Bad things/drawbacks for the 1 Series?

[ruffstik]

My car felt a tad floaty on the freeway today....but we were having wind gusts of 50mph so....

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by aesthetect

did i offend you when i said "almighty bmw" or something?

yes i've driven a 3 series too, in my opinion the dash is more interesting. there are very subtle differences but there seems to be a slight bit more going on, more contrast at least. although the e82 is certainly more driver focused, it is just not as visually appealing to me, and also less than the E46, but that is 100% subjective.

and i somewhat misspoke, i dont mean options (i could completely care less about nav, comfort access, xenons) i just mean that they did a bad job positioning the 128 as a well-balanced alternative (although i would have to suppose it was intentional, perhaps to get more 1ers on the road as 135s - and i will admit, again, a lot is based on subjective aesthetic preference). for the couple thousand dollars you save you lose greatly improved aero kit, much more attractive and larger wheels and a huge amount of performance in brakes and engine (not to mention steering wheel) given that, i cannot understand why anyone would buy a 128 given such a small price difference (im essentially suggesting the 128 should be cheaper, i suppose, at least thats the only way it would be worth it) ..and i think the one area they could have compensated would have been in fuel economy. which is, again, completely subjective as its something i care a lot about. your results may vary. i like the 128, it has enough power for me, its all i need, but i'd be dumb to buy it, and that's not how that should work.

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

No offense taken. :biggrin:

I just think, having spent about a year and a half in the E92, that I would be able to spot major differences between the two, that's all. And I thought that they were really close, with the cockpit being more driver-centered, which I like.

I actually think the E46 is a solid comparison--my dad had one and we both have commented on how the E46 and E82 "felt" very similar inside. Again, like you said, subjective.

I totally hear you on the pricing point of the 128. It really could be lower, but then would BMW suffer any image problems? Gotta consider that.....I spent a lot of time "justifying" my 328 purchase on E90post. People really could not believe it didn't have to do with driving slower, saving money, etc. In truth, I was worried about the reliability of the N54, and it did have some early issues with higher than desired oil temps and fuel pump problems. That was the main reason I went with the 328.

It didn't take long for me to wish I had more performance, however. Then the 1er came out.....ordered one, and the rest is history.....

I think we just agree to disagree on the asthetic value of the 1er's interior. :biggrin:

[BMW Dreamer]

Originally Posted by ruffstik

My car felt a tad floaty on the freeway today....but we were having wind gusts of 50mph so....

YAH the winds here today were crazy, but I'll take it when its 73 degrees, first day in 177 since it was 70 in Chicago. Oct 21, 07 was the last day of 70+. FINALLY

[confusion]

Originally Posted by Call

Is it just me...isn't it hard to reach back to get the seat belt?

i told myself i was going to read through page 2 before just posting this. ha!

totally agree, this is the only real complaint i have about the car (as compared to my previous e46 m3) so far.

[BMW Dreamer]

The hubcap gaskets are hard to get off to clean.

[spudw]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I totally hear you on the pricing point of the 128. It really could be lower, but then would BMW suffer any image problems?

Not sure I agree. Yes, I'd love to pay less for the 128i. But what extra you're paying for the 135i amounts mostly to superlative performance... something you'll rarely, if ever, use (unless you track it, which some do). It's dimishing returns on the extra $$. 135i is a good buy, don't get me wrong. Especially if you cross shop it against an entry-level Porsche. But 128i zsp delivers 95% of the performance, handling and looks for 87% (yes, I took out my calculator) of the price. Both great cars, and 128i is a good deal.

[plien69]

Originally Posted by confusion

totally agree, this is the only real complaint i have about the car (as compared to my previous e46 m3) so far.

I find it easier to reach the seatbelt in the E82 than my previous E46 M3. The B-pillar in the 1er is much closer to me than the B-pillar in the E46 coupe.

[spicv0712]

Originally Posted by plien69

I find it easier to reach the seatbelt in the E82 than my previous E46 M3. The B-pillar in the 1er is much closer to me than the B-pillar in the E46 coupe.

AGREED!!!! My girlfriend has a E46 M3 (MT) and I complain about it all the time. I make sure to complain about it because theres nothing else to complain about with that car.:roundel:

[Chicago30]

Originally Posted by Tuned1

I do. Noticed it @ ~ 100 mph. Made me a bit uneasy but I'm sure the suspension bits, different wheels and cf spoiler I'm going to add will solve this.

