A Golf R owner shares why the BMW M135i is so much more fun

I was worried that I should have bought a Golf R rather than my M135i.. this is a chance to see if I made the right decision or not. I drive a Golf R who's owner then samples my BMW M135i. May the best dish win..
#M135i #M140i #GolfR

[@douglaspuglas6888]

STEAK!? BAH HAH I've had the m140 and it's really not steak its poor quality, rhino leather seats, tacky dash and tinny like doors and boot. The BMs only quality is torque which isn't much use in a British winter! Got an S3 now and the quality, ride and superior interior make it a much better daily!

[@douglaspuglas6888]

@R A And yes I would any day like I said I've had a 2017 m140 now I've got an S3 so that kinda makes my opinion more valid than your average keyboard warrior! Like you

[@douglaspuglas6888]

@R A Been in the motor trade bah hahaha yeah your first comment really reflects that you idiot

[@Number27]

Can’t comment on the S3 but the Beemer definitely felt a step above the Golf quality wise..

[@youngman0520]

You are right, an s3 is a much better evwryday car, but its no m140.

[@douglaspuglas6888]

@@youngman0520 Yep and that's why I like it better, because it isn't an m140 It's faster too only in perfect conditions on a straight road over 80mph would the Bm come back so day to day it's faster (in most circumstances) From the Nappa leather to the digital dash it's a much much nicer place to be. But as I keep saying unless you've owned both your view or opinion is speculation! And of course this is my opinion from someone who's owned both, It's not factual just an opinion!

[@scotchgod8478]

The Golf R sure is a great performing car by any standards, but the turbo-charged 4cylinder engine will always sound artificial. BMW inline6 sound is the real McCoy, the older NA expressions did sound even better though.

[@Number27]

yep it did.. but this was a reassuring test for me, much prefer the BMW

[@the_stoned_priest]

Never in doubt surely? 6 cylinders and rear wheel drive all day long...As your guest days - it's about the getting there, not top speeds. Great video my mate.

[@Number27]

Thank you Jon, appreciate the positive feedback!

[@Number27]

Which of the two is your favourite and do you agree with our findings on the Golf R?

[@robinhosleftfoot]

If xDrive was available in UK for M140i, would you have bought that or stuck with rear drive?

[@craigthompson8445]

I've had both, a MK7R and a Pre LCI M135i and 100% agree, great comparison.

[@Number27]

Thanks Craig 👍👍

[@mrwriter86]

Great video, thanks for the efforts! Just a small bit of feedback, often the engine audio overpowered the dialogue so was difficult to make out what you were saying. Maybe some slight adjustments in audio levels for future videos would fix that 😊 Thanks!

[@upbeatmantis86]

Can someone please recommend me , whether to get the m135i or wait for the mk8 golf r .. would like to get them for missus.. i priorities performance, practicality , bonnet space and rear leg room space. Also reliability of course

[@TDS981]

Good video gents, agree with some of the points but not all, what you perhaps didn't get to was that the limit in the golf is that bit higher so it feels that bit less exciting until its pushed, you really need to turn off ESP fully and it will be more playful but also very controllable, you could see the 1'er was starting to lose its footing and the control isn't really there, it starts to crumble when pushed.

[@Number27]

That is also true sir, maybe a longer test would have shown more in favour of the Golf.. but for me the BMW just feels more playful!

[@TDS981]

@Bob Climax Don't know where to start with this, certainly not lambasting the guy but everything you've said (bar the 4 pot) applies to the BMW just the same.

[@TDS981]

​@@Number27 Hi - after past discussions I wanted to share that i've just finished a review of the Golf R - let me know your thoughts.

[@simonh870]

We have some great roads here in West Oxfordshire. The cars are not bad either.

[@thecarbandits7834]

Good comparison video. BMW all the way for me

[@Number27]

Thank you Marco!!

[@verdeboyo]

another great video Sir. If I had to pick one of the two here it would have to be the Audi S3 Lol

[@dallasmellsop5488]

.....which is a more boring driving golf r...

[@ericmichel3857]

Add some camber plates and lower control arms and it transforms the steering of the Golf, Turn in, front end grip, steering feel improve dramatically. 034 camber mounts $325, White line LCA $425 the difference will astound you. If you really want to go nuts Eurocode front and rear sway bars $335 and GC coil overs $600 and it drive like a go cart but still with acceptable ride. Throw in a JB4 for another 60-80 BHP and you have yourself a really fun and still practice daily driver.

