BMW M135i Review - Is this still an epic hot hatch?

With the new BMW M135i, BMW have removed all the character traits that made the M140i so special. Six cylinder engine? Cheers. Rear wheel drive? Also gone. So this is now an all-wheel-drive, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder hatchback. So, it's basically a Golf R?

In this video, Ciro De Siena finds out if there's any BMW-ness left in the flagship 1 Series.

0:00 Intro
0:30 Top of one series range
0:51 One Series Range Engines
1:28 Power and Torque
1:52 Similarities to Golf R
2:11 Cons of a BMW M135i
2:41 Engine
3:15 Pros of a BMW M135i
3:48 All-wheel-drive vs Rear-wheel-drive
4:27 Interior Review
6:26 Driving Analysis
7:45 Outro

New BMW 118i Review

[ndumisolushaba]

People like Ciro put South Africa on the map!!!! always with the top tier car reviews

[step]

I test drove one and loved it. BMW's take on the Golf R but with more tech and a better driving position.
TBH we've never had it so good. Lots of well built 300 hp AWD cars to choose from, they won't rust or break and you can drive for hours in comfort.
I remember when Ford sold cars with an odometer that would only reach 99k, cause they would'nt last that long!
The rust would eat them alive and the enginges would throw a rod at 80k. I had a '88 Fiesta XR2 and I have fond memories of it but essentially it was a terrible car, only 7 years old when it succumed to the red rot and had to be scrapped, not to mention leathal in a crash.

Yea this M135i might not be the most exiting car to hustle down a twisty B road but if thats your bag get a Type R, of even a Lotus.
I am really enjoying the car industry's output right now because very soon we'll all be humming around in an EV.

[SwaggerBot_]

Never mentioned the grill once. Fair play mate, fair play ;)

[kjoetie]

Disagree. I owned about 20 six inlines from BMW. Defenitely a great engine. But now i bought the F40 M135i. I really love it. The looks are so much better than the previous 1-series. Also the interior is so much better and modern.
I like the x-drive and don't miss the rear wheel drive.
I love the new 1-series.

[jasonquarsingh]

You know what doesn't have torque steer, RWD

[marcelmotorzoneza]

Ciro, I just have to say your car reviews are very superior to many reviewers out there as you combine informative with entertainment as well as throwing in some jokes here in there! Plus the camera work is phenominal !

[suhailjamil]

Interior, side, rear and even sound of the exhaust are all quite Just that front?!? Oh my!

[thatoramosunya]

The sarcasm in this review wow mind blowing

[pakowame]

Ciro: buy a 2nd hand M140i.
Me: If you can find it.

[takeitforadrive]

Love the honesty of your reviews, you dont see that very often, especially not in SA 🙌

[markrhoden]

You've made the case for a full M car version the line and the reason I love my 3 door Melbourne red 2019 m140i 🤩

[djmassdeep]

Honestly i see nothing wrong with the 1 series, if u have the cash buying new or old one either way u will be happy, sometimes we listen to car journalist way too much, i went to check it out myself and the car is brilliant and proper, and bmw explained all the reasons behind all the changes and it makes sense.

[Daantjie]

Agree with the loss of a six cylinder power plant. However, new 1 series is really well put together and much more matured. The old 1 series just felt cheap.

[FloofyG]

I actually really do like the BMW M135i. Yes it's not as raw or quick as the M140i, but it's special

[mulhatton]

🤣 ...0:35 ... “not sure if I like it that much”... cue EPIC SOUNDTRACK!! Wow!! 😳 🍻🇿🇦

[dose_of_khan]

Every other manufacturer : *makes 2 litre hot hatches with AWD*
Everyone : *Loves it*

BMW : *Makes a 2 liter hot hatch with AWD*
Everyone: *Hates*

[DEE-mteq]

Over 700k for this?? thank you BMW! Keep it, I'll get myself a second hand Golf Gti/R 7.5 for around 450k.

[thokozanigab]

We have reached the end ladies and gentlemen. The end of the era. Not just the 1 series haha but cars in general, we're moving into seasons of hybrids and EVs and when it comes to hot hatches, makes wanna make something that's an all rounder, or adapt themselves to making an all rounder, like the 1 series or GTI and unlike the golf R and the RS3. I'm saying that I wouldn't be surprised if the gti and s3 gets the 1 series treatment. just a top of the range version of its normal car and left it like that.

They do this because they are starting not to care anymore and moving into bigger things. I wouldn't be surprised if the makes that make these kind of hot hatches don't get a lot of sales like they would get 5 years ago, I wouldn't 🙌🏽

[mpoweri]

Bloody good review, I think that your honest opinion is exactly what the most of us think and my opinion it that the freakin car is heinous.
Fun fact, my 1st car was also an e30 320i and you're absolutely 💯 ✅, somethings are simply special and you can't replicate them when you're trying to please the wrong crowd. 😉

[dasheddevelopments]

Best review yet, all the rest complain about drivetrain and engine size like they reading from same hymn sheet