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

[aesthetect]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I think we just agree to disagree on the asthetic value of the 1er's interior. :biggrin:

haha, i concur. i think the difference that i like so much is how the trim goes around to both sides of the steering wheel, adds a little more flavor - definitely to each his own. (and the nav screen is much more impressive when incorporated on the E9X dash). but i digress.

Originally Posted by spudwest

Not sure I agree. Yes, I'd love to pay less for the 128i. But what extra you're paying for the 135i amounts mostly to superlative performance... something you'll rarely, if ever, use (unless you track it, which some do). It's dimishing returns on the extra $$. 135i is a good buy, don't get me wrong. Especially if you cross shop it against an entry-level Porsche. But 128i zsp delivers 95% of the performance, handling and looks for 87% (yes, I took out my calculator) of the price. Both great cars, and 128i is a good deal.

i agree that it is superlative. however, its so superlative that i think it puts the 128 behind 95% (i'm talking 95% of capability rather than 95% of typically used capability) we need to find a way to integrate each torque curve and add brake torque difference and then somehow account for the visual benefits (which are costly if that's something that matters to you and you would want to change if you were to buy a 128i). then, in my book, you're below the 87% price difference. different strokes for different folks.

i guess for me it comes down to i would be (very) happy not touching a thing on the 135. i would have to tweak some things cosmetically on the 128, and it would start adding up quickly enough to where it wouldnt be worth it. that's my personal whiney gripe. and i would miss the steering wheel.

[imported_Dodgy]

All criticism is valid but...

Consumption: How many other 300bhp cars can do 22MPG? I'd like to get 300bhp from burning food scraps, but we are still only in 2008

Curb weight: I've said it before. BM will place more emphasis on safety etc, rather than satisfying a very minor proportion of their clientelle with an anorexic pocket rocket. You want light.... Get an Elise.

Floaty at 100-120MPH: Was that in a school zone or track?

Let's not forget that this post was created to inform us of more practical problems with the car (seatbelt reach, button positions, radio visibility with sunnies etc.) rather than a wingefest about the things we wish the car was / could do.

And Jeff1962. Are you really that displeased?

[warmtoes]

300bhp from burning food scraps

You mean like Mr. Fusion on the BTTF DeLorean? That isn't real?

[thesmokingone]

Originally Posted by spudwest

Not sure I agree. Yes, I'd love to pay less for the 128i. But what extra you're paying for the 135i amounts mostly to superlative performance... something you'll rarely, if ever, use (unless you track it, which some do). It's dimishing returns on the extra $$. 135i is a good buy, don't get me wrong. Especially if you cross shop it against an entry-level Porsche. But 128i zsp delivers 95% of the performance, handling and looks for 87% (yes, I took out my calculator) of the price. Both great cars, and 128i is a good deal.

95% of the performance?

[imported_Gene]

The gas milage at 22mpg. Some think it is OK for a 300hp 3400lb. car, but I have a 700hp supercharged '07 Corvette that weighs 3400lbs. and get 32mpg at 80mph. I would have thought that German enginering was better than that.

[Chop79]

Originally Posted by Gene

The gas milage at 22mpg. Some think it is OK for a 300hp 3400lb. car, but I have a 700hp supercharged '07 Corvette that weighs 3400lbs. and get 32mpg at 80mph. I would have thought that German enginering was better than that.

:bs:

The '08 EPA estimate for the Vets' 6.2L est. is 15 in the city and 25 on the hwy. And I'm assuming that you have the 7.0L from '07.

Sure the Vet has more HP and still in the same MPG ball park as the 135. But the vet has a much smaller drag coefficient It has nothing to do with "German Engineering". Just look at the cars and use your nugget. The 135i isn't a dedicated sports car. Try taking a couple buddies golfing in your Vet.

And how did you manage to add 200LBS to your car? That's the heaviest '07 Vet I've ever heard of. I'd like to see what you've done to it.

[MZWIE]

Originally Posted by TagMan

Excellent thread! Good to be totally honest. No car is perfect, although some come closer than others!

