they dip under $10k

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 14:07

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That is actually the only BMW I can picture myself driving. The rest of their line up is kind of....meh~ to me.

Textured Soy Protein > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 14:14

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I have a 135is. The turn signals exist, but they're BMW's goofy electronic stalk that doesn't actually stay in position. Took me a bit to get used to them.

135is basically is a 135i with different wheels, BMW Performance Power Kit 2 (ECU flash + extra oil cooler) and BMW M Performance Exhaust installed from the factory.

The steering is heavy, which gives better road feel and lets you be more precise with where you point it. A lot of performance cars are like this. Just kinda something you get used to and then it doesn't take so much effort. When I get in a more "normal" car I think the steering feels oddly light. Like say when I hop in my Grand Cherokee or my gf's Civic. (My dad has an '07 9-3 Aero convertible. It has particularly light steering.)

I specifically avoided iDrive though.

Ilike_cougars > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/15/2015 at 14:24

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New BRZ or used BMW M Roadster or used Lotus Elise, This was me 2 years ago..

Got the M roadster..

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Ilike_cougars 01/15/2015 at 14:31

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I'm still leaning toward BRZ myself. Though I very much want to take a 135i out for a drive. I have the feeling it will probably be more car than I can reasonably handle, and I also do not like the idea of paying BMW prices for parts and service.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 14:34

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Love mine, will probably be ditching it soon but it's been a great 1.5 years. Car wasn't even close to on my radar when I was first looking, but took a flyer on taking a test drive on a well-priced, clean example(used, mine's an '09), and was itching to sign the paperwork before I had even made it back on the test drive.

Comfortable (especially when you ditch the run-flats), relatively simple (perfect interior layout, as far as I'm concerned), not offensive looking to most, plenty of power and plenty nimble. And it's been great from a maintenance standpoint *knock on wood*

Party_in_the_USA > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 14:43

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that last one was perfect

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 01/15/2015 at 15:05

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Used 128i. You'll save the headaches with the 135i engine, and it's still more lively than the BRZ I test drove.

I still love the BRZ, because it is such a good bargain.

SlickMcRick > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/15/2015 at 15:07

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Why are you getting rid of yours?

SlickMcRick > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/15/2015 at 15:10

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Darn you!! You've added another car to my list of consideration at the end of the year. I used to work at a BMW dealer in the loaner vehicle department. Somehow we convinced management to add a 135i with the sport package to our fleet so we can loan it to any "M" customers. That rarely happened so it was used moreso as a dealership get around car until I took it home on the evenings and some weekends. I LOVED that car but man you could burn through gas in it like no tomorrow with a heavy foot.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > SlickMcRick 01/15/2015 at 16:13

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Trying to pare down the number of cars I have and free up some cash flow/cash out my equity in it so I can move on to something bigger and better here in 6-12 months.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/16/2015 at 05:40

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Neat :) I do rather like these. One of the few modern BMWs I actually like. Small it may be but its not exactly the lightest of cars. 1560kg is only 10kg less than the E46 M3, and 55kg more than the old M635CSi. I suppose you pay the price for safety though...

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/16/2015 at 11:33

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True, it's pretty heavy. It weighs more than my AWD, 4-door Saab.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2015 at 11:43

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Haha, I didn't want to mention that I did actually struggle a bit with the turn signal. Stupid design if you ask me, but the stalk on my current car sounds and feels like it's breaking every time I use it, so it could be worse.

Your car looks great. Glad to know there's not much difference in the "is". It looks like you could turn an "i" into an "is" with a couple grand worth of BMW performance parts. The "is" is crazy hard to find, especially with a manual gearbox. The only drawback to the one I tested is the wood trim. It has the M Sport package, so it's as close as you could get to an "is" in 2012.

Have you done any autocross or track stuff in your car? I plan to dip my toe into that world, but I still want a nice DD too.

Textured Soy Protein > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/16/2015 at 11:54

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Yeah you can get the wheels, PPK and exhaust from any BMW dealer. But the sweet 135is badge on the dash? That's special.

I have the hexagon aluminum trim like this pic. Mine's a DCT. When I got it I was kinda sick of manual shifting all day every day (had nothing but manual transmissions from '01-'13), and I thought it was going to be my only car. Then a few months later I got a Grand Cherokee to go with it. I still like the DCT though—and it has launch control .

I haven't really done any autocross or other track stuff. Mostly putz around town and then occasionally find a nice back road to put the traction control in dynamic mode and go have some fun.

It's in storage for the winter though.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > Textured Soy Protein 01/16/2015 at 12:15

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Thanks for the info. That's a funny story about the launch control.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 01/16/2015 at 15:39

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And they're renowned for being heavy themselves!