any 128i articles?

[steviebee]

I've been lurking in the background for the past couple of months, avidly consuming any & all articles/videos....I'm at the head of the pack at the local dealership having put down my deposit in mid August....

I've taken both the 328i & 335i coupes out for comparison drives, and prefer the twin turbo, but wondering why we're not seeing any articles/videos on the 128i?....seems that BMW only has the 135i available for reviews at this time...

Has anyone seen/read/heard anything about the 128i?

[atr_hugo]

The 128i is a North American market vehicle only, so we probably won't see press reviews of it until late this year or early next year. BMW has done the press review (with US journalists in attendance) for the 135i in Europe already since the 135i (and the two diesel 1er coupe variants) go on sale in Europe next month.

[Khobin~]

...it would be interesting to see if the 128 has the same understeer issues that the 135 seems to have...being that the 128 has the same size tires all around vs. the dsmaller fronts/wider backs on the 135...:iono:


Personnally I'd find it pretty funny if someone does compare the 2 and finds that the 128 handles "better" then the 135 because of that...:drinking:

[atr_hugo]

Originally Posted by Khobin~

Personnally I'd find it pretty funny if someone does compare the 2 and finds that the 128 handles "better" then the 135 because of that...:drinking:

I suspect you will hear that - and the articles will read, ". . . but the sleeper is the 128i, it has less weight forward and subsequently feels better at the limit than the nose-heavy 135i", or words to that effect.

Every car that comes with an engine choice will stir that pot with auto-journalists!!

[gbent]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

I suspect you will hear that - and the articles will read, ". . . but the sleeper is the 128i, it has less weight forward and subsequently feels better at the limit than the nose-heavy 135i", or words to that effect.

Every car that comes with an engine choice will stir that pot with auto-journalists!!

+1
I suspect the 128i will have more neutral handling than the 135i. With slightly less weight up front and the same size tires on all four corners, I don't know how it could not be better.

[emm3tt]

Originally Posted by gbent

+1
I suspect the 128i will have more neutral handling than the 135i. With slightly less weight up front and the same size tires on all four corners, I don't know how it could not be better.

It's funny, you're probably right.

[oldblue]

How much less weight could the 128 have, after all?

Wouldn't differences be primarily related to suspension / tires?

mike

[drew2002]

Originally Posted by old blue

How much less weight could the 128 have, after all?

Wouldn't differences be primarily related to suspension / tires?

mike

I understood it was mostly due to the lighter engine weight (no twin-turbos, I/C and piping).

In other news, any idea how much of the engine is behind the front axel?

[atr_hugo]

Drew - the N52 engine is also cast out of an aluminum/magnesium alloy so the block itself is significantly lighter than the N54 block which is cast aluminum. And it would appear that cylinders 1,2 and part of 3 are ahead of the front axle centerline (along with radiator and intercooler).

[hector]

Originally Posted by gbent

...
With slightly less weight up front...

better yet would be if they hadn't put that detuned lump in there; they could have achieved comparable output with about 10% less displacement or with a 4cyl. turbo of about 2.0ltrs.

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by old blue

How much less weight could the 128 have, after all?

Wouldn't differences be primarily related to suspension / tires?

mike

128i weighs about 120 lbs less than the 135i.

[UJackM]

1-series was originally intended for 4-cylinder engines. With L-6 it is out of balance, but they could not resist the idea and especially for the US market