How about a little talk about the 128?

Propagator · 10-31-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayparry

Plus the price should be right, if i can get a 128 with sport for $33k

You do know that you can get a 328i with sports pack for basically that price right?

On a related note, I call total BS on the recent speculations by certain magazines that the pricing will be $35K-$30K. That puts the 135i, which actually has better brakes than the 335i and comes standard with M bodykit, $4K under the 335i.

Are we then to expect that the 128i, which doesn't have a single equipment that outdoes the 328i, to be only $2K under the 328i? Who the hell would buy the 128i, except for the die hard 1er fanbois? I for one would gladly shell out the extra $2K, and accept the extra 150lbs to get two extra doors for my family, better interior quality, and hydraulic steering. Not to mention the 3er might very well get better gas mileage.

And I have been repeatedly told that the 128i isn't even supposed to be a true enthusiasts model. (oh that's the 135i, so you shouldn't expect the 128i to perform too well blah blah) So is the expectation that some average joe that likes to own an affordable BMW will choose the 128i over the C&D 10Best 475 times winner 3 series to save $2K? I doubt it.

Sensible pricing would have to be $28K-$35K. That leaves a uniform $4K gap between the 1er and the 3er, which still makes the 135i a much better deal than the 128i on account of the brakes and the M pack. It also leaves $7K gap between the two 1er models, similar to the 3 series sedan. Anything more than this for the 128i, and it quickly loses competitive edge.

GreenMonster · 10-31-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinzero

You do know that you can get a 328i with sports pack for basically that price right?

You make some very good points (altho' I'm not going to quote them all)...

If the 128 doesn't get priced right, I'm sure some of us 128 wannabees will just end up buying low mileage CPO 330's too....

A 330 coupe weighs about the same as the 128 will (~3200lbs)

(where's the "the 1-series is not heavy" fanbois ?? )

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2005/bmw...138/specs.html

gimme135 · 10-31-2007, 03:10 PM

If only they offered the same "high speed" handling, wheels, tires, sporting package as the 135i, simply making the two identical except for the engine, I'ld definitely get the 128!

The normally aspirated seems to be a "more advanced" engine too. I'll get better gas mileage to boot.

spudw · 10-31-2007, 03:29 PM

My issue with getting a 128i is the suspicion that it will be replaced soon after release with a 130i in 2009 or 2010. I think the 128i is part of a strategy to give full press to the 135i. A 130i would have stolen some of the 135i's thunder. But everyone knows the 128i engine is detuned and could be 20-30bhp more powerful. So if the 135i is too rich for me, I may wait model year or two to see if they launch a 130i coupe, which I would guess will be roughly the same price as the 128i.

Propagator · 10-31-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudwest

My issue with getting a 128i is the suspicion that it will be replaced soon after release with a 130i in 2009 or 2010.

One can only hope.

Khobin~ · 10-31-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudwest

My issue with getting a 128i is the suspicion that it will be replaced soon after release with a 130i in 2009 or 2010. I think the 128i is part of a strategy to give full press to the 135i. A 130i would have stolen some of the 135i's thunder. But everyone knows the 128i engine is detuned and could be 20-30bhp more powerful. So if the 135i is too rich for me, I may wait model year or two to see if they launch a 130i coupe, which I would guess will be roughly the same price as the 128i.

I'm not so sure there'll be a 130...
a 130 would probably steal a lot of sales from the 135 if priced around the same as the 128...think about, spend 30k(us) and get 270hp or spend 37k to get 300...

That's only a 30 hp jump...which granted there's a big difference in torque curves, but John Q. tends to only think in HP #'s...

Where as with the 128 and 135, it's a 70 hp jump, which helps justify the price diff.

If they do make a 130 I see it getting priced more in the middle of the 128 and 135...at which point it's a matter of spend the extra few g's and getting all the other standard features of the 135, or saving a few g's and grabbing the 130 but then if you put any options on it it would be the cost of the 135 anyways...:iono:

Personnally i don't see a 130 coming, unless there's a also some kind of bump to the 135 (like say a 140) to keep enough of a gap between them

Rook24V · 10-31-2007, 11:05 PM

I'm also a former M Coupe owner. I sold it and went back to driving an E30 325e, so the power isn't a huge deal, that 230 in the 128 is more than enough, infact, what I REALLY want is a diesel with 204hp/295tq and better mileage.

