Finally! The 1 Series! - United Bimmer Community

**celsdogg** · 01-25-2007, 09:46 AM

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2007/01/...for-us-market/

Quote:

BMW will bring a high-performance version of the three-door 1-Series hatchback to the United States sooner than expected, company officials have said.

The German automaker will import the 265 horsepower 130i and the yet-to-be-announced 306 horsepower 135i to the United States, according to Winding Road magazine. Initially, BMW will offer the three-door hatchback — unveiled earlier this week — and later coupe and convertible versions.

yes! they finally have made the right decision! (hopefully, its true). we might need a 1 series forum here at UB.C!

now if we can get them to get some diesels over here. . .

**Bimmer_5er** · 01-25-2007, 10:06 AM

Sweeeeeeeeeeet

drz · 01-25-2007, 10:34 AM

It would be nice if they were to bring the 4-cyl 1's though. These cars will probably still be priced very high, maybe not making it worth getting over a 3 series. Then again, what do I know?

**Numark318i** · 01-25-2007, 11:00 AM

sweet.

although i agree they need a 4cyl model here also.

witeshark · 01-25-2007, 11:14 AM

This is such awesome news!

**3050rpm** · 01-25-2007, 01:16 PM

Wow, I must admit I'm a bit surprised (pleasantly, though) to learn of the sentiment for a 4-cyl. car. I was about to make a post on very much that same point, i. e. enough with the fire breathers already. I think the general observation holds that most of the technological advances in the drivetrains of today's vehicles has gone to more (unneeded, in my estimation) power at the sacrifice of fuel economy, in other words, a horsepower arms race. Doesn't the phrase "enough is enough" have any relevance anymore? (Well, of course not.)

My feeling has been that BMW has lacked a credible entry-level model for some time now, it's last one being the 318 Ti I think it was, the one with the lopped off rear end. How good a car it was I don't know, but it seemed to have been rather short-lived, while BMW played to, and very much secured its place with, the upper end of the market. From a business perspective I guess that's a sensible enough plan, but I think there was more opportunity than risk in developing something for the lower end of the market (albeit at some premium) to bring that population into the fold for the presumed "move up" after the first couple of job promotions.

I could yammer on but won't for now, at least until I have to defend myself from any artillery that might be lobbed my way as a result of this posting, except for one final thing-- picking up on drz's point, I saw maybe about a year ago on "Top Gear," a British car enthusiast program associated with the BBC website, a comparison between the 1-series and a VW I think it was. If I recall correctly, they were somewhat impressed with the 1-, but not sufficiently so to opt for it given the price differential between the two cars. Okay, enough of my

**celsdogg** · 01-25-2007, 01:26 PM

after the 318ti, BMW NA decided to no longer import 4 cylinders to keep with some upscale image thing.

personally, i want a 1 series because the wife and i are probably going to move more south towards DC, and if anyone knows the area in and around the capital beltway, it murder.

my next car acquisition is going to be a E46 M3 6 speed. but i was thinking it might get annoying during rush hour traffic on the beltway. so what i want is a 120d. thats why i said if we can convince them on the diesels. . . at least this is a start i guess.

nick_318is · 01-25-2007, 01:40 PM

I think they are planning on bringing the diesels over in the future, I also wish they had a littler engine car here still. In other parts of the world they still exsist i have seen e46 316s and 318s, BMW just doesn't think that americans want a 4 cylinder.

I'm happy to see they are bringing this here and I think I want one, at one point there was some speculation to a 1 series coupe too so I wonder if that might happen as well.

drz · 01-25-2007, 04:42 PM

Americans haven't wanted the 4-cyls before, but maybe there would be some interest in them after th recent gas price scares.

**3050rpm** · 01-25-2007, 05:45 PM

Of course the discussion (argument) could go on forever and a day whether the relative aversion to 4-cylinder engines is something within the American driver's psyche, or a fabrication of marketing. Whatever, I can remember w-a-y back in the early '70s when the 2.8/3.0 liter BMW engine was referred to as the "big six." That was a marvelous engine back then, as is its descendants, and frankly, given all the advancements in engine design and manufacture, fuel injection, electronic ignition, etc., etc., etc., today's engines are more fuel efficient, cleaner, durable, maintenance-free, and powerful than those earlier engines of comparable displacement. Looking at things from the BIG PICTURE viewpoint (operational costs, emissions, even safety to some extent) I can't see any justification for the engine of a passenger vehicle today being larger than 3 liters (and that includes minivans; there's no reason for anyone to be driving an SUV).

I have spoken

**mullethunter3** · 01-25-2007, 09:46 PM

All hail 3050!!!

Hahaha, jj. Just joshin.

Anyway, 120d FTW.

**dinan540** · 01-26-2007, 12:20 PM

I would want the 1 series, M version. That sucker would have 300 HP, sweet! This is totally contrary to the above convesation. At least the 1 series would be more economical than my V8.