I have been going back and forth on trading my 07 MCS for a new 135i. I have many negatives to the trade like insurance jump, gas mileage, and now a loan to cover the sum on the new car. The only positive is that i want one. ever since i saw them at the Frankfurt auto show i wanted one in my garage. But don't get me wrong, i love my MINI especially with all the mods i have done to it. I am sure there is going to be a bias since this is a mini forum but what do you fellow NAM-ers think? or Thanks for your thoughts

 

Well seeing as I've only had my MINI for a month I think you can guess my answer.

Though I will say the i135 is a sweet looking ride.

 

stick with the mini, or go e46 m3 u can find a used one for the same price....dont get the 135i its a piece of crap in disguise

 

How do you really feel?

A 135 would be sweet, more expensive but a great ride if you don't mind the money.

I will be sticking to my R53 because the 135 does not give me much more room, which is the only reason I was looking at it. Also I have my R53 modded to where I want it so I will stick with it for a while.

 

Id go for the 1 series

 

I rather keep the MINI, for me at least, the 1 series interior wasn't that fantastic, I like the handling of my MINI too!

 

My hunch is you'll get less Mini-bias here than you'd think.

That said, I think the 1 is a fantastic car - a blast to drive. But it's one of the more soul-less cars BMW has made, IMO. It's just, I dunno, boring.

 

Im turning in my 335i for an MCS. Haven't driven the 135, don't care to..I'd keep my 335 before I got a 1er.

 

The 135i is a hell of a car. If you can get one, go for it!

 

I think it's up to personal preference, the MINI community is something that I will always want to be a part of, considering my MINI was around 40k new which could buy you a 135i, and if I had to buy a new car, I wouldn't hesitate to choose a MINI again, I wanted one even before I drove or even sat in one.

 

Completely agree, I sat in a MINI exactly one time before putting my order in for one :D

But the 135 is an awesome car as well, and if the OP wants one, there should be no reason they shouldn't go for it. As for community, I'm still big in the Subaru community despite not owning one anymore (had six great years with it).

 

if i had the money, i would get the 135i in a heart beat...

don't get me wrong, i love my MCS, i love the community, and i love the fun in driving a car like the MINI. but the 135i screams raw power at me...

my friends are currently driving:
335xi
wrx sti
350z
rx8
g37x
evo

i can barely catch up on the high way... not that we're racing, but when we go on a road trip (which we do a lot), i have to follow them for directions and sometimes i feel like i can't catch up.

 

Get a JCW, you won't have much trouble keeping up.

 

yeah but the price for a jcw i can get a 135i, it's a 1.6L engine with a turbo charger vs a v6 with twin chargers...

however by looks, i love the r56 jcw i caught on the street the other week...



or...



such a hard decision to make...good thing i can't afford it yet, i don't wanna think about it for now...

 

well thanks guys for the responses and opinions! i think i am going to stick with my MINI. i have it modded to my taste and i know that if i got the 135i i would have to do the same thing to it. bottom line is the only positive in this sitiuation was i just wanted a 135i but the negatives like insurance, gas mileage, loan and rwd vs fwd. i might as well stick with a good thing.

 

I hear what you are saying ...but IMHO there are some butt ugly cars in that group.

Add some mods to your MINI if keeping up is important.

Dean.

 

this is definitely the funniest thing I have read in a very long time

 

jthorst75, you've made the right move. The 135 is a better car, costs more, is faster, is newer, and is not the smarter decision: it's simply not a Mini.

Take some of your "savings" and buy a little horsepressure for your Mini. Better yet, get to a track and take a good performance driver's course. Driving fast on public roads doesn't seem near as exciting anymore...

 

how is the 135i a piece of crap in disguise?

 

As Jan will attest to, the best solution is one of each

Bill

 

135 is an interesting car, but there have been several reports of turbo problems, mostly related to heat build up. Check the bimmerfest.com forum.

I just ordered a Mini, but I still prefer rear wheel drive - advantage BMW. I've had several BMWs, enjoyed them all, but repair bills are steep and frequent. Electronics mainly.

I agree with the poster who suggested a E46 M3 - fun car, depreciated all ready, and will hold lots of value given the price of the new M3. I also believe the 6 cylinder engine is a better match for the car - the new M is a very heavy car.

 

Know why they call it the 1 series? Because that's how many people will wave to you when they see you driving it! (optimistic estimate.)

But if you do switch, enjoy! It's a helluva good car.

 

The 135i is definitely a fun ride. I've driven one and thought it was very nice.

But then I would start thinking about the 335i since the price difference is not that substantial, and you would get a much more practical car overall. Also, the difference in weight between the 335i and 135i is not as great as was hoped for. Sure, it's lighter and shorter, so it will handle better.

I am a fan of BMW. I've had a 1987 535is, sold but still being driven around SF, with at least 250,000 miles on the odometer, a 1997 e36 M3 Sedan, and a modified 2001 e39 M5 (395.5 rwhp). I've also test ridden motorcycles for BMW, including riding 44 Laps on the Nurburgring with the K1200S, at 155 mph+. Owned several BMW Motorcycles also. Never had a serious problem with a BMW, followed the maintenance schedule, and used quality parts and lubricants. However, the M5, with it's various electronic systems, and complex engine, was getting to near the point where it could be expensive to upkeep in the future.

Never really cared one hoot about gas mileage. But these days, it simply can't be ignored. I was disappointed with the new V8 engine in the M3, I wish they would have modified the twin turbo 6 cyl. So, the candidates were 135i, but then I look at the 335i, and then I want the M3. So, I decided to keep things simple. I've talked to a lot of people. And hard core enthusiasts, as well as average daily drivers, seem to generally be very happy with their Mini's.

So, I believe I've come to agreement on a very special Mini Cooper S, R53 manual, and will hopefully join the fold in a couple weeks. I've had a couple other supercharged vehicles (including installing a twin screw whipple with the help of a friend), and I really wanted to get that engine.

BMW seems to be getting more and more luxurious, and less performance oriented, as are many manufacturers.

I think the pricing on the 135i is just a little too high for what it is.

I drove the new e92 M3 also, and it just seemed too refined and luxurious. I want to get back to the purity of a sports car for every day use.

I like certain manufacturers, but at the end of the day, I just want the absolute best performance vehicle for the money, regardless of make.

My main fear with the Mini Cooper S, was that I have not driven a performance front wheel drive car in a long time. The last front wheel drive car I had was a 90HP VW GTi, essentially stock.

I have driven Saab Viggens and Volvo 70R Wagon, and absolutely hated the front wheel torque steer. But I have not felt it to be a problem in the Mini, in my limited excursions.

 

you bet Bill, can't wait to see your convertible

as I read the posts below it's obvious people have their opinion but if you compare the 135i to a R56 there is NO COMPARISON in performance. Its fine to be jaded but let's be realistic. Everytime my wife or I drive the car everyone gives the thumbs up. Even the valet at Las Brisas last night was impressed and this guy is parking Lambo's and Ferrari's.

As far as turbo problems, take no look farther than the R56 and its melted hood scooops. I find it laughable that people throw rocks at a car just because it isn't a Mini. Regardless, enjoy your car, it's the reason you bought it and I can honestly say this is the 1st and ONLY car my wife has EVER said she has loved. To her driving cars was just a tool to get somewhere. Now she enjoys driving and sees why us MINIACS are the way we are.

 

And it seems more then prevalent around these parts. I have no issue reading support of MINIs, but I have a difficult time swallowing the loads of B.S. about how so many other car manufacturers are inferior to the almighty MINI.