128 & 135: unanswered questions of a shopper

[cloudgif]

Hi all. I've been thinking about a One Series for a few months now and had the opportunity to drive a 128 and a 135 yesterday. I thought both were great cars. In all liklihood no one "needs" the thrilling ooomph of the 135, but needing and wanting are two different things. FWIW my take is that you can use more of the 128's capabilities and feel as though you are pushing it a bit. I felt as though I was constantly reigning in the 135. My former vehicles include a '55 Austin Healy; an XK140; an SC300 and a Matchless 500cc single cylinder.

My "for openers" questions.

1. I'm confused over whether the 128 has the 6 caliper front brakes. I "hear" it doesn't but the s/a said it did and MT says it does. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/.../handling.html
I didn't crawl down to inspect so would like to know if anyone knows for sure.

2. The BMW site as well as the dealer sites say that the 18" wheels "come with" the 135 as a standard feature. The dealers say you can get 'em if you pay extra for 'em. Is that true in all geographical areas.? Is this a mistake that BMW has not corrected like forever? A distributor rip?

Thanks for your input.

[Dan203]

1) I'm 99% sure that the 6 piston breaks are only available on the 135i

2) I'm 100% sure the 135i comes with the 18" wheels standard.

Dan

[Red135]

There seems to be alot the info about the 1-series that the CA's don't have.

[cloudgif]

Originally Posted by Dan203

1) I'm 99% sure that the 6 piston breaks are only available on the 135i

2) I'm 100% sure the 135i comes with the 18" wheels standard.

Dan

Thanks dan, but I am 100% sure that while the "configurator" of BMW and the Bay Area dealers websites say the 18-inchers are standard that they have 135s with 17" wheels on their lots and claim that the websites are "mistakes."

Anyone get delivery of a 135i with 18" wheels as "standard" with no upcharge? If so, where do you live?

As for the brakes all I know is what I read "in the papers" MT: "And when the conditions go bad in a hurry -- in say, a surprising off-camber decreasing radius turn with pebbles flung across the roadway -- the impressive four-wheel disc brakes (with six-piston calipers in the front) stand ready to reel you back in. Honestly, the 128i's brakes feel so strong and inspire so much confidence that they could be the very best thing about the car."
Thanks

[Dan203]

There is a "no cost" option to switch to 17" wheels. Perhaps your dealer has selected that option for the cars on the lot? (the wheels have a different style which some people might prefer)

Dan

[ulrichd]

17" wheels with all season tires are a no cost option for the 135i.

[atr_hugo]

cloudgif - nice Nash in the avatar.

18" wheels are standard on the 135i - 17" are a no-cost option. There are plenty of 1Addicts that have taken delivery of 135is in the US and they all have come with Style 264 18" wheels.

As to the brakes, the 135i comes with six pot brakes on the front wheels. The 128i soes not have the same brakes as the 135i.

[cloudgif]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

cloudgif - nice Nash in the avatar.

18" wheels are standard on the 135i - 17" are a no-cost option. There are plenty of 1Addicts that have taken delivery of 135is in the US and they all have come with Style 264 18" wheels.

As to the brakes, the 135i comes with six pot brakes on the front wheels. The 128i soes not have the same brakes as the 135i.

Thanks hugo. Looks like Something is Happening around here and I Don't Know What It Is. One of the Bay Area dealers actually had a price sheet that differs from what appears to be the reality of the standard 18" wheels.

[Dan203]

There are two different 18" wheel styles available on the "Accessories" page of the "Build your own" app on bmwusa.com. Perhaps those are the prices he was showing you? (they're like $1,600)

Dan

[Arnie712]

cloudgif -- a Healy, an XK, a Matchless thumper and a Metropolitan avatar: that's a lot of Brit stuff to be buying a German car.:smile:
My appreciation for the 135i is not its blazing acceleration but rather its incredible torque available at 1400rpm and up -- it pulls like a V8 but it's smooth, sips gas and doesn't weigh a ton!

[cloudgif]

Originally Posted by Arnie712

cloudgif -- a Healy, an XK, a Matchless thumper and a Metropolitan avatar: that's a lot of Brit stuff to be buying a German car.:smile:
My appreciation for the 135i is not its blazing acceleration but rather its incredible torque available at 1400rpm and up -- it pulls like a V8 but it's smooth, sips gas and doesn't weigh a ton!

Yes, Arnie, the torque is amazing. (And the acceleration.) On my test drive when I pulled away from a red light at a freeway onramp an oversized pickup truck was a good .2 of a mile ahead of me moving at freeway speed. By the time I had wound up in 2d gear and put her in 3rd. I had to downshift back to 2d to slow down a bit by compression or I would have wound up in the bed of the pickup. That's what I meant by having to "hold back" the 135.

As to the Limey products: I did omit my '76
Rabbit, vintage Bug, '56 Plymouth Fury and Fiat Spyder. That's my wife at the wheel of the Metro, BTW.