2008 BMW 1 Series Consumer Discussions

BMW 1-Series Lease Questions

• Residual & Money Factor on 2008 128i convertible

  Written by: paraiso on Sep 20, 2011 1:05:51 PM

  Hi Carman, Although I prefer to buy, I'm curious about how much lower the monthly outlay might be if I lease. I live in Los Angeles and interested in a 08 128i convertible. Does BMW Financial do leases on 08's and if so what is the average money factor and residual %? Also is a longer term than 36 month being offered? Thanks much.

Advice for a first time college grad

• Re: Advice for a first time college grad [qbrozen]

  Written by: plekto on Jan 11, 2011 2:20:52 PM

  Mustangs are decently reliable and a good choice, since they are only $20-$25K for a base model. The 2011 model has a fantastic V6 engine as well, but the fact that they made such a change means that the older generation is suddenly very inexpensive.(old V6 was junk, V8 was/is a tank) Good choices, used - get a loan and pay it off in 1-2 years if possible: 2008-9 Mustang V8. ... Read More

BMW 1-Series

• Re: A Question of the 128i [runningdoc]

  Written by: fdfrtht09 on Oct 27, 2009 10:19:23 PM

  I live in NJ...bought 128i convertible (loaded)...had a few minor problems dealer fixed no problem...but I have to tell you....I LOVE IT....bought car day after thanksgiving 2008 and have had it approx 1 year to date...simply awesome.... peppy, rides great, turns on a dime, hugs the road like a bmw, gas mileage 21-25 consistantly, but most of all.. love it with the top down and the comments people always make. Standard ... Read More

BMW 1-Series Prices Paid and Buying Experience

• Re: 2008 135i [onedrunkenpoet]

  Written by: jetzzs on Mar 10, 2009 8:14:54 AM

  Wow, that sounds like a great deal! That is more than 16% off of MSRP! Our quote for a 2009 128i with sports package, heated seats, and manual transmission was 5% below MSRP (including everything but ttl). Price is $29, 948 and in addition with BMW financing (3.9% for 60 months) BMW will make the first two payments. Trade in is slightly less than kbb (I am assuming this is pretty ... Read More

• 2008 135i

  Written by: onedrunkenpoet on Feb 28, 2009 2:03:06 PM

  FYI, for those looking I almost picked up a 2008 Sliver 135i coupe today near Chicago. The MSRP was $39,400 and the dealer discounted it to $33,000, which is way under invoice. Crazy end of the month deal. It was not what I was looking for, so I'm going to wait to BMW FS improves their lease incentives on the coupe - hopefully. The interest rate, the MF was 0.0026 = ... Read More

BMW 1-Series Lease Questions

• Re: Paid on a 135 2008 lease [fivewheeler]

  Written by: andy_martini on Feb 12, 2009 9:29:27 PM

  I didn't lease the i128 but I did get the car through the BMW Select program using BMW FS. The banks for BMW and Volvo made leasing really unattractive. Low residuals and lots of up front fees drove the price up and dealers can only take so much out. The BMW Select program gives a payment like a lease, but at the end you have to either pay the balloon (residual) ... Read More

• Carman (or someone) help with final lease negotiations.

  Written by: pilotnewbie on Jan 27, 2009 7:20:08 AM

  I am currently in the throws of negotiating a lease with local BMW dealer. Its a 2008 135i convertible. Pretty much loaded. Dealer says lease rates are much better on the 2008's. They have located the car I wanted (options, colors, etc.) at another dealership. What they are offering: MSRP $50,950 - I confirmed this on Edmunds.com Negotiated Price $47,800 Cost to ship to my local dealer is included in neg. ... Read More

• Re: Paid on a 135 2008 lease [PaulBD]