[@Number27]

Thanks Eric, a bit of negative camber always does the trick!!

[@000GunterGabriel000]

Nice seeing him enjoy the Beemer so much. I guess the GTI would be more playful than the R.

[@Number27]

Yes and more agile I think...sometimes less is more!

[@firststep7750]

How do you justify comparing a long wheel-base car (i.e. a wagon) to the short wheel-base car (i.e. a hatch back)? The short wheel-base car has physics on its side when it comes to cornering.

[@DanTheManc1981]

I had an M135i pre facelift and now have a Golf R facelift. Both have their pros and con's. BMW sounded better and the N55 engine was buttery smooth. It was fun kicking the rear end out but the numb steering and floaty suspension didn't live up to the performance. It became unsettled very easily when pressing on and wasn't confidence inspiring. Golf R in standard form can feel a bit tame. It just grips and goes without any fuss, which is great, but not much fun. I had no intention of keeping mine standard and it's now stage 2 and 400bhp and its a great package. It's not perfect but I prefer it over my BMW. I had a 2017 Leon Cupra before the Golf and that thing handled miles better than both the BMW and the Golf. You should get on of those on your channel and compare it on a b road blast. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

[@Number27]

Hey, really want to try the Seat, heard they are very good. Thanks for watching Dan!

[@DanTheManc1981]

@@Number27 join "MK3 Leon Cupra Owners Club" on Facebook and I'm sure someone will be willing to let you do a video with their car. facebook.com/groups/1765830200338433/

[@stephenstewart6124]

Great video it's good to see a video of the m135i against a new car most reviews are of the m140i against other cars. Keep this theme up and do the same but other cars like the RS3 or Mégane rs or GTi. I have a m135i LCI like yours and love it ticks all the boxes I need it for. My previous cars have been rs6, Audi S4, golf R32, I'm on Instagram as carsnapper247 for my m135i adventures. Keep up the great videos.

[@Number27]

Have followed you, nice pics 👍👍!

[@paulwallace964]

Another great video Jack 👏🏻. Funnily enough I did a similar comparison whilst choosing my current car. I pitched the Golf R Wagon against the 335i / 340i Touring and the 330i Touring. I went for the 4 pot BMW (shock I know). Compared to the Golf, the BMWs just feel like better made cars to me. I think the the x35i is better suited to a smaller chassis like yours. No argument the 335i Touring and R are faster. The 335i sounded better too, but the 330i is a fair bit cheaper to run (Road tax especially) lighter and plenty quick enough for Dog Bus duties (5.8 to 60) with reasonable pace through B road twists. If I didn't have the 964, I might have been swayed towards the 6 cylinder car, but the 4 pot 330i does the job in hand very well. Each to their own at the end of the day!

[@Number27]

interesting to hear about your choices there Paul!! really I should have got a 120d.. I also still have the 964!!

[@paulwallace964]

@@Number27 Haha no need for that Jack, you 6 cylinder snob!! 😃 I have no doubt that yours is amazing to drive. The Touring is a big car remember and personal preference is the key thing. For my needs the 6 pot was over kill and as I say much to everyone's disbelief the 330i is a great all rounder.

[@Number27]

I’m sure it is, very accomplished car!!

[@pj9375]

Great video. I know where my money would go 😉 the BMW if fitted with LSD would be pretty epic. Tempted on a retrofit? The golf, while no doubt rapid lacks character.

[@Number27]

I am tempted but can't justify £2K on that right now!

[@spainter1985]

I'll watch to the end but nope, of course you bought the right one :) However, the estate body is the one I'd go for!

[@Number27]

I did!! thanks for watching !

[@lebirch3078]

The reason that the Golf ride is so bad by compassion is the wheel and tyre combo. I’ve fitted 17” wheels to mine and it’s night and day, so much more settled and compilant.

[@ryanmccormick2150]

I'm much prefer the BMW over the Golf ! To be honest I don't get the Golf R if I was going Golf I'd rather have the GTI that's the iconic Golf I mean why call the flagship sporty Golf the R when it's always been the GTI that was the top model and the GTI that started the whole hot hatch seen🤔 cracking video tho Jack 😊

[@ryanmccormick2150]

@R A what was ?

