Expert Reviews
By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National October 8, 2009Vehicle Overview
BMW's small 1 Series debuted in the U.S. for 2008 as a coupe and a convertible. The up-level 135i is powered by a 300-horsepower, twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine that drives the rear wheels. A less expensive 128i covered separately in the Cars.com Research section is also offered. The 135i competes with performance cars like the Nissan 370Z and Audi TT.
New for 2010
The only changes of note are that HD radio becomes standard and automatic high-beam headlights are a new stand-alone option.
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 follow the direction of the steering wheel
- New available automatic high-beam headlights
- 135i adds an aero kit that BMW says provides greater downforce and improved brake cooling
- 18-inch wheels standard on coupe, available on convertible
- Heated side mirrors and heated windshield washer jets
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Convertible features power-operated soft-top that BMW says can open or close in 22 seconds
Interior
Front occupants sit on bucket seats and there's room for two in the backseat.
- Simulated leather seating surfaces; real leather is optional
- Auxiliary jack for connecting an MP3 player
- 60/40-split folding rear seat can expand the coupe's trunk
- Optional Sport Package includes sport seats with more aggressive bolstering
- Convertible's leather seats have BMW's Sun Reflective Technology, which is designed to lower the temperature of seats exposed to sunlight
- Optional navigation system equips the 1 Series with BMW's iDrive control system
- Standard HD radio
Under the Hood
The 135i uses twin turbochargers and direct fuel injection to make 300 horsepower and 300 pounds-feet of torque.
- 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine
- Rear-wheel drive
- Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission
- Optional paddle shifters for automatic transmission
- Optional Active Steering system can adjust how much the car turns for a given turn of the steering wheel
- Compared to the 128i, the 135i has a stiffer sport suspension and performance brakes
Safety
Safety features include:
- Side-impact airbags for the front seats
- Side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants
- Electronic stability system
- Antilock brakes
- Convertible loses the side curtain airbags but keeps the side-impact airbags and features pop-up roll bars
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