2014 BMW X1 X-Line-001 Shows You WHY Wagons are Dead and Why You're NUTS To Buy A 3-Series Wagon Instead.

A few weeks ago Agent 001 summoned your opinions of which daily driver he should add to the AutoSpies.com fleet and we know you've been waiting for his decision.

I appreciated everyone's insight and I truly considered all your points so thank you.

Full 2014 BMW X1 Photo Gallery



If you didn't catch the article here is a snippet so you know what the parameters were...

"with the current incentives and lease subventions I could choose between a 528i M-Sport, 328 Convertible M-Sport, 328i sedan OR X1 28i X-Line for the SAME monthly payment!

ALL have positive attributes...528i, great size/ride. 328i, all new iPad like nav and the best 3-Series yet. 328 Convertible M-Sport the best looking of the bunch in my opinion. And finally, the X1 X-line gets great mileage and is right sized and is most practical.

So knowing this info, WHICH would you recommend for me and WHY?

Remember, I already have the Wrangler Unlimited for when I need total utility and I get new cars every week to test from the manufacturers (I know, tough job right?) so I hardly drive any of the cars I own so I want to keep the expense down to a minimum and not be wasteful. And ALL of these are M-Sport versions or X-Line so they're WELL equipped and ALL great. And I can afford to lease ANY BMW, but I do not want to waste dough on a car I won't drive often or be able to wring the FULL amount of performance out say in the case of an M3/M5/M6."

In the end, I decided on the 2014 BMW X1 with the X-Line appearance package in Mineral White with Terra interior.

And I bought it from my good friend and one of the best premium car sales guys out there Robert Brown from BMW of Monrovia (part of the Sonic Automotive chain). You WON'T find a better more proactive salesperson in your corner than Robert so if you're IN-MARKET send him and email RIGHT NOW and get a killer deal like I did. Click to see inventory at BMW Of Monrovia





So how did I come to the final decision? Let me spell out my thought process behind it and what mattered most in the end in order:

1. Price/Resale-Because I trade SO often this always has to be number one. So of the choices I went 2014 X1 becuase a 14 will be easiest to get out of. I know I said it must be a 13 in my article but Robert showed me how to get a great deal on the 14 becuase of the higher lease residual.

2. Although the 328i is the best premium sport sedan on the planet, they are EVERYWHERE. It was just too common to me. same with the 528i. great cars, i just wanted something more unique.

3. My heart wanted a 335is convertible but it wouldn't have gotten used enough.

4. I love panoramic roofs and interior cabin space and the X1 is amazingly roomy inside. Especially in driver and passenger area.

5. It has to look good and I love the new Audi All-Road (Call Spies friend Trent Hill at Circle in Long Beach if you need an Audi). But the X1 is much roomier inside and in the X-line trim in the color combo I got I actually think the BMW looks better. Granted they take some queues with the satin aluminum rails and lower body/rear trim. Plus, the lease on the All-Road was over $100 more per month and does not include maintenance.

6. I love the fact the X1 has the 328 motor, 8-speed and Stop/Start so I know it will get good mileage. And although the biggest complaint about the 13 X1 was the stop/start was too harsh, I've noticed the 14 seems a lot tamer. I don't know for sure but maybe BMW tweaked it for 2014.

7. I also considered a 328xi wagon but it's just too dang small inside, it's not as good looking as the X1 and check this...it's F'n CRAZY expensive! Like 52-57k! Besides, WAGONS in the USA ARE DEAD!

I suggest you SAVE 10-15k and just get the X1 and be happy. I am!

So far, I am REALLY impressed in the product and think its probably the biggest sleeper BMW has on the lot. Leasing one is virtually identical in price to a 328 so it's no wonder its selling well. REALLY well. It's next to impossible to find a remaining 13 on the lot in a decent color combo. Yet hundreds of 2013 328's are still sitting.

I got the Mineral White with the Terra/Black two-tone interior (impossible to find in stock...trust me) and I have to say it's the best quality exterior paint color BMW sells outside of the individual colors. Look at this night shot to see the sparkle.



