[gavp]

I'm looking into these after a test drive earlier in the week.

With end of year looming suspect there's deals to be had.

[SteveC]

Estoril Blue with Black Dakota and Alu Hex. (thought about White with Coral Red but bit impractical on our filthy roads)
8 speed Sport Auto (this is a big, big change for me as the manual box is really fast and smooth, but I loved the late brake, 2 or 3 downshifts that this new auto allows. Upshifts are also lightening fast, no slurring, instead a nice solid instantaneous hook-up. If you'd have told me its a DCT I would have not doubted it; not like the average torque convertor AT at all. The manual box btw is also a peach and in sport setting allows lovely throttle blipping heel and toe downshifts. Tough choice

Seats are really comfortable and together with steering wheel adjustment can achieve a perfect driving position.

Engine note really is to die for. Very nice even at idle, it has that lovely tuned throaty rasp that hints at some real HP under the hood.

Manual 6th gear roll on at say 60 mph is impressive with lots of low down torque, probably somewhere between a 320d and 330d

It was close to 0 degrees with damp roads and the odd frozen puddle so no cornering heroics....I'll have to believe the reviews on that score. The ride in both comfort and sport is great on non-RFT tyres.

60:40 split back seats make for large, flexible carrying capacity, probably close to an E91

With the 1M at £40K you'd guess the M135i would be around £5 or £6K less, so £30K base price seems like a performance bargain.

Looks wise, I preferred the car in the flesh to press photos, but it still reminds me of a guppy. Not the prettiest car I've ever bought.

Being Christmas, I ordered a Christmas Tree with lots of baubles and a fairly on the top. Delivery mid-March.

Cheers!

[davyk31]

Well done Steve, no hanging about there!

So what are the financials like?

[SteveC]

despite negotiating like Bernie. There were some GREAT pre-reg deals but not on models I wanted

PM sent

[jamier27]

I was offered 10% off in the first dealer I went too.

So look for a min of 10% and you will get it

[davyk31]

Thanks for PM Steve, sounds a great package overall.

So what option boxes did you tick?

[gavp]

I'm looking for about 12%, waiting to hear, don't want to shop around as good relationship with my local dealer.
If they cant do it I'll be waiting and get another 6 months out of my e91.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Thanks for PM Steve, sounds a great package overall.

So what option boxes did you tick?

Let's see

5 door Estoril Blue with Black Dakota, Alu Hexagon and Estoril Blue dashboard accents

Standard 18" Double Spoke 436M alloys in grey with non-RFT Tyres

Driver comfort package
- Park Distance Control front & back
- Cruise control
Visibility Package
- Rain sensor with auto. headlight & wiper activation
- Adaptive headlights
- High Beam Assist
Sun Protection package (what sun you ask...this is more about looks than sunshine)
- Windscreen grey band
- Darkened sun protection glass
Media Package Professional
- Navigation system professional
- BMW Assist
- On-line Portal
- Enhanced Bluetooth with USB audio interface
Sport Auto transmission
Adaptive M-Sport suspension
Reversing assist camera
Folding, auto diimming mirrors
Electric front seats with driver memory
Heated front seats
Lumbar support
Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi
DAB Radio (may be standard now)

The biggest dilema was the AT vs MT. As I mentioned, the MT box is a peach but I really felt this latest AT has solved everything I've disliked about AT in the past. I hope I'm right

[gavp]

Good spec, I liked the manual but more likely will have auto, if getting one that is, trying not to be impatient.

[SteveC]

If you're 'thinking' about one, check with your dealer what's happening with prices. I know DAB radio is standard after Jan (its currently a chargable option, but I believe there's a price hike in the works that may add a few hundred £s).

Re. AT vs.Manual....I actually tested an M135i manual and it was a lovely quick, smooth shifter; not baulky in the least. Then I tried a 3 Series with the same 8 speed AT and was very impressed. Normally AT is slow to react to inputs, making the car feel a bit sluggish and unresponsive, as though it has really bad turbo lag. In the car I tested the response AND hook-up felt almost instantaneous with non of that 'slush-box' feeling. Add the fact that you get ultra-smooth auto convenience around town and on congested m'ways, simple flappy paddle activation to switch from 'A' to 'M' mode, closer ratios, faster acceleration, better consumption and lower CO2 and tax and it felt like the right decision. The only nagging doubt I have is whether this 8 spd. AT takes the edge off performance, like the old ATs did. My instinct is that this new box is a perfect match for a car like the M135 but I wasn't able to make a direct comparison.

My delivery is mid-March which is OK as I'm currently driving an X5 with Conti-winters

[gavp]

Steve, your review of the AT is spot on, the one I drove was manual too.

Read the included DAB means 2013 pricing about +£230 if you were going to spec it which I would so largely inconsequential.

I'm waiting to see if figures come my way, hoping they do but won't be surprised if they don't.

[SteveC]

I got less than 12% but the fact you'll genuinely away away puts you in far stronger negotiating position.

The best negotiators set their minimum targets and walk away when they're not met. If they let you walk you know it was not achievable.

One key point though is to make sure you've got a salesman and sales manager who know how to negotiate. Many don't actually walk away, they simply give up or don't engage due to skill deficiencies.

I set a reasonable win-win target for a highly desirable and currently easy to sell car which my dealer met with no hesitation, so I set the goal a bit too low. On the other hand he gave me a better trade-in than their first pass so we were both playing the game to get to a deal, which we both wanted

Good luck

[gavp]

After some to and fro deal that is to my demands can't be done they say.

Going to have a think on it, off on Boxing Day for a month so will start again when back.

[mjh93sa]

Good choice.

[invisible]

Originally Posted by phil3103

I've just done it and the car is a monster. Absolutely brill and that's compared with a 330d which is also brill.

Got 6% on mine but it was the first they'd done and I ordered pre the Harris video which seemed to kick off a lot of interest so maybe they've been keeping their margins since. Dunno.

Phil3101 - ever wish you'd kept the 330d?

[G82Dude]

drivethdeal:

M135i M Performance 5dr Step Auto [Prof Media] - £29,700.50 (£5,149.51 off).
M135i M Performance 3dr Step Auto [Prof Media] - £29,723.50 (£4,569.50 off).

Or keep it simple, with no nav or auto around £26,600 for 3 or 5 dr - lot of performance for that!

They are even discounting the M235i £3,100 (to £32,656) for auto!

[DanTheManc]

I got 18‰ discount on mine from Cooper, Tunbridge Wells.

[breathe3asy]

I really want one of these. The size of the car makes sense for the UK & it just ticks so many boxes.

To those of you who made the move on one of these, still enjoying it? Any regrets/things you would do differently?