Ok now I get it!

[shah269]

Ok now I get it!
No no no I now get it!

The shape of the car and the color.
I have a white 135I and for the longest time I was ho hum about how she looked and especially that crease in the body that runs from the nose of the car back. Just didn't make any sense to me why it was there but hey what do I know right?

So today I was walking over to my car to pick up some stuff and it hit me...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THIS IS A GOOD LOOKING CAR!
That otherwise ubiquities crease that runs the length of the car...it truly does cause some amazing lighting when the sun hit's it just right!
Makes you wonder why they didn't go with a pearl instead of just white.

[ken1137]

That's why a lot of 3 & 5 series owners think the 1 series is UGLY. They dont get it !

[dcho]

well, i think the 1 series is VERY UN-photogenic from certain angles. it does have interesting contours though which is why i feel it has many different profiles

[NYC6]

The 1 series is far from a beauty. The current 3 is a stunning piece of design artistry. I chose the 1 over the 3 for all the reasons we all like the 1 better that the larger 3. It does have its appeal though. I like the aggressive front snout of the car and the squat, muscular look it exudes. The BMW side skirts go a long way if 'fixing' the overly, buldging flanks of the car. Think that will be my next mod. Of course this is my opinion, others may find differently.

[ulrichd]

From certain angles in certain light the car looks great, especially from the 3/4 rear. But other times, from the 3/4 front...ouch, not so good at all. I installed the performance rockers to break up the bulging belly. Even after 3 1/2 years of ownership I still have a love-hate relationship with the design.

[robzilla1]

I'm choosing a 1 simply because BMW hasn't done anything right stylistically since the E46.

[thepriceisright]

I just wish the trunklid was straight across rather than arched.

[the1andonly]

I think every angle, every curve of this car is gorgeous. It doesn't have a bad angle. I don't get people who bought a 1 and call it ugly...I get compliments every week on how sexy my car is. Im an artist and professional designer, I have an eye for spectacular design. The 1 is still one of the best looking cars out there today.

[Harlequin]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

I think every angle, every curve of this car is gorgeous. It doesn't have a bad angle. I don't get people who bought a 1 and call it ugly...I get compliments every week on how sexy my car is. Im an artist and professional designer, I have an eye for spectacular design. The 1 is still one of the best looking cars out there today.

+1

[syenisch]

I don't understand everyone's fascination with the 3 design. It is quite boring in my opinion. The M3 is another story, but it's not fair to compare the M3 to the 135i. With performance grills, side skirts, and a mellow drop, I think it is damn sexy from any angle!

[audimotion]

^I agree that the 3 series is somewhat boring. It kind of blends in with all the other cars on the road.

Personally, I prefer the 1 design over the 3 series. To me it just works. The design is very 3 dimensional...probably the reason it doesn't photo well. It's very diffrent and that adds to it's appeal.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by shah269

Ok now I get it!
No no no I now get it!

The shape of the car and the color.
I have a white 135I and for the longest time I was ho hum about how she looked and especially that crease in the body that runs from the nose of the car back. Just didn't make any sense to me why it was there but hey what do I know right?

So today I was walking over to my car to pick up some stuff and it hit me...HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THIS IS A GOOD LOOKING CAR!
That otherwise ubiquities crease that runs the length of the car...it truly does cause some amazing lighting when the sun hit's it just right!
Makes you wonder why they didn't go with a pearl instead of just white.

That crease is on it's strong points.
The rear is awesome and sporty, even powerful looking on my 135i.
The only odd part is the pot belly pig look with that odd crease that has a pointless up curve. It belongs with nothing.
Also, the direct head on view is a bit odd.
Overall, very nice.

Everyone who has seen my car loves how it looks.
I've never received even one negative comment on it.
The coral red interior gets lots of compliments.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by audimotion

^I agree that the 3 series is somewhat boring. It kind of blends in with all the other cars on the road.

Personally, I prefer the 1 design over the 3 series. To me it just works. The design is very 3 dimensional...probably the reason it doesn't photo well. It's very diffrent and that adds to it's appeal.

I don't share that view of the 3.
Our 1 is unique, and thus has visual interest even if it's not to the majority's liking.

Yes, the 3 is more mainstream, but it's not anonymous at all.
It too has it's unique characteristics, especially the new one.
The E90 at first wasn't so great. The face lift made it much nicer.
The new F30 strikes me right off the bat. I like it very much.
The F30 Msport is even sweeter.
I'm ordering a 328i or 335i within the month, sport line.
I may hold out for the Msport if the price isn't too high.

