Why isn't the 135 more popular?

[bluesunit]

The car is dead sexy from the side and rear 3/4 view. The ass is unoffensive. It has a butter face though.

I wish I was on the design team for the 1. All it needed was a few 2002 styling cues in the front and it would have looked awesome.

As for the rarity ... your typical BMW driver goes to the lot and will compare a 1 vs a 3. In that case, the 1 doesn't make sense because it is less car for the money, so a 3 gets purchased. Subsequently, the dealers (especially around here) don't stock them.

The 1 only makes sense if you are an enthusiast and cross shop it with things like the 370z, EVO X, or STi. The 1 is way more practical than the Z and puts down nearly identical numbers and it's a much nicer car IMHO than the EVO or STi.

[MUFCbmwbear]

In Chicago land area I have only ever seen maybe 5 other 135i on the road, and probably about 30 or so 128s since they hit the streets here. Most of the 128s I see are verts too.
People have asked me, "what is that?" "Is that the New M3?" which is ridiculous, but it made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. I've been approached at gas stations a lot and some dude at a golf club once said "That's one hot car, I want one of those"

The fact that the car is more rare makes it more appealing IMHO.
BMW did next to NO advertising for the 1 series. The only ads I can recall ever seeing were on Youtube and one billboard on 294 in '08 that had a Sedona red 135i with the tagline
THE BMW ONE SERIES, THE NEW LOOK OF FAST

[MikeinAlexandria]

IMHO, dealers don't push the One Series because it has a lower profit margin. Americans like big cars, I have friends who like BMWs but won't buy one because they can't seat six people! (Really, how often does one drive somewhere carting six people with them??? I can't get six people to show up at one time for dinner!)

Then there is the perception that One Series cars are smaller, lower quality BMWs. I am finding that they are not. Compared to my 80's 3 series cars, the One is fantastic. Handles well, runs well, deals with all sorts of environmental condiitons and looks like a BMW should. But, there are many who are concerned with how much a car costs, and there are other cars, priced lower or the same as a 135, that offer more features at the expense of safety and handling. Personally, I wanted a sporty car that handled best, looked great, was very safe, weighed less than 3200 pounds and cost less than $45k. There are very few cars on the market that meet all those requirements. My 128i does a great job of meeting them, better than any other car I drove.

One series BMWs seem hugely popular in countries where roads are twisty and small, gasoline is expensive and people like smaller cars. And for now, that is fine with me.

[jaf89f]

Yeah, I drive a 128i in St. Louis, and even I have people asking me the same things like "BMW makes a 1 series?" and walking around my car trying to figure out what it is. The 135i has far more aggressive styling, but I still love all the 1ers and still get plenty of attention in my 128i. Now, that shouldn't be the reason you buy a car. I originally thought these car were going to blow up and be everywhere when I first heard they were coming out with a 1 series, but the opposite seems to have happen. Overall, is it really that bad to be part of this exclusive club?? I say just sit back, drive, and enjoy it.

[IZAGLO]

If i see one 135i a week here its a good week ..A few 128's and plenty of 3 series..at least 3 335i a day and a lot of 3 and 5 series...A family who is interested in buying the business i run drove up in a Mercedes AMG (with NO tread on the rear wheels, it eats rubber) and a 535i....when i questioned them if the were car enthusiasts they said yes not a crazy one..(like me) I told them i had a 135i and there response BMW driver " What is the i series , oh yea i heard about that, and saw one once... i kept thinking why would BMW even build a car like that, its so small and you should of bought the 3 series or the 5 because you are so big..." i am 6ft4 my son 6ft5 and we fit with plenty of room in the 135i leg, head and shoulder so no issue there. Back seat does not matter to me as it it is there for emergency's as only small midgets can fit with the seats back... it's not my DD yet i need 4wd for that...but i could give a shit what other folks feel about the 135i...not as sexy as the 3 series coupe but funky and sexy in its own way..As a compact car driver for ever the 135i is the most fun of any i have owned, i love the looks and simple interior(not one for over the top luxury) ...and the fastest car i have owned..especially with the juice!!

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by bluesunit

As for the rarity ... your typical BMW driver goes to the lot and will compare a 1 vs a 3. In that case, the 1 doesn't make sense because it is less car for the money, so a 3 gets purchased. Subsequently, the dealers (especially around here) don't stock them.

I was actually in the market for a 335 coupe but after test driving I felt it was too soft, too quiet, waaaaay too big, and far too refined. I test drove it probably 10 times and couldn't get myself to like it. I drove the 135i and was in love instantly. It's all of the good parts of the 335 coupe in a tigher, no nonsense package. I love this car!

[CMSS2000]

Don't know if anybody mentioned this, but in the snow states people want 4-wheel drive anymore. Besides carrying very few 1-series, my local Northeast dealers don't have any 2 wheel drive 3-series either (except maybe M3). He told me nobody wants them. Everything on the lot is X-Drive!

[instag8tr]

Originally Posted by GaryS

It's expensive and impractical, and most people think its appearance is somewhere between bland and ugly.

I don't think it is the appearance because I see plenty of camray's and accords on the road.

[KingOfJericho]

Camrys and Accords serve a very different purpose. You're not buying it because it's gorgeous, you're buying it because it's a transportation device, and a pretty good one at that.

