why all the 128 bashing? + some other questions!

[imported_romeo26]

first of all here is my back ground: my family owned bmw's since i was born! currently i drive a e30 with a super eta! and we also have a e36 325i. both MT! iam an N/A only type of person. i dreaded the day BMW "cheated" with the newer cars! rant: with me being a N/A only type of person, i am looking at the 128! the exact thing i want is 128, sport pkg, xenons, and MT! every thing else BMW could keep! if the 135 was N/A i would be going for that! some friends of mine have turbo'ed cars and well for them at least, they seem less reliable, especially since couple are supra's! also iam the type to put his money in suspension! my question for you guys is: why do you guys look down on the 128? is the 128 really that bad? me and my girlfriend and i are thinking of getting married and starting a family! how kid friendly is the back seat? should i be looking at the e92? btw: if i ever did get the 135 i would have turbo on the front backwards! i dont know if any of you actually know where i got that, but i give props to the real BMW enthusiast who knows what iam talking about!

[RXC135i]

Originally Posted by romeo26

me and my girlfriend and i are thinking of getting married and starting a family!

First Welcome to 1Addicts and how many of you are there?

But to address your questions I think you should read the posts around here more before you put out the "you guys" card since nobody here looks down on the 128i; it is what it is and will offer great returns . The 135i gets the majority of the fanfare because this is a site of enthusiasts and the 135 is an amazing car. I think you should head to your dealer drive both, look at the rear seats and decide what feels best to you.

[larryn]

Where do you find people bashing the 128i? We all drive 1ers, and are all equal 1addicts.

[spudw]

I wouldn't say anyone has been bashing the 128i, but it seems the 135i has raised the bar and raised expectations among enthusiasts. There have been a number of opinions (some from fanboys) suggesting the 128i 'just doesn"t cut it'.

Of course I disagree, and I've cited many times how the 'lowly' 128i would, stock-for-stock, easily outgun the revered E46 330i.

I think the 128i is a great car and will offer 95% of the fun of a 135i for 90% of the price. For the everyday, get-up-and-go-to-work enthusiast, it will be a great car at a fair price.

As to whether it is a good family car, I'm not too sure. We have an Oddysey for all the family stuff and our 1er will be my daily driver. I'd hate to have to use the 1er back seats for a rear-facing baby seat. Recipe for back injuries. I have one kid in a booster seat and another than will soon be in a forward-facing baby seat. Transporting both in the 1er will be a rare thing, I hope.

[Kiety]

the 128i is as much of a car as the 135i, minus the turbos. Realistically, not everyone will use the extra power in the 135i but it's nice knowing it is there, the 128i is by NO means a slouch.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by Kiety

the 128i is as much of a car as the 135i, minus the turbos...

...and brakes let's not forget...

[larryn]

Originally Posted by Balls

...and brakes let's not forget...

True, but since the 128i is about a hundred pounds less than the 135i, and BMW's single pistons are usually great, the brakes are probably a moot point, other than the bling factor of the painted calipers.

I can't wait to see some performance reviews of a basic 128i with nothing but the sports package.

[Jackdaws]

I have no regrets getting the 128i/sports package. It's a blast. I agree with spudwest above. The 135i is more car, but each purchaser needs to decide if the extra money is really worth it. The 128i SP has the same power train, suspension, seats, and top speed, just gets there a bit slower. The cars complement each other, appealing to slightly different driving needs. And I wouldn't recommend a car seat in a two door--you'll blow a disc.

[TP 135i]

I spend way too much time reading posts on this forum.
Bashing?.............I'm not aware of 128 bashing going on.
The 128 and 135 are very similar cars. The 135 just has some features that many of us prefer and that's why we are drawn in it's direction.
When you compare the two cars the 135 comes out on top, with it's engine, suspension, brakes, wheels, etc.
The 128 is a excellent car and anyone choosing it should not feel otherwise.

[BMW Dreamer]

If the 135i wasn't available I would probably purchase and be happy with a manual 128i with many goodies. Heck it should run 0-60 in about 6 seconds which is about as quick as my old 286 hp Acura TL-S auto, which isn't slow by any means.

Having the 135i available lets me afford a really FAST car, which is just incredible. I can't imagine owning one or any car that is as fast as the 135i.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by larryn

True, but since the 128i is about a hundred pounds less than the 135i, and BMW's single pistons are usually great, the brakes are probably a moot point, other than the bling factor of the painted calipers.

I can't wait to see some performance reviews of a basic 128i with nothing but the sports package.

I disagree. I bet there's at least a 20% difference in brake torque from the fronts alone, not to mention fade differences. Of course that can be easily rectified for the 128 by mounting an even better BBK, or the same set.

[larryn]

If we are now talking about living on a race track in either car, I'd tip my hat to you on the brake fade argument. I don't think we are though.

