Bad things/drawbacks for the 1 Series?

[Thud]

Originally Posted by Gene

I have a 700hp supercharged '07 Corvette that weighs 3400lbs. and get 32mpg at 80mph.

Hopefully you're not basing that only on what the DIC tells you. My Z06 got decent mileage, but 32mpg is pushing it especially for a blown vette.

[Jackdaws]

My only concern is that the standard radio sounds flat. The satellite radio sounds better, which I don't understand--same speakers.

[Moving Chicane]

Originally Posted by aesthetect

i suppose i'm weighing too much on aesthetics to create and argument, but, check the screen name.

and you drive an impreza? Great car sure (I used to own a '99 WRX) but hardly a beauty queen.

[MZWIE]

I can't believe people really care about such trivial matters.

[aesthetect]

Originally Posted by Moving Chicane

and you drive an impreza? Great car sure (I used to own a '99 WRX) but hardly a beauty queen.

yeah, a 2001, i absolutely love the proportions on the old GC/GM's, version 6 bumper with fog light covers, no wing.. clean and purposeful. as for every other subaru ever made, however...

[JB135i]

Just covered about 350 miles so far and here are the things that kinda bug me. None are super serious or deal-breakers, but the premise of this thread is "bad things/drawbacks". Some/most have been stated, and here they are in no particular order.

Brake dusting

Seatbelt reach and recoil failure. Sometimes the thing folds on itself, very annoying

Radio display blackout with polarized sunglasses

Seems a bit suseptable to crosswinds, suprising for a smallish car

RFT's

Shifter, but I am coming from an S2000, not really a fair fight as far as shifters go

The cruise control stalk gets in the way, I am sure I will eventually adjust to its position though

Clutch engagement point is just a hair too high, CDV may solve this

Headlights come on when I pull into my garage when in the auto position only to go off 5 seconds later when I turn the car off

Window controls a bit far back for me

Other than these items though the car is awesome. Can't wait until it's broken in and I can really enjoy it.

I understand some of these items small annoyances, and some can be "cured" through various methods, and likely will be.

I do think it is a good idea to be honest about these things. Maybe they can be fixed by BMW in future 1's and/or other cars if we make some noise about issues like these.

[blackbubblebum]

Don't have my car yet, but this is what I notice after my 325i and a few test drives of a 128i:

- Hate how they made the 128 and 135 look different
- gas milage
- brake dust
- back headroom, rsx was a little bit better if I recall correctly
- run flat problems, although I never had one
- price of the 128
- not much of an arm rest
- some buttons/switches hard to reach without looking.
- plastics are easily scratched by zippers and what not..

My opinions and drawback as of now.

[lacrosse]

Picking up on what a previous poster said:

Seatbelt reach, kinda far back

Window controls a bit far back for me

Wish I could split the screen in iDrive like I could in my 330i

That is it for me at 450 miles. I cannot wait for mile 1,201 (after the oil change of course).

:biggrin:

[Spook]

- The cruise control is too close to the turn signal. I'll get used to it but I often went to set the cruise speed, got the turn signal instead and flashed my lights at the car ahead.
- The drivers side door pull hits my knee when I pull my left leg back while cruising. Only impact I've seen to tighter cabin. Will have to put a pad of some kind on it.
- There is not enough storage for small items (sunglasses, CD cases, flotsam and jetsam)
- You have to raise the armrest to use the back cupholder (no idrive)
- Plastic on radio/ac controls could be nicer
- Don't care for the seatbelt warning
- The light brown wood option looks crummy on mine. Plain straight grain. Doesn't match well. Looks like trailer paneling from the 70's rather than the walnut burl look I was expecting.
- Going to be expensive to deal with the run flats.

I know this sounds like a lot but it isn't really. The only thing I would change is I would have picked different interior trim. Now if I can only keep out of jail.

-Spook

[stefan]

You can't jump to the next folder if you're using a mass storage device on the headunit.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by JB135i

Just covered about 350 miles so far and here are the things that kinda bug me. None are super serious or deal-breakers, but the premise of this thread is "bad things/drawbacks". Some/most have been stated, and here they are in no particular order.
I understand some of these items small annoyances, and some can be "cured" through various methods, and likely will be.

I do think it is a good idea to be honest about these things. Maybe they can be fixed by BMW in future 1's and/or other cars if we make some noise about issues like these.

"Brake dusting" - same as every other BMW

"Radio display blackout with polarized sunglasses" Happy I opted for iDrive as the adjustable display is very clear; even wearing polarized glasses with the top down.

"Seems a bit suseptable to crosswinds, suprising for a smallish car" - I find mine to be quite stable in 20~30 mph crosswinds. Have you fiddled with the tire pressures yet?