[@RobBoothAutomotive]

1:45 is that the famous corner in Harry Metcalfe's vids?!

[@Number27]

no idea but possibly as I think he lives around here!

[@davidviner4932]

I believe BMWs new 1 series will be 4 cylinder now

[@Tight--LiNeZ]

The MK 7.5's 7 speed dsg doesn't fart anywhere near as much as the MK7's 6 speed dsg, as the 6 cuts the ignition between gears and the fuel them hits the hot exhaust & ignites, whereas the 7 speed uses a butterfly system to cut it so the dsg can bang into gear. Plus the 6 speed dsg is more robust for tuning. Plus if you ask me digital dashes and for computer games. Cars are better with gauges with needles. Hence I would pick a mk7 over a mk7.5 any day...

[@grantod1]

Nice review Jack. Put an APR Stage 1 ECU and TCU tune, Eibach springs, dog bone engine mount, 99 Ron fuel (in Golf) and lean on it again and the mid range punch is there and car transformed. Granted, similar on the BMW and probably lift the bar on both and still BMW has the edge as drivers car. I find Golf is ‘flat’ out of the box, oh and I also switch that horrid sound actuator off straight away! 🤮👍

[@sigamble9756]

Have exactly the same R wagon and just gone stage 2. The golf really needs a remap to liven up the drive - I found it fairly dull as standard.

[@imihussain1781]

Excellent video again you could tell your mate was enjoying himself more driving the beemer.

[@Number27]

He definitely was. Thanks for the kind words Imi!!

[@DjNikGnashers]

I loved this video ! This is exactly what people should judge a car on, and forget silly numbers and stats. People who say this car is better because it's a better daily, that car is better because it's more practical, or like Doug Pug below, basing a decision on the quality of the leather seats and bollocks about the doors and boot being tinny (what the f...), load of shyte. You don't buy a hot hatch to be a better daily or more practical, you buy it to make you smile, and there were 10 times more smiles in the M135i than the Golf, and that is all that matters. I had 20k to buy a fun car, I looked and drove quite a few. The Golf was high on the list, but just didn't make me smile as much. The Audi S3 (you listening Doug Pug), was a real disappointment, it lived up to the understeery reputation, absolute fun-killer in the corners so that was off the list straight away. The A35 was just about in my price range but only a higher mileage one, and was a very good car but my god it was just so easy to drive fast, no fun at all. I have driven a few Hyundai i30n's and they are brilliant in the corners, but way too shouty with the pops and crackles, and not actually that fast (also still a bit expensive for what they are). So I went back to what I know (had a few BMW's), and I made the exact right choice. A 1 owner from new, 14,600 miles on the clock, 2017 M140i auto with adaptive suspension. It's bloody brilliant. It makes me smile every time I drive it. Yes it has a few trim rattles, but I expected that, it's just a 1 series after all, and yes the seats are *Pleather* Doug Pug, not the best quality but they are a brilliant shape and the driving position is bang on. It's already had a cheeky remap to well over 400bhp and almost 600nm torque, and it's just mental with the open diff, but amazing fun. I plan on fitting a limited slip diff, and underbody brace, and that's it, job done, it will be an RS3 & A45s killer. There is nothing quite like it, the smiles per miles are way better than anything similar. Edit to add - I work at a main dealership, so I have driven plenty of every type of car, also friends have Audi's (S3's), so my opinion is based on driven experiences (you listening Doug Audi fanboy) ???

[@Number27]

Thanks for watching and for your very long comment!! I’ve now sold mine as I really prefer older cars. Replaced it with a Peugeot 205 GTI! The Beemer is of course better in every single way.. but the Pug gives even more smiles. True though it’s nowhere near as practical! As an all rounder while still being fun the Beemer is the best of the modern hatches... for me at least!

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@Number27 What a fabulous choice sir !!! If I could afford a second car, I'd have something like that in a heartbeat. One of the salesmen in the dealership where I work is lucky to have a couple of older cars, one is a BMW E30 325i (drool), and his other is a TVR Chimaera (the full fat 5 litre one) which is just unreal. He says it tries to kill him every time he drives it, and he loves it ! It's basically a 175mph canoe with wheels lol ! Much respect to you for your excellent choice of new car :-))

[@k12rising]

My mate just bought a C63 AMG. I wonder how it would compare to these?

