BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

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      06-07-2019, 01:27 PM   #23
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I wouldn't say I'm a huge BMW fan, but definitely a BMW-small-convertible fanboy. And I do appreciate the BMW community.

We were early on the EV and Hybrid bandwagon, got the 8th Prius in PNW when they made it to USA, then a couple more Prii, then Chevy Volt. After 2 Volts, when my wife got tired of being a 1-car family, I was waiting for Bolt or Tesla Model 3 to arrive when a friend basically gave me his old beater E30 convertible. Once I gutted and restored the interior, got the shop to replace most of the suspension, and had the top replaced, it was a blast to drive. The wait for an EV was over: I became a BMW fanboy for that old car.

We took it to shows, out on Club tours, and on TSD Rally drives. The BMW Club folks and the E30 Picnic folks were a lot of fun to socialize with. The E30 didn't feel like the safest ride, but the sport seats had a reassuring hug to them. Then the wildfires kicked up my asthma real bad, and we had to cancel out of 2 multi-day Club tours. I got a used 330i 'vert with "comfort" seats and my wife hated it; I sold it back to the dealer, resigned to the notion we'd have a 1-season touring car.

Then the 1er came up to my wife from a friend-of-a-friend; we both loved it. The tours are back on; it's a good 4-season car; and my daughter is even edging toward letting the grandkids ride in it someday soon.
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      06-07-2019, 01:30 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by swunder View Post
The 1 is the newest BMW I've been interested in, other than an M2 which I'm just kind of assuming is amazing.

The 2 series in general looks teenager dumb aggressive to me, nothing like I think of BMW's looking back in the day. Plus the electric steering and fake engine noise (lol)... good bye. I've driven new 3's and 4's (loaner 320 and 435)-- they feel like any other car these days -- nothing about them is special.

So I guess I'm really just an older BMW fan (e30's, 34's, 39's, z3) with the 1 series conveniently fitting my desire for - euro, small, rwd, manual and rare (have never seen another 135is in person) while being new enough to DD. The new grills/designs and lack of manual's on new BMW's is just an abomination.

My #1 is Porsche but I just couldn't squeeze a used Cayman S into my budget. Some day...
I didn't buy it for the rarity, but it is fun. Everyone assumes its a run of the mill, 200hp car (...looks at 128s...), so it's fun to hang with people who don't know what it is. They always ask what the hell it is, after.
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      06-08-2019, 05:04 AM   #25
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Originally Posted by Soterios View Post
I didn't buy it for the rarity, but it is fun. Everyone assumes its a run of the mill, 200hp car (...looks at 128s...), so it's fun to hang with people who don't know what it is. They always ask what the hell it is, after.
Yep. For people that don't know, they find out very quickly it isn't a car that that is a push over. I've driven 135's before getting my 128.....and was thoroughly impressed. And once they are modded, all bets are off.

I already have one fast fun car in the stable, so I settled with the 128.

But my first introduction was witnessing two guys playing around on the way to work one day. One guy in a newer 5.0, the other in a 335 xi.

From a redlight, the 335 launched like a bat out of hell and I'm sure the Mustang owner was like WTF?

That was my first introduction to the N54 and left a strong impression ever since.
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      06-08-2019, 11:17 AM   #26
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Yep. For people that don't know, they find out very quickly it isn't a car that that is a push over. I've driven 135's before getting my 128.....and was thoroughly impressed. And once they are modded, all bets are off.

I already have one fast fun car in the stable, so I settled with the 128.

But my first introduction was witnessing two guys playing around on the way to work one day. One guy in a newer 5.0, the other in a 335 xi.

From a redlight, the 335 launched like a bat out of hell and I'm sure the Mustang owner was like WTF?

That was my first introduction to the N54 and left a strong impression ever since.
I hear that. There's a 600whp 335xi on the BMW facebook group right now. That thing must be nuts.

Jealous of your two toy situation. I need more garage space. Just have the truck and the 135 right now. Hoping to park a wrangler on a side pour next year, but I need a bigger house before I can pick up another sports car.
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      06-09-2019, 01:33 AM   #27
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Great post! Thanks for sharing.

1. When I was growing up in the 80s one of my favourite, favourite cars in the world was the E30 coupe and sedan. The M3 of course as well.

