I really like the 7, 5, and Z4. I don't care for the 6. So far I'm happy with BMWs new styling, not that I'm some huge BMW fan. I just pay attention to any small sporty cars that they might have.
I bought it in December.. 8 months old with 7700 miles on it.. paid $29,500. Probably would have been about $36.5K-37K selling price new back in April, when it was put into service. It has all the stuff.. premium, sport, HK, xenon, heated leather, automatic, etc... Three leased Honda Accords in a row for the wife. If I hadn't found one for under $30K, it would have been a TSX this time around.
Every important feature is standard! Do you really need leather & moonroof? The in-line 6-cyl $28k 325i is already loaded w/ standard features not necessarily found in the Canadian 2.2 320i such as DSC, auto climate w/ charcoal filter, remote all windows up/down, heated windshield washers & mirrors. Not to mention the included 4-yr maintenance. Lemme ask you. Which other cars got these features, even as an extra cost option? & how about the COMBINATION of ride comfort, steering communication & handling? To me, that is priceless!
Check out www.thecarconnection.com. I hope the headlights shot is computer enhanced, because they look quite strange. The sides really do have a Z4 flare. Oh, BTW, was Bangle's "promotion" to an executive slot (not doing design anymore) confirmed officially?
To a 325i I'd at, at a minimum, the sport package and a moonroof, which puts MSRP at $31,245 or more if you want a metallic color. Even without the moonroof it breaks $30k.
I'd like to see the 1 series come in with a moonroof at under $28k.
Back in October, the local dealer had an '03.. Sport, moonroof, heated seats.. jet black/leatherette.. $31,445. That is the minimum car I would buy. Mine was for the wife, though.
"BMW's popular Z-Axle design is likely to feature to ensure the rear-wheel-drive model's chassis is as sporty as possible, without spoiling ride quality and refinement."
"Available in three-door, four-door and cabrio guise, the 1-Series will use four-cylinder power only."
"Aluminium body panels have been employed to keep the weight to a minimum."
4-cyl w/ aluminum body panels -- a feather-weight race car that puts the M3 special light-weight model to shame?
In the North American market, word is that we won't be getting any 4 cyl cars at all - instead our cars will feature the smallest six in the current BMW line. The North American automotive press seems to go back and forth on this issue every time something new gets published in the UK or EU [see above], but most people close to BMW-USA believe they are insisting on 6 cyl engines for our market, and also insisting on "no hatchbacks" for us, either.
I personally believe both of these ideas on the part of the BMW marketing people in the USA are wrong-headed, but I don't expect any of them to ask my opinion, either...
I don't think the BMW Marketing & Product people are wrong for not offering any of BMW's competant 4 bangers and only bringing the 2.5L Inline 6 here with regards to the 1 series. The E36 318ti checked out for a reason.
A BMW 1 series with a 4cyl, manual transmssion, low weight, 50/50 weight distribution, and sport suspension would be appealing to me and other enthusiasts (there's a guy div2 on the 3 & 5 boards with a 318ti Club Sport that he wouldn't give up for anything).
The majority of US buyers will want their 1 series BMW equipped with a slushbox, leather, and wood trim as well as expect it to have good "pickup."
I'm interested in the 1 series though.
Maybe they'll have a choice of 2 sixes. They do have a 2.0L Inline 6 in Canada and Europe in addition to the 2.5L offered here in the 3er and 5er.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I think BMW needs to offer the inline sixes to stay competitive with Audi. The A3 will likely have a 200hp 2.0T and 240+hp 3.2L six. BMW must offer the 2.5L at a minimum, and it may need the 3.0 as well. They don't have to worry about the 1 series stealing buyers from the beloved 3 series because the cars will be different enough in size and price (especially after the 3 series redesign). Think about it: the 3 series and 5 series share the 2.5 and 3.0 engines, and the 5 series and 7 series share the 4.4L. They don't cannabalize each other for sales. Therefore, I believe the 1 series and 3 series can share engines as well.
The 3 series will likely be bigger and more expensive with the 2006 redesign (probably about a 10% price increase if the 5 series redesign is used as a guide). They'll do this to make room for the 1 series. I just hope a 125i starts around 25K and is less than 30K nicely equiped.
according to CAR, & the 2-series coupe & convertible will come out for '06 & '07.
Make sense, as the cramp rear seating is pointless for a sedan anyway.
