Anyone a previous owner of a 1 series?

Yvrbmw · 01-23-2022, 04:38 PM

Looking for thoughts and impressions

1more1 · 01-23-2022, 06:17 PM

Went from a 2009 128i to a 2014 M235i, both manual. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

I really miss the hydraulic steering of the e82 and the overall simplicity. It's a little hard to compare when the M235i is just so much faster so it ends up being quite fun for daily driving. The modern niceties are a nice upgrade. I'm surprised how much I've been appreciating Sport mode. Drop my SO off at work in Comfort then get to have a little fun in Sport+ on the way home.

twolegittwoquit · 01-23-2022, 08:20 PM

I don’t have lots of time in a 1-series, but my good friend has a 135i, I have an m235i. Both convertibles. We’ve driven each other’s cars once, but been passengers quite a bit. So while I don’t have a lot of first hand experience here are the take aways I can remember from chatting about them:

-my friend says the 1 series suspension is much firmer/harsher. Nice for sporty driving but beats you up a bit more day to day. I think the active dampers in the 2series might be what’s making the difference here but maybe then whole tune?
-I think we both agree the 2-series steering feels detached compared with the hydraulic steering in the 1.
-stock sport exhaust in 2 series (m235 specifically) sounds a bit better
-slightly upgraded interior in the 2 series (makes sense, as it’s a different generation)

Very general impression I think we both share is that the 135 is a bit purer of a drivers car and the 2 series is a touch softer/more comfortable. They’re both really fast, same engine, well handing, and a blast to drive. I think overall I like having the 2-series, personally, but really wish I had the steering from the 1-series. I also personally like the look of the two series just a bit more.

Others on the forum probably know a lot more but these both seem like an incredible value and I was looking at both when I was shopping a few months ago.

Ron Jeffries · 02-06-2022, 08:50 AM

I had a 135is convertible, with DSG, and I loved it. It was useless in the snow, though I never tried it with snow tires because I also had a Juke. When I decided to stick with a single car year round, I traded for my M240i convertible xDrive. Love it too, but differently. The M240i is really good every day. The 135is was OUTSTANDING on good days and of course gave me no fun in the winter.

I miss the DSG and the 135is exhaust was much better sounding, more crackles. (OK, I'm old but young and stupid at heart.)

I imagine 135is with snows might have been OK in winter: many folks say they're fine, but I like all the tech I can get in winter so the xDrive was a compromise that I was willing to make. I'm not sorry ... but I do miss that sound and the DSG.

makrop · 02-07-2022, 08:28 AM

I put 100,000+ on my N54 135i and dumped it when the turbo waste gates started to fail. Found a buyer that wanted to upgrade the turbos anyways so it wasn't a big concern of his. As others have said, the modern tech is a nice upgrade, but I miss the overall simplicity and driving experience of the 1er. I wish that I had kept it.

EE60 · 02-08-2022, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makrop

I put 100,000+ on my N54 135i and dumped it when the turbo waste gates started to fail. Found a buyer that wanted to upgrade the turbos anyways so it wasn't a big concern of his. As others have said, the modern tech is a nice upgrade, but I miss the overall simplicity and driving experience of the 1er. I wish that I had kept it.

Had a 128 vert with sport suspension and have a 235i 6spd

One series is good, imho 2 series is superior

I added dinan exhaust and monoball thrust arms to 235(sharpened up steering; I would recommend)

atek · 02-09-2022, 12:50 PM

Spent a lot of time in a 1st gen 135i vert. Its actually the reason I bought the M235i.

I was searching for 135i's when I remembered the new iteration that is the 2 series, and how much both of my favorite auto journalists loved them (matt farah and chris harris). From my past experiences, the 135i was tons of fun. Decently quick for the time period and great feeling, mechanical handling. Loads of grip. Nice sporty suspension.

The M235i pretty much embodies all of this while adding to the speed. Its waaaay faster than the 135i was. The active dampening is very nice touch, and i find myself in sport+ w/ dsc off pretty much all the time.

Both cars were dsg/dct, they both shift great with the latter obviously being better.

Overall, both great cars. Love the look of the 2 series more personally.

quadsbaby · 02-09-2022, 03:35 PM

Had a 2010 128i msport. Agree with the comments on steering. I think the m240i is a better car overall but I haven't yet gotten to the point where I can drive it like the old 128i both because of the extra power and because of the much greater nanny intrusiveness of the m240i (Obviously, one can drive in sport+ mode but I haven't been doing that most of the time).

