jalopnik: Why the BMW 1 Series is the Next Great Future Classic

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

The '12 sounds like it could be a great deal. I'd suggest going with the '12 unless you are absolutely sure you would do Euro delivery with the '13. Going the Euro delivery route will also give you a vacation and the opportunity to drive your new 128 through Europe which I recommend every BMW fan try to do at least once.

The shameful part is I am already planning to go to the factory in July. If I do ED, which I would do to save on the car, I would have to go again in August and I don't have the time off to enjoy the new car. Just fly in, pick it up, and come home the next day.

The dealer I am speaking with is telling me there's no negotiating on the ED price below MSRP. I guess it's time to go to another dealer.

[headsup7up]

I was just having a simular conversation with a few friends the other day. We think the 1 series will follow the same trend as the MK4 Toyota Supras.

[mb135is]

Order the 13 as you like it. That 12 has no doubt been beaten upon by many a test driver.

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by headsup7up

I was just having a simular conversation with a few friends the other day. We think the 1 series will follow the same trend as the MK4 Toyota Supras.

Interesting post. I do not follow Toyota Supra MK4 much, but know it was a very expensive and exclusive car. What kind of trend does it have in the used car market?

[brusk]

Originally Posted by headsup7up

I was just having a simular conversation with a few friends the other day. We think the 1 series will follow the same trend as the MK4 Toyota Supras.

I doubt any model will be so lucky. First the MK4 came out right before the import scene blew up. Due to the rock star status it achieved through magazines and movies along with the high HP dyno queens and drag racers it quickly became more desired that most of the other cars of that class. Price for the turbo models were 47K to 55K depending on year and options. I've seen low mileage unmolested models still fetching 35K just a few years ago and one listed with no miles and the original sticker still in the window, asking sticker price. The average pricing of 22K to 30K has been unchanged for quite awhile now and doesn't seem to be dropping. The only way I can see the 1 series being desirable later would be if BMW keeps putting out cars that are worse than the previous models as they did with the new 3 series.

[headsup7up]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Interesting post. I do not follow Toyota Supra MK4 much, but know it was a very expensive and exclusive car. What kind of trend does it have in the used car market?

The cars were very expensive when they came out but in 97-98 they dropped the price to high-30k to low $40k range. If you were to buy one now in good condition youll be paying roughly $35k. The two cars have the same basic idea though, both have n/a or turbo inline 6cyl engines, RWD, 2 door coupes, easy to mod, capable of big power, pretty bullet proof transmissions, both are beautiful looking cars, they didnt have very high production numbers and they both have a strong enthusiast base. Only difference is the 1 series is much smaller. I think in about 5 years when more people start to see the potential, more people will start to pick these cars up for the purpose of making big power. If they hold up to that, then the n54/ n55 following will explode and drive the value of the cars up. I’m no expert on this stuff but I can see a trend here.

[headsup7up]

Originally Posted by brusk

I doubt any model will be so lucky. First the MK4 came out right before the import scene blew up. Due to the rock star status it achieved through magazines and movies along with the high HP dyno queens and drag racers it quickly became more desired that most of the other cars of that class. Price for the turbo models were 47K to 55K depending on year and options. I've seen low mileage unmolested models still fetching 35K just a few years ago and one listed with no miles and the original sticker still in the window, asking sticker price. The average pricing of 22K to 30K has been unchanged for quite awhile now and doesn't seem to be dropping. The only way I can see the 1 series being desirable later would be if BMW keeps putting out cars that are worse than the previous models as they did with the new 3 series.

Yes the import sceen did help the supra but theres no way anyone could deny that there is a Euro-car sceen trend going on right now. The n54/n55 is capable of big power, the limiting factor right now is lack of companies making the equipment to do it. IIRC the only company doing this now is Vishnu with the vff kits, a 650hp bolt-bolt on kit is nothing to laugh at. I think once they start to catch on, more companies will start making the parts to make big power.

[brusk]

Originally Posted by headsup7up

Yes the import sceen did help the supra but theres no way anyone could deny that there is a Euro-car sceen trend going on right now. The n54/n55 is capable of big power, the limiting factor right now is lack of companies making the equipment to do it. IIRC the only company doing this now is Vishnu with the vff kits, a 650hp bolt-bolt on kit is nothing to laugh at. I think once they start to catch on, more companies will start making the parts to make big power.

Not saying there's not a growing euro scene but not in the same way as the late 90's early 2000's. There were an excess of people fixing up cars the market for that has massively dropped off, most of your typical speed shops closed up or might as well have. I won't say that the N54 isn't as capable but there's definitely not the same market and money that was there. A lot of people with that kind of disposable cash skip the N54 and pick up an M model.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

The 2002 wasn't particularly a head turner and look at how legendary it's become...

I don't know much about the 2002's, especially how they were viewed when they were out, but if that's true this is a good point. I was initially thinking the 1-ers were awesome but wouldn't have any lasting power, because no one knew about them. Maybe that's not quite true then?

I picked mine up from the dealer on Monday after some free maintenance and the battery cable recall, and they were kind of gushing over the car. Seems that there are very few 1-Series and most around are leased and unmodded. Even just the angel eyes, LCI tail lights, and things like the PE exhaust had them all in love. Several techs were asking about it, and it's not really their job to stroke your ego so I assume their interest was honest. Between them and us it's still a small percent of the population that knows much.

[tuco44]

I don't know much about the 2002's, especially how they were viewed when they were out, but if that's true this is a good point.

