The Great BMW 1 Series Debate: U.S. Bound in 2009?

There have been wide reports of the BMW 1 Series coming to the U.S. in the next few years. Reports from AutoWeek cite an anonymous source, while Automobile Magazine simply states that it’s coming in 2009. No one from BMW has gone on the record nor told us directly that the 1 Series will come to the U.S.

Last week, BMW did announce the new 2008 1 Series, including two- and four-door hatchback body styles for sale in Europe. The new 1 Series also comes with new engines, including two four-cylinder  versions and an inline six-cylinder V-6.

The 1 Series slates under the popular 3 Series in Europe and would compete against the Audi A3 here in the States. There’s only one problem: The Audi A3 hasn’t been a bang-up success for Audi on this side of the pond, and that’s one reason BMW hasn’t brought the 1 Series to our shores before.

Supposedly, the hatchbacks you see here won’t see U.S. soil either; BMW would send a sedan and convertible instead. We’d like to see a coupe and convertible ourselves, as that would at least differentiate it from the 3 Series. Prices would have to remain below $30,000 so as not to steal sales from the bigger sibling.

We’ll go on the record and say these rumors have flown around before and nothing has come of them, and we wouldn’t be surprised to be 1 Series-less forever. What do you think? Would you buy a 1 Series if the price were right?

Comments

[spacious lopez]

no thanks!! i could get a real sized car for 30 grand that isn't the size of a CIVIC! the 3 series is WAY too small in the inside as it is, and now they are bringing a mini sized one??

the real reason the A3 is sales stagnant is because Audi refuses to bring the 4cyl quattro variant, forcing one into the more expensive V6 model just to get quattro.

bmw could learn a lesson and bring a stripper 6cyl version - options free

[Ido]

Hell Yes! A BMW is fun to drive and fast with one of the v-6s. And if it were less then 30 k it wouls be an easy choice!

[MikeW]

BMW do not make V6s, they make inline 6s.

The E90 3 series is bigger than the last generation (the E46)

[Ken]

I would buy it and I think it would do well because it has rear wheel drive which is rare for a car as small as the 1-series.

[J]

Well, I believe that the MX-5, Solstice, and Sky are smaller than the 1 series, and have RWD, right?

[Steve Shearer]

I'd be embarrassed if I was an auto journalist and wrote an article claiming BMW was going to offer a V6. Somebody needs to learn the difference between a V6 and an inline 6.

[Graham]

Spacious:
You could buy a two Hyundais for the price (and change), but anyone in the market for a $30K small car isn't going to buy two Hyundais instead, any more than they'd buy a Civic instead. If you want a Civic, go buy a Civic!

Dave:
As MikeW said, not a V6!

The BMW 1 series is really just a 2+2 no matter how many doors its got. Thanks to it being a) small and b) RWD, there's really not a whole lot of room in the back for bodies or luggage.

As such, I can't help wondering why BMW (or you) thinks a convertible version is a good idea for the US market. They're highly unlikely to sell many with a 4 cylinder engine here, so why not just buy a Z4 instead of a 1 series convertible with a V6? If you want a cheaper BMW convertible, buy a Mini: probably got more room in it anyway.

If the 1 series is going to succeed here, I think it's going to have to be sufficiently similar to other BMWs to drive (no problem there) and sufficiently different (not just smaller).

[Graham]

Duh, now I've said V6 too!

[Dave T.]

thanks for the pickup. I did that before with a bmw post a few months back. Again its that darn repetition of V-6 a few hundred times a day. Apologies all around I'm guessing it ruined everyone's day.

[john]

I'd buy one, only if I could get the hatchback. BMW shouldn't bother if the sedan is all they have to offer.

[Spankey]

If BMW shot for $25,000 they might have something here. This, to me, looks like a "mini muscle" car like the Mazdaspeed 3 or a GTI. I can't imagine a lot of people would pay $5000 more just for the name BMW. If the performance was close, I'd spend $25,000 for a stripped 1 series.

[Maverick]

Don't bother if it's not the 4 door hatch. 130 would be sweeeeet.

[Larry]

In a heartbeat if it has the 335 twin turbo engine.

[richard robles]

i would wellcome a smaller BMW in any body style. with the price of fuel always going up a quility car with good fuel consumption would be a dream come true. the european market is decades ahead of us.

[Mike]

Yes, I'd buy the 4door hatch in a second, with the 118d diesel. I'd love to get 50-60mpg and have rear wheel drive and traction control, and bmw's frame and build quality. This would be an instant classic.

