Is the 135i a sedan?

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 11:11 AM

Hi. Does anyone know why the E82 is considered a coupe, rather than a sedan/saloon?? I know that coupe/sedan has been shorthand for 2-door/4-door for a while (although that's been changing again recently,) but the E82 seems to have all of the traits of a sedan, like the 2002, aka "The Best Sports Sedan In The World."

- 3-box design w/trunk
- b pillar that supports the roof
- roofline less steep than a coupe for headroom
- two rows of seats

What gives? Was it just a marketing thing?

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 11:16 AM

I may have just answered my own question a bit. While the E82 technically has a b-pillar, it is disguised as if there isn't one. Is that the differentiator?

olds350 · 03-28-2019, 12:34 PM

I thought it was a little more simple than that... 4 door is a sedan, 2 door is a coupe...

Captain Blood · 03-28-2019, 01:02 PM

Is/was a 4 door offered in Europe? I watched some british cop drama, it had a car that looked like mine, but had 4 doors.

Soterios · 03-28-2019, 01:07 PM

Two doors and a trunk? I thought it was a coupe.

atr_hugo · 03-28-2019, 01:32 PM

Ugh - mid '50s Chevy nomenclature, a '2 door sedan' w/ a B-pillar AKA a 'postie' and a true hardtop, or coupe. But due to the need for body shell rigidity you wont find any true B-pillar-less coupes these days. The E82 is a Coupe with 2 + 2 seating. ;-)

Esteban · 03-28-2019, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Real Dodger

Is/was a 4 door offered in Europe? I watched some british cop drama, it had a car that looked like mine, but had 4 doors.

There's an E87 1 series 4-door hatchback in Europe. Is it possible that's what you saw?

Tommm · 03-28-2019, 01:58 PM

They called it a sedan because it had a usable back seat. The Celica was a coupe (4 seater). 911 was a coupe (4 seater). Also, the 240Z was a coupe (2 seater). What was the Scirocco (4 seater, unusable back seat) and/or Rabbit (scirocco with usable back seat)? Was one a coupe and one a sedan? Since we are cross shopping, what about the 924, Cosworth Vega, or Mustang II?

Get the 1975 issue of C&D and see what their parameters were. Until then, it is whatever you want it to be.

Captain Blood · 03-28-2019, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esteban

There's an E87 1 series 4-door hatchback in Europe. Is it possible that's what you saw?

You even got the color correct! Nice work. I forget the name of the show, but it featured Scully from X Files.

Esteban · 03-28-2019, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Real Dodger

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esteban

There's an E87 1 series 4-door hatchback in Europe. Is it possible that's what you saw?

You even got the color correct! Nice work. I forget the name of the show, but it featured Scully from X Files.

Thanks.

Is the show called The Fall?

Captain Blood · 03-28-2019, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esteban

Thanks.

Is the show called The Fall?

Yep. Wife loved it, I got tired of it real fast. I did like Gillian Anderson, but that's only because she is the twin sister (seemingly) of my last girlfriend before I met my wife. Hot!

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soterios

Two doors and a trunk? I thought it was a coupe.

Nope. Coupe was never technically about the number of doors, although it defaulted to that for a while. We're actually seeing BMW go back now with the new "Gran Coupes."

Here's an ad calling the 2-door 320e a "sedan."

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommm

They called it a sedan because it had a usable back seat. The Celica was a coupe (4 seater). 911 was a coupe (4 seater). Also, the 240Z was a coupe (2 seater). What was the Scirocco (4 seater, unusable back seat) and/or Rabbit (scirocco with usable back seat)? Was one a coupe and one a sedan? Since we are cross shopping, what about the 924, Cosworth Vega, or Mustang II?

Get the 1975 issue of C&D and see what their parameters were. Until then, it is whatever you want it to be.

A usable backseat is exactly why I bought a 135i over the cars you mention. The way the roof of the E82 doesn't slope directly back after the front seat and allows for good rear seat headroom (even compared to the 3/4 series) is exactly the definition of a sedan (vs. coupe,) like with the 2002.

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

Ugh - mid '50s Chevy nomenclature, a '2 door sedan' w/ a B-pillar AKA a 'postie' and a true hardtop, or coupe. But due to the need for body shell rigidity you wont find any true B-pillar-less coupes these days. The E82 is a Coupe with 2 + 2 seating. ;-)

Yeah, but as I mentioned above, the roof doesn't have the sloop of a coupe (like the 4 series.)

Here is a true 2+2 "coupe" that's current:

dtla1 · 03-28-2019, 04:20 PM

From Merriam-Webster (Online):

Sedan: a 2- or 4-door automobile seating four or more persons and usually having a permanent top

Coupe: usually coupe : a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons
also : one with a tight-spaced rear seat

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtla1

From Merriam-Webster (Online):

Sedan: a 2- or 4-door automobile seating four or more persons and usually having a permanent top

Coupe: usually coupe : a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons
also : one with a tight-spaced rear seat

Do we know the rear interior volume of the E82? According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, if it's less than 33 cubic ft., it's a coupe.

dtla1 · 03-28-2019, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duder13

Do we know the rear interior volume of the E82? According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, if it's less than 33 cubic ft., it's a coupe.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/ar.../t-517439.html

This thread quotes Car and Driver as saying the rear seat area has a volume of................. 37 cubic ft.!

We drive Sedans!

