BMW M135 | Test Drive

15 July 2025 Redazione News, Tested

Having an M does not necessarily mean it will be any good. But 300 horsepower, intelligent dimensions and the absurd ease with which it gains speed in any situation are too tempting not to hop in and go heavy on the throttle. In the end, will the new M135 be enough to earn its place in the M Club?

Words Carlo Brema / Photos Gian Romero

In the end, it’s all about asking the right questions. A few days ago – for example – I pulled up to a gas station and while I was doing my umpteenth refill of the week, a young guy came over and asked me, “How’s this new M135?” I could have answered briefly, getting straight to the heart of his question without making him regret approaching someone who, deep down, was just waiting to trap him in a 45-minute-long nerd-ish monologue, diving into details that, for about 70% of people who enjoy sports cars, are largely unnecessary. After a while, without me even getting to the final verdict, he thanked me and walked away. His girlfriend was calling him loudly, threatening that their Saturday night would turn out quite different from what they had probably imagined.

Yes, it’s all a matter of questions and with the fourth generation of the 1 Series, there are plenty to ask, especially when it comes to its most performance-focused model, the M135. No, I haven’t forgotten the “i”; BMW deliberately removed it from its petrol models, to avoid confusing customers looking for fully electric ones. That’s just one change in a model that aims to be Munich’s answer to the various Audi S3, AMG A35 and Golf R. We’re in the 300-horsepower range and — no longer a surprise — even for this BMW, the drivetrain isn’t just at the back, but we have an all-wheel drive layout. This brings us to the three questions I believe truly matter, or rather, the only ones any real enthusiast should be asking.

But first, I think it’s only right to look at what’s changed compared to the previous generation, the F40 (not the Ferrari). While the proportions and interior space remain that of a compact car that’s perfectly comfortable in everyday use, the changes are obvious where we expected them. Take the rear: on the M135 we now find a sharp and aggressive diffuser that doesn’t hide its four exhaust tips, slimmer taillights and a spoiler at the base of the rear glass. As for the front, even though the 1 Series hadn’t inherited the oversized kidney grilles seen on the 3, 4 or 7 Series, it now sports a sleeker design, clearly drawn to cut through the air at high speeds, something the M135 will be doing pretty often.

I admit it. I like it. And in the Twilight Purple Pearl Metallic paint – let’s just call it purple – the test car really shines, bringing out the sculpted lines of a design still well-suited even for those who might prefer a tamer petrol or diesel version, taking advantage of the endless customization options available with the M Sport packages. Step inside and you’ll find a deeply redesigned cabin. Gone are the gear lever and the iDrive rotary dial. In their place we find a selector integrated into the center tunnel, while – except for a few shortcut buttons – most of the functions of the highly efficient infotainment system are handled through the 10.7” touchscreen.

Now back to our questions, because that M on the badge matters and nobody cares about trunk space here.

IS IT FAST?

Let’s not beat around the bush. This is a question that demands a yes or no answer and I’m not one to shy away from the truth. The M135 is very fast. That’s a fact, not just because it only takes 4.9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kph, or because it continues on to 200 kph with astonishing ease, but because it knows how to be fast in any situation. The credit goes to its beating heart: an inline 4-cylinder engine. The 2.0-liter turbocharged is purely combustion-powered, meaning no extra weight to carry around and you always get the full punch of its declared power. The 300 horses (6 less than before) are delivered at higher revs, but the time it takes to get there is already putting its 400 Nm of torque (50 less than before) to work, distributed on all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox, one gear less than before.

We’ve lost a few horses and some Newton-meters along the way and yet it feels faster. Actually, it is faster thanks largely to an improved chassis setup that, in Sport mode, glues the car to the road almost embarrassingly. Traction and grip are seemingly endless; to push the M135 beyond its limits and provoke understeer, you really have to try hard and in that case, the blame is entirely yours. The transmission handles everything smoothly on its own, whether you’re tearing up the road or cruising calmly in Personal mode, which proves incredibly relaxing in the city or on long journeys.

IS IT FUN TO DRIVE?

Now that we’ve confirmed the M135 is fast, the next obvious question is about something that doesn’t always go hand in hand with performance: driving fun. I’m a strong believer that the correct rubber really matters, so wringing out a sports car on winter tires doesn’t really give you the full picture of its dynamic potential. That’s why, when an unexpected snowfall hit, I took the opportunity to pull the M135 out of the garage and see how much “M” there really is in this BMW M, which still hasn’t been granted the honor of being called M1.

The snow was falling heavily, covering the roads and turning them into my own white, isolated playground. With traction control off and the 10-second Boost function making the car’s power even punchier, I started playing with weight distribution. The chassis is impressive and the M135 – precise and predictable on dry tarmac – now acts like a proper M car. The only real letdown? Those four exhaust pipes out back are totally muted and any pops and bangs are artificial coming from the audio system’s speakers. That’s a shame. But I forgive it, because I’m grinning like a kid, counter-steering near the limit, comparing it – at least in low-grip conditions – to what could very well be the ideal BMW for rally-inspired fun.

SO, IS IT AN M?

Back on dry tarmac, I can think more clearly and get to the final question, not necessarily the most important, but one that shouldn’t be ignored just because BMW itself admits the M135 isn’t a full-blown M car, but rather a first step into the exclusive M Sport town. Objectively speaking, the M135 is not an M. It’s not called M1. Everything is straightforward from the start. But its performance are astonishing, both in how easily it reaches high speeds and in the level of feedback it gives the driver. And really, who cares if you need snow, rain, or a bit of Scandinavian flick to get the tail to come out lively?

I believe that to deserve an M badge, a car must answer “yes” to the first two questions and the M135 does that, convincingly. So forgive me if I say it deserves to be called an M, even if the badge carries more than just one number. The M2, of course, is a whole different beast and it’ll wear through its tires in half the time. But just because it’s a different kind of sports car doesn’t mean the M135 doesn’t belong in the M Club. There’s a place for it – it’s earned it- as long as it opens up that exhaust and finds a voice worthy of those four tailpipes.

Lastly, with a starting price of €56,500 (and the ability to rise quickly with all the M Performance Parts and optional packages), the M135 proves once again that it’s a model to be taken very seriously.