Opinions on the new BMW X1 .

jimmmy

Anyone test drove or seen the relatively new BMW X1 ? Its out a few months, and I saw one the other day. Hard to know if its ugly or not - maybe depending on the angle / part of it you are looking at. The front is ugly anyway I think, but the back is nice.

Jeremy Clarkson thinks its rubbish :
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/jeremy-clarkson-on-bmws-x1-it-isnt-just-bad-its-rubbish/

funny review ; Cries of "ugly" cropped up in the comments faster than they would have in a Susan Boyle Playmate layout.

Is it really that ugly ?

J77

Think it's nicer looking than the horrible 5 series GT. Don't really see the point in the sDrive variations though, makes the vehicle a bit pointless IMO.

Orando Broom

Is BMW adopting a policy of making horrible looking cars for a reason?

Who is the chief designer. He must be a sleeper for Audi.

I think they have the worst looking livery they've ever assembled.

.Longshanks.

I think its horrible looking. However at least one member around here has one (can't remember name) and he says he picked it because its bigger and cheaper than a three series estate. And has 4 wheel drive.
Has a face only a mother owner could love....

alexmcred

Hi Jimmmy I have the x1 since last year and like it very much, although would be the opposite to you I like the front styling a lot more than the back. Any questions please feel free to ask away.

Space wise they are around the same size as the 3 estate don't think it would be bigger but price is a lot lower.

Mine is the sdrive btw so rear wheel drive.

I've also found any BMW dealers I've had to deal with streets ahead of other dealers I've had to deal with in the past.

Anan1

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Oh and I wouldnt listen to anything that Clarkson says he is an idiot of the highest order.

+1, he's a buffoon.

bmw535d

most of the time if it's it's not British, he doesn't like it, and if he like it he trys to claim British engineers made it:rolleyes:

Leonard Hofstadter

It is not a good car. It's a 1 series, but slower, even uglier, with a poorly made interior and potential for very expensive problems (like the ABS and ESP module, a common fault which costs two-grand to fix in the 3 series, with which this car shares some of its components with).

It is yet another model in an ever expanding list of cars that are an embarrassment to BMW(anything with an X badge, for starters), who until recently were makers of the "Ultimate Driving Machine", but nowadays it's a competition for "how many $$$$e cars can we sell at outrageous prices with a BMW badge, and get away with it":(:rolleyes:?

.Longshanks.

captainspeed wrote: »

It is not a good car. It's a 1 series, but slower, even uglier, with a poorly made interior and potential for very expensive problems (like the ABS and ESP module, a common fault which costs two-grand to fix in the 3 series, with which this car shares some of its components with).

It is yet another model in an ever expanding list of cars that are an embarrassment to BMW(anything with an X badge, for starters), who until recently were makers of the "Ultimate Driving Machine", but nowadays it's a competition for "how many $$$$e cars can we sell at outrageous prices with a BMW badge, and get away with it":(:rolleyes:?

Is it not based on a 3 series platform?

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

I wouldnt listen to anything that Clarkson says he is an idiot of the highest order.

Anan1 wrote: »

+1, he's a buffoon.

Indeed, awful twat, makes the program unwatchable really.

Leonard Hofstadter

kev_Longshanks100 wrote: »

Is it not based on a 3 series platform?

Well the 1 series and the 3 series share the same "backbone" (platform to you and me).

But yes, the X1 is indeed based on the 1/3 series, in the same way that the X5 and X6 are based on the (E60) 5 series.

Still doesn't mean that the X5 and X6 are good cars though, does it;)?

thirtythirty

I think it's pretty delish tbh. Looks like an all-road version of the 1 series, rather than like it shrunk in the wash the way the X3 did compared to the X5.
Far nicer than any version of the 3 series (bar M) anyway which has gotta be one the most bland cars on the road at the moment.

The only thing i'd change would be the "nostril" grills to a one-piece.

Matt Simis

spottyelephant wrote: »

I think it's pretty delish tbh. Looks like an all-road version of the 1 series, rather than like it shrunk in the wash the way the X3 did compared to the X5.
Far nicer than any version of the 3 series (bar M) anyway which has gotta be one the most bland cars on the road at the moment.

Im not much of a 3 series fan myself, but good god, come on!? The fact you mention it looking like an Allroad 1 Series is perhaps telling, the 1 Series Hatchback was always the ugly duckling.
The M3 looks 95% the same as any 3 series MSport, so I dunno why you separate it, but these are all vanilla non-M 3 Series models:



While this baby hippo of a thing is the X1. Check out the incorrect looking wheel offset, dumbo mirrors, "fat face", pointlessly large grille, lack of any contour on the side panels.. its a bad bad design:

The rear looking better is only cos by comparison the front is appalling, its no great shakes in isolation. Its bland and featureless and further shows up the crappy lack of stance the wheels have (lost in the arches):


Had Ssangyong came out with this it would have been considered par for the course. But this is a BMW...
A whole load of them arent even 4x4, further underlining the confusing mess it is and how it very much fails on even being an "allroad 1Series".

Anan1

Matt Simis wrote: »

Im not much of a 3 series fan myself, but good god, come on!? The fact you mention it looking like an Allroad 1 Series is perhaps telling, the 1 Series Hatchback was always the ugly duckling.

