E30 Zone

Cant comment on the 120i but my dad was in a 120d courtesy car and he let me have a little go, It was foookin rapid, I thought the e46 320d was quick but nowt compaired to the 120d, Also had a go in e90 320d. Had a go in a 3.0i Z4 today aswell but only around the compound at work......I fell in love with it.

i'll be honest, i hated the 1 series when they first came out. but when you drive them, they are brilliant!! the 120d is my favourite, and you're right, is rapid!!! the chassis is flawless too, its like its on rails!!

the 130i are really something though!! fast as you like!!!

stuartgallafant wrote:i'll be honest, i hated the 1 series when they first came out. but when you drive them, they are brilliant!! the 120d is my favourite, and you're right, is rapid!!! the chassis is flawless too, its like its on rails!!

the 130i are really something though!! fast as you like!!!

They've really grown on me aswell, Infact i want one....But cant afford one Are the 3 litre 1 series the same engine as the 3 litr Z4 ? Do you know if there are any plans for a 1 series M. I've seen a 5 lite V8 Hartge one which looked abit nippy.

no plans for m 1 series but bmw do have a special 130i out which is fast as feck. has a tuned 3 litre lump which was specially done for the one series. thats as much as i know

e36boy wrote:

stuartgallafant wrote:i'll be honest, i hated the 1 series when they first came out. but when you drive them, they are brilliant!! the 120d is my favourite, and you're right, is rapid!!! the chassis is flawless too, its like its on rails!!

the 130i are really something though!! fast as you like!!!

They've really grown on me aswell, Infact i want one....But cant afford one Are the 3 litre 1 series the same engine as the 3 litr Z4 ? Do you know if there are any plans for a 1 series M. I've seen a 5 lite V8 Hartge one which looked abit nippy.

150 hartage get some pics up fella

mattG wrote:

e36boy wrote:

stuartgallafant wrote:i'll be honest, i hated the 1 series when they first came out. but when you drive them, they are brilliant!! the 120d is my favourite, and you're right, is rapid!!! the chassis is flawless too, its like its on rails!!

the 130i are really something though!! fast as you like!!!

They've really grown on me aswell, Infact i want one....But cant afford one Are the 3 litre 1 series the same engine as the 3 litr Z4 ? Do you know if there are any plans for a 1 series M. I've seen a 5 lite V8 Hartge one which looked abit nippy.

150 hartage get some pics up fella

I saw it in PBMW ages ago, I think someone has posted pics up before. Im totally useless at this computer stuff, so i dont know how to post pics but im sure someone else will be along and get some up.

yeah, Hartge lumped in the S62 out of the M5!! crazy!!

there's not gonna be any plans for an M1. it just wont happen, although they were thinking of making a 2 door 1 series, and it possibly being called a 2 series, or 4 series, but how true that is, im unsure...

the 3.0litre lump in the 130i is the NG54 engine. the New Generation magnisium alloy engine, also found in the newest Z4 roadsters and Coupe's, the E90, E91 and E92, the E60 and E61 and the E60

i saw on top gear or fifth gear that there is a one series with a modded 3.0 engine that no other bmw will have, its unique to the one series but i dont know what its called, somebody must know?

There is a 135ti planned with the 3.0 straight six twin turbo from the new 335i if this is to happen then it will be quick very quick probably knocking on 5 secs to 60 and 100 in under 12 secs and obviouisly top speed @155 but surely capable of closer to 170 mph isn't that crazy saying that about a hot hatch... NSX, 348 GTS, or Skyline performance


Lui

Drove a 116i when my mates car was in the bodyshop, it was the least inspiring drive I have ever had. I guess the bigger engines make the car come alive?

Best part was the engine start/stop button, kept pressing it at junctions when he was driving, had me in bits

What would they call a M Powered 1 Series.......?
Way be thats why they have not made one........

Not till you see a 1 and a E30 together, do you realise that the 1 is the new E30!

The 3 series has gained size and weight with each new model, the 1 is just about the same size as a E30. That might be why the 1 is good to drive (in big engine guise anyway!), it's really a E30.

The 3 series is awesome, I drove a 130 a few weeks ago, a demonstrator from our local dealership, it was like a 4 door Z3 Mcoupe to me it handled like one, awesome car !

andyborris wrote:Not till you see a 1 and a E30 together, do you realise that the 1 is the new E30!

