Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Euro, BMW
BMW 1-Series to start below $30k
A new entry-level car from a premium European brand will be washing up on our shores when the BMW 1-Series arrives carrying a price tag slightly under $30,000. Much the same way as Volvo's looking to its bobbed-tail C30 to recruit younger buyers into the fold while offering an appropriately flavored confection of a car, the 1-Series has the task of winning customers who would love a Roundel on the hood, but can't swing the 3-series. Having done the truncated poop deck on the E36 318ti, BMW decided to go with a traditional three-box profile this time around.
Where former entry-level efforts from premium European brands have not inspired drivers, the 1-Series has everyone buzzing. While the 135i gets the 335's delectable 300-HP drivetrain, good for a 5.1 second run to 60 mph, even the "entry level" 128i will have plenty of snort. The 128i will make do with 230 horses, giving up a second in the accelerative dash, yet taking it about $5,000 easier on your checkbook. We expect that BMW has learned from its 318ti experience, and the interior will not be a cheapened affair when compared to the 3-series, but will carry the same high quality materials, super comfortable seats, and impossibly tight fits. It's getting to be so you can't swing a cat without hitting a slightly-sub-30K vehicle with a spiffy emblem on the rump. We like that.
[Source: Auto News - sub req.]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
acidic 8:43AM (9/14/2007)
One word: Sold!
This is the first car in a long time that I have been completely wanting for. I think it might be time to ditch my Honda fetish.
Reply
Lisa Beamer 3:31PM (9/14/2007)
What is the point of this car? Where are the advantages?
It is only 88 lbs less than the 328i.
It is only a couple thou $ less than the 328i.
If this car was in the low-mid 20ks and lost some weight, it would be a hit!
With haggling, it is easy to get a new 328i right around $30k. Check the bimmer forums.
Avinash machado 8:45AM (9/14/2007)
A great entry level BMW. Reasonable price and fun to drive appeal intact.
Reply
Generation Automobile 8:50AM (9/14/2007)
Finally, BMW is bringing the 1 serie over these shores! It should be a superbe drive with these massive bhp ratings! A real drivers car I assume.
Pete fron http://www.gen-auto.ca
Reply
Aetius 8:52AM (9/14/2007)
If only it didn't look like that!
Reply
testa di cazzo 10:11AM (9/14/2007)
agreed
Tyo 8:55AM (9/14/2007)
I forget where, but the 335 was referred to as a "One-wheel Bonfire" Possibly here, C&D or R&T. I can only imagine the one wheel peels these things will pull.
Companies should realize the value in an LSD even if its an option. I understand the 335 doesnt have it because the M3 does but i should be able to buy my 335i Wagon with a diff
Reply
Dan Roth 9:02AM (9/14/2007)
Companies _do_ realize the value that limited slip diffs offer, but they have to balance the higher unit cost versus actual benefit to their average customer, as well as safety. A limited slip is actually a liability with drivers not familiar with them - if you're not aware of what you're doing, and LSD doing its thing could lead to a nasty spin in the middle of a slick maneuver. A pegleg, on the other hand, will just scrub off speed by spinning a tire, and the vehicle's attitude remains largely unchanged. That's more benign for most folks. A good compromise is either an electronic locker, that binds the spider gears together when a locked axle is a traction benefit, but only operates at speeds below about 20 mph. Using the ABS hardware to control wheel speed has merit, as well, sometimes (I'm less fond of that technique).
Besides, I didn't notice any traction deficiency during my week with the 335i Cabrio, though I'll admit I didn't go drag racing with it.
Lucas 9:01AM (9/14/2007)
Meaning the 128 will be < 30K or the 135 will be
Reply
Gus 9:03AM (9/14/2007)
Hmmm - $29,990 base, plus destination. Add in cold weather & sport package.. $32,800 Isn't that what the 3-series was a couple years ago? How is this a bargain? They just made the rest of the line more expensive to fit this into the $30k range.
If it doesn't sell, they'll complain America doesn't want a small luxury car. How much you wanna bet most of the 128s ordered by dealers will be automatics too.
Reply
Scott 10:39AM (9/14/2007)
The 3-series hasn't gotten more expensive to justify the 1-series, it has done that on it's own by getting bigger, heavier, more powerful, and more luxurious. Basically it has grown up. This happens as a result of the entire segment doing the same. It's almost a requirement to increase everything with each new generation. As a result, the 1-series is more comparable to a E30 3-series than an E90 or even E46 3-series.
I think it makes perfect sense for BMW to come out with this now.
akatsuki 10:43AM (9/14/2007)
I wouldn't call it grown up, maybe grown softer and fatter, like the Americans who buy them...
The 1-series should be about $5K cheaper, but I am sure they will sell as many as they can make at the price anyway. What an ugly car...
Dan 11:30AM (9/14/2007)
Exactly. It should start at $24,995, not $29,995. That would be revolutionary. What BMW ought to be doing with the 1 series is providing an alternative to the WRX and the GTI and the MazdaSpeed3; they have a very different vision of what a small enthusiast car should be. As it is, though, they're pricing themselves out of realistic participation in that market.
Unrelatedly, I think this is the worst Bangle Butt ever.
bhupi 10:58AM (9/14/2007)
Wow,
Finally someone's saying something. I would not buy a "ONE" series for that much. I'd rather buy a 240bhp VW R32. which is all wheel drive and sporty and bla bla all that. Atleast it doesnt pretend to be cheap. Unless they're offering the 135 for that much. I know someone who recently bought a fully loaded 3 series (325xi) for 42K ??? WTF?!!
Rob 9:03AM (9/14/2007)
Finally, a true E46 successor (1999-2005 3 series).
The current 3 series is sadly Bangled and bloated.
Reply
Dan Roth 9:05AM (9/14/2007)
I'll agree for the most part, Rob, but ya gotta admit, that 335 coupe is HOT. Besides, if BMW were to not take any risks, they'd be stuck with the same retro-themed crap that's sinking Jaguar.
SickFinga 11:08AM (9/14/2007)
There is a problem with your comment Rob. E46 was designed by Chris Bangle and E92 was designed by Marc Michael Markefka
Linh 2:49PM (9/14/2007)
bloated... the 1 series is freaking ~3400lbs isn't it??!!? that's insane. So much for a small lightweight RWD car.
Calebe 9:08AM (9/14/2007)
eh, no hatch no sale. buh bye.
Reply
AZMike 9:54AM (9/14/2007)
BMW tried hatchbacks before. it was a 'no sale' in the USA.
Mercedes-Benz tried hatchbacks before. it was a 'no sale' in the USA.
way back when, in the 80s and 90s, Mercury imported European Fords as Merkurs; both the XR4Ti and Scorpio were hatchbacks. another no sale.
I'm sure there might be a miniscule market for hatchbacks in the entry level car segment, but that's it. and even that is limited.
the first hatchbacks introduced in the USA were the Nova (and variants) in 1973, unless you count the Renault 15 and Simca from the late 60's.
we were inundated with hatchbacks starting in the mid to late 70s, and reached their zenith in the early 80s. after that, sales slipped to nearly nothing.
hatchbacks say one thing to me: cheap, cheap, cheap.
AZMike