Topic: Flinter's BMW 128i

[quadzilla]

Wow!  We've got two 128is, a 135i, a mitt-full of 3serieses and an M3 as part of the regular forum now.  Surprised?  Nope, not really... it only takes one drive.

.... and a pile of cash. 

A base 128 is no more than a GTI with a few option boxes checked. If we didn't need a hatch I know where I would have been looking.

[Flinter]

Thanks to all for the kind words of congratulations. 

A couple of friends and I did some driving over on the QC side of the Ottawa river over the weekend. In the more twisty, mountainous terrain over there, the 128i really shines.

I think Lulu and I are going to be good friends.

[Flinter]

Love the wheels

What are the steering wheel controls on the right side?

Thanks AB.

The steering wheel controls on the right side are:

1) Up/Down arrows are the forward/backward selection for the stereo system.
2) The button with the circular shape on it is the recirculate button for the Climate control. Allows you to quickly close the car to outside air if you come up on some skunk roadkill or a stinky Diesel.
3) The final button on the right side is "next disc" for the optional CD changer that I didn't get.

[Flinter]

Flinter, I loved reading through your "What to Buy" thread, but this tops it all! - to hear you so happy with your choice. 

Your description of why you love Lulu is similar to why I've become officially addicted to BMW myself.  I know there are lots of great cars out there, and I'm not saying every BMW is great - but the driving feel and sensation, balance of sport and refinement, the solidity, etc. - it's very hard to let go of that once you've had it.  I know there are cars with even better feel, etc., but there is nothing like that below a certain price.

Love your sport pkg.  Great pics, thank-you for the number as well!

 

Thanks Julie,

Very happy with my choice thus far. Winter's will be a little more painful, and I know the loss of the hatchback from the WRX will be a pain some times.

However, at this time I'm having too much fun to care.

[initial_D]

Love the wheels

What are the steering wheel controls on the right side?

Thanks AB.

The steering wheel controls on the right side are:

1) Up/Down arrows are the forward/backward selection for the stereo system.
2) The button with the circular shape on it is the recirculate button for the Climate control. Allows you to quickly close the car to outside air if you come up on some skunk roadkill or a stinky Diesel.
3) The final button on the right side is "next disc" for the optional CD changer that I didn't get.

uPlay music, iDrive. 

[Flinter]

So after a week and 650km of driving under our belt, I'm happy to report that Lulu and I are getting along very well. 

In general, I'm delighted with the car. The design, power train, and driving experience are growing on me more and more each day. That said, I'm starting to reach the point of seeing some of the "idiosyncrasy's" of the car.

Not so good things

1) As I mentioned in my initial post, the ergonomics of menu driven controls of stereo take some getting used to. The USB/IPOD integration is a big bonus and it works really well with the steering wheel controls. In terms of sound, it is a big step up from my old WRX but certainly not up to the standards of some aftermarket systems I've heard. My biggest beef with the stereo is the display. I can remember reading in several reviews that the display is not visible with polarized sunglasses and at the time I thought... that's being nit picky. However, I now understand why the reviewers mentioned it. With polarized sunglasses the display goes completely black and you need to lift your sunglasses or tilt your head for it to become visible again. Strangely, the climate control and driver information display by the speedo/tach are perfectly visible. Weird.

2) The interior door handles are too far forward and it really takes a good tug to start the door in motion and a frim grip to control the door. Not really an issue for me now but I can see it being an issue on windy days or for a slighter person than I.

3) Having to insert the key fob in the dash slot and then push a button to start it seems like step back from traditional key based approach to me. I think the push button start makes a lot more sense for those proximity based option that allow you to keep the fob in your pocket.

Things that are growing on me:

1) I have to mention the seats again as they are just terrific and the range of adjust ability for a manually controlled seat is amazing.  The electrically controlled side bolsters are super neat as you can loosen the hold on your torso during casual driving and then tighten the grip inn the twistys.

2) Likewise, the power train, steering, brakes, and ride/handing trade off are just great. My only beef is not being able to really wind out the engine past 4K rpm since it is still in the break in period.

