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The BMW M140i, which is now the fastest and most potent 1 Series money can buy, is at the top of the compact car food chain. Despite having 335 horsepower, it isn’t quite as hard-core as the BMW M2 or the 1M Coupe from the previous generation.
BMW altered the nomenclature of the vehicle from M135i to M140i in 2016, adding more power, stiffer suspension, and higher efficiency, but otherwise keeping the same vehicle.
The M140i’s beauty is that it provides all the functionality of the standard 1 Series while adding the power of a 3.0-liter straight-six turbocharger. It is one of the best handling hatchbacks on the market because to the fact that all variants are rear-wheel drive.
Although there is only one specification available, purchasers do have the choice of three or five doors and a manual or automatic gearbox. The M240i, which is based on the 2 Series, may appeal to those looking for a sportier-appearing vehicle. It produces precisely the same amount of power but accelerates to 62 mph one tenth of a second faster.
Despite recent price increases by BMW, the M140i is still less expensive than its main competitors, the Mercedes A45 AMG and Audi RS3. Although it isn’t nearly as quick, it makes up for its lack of straight-line speed in the turns.
In This Article...
Tests of the New BMW M135i vs the Old BMW M140i by Carwow
I must admit that as soon as I saw the title of this brand-new Carwow video, I immediately clicked it. The days of 1 Series vehicles with rear-wheel drive are over with the arrival of the new BMW M135i. The 1er is now on a front-drive chassis and won’t be switching back. The disappointment of enthusiasts is great. However, many BMW executives have said that this new vehicle outperforms its rear-wheel drive predecessor. Could it be possible that’s true? To discover out, Carwow compared the brand-new M135i and the earlier BMW M140i.
The new BMW M135i has a disadvantage from the start. Even though the new 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 306 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, it is still inferior in size and power to the previous model. The now-defunct BMW M140i’s 3.0 liter inline-six cylinder turbocharged engine produces 335 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. Thus, it gains two more cylinders and significantly more power.
Additionally, the weight distribution of the BMW M140i is almost exactly 50/50, but the weight distribution of the new BMW M135i is over 60 percent at the front wheels. It must be said that for an all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive vehicle, it is surprisingly well balanced. However, it still handles worse than its predecessor.
So how do the two compare to one another? The faster of the two is, of course, the older, more powerful vehicle. Oh, right. The new BMW M135i’s 0-60 mph time was 4.9 seconds, whereas the earlier M140i’s time was 4.5 seconds, according to Carwow’s Mat Watson. Even though the difference is only four tenths, it is sufficient to be noticed. Additionally, the M140i outperformed the new M135i by a wide margin in two rolling races, in large part because of its quicker shifting ZF gearbox.
Noise was a really interesting comparison. The M135i’s turbo four-pot isn’t much louder than the M140i’s smooth inline-six, to be honest. With the new exhaust pollution regulations in Europe, the 2017 BMW M135i really has a good sounding exhaust. BMW, bring it to America. We are more appreciative of your valiant efforts.
But in the actual world, Watson believes the new BMW M135i is probably a little bit quicker. It feels a little more solid and is simpler to maneuver swiftly through turns thanks to its new all-wheel drive system that is primarily front-biased. The old car, though, is a bit more tail-happy and rowdy. Although hilariously entertaining, that moves more slowly.
In the end, Watson does come to a conclusion regarding which automobile is superior overall, and I believe the result may come as a surprise to some. To avoid spoilers, watch the video instead.
BMW M135i8/10
That kidney grille is indeed quite huge. You’ll love it if you want everyone to know you drive a BMW. Get used to it if not. The X7, the most recent 7 Series update, and the future 4 Series all indicate that they will only continue to grow.
Despite its unusual long-bonnet shape, which has typically been attributed to its rear-drive configuration, the 1 Series hatch has always featured a distinctive nose. Despite switching to a transverse engine, the new one really has fairly similar proportions to the old one.
The only significant difference is the body’s 34mm bigger breadth, which is 5mm broader overall and 13mm higher.
Because of the altered engine configuration and the need for extra space in the back, the front and rear wheels have been shifted further back into the body.
The new 1 Series interior design isn’t quite as much of a leap forward as the recently released G20 3 Series, which is surprising for a car targeted at a younger demographic.
It is superior to the X1 and X2SUVS. In terms of the shapes employed, the new 1 Series is based on, but is still a typical understated BMW.
The Live Cockpit driver display on both models, which gives you fully digital instrumentation and permanently replaces conventional analogue gauges, is its star attraction.
Data from both engines’ dynos were compared.
We are frequently questioned about the differences between the N55 and B58 units. Technically speaking, N55 is an open deck while B58 is a closed deck, and there are many more variances as well. B58 is water-air charge-cooled, while N55 is air-air intercooled. Despite the fact that both engines are 3.0 single turbo 6 cylinder machines, very few parts are interchangeable.