"RFT's" - On all non-M BMWs below the 5 series. Like all tires, there are good and bad RFTs. I found the OEM Potenza 050As on my Z4 provided excellent handling and lasted 30,000 miles. As R&T recorded a .91g skidpad figure for both the Z4 and 135i on these tires, what, exactly is the problem with them - other than price?

"Clutch engagement point is just a hair too high, CDV may solve this" - While the clutch feels very similar to my E46, I may be used to a higher engagement position. Either way, I'd be surprised if removing the CDV affects this, but let us know if it does.

"Headlights come on when I pull into my garage when in the auto position only to go off 5 seconds later when I turn the car off" Isn't that what they are supposed to do when "Automatic Control is engaged"?

"Window controls a bit far back for me" - Agreed; they were so much more convenient on the center console on the older models - It also saved the expense of separate front passenger switches.

I'd add two gripes - the lack of any temperature guage on the 128i and that the manual is less than clear in many instances.
Tom

[jeremyc74]

My biggest gripe is the pedal arrangement. I'm not able to "heel toe" this car as easily as my previous one, and the gas pedal is too upright to be comfortable on long trips.

Other than that, the radio display polarization is the next issue that bothers me.

Everything else it very minor, such as the seat belt chime, and the spedometer being off by about 3MPH at 80.

Overall the car is very good.

[gio]

Originally Posted by Chicago30

It was the wind, today I was driving 50 MPH and the wind almost made a lane change for me with the gusts.

You guys all should have gotten active steering! :biggrin:

[lacrosse]

Hit 100 mph twice on the way home with a slight cross wind, seemed very stable to me (with the sun roof open).

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by Jackdaws

My only concern is that the standard radio sounds flat. The satellite radio sounds better, which I don't understand--same speakers.

I'm no stereo junkie but the upgraded radio sounds great! I was worried I wasted $895 for the upgrade because I wasn't sure what all it included besides bass speakers. The HD radio also sounds very good. WHen you first select a radio channel it plays in standard mode for a second or two, then switches to HD and the difference is like night/day.

[aedeau]

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

So if I get stuck in the middle of Kansas, where am I gonna get a rear RFT that fits... or any tire that fits? I

apparently BMW drivers fly when it comes to travelling interstate

[ManMachine]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

While I agree, my experience with 3 BMWs has been that the rears wear out about twice as fast as the fronts if not rotated - so replacing only one axle shouldn't be a problem. BTW, if you are near DC, have you tried Radial Tire in Montgomery Hills?
Tom

BMW doesn't recommend tire rotation, and neither do the tech folks at Roundel/BMWCCA. You can search for this info on other BMW forums.

[Dan203]

The front and rear tires are different sizes and the tread on them is directional, so it's not even possible to rotate the tires on these things.

Dan

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by ManMachine

BMW doesn't recommend tire rotation, and neither do the tech folks at Roundel/BMWCCA. You can search for this info on other BMW forums.

For older models, BMW recommends no rotation but suggets that if you rotate, it should be at short 3~5k mile intervals. Of course, as most SP equipped newer BMWs come with staggered wheels, it's now often a moot issue.

Since I change my E46 over from winter to summer tires every 5k miles or so, rotation is done as a matter of course and has prolonged my tire life. I also prefer to have tread balanced between front and rear wheels as much as is practicable.

And BMW also recommends 15k+ oil changes, no repairing of RFTs, lifetime fluids for radiator, differential and transmission, etc. - so I think that some of their recommendations need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Tom

[BMW Dreamer]

Originally Posted by crzy4135i

I'm no stereo junkie but the upgraded radio sounds great! I was worried I wasted $895 for the upgrade because I wasn't sure what all it included besides bass speakers. The HD radio also sounds very good. WHen you first select a radio channel it plays in standard mode for a second or two, then switches to HD and the difference is like night/day.

WOW, night and day? I was considering the HD radio option but some people talked me out of it. Here in Chicago every station is in HD Now. Maybe I should reconsider HUH:iono: I will definitely get the top stereo option, thats always a must in my book. Plus my son said "YOU HAVE TO GET THE IPOD/USB OPTION, TIGHT DAD"

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by romka7

My 2 cents

3. Have to pull door handle twice to open... why?

Because the door is locked. If it is unlocked, you only have to pull it once.

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

WOW, night and day? I was considering the HD radio option but some people talked me out of it. Here in Chicago every station is in HD Now. Maybe I should reconsider HUH:iono: I will definitely get the top stereo option, thats always a must in my book. Plus my son said "YOU HAVE TO GET THE IPOD/USB OPTION, TIGHT DAD"

As I said I'm no audio expert but when HD kicks in it's almost like going from mono to stereo. Not quite that much but you get the idea.