Article Comments - 2009 BMW 1-Series First Look and 135i First Drive

29 messages, Last post on Feb 24, 2008 at 2:41 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 1 Series, Future Vehicle, Coupe, Convertible

First Look: 2009 BMW 1 Series Convertible - Some six months from now, the 2009 BMW 1 Series will be introduced to America, a smaller, leaner and sportier driving experience from Munich. With the formal introduction of the BMW 1 Series convertible, it's clear that BMW wants the 1 Series to be not just a car but also a whole new BMW culture. (more)

First Drive: 2009 BMW 135i - To put it plainly, the 2009 BMW 135i is more than merely good. It raises the standard of measure for small coupes to a whole new level of excellence. It is one of the purest expressions of the BMW character since the 1971 BMW 2002 tii. (more)

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#8 of 29 2009 135i First Drive! by KarenS HOST Oct 24, 2007 (8:47 am)
First Drive: 2009 BMW 135i
#10 of 29 First Drive Review by ccd1 Oct 24, 2007 (12:10 pm)
Just exactly how does the 135i strip away all the excesses of the 3 Series and get back to the purity of the 2002??? The car weights almost as much as the 3 Series and has virtually everything the 335i has, just in a smaller package. Could someone explain that one to me???
#11 of 29 first drive review by fixxxer Oct 24, 2007 (9:21 pm)
well, the point of the 135i is that it DOES weigh less than the 3 series, and it is smaller, so it has less mass to move around the track/road and thus is a bit sharper. Plus it just looks cool. And it will cost less. Its more focused on the drive, while the 3 series has become more of a saloon.
#12 of 29 First Drive Review by ccd1 Oct 25, 2007 (4:19 am)
fixxer: Don't get me wrong, I am no fan of cars getting bigger and heavier with each model revision. The current 3 Series is about the size of the 5 Series of yore. But it is not as if BMW is now reversing that trend. The 3 Series didn't get smaller or lighter, they introduced another model. The 1 Series IS lighter, but not that much lighter. I think everyone was disappointed that it doesn't weigh less. Depending on the review, I've seen less than 100 lbs to a little over 200 lbs less than the 3 Series. I seriously question whether that weight savings is enough to make a real difference and some reviewers have raised this question as well. As for more driving focused, I think that is true in part. The 335i can be had with or without the performance package and the 135i comes standard with those goodies and perhaps a few more. I see this car as a petite 335i w/ performance package. This car could have been much more exciting with less weight, but civility in cars apparently exacts a price in terms of weight. Mitsu civlized the EVO and it gained 200 lbs! BMW is showing a lighter version of the car (Tii), but with all the carbon fiber in that car, we know it will be very expensive if it is ever introduced.
#13 of 29 Not quite bait and switch... by wily66 Oct 25, 2007 (12:12 pm)
but in the neighborhood! The i model will be priced at $38,900 and with charges and any options will surpass 40K. Most will swallow hard and walk away a few will show an interest and fewer still will check the lease rates and sign up. The good news is that residual will keep lease payments manageable, and resale will be high.
#14 of 29 Prices by ccd1 Oct 26, 2007 (10:14 am)
Wily: Do you know something we don't know? The price for the 135i is the biggest questions about the car and seems to be one of the best kept secrets as well
#15 of 29 Re: Pricing is Key [tiff_c] by stovt001 Oct 30, 2007 (4:59 am)
Replying to: tiff_c (Oct 24, 2007 8:27 am) I also want to agree that weight and pricing are the biggest shortcomings of the 135. Most reports I've heard put the 135 starting at $35,000 and weighing slightly less than the 3 series. At that price and weight it is a good car, but not great, and in a very crowded field. If it weighs less, great, but the trend is to make cars heavier and heavier, so I'm not holding my breath for a lightweight car. If the 135 starts at the $30,000 quoted in this article, then it still holds a high place on my list, but again I doubt that due to the falling dollar. The sad thing is BMW probably made an incredible little car for not very much, but due to poor exchange rates it will probably be overpriced compared to domestic and Asian cars of comparable performance and civility. Replies to this message: tiff_c (Nov 05, 2007 10:56 pm)
#16 of 29 I hope it is $30k by waynebengston Nov 05, 2007 (7:40 pm)
If it starts at $30k, I'll be on the list as soon as they announce it. I'll be trading the Focus ST in on it. I've not been so excited about a car since the MR2 Supercharged, over 20 years ago. Replies to this message: creakid1 (Nov 08, 2007 11:00 pm)
#17 of 29 Re: Pricing is Key [stovt001] by tiff_c Nov 05, 2007 (10:56 pm)
Replying to: stovt001 (Oct 30, 2007 4:59 am) I also want to agree that weight and pricing are the biggest shortcomings of the 135. Most reports I've heard put the 135 starting at $35,000 and weighing slightly less than the 3 series. At that price and weight it is a good car, but not great, and in a very crowded field. If it weighs less, great, but the trend is to make cars heavier and heavier, so I'm not holding my breath for a lightweight car. If the 135 starts at the $30,000 quoted in this article, then it still holds a high place on my list, I'm hoping the price is also kept low, but the weight will be there for certain. modern cars have some need to be heavy. I can wait a couple more weeks until pricing is announced. But it will be nice when we can get some in depth articles on how the car really drives and performs.