Over the next few weeks we will be not only participating in the official North American Clubman press launch but also the US launches of the BMW M3 and 1 Series as well. And while we certainly have our own agenda planned (including potentially some audio and/or video), we want to know what you hear and see knowing our ultimate goal is to make it seem like you were really there with us as we put these cars through their paces both on the road and track.
Starting with the Clubman of course, let’s hear what you’d like to know about the car. Obviously we’ll be giving our take on the car’s the performance, design and how it relates to the other MINIs available. We’ll have a chance to drive the Clubman on some amazing roads south of San Francisco and meet with the very people who designed and engineered the car.
Then there’s the 1 Series, one of the most anticipated enthusiast oriented cars launched in years. It represents a return a form by BMW many thought was lost and is probably more than tempting for some MINI owners. What do you want to see covered and what do you want to know about the car? Specifically what do you want to know that hasn’t been covered in the European press? Performance related, spec related (including those Tii questions some of you surely have), now’s the chance to add your question to the list that I’ll be bringing to this event. We’ll be driving the 128i, 128i convertible and of course the 135i on some of the best driving roads California has to offer.
Finally we have a date with the new BMW M3 both on the road and through the famous corkscrew at Laguna Seca. Does the new V8 stack up well against the much loved straight six from the E46? Has the M3 grown too fat and soft in this latest incarnation? We’ll be testing both coupe and sedan from a long time BMW enthusiasts point of view so all tough questions will be on the table.
Again let us know what you’d like to know and hear and we’ll do our best to add it to the list.
Clubman:
If you get to drive models with and without the sports suspension- do you think it’s needed to get handling similar to the R50?
With the extra ~185lbs on board, does the power in the Clubman S get put down better without the obvious need for the limited slip in the standard R56 S?
Back to back- is the Clubman S worth the premium over the standard Cooper Clubman for power alone?
128i:
Knowing the Clubman and 1er coupe are very different in style and drive wheels, is the 128i good enough to give up the open back of the Clubman?
M3:
I sat in the sedan at the Detroit show, and this isn’t so much a question as it is a comment- those front buckets are the best seats I have ever sat in. Do you agree?
When will the JCW upgrades be available. Also, since it was not available at introduction time for the Clubman, will they be available for dealer installation and at what cost.
Thank You
What I’d like to know about the BMW 1 series is simply when will BMW USA market the hatchbacks (if ever). I’m living in southern Africa right now and I see the 120i hatchbacks all over the place. BMW has a 3 door hatch and a 5 door hatch 1-series, sold only outside the US it seems. I love hatchbacks…I would be very interested in getting a 1-series hatchback on my move back to the US…too bad it’s not available. Does BMW USA understand that maybe Americans will buy hatchbacks (see Civic Si’s (older ones), Subarus, Mazda 3’s, MINI, VW’s, etc for evidence).
For the Clubman, no questions from me.
For the R56 though, when are the brake regen and engine shut off in neutral features coming to the US, and when is that chrono-gauge option that Stracco mentioned back in your interview with him coming to the US market?
I’ll be curious to hear the differences between the different 1-Series models. Sepcifically the top end 135 versus the model one step below. Add to that, why is the 135 I built online only a few grand less in cost than the 335 I built online? Why would someone spend maybe 7 grand less for the 135 when that 7 grand gets you into the 3 series. I realize that 7 grand is a lot of money, but over a few years it’s more negligible. I also realize the 1 and 3 are very different cars. I’m curious how to best classify those differences which will likely help clarify the variances in cost – or lack thereof in some instances.
clubman:
-any special provisions for extra luggage room on top? the grooves in the roof suggest fake roof rack but it’d be nice if there’s an extended roof rack or longer basket than in the regular cars
1-series:
-why is the car so heavy? it’s visibly smaller than e92 and it is smaller, but not substantially in weight
-will there be a high performance, lighter, or even m version?
-will we get the 123d sometime in the future?
m3:
-i love the car, but where do they see this horsepower war going? it’s a technically beautiful engine, but 420hp with a speed limiter, what’s the point?
-any chance at all of a m3 wagon?
I really want to know if the ride quality in a Rolls Phantom Drop Head is good enough to keep you from spilling your latte on the roughest roads Monterey has to offer.
In the Clubman, are the back seats really useable?
After sitting in the Clubman at two different shows, adjusting the front seat for me to be comfortable and then sitting in the back, I had enough room. This is of note b/c I’m 6’3″. It’s not like a roomy sedan or anything, but very doable for a few hour ride back there. Those three inches of extra wheelbase and the tall roof really work for this.
This is more than I could say for the 1er coupe. I just fit in the front and no one could ever really sit behind me…
On the M3 – I think most potential buyers will be more interested in how it compares to the 335 rather than the E46 M3. Do you think it’s worth the price differential over a 335?
On the Clubman – I have to admit the car doesn’t thrill me, so my question would be more along the lines of what elements of the car are expected to carry over to the R60?
Clubman questions:
Does it have a bigger fuel tank?
When will MINI offer a dealer installed set of gauges for Clubman S owners that will include a REAL water temperature gauge?
That’s all for now.