[vyrt1go]

I drove one of these for 8 days in Germany last year and have been waiting for them to bring it to the states ever since. the car was a 120d, 4 cyl turbodeisel. it was a blast to drive, quick, fuel efficient, AND had cloth and nav! relatively stripped, but the nav was key!. needless to say, NOTHING quite drives like this car (for the size and money) on the exit ramps! it IS actually sufficiently roomy... i am 6'4" tall and had NO problems fitting in the car, nor did my fiancee and our luggage. the back seat (as with virtually ANY other car under 25k) was fine for children/pets and adults on a short trip... it has the same interior leg room as the last gen 3 series. I am EAGERLY awaiting the arrival of the 120d 4-door hatch... i fell in love with it at once and would LOVE to have it in my driveway.

[MLG]

The big complaint w the one series is that there is no rear leg room. This is because BMW is fanatical about keeping its weight distribution to 50/50, w 50% weight in the front and 50% of weight in the back. This moves the engine back, which leaves less room in the cabin. Other small cars can push the engine as far to the front as they want in make the cabin bigger, but they can't overcome physics. Putting weight in the front leads to understeer and less stability in handling. Would I buy the one series? Yes. I want a safe car that is fun to drive, and I rarely have passengers in the back. The one series has a much better bumper to bumper build quality than small cars including the Mini Cooper, so it makes sense that it costs more.

I think the BMW 1 Series 3 door is a great looking car. I converted to Diesel cars in 2006. I think the fuel economy is great for the new diesel vehicles. I spoke with one of my co-workers who was in Germany and drove a BMW 1 Series 120d and he said it was a great car and if BMW brought the 120d to the US he would have one in his garage. With the estimated fuel economy above 60mpg, I would give serious thought to having one in my driveway...

[Kent]

Why would anyone want a bigger sports car? We don't want bigger Boxter's or bigger Miata's (oops... MX-5).

The one series, like most all BMW's, is an everyday sports car. It isn't about interior space, or cupholders. It's about driving and driving quickly. It's just practical enough to be an daily driver.

Just wait for the 135i/135ti/M1 or whatever they decide to call it.

306 HP/300 ft-lbs in a car the size of a Civic and the handling of a, well, BMW.

I'll take mine in blue, please.

[Chris]

I just got back from my 1st trip to Europe. I rented a smaller hatchback w/ a 4 cylinder and 5 spd manual. The car was not fast, but it was fun to drive. I don't understand america's obsession with huge cars/trucks and massive amounts of horsepower that at $3-4/gallon of gas, most of can't afford to use very often anyhow. Smaller cars, especially hatchbacks and wagons, are practical and roomy enough for most day to day activities, and still offer a fun to drive experience. The real problem I see is that car companies haven't offered enough smaller, fun to drive (good handling) cars in the states so they can become popular. Most small cars in the states are simply the econo boxes w/ small tires & weak suspension and aren't what I'm talking about. In europe, at least in Italy and Switzerland where I was, it seemed hatchbacks and wagons (very similar to SUVs practicality that are so popular in the US) accounted for ~40-50% of the body styles. I really wish more companies would offer models like this in the US. The problem that I see for the BMW 1-series is that just like the Audi A3, it will likely be too pricey to generate enough sales so it will be deemed a failure in the US market. These cars need to be fairly well equiped at most for $25-27k so that the buyers looking at a Mazda 3 / MS3 might bite. At near $30k + for these, they quickly loose their appeal, especially because you could only a few years ago get into a stripper 3-series BMW for ~$27-28k. If they could price them at the $23-25 range, I believe they'd sell well. Maybe there's hope yet for more european type models in the states as the Saturn Astra (a rebadged Opel from Europe) will soon be sold here and is getting good initial reviews.

[CB]

I'd buy 120d five door. If they sold a 120dx or whatever the awd would be, I would at that dealer money in hand to pre-order.

[Dave T.]

Unfortunately I think the 2 door coupe will be a huge bust in the U.S. after seeing some spy photos. The convertible could do well if it's under $30K
I think the engines are insignificant for the vert sales.

[chip]

If they bring over the coupe with a high revving I6, that will be my next car, hands down. The coupe reminds me of a modern day 2002. I love it

[Stiven]

Very good site. You are doing a great job. Please keep it up!

[Opium]

Very good site. You are doing a great job. Please keep it up!