  Written by: Car_man on Jan 14, 2009 3:41:16 AM

  You're very welcome, PaulBD. Generally speaking, vehicles' MSRPs and dealer invoice prices go up as time passes, not down. I heard that BMW raised its prices slightly on a number of models on January 1st, but I don't know off of the top of my head if the 1-Series was one of them. Having said this, vehicles' actual selling prices usually trend downward as the model year progresses. Car_man Host Prices ... Read More

• Re: Paid on a 135 2008 lease [PaulBD]

  Written by: Car_man on Jan 6, 2009 2:43:56 AM

  No problem, PaulBD. According to my calculations, if you were to lease a 2009 BMW 135i Coupe that has an MSRP of $42,875 and a selling price of $39,945 ($500 over invoice...it may be a tad optimistic, but why not aim high) through BMW Financial Services right now for 24 months with 10,000 miles per year, your zero down, pre-tax monthly payment would be around $644. Car_man Host Prices Paid: Buying ... Read More

• Re: Paid on a 135 2008 lease [PaulBD]

  Written by: Car_man on Jan 5, 2009 3:48:29 AM

  Welcome PaulBD. I would be happy to use BMW's actual lease program to work up a sample payment on the exact car that you are interested in for you. However, in order to do so I need you to provide me with its MSRP and approximate selling price first. You can look up the MSRP and invoice price (which would suffice) over in the New Vehicle Pricing section of Edmunds.com. Let ... Read More

Article Comments - 2009 Nissan 370Z vs. 2008 BMW 135i

• Article Comments - 2009 Nissan 370Z vs. 2008 BMW 135i

  Written by: KarenS on Dec 15, 2008 12:04:50 PM

  What comes after Z?, we wondered when Nissan let the stage go black in 1996 and officially bid farewell to the Z-car at an event at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Sales of the twin-turbo 300ZX had been declining as fast as applications for library cards, so Nissan simply stopped selling the car in the U.S. It made us wonder where the Z fit in Nissan's future. Comparison Test: ... Read More

BMW 1-Series

• Re: Since... [mrrat]

  Written by: hpowders on Oct 13, 2008 1:42:09 PM

  There are plenty of folks driving around in their cheap-leased BMWs who could not afford to buy them. Driving a typically-leased 2008 328i, pretty well-loaded with premium package and AT for only $450-$500 a month? Too many "pretenders" out there. Now, for the first time in many years the BMW buyers will outnumber the leasees, giving much needed status back to the brand. Those who can afford one, will be driving ... Read More

• Re: Since... [bodble2]

  Written by: skobola on Oct 12, 2008 11:01:58 PM

  I doubt that there would be any problem in ordering whatever you want, and the car should be delivered in 6-8 weeks on the East Coast. This is a standard procedure, and there should be a number of dealers willing to order it for you. For example, I have ordered my 3 with BMW assist and metallic paint, which is a pretty plain car, on 3/15/2008, and it was delivered to ... Read More

• Re: Since... [bodble2]

  Written by: hpowders on Oct 12, 2008 8:59:18 PM

  I know CR is no car enthusiast's bible, but they recently tested a bare-bones 135i Coupe and assigned it the highest score ever for a sporty vehicle. In the article, some testers complained about the lack of wood and lumbar support, but it was explained that the car was purposely ordered "sparse" to keep the price down. I have done an extensive search of Florida BMW dealer's new inventory and unfortunately ... Read More

• Re: Since... [cdnpinhead]

  Written by: hpowders on Oct 12, 2008 8:53:10 PM

  Yes. The run-flat situation turns me off too... as does the user unfriendly turn signals, the new 2-step starting system and the audio controls. BMWNA is really hurting.... no doubt about it.... I have never seen an entire BMW line for sale at 0.9%. With so many 2008's piling up, the outlook for the 2009's looks bleak at best. BMW will have to seriously cut production to the USA.