I too, would like to know what the “sport” suspension does for the ride in the Clubman (from the perspective of the car been used as a daily commuter car). Also, coming from the idea that there’s a jump of some 4K to the “S”, I would be interested to learn how the base Clubman handles a spirited ride with four adults in it –body roll, slow take off-. Will I be wishing for the “S” then? Is it worth waiting a few months to save for an “S” upgrade?
Gabe you are one lucky dog. Those roads south of San Francisco are simply amazing. Driving down 101 (pacific coast highway) near the town of Pacifica is an experience worth repeating.
Clubman:
Is there a fork mount bike rack available?
How many beverages fit in the rear cargo floor?
CLUBMAN,
Is the rear door easy to use, or will the little ones trip on the shoulder belt?
Clubman:
Any chance the contrasting C-pillers will ever be optioned for body-color?
Chocolate Brown + Beige interior is not allowed. Why?
2-seat panel version?
Still hoping for a rework of the center dash.
1-series:
Echo the comment about the weight…
M3:
I dream of a stripped down version with radio delete and no power anything… like that will ever happen…
I second the motion to bring up this question:
Why is there no plans to bring the 1-series hatchback here? Yes, we all know that the 318 failed here in the USA, but there were many other reasons besides it being a hatchback…
Besides, the climate here is different now. The success of the MINI brand alone is a strong enough argument, but factor in the rejuvination in the VW GTI, the strong new Honda Fit and Volvo C30, and you have plenty of examples to prove that America DOES, in fact, now tolerate hatchbacks.
Times are different! Bring us a 135i hatchback!!!
To add to my earlier post,
with the VW GTI being named “Car of the Year” and other accolades like Car and Driver’s 10 best, etc., that certainly speaks volumes about our country’s acceptance of (performance-oriented) hatchbacks.
There is real, solid logic to them importing the 135i hatchback…
Clubman:
Will they ever offer a white roof option? JCW suspension on the Clubman (non-S)? I am interested in the H.C. leather/cloth, but am worried about the cream trim on the armrests discoloring (I noticed this on a Cooper even when it was brand new at the dealership.) Any suggestions for preventing this? Are we going to get more JCW (engine) goodies for non-S MINI’s? Most important, starting April 2nd, I need to know if the back seat will fit a car seat.
Oh yeah, although it has been brought up many times, anything you could do to get them to bring over a Clubman D would be nice as well.
Clubman
Will they offer a plain 2door version without the third door. I ask because Im guessing the weight difference would be more comparable to the R56, and at the same time help with comparisons to say the golf/rabbit.
Several comments have already echoed this, but I would like to know more about the 128i. All we have heard about so far is the 135i. How responsive is it and how does it compare to a Cooper S in terms of being fun to drive (I’m sure it will be a completely different animal)?
Is the upgraded suspension in the 128i Sport package the same as the standard suspension in the 135i?
A thorough review of the 128i and a comparison with the 135i would be greatly appreciated!
I’d like to know if there really is enough added room in both the back seat and the boot to make the Clubman worthwhile. I know it’s something I’d be able to judge myself in about 30 seconds in person, but I’d like to know what you think, Gabe. If it’s genuinely a more practical MINI with most of the handling mojo intact, that’d be pretty tempting. Especially in JCW trim. So that’s the other half of my curiosity. To what extent do you forget you’re in a Clubman and just think you’re in the coupe. My Integra sedan always felt like a coupe from the driver’s seat. I’m wondering if the Clubman is the same way.
Please ask if MINI allow the new 17″ 5 5tar Pace wheel be optioned on a Clubman Cooper. The online configurator will only allow selection of 17″ JCW wheels. Can a Dealer MA over ride the public configurator for this?
I’m a motoring advisor as eager to see and test the Clubmans as you all. A small number of brochures for the Clubman just arrived at the dealership in Universal City, CA. I don’t get to go to training for two more weeks for the Clubmans.
For c4’s question above:
The fuel tank is the same size as in the current car according to the documentation. 13.2 Gal capacity.
For Moe-Jiller
In a Cooper Clubman, I would expect that factory options will remain the same, 15″ or 16″ wheels. You should be able to fit 17″ wheels on the car, however you would have to do them after factory, meaning at the dealership or aftersales levels.
Someone asked about cupholders – I can’t find who, but pictures show 2 cupholders in the rear, 1 mounted on each wall under the windows, as well as a small cubby stowage area below the rear speakr(can’t see how deep it is)
Moe-Jiller
The brochure shows those wheels as an option only on the Cooper S Clubman. The Bridge Spoke 16″ and 5-star blaster 15″ are listed as the Cooper optional rims.
I ordered the no-cost optional 16″ Bridgespoke wheels in my Clubman S. They remind me of the old 15″ 8-spokers in my ’02 MC.
Gabe:
That will be a most excellent trip!
my questuions:
When will dealers have demos to drive for both Clubman and 1 series?
Any possible udpate of the MINI center dash stack/speedo going to be done?
Why does the BMWUSA site not yet list fuel economy numbers for the 1 series models?
And most importantly when will more details be released regarding the Concept Tii? Is it a go, when, how mich lighter, engine, hp, mpg, etc.?
