BMW has given its 1 Series flagship a revised suspension and a more spirited exhaust note,but left the M135i xDrive’s peak outputs unchanged… What exactly isthe Bavarian marque up to?

Last year, BMW sprung a bit of a surprise when it resurrected its ti nomenclature to introduce the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI-rivalling 128ti, which became available in South Africa this year; we’ve featured the 180 kW/380 Nm hot hatch in a drag race and track race videos.

Unlike its M135i xDrive big brother, the BMW 128ti is front-wheel-driven, but fans of the Munich-based firm would have noticed that the German hot hatch, in European specification (fitted with a particulate filter) produces 195 kW and 400 Nm, which is uncomfortably close to the 225 kW and 450 Nm of the range-topping 1 Series hatchback…

To make things trickier for the M135i xDrive, it now faces more foes than just the Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic and Audi S3 Sportback (which we’ve also reviewed)… Since the arrival of BMW’s all-wheel-driven charge, Volkswagen has unveiled the 235 kW/420 Nm Golf 8 R,although it remains to be seen in what state of tune the Volkswagen will be offered in South Africa (it is scheduled to arrive at some point in 2022, semiconductor crisis permitting).

This update to the M135i xDrive serves to enhance the “track-inspired characteristics” of the derivative, BMW says, which is a little unexpected because the 1 Series flagship did not seem to be aimed at hardcore enthusiasts who are inclined to take their cars to track days.

In terms of the suspension upgrade, the front wheels’ camber values have been increased “to optimise absorption of lateral forces when powering through corners”; a hydromount has additionally been used to attach the front suspension wishbones, while the mounts for the trailing and control arms at the rear axle have also been redesigned. At the same time, the spring and damping systems have undergone recalibration, the firm announced.

As standard, the M135i xDrive features, inter alia, near-actuator wheel slip limitation (integrated into the engine control unit), a mechanical limited-slip differential on the front axle (with locking factors of 36% when accelerating and 26% on the overrun) and Performance Control, which works in conjunction with the Dynamic Stability Control to “optimise the car’s steering behaviour with judicious applications of the brakes.”

BMW says these upgrades result in a “significant improvement in roll behaviour in corners, which has a further beneficial effect on steering feel.” Ahh, now we’re getting warmer: the Bavarian brand has sharpened up its 1 Series flagship to make it more engaging to drive.

Watch Ciro De Siena’s previous review of the BMW M135i xDrive:

M135i xDrive ‘not all that sharp’ before

In our review of the pre-update M135i xDrive, which we published in 2020, Cars.co.za’s track test ace and experienced road tester Ashley Oldfield noted the BMW had “a tendency to understeer. In fact, there’s noticeable front-end push” and although the derivative was “nimble enough (and) not an ill-handling car by any means”, it was “just not particularly exciting to drive. All the ingredients are there, but the dish it serves up isdecidedly bland.”

And, apart from making the M135i xDrive wieldier, BMW has made sure that the derivative now sounds racier or “more urgent” (as they say), even if only from the inside the cabin.

The Bavarian brand has reduced the backpressure created by the Bimmer’s twin-tailpipe exhaust system that facilitates power delivery and “produces a characterful acoustic accompaniment”, BMW says, which is augmented by the speakers of the audio system.

Irrespective of your position on the practice of using “digital aural enhancement” to make cars sound sportier than they are, many manufacturers do it and BMW says that apart from the engine sounds, a “composition specially created for this model” gets played at start-up.

Lastly, BMW has introduced 3 new colours to the M135i xDrive’s palette: the M paint shade Sao Paulo Yellow non-metallic, Frozen Orange metallic, as well as Frozen Pure Grey.

Strange timing

Updates of the nature that BMW has applied to the 1 Series flagship are usually introduced as part of a general facelift or LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) to the range, but not in this case. If BMW was intending to produce a stronger competitor to the Audi S3, Mercedes-AMG A35 4Matic and Golf 8 R, it would probably have upped the derivative’s outputs in this case.

The likelihood is that the red-accented 128ti, although a front-wheel-drive hot hatch, has pinched a few sales from the M135i xDrive, which has had a rather lukewarm reception from media pundits. To compound matters, the recent introduction of the BMW M240i xDrive coupe will probably have stolen even more of the 1 Series flagship’s limelight.

But here’s some food for thought… Could BMW be working on a true rival to the Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic+, which would explain why the updated M135i xDrive’s outputs have not been upped? An M2 Coupe, based on the rear-wheel-drive architecture of the new 2 Series, is certainly in the works, but just how much performance is BMW willing to squeeze from its front-biased UKL2 platform, which underpins the 1 Series, 2 Series Gran Tourer and X1/X2? It seems unlikely that BMW would develop the B48 2.0-litre turbopetrol motor to produce all that much more than 225 kW, but watch this space.

Related content:

BMW M135i xDrive (2020) Review

Mercedes-AMG A35 (2020) Review

Audi S3 Sportback (2021) Review

Golf 8 R revealed with 235 kW, optional drift mode