• Re: Since... [cdnpinhead]

  Written by: hpowders on Oct 12, 2008 5:09:47 PM

  We knew those ridiculously cheap leases couldn't last. As a result, fewer "pretenders" will be driving BMW's, restoring some well-needed status to the brand. If BMW thinks the majority of leasees will all of a sudden be converted into buyers, I believe they are quite mistaken. They can offer 0.0% loans, but most folks won't bite because they will be justifiably concerned about expensive out of warranty repairs 4 years down ... Read More

• Re: Since... [fedlawman]

  Written by: hpowders on Oct 12, 2008 7:10:56 AM

  The trick to buying a new BMW is to order one with as few electronic gimmicks as possible-no premium package, no steptronic transmission, no i-Drive, ordering the reliable inline six, etc; BMW finds itself in a bind. They were the ideal leasing company as few of us would take a chance on long-term ownership. Now with the focus on buying, they will have fewer future customers and their bottom line will ... Read More

• Re: Since... [bodble2]

  Written by: hpowders on Oct 11, 2008 5:00:31 PM

  The problem with that is: BMW leases are unattractive at this time. BMW wants you to buy their vehicles, offering 0.9% financing on most, if not all 2008 models through October 31st. A 2008 335i coupe can be bought and financed at 0.9%. The same vehicle when leased will have a finance charge of 5.76% with a horrible residual to add insult to injury. The message is clear: BMW does not ... Read More

Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i vs. 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman

• Re: Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i vs. 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman [KarenS [ltq]

  Written by: roadburner on Aug 21, 2008 5:22:59 PM

  (soon, any car that isn't capable of around 30mpg will be a negative image and embarrassing to be seen in - what!!??! Pay that much $$ to be embarrassed in a Bimmer?) Both of my current track rats(a 1995 3 Series and a 2007 Mazdaspeed 3) get reasonably good gas mileage, but I would never select a car based on whether it offends the sensibilities of the tree-hugging eco-weenies. As a ... Read More

• Re: Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i vs. 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman [KarenS

  Written by: ltq on Aug 21, 2008 9:22:37 AM

  Generally well-done article. But once again, it's obvious that it's subjective on which car is "better", because there are so many factors that are weighted differently for each person. To me, great fun and so much power @ 28mpg for the Mini canNOT be matched by anything else on the market, and BMW1 doesn't come close. Rear seat room for adults is also a big factor for me, BMW1 loses again. ... Read More

• Re: Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i vs. 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman [KarenS]

  Written by: bpf on Aug 12, 2008 7:38:45 PM

  Very interesting comparison. Although I am not a professional auto journalist with access to handy dandy test measuring tools for that objective data, I can "one up" this article and speak to a Mini Clubman S I rented for a week in Florida compared to the 2007 Audi S4 I own. Compared to the Clubman S I drove that week, sure, the Audi is undeniably the faster better handling machine dynamically. ... Read More

• Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i vs. 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman

  Written by: KarenS on Aug 12, 2008 11:46:36 AM

  How is it possible, you say, that these two cars — the 2008 BMW 128i and the 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman — find themselves facing off in a comparison test? Read more and post your comments here! Comparison Test: 2008 BMW 128i vs. 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman

Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i Coupe Full Test

• Article Comments - 2008 BMW 128i Coupe Full Test

  Written by: KarenS on Aug 8, 2008 5:10:02 AM

  It's a perfect summer's day, and we're putting the 2008 BMW 128i Coupe through its paces in the hills above Montecito, just south of Santa Barbara. The sun is high in the sky and there's a light on-shore breeze as we blast down a narrow road lined with olive trees and dotted with magnificent Tuscan-style homes. Approaching a 90-degree left-hander, we come down hard on the brakes and then punch the ... Read More

BMW 1-Series

• Re: Quiet forum; few 1 series on road. [pod]

  Written by: blueguydotcom on Jul 29, 2008 6:30:08 AM

  Through June BMW has sold 6000+ 1 series cars. They aimed to sell 10k 1 series car in 2008. Everybody believes they will hit that easily. 6 more months of 2008 and no hint that things are slowing for the 1.