3) Rain sensing wipers. I've never owned a car with these and I was a little skeptical about how these would work in the real world but so far they have been very impressive. Put the wipers on Auto and they will go into an intermittent sweep in misty rain as you're driving and when you stop at a light for instance they slow down to adjust for the reduced water hitting the windshield. Get into a sudden rain shower and they quickly speed up the wiping action. I had never thought about this feature before but I'm liking it.

4) When I was researching the cars I did not pay a lot of attention to the hands free telephone integration options as I don't even own a cell with blue tooth. However, I didn't realize that the BMW assist services were bundled with the hands-free package. For those not familiar with it, it is basically a similar service to the on-star system offered by GM. One of the neat features for me was the ability to find you car if it was stolen, and whenever the car decides it needs service it will send a message to your dealer and they call you to see if you want to set-up an appointment. Check out this link if you would like to read more.
http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/owners/navigation/assist_introduction.html

5) Dual-zone climate control - Again never had a car with this before and didn't think it would work so well in such a compact car. However, on a few occasions when Ms. Flinter and I have gone for a drive, she has loved the ability to keep her side a little warmer than mine and she said it really works.

Anyway, enough talk. I thought I would pass along a few more pictures of Lulu. 

[1TSX]

Thanks for the update and driving impressions. I wouldn't mind a 128i myself.

I just noticed that your car doesn't have a sunroof. Very rare for a BMW...No premium package?

[Flinter]

Thanks for the update and driving impressions. I wouldn't mind a 128i myself.

I just noticed that your car doesn't have a sunroof. Very rare for a BMW...No premium package?

No premium package, just the sport package and leather. The 2011 car also has the hands-free package standard. I would have been happy to do without the leather package too but as you mentioned it's tough to find BMW's that are not too heavily optioned.

[Julie]

Thanks very much for the update, and the updated pictures.  Your reviews are great to read - seriously, you could moonlight as an auto reviewer.   

Sport pkg, the hands-free package and the USB/iPod thingy are really the only musts for me.  Well, okay, I like leather too.    My car is not equipped to the max either.  I really like the 'On Star' service too.  I will be renewing mine after the first year.

[ovr50]

Thanks for the update and driving impressions. I wouldn't mind a 128i myself.

I just noticed that your car doesn't have a sunroof. Very rare for a BMW...No premium package?

I really enjoy the sunroof, usually use it on the rear tilt up position. When I have not had one, seems I don't miss it that much; but having one, I use it a lot.

[Flinter]

Thanks for the update and driving impressions. I wouldn't mind a 128i myself.

I just noticed that your car doesn't have a sunroof. Very rare for a BMW...No premium package?

I really enjoy the sunroof, usually use it on the rear tilt up position. When I have not had one, seems I don't miss it that much; but having one, I use it a lot.

I must say that I'm in the same boat on sunroofs. I had them in my old Civic and Integra, used them all the time, and loved the more natural light inside the car. However, on the Highlander and WRX, I didn't have one and I didn't really miss it. Strange phenomena.

[Julie]

Thanks for the update and driving impressions. I wouldn't mind a 128i myself.

I just noticed that your car doesn't have a sunroof. Very rare for a BMW...No premium package?

I really enjoy the sunroof, usually use it on the rear tilt up position. When I have not had one, seems I don't miss it that much; but having one, I use it a lot.

I must say that I'm in the same boat on sunroofs. I had them in my old Civic and Integra, used them all the time, and loved the more natural light inside the car. However, on the Highlander and WRX, I didn't have one and I didn't really miss it. Strange phenomena.

I'm the exact same way.

[ovr50]

Thanks very much for the update, and the updated pictures.  Your reviews are great to read - seriously, you could moonlight as an auto reviewer.   

Sport pkg, the hands-free package and the USB/iPod thingy are really the only musts for me.  Well, okay, I like leather too.    My car is not equipped to the max either.  I really like the 'On Star' service too.  I will be renewing mine after the first year.

