By Mike Hanley
Cars.com National January 8, 2008Vehicle Overview
BMW's small 1 Series debuts in the U.S. for 2008 as a coupe and a convertible. The uplevel 135i is powered by a twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels. A less expensive 128i is also offered. The 135i competes with other performance cars like the Nissan 350Z and Volkswagen R32.
Exterior
Compared to the 3 Series coupe, the 135i features a more upright grille and a C-pillar that's not as sleekly styled. A pronounced sheet metal crease runs the length of the coupe's sides, which are otherwise relatively smooth. Adaptive xenon headlights are standard, and BMW's Active Steering system, which can adjust how much the car turns for a given turn of the steering wheel, is optional.
The 135i is distinguished from its less powerful sibling, the 128i, thanks to an aero kit that BMW says provides greater downforce and improved brake cooling. The 135i also has a sport suspension, 18-inch wheels and performance brakes.
The 135i convertible features a power-operated soft-top that BMW says can open or close in 22 seconds. The top is available in black, taupe or Moonlight Black. The Moonlight Black top features metallic fibers integrated into the material, which BMW says makes the top look silver in sunlight.
Interior
There's room for four in the 135i; front occupants sit on bucket seats while there's room for two in the backseat. Simulated leather seating surfaces and real leather are available. Selecting the optional Sport Package brings sport seats with more aggressive bolstering. The convertible's leather seats have BMW's Sun Reflective Technology, which is designed to keep the temperature of seats exposed to sunlight lower.
Standard features include an auxiliary jack for connecting a portable music player to the 135i's audio system and a 60/40-split folding rear seat that can expand the coupe's trunk for carrying larger items. Choosing the optional navigation system equips the 1 Series with BMW's iDrive control system, which some find hard to use.
Under the Hood
The 135i uses a 300-horsepower, 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels using a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Safety
The coupe has six standard airbags, including side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags. An electronic stability system and antilock brakes are also standard. The convertible loses the side curtain airbags, but keeps the side-impact airbags and features popup roll bars.
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| David Thomas | Cars.com National | May 21, 2008 |
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | January 8, 2008 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Warren Brown | washingtonpost.com | May 25, 2008 |
| Jim Mateja | chicagotribune.com | April 13, 2008 |
| Steven Cole Smith | Orlando Sentinel | April 5, 2008 |
| Scott Burgess | The Detroit Newspapers | March 26, 2008 |
| Dan Neil | Los Angeles Times | March 19, 2008 |
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