Did you also consider a 3 before you bought your 1?

[AlanO]

Originally Posted by Adam135

I originally wanted the 335, drove both cars and preferred the 135 hands down.

I did the same thing. Drove a 2011 335i and a week later tested a 135i. A week after that I bought a 135. The 135i fits my desires (as someone earlier said, no one needs a turbo) and I'm glad I went the direction I did.

[ChrisPA]

Originally Posted by BuddhaPilot

Matmanx1,

If you look at the difference in interior measurements, there is so little difference between the two that its pretty insignificant. The significantly smaller look of the exterior makes most think there is a huge difference. The backseat headroom of the 1 is actually better than the 3 due to the different shape of the roof.

It was funny to look at the 92 Mustang 5.0 coupe parked next to me when I picked my kids up from school the other day. My 135 looked bigger than it! I used to own a 93 coupe and that thing felt Iike a much larger car than my BMW does.

I second that... a while back I spent more time that I care to admit moving back and forth between the back seats of a 128 and 328 coupe (both in the showroom). While it did seem a little bit easier to get into the 328 backseat (B-pillar position perhaps?), once inside the room seemed virtually the same. (in fact, maybe better headroom in the 128). It was a nice surprise....

[BenDiem]

My perspective: I never considered a new 3 series (F30) when I shopped for the 1 series. I've lost that loving feeling for the 3 series, since the F30 replaced the E90 series. I had an '09 E92 and I actually enjoyed it. Perfect size, and perfect style...

The F30 series has grown too much, and it actually looks like a 7/8th version of the new 5 series (F10). Larger exterior & weight means less fun for me...

BTW, I got a ride from my salesman, yesterday in the new 5 series... I swear I thought I was in a Cadillac CTS sedan. The F10 is a boat, and you can feel the artificial suspension and loss of tactile response. Not for me. Neither is the new F30.

At the end of the day though, any BMW is better than most other brands when it comes to the Ultimate Driving Satisfaction/Machine.

GL in your adventure. It's part of the fun...

Cheers/B

[Bob Z.]

It seems like a lot of people gave you an answer but if it helps I too drove a few 3 series cars and was actually looking for a convertible with a manual, which are very hard to find. But a dealer had one and when we got there someone was test driving it so my wife asked about a 128 convertible they had. We took it for a drive and to make a long story short we ordered a new 135i convertible...no regrets!

[alvitdk]

I never considered the 3 since I was set on a soft top convertible, not many out there and the 1 was just perfect in every way. 128 Convertible with sports, premium and cold weather package is a perfect fit. I usually own my car for no more than 2 Years, but I am set on keeping this one for a much longer time.

[bmw1racer]

I've driven five various 3-series (E30, E36) over the years and they've gotten bigger, heavier, and more bloated, so the 1-Series was the obvious choice to get back to something more pure and simple.

[mb135is]

Originally Posted by matmanx1

I may be in a position to make a purchase as early as next week depending on how things go with my current car. I've driven a 2010 135i but have yet to drive a 3 series.

I originally zeroed in on the 1 series because of the size and the lower cost of a new one but now I've decided I'd rather go used (sticking around the 09 or 10 model years). It looks like there are far more 3 series (both 328i and 335i) out there than 1 series and more 135i's for sale than 128i's.

I know the 3 is a larger, heavier car but also roomier and with a little bit nicer interior. I need to go take a test drive but did some of you 1 series folk also drive a 3 and then decide to come back to the 1? And if you were in the market for a pre-owned car, as I am, would you still pick the 1 over the 3 at the same price point? Because from where I am sitting the used prices are very close.

Absolutely not - E9x was never a consideration coming from an E46 for two incredibly important (to me) factors: size and interior/dash layout. To me, the E82 is the next version of the E36, E46, etc... 3 series as I've always felt the E9x was too big. The E82 porridge is just right for me .

[Ammonia]

Why is it that us 1 series folk can simultaneously love the 3 series but say we prefer the 1, but when 3 series folks talk about the 1 they view us as just glorified Camrys? Lol. Love you guys, such good advice.

[Ejpatch]

Came from a 335i coupe to a 135i convertible. Love everything about the 1er never looked back

[tuco44]

Actually, I've had a recent 3 Series (M3 no less), but most recent BMW was a new X3. When I decided the X3 had to go, I did not consider the 3 series at all. Drove both versions of the 1 Series, and immediately bought the 135i.No regrets at all, the 135i is smaller, handles like a dream, is fun to drive and way cheaper to run than the M3. We have a second car in the family, and only 2 of us; so the 135i is good for a long time. I really doubt I would ever go back to a 3 Series, particularly now that it has grown again and has more driver-interference stuff.

