Test Drive of the 135i

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:04 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

depends on how its specced, the sunroof adds a whopping 65 lbs. Also, depending on how full the tank is, what wheels its got, etc. Was 2521 your fighting weight for nationals?

No doubt. - AB

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:27 am

David Spratte wrote:

...Play the whole, I think I'm more mature, perhaps I should consider moving up into a proper marquee thing. . . .

I did that with the Volvo a few years ago. The only problem is I went straight past mature and headlong into geriatric. :shock:

Luckily, it was nothing that a few more cylinders couldn't fix...

Jim

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:55 am

David Spratte wrote:

JamesFeinberg wrote:

David Spratte wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

yeah, in a day where a "MINI" is ~2700 lbs, 3400 lbs can be called light. . .

Try 2500.
Well. 2521 to be precise.

He probably meant ~2700lbs with a decent driver aboard. :wink:

ORLY? I feel I am capable of spectacular finishes though. :oops:
I think I'd like to test drive one of these. You know just because. I figure next time I'm at Flow for service on the MINI, see if they have one. Play the whole, I think I'm more mature, perhaps I should consider moving up into a proper marquee thing. . . .

Then ask if you can turn the traction control all the way off. :twisted:

i really think you have to step into a 5 series or higher to be considered more mature David. this car sounds like a fine track rat. can't imagine it would be worth a damn in autoX but then again neither am i.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:50 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

David Spratte wrote:

BriceJohnson wrote:

yeah, in a day where a "MINI" is ~2700 lbs, 3400 lbs can be called light. . .

Try 2500.
Well. 2521 to be precise.

depends on how its specced, the sunroof adds a whopping 65 lbs. Also, depending on how full the tank is, what wheels its got, etc. Was 2521 your fighting weight for nationals? Heck, going from the "S-lites" to her current wheels, her car shed ~50 lbs!

Yes. I had a little too much gas in the car, but yeah, that's what the scale read for impound.

Sunroof, lots of weight in the worst place. The OEM 16" wheels aren't bad weight wise. It's just interesting when people talk about vehicle weight and the car is well optioned. That stuff adds up.

5 series. Huh. Nah. Can't see it. Maybe I'll just wait for Jim to sell the Volvo and terrorize people at Whole Foods.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:07 am

David Spratte wrote:

5 series. Huh. Nah. Can't see it. Maybe I'll just wait for Jim to sell the Volvo and terrorize people at Whole Foods.

It already works for me at Weaver Street Market so Whole Foods isn't much of a stretch...

Jim

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

David Spratte wrote:

Yes. I had a little too much gas in the car, but yeah, that's what the scale read for impound.

Sunroof, lots of weight in the worst place. The OEM 16" wheels aren't bad weight wise. It's just interesting when people talk about vehicle weight and the car is well optioned. That stuff adds up.

5 series. Huh. Nah. Can't see it. Maybe I'll just wait for Jim to sell the Volvo and terrorize people at Whole Foods.

Cupholder and all?

It seems to be the 17" wheels and the sunroof that are the real killers in the mini, we've ditched the heavy 17's (in favor of lighter 17's for street, 16's for auto-x), the sunroof is definitely weight in the wrong place, but an evil we can live with, due to how open it makes the car feel.

Just making the point that your 2521 weight isn't exactly comparable to a typical as tested weight. You weren't full on gas, were running really light 16's, with light tires (A6's are lighter than runflats no?) on a car as stripped as it legally can be in stock class. Most places have the curb weight listed at ~2700. Lets hope a similar disparity between listed weight and prepped weight exists for the 135i. . .

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:45 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Most places have the curb weight listed at ~2700. Lets hope a similar disparity between listed weight and prepped weight exists for the 135i. . .

I all depends upon things you can remove and things you can't. For instance, the spare tire holds a lot of weight, but a lot of cars don't come with them anymore (RX-8 gives you nice can of green slime).

Generally speaking, the spare tire, reduced gas, emptying the winshield washer resevoir (which we didn't do at Nationals), lighter wheels and tires, rear hatch covers that aren't bolted down, exhaust, etc. all add up to weight savings.

Now, I think some manufacturer weights are under/over stated. For instance the Crossfire Base Model is supposed to weigh 3050#. In Topeka, we weighed in at 2893#. Granted, we lightened the exhaust, had lightweight wheels and ran a half tank of gas. Outside of that, there is nothing to remove from the car. That should have only equated to about 90#, yet we were 157# below what Chrysler stated.

- AB

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:45 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Just making the point that your 2521 weight isn't exactly comparable to a typical as tested weight. You weren't full on gas, were running really light 16's, with light tires (A6's are lighter than runflats no?) on a car as stripped as it legally can be in stock class. Most places have the curb weight listed at ~2700. Lets hope a similar disparity between listed weight and prepped weight exists for the 135i. . .

Just another example of this disparity. Chrysler's curb weight for the Crossfire is 3,060. Aaron and Bryan's car crossed the scales at 2,893 in Topeka. No as much as the Mini's weight difference but this is a car that has basically no options available on it unlike the infinite amount available on the Mini.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:55 pm

Even more good news.

BMW calculated the weight with Driver, luggage, and 1/2 tank of gas, or an additional 257 lbs (according to BMW's website)

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Now that is the *first* BMW of the new gen body style that I like.

Saw some pictures of the 5-door hatch and those lines do *not* do it for me. Now that coupe - niiiiice!

Matthew Fortner · **Joined:** Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:21 am **Posts:** 384

Weight? Maybe one of these:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/toky ... -unveiled/

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:46 am

Matthew Fortner wrote:

Weight? Maybe one of these:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/23/toky ... -unveiled/

the stripes look better on the blonde than on the car IMO. overall i like it but doubt i would opt for the full ricer treatment.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Sun Oct 28, 2007 7:08 pm

A bit more info on the 135i that is a bit surprising to me. It seems like it still might be a remote possibility that the LSD will make it as a factory option even though speculation currently still says no. The fact that will offer it as a performance aftermarket part is surprising. The brakes look interesting too.

http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish/bmw_news/article_1279.shtml

Following on with earlier posts, how does the SCCA go about the initial classing of a new car like the 135i? When will the Solo II class for the car for 2008 be known?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:19 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

A bit more info on the 135i that is a bit surprising to me. It seems like it still might be a remote possibility that the LSD will make it as a factory option even though speculation currently still says no. The fact that will offer it as a performance aftermarket part is surprising. The brakes look interesting too.

http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish/bmw_news/article_1279.shtml

Following on with earlier posts, how does the SCCA go about the initial classing of a new car like the 135i? When will the Solo II class for the car for 2008 be known?

A lot of that will depend upon when it actually hits the dealers. With something as "unknown" as this car is, my guess is they won't classify it until someone is able to at least road test it.

If the car ends up with an LSD, B Stock is a minimum, but likely A Stock is where it would land. I know if I paid a lot more for a 335i and couldn't get a LSD, I would be pissed that people could get a car for about $6-$10k less and have that option. - AB

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Sun Oct 28, 2007 8:20 pm

No class will be announced until they at least hit the shores and have a full set of published specs and options. Something like the LSD alone could have a huge impact on initial classing for obvious reasons.

I can't really say much other than the car has been discussed already a fair amount, but nothing is decided yet.

--Donnie

THSCC Forums

Test Drive of the 135i

Who is online