As Karl wrote in his blog this morning, you really don't need the 135i. The 128i is plenty of fun -- if you didn't know the twin-turbo 3-liter was out there, well, ignorance is bliss.
But, should you want the 135i? Is the difference really that big? To find out, John Di Pietro (JDP) and I just got back from bombing through Topanga and Old Topanga canyon roads back to back in the 128i and 135i. No matter what the answer is, what a blast.
I should first note that the LT 135 is handicapped by its lack of manual sport seats, which are in this particular 128i and offer more adjustment and support. We've said it before, but buy these.
Anyway, during our drive we were lucky enough to have clear sailing on Topanga, which is usually filled with leisurely minivans and sewage trucks going about 25 mph. Without them, it was practically a roller coaster as we flew through the canyon, the 1's gripping through turns with tenacity. With its bigger wheels and tires, though, the 135 was a tad grippier. We could have gone faster -- especially the 135 -- but going 90 on a main canyon road isn't the wisest move.
I readily admit I'm no finely tuned driving machine, but every time I get behind the 135's wheel, I feel like a champion. The steering is brilliant and only when you push the crap out of the thing, do you start to feel the understeer BMW's engineers built into it to prevent novices from fishtailing their 300-hp little Bimmer off into the great beyond. Most of the same excellent handling is found in the 128i and it too is an absolute blast, which as Karl said means the smaller engine is certainly enough.
Actually, 128i has more than enough power, but it just doesn't have the "weeeeee!" factor of the 135i. Through the higher-speed, less twisty Topanga, I found myself just leaving the 35 in 4th; so plentiful is the torque. JDP argued that this made the 128i more involving and the 135i more of a lazy man's car, and he's probably right. But that effortlessly smooth, rocket ship acceleration in such a small package is wonderfully entoxicating. I just adore it.
So count JDP as needing and wanting the 128i. Count JRiz as admiting he really only needs the 128i, but desparately wanting the 135i. With Topanga in my backyard and the right lease rate, why the heck not?
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 9,655 miles
johnmarco says:
02:55 PM, 07/24/08
I think as with nearly every car, unless you're worried about efficiency, you always want the bigger engine. If you opt smaller, you'll always kind of wonder.
johnmarco says:
02:56 PM, 07/24/08
By the way, the top picture is the 1st time the 1-series has looked attractive it to. It may have just clicked for me.
ahightower says:
03:15 PM, 07/24/08
I definitely prefer a darker color. Dark blue or metallic gray would be nice.
carfreak8394 says:
03:51 PM, 07/24/08
The 128i needs different wheels, and no BMW should be painted white. I agree with ahightower that a nice blue or metallic gray would be better.
z479 says:
04:28 PM, 07/24/08
I love the 128i. I drove an auto with the sport package and it was a blast!!! It was that sedona red in the picture too! I have to say after seeing just about every 1series side by side on the lot in different colors, those two plus montego blue really make it stand out and show off its curves. These were quite possibly the best colors you could have picked for the scenery.
07mx5 says:
07:41 PM, 07/24/08
I remember hearing the exhaust note on the 135 once, and I almost wet my pants. Can anyone comment on how the 128 sounds?
cruiserhead1 says:
09:04 PM, 07/24/08
I think the 128 will just moisten your pants...
nice comparo, sounds like a fun afternoon
dougtheeng says:
06:02 AM, 07/25/08
The 135s rims look better, but I'd take either.
Same goes for the engine :P
arm51 says:
06:42 AM, 07/25/08
I've driven both and I must say that they are great! The only thing that I noticed, as JRiz said, 135i has the extra torque and 'whee' factor. The colors are nice, however I prefer either Montego Blue or Sparkling Graphite. Too bad Sparkling Graphite is going away in '09 production. The looks do it for me, so does the driving experience of both. Since I am in the market for a car, I just don't know which to pick!
z479 says:
07:35 AM, 07/25/08
The 128 sounds kinda wimpy when you first start it up. I remember when the dealer fired it up, I was like "wow this sounds like a corolla" and I'm not kidding my friend said the same thing. After it warmed up though, it sounded amazing, even better when accelerating.
huyracing says:
08:02 AM, 07/25/08
If cars were only about need, then go get a Toyota Yaris or a Kia Rio or whatever is cheapest right now. They are likely to be far more reliable than a BMW, too. Your needs should be met and then some. Cars are really about want, so indulge yourself and get the better car.
joefrompa says:
09:35 AM, 07/25/08
I've only driven a 135i auto/sport/premium w/ 2 other people in the car (approx. 300 pounds) and the A/C on....
And that car had problems keeping traction off the line with moderate throttle input.
That's the type of power on demand I crave :)
I really need to go out and test drive the 128 and 135i back to back w/ 6-speeds, one other person in the car (dealer), and no A/C.
But I'd only buy the 128i if the gas mileage was really high 20's or 30 in mixed driving...which from what I understand, may be realistic.
Joe
corollasman says:
08:57 AM, 07/28/08
I have a desire to buy the 135i, but I still don't feel strongly about the appearance. Its like it only looks good to me in certain angles. Reminds me of this girl I used to date.
tjbeck says:
05:16 AM, 08/ 1/08
I drove a 128 on a lengthy test drive, and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the dealer only had an automatic, but I felt I got a good sense of the car and engine.
What I decided was that compared to my 2001 E46 330Ci, it felt smaller and taller, and even though it has more nominal horsepower and is lighter (I think), it felt no faster. It also has a higher, revvier horsepower peak without the flat torque curve you get out of the 3.0 liter engine in the older 330.
It felt like a newer car, of course, but outside of little thinks like an MP3 jack and general newness, there was nothing to make me think it was any nicer than my old (7 years, 115k miles) E46. Plus the old E46 looks better. Maybe it doesn't have the modern creases and scalloping, and the details on the car are just now starting to look a little aged, but the E46 is proportioned far better.
Well, that test drive shot down the "Hey, maybe I'll get a new car, the 128 should be better and quicker and newer than my car." I could afford it, but it just wasn't much different than my old car.
So then I jumped in a 135. Wow. The twin turbo, torquey powertrain in that little car changes everything. This was a paddle shift model, which I had trouble really getting used to (I kept lifting slightly before remembering - 'no clutch'), but whereas in the 128 I was accelerating in straight lines and sort of pushing around corners hard, within 100 yards if the dealership in the 135 I was kicking out the tail end with the salesman sort of egging me on.
Where in the 128 you have to plan to be in the 3500 rpm or so range to really get to the power and torque, in the 135 anything above, say, 1700 rpm gives you some tire spinning, head snapping acceleration. It's simply brilliant.
Way out of my price range new, but brilliant. I think I'll stick to my 330Ci and then look for a used 135i in about three years.