In truth, the 135i steals some thunder from all of those cars, but we soon realized that it doesn't compete with any of them. In fact, for all of the talk we once heard about the 1-series being the spiritual successor to the 2002, it's almost a dead ringer, size-wise, for the E30-chassis 3-series. The 1-series, in its taut dimensions, driving experience, and even silhouette, reminded every editor who'd ever driven a 1987-1991 E30 325i of those beloved old Bimmers. And remember - that 325i is the BMW that made BMW what it is today, a favorite not just of yuppies but also of keen car enthusiasts. It was seriously expensive ($25,135 in 1989, or about $44,000 in today's money) but also seriously quick and seriously well-built. Suddenly, the 1-series wasn't so hard to understand.
Nor did it seem particularly overpriced, with a sticker of $39,125 that included $3450 in extras - leather, cold weather and sport packages, and an iPod adapter. We soon regretted not ordering power front seats, however, as many drivers found the manual seat adjustments difficult to use. Complaints also flowed in almost immediately about the 135i's lack of Bluetooth hands-free telephone connectivity, which we could have specified for an additional $750. Then again, BMW's pricey options can easily shoot the 135i's sticker price well into 3-series territory.
That's not to say our car was a stripper - the 135i came standard with adaptive xenon headlights, a power moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, and a slew of advanced safety features. And, of course, the 300-hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged in-line six. Even longtime critics of the Bavarians' occasionally notchy transmissions loved the six-speed manual in the 135i; copy editor Rusty Blackwell deemed it "the best BMW shifter I've ever experienced."
In fact, our logbook contained almost nothing but praise for the way the 135i drove. Great steering, powerful brakes, and smooth power - these are qualities we have admired in the current 3-series, the car upon which the 1-series is heavily based. Despite its sport package, our big-wheeled One even rode well - until you encountered a nasty bump in the road. As if the progressive bump stops were mistakenly omitted on our car, the 135i suddenly would run out of wheel travel, crashing over potholes and pavement seams and transmitting a horrifying whack to the cabin. "I hate this suspension," cried senior Web editor Phil Floraday. And that was months before he hit a double-whammy sequence of classic Detroit road craters severe enough to blow the left front tire. "I momentarily panicked since there was no shoulder on the road," he recalled. "Then I remembered those run-flat tires we've been complaining about forever - it turns out they work great. When I was able to pull over, I inspected the rim. It seemed fine, so I carefully drove home with no air in the tire." ...next page >>