2008 BMW 135i: Not Much Fun for a Boring Driver

i still think all cars should have a dipstick just in case there is a computer issue because oil is so important to the engine

Sounds about right. SCI panned the 135i a few months ago with regard to its handling and steering.

Interesting to see just different comments about the 1 Series. We appreciate the honesty.

For what it's worth, I think you'll have less mess if you pour oil with the slanted side facing down. (Or perhaps your picture doesn't represent how you poured??) At least, that's the way I was taught these bottles were meant to be poured. Of course, if it's really windy, you're screwed without a funnel either way.

I am impressed by the little square submersion of the plastic engine cover around the oil cap that seemed to minimize the mess!

Hint: next time hold the bottle the other way, with the hole on the top. This way the air gets in easier and there are no massive gulps of oil coming out of the bottle causing the mess.

oups, it seems that I should first read all the comments and then add my own. Ewilfong mentioned the oil bottle tip first!

This post interested me as I am considering buying a new car and have been going on test drives. What I have come to see is that there is a difference between what I enjoy on a test drive on windy back roads and what I like for my daily commute and errands. When I am out on the windy roads a BMW is a lot of fun. When I am out in daily traffic a Lexus ES 350 looks awfully nice. And you know what, those windy roads in the BMW ads just really are not part of my daily life.

I need to distinguish between what car would be fun on a test drive and what car I would most enjoy the way I actually will use it most of the time.

Thank you for a very helpful post.

"I can have fun with a Mini no matter what kind of driving I'm doing, but with the 1, I evidently have to get all serious about it if I want a conversation."

I haven't driven the 1 series yet but I feel the same way about the Mini vs the 3 series.

Some cars are a joy to drive fast while others are a just a joy to drive. That's one of the biggest reasons I love the Mini.

I've been waffling between a 1-series and a Mini Cooper S. Erin, I think you've just tipped me in favor of the Mini.

Castrol Syntec 5W-30 does not have BMW LL-01 approval, so it is the wrong oil for this car. If you want to stay with Castrol Syntec, you should use 0W-30 with BMW LL-01 listed on the label. Or Mobil 1 0W-40. Or just buy the BMW Oil from the dealer.

7driver,

Let us know your decision. And the color you get etc.(:

"When it hits an expansion joint, the 1 feels kind of squooshy as its springs compress, but then it rebounds more harshly than I think it should"

Shrug, every e9x BMW I've driven with RFTs (about 10 of them) pretty much crashes over every pothole and expansion joint - the chassis shuddering, the whole car making cacophonous noises. I've only driven/owned e9x cars with the sport suspension, so I can't say if regular x9c cars feel like they're going to fall apart when they hit road imperfections.

"The ratio doesn't seem quick "...

Again sounds like all e9x BMWs.

As for adding oil, in my experience, BMWs burn oil. I usually added a quart or so every 5-7k miles. Per for the course with a BMW.

My 63 year old boss just order herself a green Mini. She was thinking about a 128, Mini and GTI but wanted the smallest car possible.

BMW really needs to update those dated gauges.

I was thinking the same thing. The graphics and gauges in the 1 and 3 need to be updated. Actually, the entire console could use some modernizing. Those displays on the 1 series remind me of the much maligned readouts in the G8. They just seem like they are from another era.

"BMW really needs to update those dated gauges."

I'll take them over the gauges in the Mini.

"I can have fun with a Mini no matter what kind of driving I'm doing, but with the 1, I evidently have to get all serious about it if I want a conversation."

Interesting comment, especially having just read the 128i vs MINI Clubman S comparison on the IL main page. From the first word, that article felt biased toward the 128. And in the conclusion, they make it seem like its a hands down, no contest. For anyone who read it, I encourage you to check out the page with the editor opinion on the second page. It reveals that the actual decision was much closer then the article would have you believe.

I hope BMW never changes those gauges....love em :)

Erin & BGDC - Have you driven a 97-03 BMW 5-series (such as the 530i w/ sport package, but preferably not the 540i)?

