MarkCup's BMW M140i

[Thrust-Rated]

After having the ZF8 in the 35d I'll never 'opt' for manual now when looking for a newer car.

Makes driving so effortless. Manual boxes are way more involving mind. I'd find it comical if the 182 was to have an auto 😂

 

[David Stuart]

After having the ZF8 in the 35d I'll never 'opt' for manual now when looking for a newer car.

Makes driving so effortless. Manual boxes are way more involving mind. I'd find it comical if the 182 was to have an auto [emoji23]

Agreed. At it would probably leak oil and break often. [emoji85][emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rob]

After having the ZF8 in the 35d I'll never 'opt' for manual now when looking for a newer car.

Makes driving so effortless. Manual boxes are way more involving mind. I'd find it comical if the 182 was to have an auto 😂

My honest opinion of this, is that you basically don’t like driving that much?

Referring to driving as effortless in a positive manner sort of implies you don’t really want to be involved or enjoy it (to me at least, I know @MarkCup agrees).

Even when I drive to work, I take great joy in chucking it into the big ass roundabout as I exit the m25 onto the a127, selecting gear based upon speed and how open the roundabout is, rev matching a bit on entry and going for it.

Wafting in and hitting the kick down button under the throttle if it’s clear isn’t quite the same.

 

[Thrust-Rated]

My honest opinion of this, is that you basically don’t like driving that much?

Referring to driving as effortless in a positive manner sort of implies you don’t really want to be involved or enjoy it (to me at least, I know @MarkCup agrees).

Even when I drive to work, I take great joy in chucking it into the big ass roundabout as I exit the m25 onto the a127, selecting gear based upon speed and how open the roundabout is, rev matching a bit on entry and going for it.

Wafting in and hitting the kick down button under the throttle if it’s clear isn’t quite the same.

I guess it depends on the car. In the 3 series the auto suits it for the wafting.

When I'm tazzing about in the Berlingo I love the manual box 😂😂

But ye you are right, unless I'm driving full on down some country lanes or on track etc (which nowadays is rare) I don't really miss the manual.
I've became very boring 😂

 

[Cookie]

My honest opinion of this, is that you basically don’t like driving that much?

Referring to driving as effortless in a positive manner sort of implies you don’t really want to be involved or enjoy it (to me at least, I know @MarkCup agrees).

Even when I drive to work, I take great joy in chucking it into the big ass roundabout as I exit the m25 onto the a127, selecting gear based upon speed and how open the roundabout is, rev matching a bit on entry and going for it.

Wafting in and hitting the kick down button under the throttle if it’s clear isn’t quite the same.

Easy there, Troy Queef

 

[Rob]

Easy there, Troy Queef

You know what I mean. But at least the Merc’s an angry auto.

 

[BoatNonce]

I can fully see the benefits of a good auto. Being able to left foot brake without ever having to worry about the clutch, both hands on the wheel meaning full control all the time, faster shifts, more gears... there's a lot to like. And that's before looking at the everyday comfort benefits which apply to a road car.

However, the emphasis is on 'a good auto'. If I pull that paddle I want instant response. Every single time. The one shift in a million that is slow would infuriate me.

 

[Cookie]

I detest having to use a clutch in a car. Auto ftw

 

[Thrust-Rated]

Sorry to detract from your thread Mark.

I do wonder if you had driven a M140 auto on track with paddles you'd be convinced. I just recall. The ring taxi in the M3 and that was auto, absolutely flew round the ring with the paddles.

 

[MarkCup]

Not detracted at all!

I love a bit of 'box debate 🤣

I'd be quicker with a ZF8, guaranteed, but, and this isn't news, I really love the act of changing gear myself, being part of the process, having to think about what I'm doing, having to really understand what I'm doing and understand how me getting it right or wrong impacts on the balance of the car.

That's an aspect i love, and one that's completely absent when driving an auto, on both road and track. That's why I'll never have an auto. Not ever never.

