Do you like the way your 135 vert handles?

[diamondsbylauren]

I just brought my 135 vert in for an oil change.
They gave me a 335 i ( xdrive) coupe as a loaner-after only as few miles I realized just how sloppy my 135 feels.
The 335 feels super well planted. In a donut, the 135 plows where the 335 felt like it was on rails.
I was thinking that it's a result of the vert vs a closed top.
Or it could be the horrendous RFT's- although the 335 has RFT's as well

I'm ready to bite the bullet, give back the 135 early and move up to either a 335i an M3 coupe.

What do you guys think?

[cooler2442]

If you have the money then move to an M3. But a 135i coupe handles better than a 335i.

You have a convertible, they are always sloppier / heavier / slower than the coupe sibling.

[Focusedintntions]

Also it's a known fact our cars understeer considerably...but don't let that fool you, they still out handle a 3 series...m3 probably not, but it's not fair to compare the 135 with the m3...maybe get a 1M instead

[diamondsbylauren]

Originally Posted by Focusedintntions

Also it's a known fact our cars understeer considerably...but don't let that fool you, they still out handle a 3 series...m3 probably not, but it's not fair to compare the 135 with the m3...maybe get a 1M instead

Maybe I got a bum car- but the 335 I got as a loaner will drive circles around my 135 ( m sport package too)

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by diamondsbylauren

Maybe I got a bum car- but the 335 I got as a loaner will drive circles around my 135 ( m sport package too)

You can't compare a convertible vs a none convertible.

Go drive a sport package 135i coupe and compare that to the 335i you drive. the 135i will be better. Just not a convertible.

[diamondsbylauren]

I think that's part of what happened here. I never actually test drove the 135 vert before buying- I did drive a few 135 and 128 coupes- and now that i'm thinking about it, the difference is day and night.

How about the M3 vert- is the general opinion that it would handle better than the 135 vert?

[JHOOPS2]

This is exactly why I will never buy a vert. Well, at least one of the reasons. No matter how much the manufacturer's PR department tries to tell everyone that the chassis has been beefed up to be almost a ridged as the coupe' version, there is still a huge gap in overall performance. Weight distribution is off, etc, etc. Nothing wrong with owning a vert, but you have to understand that there is going to be a few trade-offs. With a vert you are missing 4 critical points of contact that attribute to handling. The A-pillars and the C-pillars. With a vert, you really don't have an A pillar, you just have a window frame. And you absolutely don't have a C-pillar.

[fancyfl1ght]

Originally Posted by diamondsbylauren

I think that's part of what happened here. I never actually test drove the 135 vert before buying- I did drive a few 135 and 128 coupes- and now that i'm thinking about it, the difference is day and night.

How about the M3 vert- is the general opinion that it would handle better than the 135 vert?

You can not defy the laws of physics. Having a solid metal roof = feeling its on rails. A vert can not replicate this.

[fancyfl1ght]

Originally Posted by JHOOPS2

This is exactly why I will never buy a vert. Well, at least one of the reasons. No matter how much the manufacturer's PR department tries to tell everyone that the chassis has been beefed up to be almost a ridged as the coupe' version, there is still a huge gap in overall performance. Weight distribution is off, etc, etc. Nothing wrong with owning a vert, but you have to understand that there is going to be a few trade-offs. With a vert you are missing 4 critical points of contact that attribute to handling. The A-pillars and the C-pillars. With a vert, you really don't have an A pillar, you just have a window frame. And you absolutely don't have a C-pillar.

Well stated.

[Tom K.]

You might check the tire pressures on both cars and/or check your 135i for any damaged suspension components. My 128i 'vert has the Sport suspension - the same as yours - and handles a good deal better than my E91 328i without ZSP.

Tom

[diamondsbylauren]

thanks Tom- it's possible there might be something bent under there, but at this point, I feel like this was a problem from the day I picked it up.
It's an amazing car to drive- with all that power-but I realized that from day one I have hated the way the RFT's ride, and that the turn in was sloppy.

Let's also keep in mind I'm comparing my car, with 7k on the odo, to a loaner with 27k on the odo- we all know that people beat on loaner cars.....

[1-2MANY]

maybe get a beefier front sway bar, if they have them available for convertibles.

[Prof T]

Originally Posted by diamondsbylauren

I just brought my 135 vert in for an oil change.
They gave me a 335 i ( xdrive) coupe as a loaner-after only as few miles I realized just how sloppy my 135 feels.
The 335 feels super well planted. In a donut, the 135 plows where the 335 felt like it was on rails.
I was thinking that it's a result of the vert vs a closed top.
Or it could be the horrendous RFT's- although the 335 has RFT's as well

I'm ready to bite the bullet, give back the 135 early and move up to either a 335i an M3 coupe.

What do you guys think?

Since you have a 2011 135 vert ....trading it in on a 335i coupe after driving a few miles ......I think you are fickle. Why not go for a camry? Oh, you didn't drive one for a few miles yet.
Just get it and run your circles. The 1 series vert has been everything I wanted. I have had several BMW's and this one is the best DD. If I'm driving over 200 miles maybe I'll take your 335. Don't forget to tell us how much money you will lose in the trade too.

[Mak135i]

I drove almost all variations of 3 series, including M3, and a 128i coupe and then the 135i convertible I now have. I remember the only real standout in terms of handling was the M3 (coupe and sedan). I also drove a 335 ix loaner for 4 days on the last HPFP and injector recall.
I agree the 3 series felt more planted. And all the coupes certainly feel more rigid. However, time and again, I have proved to myself and others that my 135i convertible will go around corners every bit as quickly as the coupe. May be not as easy to drive though.
My advice is to change tires and install either M3 sway bars, or preferably (IMO) the thicker Hotchkis bar which is night and day to stock suspension and steering feel. I also have BMW performance springs, but those seemed to make little difference to handling.