From the drawing, the coupe looks light weight sort of like the E36 coupe but more tapered front & back. The trunk deck is pretty low, & the rear glass isn't so far away behind the driver. This means good rear visibility for both lane change & backing up, just like the original 2002. Too bad the firm sport suspension might be std, since this is a coupe.
as a coupe with the 3.0L, six speed manual, sport package, heated seats, and a moonroof if that's the case then. These cars will be a screaming bargain if you go the European Delivery route.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I'd like a 5-door hatchback, shiftronic, nearly loaded. Maybe a sport pkg, but BMWs are fun to drive even without a sport pkg. If the prices are too high, I'm going to the Acura, Volvo or Saab dealer to look at TSXs, S40s and 9-3s.
I love my current 3 but it's a tad hefty and not as tossable as I'd prefer. I'd prefer a strong 2.0-2.4L inline turbo 4 over a 3L as that'll shave weight and bulk from the car. Ideally, it should be smaller than a Mazda3, RWD, light (sub 2600 lbs) and feature an engine with more about 200-220 HP. That'll light my fire for certain.
but the non-M future Beemers are supposed to get turbo options.
I would do anything to avoid turbo/Kompressor to preserve the mid-corner-acceleration precision. Well, one member in our family still got a new Passat turbo auto today 'cause we can't afford a normally-aspirated Passat. He's already finding this turbo throttle response annoying.
BMW has mentioned a possible turbo for the M5. There's no reason an M1 couldn't be turbo just as there's no reason BMW can't have an SUV. Basically it comes down to a willingness to produce such things.
And turbos are not peaky if designed properly. Audi/VW's 1.8T is a thing of beauty. someone having a problem with using the 1.8T must not have experience with the engine (it pulls strongly from 2k-4500 RPM) or they don't understand the car. I had a 1.8T and the engine was a blast in the mid-range.
If anything BMW's current engines are VERY peaky. My inline 3.0 six is decent below 5k RPM but above 5k it's a different beast.
Turbos can feel either way. Try a WRX and it's got a split personality on and off boost, but try Subaru's 2.5T engine in a Forester XT and there is zero lag.
There is post above that talks about European Delivery and a post earlier on that says it will be built in the US Z4 factory. Which is it and what is the expected release date? I'm planning to go to Europe summer 2005 and I want to know if this will be an option for European Delivery of a 1 or 2 series.
"...a post earlier on that says it will be built in the US Z4 factory."
for the sedan only. & since the sedan is cancelled... Beemers built in the U.S. are the ones popular locally such as SUV or convertible, & that's why the Compact ti production was seized, if it was ever produced here.
Since people here like to go for bigger vehicles, why would BMW built the cramped-rear-seat 1-series sedan here to compete w/ the 3-series? They're basically the same car w/ the same platform in different wheelbase/track like the difference b/t the N.A. Accord/TL & the Euro Accord(TSX).
No sedan? I just read an article on Autoweek that said the 4 door sedan is coming here this fall instead of the 5 door because hatchbacks are not popular in the US.
If no sedan is coming WHAT IS coming between this fall and next spring?
I see this as an alternative to the new Volvo S40, the Saab 9-3 and maybe even an Acura TSX.
"And turbos are not peaky if designed properly. Audi/VW's 1.8T is a thing of beauty. someone having a problem with using the 1.8T must not have experience with the engine (it pulls strongly from 2k-4500 RPM) or they don't understand the car. I had a 1.8T and the engine was a blast in the mid-range."
Sure, if you chip it you might even be able to drag race w/ a Dodge Neon SR-T.
The 5-valve Audi 1.8 turbo was being chosen as the smaller engine certified for N.A. because a similar-hp normally-aspirated VR5 VW engine has weaker low end w/ no better vibration smoothness & is costlier to built. But VW needs to offer such engine at least in Europe because the lack of "max-torque all the way for several thousand rpm" means there's a distinct torque-peak sweet spot &, therefore, auricular tone change to give the driver the feeling of accomplishment & satisfaction as he revs the engine throughout the range.
But what we complained about the 1.8 turbo is neither any peakiness throughout the range, the boring engine tone as it revs, nor the max hp. It's the time-delay throttle, even slightly worse than the Kompressor. By the way, I believe the new 1.8 Kompressor engine from Mercedes doesn't sound as gritty.
It's true that these days the lag from low-pressure turbos is almost non-existent, but there is still a slight "built up time" to spool up the pressure that makes the throttle response soft. As you tap more gas in the mid corner, the thrust delays just a little but you want it "right there" so you think you didn't prod the pedal enough. Then you add more gas, & by the time the power arrives, it was just a little too much & you have to let up the gas again. You just wasted the fun time on the curve! For no more $ than our Passat 1.8 turbo, the Accord has a decent-performing normally-aspirated 2.4 that only uses regular gas.
This is most likely why the future M3 is not scheduled to get turbo.
They're basically the same car w/ the same platform in different wheelbase/track like the difference b/t the N.A. Accord/TL & the Euro Accord(TSX).
