How come I don't see any 1ers out there?

[Catman]

A guy up the street has one... I'm sick of looking at it.

[Raza]

I agree. The 1-series should be an entry-level BMW to get people "hooked" on the brand who may have overlooked a 3er due to its price tag. Much like the 4cyl C-Class once was for MB. Pricing it to where it actually is somewhat on par with the 3er is just pointless. The deals probably won't even be good on the used market.

A 123i would be a better choice.  And if they still sold the _30 cars, it would give them a better range.

[2o6]

There is no such thing as a 123i.


It's 123d. It's a diesel.......

[SVT666]

I don't think the pricing is as close you guys think.  Yes the pricing of the 135i can get close to the 3 series, but it's the bottom of the line 3 series, while the 1 Series is the 300 hp 135i.

[cawimmer430]

I came across this today while my 18-200mm lens was in the shop. A nice visual statement of how the 1-Series hatch compares in size to the 3-Series. This is no photoshop - the 1-Series is that "big".

[dazzleman]

Speaking of overpriced, have any of you guys seen the BMW X-6 hybrid?  It's around $90K, only gets 15% better gas mileage than the gasoline model, and is little more than a hatchback.  I don't know what they were thinking about when they designed it.

[565]

I don't know what they were thinking about when they designed it.

Hybrid = $$$$

[cawimmer430]

Speaking of overpriced, have any of you guys seen the BMW X-6 hybrid?  It's around $90K, only gets 15% better gas mileage than the gasoline model, and is little more than a hatchback.  I don't know what they were thinking about when they designed it.

It doesn't matter. BMW = history and heritage....  


Seriously, apparently this is BMWs version of a "performance hybrid". According to the magazines here in Germany the X6 Hybrid is supposed to be a full-fledged performance SUV that has the added advantage of being able to get "good fuel economy" in city environments because of the electric motor.

Incidentally, Auto Motor und Sport compared the Mercedes S350 vs S350 CDI vs S400 Hybrid to see which makes the most sense in Europe. The winner was the S350 CDI which gets even better fuel economy than the S400 Hybrid in the city!

1st place: S350 CDI
0-100 km/h = 7.8 seconds
Urban: 10.4 L / 100 km
Rural: 5.9 L / 100 km
Average: 7.6 L / 100 km

2nd place: S400 Hybrid
0-100 km/h = 7.3 seconds
Urban: 10.7 L / 100 km
Rural: 6.3 L / 100 km
Average: 7.9 L / 100 km

3rd place: S350
0-100 km/h = 7.5 seconds
Urban: 14.6 L / 100 km
Rural: 7.4 L / 100 km
Average: 10.0 L / 100 km

[Vinsanity]

Speaking of overpriced, have any of you guys seen the BMW X-6 hybrid?  It's around $90K, only gets 15% better gas mileage than the gasoline model, and is little more than a hatchback.  I don't know what they were thinking about when they designed it.

Wow, that's the same price as the Mercedes S-class hybrid. If I ever wanted to blow $90k on a freaking hybrid, I know which one I'd get. It feels weird to say this, but I don't care that the Mercedes is much slower. The X6 is just too damn ugly.

I also happen to like that the hybrid model is the cheapest S-class available in America

[cawimmer430]

Wow, that's the same price as the Mercedes S-class hybrid. If I ever wanted to blow $90k on a freaking hybrid, I know which one I'd get. It feels weird to say this, but I don't care that the Mercedes is much slower. The X6 is just too damn ugly.

I also happen to like that the hybrid model is the cheapest S-class available in America

Sucks that you guys don't get the real deal: the S350 CDI. 


1st place: S350 CDI
0-100 km/h = 7.8 seconds
Urban: 10.4 L / 100 km
Rural: 5.9 L / 100 km
Average: 7.6 L / 100 km

2nd place: S400 Hybrid
0-100 km/h = 7.3 seconds
Urban: 10.7 L / 100 km
Rural: 6.3 L / 100 km
Average: 7.9 L / 100 km

3rd place: S350
0-100 km/h = 7.5 seconds
Urban: 14.6 L / 100 km
Rural: 7.4 L / 100 km
Average: 10.0 L / 100 km

[Raza]

I don't think the pricing is as close you guys think.  Yes the pricing of the 135i can get close to the 3 series, but it's the bottom of the line 3 series, while the 1 Series is the 300 hp 135i.

And to add to this, that's how most model lines by the same manufacturer overlap.  A top line 3 series costs as much as a low level 5 series as well.

[Raza]

There is no such thing as a 123i.


It's 123d. It's a diesel.......

I know there's no such thing as a 123i.  But there is a 323i, so I don't see why they couldn't stick that engine in the 1er.

[ChrisV]

He said that after they introduced the car, they started putting stuff like a bigger engine in it, and that a 135 costs more than a 328. 

Gee, you mean uplevel versions of lower model cars cost a little more than the base versions of the next model up? Who'da thunk it! Hasn't that been the norm for a long time? You can option up a 335i higher than a 528i. My SVT Contour cost more than a base Taurus.

[GoCougs]

I wouldn't be surprised if sales are dismal; it simply doesn't have the image panache that new BMW buyers want. It'd be a hit with enthusiasts, but enthusiasts are a very small minority of new BMW sales.

[2o6]

I know there's no such thing as a 123i.  But there is a 323i, so I don't see why they couldn't stick that engine in the 1er.

There's no 323, either.

[Raza]

There's no 323, either.

There was in Canada no more than two years ago.

[93JC]

Still is. 2.5 L, 200 hp.

[Raza]

Still is. 2.5 L, 200 hp.

That's what I thought.

[TurboDan]

I wouldn't be surprised if sales are dismal; it simply doesn't have the image panache that new BMW buyers want. It'd be a hit with enthusiasts, but enthusiasts are a very small minority of new BMW sales.

The image is fine, the price is the problem. Perhaps BMW should stop trying to market the 1er to enthusiasts and instead market it to a wider demographic of people who don't really care about top performance, but rather would have an adequate-performing, small German car at a decent price. Obviously, there will be some premium because of the brand name, but come on...

[TurboDan]

Still is. 2.5 L, 200 hp.

My Passat has 170 horsies on the 1.8T, which weighs 3,240lbs. I'm sure a 200hp 2.5litre engine would work just fine in the 1er, which has a curb weight of 3,252 with the 230HP I6.