Frankfurt IAA Show Coverage / Discussion

[EINSER M]

dude you are the man! thanks for the live coverage, those are some exciting pics, especially the BMW branded calipers!!!!!!

[1ster]

All BMW uses is two tiny holes in that massive expanse of black plastic? Seems like that surface could be better utilized.

BTW: the car is FILTHY given that it's being shown at an international auto show. Shame on you, BMW!

[atr_hugo]

AutoWeek has a blurb up. Click this link

[1ster]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

AutoWeek has a blurb up. Click this link

BMW's new 1 series compact coupe will be priced just under $30,000 when U.S. sales begin in the spring.

Seems like a WAG to me, but if true, that means the 128i will be something like $29,500.

[TheoIam]

Originally Posted by Drillslinger

The exhaust is dual from the manifold, through separate catalytic converters and then they merge mid-ship into one resonator and continue as a single exhaust.

BOOOOO!! They sould have been dual all the way to the rear muffler like the E46 330 and E36 M3. :mad:

Thanks for all the great info and pics!!!

[123d]

"BMW expects zero-to-60 mph acceleration at 5.1 seconds for the 135i..... The 128i model will be one second slower, according to BMW."

Huh?? Really? Wow, 6.1 second 128i... nice.

[joelk]

Originally Posted by 1ster

BMW's new 1 series compact coupe will be priced just under $30,000 when U.S. sales begin in the spring.

Seems like a WAG to me, but if true, that means the 128i will be something like $29,500.

If you are going to quote that blurb you should also mention the line about the 135i starting in the mid-30s. Let's not get another 135i for 30,000.00 usd thread going! :smile:

[adc]

Originally Posted by Drillslinger

Oh, I forgot to mention that the 135i I/C is SIDE MOUNTED in front of the right wheel. I don't know yet if the cooler located in the front lower air dam is an oil cooler or what

It's the other way around, oil cooler in the front passenger wheel well and IC in the front bumper.

Same setup as the 335i.

[1ster]

Originally Posted by joelk

Let's not get another 135i for 30,000.00 usd thread going! :smile:

Haha. +1.

[MikeT]

Originally Posted by 1ster

BMW's new 1 series compact coupe will be priced just under $30,000 when U.S. sales begin in the spring.

Seems like a WAG to me, but if true, that means the 128i will be something like $29,500.

That's about what I expected. It's not the price point that many were hoping for, but BMWNA will have no trouble selling them at that price. It's about $3K less than the 328i sedan and $6K less than the 328i coupe, so it's a realistic entry level price.

[ducati]

Originally Posted by Drillslinger

Front right brake/ic duct:





Rear IC duct in wheel well:



Left brake duct:



A couple of other things that I've noticed...

"in the flesh" the shoulder lines aren't as harsh/sharp as they appeared in earlier photos and the Sedona Red (as mentioned by someone else) is more of a burnt orange/red metallic than bronze

That's it for now. I'm heading back out onto the floor and then from there probably head home. I've got more pics (and will still take more) and will be posting them when I get home.

Are you SURE that's the intercooler and not the OIL cooler?

Thanks a bazillion for all the sweet photos.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by 1ster

BMW's new 1 series compact coupe will be priced just under $30,000 when U.S. sales begin in the spring.

Seems like a WAG to me, but if true, that means the 128i will be something like $29,500.

Two inline six-cylinder engines will be offered in the United States: the 128i model will have 230 hp while the 135i will offer 300 hp. BMW expects zero-to-60 mph acceleration at 5.1 seconds for the 135i. That model will carry a base price in the mid $30,000s, said a BMW spokesman. The 128i model will be one second slower, according to BMW.

[inTgr8r]

Finally some fresh pix...:biggrin:

- I'm really happy with the look of the non M-sport front
...now if I can just get the M-sport suspension & brakes on the 128 :wub:
A six second car @~ $30K suits me fine

[mikeo]

Originally Posted by 1ster

All BMW uses is two tiny holes in that massive expanse of black plastic? Seems like that surface could be better utilized...

Looks to be even smaller than the brake ducts on my E36 M3. :iono:

[mikeo]

Drillslinger, thank you to the end of the earth for all your effort! But, are you 100% SURE you have the locations of the oil cooler and I/C right? Doesn't make sense to me to have the I/C buried in the fender.

[123d]

Originally Posted by mikeo

Looks to be even smaller than the brake ducts on my E36 M3. :iono:

Well, that is on the 123d (the 135 won't have fog lights)

[123d]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

Two inline six-cylinder engines will be offered in the United States: the 128i model will have 230 hp while the 135i will offer 300 hp. BMW expects zero-to-60 mph acceleration at 5.1 seconds for the 135i. That model will carry a base price in the mid $30,000s, said a BMW spokesman. The 128i model will be one second slower, according to BMW.

The question is, what is mid $30,000?? $34,000 - $36,000?? I expect the top end of that (plus a bit)

[hector]

Originally Posted by MikeT

It's about $3K less than the 328i sedan....

not that i would want the bigger car, but if the lease variables(mf and rv) are significantly better for the 328 (which is quite likely since they've been running very favorably-currently at 140mf and 71/61 rv for 2 and 3 yrs), with only a 3k msrp difference the payments may end up nearly equal.

[SCA]

Personally, I feel BMW is going to miss the mark on pricing and while it may be a hot seller right off the bat, there will be plenty sitting on Center lots six months after the launch. When potential buyers discover that they can have a larger car with more interior/cargo space for $3k-5k (3-Series) more then they will more than go that route. As we all know, the 1-Series is a completely new model in the US and the 3-Series is well recognized by the general public and the press. It is going to be difficult road for the 1-Series, especially given that the 3-Series has always been the entry-level model and is BMWs bread & butter automobile.

[ducati]

Originally Posted by mikeo

Drillslinger, thank you to the end of the earth for all your effort! But, are you 100% SURE you have the locations of the oil cooler and I/C right? Doesn't make sense to me to have the I/C buried in the fender.

I see you echo my thoughts. I just can't see that being correct... Unless the N54 is having a LOT more problems with oil temp than we know :wink:

[fishbulb]

I see the point of that....but I wonder if there are more people out there who are waiting for a car this size? I don't want larger this or that....give me a modern E30. I want to think that there are more people out there like that. But of course, how many of them? we will see....

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

Personally, I feel BMW is going to miss the mark on pricing and while it may be a hot seller right off the bat, there will be plenty sitting on Center lots six months after the launch. When potential buyers discover that they can have a larger car with more interior/cargo space for $3k-5k (3-Series) more then they will more than go that route. As we all know, the 1-Series is a completely new model in the US and the 3-Series is well recognized by the general public and the press. It is going to be difficult road for the 1-Series, especially given that the 3-Series has always been the entry-level model and is BMWs bread & butter automobile.

[joelk]

Originally Posted by fishbulb

I see the point of that....but I wonder if there are more people out there who are waiting for a car this size? I don't want larger this or that....give me a modern E30. I want to think that there are more people out there like that. But of course, how many of them? we will see....

not to mention those people that just can't afford / wait to save another 3-5k.

the whole point of pricing like this is to place the costs of the two products close enough together to get people that can afford the more expensive one to rationalize the jump .. thereby milking that extra bit of money out of them and leaving the lesser priced car for new customers you were previously excluding.

it's the whole "for just 25 cents more you can get a medium drink" routine taken to an extreme.

edit: this assumes profits increase with car cost. if that's not true then just ignore what i said.