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

[shah269]

LOTS of panties in a twist here....
It's a gorgeous car, everyone but the STI guys love it...get over it!

[Ender_]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

I agree 100%, but sometimes the M-worship is baited by comments claiming that you can replicate a factory performance car with a handful of parts and a weekend install. That's just absurd.

.....I suspect that when people say things like "greater than the sum of its parts", they're really talking about these things.

Thank you for clarifying what I was trying to get across!


To me the reason the 128/35/1M is a great car is due to its flexibility and convenience. There are very few fun sports cars which call still be DD's.
I can't afford a Cayman S and an A3 so I comprised a bit on both sides and got the 1M, there is almost no car out there that can do this.

[P7X]

Originally Posted by Ender_

To me the reason the 128/35/1M is a great car is due to its flexibility and convenience. There are very few fun sports cars which can still be DD's.

As Clarkson put it, the 1M does what the original GTI did to older sports cars.... rendered them pointless...

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Man, these boards get dysfunctional sometimes. I find it funny, but also kind of sad. An article comes around celebrating the virtues of the E82 in all its incarnations, and the 1er community descends into civil war. Go to the 2002 boards - you won't find tii owners constantly bickering with ti owners, or Turbo owners gloating over the masses. You'll just find dudes that appreciate their chassis. Heck, they even welcome 1602 owners (imagine that!). If you've spent any time on other car sites you've probably heard a fair amount of vitriol directed towards the 1er. With so much hate to go around, you'd think we could at least be a little more positive amongst ourselves.

As long as everyone remains civil, I don't see a problem with some discourse. That's how ideas are refined

[Haywood]

In 2008, I was dead set on getting the 335i coupe. I just loved the look and read about the amazing N54 engine. I went to my dealer and he had one. He then said, BMW came out with a 135i. A smaller package with the same engine. I said what the hell and took it for a test drive. I immediately fell in love with it and even got my second one once my lease ran out.

Now, sadly, I am turning in my lease on my '11 and getting a new M3. Another classic engine that won't be produced again. I have had more fun in this car than any of the muscle cars and sports cars I've owned in the past. I will love driving the M3, but as the article states, I will probably pick up a used one in the future. BMW did an amazing job with this car and I actually like the fact that most people don't know about it!

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by barcius

It does not make sense to me. BMW is just renaming the 1 coupe. The future 2 is the successor of the current 1 series the same way the future 4 series is the successor of the current 3 series coupe. I do think the 1M is a good car, but there is nothing special that the future M2 won't be able to be better at it, except maybe the name. Good try my friend...

I think the people who own or have driven a F30 3 series would beg to differ. Hell, I just read that C&D did a test of the Cadillac ATS, BMW 335i (F30), and Lexus IS350 and the BMW came in 2nd! They hated the electronic steering and lack of feel they were used to from the BMW. We'll see what they do to the new M series cars, but it seems they are making the "regular" BMW's for non-enthusiats.

[Staycharmin]

im in love with my 135.. I live on the 3rd floor and can see it parked behind my gate from my kitchen.. I've had her for almost 2 weeks and check on her at least 4 times an hour lol.. My gf wants to kill me.

im totally in love with the handling on this.. I've owned a Lexus is300 previously and it was zippy in the early RPM range but fun to drive. Although it was touted as a sports ride, it still had that lexus "riding on pillows" feel to it, like most of the gs and ls's did. These run flats definitely let me feel the road out here in NJ/NY but the 135 eats them alive.

When i heard they were going to bring the hatchback version to the US I cried. I was hoping BMW would cook up the next generation in similar coupe/vert, RWD, turbo'd out fashion, similar to my gen (2009). Seems like they're killing off this style and pushing us towards the 235, which looks nice... but if I wanted that elongated style, I would've opted for the 335 or something.

I plan to take care of this ride man.. I'm feeling like it'll be sought after for years to come. Its so funny the faces I get when people figure out its a Bimmer.. I'm installing an indash Pioneer flip out tv and when I was ordering it the guy asked my car model. When I replied "Bmw, 135i" he was like what? He told me he'd never seen or heard of it. So I get there, he goes, wow, you weren't lying.. 135.. scratching his head. He grabs a few of the techs and they too are astonished.

Love the fact my car's a secret..

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by Haywood

I think the people who own or have driven a F30 3 series would beg to differ. Hell, I just read that C&D did a test of the Cadillac ATS, BMW 335i (F30), and Lexus IS350 and the BMW came in 2nd! They hated the electronic steering and lack of feel they were used to from the BMW. We'll see what they do to the new M series cars, but it seems they are making the "regular" BMW's for non-enthusiats.

Couldn't agree more....unfortunately.

[stampchez]

I'm two days back into 1 ownership after 15 months in an F30 and I can't believe how wrong they got with the new 3 Series.

[135Genyus]

The 1er deserves the "nod". I am glad to own this and cant wait for it to arrive in Japan after 9 long months.

[ptack]

Funny how the F30 may be triggering lots of early nostaglia starting with the 1 series. BMW has one tall order to fill when then finally release the M3/4. Either it will either save their reputation among enthusiasts or it will make my 135i even more valuable.

