[cam_lg]

Hey guys I've had my 335i for about a year, and was wondering if anyone has made a switch from the 335i to the 135i and what your impressions were on handling differences, acceleration, quarter mile times, and daily drivability, compared to the 3er. Right now I'm fbo and running cobb stage 2+ and was thinking of just transferring the mods to the 1. I'm a big fan of the 1ers looks just not so much the headlights, but it reminds me of my roommates old e30 which was pretty kickass haha. Any info to help convince me to make the swap or not would be great, thanks!

[zerep1]

its about 200 pounds faster its a smaller car with more power easier to throw around it not a e30 but with some weight reduction and if your main goal is performance its a better starting point

[hotrod182]

Drive them both. I think at 100mph+, the 1 series feels much more unstable and scary on not so perfect roads. My impression shared by some others who have driven/owned both. I also think its less aerodynamic and has a more restrictive base exhaust. Also if you were to weight reduce a E90 to the weight of the 135i, the E90 is faster with both on stock rear catbacks.

[Z3->WRX->335]

Interior is nicer on the 335

[zerep1]

thats some serious weight reduction hotrod wheels hood trunk and front seats are easy but with that its only like 200 the e90 is 400 pounds heavier i believe and your right the 135 losses stability but at those speeds a nice little wing and front splitters should plant it

[Transport3r]

I've driven both before deciding to get a 3 (e92).

135:
+ Feels quicker on its feet with similar wheel size and tires
-Don't really notice the difference in straight line acceleration TBH
-Twitchy handling at the limit compared to the 3
-Small storage space
-Styling (subjective of course)

335:
+More stable at high speeds
+Less twitchy and more predictable at the limit
+more room inside
+Styling (subjective)
-Weight

Overall the E92 is a car I can enjoy more on a daily basis than the E87. It is more predictable at the limit, which makes me more comfortable playing at the limit, which makes the car more fun for me. It was no contest in my eyes, but after all, it's your car.
Go drive them both, then decide!

[shortseller]

Test drove both before I ended up buying the e92, a very easy choice for me.

[ttbmer]

The 135 is cute.

[335(EX)(EYE)]

Originally Posted by ttbmer

The 135 is cute.

Lol

[Zebra99]

Originally Posted by 335(EX)(EYE)

Lol

I think it's hideous. It's like the deformed little brother you keep chained up in the basement.

Remember Bart's twin? Yea, enuf said

[cam_lg]

If it's really 400 pounds lighter then there must be a really knowticeable difference in acceleration and handling and I think that would be worth the whole retarded basement kept step brother look haha.

[JRubin13]

Originally Posted by ttbmer

The 135 is cute.

hahha

[hotrod182]

Originally Posted by zerep1

its about 200 pounds faster its a smaller car with more power easier to throw around it not a e30 but with some weight reduction and if your main goal is performance its a better starting point

That is correct, stock there is probably less than a 200lb difference. And remember, the 135i starts with a little narrower tires to begin with.

Originally Posted by zerep1

thats some serious weight reduction hotrod wheels hood trunk and front seats are easy but with that its only like 200 the e90 is 400 pounds heavier i believe and your right the 135 losses stability but at those speeds a nice little wing and front splitters should plant it

Not a 400lbs difference

Originally Posted by cam_lg

If it's really 400 pounds lighter then there must be a really knowticeable difference in acceleration and handling and I think that would be worth the whole retarded basement kept step brother look haha.

Again, probably less than a 200lb difference.

I mean, don't get me wrong, if the 135i was that much faster, I would definitely be interested in one, and put up with the instability. But I have tested both, and surprisingly my E90 was faster than a more extensively modded 135i.

The difference of having a passenger in a 135i would make it weigh was much as a E90/E92.

[hotrod182]

From the BMW USA Website:

135i Weight

Unladen weight3373 (3439) lbs

Weight distribution, front/rear – Manual transmission51.6/48.4%
Weight distribution, front/rear – Automatic transmission
(135i: 7-speed Duble Clutch Transmission(DCT))51.9/48.1%


Weight 335i Coupe:

Unladen 3560 (3582) lbs
Weight distribution, front/rear 51.1/48.9 (51.4/48.6) %

So less that a 200 lb difference for sure:

187lb difference between manual transmission vehicles
and surprisingly,only a 149lb difference between automatic trans equipped vehicles.

[vase330]

makes sense the cars use same platform with mostly only the body panels not shared and we know the most weight is in the structural pieces. All in all, I think its butt ugly, but if you drive one it will charm you into liking it, but no thanks I'll keep my e92.

[GmoBmw]

The 135 Looks Way outdated.... really ugly in my point of view. And Im Sure you can get the weight reduced on the e90 to match the 135i

[rader1]

The 135i does get twitchy when over 100mph. But it's not to the extant some people make it out to be.
Looks are subjective, but i love the way a 1er looks. The 335i is also way more common, so the 135i stands out. An e92 coupe is a beautiful car, but the e90 sedan is the definition of plain jane and you might as well have bought a 328i. But that's just my opinion.
E92 or 135i; cant go wrong with either.

[RnmEvo9]

I prefer the looks of the 1 series compared to the 3 series, but that is all subjective anyways. What sold me to the 135i is the fun factor in driving it everyday compared to the 3 series. While the 3 series is more appealing to eyes of the masses, I couldn't help but feel that I was driving a 5 series in retrospect to the e46 chassis.

Oh and 200lbs is quite a bit of weight, especially once you start reducing weight on the 1 series if you plan going that far. Same day same mods, I would always trap 2-3 mph higher than similarly modded 3 series.

[zerep1]

i thought the e90 was 200lb e92 heavier then the coupe

[hotrod182]

Originally Posted by zerep1

i thought the e90 was 200lb e92 heavier then the coupe

Not that big of a difference. I believe its around a 19lb difference between E92/E90.

I did extensive same condition Vbox testing between my E90 and a more modded 135i with weight reduction, and my E90 still had the higher trap speeds quicker 60-130 times.

[Transport3r]

Originally Posted by hotrod182

I did extensive same condition Vbox testing between my E90 and a more modded 135i with weight reduction, and my E90 still had the higher trap speeds quicker 60-130 times.

The E90/E92 can put power down way better than the 135 between the bigger tires, more weight, and longer wheelbase. In my experience the 135 will not launch as quickly as a 3 with equal power, canceling their weight advantage.

[Laid Black 335i]

Originally Posted by GmoBmw

The 135 Looks Way outdated.... really ugly in my point of view. And Im Sure you can get the weight reduced on the e90 to match the 135i

+1.. When deciding on an N54 / N55 powered car, who cares about weight when the E92 looks soo beautiful.