[@SilverScarletSpider]

Tofu is only good with a bunch sugar syrup for Dim Sum or miso soup. But taking care of a cow in order to harvest the beef is also much more expensive and labor intensive... Tough choice for me here. But even if the BMW is more expensive and less reliable, I only have so many seasons left on this planet anyway so I’ll pass on the VW.

[@Number27]

ah yes.. those cows can be so troublesome!!

[@stewartlundy5858]

The bmw just sounds beautiful powerful silky smooth six , lovely playful chassis , lsd and brake upgrade ! What a car that would make. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@Number27]

yep an LSD would be lovely.. just cant justify that right now!!

[@nearlyretired7005]

@@Number27 That's why I bought an M2!

[@toothy3637]

In order of my liking 1. GTI 2. M135i 3. R

[@Number27]

GTI is the sharpest I think!!

[@davidhayes4814]

The Golf R Estate is a much bigger car. It therefore is a highly practical car, with a sporting edge and it fulfills that role very well. The M135i is a performance car with a practical aspect and it fulfills that well too....... but they are not the same.

[@Number27]

Indeed they are not!! Thanks for watching David!

[@gellideggti]

It's a shame they droped the 4wd from the golf wagon so just fwd so not even a fair match really

[@robtoogood2860]

@@gellideggti The Golf R estate it 4wd.... I know, i have one. Bloody good family car that will show most cars a clean pair of heels whilst going on the tip run

[@gellideggti]

@@robtoogood2860 I stand corrected for some reason i thought they had done another sirocco and ditched the rear haldex. Respect restored for the the R estate 😊

[@Faithinthedock]

Personally speaking, I just find both efficient rather than endearing. Both can get from A to B at very decent pace. The BMW still has some character to the engine, rather than the Golf's synthetic soundtrack. However, the BMW still looks more like a mid 2010s Hyundai and the Golf, a late 2000s Passat estate. They utterly leave me cold and the litmus test would be that I start to put them through car washes rather than by hand. Performance cars for accountants.

[@MrCarrera28]

Nik Wilson I was struggling to articulate my reaction and your comment captures it perfectly, they both need an injection of character and or style

[@MrCarrera28]

@R A Well don't hold back with telling your opinion and we certainly are in no doubt regarding your considered perspective; strong comments given state of the internet but I am sure you are well informed to judge people of their cluelessness. Not sure I would be criticising Kia owners since the release of the Stinger as the twin turbo V6 Stinger packs a pretty decent punch but given your self appointed experience with cluelessness you must be the expert. Porsche 911 and Integra Type R BTW.

[@MrCarrera28]

@R A Thank you for confirming your expertise regarding cluelessness; it is always enlightening to hear from an expert on clulessness; even more so from one who wears such expertise as as a badge of honour. Gratifying to come across someone so proud of this expertise and that this what a 25 year career in an industry has given you. I am genuinely in awe of someone who has such expertise that they can categorically state something to be the most clueless comment on the internet. I tip my hat to you sir you truly have lived a life worth living to have developed such unequivocal expertise.

[@angi733]

And there you have it. Golf owners wear open toe sandal and eat Tofu. M135i owners eat steak tartar and wear sturdy boots. The BMW has flaws but feels special in its class.

[@Number27]

Exactly, thanks for watching Angi!

[@JB-F10-M5]

If you don’t look back at your car when you park it you own the wrong car🙋🏽‍♂️ My spider 🕷 senses tell me there’s a gentleman on the web looking at BMWs 👍🏽

[@Number27]

Ha!! im not sure, he loved it but he needs something with more space!

[@MrRoyck10]

The golf is a Nice car with strong performance but those fake sound is as real as Monopoly money. The BMW straight six howls like a real sports car, generally I prefer NA engines as point to point speed or bhp is not important to me. A sport car must have character and it's the overall experience that makes it a sports car.

[@Arman-nl6mg]

You know the BMW has fake sounds played through the speakers as well, right?

[@MrRoyck10]

ArmanE46 precisely so but I can still hear the straight six BMW trademark sound, albeit enhanced, for this reason I turned away from contemporary BMWs.