[dt373621]

Originally Posted by Staycharmin

im in love with my 135.. I live on the 3rd floor and can see it parked behind my gate from my kitchen.. I've had her for almost 2 weeks and check on her at least 4 times an hour lol.. My gf wants to kill me.

im totally in love with the handling on this.. I've owned a Lexus is300 previously and it was zippy in the early RPM range but fun to drive. Although it was touted as a sports ride, it still had that lexus "riding on pillows" feel to it, like most of the gs and ls's did. These run flats definitely let me feel the road out here in NJ/NY but the 135 eats them alive.

When i heard they were going to bring the hatchback version to the US I cried. I was hoping BMW would cook up the next generation in similar coupe/vert, RWD, turbo'd out fashion, similar to my gen (2009). Seems like they're killing off this style and pushing us towards the 235, which looks nice... but if I wanted that elongated style, I would've opted for the 335 or something.

I plan to take care of this ride man.. I'm feeling like it'll be sought after for years to come. Its so funny the faces I get when people figure out its a Bimmer.. I'm installing an indash Pioneer flip out tv and when I was ordering it the guy asked my car model. When I replied "Bmw, 135i" he was like what? He told me he'd never seen or heard of it. So I get there, he goes, wow, you weren't lying.. 135.. scratching his head. He grabs a few of the techs and they too are astonished.

Love the fact my car's a secret..

Spot on my friend! Couldn't agree more!

Ride on, ride on 1er family!

Cheers!

[LuisBoston]

I went and test drove an m-sport 128i today as I consider ordering one. It was quite the sweet ride; now I just have to figure out if I can afford it as I'd almost want to keep my current car as the daily driver.

[Black Prinz]

Since rarity is a determining factor with regards to collectability & appreciation ($) just a couple of questions:

I've read somewhere (C&D i think) that in the U.S., BMW sells more 7 series than 1 series. IIRC BMW only hoped to sell around 20K 1 series/year in US.

What is the global breakdown between the hatch/coupe/vert?

What is the US model breakdown? I have a feeling way more 135's are sold/made than 128's

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by Black Prinz

Since rarity is a determining factor with regards to collectability & appreciation ($) just a couple of questions:

I've read somewhere (C&D i think) that in the U.S., BMW sells more 7 series than 1 series. IIRC BMW only hoped to sell around 20K 1 series/year in US.

What is the global breakdown between the hatch/coupe/vert?

What is the US model breakdown? I have a feeling way more 135's are sold/made than 128's

Qucik correction. The original 2008 sales goal of the 1 series line was 10,000 units. They ended up selling a few more than that.


I do remember that 135 verts only accounted for 1200 of those units, so yeah rarity!

[bradleyland]

Predicting collectability is really, really hard. Rarity is definitely a factor, but it really comes in to play for cars that are produced in the hundreds, not the thousands. Even given that, some cars that were produced by the thousands are collectible.

I guess my point is that while the production numbers were low-ish for the 1-series, they're nowhere near low enough to contribute to its collectibility, IMO. If the car becomes collectible (entirely different than being a "classic"), then it will be for other reasons.

[LuisBoston]

I am thinking of ordering one of the last 128i's. my dealer has a left over 2012 with everything I want except its space gray instead of mineral gray. Should I take the bait and save $3000-4000 dollars? Basically $6k under invoice for a '12 or invoice for a '13 euro delivery.

Thought? I feel a '13 will be more special than some left over '12.

[angler]

Originally Posted by lem144

I am thinking of ordering one of the last 128i's. my dealer has a left over 2012 with everything I want except its space gray instead of mineral gray. Should I take the bait and save $3000-4000 dollars? Basically $6k under invoice for a '12 or invoice for a '13 euro delivery.

Thought? I feel a '13 will be more special than some left over '12.

If you are going to keep it for a long time then save the money.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by angler

If you are going to keep it for a long time then save the money.

The car has been sitting on the lot for at least a year. It's a Sept-Dec 2011 build. Anything I should be concerned about? Fluids? Cracked rubber gaskets? I'm in an extreme climate (New England). That really bugs me.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by lem144

The car has been sitting on the lot for at least a year. It's a Sept-Dec 2011 build. Anything I should be concerned about? Fluids? Cracked rubber gaskets? I'm in an extreme climate (New England). That really bugs me.

Other than stale fuel, there's not much that you need to be concerned about on a modern car that sat for a year. All the seals/rubber are brand new, so they're at the peak of their resilience.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by lem144

I am thinking of ordering one of the last 128i's. my dealer has a left over 2012 with everything I want except its space gray instead of mineral gray. Should I take the bait and save $3000-4000 dollars? Basically $6k under invoice for a '12 or invoice for a '13 euro delivery.

Thought? I feel a '13 will be more special than some left over '12.

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.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by lem144

I am thinking of ordering one of the last 128i's. my dealer has a left over 2012 with everything I want except its space gray instead of mineral gray. Should I take the bait and save $3000-4000 dollars? Basically $6k under invoice for a '12 or invoice for a '13 euro delivery.

Thought? I feel a '13 will be more special than some left over '12.

Get exactly what you want in the '13, they are never making a car like it again.