I want to see the 128i ZSP tested, but I'll bet the 60-0 distances in emergency braking simulations are not that dissimilar to the 135i

[vivid]

FIRST.... please tell me you are not getting rid of that magnificent piece of BMW history in your E30???

second... the 128i is a great car and several members on here have ordered them... the majority of us are getting the 135i because the engine, although turboed, is a magnificent power plant with huge modding capability... You can't go wrong with either the 135i or the 128i.

[60Driver]

I wonder where romeo26, his girlfriend and him are finding posts bashing the 128i. To be sure, I'm not looking for such posts but nor have I stumbled across them either.

If the 128i had the option to get the M aero kit and larger tires I would no doubt be buying it. That's as close to a true entry level bimmer as you can get IMO. I have no need for the 135i's power. Just a blood lust to possess it.

[BMW Dreamer]

I sometimes wish they didn't offer the bi-turbo. I can't resist getting the most powerful engine. I wish they offered a 3.0 with about 255hp and no turbo's. The turbo reliability makes me nervous.

[MVF4Rrider]

Originally Posted by larryn

If we are now talking about living on a race track in either car, I'd tip my hat to you on the brake fade argument. I don't think we are though.

I want to see the 128i ZSP tested, but I'll bet the 60-0 distances in emergency braking simulations are not that dissimilar to the 135i

I'm not talking track, but I'm more often than desired forced to brake hard from 130+ mph due to some idiot stepping out in front of me (to pass a slower right lane vehicle) while doing about 80 mph. [idiot because they see you closing at a high rate of speed but cut you off anyway because it's legal to do so even though they could wait a second and you'd be past and it wouldn't hold them up in the least]

Bottomline is, the 135's brakes are superior (no matter how you slice it and dice it), which was my original point.

[curtdragon]

Turbo cars are unreliable because the average person doesn't know how to take care of it. I'm tired of people complaining about turbo this turbo that when they have never owned a turbo car. They get unreliable when you start modifying them.

As has been said no one bashes either car. I personally want the 135 because of the turbos once you have one turbo you have a hard time with an NA car.

Go drive both to see what you are missing.

[G5Ti]

Originally Posted by romeo26

btw: if i ever did get the 135 i would have turbo on the front backwards! i dont know if any of you actually know where i got that, but i give props to the real BMW enthusiast who knows what iam talking about!

Um... 2002. I think most on here know that. :-)

As someone who ordered a 128, I had zero regrets about it until I came on this forum... then about a day later I got over it. There's definitely a lot of talk on here about the 135 being the more serious enthusiast's car (which is partly true, due to obvious differences like the engine, brakes and standard wheel/tire/suspension combo), but the truth is that the 128 deserves plenty of credit.

I drove both, and for me the 135 seems superfluous in a country of 55-70mph speed limits. The temptation to push the car the way it's meant to be driven would likely lose me my license. And I know from personal experience that the likelihood of me taking a car -- especially a brand-new one -- to the track is completely negligible.

I owned three cars prior to this: '86 Subaru RX Turbo, '98 VW GTi VR6 and a '02 VW GTi 337 (1.8T). I don't know that I could agree that turbo cars are less reliable - I think in my case that's more that VWs aren't all that reliable. I couldn't kill the Subaru (it was used, and a gift from my grandparents when I was 17). I tried to nuke it, but it was too good of a car, and I ultimately traded it for my first solo car purchase (the '98 GTi).

When I went to look at the 1, I seriously considered another VW (GTi or R32), but the trunk on the 1 was surprisingly spacious, and the driving dynamics of the car superior. If you do not have children yet, then it seems the 1 could be a good choice as young kids aren't likely to push the size limits of the back seat until they're old enough to play musical instruments and sports (at which point, enter an M5 wagon *grin*).

I'm not sure how old you are, but the only other thing I would mention is that if you're really looking to start a family, your money might be better utilized as savings for a down payment on a house; look for a used E46 330 or E36 M3 or something along those lines and enjoy the benefits of both a depreciating asset AND an appreciating asset.

[paologaspar]

replies like this one might be the reason why the OP thinks 128is are less regarded;

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...9&postcount=10

Originally Posted by 04__STi

Are you trying to justify the 128 purchase? IMO anything less than 135i don't cut it.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

I wish they offered a 3.0 with about 255hp and no turbo's.

Instead of my 128i, I would have ordered this motor in a minute and can't understand why it's not available, since it is still offered on the Z4. Of course, it does have only 20 lb. ft. more torque than the 128i, but 10% is 10%.
Tom

[kbimmer135i]

i think there's so much talk about the 135 that it seems like we're all bashing on the 128. the 128 is a great car. i test drove that before the 135. if you don't want the twin turbo engine, the 128 is great. it's got torque and handling.

[GT3]

I think the 128i is a great car. The powerplant is excellent. Smooth, refined, and responsive with decent TQ. For people that don't want, or like, Turbo engines, it makes great sense.

If you get the Sport package with the 128i do you also get the upgraded sport suspension of the 135i? If so, even better!