Now which lawyer can we get to write us a letter so we can send it to our insurance providers and get a haircut on those premiums?

Esteban · 03-28-2019, 05:09 PM

So I guess that means I have to change where it says "Drives: a turbo coupe" in my details to "Drives: a turbo sedan." Nah, I think I'll leave it. Turbo sedan doesn't have quite the same ring to it. lol

iminhell1 · 03-28-2019, 05:22 PM

I don't like this thread.

So maybe I have a pony car?

PopsnBurbles · 03-28-2019, 05:58 PM

I heard from an old timer that if a car's front door windows have a frame when the doors are open, then it's a sedan. Hence why 2 door e30 are 2 door sedans.

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PopsnBurbles

I heard from an old timer that if a car's front door windows have a frame when the doors are open, then it's a sedan. Hence why 2 door e30 are 2 door sedans.

So these are sedans, too??

duder13 · 03-28-2019, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esteban

So I guess that means I have to change where it says "Drives: a turbo coupe" in my details to "Drives: a turbo sedan." Nah, I think I'll leave it. Turbo sedan doesn't have quite the same ring to it. lol

Ha! I didn't notice that in your profile. Maybe "Drives: a coupe'ish turbo sedan" would work?

I'm gonna change mine to, too!.

03-28-2019, 11:11 AM	#1
duder13 Captain 767 Rep 904 Posts Drives: Cashmere Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Is the 135i a sedan? Hi. Does anyone know why the E82 is considered a coupe, rather than a sedan/saloon?? I know that coupe/sedan has been shorthand for 2-door/4-door for a while (although that's been changing again recently,) but the E82 seems to have all of the traits of a sedan, like the 2002, aka "The Best Sports Sedan In The World." - 3-box design w/trunk - b pillar that supports the roof - roofline less steep than a coupe for headroom - two rows of seats What gives? Was it just a marketing thing?
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03-28-2019, 11:16 AM	#2
duder13 Captain 767 Rep 904 Posts Drives: Cashmere Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	I may have just answered my own question a bit. While the E82 technically has a b-pillar, it is disguised as if there isn't one. Is that the differentiator?
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03-28-2019, 12:34 PM	#3
olds350 Needs a long road trip... 348 Rep 527 Posts Drives: '11 e91, '13 e88, '19 golf R Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	I thought it was a little more simple than that... 4 door is a sedan, 2 door is a coupe...
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03-28-2019, 01:02 PM	#4
Captain Blood Banned 13871 Rep 14,519 Posts Drives: Audi S3....don't judge me Join Date: May 2017 Location: Alph Ceti VI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 Audi S3 [9.50] 2012 135 [6.83]	Is/was a 4 door offered in Europe? I watched some british cop drama, it had a car that looked like mine, but had 4 doors.
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03-28-2019, 01:07 PM	#5
Soterios BXR 575 Rep 636 Posts Drives: 2012 135i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	Two doors and a trunk? I thought it was a coupe. __________________ 2012 135i M Sport Alpine White
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03-28-2019, 01:32 PM	#6
atr_hugo No longer moderate 325 Rep 4,401 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: - iTrader: (0)	Ugh - mid '50s Chevy nomenclature, a '2 door sedan' w/ a B-pillar AKA a 'postie' and a true hardtop, or coupe. But due to the need for body shell rigidity you wont find any true B-pillar-less coupes these days. The E82 is a Coupe with 2 + 2 seating. ;-)
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03-28-2019, 01:58 PM	#8
Tommm Driven Crazy 190 Rep 505 Posts Drives: his wife nuts 128i 6m Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: The Mile High iTrader: (1)	They called it a sedan because it had a usable back seat. The Celica was a coupe (4 seater). 911 was a coupe (4 seater). Also, the 240Z was a coupe (2 seater). What was the Scirocco (4 seater, unusable back seat) and/or Rabbit (scirocco with usable back seat)? Was one a coupe and one a sedan? Since we are cross shopping, what about the 924, Cosworth Vega, or Mustang II? Get the 1975 issue of C&D and see what their parameters were. Until then, it is whatever you want it to be. __________________ '08 128i 6M
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03-28-2019, 04:20 PM	#15
dtla1 Colonel 828 Rep 2,232 Posts Drives: 2011 135i, Space Grey Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Silicon Valley iTrader: (2)	From Merriam-Webster (Online): Sedan: a 2- or 4-door automobile seating four or more persons and usually having a permanent top Coupe: usually coupe : a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons also : one with a tight-spaced rear seat
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03-28-2019, 05:09 PM	#18
Esteban Major General 43732 Rep 7,224 Posts Drives: a slow car fast Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	So I guess that means I have to change where it says "Drives: a turbo coupe" in my details to "Drives: a turbo sedan." Nah, I think I'll leave it. Turbo sedan doesn't have quite the same ring to it. lol __________________
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03-28-2019, 05:22 PM	#19
iminhell1 C2H5OH 3915 Rep 2,144 Posts Drives: 2010 SG 135i auto Join Date: May 2015 Location: Darwin, MN iTrader: (1)	I don't like this thread. So maybe I have a pony car?
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03-28-2019, 05:58 PM	#20
PopsnBurbles Captain 192 Rep 893 Posts Drives: 135is :) 192/586 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: LA, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2013 BMW 135is Coup ... [10.00]	I heard from an old timer that if a car's front door windows have a frame when the doors are open, then it's a sedan. Hence why 2 door e30 are 2 door sedans.
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