Reviewing my new M140i after 500 miles!

So, I’m sure most of you in this community will know that I recently sold my trusty 118d MSport and swapped it for a slightly more mental M140i. These are basically my quick thoughts after the first 500 miles of ownership, from things like fuel economy, driving pleasure, ‘must have’ options and so on. If you’re thinking of buying an M140i, and you’d have to be a little mad not to with the current deals and discounts out there, then hopefully this will also act like a guide in some respects. Anyway, on with the review.

The first thing you can’t help but notice when you start the car, is the rather dirty sounding exhaust note. The car holds the revs at around 1100rpm whilst it warms up. Part of me feels like this is actually more for ‘show’ than actually doing something, but then the kid inside me takes over and I sit there grinning like an idiot. It’s an intoxicating sound, brilliant for turning heads, however not so brilliant for leaving for work at 7am… I went for the sport auto in mine, which is a real pleasure to use, like most ZF boxes. Low down in the rev range, the car is quiet, sophisticated, you could mistake yourself for being in a 120i, but get it over 3,000 rpm and suddenly the engine comes alive, a brutish howl fills the cabin as the (slightly fake) exhaust note suddenly bellows from behind you.

This brings me onto my first point - Fuel Economy. I can already hear the groaning; ‘why did you buy a performance car, if you’re worried about economy?’ and whilst I agree that you don’t buy an M140i to save the pennies, people do buy them to use on a daily basis. The first day of my ownership was a mix of short journeys, and semi-aggressive B-Road driving. I managed to AVERAGE 32mpg. The next day a 60 mile motorway jaunt was on the agenda, and with the help of Eco Pro mode, which I should mention to only use this on the motorway whilst cruising, otherwise it RUINS the car, I managed a respectible 45mpg. So yes, this car can be used as a daily driver, however don’t expect anything more than 350 miles from a tank.

What’s it like to drive though? Well, that very much depends on how you drive it. Cruising around town, or on the motorway, it’s quiet, sophisticated, comfortable (providing you’re actively avoiding the potholes, as the ‘passive’ non-adaptive suspension is on the hard side), as mentioned above - you could be mistaken for thinking you’re in a 120i.
Put your foot down however and the car transforms into a tight, well balanced, purebred hot hatch. The Straight 6 howl is intoxicating when mixed with the burbles and pops on the overrun in Sport+ mode. Even the suspension without the adaptive damping gives you a huge amount of confidence, especially when paired with the M-Performance big brake kit that comes standard on the car. You can almost hear the car whispering in your ear; ‘go on, just 5mph faster into this corner, I can handle it’

The thing that brings me the biggest joy though is how understated the car is. Unless you know what you’re looking for, the front grill blades, the wing mirror caps, alloys and exhausts, the car looks identical to a ‘normal’ 1 series… I was in Southend-On-Sea on the weekend, and some poor sod in his modified Golf sat next to me at the lights. The look of horror on his face as he pulled up along side me for the second time having just been utterly thrashed by what looked like a standard family hatchback was priceless.

If you’re sitting here now semi-reading this and also trying to spec your own up on the BMW website, let me run through the ‘essential’ options. This of course is my own opinion, and dependant on how you’re planning on having the car serve you. I went for a more comfy, every day approach, however these can be specced to be aimed at the more hardcore track fanatic. I should mention though - always go for the Sport Auto in these cars! Yes, the manual is more ‘engaging’, but the Sport Auto gives you the option of manual mode (paddles, or sequential stick shifter like a touring car), but also makes life easier on the day to day basis. Plus the Auto has launch control, the manual doesn’t (and if you’re in the UK, it’ll save you £300 on tax, which you can spend on fuel)

Comfy, Cruise Daily: Professional Media Package, Loudspeaker Advanced (or Harmon Kardon), Sun Protection Glass, Heated Seats, Lumbar Support, Driver Comfort Package with front PDC, LED Adaptive Headlights, High Beam Assistant, Folding Mirrors. - This will give you a comfortable car, teaming with gadgets to make your drive relaxing when you’re cruising, but still fast and frantic when you want to have a play.

Harder, Track, Weekend Toy: M-Adaptive Dampers and either Loudspeaker advanced, or Harmon Karon, then all that money you saved by not speccing anything else, get the M-Perf. LSD, M-Perf Exhaust (or BCS Downpipe) and a JB4 box.

All in all, I’m in love with my M140i. I still miss my 118d, but what the new one loses in fuel economy, it makes up for with it’s fun, but aggressive nature, straight 6 growl and ‘wolf in sheeps clothing’ appeal. Current deals on M140i’s can see up to £9k bumped off the list price, depending on how large your spec sheet is, and with the LCI2 around the corner, you could end up with an even better deal if BMW struggle to shift any new orders before the change.