2008 BMW 135i: Not Every Detail is Perfect

It's not that obvious. I can't even tell which piece you're talking about. The Key port or the wood part extending past the radio? Neither sticks out to me that much.

It's fairly obvious to me. The wood thing is too long. Were you scrutinizing the interior, or did this just pop out at you?

I don't think it's just the wood panel, that whole area looks awkward to me.

That is weird. I agree - bad place to cut corners. Otherwise, I think the 1-series has a nicer dash design than the 3-series, although no BMW interior recently has impressed me. I think the interiors of the last generation BMW's were better than the current generation, in terms of styling, design, and materials quality.

"I don't think it's just the wood panel, that whole area looks awkward to me."
 
I would agree.
 
Still, a hot car though.

I don't see the problem either. I don't particularly like the dash styling or deisgn though (same with the E90). BMW nailed it with the E36 and E46 dash design and has lost their way since then when it comes to interior design.

The bit of wood trim is what we're talking about right? I'm not sure that it's a build quality issue. The picture of the dash on BMW's website looks the same. I agree that it's an odd design choice, though.

There must be a lot of engineers here since we keep complaining about unfocused pictures (that were supposed to be unfocused and blurry) and dashboards that don't have straight lines (maybe they don't want the panels to line up?).

The wood piece is definitely not a build issue. Design wise, you want it to go past the radio stack because it envelops the whole dash, not that one part.
 
The key port also has to have a different finish since it needs to be more durable, considering that's where people will be jamming the key all the time. I gather the soft touch on the rest of the upper dash wouldn't wear nearly as well.

Without the engineers, this world would be a crappy place to live.
 
Imagine the 70s x 100...

Hmm, definitely awkward. Probably a symptom of the fact the car design is 5 years old and they didn't originally design it for a start-stop button and plastic key port.
 
*shrug*
 
Joe
 
P.s. I actually like the interior of the 1-series more than the current 3-series. And it has an actual cupholder.

Do you have to insert the key into the dash-slot to start the car or can you keep it in your pocket like in Infinitis?

You still have to insert the key unless you pay extra for 'comfort access'. It's pretty senseless but they get to charge an extra $500.

i'm blind.
 
The bigger problem I have is with the 2 different fake leather textures.

Looks perfect to me.

It's obviously intentional be design. From what other BMW would they have pulled that wood strip? Are they making the 'new' Isetta yet?...

"The bigger problem I have is with the 2 different fake leather textures."
  
Fake leather textures? By that do you mean the dash? I dont think BMW intended for anyone to think the dash material was leather as its obviously NOT.
  
The lower/upper portions of the dash are supposed to be textured differently just like most cars these days.
  
"That is weird. I agree - bad place to cut corners. Otherwise, I think the 1-series has a nicer dash design than the 3-series, although no BMW interior recently has impressed me. I think the interiors of the last generation BMW's were better than the current generation, in terms of styling, design, and materials quality."
  
I dont see this as a cost cutting measure its more of a design "issue", if you will. I take that back. After going to the BMW website and viewing the 1's dash as a whole this design makes sense. Only in the picture above does the design come off a bit odd.
  
I will agree that the newer BMW interiors arent as nice design wise as previous generations but I do think the build quality and materials are as good or better than past generations.
  
Interiors should be inviting, the newer BMW interiors are cold, stark and boring. The 5's interior is a complete turnoff, especially the grab handles.

I don't get it. But then I don't have what it takes to be a nitpic- er, connoisseur. j/k Ed.

The black plastic does looks like leather, and both lower/upper dash pieces don't flow, they could have made it fit at the ends, that does look like some cost cutting.

It looks totally fine.
I cannot identify the trim in question either.

I think Joe is onto something...I don't think this car (and the dash) was originally designed for a key such as this. I'd bet a Euro version has no key panel, and the wood probably extends along it's contour all the way to the steering column for a much cleaner look.
 