The only reason I'm considering it is becuase I don't really expect the diesels to be coming over here. I definately would like the brakes of the 135 (read: former M Coupe owner) but stuff like that can always be upgraded after the fact.

I just agree with pretty much everyone else in this thread, the 128i is overlooked and I really hope it steers and feels like a new E30 should.

Devon K · 11-01-2007, 05:21 AM

Don't want to rain on the parade here, but even as someone who finds my 2550 lb/140 HP coupe is fast enough to get me into serious trouble with the cops if I'm not vigilant and so thinks 300hp/3250 lbs for a street car is almost insane, there is one KEY element of the 135 you simply cannot get with the 128: electro-hydraulic steering. One of the reviews posted in this forum comments that it provides more feeling and feedback than any steering rack BMW has ever offered. Unfortunately with the 128 you are stuck with relatively numb full-electric steering (at least according to a few reviews)... :frown:

Propagator · 11-01-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devon K

Don't want to rain on the parade here, but even as someone who finds my 2550 lb/140 HP coupe is fast enough to get me into serious trouble with the cops if I'm not vigilant and so thinks 300hp/3250 lbs for a street car is almost insane, there is one KEY element of the 135 you simply cannot get with the 128: electro-hydraulic steering. One of the reviews posted in this forum comments that it provides more feeling and feedback than any steering rack BMW has ever offered. Unfortunately with the 128 you are stuck with relatively numb full-electric steering (at least according to a few reviews)... :frown:

Yes, that review is in fact very interesting. However, there have also been multiple reviews that commented on the lack of steering feel specifically on the 135i. I will wait for more confirmations, especially from the british press. I frankly don't trust Automobile magazine too much.

If it is true though, then the 135i becomes even more attractive than it is now.

1050Wien · 11-01-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rook

what I REALLY want is a diesel with 204hp/295tq and better mileage

Right on! I feel the exact same way.

I think the diesels will eventually be here but the most I can wait is summer of 2008...

10-31-2007, 03:10 PM	#25
gimme135 Remember 37 Rep 115 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	If only they offered the same "high speed" handling, wheels, tires, sporting package as the 135i, simply making the two identical except for the engine, I'ld definitely get the 128! The normally aspirated seems to be a "more advanced" engine too. I'll get better gas mileage to boot.
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10-31-2007, 03:29 PM	#26
spudw Major 70 Rep 1,305 Posts Drives: 2009 128i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	My issue with getting a 128i is the suspicion that it will be replaced soon after release with a 130i in 2009 or 2010. I think the 128i is part of a strategy to give full press to the 135i. A 130i would have stolen some of the 135i's thunder. But everyone knows the 128i engine is detuned and could be 20-30bhp more powerful. So if the 135i is too rich for me, I may wait model year or two to see if they launch a 130i coupe, which I would guess will be roughly the same price as the 128i. __________________ 2009 BMW 128i ~ Jet Black ~ Sport Package ~ Sunroof ~ USB Integration ~ Delivered on October 14, 2009
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10-31-2007, 11:05 PM	#29
Rook24V Private 33 Rep 56 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 m40i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Greater Seattle Area iTrader: (0)	I'm also a former M Coupe owner. I sold it and went back to driving an E30 325e, so the power isn't a huge deal, that 230 in the 128 is more than enough, infact, what I REALLY want is a diesel with 204hp/295tq and better mileage. The only reason I'm considering it is becuase I don't really expect the diesels to be coming over here. I definately would like the brakes of the 135 (read: former M Coupe owner) but stuff like that can always be upgraded after the fact. I just agree with pretty much everyone else in this thread, the 128i is overlooked and I really hope it steers and feels like a new E30 should.
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11-01-2007, 05:21 AM	#30
Devon K Lieutenant 38 Rep 570 Posts Drives: TBD Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Don't want to rain on the parade here, but even as someone who finds my 2550 lb/140 HP coupe is fast enough to get me into serious trouble with the cops if I'm not vigilant and so thinks 300hp/3250 lbs for a street car is almost insane, there is one KEY element of the 135 you simply cannot get with the 128: electro-hydraulic steering. One of the reviews posted in this forum comments that it provides more feeling and feedback than any steering rack BMW has ever offered. Unfortunately with the 128 you are stuck with relatively numb full-electric steering (at least according to a few reviews)... :frown:
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