Date Published: November 18, 2020
Here are 5 ways that make the BMW 128ti hot hatch more fun than the M135i
The chassis has had a serious re-work
The front diff and lightning-quick traction of the BMW 128ti has a different rear suspension and geometry design. The vehicle is set-up to maximise performance on the road, the stiffening beams under the body have been swapped out to compromise between an untwistable shell and to avoid understeer.
The 128ti doesn’t torque-steer like the M135i
The Bmw 128ti has been designed to minimize torque steer like the M135i. It only ever sends up to 50 percent of poke to the rear wheels when the computers sense the front wheels have loaded too much onto their plate at the BHP Buffet.
The problem is that from behind the steering wheel, you can feel all this happening. The steering wheel writhes around in your hands as the front axle tries to juggle the power, and then relaxes as it gives up and shares the burden with the back tyres.
It sounds a bit angrier
Any BMW fan will tell you that sound matters. The BMW 128ti has the power sound that drives Bimmer fans crazy. All fast BMWs use the speakers to boost up the engine noise. Even though all fast cars use this trick, the 128ti seems to have mastered the trick, bringing a louder, more powerful sound.
All the red stitching
The interior of the 128ti was initially supposed to be completely disguised as the car’s not quite finished yet, but it’s a bit difficult to drive a car if all the controls are covered in a cloak.
So, BMW decided to add red stitching all over the interior of the 128ti.
The 128ti is a heck of a lot lighter
With a weight of 1445 kg, the 128ti is 80kg lighter than the M135i. This means that the power to weight ratio is very close.
Author: Omega Fumba