Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The February Timed Online Auction on Thursday the 27th of February. Background:
BMW introduced the 1 Series as its entry-level model range in 2004, bringing its front-engine, rear-wheel drive brand of driver focus to a subcompact market otherwise dominated by front wheel-drive rivals. For the first time, drivers had the option of a brand new BMW at a lower price point, rather than having to settle for a second hand 3 Series and the market responded as BMW had hoped — with enthusiasm.
Initially offered as a hatchback, coupé and cabriolet, it garnered widespread approval from critics and customers, despite styling that was initially less well received but has since become a part of the motoring landscape in the intervening 20 years. Naturally, BMW offered performance options to supplement the standard engine ranges, with the M135i at the very top of the pile, powered by a 315bhp turbocharged 3-litre N55 straight-six, driving through a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Compact and light, the M135i is less hot hatch and more mega hatch, flying to 62mph in just 4. 6 seconds with a limited top speed of 155mph. Dispensing with the 30-70 dash in a mere 4. 1 seconds makes this a machine built for superb give and take roads. Throw in M Sport-designed suspension and brakes and it's a seriously underrated performance bargain — a real Q-car.
The Car:
This stunning Valencia Orange BMW M135i was first registered in Singapore on 28th August 2013, sold new to its first owner by local BMW dealership Munich Automobiles. As a result, it has been fastidiously maintained, with ten documented services in Singapore, the most recent carried out at an independent specialist in January 2025 at 59, 601 miles. The car was imported into the UK last year and is now fully UK-registered.
Standing out from its peers, this M135i is finished in Valencia Orange Metallic, which presents in good condition, sitting on Michelin-wrapped 18" 5-spoke gunmetal alloys, complementing the gunmetal mirror caps. The interior is fitted out with Alcantara electric memory sports seats, matching the black velour carpets throughout, with anthracite headlining, black leather door cards, and a retractable armrest, complemented by an M leather steering wheel with multifunction controls.
The fully adjustable electric sports seats make this cockpit a fine place to be, while a Harman Kardon sound system enhances the mellifluous engine notes. All the usual refinements — such as electric windows and mirrors, rear parking sensors and camera — are fitted, along with dual-zone climate-control, switchable driving modes and an iDrive infotainment system with SatNav. This magnificent machine comes with two keys, the original book packs and MOT until January 2026
One of the unsung performance bargains in the current market, combining practicality with comfort, BMW handling refinement, and searing performance.
Location: BirminghamSeller: PrivatePhotography: Professional
