► CAR’s BMW 140i review – it’s now a modern classic
► The last gasp for rear wheel drive hot hatches
► It’s quick, with 335bhp for 0-62mph in 4.6secs
The BMW M140i was the hot hatch for those who refused to sacrifice classic rear-wheel-drive thrills for practicality or convention. A defiant outlier in a world of four-cylinder turbo hatches, it boasted a big straight-six engine and a lively chassis, reminding enthusiasts that a family-friendly hatchback could still light your hair on fire.
It might be gone now, but it remains one of the greatest modern M-lite machines – and is a tantalising used buy for drivers who want some real personality with their pace.
Should you buy a BMW M140i? If you want a discreet-looking hatch with a monster engine and proper RWD vibes, the M140i is one of the finest used buys out there.
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At a glance
Pros: glorious six-cylinder engine, playful rear-drive balance, understated Q-car looks
Cons: tight rear space, older infotainment tech feels creaky now, not as fast as newer rivals
Check out our review of the manual M240i Coupe
What’s new?
The BMW M140i might be no more, but it’s still worth talking about because it represents the last gasp of the rear-wheel-drive 1 Series hatch – and is one of the best sleeper cars BMW ever made. Launched as a replacement for the earlier M135i, it upped the stakes with more power and a revised turbocharged straight-six engine, becoming a cult favourite among enthusiasts.
At the time, the hyper-hatch market was booming, with manufacturers in an arms race over power figures and lap times. Yet the M140i charted its own path, bringing old-school M-car character into a practical hatchback shell. It wasn’t quite a full-fat M-car, but it delivered enough thrills to earn a loyal following – and now it’s a tempting used buy for those who missed it first time around.
What are the specs?
While most of its rivals settled for 2.0-litre turbocharged fours, the BMW M140i brought a ballistic alternative: a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six shoehorned under the long bonnet, delivering 335bhp and a muscular 368lb ft of torque. It was the biggest engine in any hot hatch of its era, out-sizing even the five-cylinder Audi RS3.
Despite its generous displacement, the M140i wasn’t top of the charts for outright power; both the Audi RS3 and Mercedes-AMG A45 trumped it for headline output. But the BMW’s numbers were hardly shy: 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds for the automatic version was quicker than a Porsche 718 Cayman and only a whisker slower than the mighty M2.
Beyond figures, the engine’s smooth, tenor-like soundtrack and linear power delivery set it apart. Even with turbocharging, it felt naturally aspirated in spirit, surging forward with an elastic shove you wouldn’t find in something like a VW Golf R. It’s a charismatic motor that remains a huge part of the car’s appeal.
BMW offered the M140i with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox, the latter delivering quick and crisp shifts. Sadly, the UK market never received the xDrive all-wheel-drive variant available in other countries, leaving the M140i as a purely rear-driven affair here.
How does it drive?
The M140i was highly configurable, thanks to four selectable drive modes. Eco Pro kept things docile, softening throttle response and even coasting to save fuel, while Comfort was your daily-driver setting, maintaining sensible steering weight, suspension softness and subdued engine noise.
For drivers after thrills, Sport and Sport+ transformed the M140i’s character completely. Sport could be tailored for either engine aggression or drivetrain sharpness – or both. In this mode, the exhaust barked louder, the stop/start system was disabled, the suspension stiffened dramatically, and gearchanges were so quick they’d threaten to jolt your neck.
Sport+ turned off traction control entirely, letting you explore the full potential of the rear-wheel-drive setup. With the engine snarling and the rear tyres ready to indulge your cornering ambitions, the M140i felt alive and eager. Yet even in spirited driving, there was impressive grip from the Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres (which we’d hope owners would continue to specify), keeping it planted unless provoked.
Steering feel was another highlight: precise and well-weighted without feeling nervous. You could place the car exactly where you wanted, making it equally at home on twisting B-roads or motorway blasts. It’s a hatch that could genuinely deliver M-car smiles, even if it wore a subtler badge.
Browse BMW 140i for sale
What about the interior?
If you’ve seen a BMW interior from the 2010s, you’ll know what to expect. The M140i’s cabin was solid and functional rather than flashy, though it gained a sportier steering wheel and updated iDrive system compared to earlier models. That said, it still lagged behind BMW’s newer models for touchscreen tech and fancy gesture controls (which we’d not miss one jot).
The infotainment system was generally slick, though features like postcode input could be a bit of a faff. Leather sports seats came as standard and were impressively supportive, featuring electrically adjustable side bolsters to hold you snugly during cornering heroics.
Space in the front was decent for the driver, who’d feel nicely cocooned behind the wheel. But the M140i’s rear-wheel-drive layout brought packaging compromises: rear passengers faced tight legroom, limited headroom, and a high window line, making it feel darker and more cramped than rivals like the Golf R.
Boot space, however, was competitive, with a 360-litre load bay that actually beat the Golf R’s by 20 litres. Practical? Sort of – but this was a car that existed to thrill the driver first and worry about rear passengers second.
Before you buy
When it was new, the M140i sat at the top of the 1 Series range, offered in both three- and five-door bodies. Buyers could choose between the manual or the automatic transmission, and there were various trim enhancements and option packs to ramp up the M-lite aesthetic.
Key rivals included the Audi RS3, with its unique five-cylinder warble and standard Quattro grip, and the Mercedes-AMG A45, which delivered astonishing pace but could feel less characterful. Meanwhile, the Volkswagen Golf R offered a more rounded hot hatch experience, with four-wheel-drive security and a more spacious, family-friendly interior.
Today, all those cars have moved on. The current BMW M135 is a four-cylinder, all-wheel-drive hatch, lacking the unique straight-six charisma and RWD handling of the old M140i. For buyers seeking a used gem with genuine character, the M140i remains an outstanding choice – if you can live with the compromises.
Verdict
The BMW M140i was the antidote to identikit hot hatches, offering a proper six-cylinder soundtrack, rear-wheel-drive thrills and understated looks that flew under the radar. It might have been outgunned on paper by the Audi RS3 and Mercedes-AMG A45, but it made up for it with character, balance and one of the sweetest engines ever fitted to a hot hatchback.
If the Golf R is the rational pick for fast-family duties, the M140i is the guilty pleasure – a selfish, indulgent treat for drivers who live for a great drive. As a used buy, it’s one of the most seductive hot hatches of the modern era – and a reminder that BMW once built hatchbacks for proper enthusiasts.
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