Other colors I considered...Black/Black (aluminum rails pop but BMW black interiors are BORING!). Black with Coral Red is cool but no one has them. Which leads me to my regular rant to BMW dealers in the USA. WHY do you guys NEVER have any cool interior combos like mine on the lot? Not saying you need every car like that but ONE OR TWO would be great. Especially, in the high volume dealers. TRUST us they WILL sell. And I promise you this and will bet you a great dinner that MANY of the customers you lose to Audi are lost when they see the cheap looking black, grey or beige interior you have on the lot and then they see the gorgeous amaretto interiors IN STOCK at the Audi dealer. THEN, to make matters worse, they go tell ALL their friends how crap the BMW interior looked and that's why they went Audi. If they only SAW a gorgeous Terra like mine or Ivory two-tone, THEY'D BE ALREADY BURNING GAS IN YOUR CAR!



OK, so there you have it.

My decision, first impressions and so let's get to the first real life photos of the 2014 BMW X1!

Thank you again for the help.

I ALWAYS SPY before I BUY. And I suggest you do the same!

Stewie - 6/25/2013 9:52:57 PM

-1 Boost

Pick this over a wagon? Are you mad? Here's the reason I'd pick the wagon over this...ITS FUGLY! I may get downvoted for this but so be it, the 3 series wagon is a much better looking option.

iamdabest1 - 6/25/2013 10:24:25 PM

+2 Boost

i really like the x1 and wanted to get it for my wife last month, but there was a crazy lease deal on a ct200h so i just went with that instead. ( ct200 37k msrp, 27 month lease 279 per month with 1300 total out of pocket including 1st months payment)
i really like the x1 ! nice size, practical car, great in snow, and great gas mileage. not very good looking, but its acceptable. its not as bad as a 5gt

IamEvilHomer - 6/25/2013 10:59:55 PM

-4 Boost

if you can't afford a Tiguan get the X1 it is a good alternitive

nguyenvuminh - 6/25/2013 11:41:00 PM

-1 Boost

Both the X1 and X3 are ugly. Clown shoe is right.

t_bone - 6/26/2013 12:54:10 AM

+1 Boost

Wagons FTW...despite manufacturers dumbing them down (why only a 328 and not a 335) and trying to cram SUV's down our throats.

HoustonMidtown - 6/26/2013 6:45:44 AM

-2 Boost

Not an attractive vehicle to look at, but the utility is fine if that is what you're looking for....would have picked the wagon though...

gkearns56 - 6/26/2013 5:19:54 PM

-1 Boost

Here where I live BMW just had a "Drive for BMW" and get $1000 toward your next purchase of any BMW vehicle. We go in and drive the 335i, X3, X1 vehicles since I am considering them. (I've owned a 84, 88 and 2000 BMW). What a joke. If people actually think the BMW INTERIORS are FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP and quality material, I know someone who has a Pontiac Aztec to sell you. What a bunch of junk the interior. They may make the best inline 6 cylinder engine, but they have a long way to go to catch Mercedes and Audi. Plastic everywhere and when I closed the X3 door, it sounds like a tin can with the window rattling. Some of the best engines but cheap looking interiors on these 3 BMW vehicles.

NeoReaper - 6/27/2013 10:35:50 AM

0 Boost

Your comment on the interior is 100% true but few people here will believe you. I have both an Audi and a BMW so its not a loyalty issue, its something called the truth.

Agent00R - 6/26/2013 8:30:05 AM

+3 Boost

Sorry guys. You'd have to be completely mental to get a 3-Series wagon over this all things considered.

X1 is a damn fine product.

NeoReaper - 6/26/2013 11:44:25 AM

+1 Boost

Sorry, I have to disagree with you about the X1's looks. I don't like the proportions and the instrument cluster and center stack still looks like E90 territory.

As for wagons being dead in America, you are correct if you are talking about lease prices because there are no wagons in America (that I know of) that are "program cars" from the financial institutes of any auto manufacturer.