2. When the E82 came out; for me it was the spirit of the E30 reborn

3. I have had a 135 and now 1M. Have literally 0 interest in other 'modern' BMWs.

4. Keeping the 1M for life. Literally the greatest car ever made for me. Don't need anything else.
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      06-09-2019, 03:46 AM   #28
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Would you consider the 1 series rare?
I bought a nice used, Alpine White convertible from Chapman BMW here in the Phoenix area. At the time, I didn't think of it as a somewhat rare car. I just thought of it as beautiful.
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      06-09-2019, 07:26 AM   #29
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Not quite "rare" yet but as they get older it will be. It also depends on where you live. Here in FL I see then a lot more often than when I was in Las Vegas. Especially the convertibles. (Side note Las Vegas seems to be where every Hummer that still runs ends up. I saw them daily there. Lol)
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      06-09-2019, 11:50 AM   #30
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The 1 Series was the last of the BMWs that had the driving characteristics of a real "sport sedan," which is something that BMW more or less created, starting with the 1600. It's still a modern car in terms of electronics, but it retains the fun to drive, driving feel of the older cars. Everything they have made since has more resembled driving a powerful Toyota Camry or a generic Hyundai, than what used to be a BMW.

I have a 6MT M2, which is both my most powerful, and least fun to drive BMW, out of the 4 I have in my garage(s). The future for this brand is bleak.
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      06-09-2019, 12:56 PM   #31
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Originally Posted by champignon View Post
The 1 Series was the last of the BMWs that had the driving characteristics of a real "sport sedan," which is something that BMW more or less created, starting with the 1600. It's still a modern car in terms of electronics, but it retains the fun to drive, driving feel of the older cars. Everything they have made since has more resembled driving a powerful Toyota Camry or a generic Hyundai, than what used to be a BMW.

I have a 6MT M2, which is both my most powerful, and least fun to drive BMW, out of the 4 I have in my garage(s). The future for this brand is bleak.
I'm going backwards. I think the legends and reputation of the past ///M brand are earned and true. Have my Z4M with an S54 which is more fun to drive than both my 128i and 991.1 C4S. Its snappy, engine, steering and gearbox are instantaneously extensions of my body. Can't say I have felt that way about the F8x models I've driven. Even the Porsche, a brutal instrument of driving precision and track carving destruction, doesn't return the same emotional feeling and soul. And the only new BMW that came close was the new Z4. But still not all the way. Haven't driven new M2C; when I do I'll report back on whether my mind is changed.

Looking to add an E9x 4 door M3 6MT with comfort access before the window to find a good one closes and then drive into the sunset. My collection of 6MT, NA German cars will be complete. High revving V8 with independent throttle bodies? Yes please.

When the 3 series dropped the MT that was the death bell for me. As Merle Haggard sings, the good times are really over for good.
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      06-10-2019, 02:04 PM   #32
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Great insight sir! I like how you say that some current models have the driving feel more of a powerful Camry, or perhaps a Hyundai! Not that there's anything wrong with Camry or Hyundai, as I used to own a Sonata. Glad to know that the older 1 series has more of that "old school" feel! Now, I only wish that I could find a used 1M! Doug Demuro on YouTube says that's his favorite BMW

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The 1 Series was the last of the BMWs that had the driving characteristics of a real "sport sedan," which is something that BMW more or less created, starting with the 1600. It's still a modern car in terms of electronics, but it retains the fun to drive, driving feel of the older cars. Everything they have made since has more resembled driving a powerful Toyota Camry or a generic Hyundai, than what used to be a BMW.

I have a 6MT M2, which is both my most powerful, and least fun to drive BMW, out of the 4 I have in my garage(s). The future for this brand is bleak.
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      06-11-2019, 12:26 AM   #33
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Very much a Mercedes enthusiast prior to the 1er. I enjoy restoring older models and currently drive my W124 pretty often in good weather.

I needed to add something more modern and "professional" to the stable for work so I began searching for a W204 C63 or an Audi A6 w/ the 3.0 supercharged engine (based on driving a relative's). Nothing inspirational from the audis and I couldn't find anything in between garage queen black series cars and total beaters in the used C63 world.

