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The 135i is a very cool car, don't get me wrong. It just isn't as pretty. I don't like how the bottom of the door curves downward (the darker colors mask this somewhat), the headlights almost look too big for such a small car, & the rear end looks like an afterthought.
Now as a convertible, I don't like the way the 3 series hardtop convertible looks when up. The lines distract from the coupe design. I like the way the 1 series convertible look better. It is much simpler.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I think the 1 looks OK overall (and actually nice from rear angles), but from the front and sides, I think it looks kind of like a bathtub with ugly headlights.
Yes, I think the 3 coupe is maybe the best looking car in BMW's lineup right now.
Between the BMW's though, I'd choose the 135i. I think it's the best performance car BMW builds.
Somewhat surprising choice, given that you thought it looks like a bathtub with ugly headlights! :P
Personally I like the E90 Sedans & think they are very handsome
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
BMW typically underrates the HP of their cars. MY 528 is rated @ 194hp, feels like it has around 220.
I'm fine with the appearance of the Oners. They aren't beautiful but have a cheeky, sporty look IMO. The convertible is the best looking, as nice top down as the 3 series cabrio and better with the top up since the 3er cab's top looks odd from some angles.
Oner Coupes look good in Black.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Looks wise, I now prefer the 1's looks over the 3's. Although the 3 coupe is sleeker and more elegant, the 1 just looks sportier and more muscular. The 135i definitely looks better than the 335i in the convertible, top up or down, IMO.
You might, if you lived in a rain-forest like the Pacific Northwest!
Well, it depends.
When I lived in Richmond (where the airport is, for those who aren't familiar with Vancouver geography), the average annual rainfall was a fraction (a third or less) of the averages for the North Shore, where I also lived for a couple of years.
They grow hay in Sequim, in the rain shadow of the Cascades, while it pours not far away.
All of it is better than the desert.
So then I wonder why do so many Canadians retire to Arizona. :confuse: Must be for the year-round golfing, since it can't be for the hockey!
Think of me the next time you go through Active Pass and watch bald eagles fishing for salmon. I used to do that, in my sailboat.
Like Thule TH460R. RB43. 3028, which bike carrier is better, etc.
Thanks.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Thanks!
The 1 series is reported to understeer more than the 3. If my assumption about setup is correct, does the standard car give more neutral (less understeer) handling than the M-Sport?
Do they really make them available with all season tires in America? Does anybody want all seasons, ever, at all?
Yep, the only way to get decent tread mileage is with all-seasons, I find that I can't get much more than 15,000 miles on sticky-tread summer performance tires. There are plenty of performance rated A/S tires that'll deliver twice that mileage on a rwd car.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
So, what are "mixed performance tires?" Beats me.
As for understeer/oversteer. Lots of factors play into the understeer equation. On the 135i, the staggered sized wheels as well as more weight over the nose makes it more likely to push. No doubt, BMW designed the suspension to compensate (roll bar thickness, spring rates, rebound dampening, etc.) to make the 135i handle the way they want it to.
On the 128i, certainly a lighter nose and 4 identical tires all around make for less tendency to understeer - and the all-seasons have less grip than "performance" tires, which affects handling balance too.
Personally, I think the 128i with standard suspension is the most neutral and entertaining to drive. More than enough power to light up the tires, and less grip means it's easier to get the car sideways.
They probably mean performance rated all seasons. Tirerack lists several categories of these>
Ultra High Performance All-Season
You want all-season versatility (including light snow traction) and are willing to trade some dry and wet traction and handling to get it.
High Performance All-Season
You want all-season versatility (including light snow traction) to drive your sports coupe or sedan in all weather conditions.
Performance All-Season
You want all-season versatility (including light snow traction) with a mixture of performance and appearance at a reasonable price.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Standard Stereo pretty good also. All together....nice car for the deal I got....and believe me I tested them all and did my homework.
cs
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Wear good snows, carry a tow strap and tow hook and don't drive when it's really bad, wait for them to plow, you'll be fine. :shades:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I suspect that's just incompetence on the part of the driver. I've run winter rubber on an E36 3er and E39 5er and had absolutely NO problems in snow. They both handled the nasty stuff 100% better than my miserable Mazdaspeed 3.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-2021 Sahara 4xe-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
My wife has an '07 X3. Now I've driven her truck in the snow with the all season tires it comes with. In an empty parking lot once, I shut off the dtc (dynamic traction control) and mashed the gas pedal - the truck spun all 4 tires & couldn't get out of its own way. With the DTC switched back on, I mashed the gas and the x3 gingerly took off.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
She got the X3 about a year ago... First snow, she comes in and says she was sliding coming down to a stop on a downhill slope. "How come I have AWD, and it doesn't stop as well as my 330i convertible?"
While I could drive her X3 through heavier snow and worse conditions than her 3-series could handle (ground clearance counts for a lot), the RWD convertible with winter tires was/is safer and better handling in slick conditions..
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I'm not so sure that's the whole story....maybe you're just blessed with superior skills that mere mortals only dream about.
Let's put it this way, all else being equal (tires, road condition, etc), in adverse conditions, I'll put my money on a FWD or AWD over a RWD any day.
The trick is not to have "all else" be equal but to equip yourself with the best tires and traction control. I've been in conditions with AWD and the wrong tires where I'd have been better off with RWD and snows.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
No argument there, but it only snows 10 or 15% of the time. I much prefer RWD when it's not snowing and I have owned AWD, RWD and FWD while living in the
snow belt.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93