BMW 135i...more M3 than...the M3?
 

It seems like the whole auto world here is stoked for getting the 135i. It harks back to the smaller, very nimble, and very quick cars of BMW's past..notably the E30 M3. What dawned on me though, is that each M3 after that gen has gotten a bit more..heavier...less impactful..etc. Sorta like the R32 GTR and the R33 and R34 after that..they were awesome cars (as are the E46 and E92), yet they never truly did what the R32 did (like be banned from numerous racing circuits).

So thus I pose the question..is the 135i..a small sports coupe with 300bhp..more M3- in the true, historical sense of it- than the E92 M3?

intersting argument, got any pics of it handy? I'm a little to lazy to search.

http://edbmw.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/wall11.jpg

There's a picture. It is all up to what the M division wants to do with the cars probably. Their thinking of how they want to be represented has changed over the years and the current cars are the product.

http://images.paultan.org/images/BMW..._Product_8.jpg

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-conte....thumbnail.jpg

E30...

http://img.drive.com.au/drive_images...036742_m_m.jpg

Damn you beat me to it! lol

uber hautness!

Yea I love it..i'd hope they make an M version..I just think that this is what BMW needs..IMHO..they are polluted with stuff like iDrive and crazy styling (ala Bangle) that really gets away from what they truly were.

93
Nicely said. Not that I'll be in the market for a car built in this century anytime soon but, it's good to see some companies turning around and breaking from the mold. The e30 m represented something that is sorely missed nowadays: A balanced and nimble car that actually required an effort(and hence a pleasant reward to) from the driver, yet remaining completely germanic in demeanor(cars once possessed nationality, not modern ****geneity). The later cars look better on paper, but what indicator is that of fun factor? Smooth broad powerbands= boredom, just as a car that requires little attention from the driver.
93 93/93
edit-pretty sad when a forum feels the need to censor something that can also be a foreword to the human race i.e. Xsapiens.
edit edit- Actually, it is rather ugly(subjective of course) but they could do worse.

isnt this car supposed to be fairly cheap in bmw terms?

the E46 M3 GTR has been banned from numerous racing circuits as well

What did I hear that this isnt coming to the US...also I think its ugly, but im sure its gona be decent fun

ugly? its one of the nicest luxury coupes thats out or going to be out right now

last I read, it will be sent over to the US.

I still don't think they are as "light" as you think. Does anyone have specs on them yet?

3440 lb! (Found em)


It would be nice for companies to start making cars under 3000lbs again.

sorry but you're wrong, it's a beautiful car,
more 1series http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=238954

it should be here this spring and its gonna be a sick ass car. i wanna buy one real bad, but i need to get a truck first. i drive a 335i sport coupe on a daily basis and that car is a blast to drive!!!! its got a shiv Procede v2, so that makes it that much more fun to drive. best 1/4 time to date is 12.40 at 110. im pretty sure i can get a 12.20-12.00 with good air. the 135i is only gonna be that much better!

Then I was misinformed. Thanks for the clearup
And thats a matter of opinion. I think it looks bad, but a lot of cars look worse in pix than in person. The back end bothers me, and I think the car looks squished...

The 135i is scheduled to come to the states I believe in the Spring of 08. Prices are supposed to start around low to mid 30's I believe. Also I have not heard anything about them releasing an M series car due to the name behind the original BMW M1. However the 135i is supposed to have the suspension of an M series as well as the aero parts. Currently the 135i is at the top of the list for SRT replacements for me.

They should have made the 135i their z coupe only, not the 135. It just looks, ODD. Make that car in to a hatchback and I'd probably consider buying one!

Also, perhaps gto will like this, but doesn't the E46 STILL handle WORLDS better than the E30, no matter how much heavier? The E46 is better in EVERY category though, it's not just better performance. Maybe BMW should just offer a stripped out E46? (err, now the E90, even better)

It's not always about that, but how relative the car was for the time.

And MPower, the E46 wasn't banned in nearly the amount of stuff the R32..or even Audi was.