The 3 series has gained size and weight with each new model, the 1 is just about the same size as a E30. That might be why the 1 is good to drive (in big engine guise anyway!), it's really a E30.

I've long thought that - I have a 130i MSport now and had an e30 325i touring a while back and it really seems like a successor. The only thing the 130i needs is a lsd however.

520d is where it's at! Really nice car to drive, good performance, great handling and brakes and they just feel like you're getting your money's worth which I don't feel with the 1 Series. I'd rather have a good spec diesel Golf and save a load of dollars. The 116i is disgustingly slow and the styling is still an utter disgrace.

The E60 is the best car BMW make right now. Now they've ditched the old M54 engine and the useless 520i they've become a new car. The 7 Series is still nice but the facelift ruined the styling. The new 325d is out shortly and is going to be a stormer. It's within £1000 of the 2.4JTD Alfa 159 and just as quick.

Yeah, like you're really going to buy an Alfa instead............

My mate, an Alfa nut, read your article in Total BMW about the 520d and the Alfa 159 and was impressed with your impartiality. He also agreed with your comments about the torque steer in that earlier model. The Alfa is prettier though and that is even saying very much. I saw a guy at another mate's garage today and he was relieved he only had a 'small bill this week'.

Why are the cute ones always such a nightmare?

I'm an Alfa nut as well and it pisses me off that they consistently fall just short of the mark. All the 159 needs is some proper dampers and a bit of chassis tuning. Oh, and a decent dealer network, proper spare parts back up etc etc..........

The last proper Alfa was the old 75, rwd, standard LSD, rear mounted gearbox, proper all alloy Alfa engines (not warmed over Fiat shite). Everything since then has been a compromise based on Fiat platforms.

Imagine a front drive 3 Series based on a Mondeo platform. That's what Fiat have done to Alfa.

There's some new Alfa like the Maserati quattroporte coming out at some point I read today. Unfortunately it looks like a badly proportioned bulbous pile of rubbish in the photo I saw. Fiat don't know which way to turn with it. Fiat messed up Lancia too didn't they?

Some Alfas are quite a good size and the 1 series is a good size too. I parked my touring up next to one and the 1 series actually seemed smaller but with all the curves in all the wrong places and the use of the space inside looked kind of wrong too. I still say the 1 series is like an iPod - novel, but I'd never want one.

Fiat destroyed Lancia and rumour has it they may bury it altogether. I mean, what does Lancia mean now? Anything? It's been just a posh badge on an expensive Fiat for the last 30 years.

Here's one Lancia's recent efforts, the stunning Kappa (Krappa) Coupe complete with 13 inch Escort wheels. Nice.

That reminds me of a Rover 75 coupe !!!

Andyboy wrote:520d is where it's at! Really nice car to drive, good performance, great handling and brakes and they just feel like you're getting your money's worth which I don't feel with the 1 Series. I'd rather have a good spec diesel Golf and save a load of dollars. The 116i is disgustingly slow and the styling is still an utter disgrace.

The E60 is the best car BMW make right now. Now they've ditched the old M54 engine and the useless 520i they've become a new car. The 7 Series is still nice but the facelift ruined the styling. The new 325d is out shortly and is going to be a stormer. It's within £1000 of the 2.4JTD Alfa 159 and just as quick.

Yeah, like you're really going to buy an Alfa instead............

520 d is the opposite of 130i - big car with small engine rather than small car with big engine.
Each to their own.

But the 520d does perform well for its size and weight. It's more of an all round performing car than the 1 series. The 1 series represents BMW and its greedy marketing ideas in trying to have a model in every price bracket and range of vehicles. And to that end the 520d I imagine will be far more commercially successful than the 1 series.

However the 1 series is a missed opportunity to redo the E30 with a more powerful engine. It's an stumpy ugly little dog of a car which has just a front and a back. It reminds me of a bull terrier which is just a set of teeth and an arsehole.


Andy that Lancia is as naff as a gilt covered souvenir of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with a light inside.

i dont think they will release a 2 or 4 series cos rovers got them jus lyk they cudnt do the mx5 cos of mazda

[quote="toby"]

However the 1 series is a missed opportunity to redo the E30 with a more powerful engine. It's an stumpy ugly little dog of a car which has just a front and a back. It reminds me of a bull terrier which is just a set of teeth and an arsehole.
quote]

You need to drive a 130i !