[diamondsbylauren]

thanks Mak! With a leased vehicle, I'm hesitant to change parts- however i'm sure you're correct about the positive aspects- I really do love my 1.
You may be correct that it goes around a turn just as fast- but when it feels like you're flogging the car, it takes the fun out of turning ( for me anyway).
My experience with the 1 coupes was that it was very go-kart like. I loved it.


Prof t- life's too short not to drive the car you want, if possible.
It was very quick for me to realize how important the handling issue was- which says something.
I've driven the 335 over 100 miles already. Every mile makes me more sure I want the more rigid, planted feel.
I am also very shocked that I'm preferring this auto to the MT
Could be that if I removed that damn clutch delay valve, maybe I'd get more fun out of the stick- but I just don't want to start modding a leased vehicle.....

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

If you have the money then move to an M3. But a 135i coupe handles better than a 335i.

You have a convertible, they are always sloppier / heavier / slower than the coupe sibling.

Well that depends. In my experience, the 3 series with the sport pkg suspension handles better than the 1 series. It rides better, and has better overall handling.
It IS the sport sedan, and a very nice sport coupe, that other sport sedans are measured by. And that's for a very good reason, it has the magical suspension tuning that BMW left out of the 1 series.

I've heard others say that our 1's with sport suspension are better than the 3, but I don't get that at all. My former E46 325i with sport pkg suspension had quicker turn in, held it's line better in a turn, and didn't display the same level of under steer as my 135i.

We all know that the 1's biggest OEM problem, aside from the HPFP, is the suspension.

OP:
Convertibles typically are not as buttoned down as their hard top versions.
Still, BMW makes some of the best and most solid verts in the business.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by diamondsbylauren

I just brought my 135 vert in for an oil change.
They gave me a 335 i ( xdrive) coupe as a loaner-after only as few miles I realized just how sloppy my 135 feels.
The 335 feels super well planted. In a donut, the 135 plows where the 335 felt like it was on rails.
I was thinking that it's a result of the vert vs a closed top.
Or it could be the horrendous RFT's- although the 335 has RFT's as well

I'm ready to bite the bullet, give back the 135 early and move up to either a 335i an M3 coupe.

What do you guys think?

The more I read your descriptions of your 135i vert the more I think there may be something wrong with your vert.
Granted the 1 coupe and 3 coupe have hard tops and more overall rigidity, but you seem to be describing a night and day difference.

Check to make sure that the suspension spring shipping blocks have been removed.
This isn't typical, but we've had a couple of 1 series owners who's cars had the blocks still in place as it was missed by the dealer prep or at port. I've also heard of this happening on a couple of Audi's as well.
If blocks are there the suspension will not work properly at all as the blocks are there to stop the springs from moving while transporting the vehicle.
I think the blocks are blue and you should be able to see them if they are there.

[BrokenVert]

Ok people who do not own verts, please stop posting in vert threads with biased remarks.

Ok that's out of the way now.

The car understeers with the best Toyota minivan as does the coupe. It requires that you drive the car slow in and fast out in tight corners and it can lead to a feeling of antirigidity (just go with me on that one)

I fixed that with 245 tires up front and an E93 front sway.

But before I did that I beat several E46 M3 coupes and E82 1ers at autox

Just like any car it's about the driver more than the car. Just keep that in mind.

And I've driven some pretty shitty verts...and trust me. This car is far from being unrigid or sloppy

[diamondsbylauren]

Originally Posted by RPM90

The more I read your descriptions of your 135i vert the more I think there may be something wrong with your vert.
Granted the 1 coupe and 3 coupe have hard tops and more overall rigidity, but you seem to be describing a night and day difference.

Check to make sure that the suspension spring shipping blocks have been removed.
This isn't typical, but we've had a couple of 1 series owners who's cars had the blocks still in place as it was missed by the dealer prep or at port. I've also heard of this happening on a couple of Audi's as well.
If blocks are there the suspension will not work properly at all as the blocks are there to stop the springs from moving while transporting the vehicle.
I think the blocks are blue and you should be able to see them if they are there.

Thanks RPM- I'll check that out.
When I leased the car, I was depending on the reputation of the marquise.
In many ways the car has lived up to it.
It's been dependable- and in some ways, very fun to drive. The features and build quality are great.

I think that the inability to test drive a vehicle of the same layout as I was buying was a mistake, in retrospect.
But you can't find a lot of 135 verts- if you limit to a MT, they're like chicken's teeth.
So there's not a lot of opportunity to test drive.
I'll be sure to get ample test drives in both the M3 vert and coupe.

[pinmagic]

My 135i vert has active steering. It's solid as a rock - not a single rattle (knock on wood). I've had all 3 iterations of the MR2, and a Lotus Elise. Does it handle like the Elise? No, but what does? I don't drive aggressively, but for me, the handling on my car is great.

I drove a 328, and just didn't like the car as much - it felt so impersonal, and I didn't like the steering on it.

[jimmy1990]

u should compare a 135 vert with a 335 vert

[FJUNO78]

Originally Posted by cooler2442

But a 135i coupe handles better than a 335i.

i disagree... having owned both an e82 and e92, (both with sport packages), the e92 handled way better than the e82. e92 was certainly way more composed at high speeds, and understeer was virtually gone.

with that said, the 1'er is way more fun to drive.