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BMW M135i laps Nürburgring in 8:18

BMW M135i

The BMW M135i has been winning the hearts and minds of the world’s motoring press since its release. Now, German mag Sport Auto has used the 235kW/450Nm offered in the M135i to good effect by lapping the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8 minutes 18 seconds.

It’s understood the car used by Sport Auto was fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission and was rear-wheel drive, rather than an all-paw xDrive model.

Here’s a list of other times achieved by Sport Auto test driver Horst von Saurma that are around the same as the M135i:

  • 8:05 – BMW M3 (2007)
  • 8:09 – Audi RS4 (2006)
  • 8:09 – BMW M6 (2005)
  • 8:13 – BMW M5 (2004)
  • 8:13 – Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (2009)
  • 8:15 – BMW 1 Series M Coupé (2011)
  • 8:16 – Porsche Cayman S (2009)
  • 8:18 – BMW M135i (2012)
  • 8:22 – BMW M3 (2000)
  • 8:25 – Lotus Exige S (2008)
  • 8:26 – Audi S5 (2008)

[Source: bmwblog.com]

23 replies on “BMW M135i laps Nürburgring in 8:18”

It was factory race driver driving it in the Frog as opposed to HvS. Having said that, HvS should not be that much slower, maybe 5 seconds up to 10 seconds I would guess.

Be interesting to see if the new M235i coupe can match this time (praying the designers redesign the front nose) my guess it will have the same glorious N55 twin-scholl 6.
Stiff competition for the new Audi S3 8V, BMW have captured something special in this segment, the only saving grace I can see for the S3 8V is that it may be exempt from LCT due to its 6.7-7/100 fuel usage, interesting times ahead…

I read somewhere that the M235i will have DCT too, as opposed to the Auto 8 speeder in the M135i…….. I would not be surprised if the 2 series also gains a few KWs or Nms, time will tell.

At The MOTOR Performance Car Cup,Luffy did a 2.15.5 in the Beemer,and a 2.18.5 in the Megane,which promplty showed it’s displeasure by firing a piston out the front of it’s Froggy block……sacre bleu!
Same driver,same day,same Track.
Cheers
Len

@ Len, I’m told that they weren’t running the frog with the “magic” +15HP button selected either. Sad re the block however, I’ll keep an ear out for irregular heart beats in the Mrs car then ; )

It was on Luffy’s cool down lap,right in front of me at the start of Turn 1.
200 metre oil slick,with accompanying smokescreen.
Wouldn’t lose too much sleep over it,Press cars have a shocking life.
Funny thing was it was about to be a long term MOTOR test car…..
Cheers
Len

Focus ST 2.20.7
M5 2.14.2
E63 AMG 2.15.9
BRZ 2.22.2
Audi S7 2.17.3
This is on the new long track,about 800 odd metres longer than the GP track so there’s not much to compare it with yet.
MOTOR are using EC for all their Track Testing now so we should get a better idea of comparisons soon.
Cheers
Len

Having said that though Lima, my experience with that car tells me that with proper tyres, there is a couple of seconds right there. I guess in this company it would still be considered slow.

Len, thanks for the info. I need to go find a copy of this Motor mag if its out already. What was Luffy’s general thoughts on the M135i (if you asked him)? In particular keen to hear his thoughts on what is the hottest hot hatch out there. Get him on here to tell us! 🙂

For sure, but again, and it’s been said thousands of times, they’ve provided a base that then allows the punter to tune the car to their preferred set up. If they want more grip/better tyres, then go right ahead.

I’m still yet to drive one, but the approach taken here is to be applauded. I just wonder if it will encourage other manufacturers to follow suit by releasing models with good basic architecture, but deliberately undercooked as far as performance goes.

@Liam I am mostly interested in the performance aspect of the vehicle so maybe I ignore the other qualities you mentioned
Cheers

Focus ST was 1.5 seconds a lap faster than the BRZ over five and a half odd kilometres-that’s less than 3/10ths of a second per kilometre around a power track.
No-one’s saying the Focus is slow…..
The hype about the car is that there’s nothing within heaps of $$$$$ to touch it….and 99.9% of the knockers haven’t driven one……..
Just a fun car to drive if that’s what you like doing.
Cheers
Len

I thought the JCW GP (new one) was 8:23 – at least according to the MINI press release. Regardless it’s a great time for such a small car – I’ll take the MINI instead.

I’m glad the BMW comes with a conventional auto. In day to day start stop traffic grind it’s so much smoother than a jerky DSG.

I’m surprised the Renault threw a piston. They’re running iron blocks not weak alloy, this kind of things is rare.

I’m glad the BMW comes with a conventional auto. In day to day start stop traffic grind it’s so much smoother than a jerky DSG.

I’m surprised the Renault threw a piston. They’re running iron blocks not weak alloy, this kind of thing is rare.

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