However as it is, it's not really that bad of an execution of where 5 completely different panels come together.

I agree with several others - the whole thing looks awkward to me. BMW interiors don't impress me...they all look awkward in my opinion. They have too many angles and cuts and the design in general doesn't look cohesive at all.

the truth is, i didn't see what the problem was all about.
the wood trim seems to go past the radio unit, as it does in the european models (www.bmw.es), by the way, they also offer push-start ignition.
The top of the dash seems to be of a good-quality plastic, the plastic around the space for the key is harder for durability (as a previous comment posted), and the beige plastic is probably a bit harder, but still seems to be of a good quality.
 
i think this post is just a sorry attempt at making us not want the 135!! i'm so jelous....

This reminds me of the spears running down the Camry's dash that folks complained were misaligned but were actually just designed to look that way for whatever reason. People screamed bloody murder at Toyota, so at least now all you Toyota fans can rest easy - Edmunds attacks BMW, too.
 
BTW - it should've cut off with the rest of the dash, just like those trim pieces should've been straight.

The vertical edge of the cream colored plastic should curve around the wood trim and the trim should be slightly recessed into the dash. It would look a lot better. Right now it looks just slapped on.

That whole area dash looks slapped together, they need to curve the black plastic with the tan, that looks slapped together.
 
They should have either stopped the wood at the end of the radio, or wrapped it around like others suggested.

I would expect a bit better on a 36K car. Not sure why anyone would defend that mess. Different textures, overhanging dash pieces, and that cheap looking wood piece. A friend of mine has an old Miata where the previous owner put on a faux wood dash kit. The pieces are literally glued on everywhere, and appear to be about the same quality as this piece.

It's a BMW, it can do no wrong...

When looking at JUST THIS AREA of the dash makes it come off a bit odd. People, take the time to go to BMWUSA.com and view the dash as a whole. There is nothing wrong with the design in question.

It's blocked by the steering wheel in all of the pictures I've seen, and the aluminum/wood still looks off.

"compliance - May 23, 2008 11:46 am (#14 Total: 31)
 
You still have to insert the key unless you pay extra for 'comfort access'. It's pretty senseless but they get to charge an extra $500."
 
Are you kidding me? $500 for the priviledge of NOT needing to plug in the key into the slot? Come on now BMW, either you go all the way, or just stick with a key with a remote. Going half way is just CHEAP.
 
I love it on my G35x that the slot is actually out of sight, and only need it if the remote battery runs low (the slot illuminates and flashes, HAH!).
 
The new Corolla has this feature too, no? I BELIEVE there is no slot at all...Toyota 1, BMW 0.
 
I can't believe I just said that...I am not even a fan of Toyota!

Comfort Access also gives you the ability to lock and unlock the doors and trunk by touch. Just pull on the door handle to unlock or touch the top of it to lock.

That's good, but that should be STANDARD at this price point...I can understand if you have a 128i then it should be an extra $500 for this feature. On a top of the line 135i? Blend it into the MSRP and nobody will notice...they just want the twin turbo motor anyway!

BMW doesn't add a lot of standard equipment when you get the higher engine - usually just a couple things. At this price point Infiniti and Lexus give you keyless starting but Audi and Mercedes do not, so chalk it up to a difference in option philosophy. Heck, the 3 Germans don't give you keyless starting standard on almost any of their models, all the way past the $100k+ mark. Go figure.

too many textures and materials in that area. It doesnt look good at all. Not only does the 1 series have a throw back interior design that appears to be inspired by a mid 90s 3 series, the plastics are hard as concrete as well. I thought the interior was of the same quality as the 3 until I sat in the car and touched the dash. Then again, BMW interiors have been a step behind Lexus and Audi for a while now so this isnt really a surprise.

Ed PLEASE end the speculation. What was the problem you were talking about?
 
The $500 comfort access thing. That's outrageous. But as long as they keep selling these things like crazy, why change it?