BeemerBoy said:
Also how did those test drives go?
I get the 135i for the whole day on Thursday so I will give it a good run out to see how it compares to the 130i.
The E92 M3 DCT was a great drive and what an engine!! Strangely it sounded like a diesel when you start it up cold, like the M5 also but once on idle for a couple of minutes this disappears. Surprisingly, it didn't feel much different to the E46 M3 I had and would say it's very much the same recipe but a bit faster. The grip was immense not that I was at the limit and the Electronic damper control was fun where on it's softest setting was quite comfortable where as the hardest setting was rather too hard for british roads.
The DCT during my shortish drive was a little better than SMG II but was still not smooth like an auto and when driving aggressively was rather jerky when really on it. It's sort of put me off a little as I though I would love this box. Much prefer a manual now...
All in all, the 130i drives in a similar fashion to the latest M3, as do all fast BMW's for that matter which makes the 130i such a great car IMO. It might not be as fast as an M3 but the sensations are rather similar.... I would go as far to say that you can have as much fun with "marginally" less risk of losing your licence
Not sure if I would get one as my next car as it feels quite a bit bigger than the 1er, less intimate if it makes any sense.
I have my car booked in for the coilover install on Friday now so lets hope I'm not tempted by the 135i but not all is lost as I'd get the coilovers fitted to this instead