They're on different platforms. Read up on them. And the upcoming bangled 3 series will be even larger than the current car (sniffle, sniffle), so for those of us wanting a compact sports sedan we've got to look to the 1 series.
The 1 series is aimed at the A3, Golf/Jetta market. It'll be priced at 25k and up so BMW will go from Mini to 1 to 3.
This is most likely why the future M3 is not scheduled to get turbo.
A does not lead to B. The M3 wasn't scheduled for a Turbo ever as far I've read. As for the M1 possibly having a turbo, the lag or delay you speak of would not play a part in BMW's decision as the current BMW NA engines suffer from terribly peaky torque.
"Tom Purves, CEO of BMW of North America, said the US market will get only one body style of the 1 Series -- not a hatchback -- and two engines, most likely six-cylinder units."
Only one body style, a sedan instead of the 2002-ish coupe? Anyway, it was the British magazine CAR that said there will be no 4-dr notch sedan, maybe it's only about Europe.
The "323-tuned" 2.5 has more low end than the peakier "325-tuned" 2.5. The technology is there. I prefer the 323's output curve.
So the E90 3-series got different platform from the 1-series. I guess they only share the suspension & steering design.
"Tom Purves, CEO of BMW of North America, said the US market will get only one body style of the 1 Series -- not a hatchback -- and two engines, most likely six-cylinder units"
This doesn't necessarily mean we'll only get one body style, it just means we aren't getting the five-door. From what I hear, the coupe will be called a '2' series. So, maybe we get the 1-series sedan and the 2-series coupe.
If you go to BMW's international site you can click on a link to get info (straight from the horse's mouth) about the new 1-Series. You can also sign up for an email newsletter.
- go to www.bmw.com. - under the BMW International menu, click home. - the link is on the right side of the page and is a rotating "banner" which includes stuff on the new 5, 5 Touring, a game, the new 6. Just wait for the "1-Series Can you Wait" to come up and click on it.
Comments
Make the 1 series light and it will perform in more ways than one.
-juice
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat- _code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=06463267
- Bret
The rear gate is soooo small, why ruin the utility of a 5 door like that?
-juice
So the real question is how much will they include for the base price. If options push it above $30k it won't be a good value.
-juice
regards,
kyfdx
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At least resale value is very strong, so you do get most of it back.
-juice
regards,
kyfdx
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-juice
- Bret
I'd like to see the 1 series come in with a moonroof at under $28k.
-juice
regards,
kyfdx
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-juice
"BMW's popular Z-Axle design is likely to feature to ensure the rear-wheel-drive model's chassis is as sporty as possible, without spoiling ride quality and refinement."
"Available in three-door, four-door and cabrio guise, the 1-Series will use four-cylinder power only."
"Aluminium body panels have been employed to keep the weight to a minimum."
4-cyl w/ aluminum body panels -- a feather-weight race car that puts the M3 special light-weight model to shame?
-juice
I personally believe both of these ideas on the part of the BMW marketing people in the USA are wrong-headed, but I don't expect any of them to ask my opinion, either...
A BMW 1 series with a 4cyl, manual transmssion, low weight, 50/50 weight distribution, and sport suspension would be appealing to me and other enthusiasts (there's a guy div2 on the 3 & 5 boards with a 318ti Club Sport that he wouldn't give up for anything).
The majority of US buyers will want their 1 series BMW equipped with a slushbox, leather, and wood trim as well as expect it to have good "pickup."
I'm interested in the 1 series though.
Maybe they'll have a choice of 2 sixes. They do have a 2.0L Inline 6 in Canada and Europe in addition to the 2.5L offered here in the 3er and 5er.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I bet the 3 will get bigger next time around, I just hope Bangle doesn't screw up the styling.
-juice
The Canadian 320i is a 2.2, even our 323i is a 2.5 w/ stronger low-end than the 325i.
Value wise, the 2.2 sucks. It costs nearly the same as the 2.5 when rest of the car is similarly equipped.
Make sense, as the cramp rear seating is pointless for a sedan anyway.
From the drawing, the coupe looks light weight sort of like the E36 coupe but more tapered front & back. The trunk deck is pretty low, & the rear glass isn't so far away behind the driver. This means good rear visibility for both lane change & backing up, just like the original 2002. Too bad the firm sport suspension might be std, since this is a coupe.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I love my current 3 but it's a tad hefty and not as tossable as I'd prefer. I'd prefer a strong 2.0-2.4L inline turbo 4 over a 3L as that'll shave weight and bulk from the car. Ideally, it should be smaller than a Mazda3, RWD, light (sub 2600 lbs) and feature an engine with more about 200-220 HP. That'll light my fire for certain.
