01 · Überblick
Rear-wheel drive in the compact class
The 1 Series was BMW’s entry-level model and an exception in its class: rear-wheel drive, where all others had front-wheel drive. The five-door E87 was presented in March 2004 and introduced in September 2004. The three-door E81 followed at the end of May 2007, the Coupé E82 at the end of November 2007, and the Convertible E88 in April 2008.
The five-door was built at the Regensburg plant, all other variants in Leipzig. In April 2010, the millionth vehicle of the series rolled off the line there, a three-door 118d.
The dimensions are identical across all body styles in wheelbase: 2,660 millimetres. The five-door started at 4,227 millimetres in length and 1,751 millimetres in width; with the facelift in spring 2007 it adopted the dimensions of the three-door.
In June 2011, the F20 replaced the five-door, and on 22 September 2012 the F21 replaced the three-door. Coupé and Convertible ran until October 2013 and were replaced by the 2 Series, which first appeared as a Coupé in March 2014. The 1 Series thus lost two of its four body styles to a new model designation.
02 · Historie
Nine years of the 1 Series
Four body styles, two plants, one M model.
- 2004 Presentation of the five-door E87 in March, market launch in September. The car is BMW's entry-level model and is the only one in its class with rear-wheel drive.
- 2007 Facelift in spring; the five-door adopts the dimensions of the three-door. The three-door E81 arrives at the end of May, the Coupé E82 at the end of November.
- 2008 In April, the Convertible E88 follows as the last model in the series.
- 2009 From September, the 135i receives a turbocharger with twin-scroll technology instead of the bi-turbo.
- 2010 In April, the millionth 1 Series rolls off the line at the Leipzig plant, a three-door 118d.
- 2011 In March, Coupé and Convertible receive a facelift. In May, the first 1 Series M Coupés are delivered. In June, the F20 replaces the five-door.
- 2012 In summer, production of the 1 Series M Coupé ends after 6,331 cars. On 22 September, the F21 follows the three-door.
- 2013 In October, production of Coupé and Convertible ends. Both are replaced by the 2 Series.
03 · Modellübersicht
Engines and body styles
The model line ranges from the four-cylinder diesel to the turbocharged six-cylinder. Here are the documented key figures; the top model is the 1 Series M Coupé.
Quelle: Werks- und Literaturangaben · geprüft
Technische Daten anzeigen — komplette Modellmatrix
| Modell | Motor | Hubraum | Leistung | Bauzeit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118d | Vierzylinder-Diesel | 1.995 cm³ | depending on model year, 122 to 143 PS | Volume model, in April 2010 the millionth 1 Series |
| 135i (until 09/2009) | Inline six-cylinder, bi-turbo | 2.979 cm³ | 306 PS (225 kW) | Coupé and Convertible |
| 135i (ab 09/2009) | Inline six-cylinder, twin-scroll turbo | 2.979 cm³ | 306 PS (225 kW) | Coupé and Convertible |
| 1 Series M Coupé | M TwinPower Turbo, inline six-cylinder | 2.979 cm³ | 340 PS (250 kW) | 05/2011–summer 2012, 6,331 units |
04 · Karosserievarianten
Karosserievarianten
Five-door (E87)
The first model in the series, from September 2004. Built at the Regensburg plant. Initially 4,227 mm long and 1,751 mm wide; with the 2007 facelift it adopted the dimensions of the three-door.
Three-door (E81)
From end of May 2007, built at the Leipzig plant. Replaced on 22 September 2012 by the F21.
Coupé (E82)
From end of November 2007. Also the basis for the 1 Series M Coupé. Production ended October 2013, replaced by the 2 Series.
Convertible (E88)
From April 2008 as the last model in the series, facelift in March 2011, production ended October 2013.
05 · Motoren
The engine of the 1 Series M Coupé
Unlike the M3 and M5 of the era, the 1 Series M Coupé did not have a naturally aspirated engine but a turbocharged six-cylinder — as previously seen in the X5 M and X6 M.
M TwinPower Turbo · 2,979 cc · 340 PS — 1 Series M Coupé geprüft
Turbocharged inline six-cylinder, designated by BMW as M TwinPower Turbo. 340 PS at 5,900 rpm and 450 Nm between 1,500 and 4,500, briefly 500 Nm via overboost. At 1,495 kilograms kerb weight, this results in 4.9 seconds from zero to a hundred and 17.3 seconds from zero to two hundred. Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Bauart | Turbocharged inline six-cylinder (M TwinPower Turbo) |
| Hubraum | 2.979 cm³ |
| Leistung | 250 kW (340 PS) at 5,900/min |
| Drehmoment | 450 Nm at 1,500–4,500/min, 500 Nm via overboost |
| Leergewicht | 1.495 kg |
| 0–100 km/h | 4,9 s |
| 0–200 km/h | 17,3 s |
| Höchstgeschwindigkeit | 250 km/h, electronically limited |
| Differenzial | mechanical lock with variable lock value up to 100 percent |
| Bremsen | Compound-Bremsanlage |
| Fahrwerk | lightweight sport suspension |
| Stückzahl | 6.331 |
Wikipedia DE on the first-generation 1 Series, section M Coupé (E82)
2.979 cm³ · 306 PS — 135i geprüft
The most powerful non-M engine in the series. Until September 2009 with two turbochargers, thereafter with a twin-scroll charger. Offered in the Coupé and Convertible.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.979 cm³ |
| Leistung | 225 kW (306 PS) |
| Aufladung | until 09/2009 bi-turbo, thereafter twin-scroll turbocharger |
| Karosserien | Coupé and Convertible |
Wikipedia DE on the first-generation 1 Series
06 · Schwachstellen
Reliability & Weak Points
- In the N54 in the 135i and the 1 Series M Coupé, the high-pressure pump, injectors, and boost pressure control are the known cost points. The engine is considered powerful but maintenance-intensive.