 

[Dafydd]

@MarkCup have you driven a new m135 yet? Had bmw trying to get me to swap the m140. The thought of a 4 cylinder doesn’t appeal to me and I declined the drive. Wonder if I’m being hasty. Any experience?
Cheers daf

 

[MarkCup]

@MarkCup have you driven a new m135 yet? Had bmw trying to get me to swap the m140. The thought of a 4 cylinder doesn’t appeal to me and I declined the drive. Wonder if I’m being hasty. Any experience?
Cheers daf

Nope. I've had no so much a slight urge to ask about it. At best it would feel like my Focus, but without the focus. Or the loose rear.

Just the same as any number of 4WD hatches you can buy at the moment. It's just a bit too generic really.

I've far more urge to go and test drive the latest 128ti than I have the M135i.

 

[MarkCup]

Featuring fleeting pictures courtesy of @massivewangers and @Yorkshire Pudding

Thanks chaps 👍

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

f**king famous I am

I must say, I'm really not a fan of this whole throttle mapping thing. To me, throttle angle should be directly related to pedal position. I don't really know why someone would want the throttle to be non-linear.

 

[Crayola]

From my guess is that the throttle body isn't actually doing much, its more like a restrictor if anything and then your throttle pedal just controls your boost/fuel via electronic actuators and all that high tech gubbinry like GPF's and EGR's that will be open to certain extents😂

Almost like a diverter valve on a modern diesel. It just smooths out the jerkiness but spends most of its life open as your boost pressure and fuel is controlled by throttle input. But then throw into the mix your high tech car because in a certain mode like Eco Plus your car will see 75% throttle input but it might only make 3psi of boost (because its like, nah mate, were meant to be economical) whereas 75% in sport it might make 10psi or whatever these make. Similar to low, medium, high boost maps

Or at least thats my 2 pence as a thicko northern b*****d😂😂

 

[BoatNonce]

As above, it’s probably more focused on wastegate control rather than throttle position.

When the Volvo was first mapped, the faster you pushed the pedal down, the more boost it built. If you went to pull away and went to,say, quarter throttle, it would peak at 20psi before coming back down to whatever you’d actually wanted. I asked for it to be changed to a linear boost demand on the throttle and it’s far far more driveable since you know what you’re going to get.

I have the issue with nudging the throttle on braking too, when you press the pedal really hard it clicks past a detent into emergency braking which dumps your foot on the throttle if you’ve not got it in the right place.

 

[leeds_182]

Bit of a shocker!!

 

[BoatNonce]

Without spoiling the video I was quite surprised by that!

 

[Speedy300]

I was shocked but it does make sense. As a fellow M140i owner, it’s the ultimate all rounder and I really enjoy driving the car but I rarely take the car out just for the sake of it.

 

[MarkCup]

Yer...it's great at being a car, like really great. Massive potential if engine fiddling's your thing. Exciting the driver though, it doesn't do.

 

[Matthew]

I’m surprised you kept it that long to be honest. Most people I’ve seen buy the M140 have traded it in fairly quickly. Over on the JCW owners group, so many trade them in for a Mini JCW.

 

[imprezaworks]

It’s for sale?

 

[leeds_182]

I’m surprised you kept it that long to be honest. Most people I’ve seen buy the M140 have traded it in fairly quickly. Over on the JCW owners group, so many trade them in for a Mini JCW.

Do they trade in their testicles at the same time?

 

[Matthew]

Do they trade in their testicles at the same time?

Uhh, if you haven’t had a Mini, you won’t understand mate. Oh and your Volvos!!!! They make anyone look like a peado 😂😂😂

 

[Jack!]

Do they trade in their testicles at the same time?

They get into relationships and have to buy something their partner can handle.

 

[colesy]

Funnily enough I want to go the other way and trade in my f56 Cooper S for a 140/240i next year as I find the mini dull.

 

[Matthew]

Funnily enough I want to go the other way and trade in my f56 Cooper S for a 140/240i next year as I find the mini dull.

