F20 Launch at Stillwell BMW

CrustyNoodle · 10-27-2011, 05:35 AM

Just returned from the Stillwell launch of the F20 1 series.

Sorry no picks (iPhone pics wouldn't do it justice anyhow - Google if you want pics) but I can say that after a glass of sparkling white, a Vodka cocktail and two beers that the interior of the new model is a huge improvement on the E82 - why do they ply you with alcohol before actually lifting the covers?

The interior is now approaching Audi quality!

Well done BMW - it's about time.

sbce90 · 10-27-2011, 06:02 AM

I also saw the new 1er today. Honestly, in person the front end is not as bad as the pictures make it out to be (and believe me, I was a serious hater of the looks). The interior is definitely a step up and looks much more like a mini 7 or 5 series. Didn't drive one, but I assume it's decent anyway.. unless electronic steering has killed a lot of feel..

Honny · 10-27-2011, 06:07 AM

It was launched it in Perth yesterday as well.... big improvement over the E87. Did you guys see the new detachable cup-holders? a-m-a-z-i-n-g.... and theres space for 2 coffees now.

CrustyNoodle · 10-27-2011, 06:13 AM

Do you mean the removable bung type things in the centre console? If so, then yes - they are quite neat and should now be relatively usable.

Honny · 10-27-2011, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrustyNoodle

Do you mean the removable bung type things in the centre console? If so, then yes - they are quite neat and should now be relatively usable.

Yeah aren't they cup holders? If so considering our cars only have 1 that doesn't even work and now it has 2, thats a huge improvement.

CrustyNoodle · 10-27-2011, 06:42 AM

Yep, remove the bungs and holes are the cup holders - I really like it.

The interior is really nice.

WAY · 10-27-2011, 12:24 PM

Sat in one a month ago and had another good look at them at the official launch on the weekend. Have to say I like them too, and have you guys seen the M sport pics from Frankfurt? Also, since no one else has mentioned it, 125i and 135i hatch production starts in March.

I am keen to try a 125i with the new turbo 4. I think it will be a better balanced car than the 135i.

130iguy · 10-28-2011, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honny

Yeah aren't they cup holders? If so considering our cars only have 1 that doesn't even work and now it has 2, thats a huge improvement.

i have 2 cup holders

BBK · 10-28-2011, 01:34 AM

It's interesting how some people swear by the 'quality' of Audi interiors?

I think they 'look' good, but the actual quality isn't that great. A lot of cheaper plastics and silver bits. Their design is better, but the actual quality, to me anyway, seems like a slightly better VW interior with leather.

Tit · 10-28-2011, 08:29 AM

Went to the 1'er launch in Canberra last night. The interior is definitely a step up. Front looks like they drove it into a wall....

...I like the ergonomics of BMW interiors over Audi....bimmers have better angles and are less fussy....

But damn....there's nowhere to store anything in this 135i!!

///M-pressed · 10-30-2011, 08:16 PM

Saw one up at Gold Coast BMW. As others have said, it looks better in real life. I hope they make a 123d again...

Tit · 10-31-2011, 01:57 AM

I hear they are even looking at up to 135i equivalent. Remembering that the coupe will be a 2-series...

GSK130i · 11-02-2011, 08:47 PM

I was at that launch too, a bit of wank i think there were more people there to see who else was there show boating, just wanted to see what the car looks like

. Definitely looked a lot better in the flesh. Guys are right about the interior much better. Looking forward to the higher rated motors and the M Sport coming out next year.

alik01 · 11-02-2011, 09:19 PM

Had a look yesterday and it does look better in person, but then I was never too harsher a critic of it's looks. The lights are a bit odd but they look okay with xenons.

One thing I did notice is the doors feel a lot lighter and the some of the interior bits were more econobox like, albeit better designed. Maybe the model the dealer had was a properly base.

jozeff · 11-03-2011, 03:04 AM

Way, a 135i hatch is great news!!! I've been waiting for a kickass rwd hatch that can hold 4 people! However, where did you hear this news? I've heard there will be no 6 cylinder F20?!

dtcoff · 11-03-2011, 11:20 PM

Just drove new F20 118d at BMW Sydney launch drives today. Agree that it's much better looking in the flesh than the photos have shown, although the "Urban Line" features like white grill, bumper inserts, wheels etc may not be very popular.

Engine quiet (for a diesel), spools up quickly and matches with that great 8 speed auto. Interior quality a huge leap over E87. Certainly notice the extra cabin width too with drive and passenger elbows further away now. Lots of the new tech from F10 5er included as std or optional. Makes E87/2/8 look like a poverty pack.

RaihaX · 11-03-2011, 11:24 PM

Just saw this in person - I quite like the interior!

