The little BMW that could

[shah269]

The little BMW that could

I have been a very harsh critic of this car since the moment I bought it. Be it the brakes that produce enough dust to make you wonder what is broken to just little things that are off in terms of comfort design that was so accustomed to with my old VW Jetta.

But I've noticed that this little BMW gets so much attention it's not even funny. Yesterday I was visiting friends in NYC. Now for those who haven't been to NYC it's an odd car Mecca / designers wet dream. People in NYC are very design conscious. And in this mess of money and snobbery strolls in me in my humble little 135i.

And you know...it pulls up to the stop light and cute NYC girl...oh how I <3 you ladies...start checking it out and giving you that little smile.
You have it parked at the garage and when you go to pick her up everyone stops and looks at it when you get out and everyone tells how you they love the look but more so the sound she makes! And even the parking attendants say "Nice rice" when they give you back your keys.

So BMW, I may hate your GPS, I may want to kill the guy who thought it was a good idea to do DI on this car and don’t even get me started on the interior...but hey you did a good job! Thanks!

[audimotion]

I agree. The design is very unique and done well. It still amazes me how most magazines and reviews say the car is "ugly". Whatever..

I too get alot of attention/comments. Recently was at fuel station and in walks a lady (mid 30's). She was on a mission to find out who was driving the "nice white BMW out front". She asked 3 diffrent guys before I strolled out and took off smiling....now only if I was single this incident may have gotten a lot more entertaining. Haha

[KingOfJericho]

I found the car to be almost invisible to most people. If the car is white, it tends to stand out a bit more and may garner extra attention but I never found mine getting much attention. My Lotus got quite a bit but the 1er got very little. I also drove around with the stock exhaust on the car for a week before turning it in and think you're delusional if you think that is getting you any attention at all. It's beyond tame - and I never reversed the golf-tee mod.

[MA128]

I've had my car for over 3 years. It is always clean and very shiny. I clean the wheels at least 2x per week. And it gets NO attention whatsoever. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Bupkes.

[JTBMW1]

Hmm, I wonder if it has to do with the color. Our 3 week old new 128i gets a lot of looks and attention. It's Crimson Red and has the optional wide 335 18 inch wheels and tires. I have to say myself that it is a looker and looks fast but it is really not (Automatic). My 2010 Miata (True Red) got lots of looks and compliments in the 2 1/2 years I owned it- and it was only a hair faster than the 1. Yet my 2011 MazdaSpeed 3 (silver) does not stand out, gets no compliments- and I keep it as meticulous as any other car I had. And it's the fastest of the three of them. Silver or gray may blend in more- perhaps the reason.

[Bill B.]

I think it probably has more to do with the driver.

I get no attention when I drive it, but my wife gets all sorts of attention.

She also gets out of speeding tickets by smiling; I send her to do all of our negotiating...

[Maccam26]

Originally Posted by MA128

I've had my car for over 3 years. It is always clean and very shiny. I clean the wheels at least 2x per week. And it gets NO attention whatsoever. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Bupkes.

Window Tint does a lot for the look of these cars...

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by shah269

But I've noticed that this little BMW gets so much attention it's not even funny. Yesterday I was visiting friends in NYC. Now for those who haven't been to NYC it's an odd car Mecca / designers wet dream. People in NYC are very design conscious. And in this mess of money and snobbery strolls in me in my humble little 135i.

I've worked in Manhattan for almost a decade and your description makes me think you've only been there once or twice. The people you see on the streets, especially in midtown, don't even live in NY. NYC is an odd car Mecca? Designers wet dream? What? They're just trying to get to work and most don't know the first thing about cars. A few weeks ago I saw a Murcielago parked near Grand Central and nobody was looking at it... at all. I can't think of a place that cares any less about cars than the general public in NYC. At best, you probably had some hayseed or foreigner who had never seen the car but I could never envision the hoopla you mention here.

