135 is coming!!!

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by tdc

Pricing will be in the $30-35k range depending on options.

I appreciate the exciting news tdc. But I find it hard to believe that a 135i with M sport pack and Brembo brake will still run well over $5K less than a standard 335i. With that kind of pricing gap, a bare bones 128i will end up BELOW $25K.

I do expect BMW to make the M package standard in a 135i, along with other racy things like Brembo. But then it won't be cheap, much like how A3 3.2 S-line is. I would expect it to come in at above $35K with no further options.

[imported_tdc]

It's not a matter of whether you believe it or not. That's what it will be, plain and simple.

Standard features on the 135i will be moonroof, M-sport, and Brembos. This is straight from BMW. Pricing is in the range I stated before. I'm simply reiterating what was shown and told to us by BMW officials during the unveiling.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by tdc

It's not a matter of whether you believe it or not. That's what it will be, plain and simple.

Standard features on the 135i will be moonroof, M-sport, and Brembos. This is straight from BMW. Pricing is in the range I stated before. I'm simply reiterating what was shown and told to us by BMW officials during the unveiling.

Hey thanks for the input. Did they say if the Bi-xenons were standard on the 135i???

[aesthetect]

thank you very much for the info. any word on the diesel?

sorry to instantly bombard you with questions. you're a lucky man, the car sounds incredible.

[imported_tdc]

Diesels won't be coming for at least another year. No word on which models will come with them first but I do know it won't be the 5-series. Unfortunate because the 535d's we drove were INCREDIBLE!!

[PierrePHRWEAUX]

Originally Posted by tdc

Diesels won't be coming for at least another year. No word on which models will come with them first but I do know it won't be the 5-series. Unfortunate because the 535d's we drove were INCREDIBLE!!

I guess you will get the X5 as the first diesel.

[PierrePHRWEAUX]

I just hope American market will never turn as the euro, that is to say 70% diesel.

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by tdc

It's not a matter of whether you believe it or not. That's what it will be, plain and simple.

Standard features on the 135i will be moonroof, M-sport, and Brembos. This is straight from BMW. Pricing is in the range I stated before. I'm simply reiterating what was shown and told to us by BMW officials during the unveiling.

Well, let's just say that I couldn't be happier if that pricing comes true. That would be great for the 1, not so much for the 3.

After all, it will still be much less than the gap between the 3 and the 5.

[imported_tdc]

Originally Posted by PierrePHRWEAUX

I just hope American market will never turn as the euro, that is to say 70% diesel.

Why do you say that? I think it would be great if the US market embraces diesel.

[Brookside]

35k for a 135 that includes as standard features Brembo brakes,
M-sport, moonroof! I would figure that leather would also be standard.
This would be a good deal.
You can get into a 3 series coupe (328) base model for apprx. that price.
Again, it's apples and oranges to compare the two, but I think that if the price point slightly overlaps between the two coupes... I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear of 3-er owners being pissed at the bargain they missed out on.

[spudw]

I'd be on cloud 9 if the 135i came in at that price - almost TGTBT.

Has anyone thought about whether BMW would pull the 328i after introducing the 1er? Perhaps to make the 3er even more premium, if only in badging? Wonder if we'd see the 3er lineup as a 330i and 335i in 2009... Canada also has the 323i, which is about $4,000 less and I'd be floored if the 1er didn't spell the end of that model....

[hector]

[quote=tdc;3238]... US-spec 135i Coupe ...standard features for the US market...moonroof...

quote]

what a shame, can't even avoid a moonroof on their cheapest car, not that the money is so much an issue- i just don't like them mainly for the added weight. i'm really pissed!

[PierrePHRWEAUX]

Originally Posted by tdc

Why do you say that? I think it would be great if the US market embraces diesel.

Because I just think US is the eldorado for people who like gasoline engine:smile: . And if US market becomes 70% diesel, then which manufacturer is going to develop engine like the 3.0 TT if they can't sell it. And also, the main reason why diesel has expand like that in Europe is because diesel fuel is cheaper than gasoline for taxes purpose, and then euro manufacturer have spent millions to develop high tech diesel , money they didn't spend on gas engine. It tends to change now as some manufacturers start developping small gasoline fuel-efficient turbo engine. But it's too late, at least in france, and now it smells bad in the streets and the only engine sound you can hear is 'clac clac clac clac'.

[imported_tdc]

[quote=hector;3261]

Originally Posted by tdc

... US-spec 135i Coupe ...standard features for the US market...moonroof...

quote]

what a shame, can't even avoid a moonroof on their cheapest car, not that the money is so much an issue- i just don't like them mainly for the added weight. i'm really pissed!

No one said you couldn't delete that option.

[PierrePHRWEAUX]

so do you think there will be a base model for the 135i without M sport aand all the stuff, and will be its price?

[hector]

[quote=tdc;3263]

Originally Posted by hector

No one said you couldn't delete that option.

true, let's hope.

[imported_tdc]

Originally Posted by PierrePHRWEAUX

so do you think there will be a base model for the 135i without M sport aand all the stuff, and will be its price?

No, the base model will come with those three items because they are standard.

But similar to the lip spoiler on the E46 M3, there was a no-cost option to simply delete the lip spoiler if you did not want it on the car. I'm sure they'll provide this as well on the 135i since it's an opportunity to make more money on the car if people opt not to have a sunroof.

[spudw]

Originally Posted by hector

what a shame, can't even avoid a moonroof on their cheapest car, not that the money is so much an issue- i just don't like them mainly for the added weight. i'm really pissed!

I think the "cheapest car" connotation is precisely what they are trying to avoid (not trying to pick on your choice of words, Hector :biggrin, so I'd imagine we can expect standard features similar to 3-series...

[Brookside]

Originally Posted by PierrePHRWEAUX

But it's too late, at least in france, and now it smells bad in the streets and the only engine sound you can hear is 'clac clac clac clac'.

Hah! I grew up with that sound...and that smell and hated it.
No matter how wonderful and convincing the arguement for diesel is...it'll always be an emotional turn-off for me.
You make a good point about research...I've thought that BMW has come as close as any manufacturer to making a state-of-the-art gasoline fueled internal combustion engine.

[Propagator]

Originally Posted by tdc

No, the base model will come with those three items because they are standard.

But similar to the lip spoiler on the E46 M3, there was a no-cost option to simply delete the lip spoiler if you did not want it on the car. I'm sure they'll provide this as well on the 135i since it's an opportunity to make more money on the car if people opt not to have a sunroof.

I just checked www.bmw.de, and a 3 door 130i with M sports pack costs about the same as a decently equipped 325i sedan. This in reality may not have much to do with the US pricing, but it's still interesting. If this extrapolates, then it's not so crazy to get a 135i coupe with M-sports pack for the price of a decently equipped 328i coupe. And US base model is decently equipped in Euro standard. Throw in Brembos as a special gift for the US market, and there you have a 135i with M sports and Brembo for ~$35K!

So tdc, any info on how much a 128i base model will cost? I can't imagine there being less than ~$8K difference between the 135i you described and a base model 128i. Is ~$27K in the right ball park?

[Advevo]

TDC the main question is does the 135i have a limited slip diff. Just look under it and see if the rear diff has cooling fins on it then it proberly has one.

[bmwfreak]

TDC, did bmw mention if they are officially calling it the 135i? as oppsoed to a '2-series' name ?