Like any good design, once you get more familiar with it you start to appreciate the subtleties of it's design. The F30 is like that.
It's MUCH nicer in person than pictures, just like our 1.
I was worried that in person the new 3 would look bigger as it's grown in all dimensions. In person the design belies it's growth and it's quite cohesive and it doesn't look much bigger than the E90.
The only angle where it does appear larger is when looking at it from the front. The corners are not tucked in, rather they are somewhat splayed outward, and that gives the new 3 a wider look when looking at it head on.
The interior is great. Much much nicer than the E90, and quite a bit nicer than our 1's. The afterthought stuck on center screen seems a bit out of place though. It doesn't look integrated at all, just stuck on top, like they forgot and needed somewhere to put it.

[Section147]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

I think every angle, every curve of this car is gorgeous. It doesn't have
a bad angle. I don't get people who bought a 1 and call it ugly...

You're not alone, brutha...you're not alone.

[Eyeman]

Opinions will definitely vary. I personally think it's not very attractive and in the bottom third looks wise of all BMW's ever. The funny thing is that most will agree that Ones tend to not photograph well vs how much better they look in person or especially in motion.

[Venom]

Originally Posted by robzilla1

I'm choosing a 1 simply because BMW hasn't done anything right stylistically since the E46.

+1

[sandman98]

Originally Posted by robzilla1

I'm choosing a 1 simply because BMW hasn't done anything right stylistically since the E46.

Amen!

[RF330]

Originally Posted by NurEinser

+1

+2

It's not just the styling, it's the size. E46 dimensions are just perfect. Not too small to be useful as the second car in the family but not too big to not be fun.

The 1 strikes me as an update of the E46 design in a smaller package. I'm on my second e46 (zhp) and am struggling with giving it to my son - I might be jealous of my son's 10 year old car!

Could not see myself in an E90, MAYBE in an F30, but it's close in dimension to the E39 5 series, which I owned and hated.

I need to find out when E82 production stops and make a decision to order one of the last ones, wait for the 2 series, or last choice, pay a ridiculous amount of money for an F30 335i.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by RF330

+2

It's not just the styling, it's the size. E46 dimensions are just perfect. Not too small to be useful as the second car in the family but not too big to not be fun.

The 1 strikes me as an update of the E46 design in a smaller package. I'm on my second e46 (zhp) and am struggling with giving it to my son - I might be jealous of my son's 10 year old car!

Could not see myself in an E90, MAYBE in an F30, but it's close in dimension to the E39 5 series, which I owned and hated.

I need to find out when E82 production stops and make a decision to order one of the last ones, wait for the 2 series, or last choice, pay a ridiculous amount of money for an F30 335i.

I too LOVED the E46. I had a 2003 325i sport, and it's size was very much ideal for a sport sedan. Plus, the way it rode and handled is excellent. Even my "lowly" 325i was a blast to drive. The braking was a standout for me, as the pedal feel and brake performance was/is very sport car like.
Back then there wasn't as much power difference between the 325 and 330, as there was with the E90 and the added N54/N55.

The F30 also closes the power gap, as the new N20 turbo in the 328i is no slouch at all. It's down right powerful and moves the slightly heavier than E90 3, very very well, especially with that awesome new 8spd auto.
The N20 is rated at 240hp/260lb ft, but dyno tests have shown that real power is more like 250-255hp/275-280lb ft.
The difference between 328 and 335i is much less than with the E90.

I'm doing a test drive tomorrow in the 335i sport. I already drove the 328i sport, and it's great in power. I have to feel how much more the 335i is in terms of power and weight balance. Many reviewers have said that the 328i's handling is a bit better than the 335i due to less weight at the front end. And many claim the 328i's handling response is better due to that. I'll see tomorrow.

The other thing that has me wondering what to do is trans choice.
I LOVE manuals and have had manuals in my last 3 cars, and all others except for a 3 year period with a Mits automatic that sucked.

The new 8spd auto is simply fantastic. I couldn't believe how smooth it shifts, and more so how fast, especially in manual mode.
The responsivness has me questioning the need for a dual clutch or manual. I think the new 8spd slushly is as quick, if not quicker, and smoother than a dual clutch. I know, as a manual driver I can't believe I'm saying it but it's true and I can't deny it.
Plus, with the slushy MPG is better in the 335i and 328i over the MT. In days gone past that was almost never the case.

[pixelblue]

the 1er has the same appeal as a bull dog. you don't buy it for looks you buy it to win the dog fight. no pun intended

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I too LOVED the E46. I had a 2003 325i sport, and it's size was very much ideal for a sport sedan. Plus, the way it rode and handled is excellent.

+1... I still think of my 325 Sport.

[RF330]

RPM, please come back with the results of your test drive. I stopped in the dealer last night (it's two miles from my house), and gotta admit the F30 front end/hoodline is not doing it for me. Though I've never driven one, it looks like it will drive bigger than the E46.

There's no 1'ers on the lot except for a convertible. Please tell me the backseat is tighter in the convertible than the coupe. thanks.