Originally Posted by shah269

And you know...it pulls up to the stop light and cute NYC girl...oh how I <3 you ladies...start checking it out and giving you that little smile.
You have it parked at the garage and when you go to pick her up everyone stops and looks at it when you get out and everyone tells how you they love the look but more so the sound she makes! And even the parking attendants say "Nice rice" when they give you back your keys.

Everyone stops and looks? Everyone tells you they love the look? This is your second or third thread like this and each time they get more and more outlandish. This stuff just doesn't happen... especially in NYC where the parking attendants are used to parking big AMGs, M cars, and Porsches.

Don't get me wrong, the 135i is a very cool car to those of us who love them but the general public doesn't give a shit about it and this 3-ring circus you describe sounds like bullshit... especially in Manhattan. LA loves cars, NYC doesn't give a shit about them.

[shah269]

Hey just saying what goes down.
I'm in NYC every other week end. And no it's not every parking garage....but enough for me to think...HU?
And have you look in those parking garages? If you ever get a chance and if they allow you...walk around some of the garages in mid town...I was amazed at the amazing cars that are just hiding out in the big city? I guess where there is money...and there is a good bit of money...there are some very nice cars to be had.
And I think NYC is a very design driven city compared to other cities in the US I’ve visited and lived in. But that has more to do with the educational level I think.
But yeah, I’m not going to argue, I think the car sounds good and when the guy is driving it up the tunnel the tourists to tend to look and see what is coming up and it does give me a big fat smile.
She’s not much but she is my car and I may be starting to like her more now than before.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by Bill B.

She also gets out of speeding tickets by smiling; I send her to do all of our negotiating...

That's straight out of a Seinfeld episode:

[MysticblueX3]

The other day, I was driving down the street and a guy on a Harley passed me, looked my car up and down and gave me a thumbs up. This was one of those badass looking dudes, all tatted up, mustache, leather vest. I didn't take him for a BMW type of guy. I thought that was funny. Mine is a graphite grey metallic with matte black wheels if that matters lol.

[Cemoto]

Originally Posted by shah269

She’s not much but she is my car and I may be starting to like her more now than before.

If you like it because people look at you, that's very pathetic.

This is an enthusiast's forum. We like our cars for how they perform, not because people look at us.

I travel to NYC frequently and would never bring my 1'er. I bring a non-descript beater. The roads suck, parking sucks, you can't open it up, and people plain just don't give a shit about your car. That is why most cars you see are dented/dinged/mis-aligned.

I'm totally with the King, too much worthless BS posted here Mr.

.

[Bill B.]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

That's straight out of a Seinfeld episode:

Yeah, I remember that episode - we laughed at how true it was.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Cemoto

If you like it because people look at you, that's very pathetic.

This is an enthusiast's forum. We like our cars for how they perform, not because people look at us.

I travel to NYC frequently and would never bring my 1'er. I bring a non-descript beater. The roads suck, parking sucks, you can't open it up, and people plain just don't give a shit about your car. That is why most cars you see are dented/dinged/mis-aligned.

I'm totally with the King, too much worthless BS posted here Mr.

.

Example: Your post.

Let the OP enjoy his car ownership the way he wants to.

[P1]

My wife looks hot in her little 135i. It's all I care about.

[Section147]

Originally Posted by Cemoto

This is an enthusiast's forum. We like our cars for how they perform, not because people look at us.
I'm totally with the King, too much worthless BS posted here Mr.

What an elitist jackass you sound like. There are all kinds of 1er "enthusiasts" here. You don't have to
be monkey-wrenching, modding or tracking 24/7 to appreciate your investment.

Originally Posted by RPM90

Let the OP enjoy his car ownership the way he wants to.

^^^THAT.

[Isdaako]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Let the OP enjoy his car ownership the way he wants to.

Agree.

[shah269]

Just wish it had heated seats so i could drive around in the nude....

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by shah269

Just wish it had heated seats so i could drive around in the nude....

Too much information...

[smellthebeans]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

That's straight out of a Seinfeld episode:

Classic! Jerry's E36....

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by smellthebeans

Classic! Jerry's E36....

E36?

He was driving a Saab 900S... Or am I missing the joke (probably)?