[nozydog]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

This. I don't know where all these posters are getting their info from. The E84 is complete garbage compared to a F48 in every single aspect: driving dynamics, design, features, etc. Even while being FWD biased.

We've had both. The F48 is the first new BMW in our family we intend on buying out, it's THAT good. The Mini platform worked wonders for it.

At last, confirmation of this fact from someone who’s owned both cars! Too many (so called) enthusiasts appear to have this inbuilt psychological theory that RWD is ALWAYS better and it simply isn’t the case! I’ve driven many great FWD cars and some very good RWD cars and whilst ‘different’ the RWD cars (BMW, Porsche) are not necessarily ‘better’...

[a.c.e.]

Originally Posted by ORIGIN M.

The first manufacture in this segment to go full electric wins !

You talking about iX3? https://www.bmwusa.com/concept-vehicles/ix3.html

Or exactly X1 Segment, so a bit smaller?!

[10"]

Originally Posted by nozydog

At last, confirmation of this fact from someone who's owned both cars! Too many (so called) enthusiasts appear to have this inbuilt psychological theory that RWD is ALWAYS better and it simply isn't the case! I've driven many great FWD cars and some very good RWD cars and whilst 'different' the RWD cars (BMW, Porsche) are not necessarily 'better'...

Not really theory. I've driven both and no comparison the E84 was better to drive. Many people who have driven both felt the same. The new X1 didn't even remotely feel as connected or driver oriented. The E84 felt more like a RWD hatchback which was great!!

[Heathwood]

My E87 (118D) was the scariest thing in the world to drive in snow.

You really need proper winter tyres for it to go anywhere safely.

The F20 (also 118D) was the same.

[ron_jeremy]

F48 looks decent as is, wonder how the LCI looks. Didn't desperatly need a refresh i think.
As for the drive, the F48 are much more refined and have a better quality interiour than the E84, i've owned the original, and tested the F48 in deepth.
The original was more like a crossover, much lower than the F48, so different types of car, more driveroriented - better, depends what you are looking for really.

[Penguino]

Originally Posted by nozydog

At last, confirmation of this fact from someone who’s owned both cars! Too many (so called) enthusiasts appear to have this inbuilt psychological theory that RWD is ALWAYS better and it simply isn’t the case! I’ve driven many great FWD cars and some very good RWD cars and whilst ‘different’ the RWD cars (BMW, Porsche) are not necessarily ‘better’...

Your opinion is valid, but it's still your opinion and everyone has theirs. But in general, the driving dynamics of a RWD vehicle tend to always be better than those with a FWD drivetrain. There's no arguing that.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by nozydog

At last, confirmation of this fact from someone who’s owned both cars! Too many (so called) enthusiasts appear to have this inbuilt psychological theory that RWD is ALWAYS better and it simply isn’t the case! I’ve driven many great FWD cars and some very good RWD cars and whilst ‘different’ the RWD cars (BMW, Porsche) are not necessarily ‘better’...

I daily a GTI and it's a great chassis. The F48 is absolutely not. The E84 (the awd ones with HPS) was truly great for such a heavy car.

[ando]

I owned a F48 for a year and a half and really liked the exterior and build quality. Everything in this class is FWD based. My only complaint was my non sport seats were not comfortable to me for road trips.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Ahhh but that much despised first gen X1 drove much better than this FWD biased X1 we have today. The old X1 was pretty much an E90 underneath.

Bingo.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

This. I don't know where all these posters are getting their info from. The E84 is complete garbage compared to a F48 in every single aspect: driving dynamics, design, features, etc. Even while being FWD biased.

We've had both. The F48 is the first new BMW in our family we intend on buying out, it's THAT good. The Mini platform worked wonders for it.

I see it differently. Each generation of the X1 brings strengths and weaknesses to the table. However, I do take issue regarding the E84's dynamics being "garbage" because they simply weren't. I grant you all else, looks, interior room, Tech, etc but that early X1 was a fairly decent driving machine.

Now, I never owned nor do I intend to add one to the stable. I owned an E90 for many years so the E84 felt very composed and well sorted in the way the E90 chassis was. Now if I am given a choice between the E84 and the E91 touring, I would have snapped up the later without any hesitation.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by nozydog

At last, confirmation of this fact from someone who's owned both cars! Too many (so called) enthusiasts appear to have this inbuilt psychological theory that RWD is ALWAYS better and it simply isn't the case! I've driven many great FWD cars and some very good RWD cars and whilst 'different' the RWD cars (BMW, Porsche) are not necessarily 'better'...