[vraptor567]

Originally Posted by GaryS

It's expensive and impractical, and most people think its appearance is somewhere between bland and ugly.

even though I see a fair amount of them out here, they don't seem to have the smooth lines most people like, hard to beat the performance though. I always wonder why people buy the *25 or *28 models instead of the higher performing *35 models, even grandma deserves some "hit" when she stomps on the gas

[CMSS2000]

When viewed from the side, the lines of the car swoop up at the ends or droop in the middle, whichever way you want to look at it. I told my dealer I would want black because it sort of hides this. He said he calls it the "Bathtub" look.

I bought mine simply because of the mechanicals. Turbo six and 7-speed DCT...fast, torquey, decent ride and good handling. I wanted the DCT and to get it in a 3 series (335is) you would have to pay at least 13-15k more. Just wasn't worth it to me. I always said I would drive a shoebox if it was fun to drive.

Also when I was at my dealer, there were two other people looking at a 3 coupe and they turned and looked at the 1 coupe and said who would buy that. I was thinking...me!
Some people only see skin deep.

[KingOfJericho]

This is what my car looks like to me (my dog):

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by CMSS2000

When viewed from the side, the lines of the car swoop up at the ends or droop in the middle, whichever way you want to look at it. I told my dealer I would want black because it sort of hides this. He said he calls it the "Bathtub" look.

This is why my first mod was the perf skirts. It fixes that drooping line.

[1-2MANY]

I hope it stay like this. I see a dozen 3 and 5 series everyday and I'm usually the only 1 series on the road.

[1HungryMan]

The reason is simple: it's a very impractical and expensive car for people that aren't simply in love with the way it drives. Brand whores don't buy this car, they buy a 3/5 series or an X3/5 for the heft and capacity to carry stuff and the family. Or they buy Audi's which have a more genteel reputation and again, more room.

All the people on limited budgets who like to drive look at WRX's or VW's and *assume* the ride is more or less the same.

It has always been shocking to me that BMW has not produced any advertising aimed at attracting people to the 1. A friend of mine, with a wife and two kids, has two 3 series and asked to drive my 1. He was blown away, but after a lifetime of BMW had no clue how good the 1 is to drive. Blame BMW.

It frankly astounds me that a Hyundai Genesis is priced around the same as a 1, which is so hilarious you can hardly stop laughing. Thing is, the 1 is simply not a good car for more than two people, and even then, it doesn't do much else other than drive like a monster and look pretty.

That's why.

I could sell an extra 20,000 1's in North America for BMW simply by producing a web campaign of people and their 1's videos, and then repurposing into a commercial for television. I love my 1 so much I would shoot a video!. But it's not a priority for the brand, which is fine with me. The world is flooded with dull 3 Series, which is a car in desperate need of a refresh.

I have never had so much fun driving as in my 1.

[bluesunit]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

I could sell an extra 20,000 1's in North America for BMW simply by producing a web campaign of people and their 1's videos, and then repurposing into a commercial for television. I love my 1 so much I would shoot a video!. But it's not a priority for the brand, which is fine with me. The world is flooded with dull 3 Series, which is a car in desperate need of a refresh.

I love the new BMW 3 series commercials. They should do the same thing and connect the 1 with the 2002.

[mac128ic]

It is about how do you want to spend your money.
Utility Vs Pleasure.

For the 135i's cost you can buy a bigger car with less fun. If utility is more important, (Mostly people will chose that) then they go for bigger car.

This is just my openion.

[dbtheo]

On average around 11-12k total 1 series imported into the US, between 4 body styles & over 400 BMW centers... = not a lot of cars.

around here, there are more 135s that I see vs 128's, but thats not saying much. I've seen less than 10 1ers on roads this year alone

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

This is why my first mod was the perf skirts. It fixes that drooping line.

What's with the vents in the Performance skirts? Not being sarcastic - I've just never really understood 'em. I realize that they're probably not functional, but what are they even supposed to look like? Rear brake vents?

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

What's with the vents in the Performance skirts? Not being sarcastic - I've just never really understood 'em. I realize that they're probably not functional, but what are they even supposed to look like? Rear brake vents?

Who knows... I was pretty disappointed when they arrived and I saw that the vent hole was actually a solid plastic lump that you have to sticky tape into place. To tell you the truth, since installation I haven't given it a second thought. To me their function is purely aesthetic and that's fine with me.

[AZ135]

It looks like a pit bull on wheels.

My car matches my pit bull and my pit bull/lab mix. All are strong, athletic, and misunderstood. haha.

I see a lot of 1 series around Scottsdale and Tempe, but most are 128 convertibles driven by women. A few weeks ago, I saw 3 128 verts within a 30 second span. I only see a 135 every couple of weeks or so.

I never get any looks from other people unless they're driving an STI or Evo. Although, I did get a thumbs up after a fun freeway run from a couple of guys in a F430. The only time 'normal' people give me a look is when I step on it. Then I get a look like "wow, I didn't know that car could do that."

[KingOfJericho]

Yeah, agreed about the looks people are getting. The car might be rare or a big deal in some places but it's a cheap little toy around here. I've only received looks in places where they hear the CP-E roaring (ie parking garages).