"On Star" = "BMW Assist" 

Isn't "On Star" a GM trademark? 

[inco]

Isn't "On Star" a GM trademark?

Yes- and one of the few things GM got right.

[airbalancer]

I real like sunroofs, add on put in to my truck, miss not having dual zone AC in the E46
Doors to heavy, time to hit the weights, your in a German car now 
The 1 series looks very close to same size as a E46 probably closer to E36

[Giant Dwarf]

3) Having to insert the key fob in the dash slot and then push a button to start it seems like step back from traditional key based approach to me. I think the push button start makes a lot more sense for those proximity based option that allow you to keep the fob in your pocket.

2) Likewise, the power train, steering, brakes, and ride/handing trade off are just great. My only beef is not being able to really wind out the engine past 4K rpm since it is still in the break in period.

3) Rain sensing wipers. I've never owned a car with these and I was a little skeptical about how these would work in the real world but so far they have been very impressive. Put the wipers on Auto and they will go into an intermittent sweep in misty rain as you're driving and when you stop at a light for instance they slow down to adjust for the reduced water hitting the windshield. Get into a sudden rain shower and they quickly speed up the wiping action. I had never thought about this feature before but I'm liking it.

I hear ya 100% on the key-fob-plus-button-push.  Absolute silliness.  Just like BMW's "active steer"... redundant technology that nobody asked for.  Even changing up the operation/ feel of the turn signals falls into this category.  I dig the tap-for-3-blinks aspect, but lots of other makers are doing this now without having to have the weird feeling turn signal stalk.  They're little things that you get used to, but why?

The rain sensing wipers and auto-on headlights are done right by BMW.  Conversely, my wife's Mazda3 has both of those features and they're horrible.  The wipers never seem to be at the right speed and the lights only seem to come on if it's truly dark out.  The BMW's lights will come on after the auto wipers have swept the windshield a number of times.  Good, safe thinking there.  I love it.

As for the pure driving enjoyment of the solid and fluid drivetrain, I hear ya.  Just wait 'till you can let that sweet I-6 engine rev up with buttery smoothness all the way to redline.  Heaven, I tells ya!

The biggest downside to BMW ownership is the next time you buy something other than a BMW, you'll just keep waiting for the day you own your next BMW.   

[ovr50]

"...key-fob-plus-button-push.  Absolute silliness"

Only silly when you do not have "auto-open doors" or in BMWese "Comfort Access". Makes total sense then, and I love the feature.

"...dig the tap-for-3-blinks aspect, but lots of other makers are doing this now without having to have the weird feeling turn signal stalk."

The 3 blinks are great, or if you have iDrive, set it for more or less. As to the turn signal stalk, I guess the feeling of weirdness is a subjective thing, I don't feel it's weird at all. Well, maybe for the first 3 days, but now it feels normal.

"The biggest downside to BMW ownership is the next time you buy something other than a BMW, you'll just keep waiting for the day you own your next BMW."

Yep, true that. 

[Flinter]

I real like sunroofs, add on put in to my truck, miss not having dual zone AC in the E46
Doors to heavy, time to hit the weights, your in a German car now 
The 1 series looks very close to same size as a E46 probably closer to E36

LOL... Yep, I'm going to have to hit the gym so I can control the doors.  I think the issue here is that the original European car was a 4 door and with the resulting shorter doors, the door pulls work fine. However, on the 2 door it does take quite a grip to close and hold the door. You are absolutely right to point out that on most German cars and especially these BMW's the doors are very hefty and solid and close with a pleasant thunk. If you look at the pic below you can see on the passenger door how far forward the door handle/pull is.



I've attached a little table comparing the dimensions of the E36, E46 and E82 (128i). As you said, the 1 series is close in dimensions to these 2 previous models.

[Flinter]

3) Having to insert the key fob in the dash slot and then push a button to start it seems like step back from traditional key based approach to me. I think the push button start makes a lot more sense for those proximity based option that allow you to keep the fob in your pocket.