I think the 1 series hatchback is a far more interesting design than the 3 series myself. I like the E90, but the E92 is IMO a very bland & conservative design with the arse of an '80s Volvo. I'm not going to defend the looks of the X1, though.

Matt Simis

Anan1 wrote: »

I think the 1 series hatchback is a far more interesting design than the 3 series myself. I like the E90, but the E92 is IMO a very bland & conservative design with the arse of an '80s Volvo. I'm not going to defend the looks of the X1, though.

Your opinion is wrong then too.
Seriously, yeah, its interesting, but interesting does not equal good looking. Would you like to be described as a bloke with an "interesting" (note the " ") face or a good looking face? :pac:

As I said, Im not a 3series fan myself either.

Anan1

Matt Simis wrote: »

Your opinion is wrong then too.
Seriously, yeah, its interesting, but interesting does not equal good looking. Would you like to be described as a bloke with an "interesting" (note the " ") face or a good looking face? :pac:

As I said, Im not a 3series fan myself either.

This is a car, not a face.;) I do see your point, but I actually do think the 1 series hatch is a handsome car. Mind, the Mk1 Multipla's not handsome and I like that! I think the 3 series works well as a saloon, it's just the coupé that looks like someones pulling on its ponytail. Cars for boring people.

alexmcred

The x1 is proving to be a run away success for BMW so much so that they have had to delay the introduction of it to the US market as they barely have capacity to meet European demand. Waiting times are already quite long in Europe.

johnos1984

Anan1 wrote: »

This is a car, not a face.;) I do see your point, but I actually do think the 1 series hatch is a handsome car. Mind, the Mk1 Multipla's not handsome and I like that! I think the 3 series works well as a saloon, it's just the coupé that looks like someones pulling on its ponytail. Cars for boring people.

Funnily enough i wouldn't be adverse to a 1-series.

The looks don't bother me and I really like the idea of a small RWD hatchback.

Pity they are all boggo spec with small capacity engines.

coolbeans

alexmcred wrote: »

The x1 is proving to be a run away success for BMW so much so that they have had to delay the introduction of it to the US market as they barely have capacity to meet European demand. Waiting times are already quite long in Europe.

Westlife, X-Factor, MSG, Daniel O'Donnell, Big Tom etc are all wildly popular but that doesn't mean they're any good.
I think the X1 is ugly with a capital "UG" but and pretty pointless especially so in two wheel drive. For me it's only redeeming feature would be the four wheel drive capability but that's just me.

Seth Brundle

johnos1984 wrote: »

Funnily enough i wouldn't be adverse to a 1-series.

The looks don't bother me and I really like the idea of a small RWD hatchback.

Pity they are all boggo spec with small capacity engines.

The 3L twin turbo 135i is not big enough then?

johnos1984

kbannon wrote: »

The 3L twin turbo 135i is not big enough then?

How many are floating about in Ireland though?

All I ever see is 116i or 118d

Seth Brundle

I never said that there were many, I merely replied to your comment about them all having small engines. But you are correct in that there are very few on the roads here. Anyone with 50k+ to spend on a motor isn't (usually) going to spend it on a 1 series tbh.

johnos1984

kbannon wrote: »

I never said that there were many, I merely replied to your comment about them all having small engines. But you are correct in that there are very few on the roads here. Anyone with 50k+ to spend on a motor isn't (usually) going to spend it on a 1 series tbh.

Aye I agree with what your saying but even a few 120i's would be nice but they are in short supply the last time I looked

Seth Brundle

Import (hopefully this link works!)

johnos1984

kbannon wrote: »

Import (hopefully this link works!)

Sadly for me I cover too many miles and therefore need a mile muncher/bland box diesel

Also soft tops not for me.

Matt Simis

kbannon wrote: »

Import (hopefully this link works!)

1 Series Coupes and Verts look a lot nicer than the Hatches though, which is what the X1 kinda looks like.

DaveD

Wife got an X1 last year, 18d S-Drive. Have to say its a really nice car to drive, engine is very good. Plenty of low down torque. I was pushing for a 3 Series Touring but when both were spec'd up there was a huge difference in price. X1 is fantastic value.

Matt Simis

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Very nice choice of colour and alloys.

Colour is nice yes, but wheels and tyre still look totally lost though! Needs either spacers or wider wheels and perhaps (counter-intuitive I know) a smaller alloy to allow greater sidewall height (combined with a wider track).

It just looks all wrong with those wheels, like they were stolen from a well spec'ed Polo or something.

PS: The design of them is nice though, dont get me wrong, its the size

Lex Luthor

DaveD wrote: »

X1 is fantastic value.

compared to what? other BMW's maybe but you put it up next to the Yeti and ix35 and its way over priced. And they have more space aswell than the tiny X1

I just couldn't justify the money on one. I like the look of them but not for the money they are looking for them

DaveD

Lex Luthor wrote: »

compared to what?

As i said in my post, compared to the 3 series Touring spec'd the same.

Lex Luthor

DaveD wrote: »

As i said in my post, compared to the 3 series Touring spec'd the same.

ok, but if its a BMW you're after then the 3 series touring would be a better option to the X1, same as the 5 series touring is better option than the X3

if its a soft roader you're after then the X1 is way overpriced compared to the alternatives

J77

DaveD wrote: »

X1 is fantastic value.

It's selling at the price a 3 series should be selling for.