• A Fine Comparo!

  Written by: hpowders on Jun 24, 2008 11:59:58 AM

  The Truth About Cars, Mike Solowiow, April 21, 2008: "After testing BMW 135i and 335i Coupes back-to-back, I can reveal that there are only two good reasons to purchase the smaller, cheaper car. Either you need a track day machine or you're an idiot." "The poorly-packaged BMW 135i proved too difficult (read: unrewarding) to drive in daily situations. If the 335i didn't exist, you could make a pretty good case for ... Read More

• No 1 Series In Sight!

  Written by: hpowders on Jun 17, 2008 7:48:01 AM

  I was at one of my favorite places to view upscale vehicles yesterday-the Tampa airport indoor short-term parking garage. I drove through many aisles-lot's of BMW's-3's, a couple of M3's and 5's, an Infiniti M 45; various Lexus' and MB's. No BMW 1's yet. Haven't seen any on the road yet either. Scarce. On the way to the airport, a 2008 Honda Accord EX V6 kept tailing me. I was going ... Read More

• Re: The 1-Series needs no defense [tagman]

  Written by: hpowders on Jun 16, 2008 8:15:27 PM

  Sorry for this digression good people, but I must answer TM's post. You are right. The new 5'er when it came out in 2004,was almost universally loathed-people did not know what to make of its bold, new, aggressive and sexy styling. Surely, a radical change from "same old" conservative BMW. Since the introduction, people have gradually come to their senses and come to terms with the new design and consequently sales/leases ... Read More

• Nah!!

  Written by: hpowders on Jun 15, 2008 11:18:05 AM

  The 3 Series remains unchallenged! It offers most of what you get performance-wise with the 1 but in a roomier, easier on the eyes package. It is still not too late to exchange that 135i for a beautiful, incomparable 335i coupe in red or black. Car and Driver gave the "lowly" 328i sedan an unprecedented "25" out of 25 possible points in "fun to drive" in a "Best Sports Sedan" comparo ... Read More

• Re: She's Right! [davidd3]

  Written by: hpowders on Jun 10, 2008 8:31:06 PM

  Well, the 2009's will be coming out sometime in the fall, so it is normal for the residuals to be dropping during June on the 2008's. It looks like BMW is not having any trouble moving out the 1 and 3 Series vehicles. Their big concern is what the heck to do with vehicles like my 2005 545i coming back to BMW off lease this summer that get only 20 mpg ... Read More

• 335 vs 135

  Written by: circlew on Apr 27, 2008 6:36:55 AM

  Here is a statement and review from Autospies regarding 335 v. 135: Which Is The Better Car? 2008 BMW 135i vs. 335i Review After testing BMW 135i and 335i coupes back-to-back, I can reveal that there are only two good reasons to purchase the smaller, cheaper car. Either you need a track day machine or you're an idiot. Otherwise, spend the extra bucks and buy the 335i coupe. The 335i coupe ... Read More

BMW 1-Series Lease Questions

• Re: BMW 1-Series Lease Questions [Car_man]

  Written by: drizzle10 on Mar 31, 2008 8:49:20 PM

  So I ended up leasing a 2008 328i Coupe. I love the car...the drive is amazing. I ended up paying $3750 total cash due at signing including taxes. Im paying $489 plus tax a month. The car has 17" wheels, xenon headlights, spoiler, and thats pretty much it. Was it a good deal?