- The four-cylinder diesels of the early model years have issues with the swirl flap system in the intake tract and the diesel particulate filter under short-distance driving.
- With the N43 petrol engines featuring stratified charging, injectors, ignition coils, and NOx sensors are the typical repairs.
- In the Convertible E88, the roof hydraulics and water drains are wear points. Moisture in the boot is a warning sign.
- Rust is not a widespread issue with this generation; blistering occurs occasionally on the rear wheel arches.
07 · Technik
Why the M comes at the end
What sets the 1 Series M Coupé apart from the others
The last four cars
Abmessungen
Sicherheit
Technische Daten — Achsübersetzungen & Getriebe
- Body styles
- five-door (E87), three-door (E81), Coupé (E82), Convertible (E88)
- Wheelbase
- 2,660 mm across all variants
- Length five-door
- 4,227 mm at launch
- Width five-door
- 1,751 mm at launch
- Drive
- rear-wheel drive
- Build locations
- five-door in Regensburg, all other variants in Leipzig
- Millionth 1 Series
- April 2010, three-door 118d, Leipzig plant
- 1 Series M Coupé
- 340 PS, 450 Nm (overboost 500 Nm), 1,495 kg, 6,331 units
- 1 Series M Coupé differential
- mechanical locking, variable lock value up to 100 percent
- Successor
- F20 (06/2011), F21 (09/2012), Coupé and Convertible from 2014 as 2 Series
08 · Topmodelle
Topmodelle
The model line has four body styles. Three of them have their own subpage.
E81 three-door
2007 to 2012, only from Leipzig. Dimensions identical to the five-door, but ten kilograms lighter — and the only 1 Series body style that never existed without a facelift.
Zur Unterseite →
E82 Coupé
2007 to 2013. 121 millimetres longer than the hatchback, but not a millimetre wider. The top model is the 135i, from 2010 with the N55 instead of the N54.
Zur Unterseite →
E88 Convertible
2008 to 2013. Deliberately with a fabric roof instead of a folding hardtop, operable up to 50 km/h. The 135i Convertible, at 1,392 millimetres, is the lowest model in the series.
Zur Unterseite →
09 · M GmbH
The 1 Series M Coupé
The first cars were delivered in May 2011, and production ended in summer 2012. A total of 6,331 units were built — a number that today places the car in a different league from its starting point, the 1 Series Coupé.
Technically, the car breaks with the M tradition of its time. While the M3 and M5 still had naturally aspirated engines, this one runs a turbocharged inline six with 2,979 cc and 340 PS — the same direction BMW had already taken with the X5 M and X6 M. 450 Nm is available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm, briefly 500 via overboost.
Added to this are a lightweight sport suspension, a mechanical differential lock with a variable lock value of up to 100 percent, and a compound brake system. At 1,495 kilograms, this results in 4.9 seconds to a hundred.
10 · Kaufberatung
What matters: engine choice and documentation
The regular 1 Series is an affordable used car. The 1 Series M Coupé is something entirely different — with 6,331 units, it is a collector's car with corresponding documentation requirements.
With the 1 Series M Coupé, carefully check documentation, vehicle number, and equipment. Conversions from a 135i are technically possible and do occur in the market.
With the N54, ask for the history of the high-pressure pump and injectors.
With the diesel, clarify the condition of the swirl flaps and particulate filter, as well as the previous owner's usage profile.
With the Convertible, operate the roof several times and check the drains.
Have the fault memory read out completely. For model years from 2007 onwards, this is more informative than any visual inspection.
A well-kept 130i with the naturally aspirated six-cylinder is the underrated 1 Series. The 1 Series M Coupé is the investment — but only with complete documentation.
11 · Die Konkurrenz
The competition
Audi A3 (8P)
The volume rival in the class, with front-wheel drive or quattro and significantly more space at the same overall length. The 1 Series lost buyers precisely on that count.
Volkswagen Golf GTI (Mk5/Mk6)
For the price of a 130i, one got a GTI with more everyday practicality. The difference lay in the drivetrain concept, not in performance.
Audi TT (8J) and Volkswagen Scirocco R
The rivals of the 1 Series Coupé and the 135i. Both front-wheel drive and closer to the mass market — the 1 Series remained the idiosyncratic proposal.
12 · Galerie
Bilder
Four body styles — and the 1 Series M Coupé in Valencia Orange.
13 · Quellen
Belege & Literatur
The primary source is the German-language Wikipedia on the first-generation 1 Series, which brings together production periods, body styles, dimensions, and the data of the 1 Series M Coupé. Image sources and licences are from Wikimedia Commons.