Originally Posted by nozydog

At last, confirmation of this fact from someone who's owned both cars! Too many (so called) enthusiasts appear to have this inbuilt psychological theory that RWD is ALWAYS better and it simply isn't the case! I've driven many great FWD cars and some very good RWD cars and whilst 'different' the RWD cars (BMW, Porsche) are not necessarily 'better'...

I always prefer RWD dynamics given the choice. I also own a very good handling FWD car, a MINI Cooper S Clubman from the first generation R55.

Physics are physics. We can certainly engineer better FWD vehicles but at the end of the day, we can't 100% weed out their inherent deficiencies. Same with "great handling" SUVs... You can only do so much to improve the stability and dynamics of a vehicle with a high center of gravity. At the end of the day it is still a truck or truckish in nature.

[usmabmass]

I got this thing for my wife and she simply couldn't be happier. She came from an '09 E91 wagon and will never go back.

Granted, she's not an enthusiast driver - but she has a German license and enjoys speed - but this thing is PERFECT for people in this segment who are looking for something sporty, practical, and nimble, without necessarily looking for the boredom of a lexus or something.

Was the 1st gen a great driver? I have no doubt, but I've never driven one - the looks on that thing were bad enough to keep away, and it felt like it had less than the space of a 1 series inside. The F48 is roomy for its size, comfortable, and well-appointed with options. I'd suspect that the current X1 is exactly what BMW needed to draw in non-enthusiasts (whose purchases fund us enthusiasts).

We originally leased the X1 in 2016 because we wanted to wait for the new X3. Now, with the X3 out and the new X5 around the corner, I'm trying to get her to consider those to replace the X1. Right now she's adamant on buying out the X1 and keeping it long-term. I'm still trying though....

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by a.c.e.

You talking about iX3? https://www.bmwusa.com/concept-vehicles/ix3.html

Or exactly X1 Segment, so a bit smaller?!

Small Electric SUV (SAV)

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

This. I don't know where all these posters are getting their info from. The E84 is complete garbage compared to a F48 in every single aspect: driving dynamics, design, features, etc. Even while being FWD biased.

We've had both. The F48 is the first new BMW in our family we intend on buying out, it's THAT good. The Mini platform worked wonders for it.

For the moment, I have both in the garage.
From driving dynamics to interior quality and even some exterior materials (underneath shield for example - which is proper compared with the new one) the old E84 is a much better car (value and quality).
The old X1 is a lot better vehicle in so many aspects, from seat position, leg support, materials, dynamics, responsiveness, handling, just to name a few. Only a numb driver can say that a true xDrive (RWD biased) is not good.

[raysspl]

Standard LED tails would be nice

[kbNO]

Originally Posted by Roch M4

I hope that they will take this LCI opportunity to replace the ugly gear shifter with a decent on!

New electronic gear lever already from april 2018 production.

[Mii]

Source: https://www.carscoops.com/2018/07/up...-audis-new-q3/

[Roch M4]

Originally Posted by kbNO

New electronic gear lever already from april 2018 production.

BMW USA and BMW Canada configurator is still showing the ugly one. The french website of BMW shows the new electronic one...probably that for North America they are waiting the LCI release to get the new gear shifter or maybe with a X1 35i like the X2

[ttimbo]

I currently have a loaner X1 25i (aka 28i in NA), with an April 2018 build and it has the new electronic shifter (Australian market)

[SpenceRx]

Originally Posted by Roch M4

I hope that they will take this LCI opportunity to replace the ugly gear shifter with a decent on!

Good call. That shifter really looks out of place in a BMW interior. It reminds me of something from a 90's VW or something.

[mikeyb74]

Originally Posted by raysspl

Standard LED tails would be nice

And standard LED fog lights.

[MrTracey]

Originally Posted by ttimbo

I currently have a loaner X1 25i (aka 28i in NA), with an April 2018 build and it has the new electronic shifter (Australian market)

Having come a car with the lovely Z8 auto with electronic shifter, my biggest bugbear with my F48 is the awful 1990s style auto shifter.
Even my wife's humble 116i has the electronic shifter!

Trouble is, I hear the F48 electronic shifter is mated with a DCT gearbox - and from what I read these can be very jerky in stop-start city traffic and are whiplash inducing when changing down, like when coming up to stop at a junction.

How do you find it?