Graphical Size Comparison - E46 Coupe vs. 135

[ibeam81]

Originally Posted by joelk

that's another great comparison. A difference of 15mm or equivalently 1.5cm. that's nothing. I LOVED the size of my old E30 ... it just fit like a glove. To see this just makes me start getting excited all over again!

That was my experience as well. Unfortunately I've put on a few pounds since '84, so I appreciate the added width that hector mentioned.

[Devon K]

Originally Posted by danp

Hold your fire - you realise that the 1-er has been scaled up in the red pic? (well I think that was the meaning!)

4239mm 1er hatch
4345mm E30
4360mm 1er coupé
4433mm E36 coupé
4492mm E46 coupé
4580mm E92 coupé

So it's almost exactly the length of an E30, admirably compact in my book.

Good catch, and my apologies, I skipped over that bit about the scale-up - what a relief!

[Klinn]

I’m still trying to visualize the 135i Coupe’s proportions, since the perspective in photos can be deceptive.

Many smaller cars have become more and more “stubby” looking as they get taller. In particular, the distance from the bottom of the rocker panel to the beltline (bottom of side windows) has a big impact on how “thick” the car looks. I’m worried that the 135i is headed that way.

One of the current cars that goes too far in that direction for my taste is the Volvo S40. (apologies in advance to any S40 owners out there, styling just a personal thing :smile That brings me to my latest overlay comparison between the two models.



Let’s get rid of the obvious differences: the length of the 135i Coupe is significantly smaller, the cabin even more so and pushed further back, and there’s a lot less front overhang.

So far so good. But the beltline is almost at exactly the same height (don't be fooled by the 2nd black line in the Volvo diagram, the actual beltline can be seen just above that). The rocker panel is a bit higher and roof lower, so the 135i shouldn’t appear as quite “thick” in the middle, but it seems to roughly split the difference between the E46 as shown in my first comparison and the Volvo S40.

Arrgh. I think I may be talking myself into keeping the E46. I need to see a 135i in real life! :biggrin:

[Chris Ruck]

That's pretty cool, thanks.

[jt328i]

Klinn, I love the technical analysis with the overlays. Are you by chance a fellow engineer?

[dieselchas]

Nice work.....:respekt:

I loved my E30 M3, actually choose it over a girlfriend once. She got car sick, hated me racing and was a pain in the a**. Now I have a wife who is almost as excited about the 1er as I am, doesn't care about the racing but still gets car sick. Hey 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

The E30 was such a great fit for me, with the 1er being similar I am that much more excited.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by Klinn

I’m still trying to visualize the 135i Coupe’s proportions, since the perspective in photos can be deceptive.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrgh. I think I may be talking myself into keeping the E46. I need to see a 135i in real life! :biggrin:

Klinn:
Any chance you could give us a 1er Coupe vs a 3er Coupe overlay?

[Klinn]

Originally Posted by carnut

Klinn:
Any chance you could give us a 1er Coupe vs a 3er Coupe overlay?

Sure thing, one 335i Coupe vs. 135i Coupe comparo coming up. :smile:

If nothing else, the overlay below shows how just a few inches can make a big difference in overall appearance. The two cars look almost identical until we reach the back, where the longer wheelbase, greenhouse, and even longer trunk give the 335i Coupe very different proportions.



Also note how the 335i’s trunk and rear fender line is little higher and doesn’t drop off as quickly, which may emphasize the “wedginess” of its profile. The beltline is in almost exactly the same spot, although it seems the 135i’s rocker panel is a smiggen lower. The roofline looks pretty much identical -- according to the published dimensions the 135i Coupe is 13mm or 1/2" taller.

The overlapping dimensions of the diagrams are hard to read, but the 335i Coupe’s wheelbase is 100mm or 3.9” longer, the overall length is 220mm or 8.7” longer, and the body width (not including mirrors) is 34mm or 1.3” wider.

The 335i Coupe follows the classic "longer, lower, wider" recipe for a sleeker looking vehicle. :smile:

Originally Posted by jt328i

Klinn, I love the technical analysis with the overlays. Are you by chance a fellow engineer?

Heh-heh, nope, but I've worked as a designer (not in the automotive field) in the past. You know, the types that come up with those daft ideas and then have to depend on engineers to figure out how to make them actually work. :biggrin:

[ice13water]

i wish it wasn't s tall as it is

[Klinn]

Originally Posted by ice13water

i wish it wasn't as tall as it is

I strongly agree, I'm on the short side of normal (5'-7" and change) and therefore have no need for the steadily increasing height of current cars.

Another thing that factors into this is the height of the driver's seat. I was amazed when I moved from a '90 Civic to an '02 Protegé5 -- the seat must have been a least two inches higher. It felt like I was in a minivan and the body roll motions were exaggerated because of it. I've got my E46's seat as low as it will go and it's not too bad, but I wonder what the 135i will be like.

[Taki]

Any chance we can get a comparison to an E30? I tried to find a diagram to do it myself, but my Google skills failed me.