I would do anything to avoid turbo/Kompressor to preserve the mid-corner-acceleration precision. Well, one member in our family still got a new Passat turbo auto today 'cause we can't afford a normally-aspirated Passat. He's already finding this turbo throttle response annoying.
And turbos are not peaky if designed properly. Audi/VW's 1.8T is a thing of beauty. someone having a problem with using the 1.8T must not have experience with the engine (it pulls strongly from 2k-4500 RPM) or they don't understand the car. I had a 1.8T and the engine was a blast in the mid-range.
If anything BMW's current engines are VERY peaky. My inline 3.0 six is decent below 5k RPM but above 5k it's a different beast.
-juice
I'm planning to go to Europe summer 2005 and I want to know if this will be an option for European Delivery of a 1 or 2 series.
for the sedan only. & since the sedan is cancelled... Beemers built in the U.S. are the ones popular locally such as SUV or convertible, & that's why the Compact ti production was seized, if it was ever produced here.
Since people here like to go for bigger vehicles, why would BMW built the cramped-rear-seat 1-series sedan here to compete w/ the 3-series? They're basically the same car w/ the same platform in different wheelbase/track like the difference b/t the N.A. Accord/TL & the Euro Accord(TSX).
If no sedan is coming WHAT IS coming between this fall and next spring?
I see this as an alternative to the new Volvo S40, the Saab 9-3 and maybe even an Acura TSX.
Sure, if you chip it you might even be able to drag race w/ a Dodge Neon SR-T.
The 5-valve Audi 1.8 turbo was being chosen as the smaller engine certified for N.A. because a similar-hp normally-aspirated VR5 VW engine has weaker low end w/ no better vibration smoothness & is costlier to built. But VW needs to offer such engine at least in Europe because the lack of "max-torque all the way for several thousand rpm" means there's a distinct torque-peak sweet spot &, therefore, auricular tone change to give the driver the feeling of accomplishment & satisfaction as he revs the engine throughout the range.
But what we complained about the 1.8 turbo is neither any peakiness throughout the range, the boring engine tone as it revs, nor the max hp. It's the time-delay throttle, even slightly worse than the Kompressor. By the way, I believe the new 1.8 Kompressor engine from Mercedes doesn't sound as gritty.
It's true that these days the lag from low-pressure turbos is almost non-existent, but there is still a slight "built up time" to spool up the pressure that makes the throttle response soft. As you tap more gas in the mid corner, the thrust delays just a little but you want it "right there" so you think you didn't prod the pedal enough. Then you add more gas, & by the time the power arrives, it was just a little too much & you have to let up the gas again. You just wasted the fun time on the curve! For no more $ than our Passat 1.8 turbo, the Accord has a decent-performing normally-aspirated 2.4 that only uses regular gas.
This is most likely why the future M3 is not scheduled to get turbo.
Turbos are very tuner-friendly. Any changes you made to the Accord 2.4l would do more harm than good.
-juice
They're basically the same car w/ the same platform in different wheelbase/track like the difference b/t the N.A. Accord/TL & the Euro Accord(TSX).
They're on different platforms. Read up on them. And the upcoming bangled 3 series will be even larger than the current car (sniffle, sniffle), so for those of us wanting a compact sports sedan we've got to look to the 1 series.
The 1 series is aimed at the A3, Golf/Jetta market. It'll be priced at 25k and up so BMW will go from Mini to 1 to 3.
A does not lead to B. The M3 wasn't scheduled for a Turbo ever as far I've read. As for the M1 possibly having a turbo, the lag or delay you speak of would not play a part in BMW's decision as the current BMW NA engines suffer from terribly peaky torque.
This article says the sedan is coming to the US first. Is it true and what other body styles are coming to the US and when?
Only one body style, a sedan instead of the 2002-ish coupe? Anyway, it was the British magazine CAR that said there will be no 4-dr notch sedan, maybe it's only about Europe.
The "323-tuned" 2.5 has more low end than the peakier "325-tuned" 2.5. The technology is there. I prefer the 323's output curve.
So the E90 3-series got different platform from the 1-series. I guess they only share the suspension & steering design.
This doesn't necessarily mean we'll only get one body style, it just means we aren't getting the five-door. From what I hear, the coupe will be called a '2' series. So, maybe we get the 1-series sedan and the 2-series coupe.
regards,
kyfdx
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- go to www.bmw.com.
- under the BMW International menu, click home.
- the link is on the right side of the page and is a rotating "banner" which includes stuff on the new 5, 5 Touring, a game, the new 6. Just wait for the "1-Series Can you Wait" to come up and click on it.
Thanks for the tip!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The profile is not bad. Remind you of several European 5 doors.
-juice