Loaner Vehicle Report: X1 xdrive35i

[Bimmer-Bob]

Took my 128i in last week for an oil change, a brake fluid flush, and coding for a fog lamp delete. Looking back, I should've done the coding myself, but otherwise I don't mind going to the dealer for routine maintenance once in a while if they offer me a free loaner since it saves me some money on a rental.

Anyway, this time I got an X1 AWD, the 35i version, which I assume is powered by an N55.

Now, it's hard for me to get too excited about a vehicle like the X1 - it just seems like a nod to the crossover market when it should just be an honest-to-God RWD wagon, but I digress. I suppose it's perfectly fine for what it is, but I honestly don't know who is buying this thing. I mean, for me, if I want a 4WD family go-anywhere vehicle, there are better, cheaper options (my 4Runner comes to mind). If I want a sporty, classic BMW, there are again better, cheaper options (my 128i comes to mind).

Now, to be honest, I just drove this thing from the dealer to work and back. It was about an hour each way, but I didn't explore the nuances of this vehicle, and I don't really "get" what the X1 is all about. What I was most interested in was the engine.

I'm probably going to catch a lot of flak for this, but my initial impression is not good at all. Now, I get that the X1 is likely heavier than a 135i, and that many of you 135i guys are rowing your own gears, but in the automatic X1 the N55 is not impressive. It feels exceedingly lazy, with an almost impossible amount of throttle lag in the go pedal. I was previously disappointed with the drive-by-wire pedal feel in my 128i, but it feels like a goddamn on/off switch in comparison.

Not only that, but honestly, even though the N55 felt pretty damn torque-y, it was by no means mind-blowing, at least not compared to my 128i with 3-stage intake manifold and catless headers. In fact, I was glad to be back in my own car at the end of the day, and it felt much more sporting - not only in terms of chassis dynamics, but also in its power delivery.

Is the 135i the same? Kind of a lazy, lumbering beast? I honestly feel like my lighter, modded 128i is more fun, but of course some haters will be here to tell me I'm wrong.

Is it the X1 chassis, the auto transmission, or is the N55 itself just kind of dull?

[GR1P]

No hate involved at all but you're definitely incorrect in your assumption. Your logic that the 135i would be a lazy, lumbering beast is mind blowing.

Think for a second, the 135i and the 128i share the same chassis. The 135i has much more horsepower and tq. Ill let you figure the rest out on your own.

The laggy throttle input in the x1 is there by design from BMW. Its present in our cars too but can be flashed out or corrected with a signal modulator like a sprint booster or pedalbox.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by GR1P

No hate involved at all but you're definitely incorrect in your assumption. Your logic that the 135i would be a lazy, lumbering beast is mind blowing.

Think for a second, the 135i and the 128i share the same chassis. The 135i has much more horsepower and tq. Ill let you figure the rest out on your own.

The laggy throttle input in the x1 is there by design from BMW. Its present in our cars too but can be flashed out or corrected with a signal modulator like a sprint booster or pedalbox.

sprint booster or pedalbox won't fix the flashed in throttle lag. Literally all those do is make the throttle non-linear.

[6MT_Addict]

Haven't driven an X of any series but have a look below... edmunds equates the 135i to E46 M3.

[Esteban]

I've never driven an X1 and don't know much about it, but I do know if I drive my car in total automatic mode, it is pretty boring. But once I press the sport button and move the shifter to the left and I'm in full manual mode, plus a quick press of the DTC button, the car is a completely different animal with all the power and speed the N55 and the DCT have to offer at my touch. Not sure how much PPK helps, but lag is practically gone, and shifts are fast as hell and come with a jerk and an explosive sound if you are into the throttle at all. Lots of low end torque. This is the only way I drive my car.

As some of you may or may not know, I would prefer (and have mostly driven) a car with a manual transmission over an automatic or DCT, but can't work a clutch any longer because of an injury. That being said, I really like the DCT and couldn't be happier with it, and I'm sure the manual transmission owners of the N55 135i love their cars and are as thrilled with their set-up as I am with mine.

Driven the right way, the N55 powered 135i is anything but boring. A "beast?" IMO, you bet it is! "Lazy, lumbering?" Not at all!

BTW, no hate here Bob.

[850tgul]

I'm with you Bob. Could've bought a 135 if I wanted but went with the 128 for a reason, or two. Something to be said about an sharp NA engine mated with a slick manual transmission. Absolutely nothing against a 135 but sometimes people around here act like they couldn't possibly understand the appeal of the 128 or why one would ever pick one over a 135. To me, one of the most fun experiences you can have in a car is feeling that instantaneous response you get at high revs while carving corners, heel and toeing as you go. Need an atmospheric engine and a stick to do that.
Having said that I get the fun of having huge torque in a dd (used to own a tuned B5 S4) but I just happen to prefer the frantic response you get with the NA motor.