[Steven]

The coupe will be a smash hit if it's loaded and under 26K. I'd pay 28k for leather w/sunroof and Hyundai warranty/service. The Audi A3 gives people Volkswagon service/waranty nightmares. If this car is related? we have a problem. The 3 series is way to expensive and pretentious. VW's rep is completely shot here in the states. Marketing is critical. I'd rather shave my stock 2000 Celica GTS(remove the wing/put rims,and a custom Kaminari bumper),than buy a girlie College graduation gift. Convince me to leave Toyota...I've been eyeballing theIS250 for a while now.

[mj]

It all depends on price. The A3 is always heavily optioned and goes for 30k+. This is too high for this segment. Might as well get an A4. So, BMW needs to build these without the high priced useless options in the 25-27k range.

[Tramadol 180 Tablets]

Very good site. You are doing a great job. Please keep it up!

[mike batson]

I will definitately buy one in 2009 but want a HATCHBACK. I still drive a 1998 BMW 318 TI Hatchback and have 232,000 miles on the original engine AND clutch! The 1 series they are selling in Europe with the inline 6 is awesome. I may just spend the extra 5 grand and have one shipped here out of the UK. The combination of power, style, and nimbleness (not to mention the car is small enough that I can fit it in the garage behind my motorcycle and still close the door is another bonus).

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[J]

Didn't they make a prototype of this before called a MINI???? That did good but didn't change our buying habits. Didn't Mercedes do this with that pooor compressor that was a hatchback. I really don't see this car going anywhere because it will cost anywhere between 35-40 grand!

[lb]

Depending on the price, I would buy one. It looks good on the official BMWUS website. Probably it will be pushing 30k if loaded.

[carbuyer]

cool for a girl...but guys need a 5 series or up

[Mike]

Only if they are trying to make up for some "shortcoming" do "guys need a 5 series and up"

[richintheU.S.]

I would buy one for 27K or under, the 135 turbo would be great. Bmw website says 0-60 same as 3 series, but don't see it possible since 1 is lighter. They don't want to lose 3-series buyers i guesss.

[jim burke]

I agree the 3 series is too heavy at 3,600 lbs in 2008. I would definitely buy this car if it is under 3,200 lbs and under $27K.

[pete]

i would by the two door hatch in a HEARTBEAT.
please dont mess up like audi has by not importing the 2 door hatch.

i WANT the bmw1, but may have to stick with the subaru sti 3 door instead.

[davos]

I currently own a mini for its gas mileage and fun-to-drive factor but have my eye on the A3 because it's roomier and has more kick. Lately I've been drooling over the european BMW site: 4-dr hatch, 4-cyl 120hp, 3000lb, 40mpg average. I'll have mine in red please!

[ed]

The five door 120d looks awesome!

I have a feeling that the target market here in the U.S. would be the kind of people who want a hatchback even though that style hasn't traditionally been popular here in the States.

Any more word if they are planning on bringing the five door over in addition to the coupe and convertible?

[ed]

The five door 120d looks awesome!

I have a feeling that the target market here in the U.S. would be the kind of people who want a hatchback even though that style hasn't traditionally been popular here in the States.

Any more word if they are planning on bringing the five door over in addition to the coupe and convertible?

[sczech]

I am with just about everyone here. This car is sweet. But the price seems to be too high for a hatch. Most people like hatches for the utility and ease of use. But that typically is not the thing a high end buyer is looking for. I wish they would bring all the models over but I don't think it will happen.

[David]

I would buy this car if they offered the hatch for under $28,000. Carmakers seem to have forgotten those of us in the late 20's that have grown up wrenching on Acura Integras and Honda Civic, trying to turn them into BMWs. If BMW brings the hatchback, it will be perfect for what I want. I need a hatchback to carry stuff that doesn't fit well in a trunk (like my bike stuff), but I want the car to handle well, too! There are lots of cheap Japanese hatchbacks, but they are all FWD and none of them come close to feeling like a BMW (the Mazda3 comes close in nimbleness, but isn't quite as solid). There are AWD ones but they are all out of my price range and I don't want to deal with AWD complexity. BMW, give us a stripper hatch and I am there.

[Evan]

hello!!!

[AV]

BMW made a mistake by only having 6-cylinder engines in this car. it made the price just to high, espeiclaly when compated to the A3. BMW makes some pretty good 4-cylinder engines for the European market, and if they brought them over and lowered the price, this car would be a hit.

BTW, for 2009 the A3 can have the 2.0T and quattro.