MPBK · 11-03-2011, 11:29 PM

:mad:

10-27-2011, 05:35 AM	#1
CrustyNoodle First Lieutenant 12 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 135i DCT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	F20 Launch at Stillwell BMW Just returned from the Stillwell launch of the F20 1 series. Sorry no picks (iPhone pics wouldn't do it justice anyhow - Google if you want pics) but I can say that after a glass of sparkling white, a Vodka cocktail and two beers that the interior of the new model is a huge improvement on the E82 - why do they ply you with alcohol before actually lifting the covers? The interior is now approaching Audi quality! Well done BMW - it's about time. __________________ BMW - 135i DCT Audi - Q5 3.0TDI
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10-27-2011, 06:02 AM	#2
sbce90 Me Boosta 249 Rep 5,721 Posts Drives: 320i / MB C63 / VW up! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (3)	I also saw the new 1er today. Honestly, in person the front end is not as bad as the pictures make it out to be (and believe me, I was a serious hater of the looks). The interior is definitely a step up and looks much more like a mini 7 or 5 series. Didn't drive one, but I assume it's decent anyway.. unless electronic steering has killed a lot of feel..
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10-27-2011, 06:07 AM	#3
Honny Captain 28 Rep 771 Posts Drives: Something Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth iTrader: (0)	It was launched it in Perth yesterday as well.... big improvement over the E87. Did you guys see the new detachable cup-holders? a-m-a-z-i-n-g.... and theres space for 2 coffees now.
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10-27-2011, 06:13 AM	#4
CrustyNoodle First Lieutenant 12 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 135i DCT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Do you mean the removable bung type things in the centre console? If so, then yes - they are quite neat and should now be relatively usable. __________________ BMW - 135i DCT Audi - Q5 3.0TDI
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10-27-2011, 06:42 AM	#6
CrustyNoodle First Lieutenant 12 Rep 317 Posts Drives: 135i DCT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Yep, remove the bungs and holes are the cup holders - I really like it. The interior is really nice. __________________ BMW - 135i DCT Audi - Q5 3.0TDI
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10-27-2011, 12:24 PM	#7
WAY Brigadier General 458 Rep 4,822 Posts Drives: Fast ones Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Sat in one a month ago and had another good look at them at the official launch on the weekend. Have to say I like them too, and have you guys seen the M sport pics from Frankfurt? Also, since no one else has mentioned it, 125i and 135i hatch production starts in March. I am keen to try a 125i with the new turbo 4. I think it will be a better balanced car than the 135i.
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10-28-2011, 01:34 AM	#9
BBK Banned 88 Rep 3,070 Posts Drives: A boring one... Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 135i [5.76]	It's interesting how some people swear by the 'quality' of Audi interiors? I think they 'look' good, but the actual quality isn't that great. A lot of cheaper plastics and silver bits. Their design is better, but the actual quality, to me anyway, seems like a slightly better VW interior with leather.
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10-28-2011, 08:29 AM	#10
Tit ... 15 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 964C2 // 1M // R56JCW Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Went to the 1'er launch in Canberra last night. The interior is definitely a step up. Front looks like they drove it into a wall.... ...I like the ergonomics of BMW interiors over Audi....bimmers have better angles and are less fussy.... But damn....there's nowhere to store anything in this 135i!! __________________
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10-30-2011, 08:16 PM	#11
///M-pressed Lieutenant 276 Rep 417 Posts Drives: E46 M3, F82 M4 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sydney & Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	Saw one up at Gold Coast BMW. As others have said, it looks better in real life. I hope they make a 123d again...
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10-31-2011, 01:57 AM	#12
Tit ... 15 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 964C2 // 1M // R56JCW Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I hear they are even looking at up to 135i equivalent. Remembering that the coupe will be a 2-series... __________________
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11-02-2011, 08:47 PM	#13
GSK130i Private 0 Rep 55 Posts Drives: F20 Alpine White M135i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 130i M Sport [0.00]	I was at that launch too, a bit of wank i think there were more people there to see who else was there show boating, just wanted to see what the car looks like . Definitely looked a lot better in the flesh. Guys are right about the interior much better. Looking forward to the higher rated motors and the M Sport coming out next year.
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11-02-2011, 09:19 PM	#14
alik01 Lieutenant Colonel 51 Rep 1,792 Posts Drives: Slowly & Responsibly Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Darwin, Australia iTrader: (0)	Had a look yesterday and it does look better in person, but then I was never too harsher a critic of it's looks. The lights are a bit odd but they look okay with xenons. One thing I did notice is the doors feel a lot lighter and the some of the interior bits were more econobox like, albeit better designed. Maybe the model the dealer had was a properly base. __________________
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11-03-2011, 03:04 AM	#15
jozeff Private First Class 20 Rep 139 Posts Drives: BMW 130i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Way, a 135i hatch is great news!!! I've been waiting for a kickass rwd hatch that can hold 4 people! However, where did you hear this news? I've heard there will be no 6 cylinder F20?!
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11-03-2011, 11:20 PM	#16
dtcoff First Lieutenant 49 Rep 374 Posts Drives: 2014 F22 M235i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sydney iTrader: (0)	Just drove new F20 118d at BMW Sydney launch drives today. Agree that it's much better looking in the flesh than the photos have shown, although the "Urban Line" features like white grill, bumper inserts, wheels etc may not be very popular. Engine quiet (for a diesel), spools up quickly and matches with that great 8 speed auto. Interior quality a huge leap over E87. Certainly notice the extra cabin width too with drive and passenger elbows further away now. Lots of the new tech from F10 5er included as std or optional. Makes E87/2/8 look like a poverty pack. __________________ 2014 M235i / EB-II / Coral / Sunroof / Comfort & Parking Packages 2014 X3 3.0d / M sport / AW / Sunroof
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11-03-2011, 11:24 PM	#17
RaihaX Major General 156 Rep 4,995 Posts Drives: 08' 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia, Perth iTrader: (2)	Just saw this in person - I quite like the interior!
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11-03-2011, 11:29 PM	#18
MPBK Everyday I'm shuffling 449 Rep 1,098 Posts Drives: '12 SG 135i DCT; '18 MG M2 DCT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	:mad:
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