[lowbudgethero]

I haven't driven the 128, but have driven several N/A bmws, certainly see the appeal of them for sure. I think most people opted for the n54 motors for the 400+whp with minor mods factor. Dollar for dollar and ease of installing parts I can't think of many cars that can do it like the 135/335 can. The x1 35 is just there to sell cars. I probably would have gone with the 128 if it was lighter than it ended up being.

[850tgul]

Can't deny that, no contest in mod potential between the two.

[ejm3]

Last year I had an X1 with the N55 motor as a loaner and I kind of liked it.

I don't get it, but I kind of liked it. No it wasn't as fast or fun to drive as my 135 convertible but for an SUV it was fun.

But it was not a good SUV. I bet there there's as much room in an Civic as in this "SUV".

Also I don't recall what kind they were but I looked at the tires and there's no way those are going anywhere in the snow. And the fancy rims won't last one winter around here. So even though its an SUV you're going to need a set of winter rims & tires.

But then again when you're at a stoplight driving an SUV that will surprise a lot of cars its kind of fun. But as an actual SUV its terrible.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by ejm3

Last year I had an X1 with the N55 motor as a loaner and I kind of liked it.

I don't get it, but I kind of liked it. No it wasn't as fast or fun to drive as my 135 convertible but for an SUV it was fun.

But it was not a good SUV. I bet there there's as much room in an Civic as in this "SUV".

Also I don't recall what kind they were but I looked at the tires and there's no way those are going anywhere in the snow. And the fancy rims won't last one winter around here. So even though its an SUV you're going to need a set of winter rims & tires.

But then again when you're at a stoplight driving an SUV that will surprise a lot of cars its kind of fun. But as an actual SUV its terrible.

It's for people in northern climates who need the ground clearance and have a high preference for going light to light and don't want a boat SUV. I'd probably rather just get an 335xi or 535xi though.

[RoundelM3]

Mike,

Next time you're down this way, come take a ride with me in my F30 335i with MPPK and MPE. It'll change your mind completely. I suspect you may have been in "Eco" mode in that X1, plus it was AWD and is heavier than the RWD model. The other thing is that with the 8AT, you have two overdrive gears and in Comfort mode, it tends to shift early and you find yourself driving city streets at 1100-1200 rpm. As said above, put it in Sport mode and it holds the lower gears. You have immense torque in the N55, which is why it can tool around at lower RPM, plus 8th gear yields 32-36 mpg on the highway in my 335, which is heavier than the X1.

We chose a 128i for my wife's car because at the time, we already had an N54-engined E92 335i with full Dinan 3/exhaust/intercooler/CF Intake, etc., pushing well over 400 HP and she didn't want or need all the extra power (nor the $5K additional cost) of the 135i. My current F30 335i isn't quite the beast that car was, but it impressed a friend of mine who has an Audi RS5 with 450 hp.

All that said, we really enjoy the NA 3-liter inline-6 in our 128i with 6MT and the Performance Exhaust, especially with the top down. Not quite as quick as the 335, but lighter and more nimble - which is exactly why we bought it. Having driven the N20 4-cylinder turbo in a 3-series, there is no comparison - turbo or no turbo - to an inline-6.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by GR1P

Think for a second, the 135i and the 128i share the same chassis. The 135i has much more horsepower and tq. Ill let you figure the rest out on your own.

I'm aware of the N55's superior horsepower and torque numbers, which is why I was surprised and disappointed with the N55's power delivery, mainly the throttle lag and "relaxed" automatic transmission logic.

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

I do know if I drive my car in total automatic mode, it is pretty boring. But once I press the sport button and move the shifter to the left and I'm in full manual mode, plus a quick press of the DTC button, the car is a completely different animal with all the power and speed the N55 and the DCT have to offer at my touch.

I had forgotten that the N55-equipped 135i's were mated to a DCT and not the 8AT found in the X1. I'm sure the change in transmission alone helps tremendously, not to mention the superior chassis dynamics of the E82.

Originally Posted by 850tgul

To me, one of the most fun experiences you can have in a car is feeling that instantaneous response you get at high revs while carving corners, heel and toeing as you go.

Bingo! Love driving my car holding 4,000-5,000 RPM.

Originally Posted by roundel335

I suspect you may have been in "Eco" mode in that X1, plus it was AWD and is heavier than the RWD model.

