Four-Bangers a go for the US?

Chris B. Sep 4th, 2008 Link

It’s about time. The cheaper 3 series is back.

illegalprelude Sep 4th, 2008 Link

A cheaper 4 Cylinder 1 series would do them wonders I believe. Imagine a 124i or whatever for around $25k. Not too bad I would say

SBGoBig Sep 4th, 2008 Link

A 4cyl 6speed 1 or 3 would be amazing. The smaller displacement and lack of horsepower are perfect for most people and most driving. I have a Honda Civic Si with a 4cyl 2.0l and it great. It was cheap and is a blast to drive. If I had a 335 I’d probably have to worry about slowing down all the time. 128 would be so much better with a 4cyl option. I’d be very tempted to trade up for RWD and Torque and all that. I would miss the $29 oil changes though.

illegalprelude Sep 5th, 2008 Link

Oil change might be missed but first, you get free oil changes for the first 4 years and on a Beemer, you dont need to oil change every 3k. Its every 15k.

On a side note, a 128 cannot be a 4 Cylinder, the last 2 numbers are the engine size and they dont make a I4 thats a 2.8litter so it would be a 122 or a 120 or something

cBraunDesign Sep 5th, 2008 Link

I think its interesting that they say, “The 3 series customer in America is not ready for a 4 cylinder diesel.” How do they know this for sure? Maybe there are a handful of people hopping on the VW train because BMW isn’t offering any efficient diesels. Bringing the 335d over is a silly move IMO. Bring us a small displacement diesel, and let the people who can afford a 335 just stick with their gasoline. For america, isn’t the point of a diesel the increased efficiency, and not necessarily the increased performance? Market it as a 3 series that gets 40+mpg and people won’t care how many horses it has.

Here’s another thing to chew on. My ‘94 325 had somewhere around 170hp new. I think it’s got plenty of power for daily driving (even after 186,000 miles). If the 2.0L 4 cylinders have 167hp but get even better mpg, they should be plenty to haul people to work and back, right?

Craig Sep 6th, 2008 Link

On a side note, a 128 cannot be a 4 Cylinder, the last 2 numbers are the engine size and they dont make a I4 thats a 2.8litter so it would be a 122 or a 120 or something

I’m pretty sure that both the 128 and the 135 have 3L motors. The major difference being the turbos instead of displacement.

Michael Sep 6th, 2008 Link

The numbers after the series indicator have little to do with displacement any longer. For example the E90 325,330,328,335 are all 3.0l engines the first three of these all use the same engine just with different software and intakes, the 335 obviously has turbos.

But with the way BMW works naming and does not kill residuals is in naming so the 4-cylinders would be 318,320,323 (so the numbers are smaller than the 6-cylinders).

Chris B. Sep 6th, 2008 Link

So you say there’s water in this speculation Michael?

Michael Sep 6th, 2008 Link

Chris B.- We have heard rumblings about 4 cylinder engines in the US 1er for some time. I have heard from several sources that the cars are being tested…. We all know they exist in the EU, but the BMWNA marketing machine is the one that makes the decisions…
Also worth noting is that the STOP/START tech has made its way into some 6 cylinder cars in the UK.
Efficient Dynamics is the key to BMWs immediate success in the future since they are ahead of the curve compared to other manufacturers in these areas.

As we get more info we will let you know but I would not be surprised to see some 4 cylinders in the Spring as 2010 models (for the 1).

Ricardinho Sep 11th, 2008 Link

Is it possible to purchase a 4 cylinder 1 series via the BMW USA euro delivery program?

Michael Sep 12th, 2008 Link

Richardoinho- No. All cars sold via the Euro Delivery Program are US spec cars, there is not a 4 cylinder available in the US (Yet).

For more information on Euro Delivery please view our popular series.

http://www.bimmerfile.com/section/european-delivery/