1. No genuine fold down rear armrest.

2. Cupholders -
a. Front cupholder (w/ iDrive) located under armrest.
b. Mickey Mouse add-on front cupholder on right side of center console.
c. No rear passenger cupholder.

3. Rear seat legroom

4. No choice for audible feedback when locking car. (There is a thread devoted to this topic)

5. Sport seats too narrow for many... would benefit from a width adjustment to accomodate larger proportions.

6. No spare tire.

7. No fog lights on 135i (due to oil cooler location).

8. No storage pocket on backside of front seats for rear passengers.

9. No additional small grab handles on doors (existing handles are too forward for easy use).

10. Of course, iDrive user interface could be simplfied and more user friendly.

11. Convertible's rear window is a bit too small.

That said... I absolutely LOVE my 135i !!!!... My Porsche is now parked for a while!

1. My E34 had this and they were always in the way

2. Shouldn't be an issue. It shouldn't have any cupholders period. They are idiotic in a car. In a van maybe.

3. Why is this an issue. Who buys a coupe and cares about the rear seat legroom. Nobody will ever sit back there anyway.

4. Dealer can activate this.

5. Bolsters are adjustable. If not enough then maybe you are just to big....

6. Agree

7. Ambivalent

8. See 3 above.

9. Petty complaint. You only need to close the door once.

10. iDrive isn't necessary at all. So why order it in the first place.

11. Nothing new here. Most convertibles in history have had little windows in the back.

What I fascinates me about these type of post is that there isn't a single reference to the performance of the car.

Remember it's about the car not the fluff and gadgets...

[aesthetect]

according to dodgy its all about fluff and gadgets and not about the car ..here. but i will continue anyway.

i'm not complaining about the 135i's fuel economy, it is indeed good for a 300hp car (Gene, i dont know if vettes have the display feature but are you sure you're not talking about instantaneous fuel consumption as you cruise down the highway?) i was saying i wish there was a way to get this wonderfully dynamically engineered, RWD, driver focused, 4 seater, aesthetically pleasing car that should be at the forefront of bmw fuel economy offerings (for the US) with substantially better fuel economy. the current offerings are what they are for a reason and i'm sure a lot of that has to do with an initial introduction of the 1 series and the desire not to "dilute the bmw brand name" here without first establishing the 1 series and holding off on true Efficient Dynamics until it becomes more prominent in society and thus i will count the days until the M120/tii/what have you is here. and then i will leap for joy that an automotive company has produced exactly the car i could ever ask for. as long as they dont fuck up the looks

[stefan]

Originally Posted by e34m5

No cupholders
2. Shouldn't be an issue. It shouldn't have any cupholders period. They are idiotic in a car. In a van maybe.

Agree 100%

My only big gripe about the car from the test drive was the window control position.. wouldn't mind seeing them back on the center console.

[aesthetect]

why no love for cupholders? whatever happened to drinking and driving??

[Dan203]

The lack of cup holders is something that will probably bother me. Especially since the iDrive takes away one of the center ones and ads that hokey looking add-on holder to replace it.

Dan

[stovesax08]

22 mpg? that's pretty much terrible. for a 300hp car no that's not bad, but, we own a 335xi that gets 30-34 mpg on a flat stretch of highway. The 335xi is heavier and four wheel drive, why is te 135 only getting 22 mpg? Oh, and the 335xi is a sedan and an auto

My three complaints:
1-no spare tire
2-no anthracite headliner, how hard would it be, bmw?
3-The headreasts are not tiltable, I really like the sport headrests from the E9X that adjusted two ways. Even the bmwusa said (and maybe still does) that the sport headrests on the 135i were two way adjustable, and they aren't. I may have to get some E9X headrests to replace them (although finding them in lemon might be interesting)

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by BrownBoy

We've all been focusing on the good things about this car but I'm just curious as to the things you don't like about the 1 series. Current owner's input would be excellent! So far I've come up with:

• Rear seats headroom/footroom
• Turn signal -needing to hold it down
• RFTs and having no spare tire
• High interest rates for financing and leasing

Anything else you guys can think of?

FYI - Rear headroom is greater than a 3-series

There is no way you have to hold down the turn signal (thats crazy)

RFTs are on almost every bimmer

The higher rates is temporary