E82 1 Series - Bridging BMW From Fun to Boring

We’ve heard of term before; future classics. These are cars that for one reason or another, may or may not have sold well when they were new, but you’ll see them at auctions 30 years from now, see what their worth, & kick yourself for not getting one.

BMW has produced plenty of future classics. Let’s talk about the E82 1 series. After the hugely successful E46 3 series, BMW’s new 3 series , the E9X, was a bit on the heavier side - for good reasons: technology, safety, & overall luxury amenities.

There was still a segment of BMW drivers craving something similar in size & driving dynamics to the outgoing 3 series. In came the BMW’s 1 series.

The E82 1 series has the right formula - big in-line 6 cylinder motor, manual transmission, & rear wheel drive. There were three models of the 1 series that came to the US. Everyone knows about the uber limited 1 series M coupe. But there was also the 135i, with the brutally powerful N54 twin turbo motor & eventually replaced by the N55 twin-scroll turbocharged motor, & there was the 128i powered by the naturally aspirated 3.0L in-line 6 cylinder N52 motor.

Although the 135i came with more power, when production of the E82 1 series ended in August of 2013, the 128i was the last BMW that was offered with a naturally aspirated motor - making it the last of a kind.

The chassis of the E82 was unique as it was the last of the non-M BMW ‘s to offer hydraulic steering, providing, I hate using this phrase, “more steering feel”. BMW used a front suspension that has interchangeable parts with the more agile E9X M3, so one could transform driving dynamics with absolutely no visual change. Talk about a true sleeper.

We get it. The non-M E82 wasn’t limited, plenty were made, & they didn’t sell well, as people thought they looked ugly. Great! More for us. Side note, not selling well is usually an indicator of a future classic. But now, they are readily available & offer a very different driving experience from BMWs of today.

We’d pick the naturally aspirated 128i M Sport coupe, so upgraded body kit, black headliner, & thicker steering wheel. Need manual transmission & as few options as possible. Oh, also has to be a ‘11+ (better headlights & taillights). Upgrade the suspension bits to e9x, stickier tires, upgrade brake fluid & lines, and we’re good.

The E82’s a future classic that bridged BMW offering small, fun, RWD, manual cars, (what they’d always done), to what they are now: larger, turbo, AWD, disconnected cars focusing on comfort over fun.