Have fun!
Jim
Clubman questions:
How does the longer wheelbase effect handling on rough city streets? (Presumably you’ll get to drive over some on the way to the twisties south of SF).
Is the rear seat as irritating to get in and out of as it seemed when I saw the car at the auto show? (Esp. due to the seatbelt attached to the door).
How is rearward visibility?
Does the extra storage space seem like a big deal when you’re out traveling around in it? (Not that you’ll be able to go grocery shopping, but use your imagination).
My question on the clubman would be:
If the Chinese can reverse engineer a Cooper (although they seem to have stuffed up the look of it) and sell it for peanuts compared to the real thing, why couldn’t BMW afford to engineer in a second rear door especially in this day and age of cut and paste?
135ix?
>135ix?
…so wrong.
Development goals/strategies/objectives for engine partnership with Mercedes, especially in light of evolution from Tritec to Prince to the new engines.
Plans for Cooper D in the U.S.. What are the barriers?
Just how badly does the rear strip affect boot window visibility? I know Top Gear had quite a lot to say on the subject, but it would be really nice to get the official MF opinion on how well one can see out the back.
Also, I know MINI says that the car drives just like a go-kart, much like the rest of the range, but… has it still got that subliminal MINI appeal? Does the extra weight and beefier backside take any of the “grin-on-your-face-every-time-you-drive-it” away?
Clubman– What the heck is “Zug”?
1er–Please bring the Tii to life–in a hatch.
M3–you had me at M. But an M1 would be even cooler. Any plans for an M1, or is the Tii what we’re going to be getting?
Note: when I say M1, I don’t mean a retro mid-engined car a la Giorgetto Giugiaro’s 1978 homologation special. Which leads me to the question — is the tii name being used for the über 1 series in deference to the mid engined coupe from all those years ago?
Two questions. Can the guys at BMW keep the “premium car” niche and someday get us back to regular gas as an incentive to buy from the guilt ridden green consumer?
Does the design team ever listen to the public? Like the rear end, folks, is just butt ugly, like the center pod radio/cd heat/air controls thing from comic strip land.
Please improve your chances of selling me one of these things by taking us away from plastic Disneyland whatever that two-tone tushy is there in the rear.
Check the ad in the car books for the answer to Zug.
to echo DB and others:
is the rear seat in the clubman really useful? i mean, how tolerable for a 6footer to sit behind a 6foot driver? the numbers look promising, but no review has really been conclusive about it.
for the 1 series, how about the 5 door?
for the M3 – man a wagon would be awesome!
For the clubman, how about a D?
’nuff said!
Does the 135 truly understeer like a pig as many have said or are they just poor drivers?
What kind of steering system dooes the 135 have? Electric motor driving a hydraulic pump like the MINI or the electric steering rack?
oh! and also how about the color pallet of the M3? the colors are mostly boring and choices are limited. i’m sick of gray; they have 3 shades of gray. how about being a little bit original and bring back the special and interesting M colors? like Laguna Seca Blue, purple, or yellow, or some other wild exotic color? same w/ the 1-series. be bold and interesting, bmw
When can I get the matching picnic and luggage set for my Clubman?
Someone certainly has a fun job in my neighborhood. A couple of weeks ago, while on my way to work, I spot a chocolate clubman in his driveway and earlier this week a silver 135i.
Dave’s color comments strike cord with me as well. BMW is getting boring color wise. How about some of the old 2002 colors for the 1, and a Dakar yellow new M3? I would never ask for Laguna Seca or that nasty yellow/gold/pea to come back!
And when will we see an orange MINI?
Jim
Sorry, but this ties into all the BMW questions: Will you be permanently incorporating the BMW line into MotoringFile when you sell the R56 in favor of the 1-Series? I know one of your original ideas back in the day was to allow for the covering of other cars if the need arose… has that time finally come?!!
Thanks – James
I am torn between an 09 S vert with JCW or an 08 135i vert, I know you have not driven the Mini yet but I am really interested on what your thoughts are on the 125i convertible that you will test drive. I understand the price differential is there but financial considerations aside, what does the seat of the pants impression tell you ? I think a lot of convertible owners are in the same mindset especially with the timeframe for the releases of the new 1 convertible and the new Mini convertible being somewhat close.
There has been a lot of speculation on the 1-Series forums regarding whether the 135i will come with an oil cooler or not. On the 335 it comes only on cars with a manual tranny and the Sport Pack. No such confirmation has shown up in any official BMW documentation for the 135i. So, oil cooler or not and if so are there any options that need to be checked off to get it.
I’ve heard that the 3rd rear seat belt is going to be redesigned because NOBODY likes it as it is installed right now… I chose 2 rear seats because I hated that thing in the roof…
Would be interesting to get a comparison between your JCW and the 1 Series. Many items are obvious but how does the feel of the steering, driver seating and position, cornering etc etc. Think there are a lot of people standing on the edge of the Mini/1 Series and could be a interesting view. My feeling is the 135i will no doubt walk away from a Mini in straight line performance but even with its 50/50 balance I think the Mini will still more than hold its own in the corners.