I don't have nearly enough experience to judge, but from what I understand that car found the perfect blend of everyday luxuriousness, pure fun to drive, and handling ability. That chassis was formed back in 1995 and is so stiff they still use it for the 04-present BMW 5-series.
Supposedly they even tuned the harmonics created by the chassis to emit in a different frequency than engine/tire harmonics, so that they wouldn't add to each other.

I really think I'm going to wind up with a 2003 530i 5-speed w/ sport package for an everyday driver. It just seems to have the perfect amount of sedan interior roominess for it's exterior size, classic styling, 3400 pounds, RWD, and an incredible engine. Plus it offers so much interior goodness. And nowadays their prices are dropping nicely :)

Anyway, I'm totally rambling.

Joe

I agree. For all the gushing about the 1 Series, I always thought it should be more of a lightweight, athletic drivers car thats fun to drive anywhere. As is, it has the same appeal as a 3 series, but less of it. And the 1 Series' weight is inexcusable: it's one average sized passenger away from a 3 series coupe. What's the point?

"As is, it has the same appeal as a 3 series, but less of it."

That is the quote of the year. I couldn't agree more. The only measurable advantage the 135 has over the 335 are more capable multi-piston brakes. If I want a BMW coupe, I'll get a 3 series. Flawless styling, more room, no quirks.

"I hope BMW never changes those gauges....love em :)"

What's to love about them? They resemble the depth guage from a WWII U-boat. No style or imagination. My main beef with the 335 is the bland, utilitarian interior.

Great post +1. :)

What is it with today's cars and the lack of refinement on the ride? I have read more reviews lately including this one where the suspension crashes due to increased harshness..it used to be the Germans were known for their perfect blend of firmness and comfort...my MazdaSpeed3 is the same way...Its supposed to be stiffer suspension but ends up crashing and shaking the car over less then perfect roads..just curious what Erin had to say.

Whats to love about those gauges? That's like saying to someone who loves a piece of art, "What's to love?"

I still don't understand the fascination behind the Mona Lisa, despite acknowledging the skill involved in creating the face.

I simply love those BMW gauges, more than Mercedes, More than Lexus, More then Audi's blockier red-backlighted ones.

I love the way the needle dances on them when you rev the engine, I love the smooth sweep of the speedometer needle on the black and white.

I love how they are similar to Porsche VDO-style gauges, but use a smaller, finer font and orange back-lighting.

I love the orange back-lighting for some reason...I'd owned red and green backlighting, and even a different shade of orange. I've driven VW's and thought I liked their blue/purple red, but don't.

I love the layout of the gauges and I'm glad the 335 got an actually-useful oil temperature gauge (versus the virtually useless un-fluctuating coolant temp gauge).

TXG60 - BMW's still have their supple ride quality....when you swap out the run-flat tires. In fact, they still have it with the run-flat tires but the suspension is overwhelmed more easily.

The Mazdaspeed simply has some very heavy wheels/tires, tightly sprung suspension, and harder bump stops. Switch out to a lighter 17x8" wheel with 225/45/17 or even 235/45/17 wheels and you'll gain loads in ride quality and greater available traction (on that car).

Joe

More and more cars today are being tuned to turn in great handling numbers in road tests and concurrently wheels are getting larger and sidewalls are getting thiner. There was a time when sports sedans (or wannabes) were the minority but now comfortable riding cars are seen as inadequate by the press. Any car that offers a comfortable ride at the expense of skidpad grip or roll stiffness is given a lukewarm review or is derided as being a car for "old" people. according to the press only old people want a car that doesn't rattle their fillings when driving over potholes. When is the last time anyone has read a positive review of a Buick sedan, Chevy Impala, Cadillac DTS, Avalon, etc.? Those kinds of cars are laughed at by the press because they cant carve corners like a 135 with a drum tight sports suspension.

BMW's gauges are about a decade out of date. They are finally doing something about this with the 2010 7 series.

The interior of the 1 doesnt look like a $40k car the same way the interior of a 3 series doesnt look like a $50k-$70k car. Without the nav screens (and even with) the interiors of the 1 and 3 are quite dull and uninspiring.

