135i vs E36 M3

[Mike 01Hawk]

So.... think it'll have the same 'soul'? Or will it be in another ball park above and beyond?

[cemimms]

So.... think it'll have the same 'soul'? Or will it be in another ball park above and beyond?

I have driven neither and am not quite sure what your asking, but I have driven a 335i coupe and an e46 M3. With those driving experiences in my mind I know the 135 will smoke an e36 M3 from an acceleration standpoint. I will not comment on handling, but would like to think the 135i will meet or beat the e36 M3.

So now I have to decide whether to get the e46 M I have wanted for so long or a 135i!

[murdoc158]

I plan on test driving a 135i and I will be trading in my E36 M3. I don't think BMW is going to let us down with this one. There is too much at stake with the 1 series, and with the concept tii being shown a few weeks ago, it seems BMW is ready to get back to their motorsports heritage.

[jfboy]

It's much heavier than an e36 m3. Dont think it can be as flickable

[Allenr56]

I think I understand what Mike is asking. Will it be as sharp to drive or will it be number. I've been wondering the same thing. As for weight, aren't they pretty comperable?

[avesblueM3]

e36 M3 over 135i anyday. lets not forget the m3 was car and driver's #1 car for handling and durability when it came out. the peg leg 135 will lose on take off but i will say the 135 is a faster car fitted with a lot of bells and whistles. but not a true drivers cars.

[TheM3nsah]

wtf? im tired of this forum bashing the most popular M3. compare it to more modern stuff like an e46 becuase thats what if anything it was made to compete with

[robertm]

e36 M3 over 135i anyday. lets not forget the m3 was car and driver's #1 car for handling and durability when it came out. the peg leg 135 will lose on take off but i will say the 135 is a faster car fitted with a lot of bells and whistles. but not a true drivers cars.

Disagree. With a larger rear sway bar and decent tires the 135 will be much faster in a straight line AND handle better. Its got a twice evolved suspension under it compared to the m3.

Now will it be as 'fun' 'engaging' 'whatever' to drive? I think so. Really a bone stock e36 M3 isn't all that. With some mods they are a lot of fun. Same should be true for the 135. Its about the same weight, will be a stiffer chassis, about the same wheel base, way more power, more brake and better suspension. Really the only thing the e36 has is the lsd and possibly a little better steering feel. e36m3s have phenomenal steering wheel feel. Remains to be seen what the 135 wheel will feel like, doubtful it will that communicative though.

[SportEvo]

Where is the progress? I was driving a 12 year old M3 GT a few weeks and it easily pulls way past redline in 5th. It would be interesting to put the two cars up against each other, but I would bet on the old E36 round most tracks.

Power is about the same, but I would prefer the naturally aspirated engine of the M3.

Weight...I'm just guessing, but I would think the M3 to be lighter.

[admranger]

Weight will hinder the 135 vs. an E36M3 in an autocross event and the E36M3 has a real diff to help it corner.

Chassis stiffness and suspension (rear, mostly) changes will favor the 135 on a road course. It'll be interesting to see how the electronic diff works in the heat of a track event (when the brake pads are already hot and now you're asking them to do more...).

My advice: get one of each instead of an E46M3 (have one) or an E92M3 (wife wants one...).

[ArticM3]

I am pumped about the 135. I am no track demon, but do love the involvement I get from the //M. If the 135 can hold its own, I will be sold. Can't wait for the dealers to start getting them.

[inkface]

I have driven neither and am not quite sure what your asking, but I have driven a 335i coupe and an e46 M3. With those driving experiences in my mind I know the 135 will smoke an e36 M3 from an acceleration standpoint. I will not comment on handling, but would like to think the 135i will meet or beat the e36 M3.

So now I have to decide whether to get the e46 M I have wanted for so long or a 135i!

if i had your nice looking e36 4 door i would drop an ls1 6 speed in it..m3 suspenion with coils , minor weight reduction, and a few other goodies.. have some real fun with a 12-15k invertment .. street or track.. gotta love the e36 4 doors!


e46m or the 135i are great.. i would rather have a unique ls1 in my m3 any day of the week..

that being said the 135i will be an amazing cruiser until modded

[prodjsxb]

I prefer the look of the new 135. Dont get me wrong, e36M is sexy, but cmon' its everywhere! I test drove the 135i and I was very impressed with it. It doesn't feel heavier even though it is. Maybe it has better power delivery I really liked that 135i

[AzNaLaN15]

^
u dont think the 135i will be everywhere?

[XMRocks]

Its an honor the E36 M3 is even compared to the 135i.

