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Published May 10, 2008
Good things come small
The 125i Coupe is an entry model with all the classic BMW qualities, reports SAMUEL EE
GOOD things come in small packages. Great things, it seems, can come in a compact little shape like the BMW 125i Coupe.
Hey, good looking: The BMW 125i Coupe has remarkable proportions, being wide, short and curvaceous from almost every angle
The German luxury carmaker introduced its diminutive 1 Series as a five-door hatchback in 2004. Even as an entry-level model, it subscribed to all the traditional BMW qualities like the classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and excellent handling. The five-door was followed by a sportier-looking three-door hatch a couple of years later. But it has taken nothing less than a coupe and a cabriolet to make the 1 Series tempting enough for anyone to really consider buying one.
These two booted variants are seminal in another way. After they were unveiled last year, the decision to offer the 1 Series here was taken.
For BMW enthusiasts who have witnessed the ever-expanding footprint of the 3 Series, the 125i Coupe is a return to the good old days when an entry-level model was small with superb shockability.
Remarkable proportions
The car has remarkable proportions. It is wide, short and curvaceous from almost every angle. BMW is keen to associate the 1 Series Coupe as the spiritual successor of the 2002 from the 1970s, but the 125i is a little too stubby and chubby to be compared with that elegant classic. The 125i also has that same hefty feel of current-generation Beemers, with their heavy steering and equally weighty throttle response.
But like most BMWs, it is no less fun to drive. Its perfect weight distribution and short wheelbase - much shorter than even the previous 3 Series - make it supremely nimble. It's like driving in a video game, German style of course. It feels agile and has just the right combination of grip and body roll to make charging hard into a sweeping corner feel thoroughly entertaining.
There are two petrol engines but only one has been brought in for Singapore - a three-litre, in-line six-cylinder unit churning out 218 horses. This is a detuned version of the 3.0 straight six with 265 hp normally seen in the 5 Series and X5, but its good low-end torque gets the almost 1.5 tonne coupe moving along very well. Its smaller 'lungs' do mean, however, that progress above 150 kmh is less rapid.
Choppy ride
A six-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts adds to driving enjoyment, as does the M Sports suspension that is standard on the cars here. The stiffer springs come at a cost though. Ride quality at any speed is choppy unless the road surface is mirror smooth. The relatively short wheelbase, of course, contributes to the lower level of ride comfort too, especially for the two occupants in the back seat, who will feel the bumps on the road more acutely.
Surprisingly though, rear leg-room is adequate, even for those six feet tall. But rear head-room is compromised because of the coupe's arcing roof-line.
Another issue is the bare-looking centre console. This is because the 125i only comes with a basic air-con - that is, no dual-zone climate control. But with all the fun you'll be having driving it, you might not even notice.
BMW 125i Coupe
Engine: 2,996 cc in-line-6
Gearbox: Six-speed automatic transmission
Max power: 218 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Max torque: 270 Nm @ 2,500-4,250 rpm
0-100 kmh: 7.0 secs
Top speed: 243 kmh
Price: $151,800 (with COE)
Distributor: Performance Motors. Tel: 6319-0100