Here in the northeast the X1 is far from "unique"... Besides, that shouldn't even be a determining factor for picking and basic vehicle. People who have bookoo bucks will buy a 1 of 333 vehicle but this is just a mass produced vehicle. I'd stick with buying a car that looks good, drives good, and is affordable (relatively speaking). If you wanted to be more unique, pick a different brand...

I hate to break it to you but Audi interiors are still miles better than BMW's and saying otherwise is just simple bias. I have a B8 A4 and I just picked up a F30 3 Series last week and the BMW is no match. Styling is okay but ergonomics and quality are definitely below the Audi.

BMW's N20 motor is nice but its not miles ahead of the Audi's EA888 (which is a rather old motor), its better though. They both have the same ZF 8-speed with nearly identical ratios and shift points, it might be somewhat new to BMW but Audi's been using this for a number of years already. I think that the start/stop function is interesting but its also a little rough around the edges (its just not as smooth as I'd like/want). Maybe being in a crossover platform/chassis (higher suspension) changes the overall feel, making it feel smoother (less noticeable vibrations?) but I can tell you on the 3 Series, it definitely needs more work.

Anyway, I'm glad you're happy with your purchase but definitely wouldn't have been mine.

BimmersNme - 6/26/2013 3:51:42 PM

+7 Boost

So many haters on this site... Can't people just respect a good product? I Think the VW Tiguan is also excellent as is the AUDI Q3 among others. There's no need to disdain the BMW. The X1 is selling in very good numbers here in Brazil also, and though I like it, my pick would have been an X3 Sport, for it has more cargo and rear passenger room. Anyway, Congrats for your new purchase, looks hot with this color combo.

NeoReaper - 6/26/2013 4:06:22 PM

+1 Boost

The reason for some of the hate is because the headline states that "You're NUTS to buy a 3-Series Wagon..." With a headline like that, you deserve criticism.

Agent001 - 6/26/2013 10:35:27 PM

+1 Boost

I think alot of you haven't done your reading.

I did NOT say the X1 is better than a 3-Series.

The 3-series is clearly the better driver.

I said for MY needs based on the parameters I outlined, the X1 made the most sense for ME. And one of the big things to me was how common the 3 is and not unique.

I also said if you need UTILITY and a wagon you would be NUTS to choose the 3-Series wagon over the X1. The 3-Series wagon drives better YES. But it's TINY inside and doesn't have much REAL utility. AND you're paying at least $10k more.

If you need a great CAR the 3 is your choice. But if you need utility and SPACE and something you don't see on every street corner, the X1 is the better choice.

001

NeoReaper - 6/27/2013 10:18:48 AM

0 Boost

I think you haven't been reading the comments and you didn't read your own post. You listed 7 reasons why you chose the X1 in order of importance. Size and utility was reason number 7, it was on the bottom of your list... If you had put that as number one, then maybe you have some sort of validity but you didn't.

Saying the car is more unique is like saying a Accord is more unique than a Camry.

I would also like to point out that you get what you pay for, the X1 is inferior to the 3 Series wagon so if you choose to option them the same way, you have to pay for to get more. If you can't afford the extra 10k of options, don't select it. Live with in your means if you want the "better" car. No matter how many extra options you put on the X1 is will still be an inferior driving vehicle based on an older platform. Essentially you bought a 64GB iPhone 4s instead of a 32GB iPhone 5.

Please get off your high horse and come back down to this planet. BTW, your buddy at BMW Monrovia quoted me a higher price for the 3 Series I got from my guy. You ever wonder maybe your 10k price difference is because he's pushing the X1 on you? I asked you once and I'll ask you again, what did he quote you?

610looper - 6/26/2013 5:35:19 PM

+1 Boost

40k and not even xenon headlamps...why bother??

socaldrvr - 6/27/2013 12:55:35 AM

+2 Boost

Surprised you went for the sDrive over the xDrive - being a car guy and all. I've not driven either, but from what I've read the hydraulic steering combined with the performance control (mSport only?) are what makes the X1 a real sleeper. My guess is you were concerned with looks, and there's no doubt those sweet Y-spokes and the Terra leather look better than any mSport combo.