But in the end, what the majority of end consumers actually want to know is how the power, torque, and power distribution varies across the rpm range.
We have a large amount of dyno data for both engines as well as hundreds of customers who have used them. Dyno data for both engines overlayed is one thing that is uncommon, so we felt it would make an intriguing case study.
We initially exported data for the M135i, obtaining the unprocessed numbers from the following dyno graph:
The values from this dyno graph were then exported for the B58:
With the exception of the modified runs using our Pro Tuning Box, both cars are completely stock, which allows us to compare both engines fairly.
We can then compare power as a standard for the two engines using the values exported:
As you can see, the B58 significantly outperforms the N55 from the beginning and maintains this advantage throughout the rev range.
Additionally, the engines’ torque output will certainly vary greatly throughout the rpm range. The B58 accelerates somewhat quicker and produces more torque over the whole rpm range. Both engines’ boost thresholds are nearly identical, and their pre-boost torque outputs are very similar:
This is true for a number of valid reasons. One of the major differences between the two engines, aside from significant hardware variations, is the amount of boost pressure they run. A standard export of manifold pressure from both cars is shown here:
As you can see, the B58 and N55 have extremely similar boost curves, with the B58 producing around 4 PSI greater pressure throughout almost the entire rpm range.
The majority of end users want to know, once more, whether they can make their N55 M135i perform as well as a B58 M140i. This is an interesting comparison.
Simply said, absolutely. The torque with our Pro Petrol Tuning Box installed is displayed in the following graph:
Power output follows the same pattern:
The M135i is a very capable car thanks to power improvements that are better than the B58 at every point all the way to redline.
With the benefit that our unit can be completely removed in less than 5 minutes, the end effects are extremely comparable to those provided by several Stage 1 flash songs.
The BMW M140i is swift.
This 1 Series hails from a bygone but not forgotten era when rear-wheel drive and six-cylinder engines were still available in BMW’s entry-level model. Since we’re dealing with a second-generation model (F21) following the facelift introduced in 2015, it’s actually the last of its sort. A year later, the M140i replaced the M135i, a name that later appeared on the FWD-based 1er.
Although the hot hatch is available with xDrive, fans recall that there was also a little lighter RWD version. With the addition of an XHP Stage 3 kit and an Akrapovic exhaust, the turbocharged 3.0-liter engine can now produce 480 horsepower. Additionally, the torque significantly increased, reaching a robust 700 Nm.
After the modifications, the M140i departed for a full-throttle run along an unrestricted stretch of the Autobahn. Although some might claim it’s a little too loud, it does sound wonderful when the back is pushed forcefully. When launch control is activated, the six-cylinder hatch is undeniably fast. Amazingly, the tiny BMW reached 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.68 seconds. It kept accelerating, finishing the 100 to 200 km/h (62 to 124 mph) job in 8.63 seconds.
Is the BMW M140i no longer available?
With the introduction of the M140i Finale edition, BMW is saying goodbye to the formula of a six-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive 1 Series, which will always be the last to employ this “classic” Bavarian layout.
Will the BMW M140i go down in history?
There are a few relatively recent BMWs that are likely to go down in history as classics, being sought for by aficionados on the used market for many years to come. The BMW M2 is probably the most obvious option, but the BMW M140i, the brand’s only rear-wheel drive, six-cylinder hot-hatch, might be a less obvious choice. Could it emerge as the next coveted classic? In this brand-new Jay Emm video, we examine the M140i and this particular issue.
The previous generation rear-wheel drive automobile is growing more popular now that the 1 Series hatchback is front-wheel drive. Not that it wasn’t beloved when it first came out—it was—but its less thrilling successor has helped it win over even more fans.
BMW enthusiasts loved the rear-drive BMW 1 Series hatchback when it first went on sale because it gave them a chance to own a rear-drive BMW for a reasonable price. Additionally, it was quite practical, enjoyable to drive, and premium enough that you could tell where your money was going. However, the magnificent B58 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 in the BMW M140i was what had enthusiasts drooling.
Since practically all hatchbacks have front-wheel drives and it isn’t quite optimal to fit a transverse six-cylinder under the hooves of a front-drive hatchback, six-cylinder engines are rarely found in hatchbacks. In a variety of other cars, it has been done previously, but never as recently as the M140i. It was one of a kind in the current automobile market thanks to its powerful “six and rear-wheel drive configuration (along with a potential manual gearbox). The BMW M140i was a breath of new air in a world where premium automakers are turning to less exciting, less fascinating front-wheel drive lease-specials to target youthful consumers.
The old M140i is probably going to turn into a car that fans covet and desire now that it’s also been replaced with one of those front-drive lease-specials. Is it flawless? Obviously not. But it’s intriguing, distinctive, and enjoyable.