Right, another good point. I definitely took the X1 out of Eco mode, but I didn't see a Sport mode or anything. I know some of the newer F-chassis models have a Sport and even a Sport+ mode, so that's certainly another factor to consider.

[JimD]

I drove several automatic equipped 128is before buying my manual. I found the lag bothersome in it too. My wife loves hers, however. I also drove a 135i at the performance center when I took delivery of my 128i. It was definitely faster than my 128i but I didn't like the feel as much. I like a motor to build power as it revs, not run out of gas. The 135i didn't exactly run out but it didn't build either. In 2011 I did a 2 day M-school and my favorite car was the M3. It was the e92. The M5 and M6 was a NA 10 cylinder but they were heavier cars and felt a little ponderous. I got yelled at a little by the instructors for keeping the M3 up against the rev limiter for extended periods. It felt great coming out of the corner at 6,000 and screaming it up to 8,000.

[edisapimp]

Sometimes when i read posts like these and then the subsequent replies I wonder if we are all living on the same planet.

[GR1P]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

sprint booster or pedalbox won't fix the flashed in throttle lag. Literally all those do is make the throttle non-linear.

fixed all and any lag on mine

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by GR1P

fixed all and any lag on mine

Can't change flash tables with a plug in device. So the lag is there, you just dont notice it for some reason. Thats ok, it doesnt bug everyone. Glad you're happy with it though.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by GR1P

No hate involved at all but you're definitely incorrect in your assumption. Your logic that the 135i would be a lazy, lumbering beast is mind blowing.

haha....yeah pretty hilarious to read that. the reality is that the 135i is an active, fast, and alert little car. He kind of took a blind dig at the 135i with that.....pretty lame.

i love the X1 actually.....way better than any 3-series i've driven lately. It's loosely based on the E8X underpinnings and has the same steering rack......i would buy one as a family car if i had to. It's more like a tall wagon than an SUV.

I usually request the X1 everytime my 1M is in for service.

oh and i'm so fucking sick of these 128 vs. 135 debates...completely pointless.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

haha....yeah pretty hilarious to read that. the reality is that the 135i is an active, fast, and alert little car. He kind of took a blind dig at the 135i with that.....pretty lame.

i love the X1 actually.....way better than any 3-series i've driven lately. It's loosely based on the E8X underpinnings and has the same steering rack......i would buy one as a family car if i had to. It's more like a tall wagon than an SUV.

I usually request the X1 everytime my 1M is in for service.

oh and i'm so fucking sick of these 128 vs. 135 debates...completely pointless.

Feel the same about the X1. I still think about getting one and lowering it to proper wagon ride height. Not much into cosmetic mods, but I saw a shot where someone really did one justice. Looked nice.

Reason I don't have one? I don't need it. The 135i has all the space I need.

[GR1P]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Can't change flash tables with a plug in device. So the lag is there, you just dont notice it for some reason. Thats ok, it doesnt bug everyone. Glad you're happy with it though.

You're wrong buddy and obviously have zero experience with these units. It isnt the flash tables, it's the throttle mapping. at least on my car.

But don't worry, it's okay. You'll learn some day, keep trying.



edit: I have a 6mt, a dct or auto may be an entirely different set of problems.

[amsnow440]

An 8AT X1 and a 6MT 135i are about as similar as the N52 and the N55. On one hand have you have a docile pet turtle and the other you have a captured wild cheetah waiting to be unleashed.

See I can make blind stabs at the 128i (despite never having driven one) too!

But seriously, why does it seem like the 128i drivers always feel the need to justify their engine choice to the community?

[Bimmer-Bob]

It's really amazing how this thread got under the skin of some of you 135i owners. I wasn't bashing your car in the slightest. I was simply giving my experience of what it was like to drive an 8AT X1 with N55, and wondering what I was missing. I acknowledged that there were plenty of differences between an X1 and a 135i, and y'all mentioned a few more that I hadn't thought of. If anyone took this thread as a "128i vs 135i" topic, then you're projecting. My criticism was directed against the X1, which for some strange reason many of you took personally.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

It's really amazing how this thread got under the skin of some of you 135i owners. I wasn't bashing your car in the slightest. I was simply giving my experience of what it was like to drive an 8AT X1 with N55, and wondering what I was missing. I acknowledged that there were plenty of differences between an X1 and a 135i, and y'all mentioned a few more that I hadn't thought of. If anyone took this thread as a "128i vs 135i" topic, then you're projecting. My criticism was directed against the X1, which for some strange reason many of you took personally.

1Addicts, especially, can get butthurt very fast.