OK, well as most of you know from the countless 'Which cars do you have in your garage?' threads, we own a BMW 3 Series Compact.
Yup,
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/kazzer225/dominobabes.jpg
that one, to be exact. {The cat's there for effect :p}

We got one of the last ones, as their production was called off in late '04. The reason for this...
http://www.carpages.co.uk/bmw/bmw_images/1-series-front.jpg
BMW's new 1 Series, of course, that makes sense. I mean why have two cars in the same class?

However, the question I'm asking you is whether or not the 1 Series really has been able to fill the gap the Compact has left. I mean, the Compact was incredibly popular, you see them around a lot {around here anyway}. I haven't seen half as many 1 Series, and they came out in 2004 and two years on they are still a rarity. Makes me wonder if BMW are regretting their descision to remove the Compact from production?

*In no way am I comparing both cars, simply asking whether it was the right descision to take the Compact out of production.*

I think so, i mean why have two cars competing against each other? I prefer the 1-series to the compact, not in the looks department, they are both unattractive cars, but in pure style and driving quality the 1-series is better imo. I know we're not comparing them, but thats the best way I could put it. I very nearly bought a compact before my Astra, but I just didn't get along with it as well. Do you like your compact?

^^ Yeah, we love our Compact, it's great looking and everything you need in car that size imo. I think the 1 Series is ugly, well actually, it's too lumpy, if you see what I mean.
Imo, it just hasn't filled the gap it was meant too.

Umm, not sure, its done well for BMW. Always was going to be funny looking being designed by Bangle, but I think it turned out ok. I mean, the compact would have been based on the new 3-series by now and it would prob look something like this. Its on par with the A3 imo, which if i'm honest, the compact was not. No offence...

Heh, none taken! Hmmm, fair enough, my dad and I just figured that BMW's line up is lacking a car in replacement to the Compact. Just thought I'd see what everyone else thought! I think the 3 Series looks great, shame about the 1 really :p

Heh, none taken! Hmmm, fair enough, my dad and I just figured that BMW's line up is lacking a car in replacement to the Compact. Just thought I'd see what everyone else thought! I think the 3 Series looks great, shame about the 1 really :p

Lol, its the other way round for me, just shows I have better taste... j/k Lol

^^ Haha, come on,
1
http://www.automotoportal.com/media/images/vijesti/070115006.jpg
3
http://img.infotropic.com/w/w060420_3.jpg
5
http://images.consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.c om/autoreview/400x266/2007-BMW-5-Series-06602101990003.JPG
7
http://feies.com/bmwblog/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/WindowsLiveWriter/79e312c43c27_137B4/P00185782.jpg
Something tells me the 1 just doesn't fit!

does it look better now?


http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s284/Bit3Th3Bull3t/carsbmw130imsportscf.jpg

^^ Awww, haha, a lil' bit :p hehe

Lol, thats cool, nice one RICH! ;)

I know what you mean Miss SCF, but I just like it somehow. I can see your point though. If I'm being honest, BMW's dont look as good as they used too. The best one is the new Coupe though.

^^ Don't get me wrong, I like BMW's design, I just feel the 1 Series hasn't quite gained a good sense of identity yet.

^^ Don't get me wrong, I like BMW's design, I just feel the 1 Series hasn't quite gained a good sense of identity yet.

I dont understand. Its got to compete with the A3 and Golf and Focus. How clear can it be? BMW want a peice of the pie... Lol

Do you mean it has no soul, no feeling like the compact used to have?

Correct me if I am wrong but the 1 series doesn't even sell here in the US, therefor by making the 1 series and not allowing it in the states was a big mistake.

Correct me if I am wrong but the 1 series doesn't even sell here in the US, therefor by making the 1 series and not allowing it in the states was a big mistake.

Depends, noy many US people would buy a 1-series from what i've heard. How well doe's the Golf and Focus sell in the US?

Do you mean it has no soul, no feeling like the compact used to have?

Yeah pretty much, all the BMW line-up is pretty established, the when you introduce a whole new section there needs to be something special about it, and there just isn't imo.

Correct me if I am wrong but the 1 series doesn't even sell here in the US, therefor by making the 1 series and not allowing it in the states was a big mistake.

Did you get the Compact in the States?

I suppose it's a bit small for your roads too. :p

Could you park a 1-series in the back of an F-series pick up? That'd be sooo cool!

BMW are bringing out a coupe version of the 1 series. This will probably be identical to the 3 series Compact.

