Used 2011 BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl 6M) Consumer Reviews
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Fun, nothing special, N51 SULEV is poorly built
Fabien, Oxford, CT, 09/27/2019
BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
The bad: Parts in this car can fail much earlier than expected. I picked up this car with 36k miles on it. After 17k miles of highway driving in 9 months, I've had 2 brake calipers fail, and 3 ignition coils go bad, causing cylinder misfires. These are not cheap things to fix, and I would understand these things failing prematurely if this was a high performance car like an M3. But this is a 128i, whose performance is neck-to-neck with a v6 camry/accord. Engine performance is nothing special compared to other 6 cylinder engines. V6 Accord/Camrys are as fast. I would normally put this in the neutral category, but you add this on top of how engine components fail early in this car, and it shows how poorly made the engine is. The manual transmission in this car is boring. The shifter feels like a rubbery toy and is not satisfying to move. The car comes with a clutch delay valve, which, as the term might imply, delays the activation of the clutch. This makes gear shifting slower and more awkward. The gearing is very tall, so even though this engine has more available torque compared to your Subaru Brz/Honda Civic Si 4 cylinders, it actually feels slower at lower RPMs which makes acceleration around town very unsatisfying. Neutral: This car was designed to be a comfy autobahn cruiser. So the suspension may be just right, or way too soft for you, even with the sport package. If you want go-karty fun, you will absolutely need an aftermarket suspension. This is the cheapest car BMW released to America at the time and it shows. There's no temperature gauge. There's no volume indication. The rear windows don't open like the 3 series coupe. There's no lighting in the backseat. I get rattles in the dashboard sometimes. Good: Noise insulation. Runs on 87. I have the base seats and while they're not "comfortable" per se, my body has never complained about sitting in them even on 4 hour drives. SULEV models have a 10yr/150k mile warranty on important emission and engine components. The engine makes a fulfilling sound with the right mix of bass and higher harmonics to fill up space and get you excited. The clutch delay valve is a cheap fix, you can get a valve that doesn't delay for like $20 and get it installed in 5 minutes. Conclusion: Funny story - I used to have a 2004 330ci, I sold it because I was in a phase of trying out different cars. I really missed the inline-6 manual-transmission platform, so I got the 128i because I did some research and found that it doesn't have the cooling system issues that generation of the 3 series has, so I was expecting less maintenance. Nope, looks like more of the basic components in the 128i are more cheaply built so you're gonna be paying at least as much for maintenance, while getting a cheapened version of the BMW experience. Get a 3 series instead.
Perfect daily commuter
bltwydriver, Great Falls, VA, 01/26/2011
BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Traded in a Volvo S60R chipped to about 340hp. I've been driving the 128i for six months and don't miss the power. This car is a pleasure to drive in all situations. I needed a car that would keep me sane during rush hour traffic, but could still maneuver when given the opportunity. I hesitated in considering the entry level coupe from BMW, but was pleasantly surprised to see many features handed down from the legendary big brothers. BMW sedans have always been the benchmark for driving enthusiasts and the Germans finally nailed the media/technology interface with i-Drive - awesome.
So connected
cvandenhaute, Aurora, IL, 02/02/2011
BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I was on the market for a RWD coupe with at least a small back seat. My benchmark has always been a Miata and the 128i is the most fun car I could find giving me the same real world pleasure as my former 2007 Miata (but with a back seat). I like the smoothness and the character of the 6 in line and the perfect balance of the car. Everything works together : steering is pefect, shifter is smooth and direct with a nice mechanical feel, clutch is light and precise. Despite its true sport car handling, the 128i is still very comfortable for my commute and longer journeys. Even the trunk is very usable. I cross shopped it with more powerful car but this was the most fun to drive.
Great so far
syd53, 10/13/2010
BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
After 12 years driving a Beetle, tried a Z4 on dealer lot. Loved it but could not see driving it in winter. Ordered a 128i which has same engine and manual transmission, just a few less hp, and all of the convenience features I liked on the Z4. Of course it was also a lot less money. It is just as much fun to drive, though not as pretty.
128i vs 135i
goldmund52, Magna, UT, 12/21/2010
BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
46 of 79 people found this review helpful
If youre torn between the 128i versus 135i, here is my opinion. Over the years Ive most enjoyed driving smaller cars with sporty suspensions and revvy engines with well-mated manual transmissions--- Volkswagen Rabbit, Acura Integra, Toyota MR2. Then in the early 90s I bought a Nissan 300ZX twin turbo. I learned two things from that car. One, a car that is overpowered for daily driving is not that much fun. Two, turbo lag always feels unnatural. The 128i is a fast car, more that powerful enough for fun street and mountain road driving, the gear ratios are fabulous and the throttle response is wonderful. Unless 0-60 is your first priority the 128i is the better sports car.
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