128i, the Connoisseur's Choice

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

X1 one has a lot of issues.

But really, the E82/7, E9x, E6x, and E65 are all pretty ugly as well.

The E90 and E60 5 are actually attactive to me. I don't like SUVs though.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

The E90 and E60 5 are actually attactive to me. I don't like SUVs though.

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

The E90 and E60 5 are actually attactive to me. I don't like SUVs though.

True
Last 2 days I saw a LCI e60 550 Msport in deep blue on black window trim and a pre LCI e90 335i with chrome. Made me turn heads.

I was later rewarded seeing a rare Chrimson Red 135i Msport due to black window trim.

These generations age well. I recall the scandal e60 was in 2004/5, I even disliked it.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

True
Last 2 days I saw a LCI e60 550 Msport in deep blue on black window trim and a pre LCI e90 335i with chrome. Made me turn heads.

I was later rewarded seeing a rare Chrimson Red 135i Msport due to black window trim.

These generations age well. I recall the scandal e60 was in 2004/5, I even disliked it.

E65 was the true abomination of that era.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Yeah, that looks like my car.

[bozola]

I love my 128!

Rare, powerful. Ugly.

So is my z3 coupe!

[Taskmaster]

I had a Z roadster - fun car, but I never understood the appeal of the coupe outside of the fixed roof.

The ZHP is amazing though

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

I had a Z roadster - fun car, but I never understood the appeal of the coupe outside of the fixed roof.

The ZHP is amazing though

Coupe is absurdly torsionally rigid, and in M guise, a pretty wonderfully wild car. The story about how it came to be is pretty awesome too.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Coupe is absurdly torsionally rigid, and in M guise, a pretty wonderfully wild car. The story about how it came to be is pretty awesome too.

The Z forums are full of this circle jerk. Too bad the car had a terrible rear suspension, terrible build quality and hate it or love it looks.

[128]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

The Z forums are full of this circle jerk. Too bad the car had a terrible rear suspension, terrible build quality and hate it or love it looks.

+1! I've always wanted one and have test driven over a dozen for sale, but my handling preferences are a bit different from what that car has to offer, so it never clicked. I've always loved the idea of a Z3 coupe ever since I test drove one at BMWCCA O'FEST 1998 in Orlando. The thing I hate the most is the odd (for me) driving position. My e30 fits me like a glove. No other car has fit me as well until the e82 came along without a sunroof.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

The Z forums are full of this circle jerk. Too bad the car had a terrible rear suspension, terrible build quality and hate it or love it looks.

Also has the second worst subframe failure(behind Z8). Definitely was full swing E36 crap era interior.

That being said, wonderful to drive and you can't lose money on one. Prices are absolutely skyrocketing as BMW goes down the tubes.

[The Dowager Countess]

I had an m coupe. That car was stupid cool. My e46 m3 that replaced it always felt like I was driving my dad's car- a bit too heavy, big, too quiet and way to fucking fast. Driving along on a highway at night and looking down to discover you're going 130mph is a good way to go to jail.

[cmcdonald]

I think the 128i has a lot in common with the Z3 coupe. Same long nose bubble top love it or hate looks. Both also have great I6 NA engines and tight fantastic handling too. When I test drove my 128 it definitely reminded me of driving my buddy's Z3 which is one of the things that sold me on the 1er.

[Rantor]

Love my 2010 128i. Wanted one since first sight at a Berlin showroom in early 2007.

A couple months ago I test drove the new 335i sedan. Could have been a Honda Accord, not as soft as a Lexus ES350. Only in Sport plus did the car have a little tighter road feel and better acceleration. C&D is not exaggerating, BMW is trying to be all soft and comfortable with their new cars. No matter I plan to drive the 128i for a long time. Daughters hand me down Volvo 850 is 19 this year, wife's XC-70 will be 10 this fall and the lack of a 5 series touring in the US probably means we'll be driving it a lot longer!

[sixburgh]

I am so happy with my 128i. My 128i reminds me of this legendary BMW.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by sixburgh

I am so happy with my 128i. My 128i reminds me of this legendary BMW.

It does have that same upright stubbiness that endeared so many to the 2002... Much more so than the new 2-Series.

[Brake_L8]

I love mine. Drove a facelift-E9x 328i coupe when I was shopping and it just didn't feel "right." The 128i's are so similar in concept and feel to the E36 that I think we all acknowledge and appreciate.

Some people at my weekly BMW meet have ragged on me because "bro, why didn't you get the 135, you can tune it and get like 400 hp to the wheels?!"

There's something about a N/A I6 with a decently-lightweight body on it, hooked up through a proper three-pedal gearbox, that is being lost on newer cars. This is the best of old-school in a brand-new wrapping.

[631twentyeighteye]

People can't seem to grasp the concept that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow. Now when i call the 128 slow, i mean only in comparison to tuned 135i's/335is etc. That being said I sure as hell can't push the 128i to it's limit as i lack the experience

When the tristate 1addicts group went up to bear mountain to play on the twisties, i had absolutely zero issue keeping up with my friends who are making 350+hp at the rear wheels on their 135i's. You don't need a retarded amount of power to have fun or be fast.

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

People can't seem to grasp the concept that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.

Literally, my mantra.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

People can't seem to grasp the concept that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.

In today's spec sheet measuring contest with cars that manage themselves to make the masses of power accessible to the common idiot, the reasonable driver's car is all but gone.

At this point all we have is the Miata, BRZ/FRS, and the Cayman/Boxster. Driver focused sport sedans are dead.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

People can't seem to grasp the concept that it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.

While I don't have an N52, I fully agree. I'm amazed how fast the 135 is and it is definitely enough fast for everyday driving. Wouldn't want more power. I want less weight instead.

I wish we could test drive a 125i and 135i back to back, but even for our 1er we had to drive 2000km to just actually try it. There's like 3x times more convertibles than coupes in Germany, just a very few of them are six cylinders with manual gearbox.

However, I think you can still buy a brand new, fun car to drive. For example the Fiesta & Focus ST, Seat Leon Cupra but if you can't stand turbocharged engines and EPS, well, then you're screwed of course... Though F30 owners are saying that the EPS in the newest cars is far better (or rather less crappy) than in early vehicles.

P.S.: Dat red ZHP I remember having a ride in a 330xi long long time ago, and the mechanical sound of the engine is something I will never ever forget.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by swagon

While I don't have an N52, I fully agree. I'm amazed how fast the 135 is and it is definitely enough fast for everyday driving. Wouldn't want more power. I want less weight instead.

I wish we could test drive a 125i and 135i back to back, but even for our 1er we had to drive 2000km to just actually try it. There's like 3x times more convertibles than coupes in Germany, just a very few of them are six cylinders with manual gearbox.

However, I think you can still buy a brand new, fun car to drive. For example the Fiesta & Focus ST, Seat Leon Cupra but if you can't stand turbocharged engines and EPS, well, then you're screwed of course... Though F30 owners are saying that the EPS in the newest cars is far better (or rather less crappy) than in early vehicles.

P.S.: Dat red ZHP I remember having a ride in a 330xi long long time ago, and the mechanical sound of the engine is something I will never ever forget.

EPS ruins a car far faster than turbos. If I can't feel the tires I don't know what's going on in terms of grip. If I don't know grip levels I can't approach the limits. And if I can't approach the limits, then I'm not having any fun.

F Gen EPS has not improved in the slightest stateside, despite the 15 or so revisions it has had. Driven everything from the F01 to the F10 to the F30 to the F20, all terrible.