How many would like to see a 4cyl. 1er coupe available in the U.S.?

[hector]

wouldn't a 2.0ltr. 4 cyl. turbo with comparable output to the detuned 3.0ltr in the x28 models have been a more efficient way to achieve that level of performance? i wouldn't necessarily be petitioning for a 4cyl. gas engine if the base model got the 260hp 3.0ltr. mill but seems to me that a detuned larger engine that retains all the extra weight is nonsensical.

[Maximus Decimus]

Although I would be totally in favor of it, from a business perspective I'm not sure I would see the financial benefit of it. I don't think it would incrementally bring significantly more buyers to the 1 series, but would certainly steal sales from what would be likely the higher margin 128i.

At the end of the day, it comes down to dollars and cents. BMW doens't make decisions to please enthusiasts, they make decisions to please shareholders. the same as any other business.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by spudwest

I won't buy one, but why not if others will...

+1

[bimmernotbeamer]

As said above, it will cost BMW the same amount to make a 4 cylinder variant as it would a 6, with the difference being they would have charge less for the 4 banger (= less profit for them). And the 4 cylinder may steal some sales away fro the 128 (not good). Based on those two things, I doubt we'd see them offer the 4 cylinder model here. It's just not worth their time.

[kindtree]

Originally Posted by carnut

A 4 Cyl diesel would be O.K., but let's not go below a 128i 6 cyl gas powered engine.


Let's keep this a premium perfromance compact - not a shitbox.

I don't agree. How does offering a four-cylinder make it a "shitbox"? It might be the perfect time to get Americans to see the brighter side of a diesel....

And I'll tell you what killed the 318ti: It was ugly as hell. The 318i did sell.

[Nixon]

I voted for the 4-cyl because I would like to chip a 123d and see how much power I can get while still getting ~45 mpg most of the time. I've found that I only hotrod my ARP chipped 4-cyl A4 about 20% of the time. The rest of the time it is nice to cruise around getting good gas mileage.

I'd like to take that 204 HP / 300 ft-lb 123d engine and chip it to about 250 HP / 375 ft-lb of torque, while still getting 45 mpg while running B100 biodiesel.

That gets me about 90% of the performance of a stock 135i at a 15-20% price discount, and 90% less environmental guilt. (if you currently feel zero environmental guilt driving around in a car, the math still works because 90% less of zero is still zero.....)

It is definitely possible to get huge gains out of tuning BMW diesel engines. BMW itself puts out a 245/450 NM version of their 177 hp/350 NM 120d engine. European aftermarket chip tuners claim 25+% power increases while still getting 5-10% better fuel economy on some euro-diesels.

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2006/01...er-racing.html

And if VW Jetta TDI used prices are any indication of how BMW diesels would hold their value, the 123d could end up being a very cheap car to own. Buy it at a 7% discount through ED, drive it for up to 4 years/ 50k miles without paying a single penny in repairs or maintainence. Then sell at a very high resell value based upon depreciating it off the higher US dealer MSRP price with Jetta TDI-style low depreciation. The total fuel savings between the 135i and the 123d may end up being very close to the total depreciation over 3-4 years.

It won't be as sexy as a 135i, but neither am I.

[C230AMG]

Would love to see a 4 cyl turbo 1 series, less weight than a 6 cyl with good power and better fuel economy than a 6 cyl model. I believe BMW already has these engines in their R&D. I still think the 1 series should have 4 cyl engines as base models and the 6 cyl engines as preminum models so it won't take sales away from the 3 series.

[DimaGt]

Originally Posted by HotShoe32

Turbodiesel would be cool.... otherwise meh. Inline six + rear drive + small coupe = tight pants!

I 100% agree with you... 123d should be for sale in America, otherwise sraight six, RWD, manual box and endless corners ....

[imported_Sweeper]

I would buy the turbo diesel!!! hell ya!

[Chris Ruck]

I say sure why not... But i'm curious to know if BMW would be concerned about a 4 cyl. 1'er would/could possibly take sales away from the Mini Cooper /S.

I believe that a 4 cyl. 1'er would sell as well as a 3/5 door hatch would also do well here in america.

-Chris:wink:

[nickmpower]

i thin its too late for the 4 cylinders in bmws which is a shame because some of bmws best cars have had 4s. look at the 2002, e30 m3, e30 318is, and even the 318ti. sure they dont go well at the strip, but their small lightweight engines in a lightweight chassis (this what we dont have anymore) make for a real drivers car.

[bradford]

Meh.

I'd prefer not to have a 4-banger variant dragging down the resale value of my 135i. Starting prices would be in the low to mid $20s, which means fvckstick rednecks and riceboys will be turning them into ghettosleds with homemade mods within a year or two.

No thanks.

[128er]

That goes against BMW!! A 4 cyl. would hurt its reputation!

[nickmpower]

Originally Posted by 128er

That goes against BMW!! A 4 cyl. would hurt its reputation!

please tell me that was sarcastic

[2fast]

I recall a small 4 banger bimmer that didn't do too well in the u.s. ****cough ***e36 318ti ***Cough***

[hector]

Originally Posted by 128er

That goes against BMW!! A 4 cyl. would hurt its reputation!

you're right, bmw would never produce a car with a 4cyl. engine.
i don't understand why to this day people evoke the example of the poor sales of the 318ti hatchback as a reason that bmw should never release another 4cyl. model in the U.S.:iono:. today's 4cyl. direct injection turbos, both petrol and diesel, kick ass.

[123d]

Originally Posted by Eventually

I recall a small 4 banger bimmer that didn't do too well in the u.s. ****cough ***e36 318ti ***Cough***

And that defines everything!! I seem to recal something called the E30 M3... what engine did it use?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_S14 I'm sure no one wants one of those!!

[LeifW]

I would buy a 4 cyl. version in a second. I'm bummed that BMW didn't bring the 320si to America. I had a 318ti Club Sport. On back roads, it was a blast to drive. Also, after 10 years, I had zero problems. I only sold it after the birth of my daughter.

For those who say a 4 cyl. goes against BMWs reputation, I seem to recall a little BMW called the M3 (E30) that did nothing but good for BMWs reputation.

Leif W.

[fishbulb]

only if it is a turbo....

[Donkeyshins]

Caveat - I am currently driving an E36 318i (not just because I wanted a 4-door, but because the M42 is a sweet little engine and the 318i/iS handles better than any other US-version E36 out there).

I'd love to see a 120si or a 120d or 123d (the souped-up M47 2.0L TDI) come to the states. The latter two are obvious for the ungodly torque associated with diesels as well as the superior mileage (somewhere in the region of 50MPG on the highway), but there's just something about that 2.0L gasoline mill that is dead sexy.

On the other hand, I'm confident enough in my masculinity to drive a 4-cylinder BMW. :wink:

-D

[brfbmw128i]

Originally Posted by spudwest

I won't buy one, but why not if others will...

i agree, and like onehots2k said, look at the 318:eyebulge: what the hell happened there?

[woj]

123D would be nice....but then again if most european manufacturers offered a diesel, I would be equally satisfied.