Then stumbled across the 1er while searching for an E92 M3. Pretty much checked all my boxes and was such a bargain! I thought because of the prices there was some dirty secret everyone knew about this model, like they would implode randomly lol. But alas, it is a complete gem of a car. I could search and wait until exactly what I wanted was available and actually be able to buy it! So here I am in a lower mile 2012 135i and totally enjoy work travel.

Really enjoyed reading everyone's stories, too!
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      06-11-2019, 05:34 AM   #34
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Originally Posted by CH400EM View Post
Very much a Mercedes enthusiast prior to the 1er. I enjoy restoring older models and currently drive my W124 pretty often in good weather.

I needed to add something more modern and "professional" to the stable for work so I began searching for a W204 C63 or an Audi A6 w/ the 3.0 supercharged engine (based on driving a relative's). Nothing inspirational from the audis and I couldn't find anything in between garage queen black series cars and total beaters in the used C63 world.

Then stumbled across the 1er while searching for an E92 M3. Pretty much checked all my boxes and was such a bargain! I thought because of the prices there was some dirty secret everyone knew about this model, like they would implode randomly lol. But alas, it is a complete gem of a car. I could search and wait until exactly what I wanted was available and actually be able to buy it! So here I am in a lower mile 2012 135i and totally enjoy work travel.

Really enjoyed reading everyone's stories, too!

Give it time....LOL. Just kidding. I read so many horror stories that's what turned me away from it. But typically all you read on the web are when people have problems.....no one ever logs in to talk about how great their car is doing.

Hope you get many years of worry free service out of it!
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      06-11-2019, 07:18 AM   #35
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I was out convertible shopping with my kids in early 2009 after the death of their mother. I thought about another motorcycle but decided there are too many car drivers that do not see motorcycles. So I decided to buy a convertible. My daughter and I drove a Miata and liked it but there was no space for my son and very little space for any luggage. We were thinking of trying a Mustang when we saw a BMW dealership with a 1 series on display.

I had only driven a BMW once before. I helped a guy move his two cars from Kansas City to Philadelphia. I drove one of ours the other direction and was planning to fly back and get the other when he asked. I was going to decline when he told me he wanted me to drive his 911 Carrera. He would drive his Bavaria. This was about 1982 and neither was close to a new car. But they were both still pretty nice. We traded off once or twice and I was surprised that the Bavaria felt a bit like the Porsche. Handled nice, stable at speed, etc..

So I had to try the 128i convertible. It was an automatic which I did not want but I was impressed. Space was a squeeze but we could all fit (6'2", 5'9", 6'3"). Enough space for a weeks worth of luggage. I did the numbers and looked around. Nobody had a 128i with a manual, coupe or convertible. So I ordered mine with sport package and walnut interior trim. No other options. Still happy with it, planning to keep it as long as it is reliable.

Only real issue with it is grand kids. Both my kids married after I purchased my e88 and have started producing grandkids . My daughter says the back seat isn't big enough for a car seat. I've done it but she objects. She lives a thousand miles away so I just rent something bigger when she visits. Works at least for now. But I sat in a X2M at the dealership and really liked it...
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      06-11-2019, 01:00 PM   #36
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Give it time....LOL. Just kidding. I read so many horror stories that's what turned me away from it. But typically all you read on the web are when people have problems......
Indeed. Well I came from vintage German and swedish Auto forums where hopelessly tracking down parts was routine, no complaints about price/dealers or difficulty. I quickly realized the big problems were quite mild compared. Have been really pleased with the community and resources here and elsewhere!
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      08-27-2019, 08:11 PM   #37
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Would you consider the 1 series rare?
I bought a nice used, Alpine White convertible from Chapman BMW here in the Phoenix area. At the time, I didn't think of it as a somewhat rare car. I just thought of it as beautiful.
I wouldn't call them rare, but, if IIRC, I saw some numbers a while back, and 1ers were selling something like 1/10th as many as 3 series in the US.
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      08-28-2019, 03:09 AM   #38
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I have a 2011 135i.

I've had a string of Japanese turbo cars and wanted a late model, luxurious, turbo, RWD daily car that still had hydraulic steering and a decent chassis.