[631twentyeighteye]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

Why is it that us 1 series folk can simultaneously love the 3 series but say we prefer the 1, but when 3 series folks talk about the 1 they view us as just glorified Camrys? Lol. Love you guys, such good advice.

They don't like that the 3 equivalent of our cars are slower

[B-Dawg]

Originally Posted by Rukuss

I had a ZHP 330, e46 M3, an e92 335i, i like my 135i better then all it just drives and feels better, also with a drop, a performance spoiler, a front lip makes them look fantastic Good luck.

I too had an e46 ZHP (sedan). And to be honest I liked that car better than my current 135. Sedan is a bit more practical for me with 2 kids, and it felt more connected to the road. But it had issues of its own that drove me a little batty - 4k power drop, no bluetooth, and fixed rear seats. I'd actually like to get an e46 330i sedan with sport package in 6sp mt, but they are few and far between.

But like most - I think the e9x and current 3's are just too big.

[matmanx1]

Thanks for all the input folks. It will be sometime next week before I get a chance to test drive a 328 or 335 but I will be most interested to see if the larger car feels more disconnected from the road and less "tossable" than the 1 series and to what degree.

Is the Sport Suspension on the 3 series coupes less aggressive than the M Sports setup on the 1 series?

An option that still might sway me towards the 3 over the 1 is the sound system. I've discovered recently that I good sound system is important to me and if possible I don't like to modify my cars too much. If I could find a 6MT 1 series with the H/K system for sale I'd likely jump on it but I've yet to find one of those in the wild while I've seen several 3 series coupes with the Logic7 system installed.

I think that I am realizing that it sort of sucks to be so picky.

[tritonx]

If you want to toss it around don't forget to hit the DTC button once.

When came the time to look at a new car, I was already in BMWs with two E36s. In 2008 when the 1 came out I wanted one so bad but couldn't afford it. When it got serious I looked at both option, a 3 coupe with the same config (deep sea blue,sport and premium) was just 2000$ more I think. There is something about the look/design of the E82 that I very like. I doubt the new 2 serie will do it for me. So if you want on of the best car in history, jk but who knows in 20 years what ppl will think of it, better get it now, it's probably the last year of production.

[mb135is]

Originally Posted by B-Dawg

I too had an e46 ZHP (sedan). And to be honest I liked that car better than my current 135. Sedan is a bit more practical for me with 2 kids, and it felt more connected to the road. But it had issues of its own that drove me a little batty - 4k power drop, no bluetooth, and fixed rear seats. I'd actually like to get an e46 330i sedan with sport package in 6sp mt, but they are few and far between.

But like most - I think the e9x and current 3's are just too big.

This is what I'm scared of - regretting the sale of my ZHP for a 135. We shall see.

[blitzjb]

I liked the cup holders better in the 1

[Tom_135i]

My wife had a E 46 2003 M3. Then in 2006 she found a 2006 Mini Cooper. Now it was back to sometning a little bigger, we drove we a 328i convertible hard top & a 335i conv. hard top. After driving a 135i it was all over. She bought a 135i with M sport package White / Red.

[matmanx1]

Using Autotrader I actually found a 135i in Michigan with the 6MT and HK Sound system but it's a little over what I want to pay at this point. Looking at the photos of it the head unit looks the same as in other 1 series cars but the tweeters say "Harmon Kardon". So is it just the speakers that have been upgraded while the head unit stays the same? If so, upgrading the standard "Professional Audio" unit to a similar or better sound than the HK unit might not be so bad.

Has anyone directly compared the Harmon Kardon in the 1 series with the Logic7 in the 3? I've heard complimentary things about both but no direct comparisons.

[631twentyeighteye]

The HK system has the same HU but with upgraded speakers, added tweeters and i believe an amplifier for the speakers. If i do recall it also has 8" subs underneath one or both of the seats.

[bdoooh]

Came from a Mazdaspeed3 and a 135i just seemed like a natural progression to me for some reason. Didn't even consider a 335 as an option.

[Mika]

It's good to read all these opinions. It is in line how I feel about the 1 vs 3 series. The 3 series looks better, but the 1 series has something special and you do not see it on every corner of the street. Although the new 2 series might look better, it won't be driving as good as the current 1 coupe. I had hoped that the new 1 series hothatch F20 would make it to the US, specifically the m135i since it gets raving reviews but this does not seem to happen. So a 135i it will be.

[jsmonet]

nope. I hated the e9x series.