For me the $18K discount on the E36 M3 makes it the best choice.

[TheM3nsah]

For me the $18K discount on the E36 M3 makes it the best choice.

true

[cgrow]

I'm debating this question right now. Go FI on my M3 or wait and get a 135tii? I think the 135 will be less sharp, more refined, and less unique than my M3, especially with FI. Also with a sc I should be able to run with a stock 135. Alternatively, the 135 shouldn't be as maintenance intensive, will be damned fast, and may actually undercut the weight of the E36 M3 in tii version. Of course, I've put blood sweat and tears into the M3. I don't know if I could actually part with it. Would it be crazy to have both?

[M3sRsick]

I've driven the 1 series hatch in Europe, it seemed as though it had nothing on the e36 as far as handeling, feel, and nimbleness. Granted it wasn't a 135i so I really can't compare but if the 135i is anything like the 120 in terms of suspension or lack of an LSD then I don't really see the 1er having much of an edge over the e36 m3 besides acceleration.

[Budget M3]

... if the 135i is anything like the 120 in terms of suspension or lack of an LSD then I don't really see the 1er having much of an edge over the e36 m3 besides acceleration.

Thanks for sharing your insights on the 120. Not many of us have had the opportunity to drive any of the 1's yet, so it's nice to hear from those of you who have. The 135i will not, however, have anywhere near the same suspension under it. That would be like comparing an E36 318i to the E36 M3...apple & oranges....

[NoOtherOptions]

The 1er looks hot, but remember it's not designed to be a high end sports car. At least not like the e36 m3 was. It was a flagship car, the 1 series isn't gonna be a POS but I wouldn't put too much stock into it being the end all be all cheap car. Just MY 2 cents though.

[kindtree]

apples and oranges.

Comparing the E46 M3 to the 135i would make more sense when you talk about pricing, stock power delivery, etc....

If you're going to stick with the E36 comparison though, you can get a good condition M3, get all the goodies (including a Twin Screw or killer turbo setup), and then drive 'em back-to-back.

After owning an E36, however, I would advise staying away from them if you can afford a 135i. Window regulators and tracks, brake light switches, climate control glitches, and all sorts of other annoyances on a decade-old E36 will have you pulling your hair out after a while. These are all things that preventative maintenance can't prevent, and they may all seem like small problems, but they add up. And they like to fail soon after you fix them, causing you to head to the dealer, cursing, to pay ridiculous amounts of money for stupid little parts that you should be able to count on.... Man, no, I'm not bitter...!

Final answer: C5 Z06

[m3chaser]

apples and oranges.

Comparing the E46 M3 to the 135i would make more sense when you talk about pricing, stock power delivery, etc....

If you're going to stick with the E36 comparison though, you can get a good condition M3, get all the goodies (including a Twin Screw or killer turbo setup), and then drive 'em back-to-back.

After owning an E36, however, I would advise staying away from them if you can afford a 135i. Window regulators and tracks, brake light switches, climate control glitches, and all sorts of other annoyances on a decade-old E36 will have you pulling your hair out after a while. These are all things that preventative maintenance can't prevent, and they may all seem like small problems, but they add up. And they like to fail soon after you fix them, causing you to head to the dealer, cursing, to pay ridiculous amounts of money for stupid little parts that you should be able to count on.... Man, no, I'm not bitter...!

Final answer: C5 Z06

Agreed.

[TheM3nsah]

apples and oranges.

Comparing the E46 M3 to the 135i would make more sense when you talk about pricing, stock power delivery, etc....

If you're going to stick with the E36 comparison though, you can get a good condition M3, get all the goodies (including a Twin Screw or killer turbo setup), and then drive 'em back-to-back.

After owning an E36, however, I would advise staying away from them if you can afford a 135i. Window regulators and tracks, brake light switches, climate control glitches, and all sorts of other annoyances on a decade-old E36 will have you pulling your hair out after a while. These are all things that preventative maintenance can't prevent, and they may all seem like small problems, but they add up. And they like to fail soon after you fix them, causing you to head to the dealer, cursing, to pay ridiculous amounts of money for stupid little parts that you should be able to count on.... Man, no, I'm not bitter...!

Final answer: C5 Z06

its not THAT bad

[kindtree]

its not THAT bad

Either you got pretty lucky, or your car is going to fall to bits and pieces in a year.

[Silex]

Its an honor the E36 M3 is even compared to the 135i.

For me the $18K discount on the E36 M3 makes it the best choice.

More like $28k discount for me. That's a down payment on a house that will actually net me equity.