125i coupe details from BMW UK

[Atlantis]

The new BMW 125i Coupé

The BMW 1 Series Coupé range has been strengthened with the addition of a fourth derivative. The six-cylinder 125i joins the twin-turbo 135i M Sport, the four-cylinder 120d, and the 123d that features the world’s most powerful four-cylinder diesel engine in a production car.
Generating 218hp from its 2,996 cc engine, the new 125i Coupé accelerates from zero to 62mph in 6.4 seconds and achieves a top speed of 152mph. EfficientDynamics ensures that this level of performance doesn’t compromise the car’s consumption and emissions with the two-door Coupé delivering 35.8mpg on the combined cycle and emitting 190g/km of CO2.
The new 125i Coupé SE costs £23,195 OTR while the M Sport derivative, with its 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats and body styling, costs £25,050 OTR. The new BMW 125i Coupé goes on sale in March 2008.

Also, there are a couple of spec enhancements:

From March, all BMW 1 Series, 3 Series and X3 models receive floor mats and front seat ISOFIX child seat fixings as standard. Buyers of twin-turbo BMW 123d and 135i models can opt for an automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles for £1,505.

Finally, prospective owners of 1 Series cars now have a significantly wider colour choice. Jet Black, Crimson Red, Monaco Blue metallic, Bluewater metallic, and Sparkling Graphite metallic are being introduced on Convertible models at its launch. Bluewater metallic will also be available on 1 Series Coupé

The 125i is suprisingly good value, being £1200 less than a 123d. And from the text, it seems that it gets 18" 261M's as standard rather than the 17" 207M's. That said, I 'm seriously tempted to order a 123d M Sport Coupe in Bluewater as my next car.

[128er]

WHY CAN'T THEY PUT THE 261's ON THE USDM 1 SERIES!!! I JUST DON'T GET IT!!

[WolfsburgerMitFries]

Originally Posted by 128er

WHY CAN'T THEY PUT THE 261's ON THE USDM 1 SERIES!!! I JUST DON'T GET IT!!

Call me kooky, but I think the reason German car companies restrict US market to crappy options has something to do with WWII. I can't think of any good reason why you would not be able to option your car with any available factory option, particularly something as simple as wheels.

Even in the 1 series promotional video tour of the Leipzig plant, our humble narrator says "Our logistics system allows you to customize your car" at 1:39 into the video...

Apparently he's not familiar with US market ordering.

[moff]

KOOKY

It is strange how manufacturers vary the specs of cars depending on the market.

The Japanese do it with us, the German's with you guys.

I certainly do not think it is anything to do with WWII, that's very unfair. Remember, it was the UK that went war with them in 1914 and 1939 and they provide a great spec to us!

Surely it is BMW USA's marketing division that made the decision on spec?

I have never understoond why you guys don't get all the M Sport models??? We don't get any of the saloon / coupe 4WD models - only X3 and X5.

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgerMitFries

Call me kooky, but I think the reason German car companies restrict US market to crappy options has something to do with WWII. I can't think of any good reason why you would not be able to option your car with any available factory option, particularly something as simple as wheels.

Even in the 1 series promotional video tour of the Leipzig plant, our humble narrator says "Our logistics system allows you to customize your car" at 1:39 into the video...

Apparently he's not familiar with US market ordering.

It's a money thing, plain and simple. They're charging far less in terms of real purchasing power per car in the US compared to anywhere else because of the volume they sell here. 261's probably cost BMW more to make/buy.

[cracka]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

It's a money thing, plain and simple. They're charging far less in terms of real purchasing power per car in the US compared to anywhere else because of the volume they sell here. 261's probably cost BMW more to make/buy.

I really don't think that's it. Once the machining is done, the 261M is probably about the same $$ to produce.

No, this is about positioning the product. For the equivalent price of a 135i overseas, we can literally buy an M3 here. Thus, the 135i with M bits fills that niche outside the US that the M3 fills here. If you offer the full M Sport kit on the 135i and LeMans Blue, etc., then you're eating into more M3 sales than BMW USA is comfortable with.

Of course, that's all an educated guess on their part, but it's more science than art. They're pretty damn good at figuring it out by now.

[NJKSC27]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgerMitFries

Call me kooky, but I think the reason German car companies restrict US market to crappy options has something to do with WWII. I can't think of any good reason why you would not be able to option your car with any available factory option, particularly something as simple as wheels.

Even in the 1 series promotional video tour of the Leipzig plant, our humble narrator says "Our logistics system allows you to customize your car" at 1:39 into the video...

Apparently he's not familiar with US market ordering.

kooky :biggrin:

[Road Runner]

Originally Posted by 128er

WHY CAN'T THEY PUT THE 261's ON THE USDM 1 SERIES!!! I JUST DON'T GET IT!!

Thats a pretty valid question. When I saw the US options I was 100% certain that like you guys, we wouldn't get Le Mans Blue and the 261's or Lemon Leather in our option list. But here in Canada, we do indeed get those options, and by and large the only real difference between the Canadian and US markets is the temperature (hence we get the winter pkg standard, and you guys get the sunroofs standard).

If it was someone in Germany making these decisions, I'd think they'd probably sit back and say "The US and Canadian markets are close enough, give them the same color and wheel packages". But that isn't the case so I've got to think it was someone at BMWUSA that made this call. Thats all pure conjecture, but its anyone's guess.

It is too bad though, but I'm sure with a few phone calls you guys may be able to swing something with a Canadian dealership if you're in one of the northern States.

________

2008 Le Mans Blue 135i
M Sport Package w/ 261M's
Black Leatherette
Premium Audio
Comfort Access

Coming April 15, 2008

[moff]

Wish we got the sunroof as a standard option!

£675 ($1350) option in the UK!!!!

[me1.0]

Sorry to hijack, but I believe there are plenty in the US that would prefer to not have the sunroof as standard.

[lifesaride]

+1 Don't need to waste money.

[128er]

Originally Posted by lifesaride

+1 Don't need to waste money.

I agree, the sunrook is like 1K, that could be put towards more useful options!

[Oregon]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgerMitFries

Call me kooky, but I think the reason German car companies restrict US market to crappy options has something to do with WWII.

OK, yer' kooky, but, I LMAO nonetheless.:biggrin: Thanks for that.:wink:

[Kizzt]

I've been given the heads up by a BMW dealer that the 128i has a significantly different (i.e better) manifold and exhaust system to the 125i. This is not the result of an ECU map but actual mechanical difference. The USA is therefore getting a superior engineered car, without some of the shiny add-ons that the UK and Australia gets. Personally i'd rather have the hotter engine output... Needless to say i'm pissed off i can't chip-tune my 125 up to 128 (or 130) standards. Not Happy.

[spudw]

The thing I really don't get is why they pick and choose who gets an anthracite headliner. This has got to be the most cost neutral feature, yet it's not available in the US but is available in Canada on the 135i M Sport. It's just the color of the damn cloth! What's the big deal!