[@Number27]

as mentioned the BMW sound is also enhanced but I still think it sounds rather good! thanks for watching

[@robinhosleftfoot]

Your mate looks like a young Elvis Costello

[@NewhollandAgrivids]

Just remember the golf is a wagon makes a big difference wagons aren’t meant for flying round B roads the same

[@Number27]

Though there was not a huge difference between the hatch and the wagon in the R?

[@porcelains2856]

The estate is very similar to the hatch. Have you actually driven either?

[@NewhollandAgrivids]

porcelain s I own a mk 7.5 R hatch and have been in the wagon and have followed wagons and i can leave the wagon a fair bit

[@porcelains2856]

@@NewhollandAgrivids I'd question the driving ability of the person in the estate - there is hardly any gap in the performance

[@karolsurwilo1838]

👋🏻

[@Number27]

and a wave back to you to Karol!

[@fatwalletboy2]

The golf engine sound just never changes does it.....it just gets harder as the revs rise but zero character.......its like barp.....barp........barp. secure but boring and highly desirable by undesirables. The sound of the beemer is night and day.....

[@Number27]

Yep agree and the Golf sounds better in the video audio than in real life. Thanks for watching!

[@tonygreaves6503]

Jack what is your email address ??

[@Number27]

Jack.pe(at)btopenworld.com

[@superben2000]

The golf is the one you get if you need permission from your wife... BMW if you don't

[@Number27]

😂🥳👌. Thanks for watching Ben!

[@steffydog]

Estate, no, no, no, kids dash, no, BMW, looks a bit dated in comparison, but I’d be buying for the sound and the engine, both have zero steering feel, BMW for me thanks.

[@carlharvey7098]

Both great cars at what they do but to me they are characterless...As are most modern cars

[@carlharvey7098]

@R A Oh i do believe me

[@carlharvey7098]

@R A really? you know nothing about me or what i drive or have driven in the past...I stand by my opinion that most modern cars are CAD aeroboxes, unless you can opt for exotics

[@carlosfandango2419]

Blinkers...………...and then some reasons to back up your decision. Poor journalism, if that's what this channel is supposed to be. You know, facts and all that other stuff!! Even if you had compared the regular car with yours it may have stood up but the estate!!! Come on......

[@Number27]

Hey, I don’t claim this to be anything like journalism. It’s a car blog and I’m no journalist. Should just be entertaining. Having said that most serious reviews say that the estate R looses out very little to the hatch. Thanks for watching!

[@DiscoFang]

Baahahaa if you think that's anything remotely like the Laguna Seca corkscrew you are a total dreamer. The reason it's called the corkscrew is the elevation drop. It drops like a staircase. A camera shot from above tells you nothing.

[@DiscoFang]

But I guess you get that from people talking about Race Mode in their aspirational family extended hatchback.

[@Number27]

Its a fun way to describe it, obviously it’s not much like the real Corkscrew..

[@andyp8464]

comparing the very boring estate r to anything will lead to regret

[@porcelains2856]

boring based on what?

[@andyp8464]

@@porcelains2856 compared to the hot hatch version ofcourse .

[@porcelains2856]

@@andyp8464 The hatch? There's nothing in them.

[@pgr3290]

Yeah the Golf R is really boring, and uninteresting. It's like the sketch from Monty Python, the accountant wanting to change careers to be a lion tamer. I want a performance car! I want it to be fast and exciting! Do you though? You don't. You're really scared and dull, so you just pick the obvious default choice because it's practical and won't bite you if you push it a bit. It's the accountant's hot hatch. Yawn.

[@jonathanclarkewater]

golf R s and audi S3 s are great cars but unfortunately they attract car jackers and car key burglars :-(

[@zzhughesd]

jonathanclarkewater so does m140 m135. My house targeted had 2 on drive

[@jonathanclarkewater]

dan hug hes - sorry to hear that. My m135i has been ok on the drive for last 2 years. I dont think it would be the same story if id have got golfR or S3.

[@Number27]

a lot of more expensive modern cars do unfortunately!!

[@sishabadab6570]

The 1 series BMW'S are ugly..

[@RickinHKG]

Referring to cyclists as "roadkill"? Shame on you!