[atr_hugo]

Klinn - thanks for your supurb efforts. I saw a Scion tC the other day and wondered how close to the 135 it would be. The 135i would fit inside a thin tC shell! The tC is 174" L, 55.7" H and 69.1" W with a 106" wheelbase. The 135i will be a very small car compared to the usual 'new' car (but large compared to small cars of two generations ago).

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by Klinn

Sure thing, one 335i Coupe vs. 135i Coupe comparo coming up. :smile:

If nothing else, the overlay below shows how just a few inches can make a big difference in overall appearance. The two cars look almost identical until we reach the back, where the longer wheelbase, greenhouse, and even longer trunk give the 335i Coupe very different proportions.



Also note how the 335i’s trunk and rear fender line is little higher and doesn’t drop off as quickly, which may emphasize the “wedginess” of its profile. The beltline is in almost exactly the same spot, although it seems the 135i’s rocker panel is a smiggen lower. The roofline looks pretty much identical -- according to the published dimensions the 135i Coupe is 13mm or 1/2" taller.

The overlapping dimensions of the diagrams are hard to read, but the 335i Coupe’s wheelbase is 100mm or 3.9” longer, the overall length is 220mm or 8.7” longer, and the body width (not including mirrors) is 34mm or 1.3” wider.

The 335i Coupe follows the classic "longer, lower, wider" recipe for a sleeker looking vehicle. :smile:

Fantastic.. Thanks Klinn
That's exactly what I was looking for..
Coming from the Z4, I like the semi-roadster proportions (long hood & shorter trunk) - gives it a sportier look than the 3er..:smile:

[larry lawless]

Originally Posted by Klinn

Sure thing, one 335i Coupe vs. 135i Coupe comparo coming up. :smile:

If nothing else, the overlay below shows how just a few inches can make a big difference in overall appearance. The two cars look almost identical until we reach the back, where the longer wheelbase, greenhouse, and even longer trunk give the 335i Coupe very different proportions.



Also note how the 335i’s trunk and rear fender line is little higher and doesn’t drop off as quickly, which may emphasize the “wedginess” of its profile. The beltline is in almost exactly the same spot, although it seems the 135i’s rocker panel is a smiggen lower. The roofline looks pretty much identical -- according to the published dimensions the 135i Coupe is 13mm or 1/2" taller.

The overlapping dimensions of the diagrams are hard to read, but the 335i Coupe’s wheelbase is 100mm or 3.9” longer, the overall length is 220mm or 8.7” longer, and the body width (not including mirrors) is 34mm or 1.3” wider.

The 335i Coupe follows the classic "longer, lower, wider" recipe for a sleeker looking vehicle. :smile:




Heh-heh, nope, but I've worked as a designer (not in the automotive field) in the past. You know, the types that come up with those daft ideas and then have to depend on engineers to figure out how to make them actually work. :biggrin:

Thats just the right size for me :w00t:.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by larry lawless

Thats just the right size for me :w00t:.

+1...
I wonder which car show they'll pick to do the unveiling?
Can't wait to see it in person.

[jayparry]

What about comparing the 135 to the original 2002!!!!

[ChrisK]

I need th extra roof height for a helmet!

[Convertible]

Hi !

I'm 6,3" and my 120da has alot room for tall people. You sit so much lower in a 1 series. When I'm in a E46 again it feels so weird it feels like youre sitting on top of that car after 1 series. There's no going back anymore. My M3 feels so dated after my 120da, sad but true.

And the thing I love the most is that in 1er you can get the steering wheel closer than in E46, so you dont have to be cramped to be enough near the streering wheel.

[Ryephile]

Thanks for making those side profile comparison's Klinn!

From what I can guess, the 1-er looks to be about the same side-profile "volume" as the E46 Coupe. Taller hood and roof, but smaller trunk and overall length.

[MOTO69JOE]

Awesome job, i was hoping to see a comparison just like this.

[Crashspeeder]

i expected them to be roughly the same now that the new 3 series seems comparable to the old 5 series in size. the 1 series seems to be picking up the slack in all places the new 3 left a gap.

[Klinn]

Originally Posted by Convertible

You sit so much lower in a 1 series. When I'm in a E46 again it feels so weird it feels like youre sitting on top of that car after 1 series.

Thanks for your detailed impressions between the two models, very helpful. My guess is that because the 135 has a significantly higher beltline (bottom of side windows) it feels more like you are sitting "down in" the car compared to the E46.

Originally Posted by chriskurn

I need the extra roof height for a helmet!

Heh-heh, me too. Not because I'm tall, only 5'-7" and change, but even so my helmet hits the left side frame of the sunroof.

Originally Posted by jayparry

What about comparing the 135 to the original 2002!!!!

Interesting idea, but I think it might be too depressing -- in the sense of all the extra bulk cars have put on over the intervening years. Admitedly, the 135 will do far more than the 2002 could ever dream of, but man... remember the days of sub-2000-lbs cars? Sigh.