I had three 2002s between 1971 and 1975. I would say that there were not so much a head-turner from a looks POV, but ppl did pay attention to them as they were so different from most vehicles on the streets at that time. I also think there is a pecking order among 2002s - the older, round tail light ones being preferred over the newer square tail light 2002s. Also, the 2002ti and tii preferred over the regular 2002 (the injected ones were MUCH rarer even then).

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by mb135is

Order the 13 as you like it. That 12 has no doubt been beaten upon by many a test driver.

Yeah. they wouldn't take the price on the 2012 down below $37. For $37 I can exactly what I want in a 2013 with Euro Delivery. Much better bet.

[mb135is]

Originally Posted by lem144

Yeah. they wouldn't take the price on the 2012 down below $37. For $37 I can exactly what I want in a 2013 with Euro Delivery. Much better bet.

You're going to love it!

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by tuco44

I had three 2002s between 1971 and 1975. I would say that there were not so much a head-turner from a looks POV, but ppl did pay attention to them as they were so different from most vehicles on the streets at that time.

YES.

I also think there is a pecking order among 2002s - the older, round tail light ones being preferred over the newer square tail light 2002s. Also, the 2002ti and tii preferred over the regular 2002 (the injected ones were MUCH rarer even then).

Yup, the one with the round tail lights (pre-1975, I believe) were preferred, mainly before the smog control crap and ginormous bumpers got tacked on.

Despite that, I totally fell in love with my brother's 1975 Fjord Blue 2002... Had I the time and the money, it would've been one great restoration project.

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

YES.


Yup, the one with the round tail lights (pre-1975, I believe) were preferred, mainly before the smog control crap and ginormous bumpers got tacked on.

Despite that, I totally fell in love with my brother's 1975 Fjord Blue 2002... Had I the time and the money, it would've been one great restoration project.

IIRC, the last year of round taillights was 1973. I think the 1974 and later had the square taillights, AND the bigger, ugly bumpers. 1973 and older are the real gems. Amazing, those cars only had about 101 hp, the tii bumped it up to about 110 or close to that.

[Obioban]

Originally Posted by headsup7up

Tboth are beautiful looking cars

[Mulie1]

I can not agree more... this is exactly why I just bought one!. Its a fun car now and a future classic.

"You could also argue that the 1-Series is one of the the last of the "pure" BMWs. At the moment, you can't even buy a new 3-Series sedan anymore with a naturally aspirated straight-six engine. That lineup has gone to two turbocharged fours (which are great engines) or a turbocharged six (which is also a great engine.) Presumably the 2-Series will get the same turbo-centric powerplants, or at least some of them.

But the 128i comes with a regular, silky smooth, naturally breathing straight-six, just like the BMWs so many of us grew up with, as well as a turbo'd variant if more power is required. All of this is true of the outgoing 3-Series Coupe, due to be replaced soon by the 4-Series, although I like the 1 better because it's smaller. "

[TripleThreat]

Originally Posted by headsup7up

The cars were very expensive when they came out but in 97-98 they dropped the price to high-30k to low $40k range. If you were to buy one now in good condition youll be paying roughly $35k. The two cars have the same basic idea though, both have n/a or turbo inline 6cyl engines, RWD, 2 door coupes, easy to mod, capable of big power, pretty bullet proof transmissions, both are beautiful looking cars, they didnt have very high production numbers and they both have a strong enthusiast base. Only difference is the 1 series is much smaller. I think in about 5 years when more people start to see the potential, more people will start to pick these cars up for the purpose of making big power. If they hold up to that, then the n54/ n55 following will explode and drive the value of the cars up. I’m no expert on this stuff but I can see a trend here.

Thank you for elaborating. While I hope this will prove to be the case, I am not sure if 1's will follow the path of Supra MK4. For one thing, I do not think 1's will hold about the same price as the original MSRP 15 years from now, in either variants. 1 M Coupe (or maybe, just maybe 135is) may have a chance, but I even doubt that. Supura MK4 is just so unique that you cannot find any replacements/substitutes. On the other hand, someone looking for 1's could easily go for 3's.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Thank you for elaborating. While I hope this will prove to be the case, I am not sure if 1's will follow the path of Supra MK4. For one thing, I do not think 1's will hold about the same price as the original MSRP 15 years from now, in either variants. 1 M Coupe (or maybe, just maybe 135is) may have a chance, but I even doubt that. Supura MK4 is just so unique that you cannot find any replacements/substitutes. On the other hand, someone looking for 1's could easily go for 3's.

They could easily go for 3s, but I don't think people are going to preserve 3s. The ones that will remain will be beat to hell.

[sdpauly]

nice!

[headsup7up]

Originally Posted by TripleThreat

Thank you for elaborating. While I hope this will prove to be the case, I am not sure if 1's will follow the path of Supra MK4. For one thing, I do not think 1's will hold about the same price as the original MSRP 15 years from now, in either variants. 1 M Coupe (or maybe, just maybe 135is) may have a chance, but I even doubt that. Supura MK4 is just so unique that you cannot find any replacements/substitutes. On the other hand, someone looking for 1's could easily go for 3's.

Back then, they had the 3000gt, rx7, supra, 300zx, camaro, mustang, and for ppl out of NA, the skylines. All those where in the same class of car and were replacements. I cannot think of any cars that really cut into the 1 series market except maybe the 370z. like i said though, this is just an idea. Im to auto market expert.

[alpinewhiteone]

i love my one but spend any amount of time looking at a 1M and you will quickly see why it is worth the extra dough. plus it can also be further tuned.

[Part135]

Good article!