Production 2009-present.
Where did BMW go wrong with this chassis! The press have surmised that BMW were irritated about the success of the Mercedes SLK, and have tried to copy the soft responses that Mercedes customers require. The result is a sports roadster that has had the sportiness surgically removed.
Production 2007-2014.
Using almost the same chassis as the E87, which we say is the closest thing that BMW have made since the E30 M3, most of the dynamics tuning work for this car had already been completed by the time this chassis landed in England. Again, cross platform technology employed by BMW in the engine department meant that we could use existing proven tuning on the 135i. The result is a devastatingly quick but comfortable road rocket. With anything up to 430hp, the mighty V8 M3 wouldn't even see which way it went.
Production 2004-2012.
This has to be the closest thing that BMW have made since the E30 M3. Intrigued by references to the M3 in an early "Autocar" editorial when the 130i was first born, Kevin Bird borrowed a car from his friendly local dealer. He was astonished by the potential of the chassis, and could luckily see through the obvious failings. The car had terrible traction, and the ride quality was awful. Both of these things triggering the DSC and traction control almost constantly in the wet.
Production 2004-2011.
BMW did the tuning market a huge favour with this car. At some stage in its development life, they handed the job to a madman, who set about ruining a perfectly good chassis. When our long awaited demonstrator 335i Coupe arrived, whilst we were expecting the trouble inherrent with run-on-flat tyres, we weren't expecting the merely partial improvement having installed "proper" Conti Sport Contact 3 tyres. Yes, the ride quality improved at slow speeds, but the car wanted to get airborne on bumpy roads.
