BMW 128i

Much as I love BMW cars, I really think BMW missed the mark with the 128i coupe.

A machine that should have cost well under $30,000 nicely equipped keeps rising well above it in the 2009 version (which I didn’t drive). Although the fun factor is inherently present in this vehicle, going from a 2009 base price of $29.975 (including destination), it’s tough to keep this little two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe from heading off into pricing lands it really shouldn’t visit.

Don’t get me wrong: this Bimmer is a wonderful little car. It is nut-and-bolted the BMW way, strong and sturdy as ever, and it has exceptional manners over the road. Equipped with a lovely 3-liter dual overhead cam, VANOS-equipped inline 6-cylinder engine that emits 230 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 200 lb-ft of torque at 2750, the 128i is running 2850 rpm when it hits 80 mph, en route to a 7000-rpm redline. The speedometer rolls to 160 mph. My car was equipped with a 6-speed manual that snicks easily through all forward gears but needs some help to access reverse.

The BMW 128i has good sizing for a category only it belongs to: 171.7 inches long, 56 inches tall and 68.8 inches wide, it rides on a 104.7-inch wheelbase that reduces overhang and enhances handling. It weighs a bit much for a four-seater (actually 2+2 in real life) at 3252 pounds and has a somewhat wide turning circle at 35.1 feet.

I’m thinking a four-cylinder – one that weighs less than this six and can produce about the same power with a supercharger – might have been a better choice, but BMW hasn’t brought its lovely four-bangers into the USA for way too long, moving upmarket and producing bigger cars as it has gone along. This coupe reminds me of the sweet little 318Ti, which was a market failure for BMW. I’m hoping, for their sake, that the 128i doesn’t meet the same fate.

To assist in active safety, BMW has allotted a full complement of alphabet soup driver aids like DSC (dynamic stability control), all wheel ABS (antilock brakes), BFC (brake force compensation, a start-off assistant, brake drying, brake stand-by and DBC (dynamic brake control, together with DTC (dynamic traction control).

The 2009 version of the Alpine white on black leatherette BMW 128i I drove has a list price of $32,675, $700 more than the 2008 version. It has the sport package that bumps the wheels up to five-spoke 17-inch alloys riding on Goodyear Eagle 205/50R tires at the front and 225/45R 18-inch rubber at the rear. There are great sport seats with adjustable lateral bolsters, two-way headrests and thigh support, sport suspension that adds a bit to the jarring ride over rough road and shadowline trim.

Beltline gray poplar wood trim is another option ($500) and it’s nice (because the balance of the interior is basic black), as are heated front seats at the same cost. BMW charges $400 for iPod and USB adapters in the center console, handy when the satellite radio hasn’t been activated. There’s also a spot to place a cell phone. The one-touch, two-way moonroof is standard equipment as are rain sensor wipers and auto headlights.

All seat controls are manual on this car and there is a height adjustment feature that requires a bit of wiggling to use. The dash is businesslike with black/white gauges directly in front of the driver. There is no temperature gauge and the start/stop operation is completed by pushbutton with fob inserted in the dash. The center stack is pretty straightforward with audio atop heating, air conditioning and ventilation controls, all bathed in readable LEDs. BMW still fits an ashtray and lighter, the latter usable for 12-volt functions.

Two rear passengers have a center divider between them for “stuff” and there is no third seatbelt, no rear cupholders, vents or storage. As one would expect from a coupe of this size, legroom is at a premium, better left to packages and very small passengers.

You’ve got to love the styling of this petite coupe, with its lack of overhang and crisp lines. The nose swoops forward aggressively and the tail has BMW’s signature bump, aiding the trunk’s usable space. BMW doesn’t disclose the trunk size, but I’m figuring somewhere in the neighborhood of 9-10 usable cubic feet. There are slight side sill and a small harelip on the decklid, while both front and rear airdam extensions are a bit on the bulbous side. It all integrates well.

This BMW 128i announces its appearance with a set of pipes at the rear that have an easy-to-like exhaust note. It is easy to like the mileage figures for this car, too: it is rated by the EPA at 18/28 from the 14-gallon tank and requires premium fuel. My mileage readings slightly exceeded those figures, using the trip computer that is standard on this coupe.

The BMW 128i is a nice enough coupe but it’s so close in size to the 3-Series coupe (just less than 9 inches shorter) that you’ve got to wonder the rationale for including it, especially at this price, in BMW’s US lineup. There is a convertible version available for those who like their sunshine on demand and larger, supercharged 3.5-liter versions of each incarnation, as well.

© 2008 Anne Proffit