The looks are the weakest part fair enough but then the most recent 5 series and 7 series have been a bit odd looking too, not to mention the Z4, only the new three looks well from the outset.
I went for a test drive uncertain about the looks but the driving more than sold it to me.
I say fair play to BMW for making a rwd car in that category with a focus on handling and performance (which is much the same as they did with the e30 in 1982 when Audi were making the fwd 80 and Vauxhall the Cavalier - and if you're old enough to rememeber the e30 was also criticised for it appearance back then altho' not to the same extent.)

Cyril wrote:

Andyboy wrote:520d is where it's at! Really nice car to drive, good performance, great handling and brakes and they just feel like you're getting your money's worth which I don't feel with the 1 Series. I'd rather have a good spec diesel Golf and save a load of dollars. The 116i is disgustingly slow and the styling is still an utter disgrace.

The E60 is the best car BMW make right now. Now they've ditched the old M54 engine and the useless 520i they've become a new car. The 7 Series is still nice but the facelift ruined the styling. The new 325d is out shortly and is going to be a stormer. It's within £1000 of the 2.4JTD Alfa 159 and just as quick.

Yeah, like you're really going to buy an Alfa instead............

520 d is the opposite of 130i - big car with small engine rather than small car with big engine.
Each to their own.

You clearly haven't driven one then. 140 mph, 8.5 to 60mph, 1550 kilos (lighter than a Passat) and more torque (340nm) than the old 535i V8 (and more torque at 2500 rpm than an M5) plus a six speed manual box.
Ovr the course of 300 miles a 520d would get to your destination before any 130i. It's called 40 mpg!
If it's all about performance, I think you'll find a rather faster Lancer Evo for the 130i's £28'000............

Andyboy wrote:

Cyril wrote:

Andyboy wrote:520d is where it's at! Really nice car to drive, good performance, great handling and brakes and they just feel like you're getting your money's worth which I don't feel with the 1 Series. I'd rather have a good spec diesel Golf and save a load of dollars. The 116i is disgustingly slow and the styling is still an utter disgrace.

The E60 is the best car BMW make right now. Now they've ditched the old M54 engine and the useless 520i they've become a new car. The 7 Series is still nice but the facelift ruined the styling. The new 325d is out shortly and is going to be a stormer. It's within £1000 of the 2.4JTD Alfa 159 and just as quick.

Yeah, like you're really going to buy an Alfa instead............

520 d is the opposite of 130i - big car with small engine rather than small car with big engine.
Each to their own.

You clearly haven't driven one then. 140 mph, 8.5 to 60mph, 1550 kilos (lighter than a Passat) and more torque (340nm) than the old 535i V8 (and more torque at 2500 rpm than an M5) plus a six speed manual box.
Ovr the course of 300 miles a 520d would get to your destination before any 130i. It's called 40 mpg!
If it's all about performance, I think you'll find a rather faster Lancer Evo for the 130i's £28'000............

There's a whole load of reasons why I don't want a Lancer Evo, even more why I don't want a 520d (not least of which was being in an E46 320d when the turbo imploded at a relatively low mileage and burnt all the sump oil which was not nice and then to discover from the dealer that it was not uncommon).
Anyway I still reckon the 1 series is the successor to the e30 and I'm not posting any further on this thread as I sense a degree of 'Newbie bashing'.

Not newbie bashing - just smartarse bashing. There's a world of difference you know. My 320d didn't blow it's turbo so I can't compare.

Cyril wrote:
I'm not posting any further on this thread as I sense a degree of 'Newbie bashing'.

Keep posting, mate - it's only Andrew.
Nothing personal against you, I'm sure. He does this to everyone.
We tolerate him because underneath it all, he really does know his stuff!

But everyone says I'm a c**t.

I diasgree - I'm not. A c**t is useful!!

My avatar on another forum is 'unhelpful smartarse'

Sorry Cyril, 'tis the season of goodwill and all that.

They arent actually bringing out an M1 as such, but they are bringing out the 135Ti which has got the 3 litre twin turbo 306 bhp motor in it! Monster!