I don't like the looks of the hatchback 1 series, but I do very much like the looks of the coupe version that BMW are preparing for release. It looks much better than the hatchback. There will probably be no room in the back, but that is the case for the hatchback as well.

Here is a link to some info and a picture:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/2496

Here are some more links: http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/spyphotoID/6070319.001/page/1/country/gcf/bmw/spy-photos-bmw-1-series-coupe-best-photos-yet

http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=377

Did you get the Compact in the States?


We got the E36 Compact, but since that didn't sell well we didn't get the E46 here in the US. I think the Compact would have gone over better here with the 2.5L.

They did make a 325Ti Compact I think? Erm, so is this the rumoured 2-series coupe?

The focus and the golf sell pretty good around here.
Also I think we did get the compacts here in the states...im not sure though.

After a little research I found that the e36 compacts old in the US but were not very successful, not sure about the e46 though.

BMW are bringing out a coupe version of the 1 series. This will probably be identical to the 3 series Compact.

I don't like the looks of the hatchback 1 series, but I do very much like the looks of the coupe version that BMW are preparing for release. It looks much better than the hatchback. There will probably be no room in the back, but that is the case for the hatchback as well.

Here is a link to some info and a picture:

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/2496
Better than nothing, lol

They did make a 325Ti Compact I think? Erm, so is this the rumoured 2-series coupe?
That rumour has been around for a long time now...who knows how real it is?

Well, BMW can't make a M1 because of the M1 supercar made in 1986 (The year I was born :D ), but they could make an M2 if they launch and name this the 2-series. What'd you think of that?

Yeah, this was rumoured ages ago --> http://www.sportscarforums.com/f9/five-new-1-series-11016.html
Whether or not it will happen is another story.

Well, if these mules are anything to go by, its on its way! Looking forward to it... they need the convertible with the lauch of the new Focus, Astra and Eos CC's....

Mmmm, I wouldn't be so sure, it would make sense, but I don't think it will happen..I mean these are from last April, a whole year ago now!

Oh, bloody hell. Thats old then. Umm, well I hope they do may them, they look quite funky.

I love BMWs, dont get me wrong, they're fantastic drivers' cars but am I the only here that finds modern BMWs are starting to look pretty ugly?

well, my dad says, handle is alot better in the 1 series, he drove the 120i.. and his driven the 316i Compact.. he said 1 series handled better, i prefer the looks of the 1 series, especially with M-Kit, my dad hates the 3 series compact looks for some reason! But yeh..

no, they shuoldnt get the compact off the line, they should get the 1 off the line and re-design the WHOLE car, i like the 1 series' looks with some bodykits, but talk about the interior, woah, the compact is winning by miles, the looks, i do prefer the 1 series, becase the front of the compact makes the whole car shrink, im not sure, but i do prefer the looks of the 1 series on the front, the rear of that compact is a beauty, and thinking of now that the 1 series is a two seater, its not good

I like BMW designs although I just never had a thing for the 1 series. I think BMW designs are top notch. I just don't like the 1 series much

I think BMW could master the compact thing, there has always been a trend, all the companies that make good compacts today have been doing it for decades and their first compacts where... well crap. So give BMW a few years and they might come up with a newer and better 1 series.

The lower specced models of the 1 seem pretty nasty. They do look very terrible. But the 135 doesn't look too bad. The Compact is getting a little dated now, but I suppose they're quite nice. When my neighbour got one a good few years back I was like ''Oooh and brand spanking new BMW!'', and I loved it. I still think it's really cool nowadays. I wouldn't mind seeing a new 3-Series Compact actually.

I certainly see more 1-Series than I do Compacts. The last Compact I saw was mid last year - literally.

I think the advances of the 1-series outweigh the potential for another compact. However, the 1 has NO rear legroom what-so-ever!

The 3-Series Compact was too non-conservative for the BMW brand - also it was the least pretty of the range at the time.

Dunno, the old 7-series was pretty damn ugly imo.

I don't think so, really. I see a good few 1-Series round here - more than I do compacts, actually. I personally don't prefer the 1 or the Compact, although neither of them are exactly show-stopping in the looks department. It's difficult to comment knowledgably, as I don't have any facts and figures to hand, but based on the numbers I see, the 1 has been a success. It's a 5 door, and I think that might have been a good idea - people tend to like that. If everywhere were like where I live, then I would say that no; they didn't make a mistake, however; I'd have to the official figures to make a proper comment.

1 -series rules,Compact sucks!

Bmw problably took 1 series out because the new ones problably have better bracke systems and more horse power. maybe yes maybe no