01-23-2022, 04:38 PM	#1
Yvrbmw Enlisted Member 17 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 128 Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Anyone a previous owner of a 1 series? Looking for thoughts and impressions
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01-23-2022, 06:17 PM	#2
1more1 Private 45 Rep 88 Posts Drives: M235i 6MT EB Join Date: May 2018 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0)	Went from a 2009 128i to a 2014 M235i, both manual. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I really miss the hydraulic steering of the e82 and the overall simplicity. It's a little hard to compare when the M235i is just so much faster so it ends up being quite fun for daily driving. The modern niceties are a nice upgrade. I'm surprised how much I've been appreciating Sport mode. Drop my SO off at work in Comfort then get to have a little fun in Sport+ on the way home.
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01-23-2022, 08:20 PM	#3
twolegittwoquit New Member 9 Rep 29 Posts Drives: BMW M235i Convertible Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: New England, USA iTrader: (0)	I don’t have lots of time in a 1-series, but my good friend has a 135i, I have an m235i. Both convertibles. We’ve driven each other’s cars once, but been passengers quite a bit. So while I don’t have a lot of first hand experience here are the take aways I can remember from chatting about them: -my friend says the 1 series suspension is much firmer/harsher. Nice for sporty driving but beats you up a bit more day to day. I think the active dampers in the 2series might be what’s making the difference here but maybe then whole tune? -I think we both agree the 2-series steering feels detached compared with the hydraulic steering in the 1. -stock sport exhaust in 2 series (m235 specifically) sounds a bit better -slightly upgraded interior in the 2 series (makes sense, as it’s a different generation) Very general impression I think we both share is that the 135 is a bit purer of a drivers car and the 2 series is a touch softer/more comfortable. They’re both really fast, same engine, well handing, and a blast to drive. I think overall I like having the 2-series, personally, but really wish I had the steering from the 1-series. I also personally like the look of the two series just a bit more. Others on the forum probably know a lot more but these both seem like an incredible value and I was looking at both when I was shopping a few months ago.
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02-06-2022, 08:50 AM	#4
Ron Jeffries Old Member. Old in general, actually. 388 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2018 M240i xDrive convertible Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	I had a 135is convertible, with DSG, and I loved it. It was useless in the snow, though I never tried it with snow tires because I also had a Juke. When I decided to stick with a single car year round, I traded for my M240i convertible xDrive. Love it too, but differently. The M240i is really good every day. The 135is was OUTSTANDING on good days and of course gave me no fun in the winter. I miss the DSG and the 135is exhaust was much better sounding, more crackles. (OK, I'm old but young and stupid at heart.) I imagine 135is with snows might have been OK in winter: many folks say they're fine, but I like all the tech I can get in winter so the xDrive was a compromise that I was willing to make. I'm not sorry ... but I do miss that sound and the DSG.
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02-07-2022, 08:28 AM	#5
makrop Lieutenant 151 Rep 475 Posts Drives: '18 M240i 6MT MGM/CR Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Broken Arrow, OK iTrader: (0)	I put 100,000+ on my N54 135i and dumped it when the turbo waste gates started to fail. Found a buyer that wanted to upgrade the turbos anyways so it wasn't a big concern of his. As others have said, the modern tech is a nice upgrade, but I miss the overall simplicity and driving experience of the 1er. I wish that I had kept it. __________________ 18' F22 M240i \| 6MT \| MGM/CR 02' E46 325i \| 5MT \| SBM/B (beater - 200k+) 10' E82 135i \| 6MT \| BSM/CR (sold) 03' E46 330ci \| 5MT \| JB/B (sold)
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02-09-2022, 12:50 PM	#7
atek I like biscuits 164 Rep 250 Posts Drives: bmw m235i Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	Spent a lot of time in a 1st gen 135i vert. Its actually the reason I bought the M235i. I was searching for 135i's when I remembered the new iteration that is the 2 series, and how much both of my favorite auto journalists loved them (matt farah and chris harris). From my past experiences, the 135i was tons of fun. Decently quick for the time period and great feeling, mechanical handling. Loads of grip. Nice sporty suspension. The M235i pretty much embodies all of this while adding to the speed. Its waaaay faster than the 135i was. The active dampening is very nice touch, and i find myself in sport+ w/ dsc off pretty much all the time. Both cars were dsg/dct, they both shift great with the latter obviously being better. Overall, both great cars. Love the look of the 2 series more personally.
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02-09-2022, 03:35 PM	#8
quadsbaby New Member 15 Rep 21 Posts Drives: BMW M240i Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	Had a 2010 128i msport. Agree with the comments on steering. I think the m240i is a better car overall but I haven't yet gotten to the point where I can drive it like the old 128i both because of the extra power and because of the much greater nanny intrusiveness of the m240i (Obviously, one can drive in sport+ mode but I haven't been doing that most of the time).
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