So I drove the X1 28 and 35 last week...

And I liked it

As part of BMW Professional Council, I had the opportunity to drive the X1 4 and 6 cylinder models. Color me impressed. They handle well, accelerate well and have enough space to put stuff in 'em and the 4 cyl models will top out in options at about $40K. Here are a couple of pics:

thanks for those pics. those look like the actual cars from the NY Show. Will we be getting those options or are these pre-US spec optioned?

Thanks for the pictures and short summary of driving impressions. I'd also like to know if these cars are production models, or the ones used at NYIAS. Also, thanks for sneaking in the picture of the M6 interior at the end; hope you got a chance to drive that too!

Originally Posted by bimmerized

thanks for those pics. those look like the actual cars from the NY Show. Will we be getting those options or are these pre-US spec optioned?

Yup, I really wanted to sit in the MSport 35i, but it was locked

Wish i was you!

Orange is nice

Any news of manuel shift?

why does the M sport model have digital gauges? what option is it?

Originally Posted by mspeed76

why does the M sport model have digital gauges? what option is it?

The last picture the OP put up is the new M6, not the X1.

Why does the M Sport have the basic looking shifter as opposed to the xLine? which shifter will the xLine have for US spec cars? In F30, what shifter is used when the paddle shifter option is selected with Sport Line?

We already know that those aren't US spec cars as there are sport seats in the xLine and sport seats are only available with the Sport Line or M Sport Pkgs. The spec sheet indicates that paddle shifters are standard on all X1, but in fact they are only available w the M Sport Pkg.

Do you suppose the US Spec cars will have those ridiculous cup holders that impinge upon the passenger's space?
I also noticed that the Msport has a center console cup holder above the armrest while the xline does not (covered by armrest).

Originally Posted by bimmerized

Why does the M Sport have the basic looking shifter as opposed to the xLine? which shifter will the xLine have for US spec cars? In F30, what shifter is used when the paddle shifter option is selected with Sport Line?

The 35i (N55 engine) uses the older 6 speed auto, and hence gets the old shifter. The 28i (N20 engine) uses the newer 8 speed auto, and gets the new joystick shifter. This applies regardless of whether you get the M Sport Package, or Sport Line with paddle shifters or not.

Also can someone (one of our canadian friends perhaps) post some pics of the cargo space and the back seats?

Originally Posted by Lavalamp425

The 35i (N55 engine) uses the older 6 speed auto, and hence gets the old shifter. The 28i (N20 engine) uses the newer 8 speed auto, and gets the new joystick shifter. This applies regardless of whether you get the M Sport Package, or Sport Line with paddle shifters or not.

Thanks. that makes a lot of sense. Why isn't the 8 speed being used on the 35? Is it not used in the 335 F30 either?

for the record, paddle shifters are not being offered with the Sport Line, just the M Sport.

Originally Posted by bimmerized

Thanks. that makes a lot of sense. Why isn't the 8 speed being used on the 35? Is it not used in the 335 F30 either?

for the record, paddle shifters are not being offered with the Sport Line, just the M Sport.

The F30 335i uses the 8 speed auto. Nobody is really sure what exactly is up with the X1 35i getting the 6 speed auto. It could be anything from having some stock leftover (which doesn't make sense since that transmission is used by cars still in production), to not wanting to spend the engineering $$ to fit it.

Oops, brain fart on paddle shifters only with M Sport!

Originally Posted by Lavalamp425

The 35i (N55 engine) uses the older 6 speed auto, and hence gets the old shifter. The 28i (N20 engine) uses the newer 8 speed auto, and gets the new joystick shifter. This applies regardless of whether you get the M Sport Package, or Sport Line with paddle shifters or not.

Photos on BMWUSA configurator show joystick shifter on 35i...

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Photos on BMWUSA configurator show joystick shifter on 35i...

The media gallery photos (and the Build-Your-Own pictures) on BMWUSA.com for the X1 are all identical no matter which model you choose. It is possible they changed the shifter from the pre-production models, though. Guess we'll have to wait for someone to take delivery to find out!