BMW revamps little and large
There’s nothing wrong with its 6-series Gran Coupe, and even less with the M135i, but BMW went and revamped them anyway, writes Peter Louisson.
TYPICAL, isn’t it? No rain for four weeks at Queensland’s Lakeside Circuit and the day we arrive to make merry in BMW’s freshened M135i the heavens open.
Separating steering and driving duties to different axles means the $81,900 (drive away) M135i relays front end grip through the wheel rather well, while it scrambles for traction at the other end, what with 240kW (up 5kW) trying to unhinge the rears. In the hairpins it’s important not to get on the gas too soon, especially with armco mere meters away.
We start out in Sport mode for the motor and transmission, the wipers working frantically to clear the screen. ESP blinks momentarily at the two critical corners, keeping lateral acceleration in check. After a couple of laps, we select Sport+, the tail kicking out with reduced ESP occasionally, then catching it and preventing a spin. Up front it’s all on task, the steering wheels gripping deftly. Despite the treacherous conditions, the M135i is a cool customer, and the nuances of a finely tuned, well designed rear wheel drive vehicle are clear to all.
The M135i bookends the revitalised 1 Series range at the top end, while at the other extreme the $48,500 118i supersedes the 116i but with the same engine, the 1.6-litre 100kW/220Nm turbopetrol offering mean fuel efficiency of 5.7L/100km. Later in the year, this will be replaced by the 1.5-litre three cylinder turbocharged engine found in various Minis. Power and torque figures are identical but this engine has a combined fuel figure of 4.8L/100km.
Rounding out the new look range is the $59,900 125i, also cheaper. New bits include revamped front and rear ends which means new lights, bumpers, and a grille, basically. Standard in all models now is sat nav with extended smartphone connectivity, rear view camera, alloy wheels and auto wipers. BMW’s ConnectedDrive is standard as well. There are the usual ‘‘Lines’’ option kits and an Msport package as well.
The diesel, 116i and the 120i are no longer part of the lineup, leaving the 118i, and 125i as the other derivatives. At $59,900 we found the 125i almost as compelling as the M135i. If you’re a track day fanatic the M135i makes sense. It’s as fast as a Boxster S, but is more practical with rear seats and 360L of boot space, for less of an outlay, too. Not perhaps the mid-engine weight balance which makes the Boxster such an enthralling steer, but its turbocharged engine makes the Beemer easier to lean on around a circuit.
However, we really enjoyed the 125i setup, which exhibits great roll control, a little more compliance that makes jaded road surfaces more bearable, and the sort of driver aids that make the M135i such a joy to pedal, including paddle shifters, a Sport+ setting, grippy Potenza rubber and the MSport brake package. With a bit less power and torque (160kW/ 310Nm) you can drive the 125i hard in the lower gears without getting up to loss-of-licence territory.
On paper, it is quicker than a Golf GTI in straight line acceleration, and with its rear drive handling characteristics the 125i is a must-drive when considering the top front-drive Golf.
The baby book-ender is the 118i, and this misses out on the shift paddles and Sport+, meaning you must use the shift lever to drive the car manually. The 118i comes shod with Bridgestone Turanzas, with not quite the grip of the Potenzas. Nor is there quite the roll control or the ability to soak up bumps and dips like the firmer 125i.
Not the brake package either. And it has only manual air conditioning. Admittedly it’s less expensive, but if you can stretch the extra $11,400 for the 125i you will not be disappointed.
After lunch, a spin in the M6 and the Grand Coupe, back down to Brisbane.
The 6 Series range has been slashed to just two models: the M6 and 650i Gran Coupe. The M6 Coupe ($269,900) drives a bit like the M5. It has a few extra kW, 412 in all, and 680Nm to match, and supposedly runs 0-100 in 4.2sec to the 4.6 sec of the gorgeous 330kW/ 650Nm 650i four-door Gran Coupe ($229,500). The M6 is multiadjustable, with settings for the suspension (best in comfort), steering (sport) and throttle (also sport). Set thus, it is a thunderous if substantial thing that rather had me thinking for similar money I’d forego the turbos and opt for the lighter Carrera S.
It’s an M car and is hard core, while the GranCoupe is much more the Grand Tourer specced to the nines. The interior is more modern and luxurious, too, and there’s gobs of room in the rear, where the muscular M6 Coupe is tighter in the cheap seats.
Small wonder the GC is by far the better selling 6 Series model Down Under.