If you find the Mini dull, I think you need to trade it in but for a Caterham or something 😂

 

[leeds_182]

Uhh, if you haven’t had a Mini, you won’t understand mate. Oh and your Volvos!!!! They make anyone look like a peado 😂😂😂

My mum drives a cooper S.

 

[Matthew]

She’s got great taste!!! Anyway, back to Mark’s thread..

 

[colesy]

If you find the Mini dull, I think you need to trade it in but for a Caterham or something 😂

😂 I think driving Porsche’s for a living is what does it nothing else ever comes close

 

[leeds_182]

She’s got great taste!!! Anyway, back to Mark’s thread..

Took this when I borrowed it for a week.

Anyway, back to the BMW.

 

[JonnyK]

do you just change cars every three years for the youtube content?

 

[Jack!]

If content was a focus, I don't think buying an almost 10 year old car in its least powerful form would be the move.

 

[Crazylegs]

You said only recently that you wouldn't sell it for anything, not sure why you've suddenly changed your opinion? I know you can do what you like at the end of the day but it does come across that you just change cars for the sake of it.

 

[Stay Puft]

We can have a Porsche meet up/bacon roll up the hill next year 👍

You have a Porsche specialist near you too, AW Motorsport on Chichester.

 

[Ben]

You said only recently that you wouldn't sell it for anything, not sure why you've suddenly changed your opinion? I know you can do what you like at the end of the day but it does come across that you just change cars for the sake of it.

For the YouTube subs of course.

 

[KermitTheDog]

Now the BMW fanboys are feeling jilted like the Focus RS fanboys.

 

[jenic]

I think you've gone in the only direction possible after one of these.

Every time I drive mine I get out and think it's pretty impossible to replace it with something that has such a blend of performance, fun, practicality, modern comforts and economy. It doesn't excel in any areas but it's very good in all of them imo.

Unless you need to change cars for something bigger/eco bus etc then I think the only way to go is full on sports car, for me my shortlist is M2 or Cayman.

Good choice, although surprised you went for the older model, especially as you always said you got on with the epas.

 

[Crayola]

Mark's gonna throw us all off and get a G63... 😂

 

[KitsonRis]

I reckon BMW could have made something very capable with the M140i, but detuned it/backed off so it wouldn't be as good as an M2/3.
I never saw my M140i as a car to have fun in, it's always been the "work hose" for commuting and that - I even put my muddy bike in the boot. I enjoy driving it, its great fun, fast, comfortable and practical (to an extent). I've done the new car now and when it goes back in 2 years I wont be looking at another - I could be tempted with buying it if its a good price/deal I can get. I would happily recomend one but as its been pointed out it's just not the same level of fun as other stuff. Do you want a good car that covers all bases but not interested/fussed in pushing it to the upper limits on track - then buy one. If you want something that you can push and push with that more rewarding feeling then don't. I am glad I have done it as I wasn't interested in having it as a car to take to the limits. The only thing I am going to miss are the heated seats as my Ph1 doesn't have them (saw in the Demon Tweaks catalog that you can get bucket seat air con, wonder if you can get heated bucket seats....). Although driving it less as I am working from home now it does feel a bit more special than it used to at the start of the year. It's also changed my opinions of auto gear boxes, I'll add that I haven't driven many autos but never liked them. The ZF is amazing, although I do think I will be dissapointed when I drive another auto without this gear box. Still would have liked a manual though.

I'm also fed up of kids trying to drag race me in it too, I just have no interest in that. Had a Leon Cupra R try it yesterday on the M5 try it on, I just ignored them. And the comments of "have you got it mapped/when you getting it mapped/what power you running", but the dissapointing look I get when I say it is staying standard is funny (although sure I could add 5.1343bhp if I get Instagram and get a sticker made of my user name in the window). Then they question why I have got an old 5 series and Clio to use for fun and why I took the E34 to the Nurburgring when my M140i is faster and set a better lap time (doing a 10hr drive in 35deg heat with no air con made me want to take the 1 series!).

Hope the Porsche lives up to your expectations!
Wont BMW trade the car with the diff or is it more valuable without it on to sell separately?