Well I guess that's a good thing since the 1-series is a 28k base car and the 3-series is a 32k base car.

Thank goodness they don't look like 40k and 50-70k respectively :)

The 2010 7-series gauges are still distinctly BMW, just slightly revised. I wouldn't want them in my 3-series, personally, so I hope BMW keeps the current gauges.

Joe

Sigh...this is why I miss the day of the old lightweight cars from the late 80's/early 90's...my old VW Days..Jetta/Corrado G60 (when 2900 pounds was considered heavy!)...they were so tossable on 50 series tires...I know the price of safety and technology has made cars so heavy today but trying to make it up with ultrafirm suspensions and horrid rides doesn't seem like fun to me...bah..its just th old man in me coming out..where are the keys to my caddy :)

I think the real key to not spilling the oil is to put the camera down. ;)

Ewilfong and Ban Hugh:
Just picking nits, but I find to holding the bottle at an angle sideways, with the spout slightly higher than the opposite side works better. This way the air gets in without causing burps and the height from the filler neck to the spout is minimized.

I've always felt the "dullness" of BMW's interiors is a good thing. It forces you to pay attention to the road. And while they might be teutonic in nature, you can't say it's horrible.

It's just.....German

I get complaints about BMW interiors because...

The radio/HVAC is not pointed at the driver
The window controls are in the wrong place (the center console was perfect in e46 models)
The view of the dash from driver's seat no longer feels driver-centric
Dual-HVAC (one atmosphere, one driver and he is the rainmaker, so get out and walk if you don't like it)

But I'm odd that way...the passengers can stare at the aluminum trim or out the windows. All controls are for me. Mine, mine, all mine, not yours, mine. Passengers have zero place touching radios, HVAC or anything on the dash beyond their vents.

I've owned a Mini Cooper S, and I now own a 135i. Aside from the Mini's cartoon interior with it's explosion of ovals and circles, the more significant disadvantage of the Mini is that it is essentially stuck in the "on" position at all times... always providing that go-kart ride... but no ability to shut it "off".

The 135i, OTOH, provides that "off" switch that is missing on the Mini... it provides a real choice... it's the best of both worlds. It can be enormously fast, fun, and agile (superior performance than the Mini)... or it can be nice and quiet and smooth (smoother and quieter than the Mini could ever hope to be).

So, depending upon a driver's preference, a 135i can deliver either driving experience better than can a Mini. The 135i is a win-win. With all due respect for the Mini, quite frankly, the 135i is truly the better car.

"Thank goodness they don't look like 40k and 50-70k respectively :)"

The 135 can hit $50k or so and the M3 can hit $70k. At those prices the interiors still look like the base models. To be clear I don't think the interiors are all that sumptuous for $28k or $32k.

blueguydotcom,
I love my E46 interior. It is perfect. I'm baffled why the Bavarians went away from angling the center console toward the driver in the E9x 3-Series. Some of the moves they have made lately have mystified me (no dipstick, run-flat tires). Unless they go back to the basics -- and do the basics RIGHT -- the E46 might be my last stop on the Bimmer train.

1487 -

C'mon, that's a ludricrous argument and you know it. Tons of cars can option up to ridiculous price heights....their interiors are based off their base prices though, as car interiors don't change much except perhaps trim or seating surfaces based upon price.

The only way to base an interior off of price point is the base price for the model, as the interior won't really change from there.

I actually think the 1-series does have a mix-and-match interior for it's price point, with some cheap plastics (cupholders) and flimsy designed pieces (sun visors). Other pieces are really nice and fitting, since they are nice in the 3-series.

But yeah, you won't find me heaping blessings on the 3-series interior. I love the sport seats. I love the gauges. I love the sport steering wheel. And I love the seating position. But the doors, center console, rest of the dash, radio controls, secondary controls, cupholders, lack of storage spaces, are all just business-like.

I'm sure it won't age badly....but it won't age nearly as well as the 2005 BMW e46 3-series interior either.

Joe