BMW 1-Series

• Re: at least sat in one [hpowders]

  Written by: qbrozen on Mar 31, 2008 11:37:52 AM

  I am 6'2"- mostly legs. I practically got laughed off the Luxury Lounge thread by the active anti-BMW faction there when I posted that I test drove the 2008 328i sedan and the 2008 EX-L Accord sedan and discovered to my surprise that even though the Accord was supposed to offer more driver's seat leg room, I found the 328i MUCH roomier for my legs with quite a bit more seat ... Read More

• Re: at least sat in one [qbrozen]

  Written by: hpowders on Mar 30, 2008 1:31:25 PM

  Regarding your comment that BMW knows how to fit tall drivers: I am 6'2"- mostly legs. I practically got laughed off the Luxury Lounge thread by the active anti-BMW faction there when I posted that I test drove the 2008 328i sedan and the 2008 EX-L Accord sedan and discovered to my surprise that even though the Accord was supposed to offer more driver's seat leg room, I found the 328i ... Read More

• BMW 1 SERIES PREVIEW WORTH IT?!?

  Written by: criticfilm on Mar 21, 2008 9:16:41 PM

  Okay, this is part 1...let me start of by saying I am an ex-BMW owner, 325i, loved the car. Now I drive a 2008 Lexus IS250 AWD, but I am intrigued by the BMW 135, my dealer got a 128 in stock, so I went to look at the car. It is nicer looking in person, but doesn't have the sharp edges and the more muscular stance like the 3 series, ... Read More

Article Comments - 2008 BMW 125i Convertible First Drive

• Article Comments - 2008 BMW 125i Convertible First Drive

  Written by: KarenS on Jan 29, 2008 8:46:17 AM

  First Impressions: Drives like a BMW ought to, and after adding options, it costs like one, too. First Drive: 2008 BMW 125i Convertible

Article Comments - 2009 BMW 1-Series First Look and 135i First Drive

• Re: why not [murphy4]

  Written by: creakid1 on Jan 5, 2008 2:00:36 PM

  So people here will think you're driving a Saturn? :P http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/1series/5door/2007/introduction.html creakid1, "Article Comments - 2008 Saturn Astra First Drive" #8, 5 Nov 2007 11:16 pm (see post #8)

BMW 1-Series

• Re: Ordering 1 series [shipo]

  Written by: fedlawman on Dec 29, 2007 9:50:43 PM

  " I'm thinking that the M3's brakes are going to be significantly more impressive than anything on the 135i, six-pot calipers or no." Could be Paison's source was thinking of the latest (Feb 2008) Road&Track 135i article... "Of note are the brakes: massive 6-piston front calipers sit inside the 18-in wheels; even the rears have 2-piston calipers. This is unusual, as BMW has long used floating calipers; even the new M3 ... Read More

Article Comments - 2009 BMW 1-Series First Look and 135i First Drive

• Re: Excited about this car [wildbill1978]

  Written by: tiff_c on Oct 24, 2007 4:49:40 AM

  While not about the convertible the Coupe was just in an Edmunds article and they claim $30K for the 135i. I think they would sell a great many 135i's if they cost $30K minus options. BMW owners would bemoan losing their premium affordable by the wealthy prestige marque but. I'd certain buy the BMW if I could get one for that price. IF BMW prices the 1 series aggressively they will ... Read More

BMW 1-Series

• Lots of pictures

  Written by: fedlawman on Sep 30, 2007 10:15:23 AM

  http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/bmw-1-series-leaked-pics And this jacked from Wikipedia... "On 30 June 2007, BMW of North America officially announced the 1-Series Coupe as a 2008 model (code named E82) and that will be be the first 1 Series to go on sale in the USA. Two models are initially to be offered: the 128i and the 135i. The 128i will be powered by a 3.0 liter, 230 horsepower inline six cylinder engine. The 135i ... Read More

• Re: Is it really coming? [fedlawman]

  Written by: stevecebu on Jun 27, 2007 12:11:05 PM

  Since MINI is so hard to get in many areas it would be downright foolish of BMW to try and place the MINI which is a specialized car with very limited dealership as an entry level BMW in price. You can get a lot of car for $25k including the Subaru WRX and the 2008 Honda Accord with normal discounts and while these aren't real ELLPS's people buy a lot of ... Read More