A BMW 128i deemed too nice for the track | Your Projects

Those 1 series cars certainly are enticing little nuggets, aren't they?  

In reply to DavyZ :

For sure. I think they fill a sweet spot–for me, at least.

I could easily see myself dailying a 1 Series.

Thank you for the kind mention, gentlemen! 

We'll just ignore the fact that I threw on a set of track pads this past weekend, sacrificing some of its street manners in exchange for that oh-so-familiar nails-on-a-chalkboard soundtrack. 

My 128i's Stages of Development: 

1. Complete pile that I'm lucky didn't kill me on the way home. 
2. Let's fix this thing so we can prep it to be a beater track car! 
3. Wait. This thing is wonderful as a street car. Let's not ruin it! 
4. Boredom/idle hands kick in. 
5. Track pads, wide/sticky tires, a baffled oil pan, an oil cooler and lots of camber. 

Well, an attempt was made. 

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

I mean, as long as you're enjoying it, I don't think you're doing it wrong.

Side note: If you reverse your list, it reads a lot like the life cycle of a $2000 Challenge Car 

1. Track pads, wide/sticky tires, a baffled oil pan, an oil cooler and lots of camber. 
2. Boredom/idle hands kick in. 
3. Wait. This thing is wonderful as a street car. Let's not ruin it! 
4. Let's fix this thing so we can prep it to be a beater track car! 
5. Complete pile that I'm lucky didn't kill me on the way home. 

 

In reply to Colin Wood :

So you’re saying my 128i’s evolution is basically the automotive equivalent of a palindrome—reads the same forward and backward, just with varying amounts of regret and tire wear?

In reply to roninsoldier83 :

Exactly!

Welcome to Palindrome Motorsports Magazine

roninsoldier83 said:

In reply to Colin Wood :

So you’re saying my 128i’s evolution is basically the automotive equivalent of a palindrome—reads the same forward and backward, just with varying amounts of regret and tire wear?

It's funny, I always thought these were the modern 2002 to follow the palindrome theme. I love these cars and that color is great.

In reply to crankwalk (Forum Supporter) :

The 1 Series really did give off a modern 2002 vibe. IIRC didn't BMW make some kind of special version of the 1 Series that was sort of like an indirect homage to the 2002?

In reply to Colin Wood :

I don't recall any special 2002 homage in the 1-series line. They did make the "Year 1 of the 1 Series" cars, and the 1M, but that's all I'm aware of.

The 128i and the 2002 are conceptually similar, and very close in size (see here), but drive very differently.

Edit: They did do a commercial for the follow-on 2-series with a 2002.

In reply to 02Pilot :

You know, that commercial might be what I was thinking of.

Side note: I always kind of wanted the 1 Series hatch offered in Europe. I feel like it would have checked a lot of boxes for me.