In October last year we bought you the First Drive of the new mega-hot hatch from BMW, the M135i.
That was in Australia. Now we are proud to bring you the very first drive of the M135i on New Zealand soil. OVERSTEER has driven the car more than 1,500km from Auckland to Queenstown over two days and we are proud to be the first local outlet to have a meaningful, long-distance drive of the turbo six-cylinder missile that is the M135i on the eve of its local launch.
Day One – Auckland to Picton.
Beautiful weather and a remarkable lack of traffic marked the start of the Second Annual Great OVERSTEER Road Trip (a title I just this minute made up, following the realisation that it was almost exactly a year ago that we circumnavigated theSouth Island in a Hyundai i40 wagon…) this morning. And the entire way to Wellington, as it turned out.
Think about that for a second; gorgeous weather, little traffic and a very hot little car. What more could you want?
Well… way less officers of the law. Of which there were more than a few hanging around in the southern part of the North Island. Ah well…
One side effect of the somewhat calming presence of the law was a remarkable appreciation of the BMW M135i’s incredible flexibility – its ability to waft along at the open road speed limit (or theoretically just above. Strictly theoretically, that is…) and then savagely dispatch slower traffic with the merest flex of the right ankle is utterly remarkable.
Even just quarter-throttle produces a meaningful surge in acceleration, accompanied by a thick, distinctly BMW-straight-six bellow and the slower road user is dispatched in a Teutonically-efficient – and utterly addictive – fashion.
And a remarkably frugal fashion as well. Filling the tank on the outskirts of Auckland and resetting the trip meter saw us average 7.7L/100km on the run to Wellington, which is impressive enough from a 235kW/450Nm car, but verging on stunning for a 235kW/450Nm car with only 200km on the clock…
The purpose of this run, you see, was to put some meaningful kilometres on the clock before it is mercilessly thrashed on the incredible new Highlands Park circuit at Cromwell at its local launch.
If it is returning 7.7 on a fast open road run with minimal mileage on the clock, just imagine how economical this serious performance car will be when it is properly run in…
Other slightly less amazing, but still impressive stuff was, in no particular order: the ride comfort, the big brakes and its impeccable beahviour on the twisty stuff.
Stuff we didn’t like? Can’t think of much so far, to be completely honest… which is slightly unsettling, because it doesn’t feel right to night have a niggling whinge about SOMETHING. Umm… it doesn’t make coffee?
Shit… surely something will annoy us tomorrow…
Day Two: Picton to Queenstown.
The second – and last – day of OVERSTEER’s trip south the BMW M135i dawned cool and clear in Picton as we made a ridiculously early start. Well, six o’clock is not really THAT ridiculous. More unlikely really…
The angry 3.0-litre straight sounds sensational in the early silence of Picton as it six barks into gruff life and roars southward towards Blenheim.
All 235kW and 450Nm can be fully exercised this morning, as there is a distinctive lack of constabulary when compared to yesterday. While the M135i’s performance is undeniably electrifying, it is the utter ease with which it delivers it that is the most impressive thing.
Literally a slight flex of the right ankle sees the M135i surging strongly forward, with no hesitation – the power simply pours on everywhere and the super-slick eight-speed automatic transmission is almost telepathic in its ability to be in exactly the right gear at the right time.
And the noise. Dear Lord, the noise…
Clearly similar in tone to the other members of BMW’s six-cylinder turbo range, push the throttle right to the floor and it explodes in a righteous, metallic bellowing rage that is unique in its own right. It is utterly spectacular at letting slower traffic know of your indignation at being held up…
We literally slither into Kaikoura as the weather turns wet and decidedly grim. The first coffees of the day are procured and we head off again, down the winding and slippery – and utterly spectacular – east coast of the island.
It is in these conditions that the M135i shows its true class – and the fact that it wears extra-sticky, non-run flat rubber, especially developed for it. The stability control rarely even bothers to intervene, as the M135i-specific tyres grip the road like a fat kid on a cake.
The M135i feels glued to the road through corners, yet the rear can easily be provoked into a cheeky and characteristic 1 Series wiggle if so required…
The other upside of the brilliant tyres is the improvement in ride over a standard run-flat shod 1 Series. The M135i’s suspension tune also deserves a big share of the credit for the surprisingly compliant ride, as does the latest-generation platform in general.
Several years ago we took a M-sports suspension equipped first-generation 1 Series in the Targa Rotorua and while it handled spectacularly the grim, unforgiving ride was utterly torturous and spin-shattering.
The M135i’s ride couldn’t be further removed from its ancestor’s, while delivering an even more convincing handling package.
The rain is gone by the time we bypass Christchurch and begin the dull grind of the lifeless and boring road between the shaky city and Timaru. By the time we head further inland towards Lake Tekapo and on up the spectacular Lindis Pass, the sun is in full control of things again and a beautiful day has broken out.
The M135i flows beautifully on the wide, open corners in this part of the world and keeping up a high (and usually legal) cruising speed is utterly effortless. The complete flexibility of the entire package is the most convincing aspect of the M135i, its ability to potter docilely around town, cruise quietly at the open road speed limit and yet still turn convincingly feral at a moment’s notice and simply tear any given piece of road a new orifice is quite remarkable.
It is blatantly NOT a full-blown M-car and it is actually all the better for that. It is an effortless car to live with on a daily basis, yet one that is capable of ferocious performance whenever required.
We cruise into Queenstown after making the compulsory stop at the incredible Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, where the M135i is being launched to the local press (well, the rest of them…) on Monday. After more than 1,500km the M135i has averaged 8.1L/100km at an average speed of 89.7km/h.
It has also been comfortable, refined and and absolute blast. For the moment at least, the M135i stands alone in the market, with nothing that really matches it for the price. Mercedes is about to launch the broadly similar in size and power (265kW/450Nm), but $10K dearer, A 45 AMG version of the spectacularly good new A Class. But as good as it will no doubt be, it would be hard to imagine the 4WD Merc coming anywhere near the purity of the RWD BMW’s handling.
A remarkably good car and a brilliantly fun trip!
[Many thanks to Ed Finn from BMW NZ who, as well as taking the great sunset shot of the M135i, was also a great travelling companion during the trip!]
BMW M135i Specifications
Models/prices
M135i – $85,900
Powertrain
3.0-litre turbo inline 6-cylinder petrol producing 235kW/450Nm; 8-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
Fuel consumption: 7.5L/100km
CO2 emissions: 175g/km
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: 5 star
Air bags: 6
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