2) Likewise, the power train, steering, brakes, and ride/handing trade off are just great. My only beef is not being able to really wind out the engine past 4K rpm since it is still in the break in period.

3) Rain sensing wipers. I've never owned a car with these and I was a little skeptical about how these would work in the real world but so far they have been very impressive. Put the wipers on Auto and they will go into an intermittent sweep in misty rain as you're driving and when you stop at a light for instance they slow down to adjust for the reduced water hitting the windshield. Get into a sudden rain shower and they quickly speed up the wiping action. I had never thought about this feature before but I'm liking it.

I hear ya 100% on the key-fob-plus-button-push.  Absolute silliness.  Just like BMW's "active steer"... redundant technology that nobody asked for.  Even changing up the operation/ feel of the turn signals falls into this category.  I dig the tap-for-3-blinks aspect, but lots of other makers are doing this now without having to have the weird feeling turn signal stalk.  They're little things that you get used to, but why?

The rain sensing wipers and auto-on headlights are done right by BMW.  Conversely, my wife's Mazda3 has both of those features and they're horrible.  The wipers never seem to be at the right speed and the lights only seem to come on if it's truly dark out.  The BMW's lights will come on after the auto wipers have swept the windshield a number of times.  Good, safe thinking there.  I love it.

As for the pure driving enjoyment of the solid and fluid drivetrain, I hear ya.  Just wait 'till you can let that sweet I-6 engine rev up with buttery smoothness all the way to redline.  Heaven, I tells ya!

The biggest downside to BMW ownership is the next time you buy something other than a BMW, you'll just keep waiting for the day you own your next BMW.   

- Agreed on the key-fob-plus-button-push thing. As Ovr points out it works much better with the comfort access where you just keep the key fob in your pocket.

- +1 on the turn signals. I found it strange initially but I've gotten used to the operation now and I do like the tap-for-3 blinks thing. Very nice for lane changes. However, I think there's not an intuitive feeling to the operation of the signal stalk. I had 2 friends take a turn driving the car last weekend and both found the operation weird. Not a biggie but I think it could be implemented better.

- +1 on the rain sensing wipers and auto-on headlights. I forgot to mention the auto-on headlights mainly because I've set them to auto and never had to think about turning on the headlights in the week I've had it. I also got to give a thumbs up to BMW on the implementation of these 2 features. They both work very well and are not one of those useless auto features that you end up never using.

- I'm definitely looking forward to getting past the break-in period. At around 4K rpm when I have to shift now, you can feel that you are just getting into the sweetest part of the rev range for this engine.

- As you alluded to in your post, there is definitely a different feel to the BMW than any other car I test drove in recent months or any car I've have driven in the past. Hard to describe but there's no denying it. When I test drove the 328i back in 2008, I felt it and as we say back in NL, it "set the hook" in me.

- One other thing I haven't mentioned yet is the reaction to the car by the public. On several occasions during the last week I've noticed people going up to the car and oogling it when I wasn't close-by. I was a little surprised given how many in the automotive press have been effectively calling the 1 series the "ugly duckling" for BMW. Perhaps it's because it's a little less common than the 3 series.

[No H2O]

Impressions so far
The power train on this car just makes me giddy. Such a beautiful engine, so smooth and linear in it's power delivery. It makes plenty of torque everywhere in the rev. band and is so forgiving if you're not in the optimal gear etc. I just love the way it sounds and a few times today as I drove it, I actually felt myself spontaneously getting goose bumps. The manual transmission shifts very nicely and the clutch feel is excellent.

I had a 1995 318is coupe. I loved the styling and I prefer 2-door cars.

Unfortunately, the extra $16K for those two extra pistons in the 328is coupe was just too much for a low paid tech as myself.

But I did get to test drive the 328is with sport package the year after and it has to be the nicest 6 cylinder out there.

As for the transmission on mine and the clutch take-up, none could be better. It was as if I had driven the car all my life the day I picked it up.

Until the Carrera came along, it was the nicest driving car I've ever owned and certainly the best daily driver. I am considering one again when the CR-V wears out.