The 135i fit the bill, it's not as good as my old FD3S RX-7 in the chassis stakes, nor is it as precise and raw as my toy car, a 1998 Eunos RS Roadster(effectively an 80% scale RX7), but it's a great daily.
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      08-29-2019, 05:46 AM   #39
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After owning a string of wagons and having no need for practicality, I started craving something different. My last wagon, a gen4 Subaru Liberty 2.5i (most here will know it as a Legacy), was great to drive but a little slow and gutless.

My only criteria were rwd/awd & manual. I looked at Lexus, MB, Alfa, RX8, MX5, Audi S3/S4, S2000, all bar the Honda were a bit meh.

I starting looking at the 125i but they were all auto with black, white or silver paint, meh. Then I started looking for a 135i, same story. One day a manual 135i with no I-Drive in Sedona Red appeared for sale and I bought it in a heartbeat. As a sweetener, the seller lived just a short drive from home.

I had a fair idea that it would be great to drive, but I am blown away by how awesome it is. Every time I drive her it feels like the very first time.
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      08-31-2019, 11:29 AM   #40
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Have had a fair number of BMWs over time: E12, E28, E34, E90, E46, 318ti, Z3 1.9, Z3 2.8 and now E88.

We were shopping to replace my wife's 2004 Volvo C70 convertible. Had mainly focused on 2nd gen C70s or 3 series with the retractable hard top. Stumbled upon this 135i convertible, liked the fact that the trunk was more usable than in the retractable hard top cars. So we bought it.
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      09-04-2019, 09:54 AM   #41
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I have always been a gear head (primarily 60's-70's muscle cars) and liked the early 70's 3.0 CSi coupes and the mid 80's 635 CSi coupes, but didn't plan on getting a BMW.

I was in the market for a 3rd car play toy convertible (have been wanting a convertible since 1977 when a college room mate had a 70 Skylark) and always thought I would find a 70-72 GS convertible since my first two cars were Buick GS's (67 GS400, 72 GS350). They are way too expensive now and don't drive as well as the newer cars.

I initially drove a beautiful 2004 Boxster S 6 speed that was 12 years old with only 60k miles, but IMS concerns drove me away.

Then I thought I wanted a 3 series hardtop convertible and went to look at a 2012 335is at the local dealer in Charlotte. It was really nice in white, but they were really proud of it and there was no room in the trunk with the top down.

Two cars up from the 335 was a 2011 135i DCT convertible with only 24k miles on it in Cashmere Silver Metallic. It had a soft top with a real trunk. We drove it and I really liked it, so we took it home. I thought I was going to get a manual, but do like the DCT.

I really enjoy my little sleeper hot rod that the top goes down on. It gets to 60 quick enough for me (and faster than a lot of cars on the road), handles pretty well, shifts faster than any manual, can get over 30 mpg at 80 mph on the interstate if I stay out of the turbo, can carry us on a trip if needed (with luggage), and is unique looking unlike the current cookie cutter car look.

I plan to keep this one a long time.
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      09-07-2019, 04:20 AM   #42
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      09-09-2019, 09:04 AM   #43
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It’s great to read all of these accounts. To build on my original post, I finally made it to our year-end BMW Club event, and I felt like an imposter. lol

While I did like looking at the old shark nose cars and a few E30s, I really had no interest in any of the newer cars that I saw, be it E46/E92 M3s or F87 M2s all the way up to the new 850. I think the only other BMW I’d consider is an old 2002 project car. Those were my favorite by far.

I was glad to see a couple of other E82s at the show. They still stand out to me.
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      09-09-2019, 09:10 AM   #44
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It’s great to read all of these accounts. To build on my original post, I finally made it to our year-end BMW Club event, and I felt like an imposter. lol

While I did like looking at the old shark nose cars and a few E30s, I really had no interest in any of the newer cars that I saw, be it E46/E92 M3s or F87 M2s all the way up to the new 850. I think the only other BMW I’d consider is an old 2002 project car. Those were my favorite by far.

I was glad to see a couple other E82s at be show. They are keepers.
I felt that first part. I think the disconnect, for me, is the lack of customization. Seeing another stock M(#) for the 90th time is boring. I'm sure to the casual viewer, it's cool to see, but I'd rather see how people make the cars their own. I'll take the crew of 'kids' with heavily modified (Potential Read As : Ratted out) E36s all day over a row of stock M cars.
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