BMW 1 Series
Encyclopedia
The BMW 1 Series is an entry level sports car produced by the German automaker BMW
since 2004. The 1 Series is unusual in its class as it features rear-wheel drive, 50:50 weight balance, a longitudinally-mounted
engine and an advanced aluminum multilink suspension. It is currently BMW's second best-selling automobile worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the total sales in 2008.
and the current E90
3 Series. Because the coupe is the only rear wheel drive vehicle in its class, it is often considered the successor to the BMW 2002.
The 1 Series coupe (E82) and convertible (E88) went on sale in the United States and Canada in model year
2008 (30 June 2007) as the 128i and the 135i. Other countries received the 120i and 125i in both platforms. The convertible, unlike the 3 Series convertible, uses a soft-top instead of a folding hardtop. This is lighter, cheaper to manufacture and preserves more trunk space than the folding hardtop would allow.
The North American introduction of the coupe and cabriolet was during the second quarter of 2008, which was credited for helping BMW overtake Lexus as the top luxury brand.
Unlike its predecessor, the new vehicle is built on its own platform
(E87); however, it shares many components with the E90
3 Series. Shared parts include MacPherson struts in the front of the car and a trapezoidal-link rear axle. BMW has stated that it shares over 60% of components with the current E90 BMW 3 Series
.
The 135i comes with the world's first differential with double-helical ball bearings which have the advantage of running at an even lower operating temperature
reached more quickly than before thanks to the reduction of fluid required in the differential. The 123d (150 kW) heads up the range of diesels.
, and was preparing a new car that would replace their Rover 200 and 400
ranges, called Project R30, developed jointly with Project R50 and R40, that would become, respectively, the New Mini and the Rover 75
.
The new model, which would have been badged as the Rover 55, was planned to be built in the Longbridge plant
alongside the New Mini, and BMW were granted a £152 million subsidy by the British government to refurbish the plant.
In 2000, development was close to completion, but after BMW sold the Rover Group
, the project's rights were taken by BMW, which stopped the project and kept the only working prototype in their headquarters of Munich
.
Although BMW tried to sell the project's rights, first to MG Rover and later to a number of Chinese car manufacturers
, the model never entered production.
It has been rumoured that the Rover R30 was finished by BMW and transformed into the BMW 1-Series. However, BMW have stated that the 1-Series is unrelated to the R30, and was developed alongside the E90 3-Series.
range as the smallest and most affordable vehicle (depending on the engine model) in the BMW range
space, but 220 mm (8.7 in) shorter than the 3-series Coupé. The published unladen weights (EU) of the 120d, 123d and 135i Coupés' are 1450 kg (3,196.7 lb), 1495 kg (3,295.9 lb), and 1560 kg (3,439.2 lb), respectively. This is similar to an E46
3-series or an E34
5-series.
The 1 Series Coupé (E82) was unveiled in Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung
(IAA) 2007, which went on sale on November 24, 2007.
The 1-Series Cabriolet uses a fabric top, to differentiate it further from the now steel-roofed 3-series convertible E93
.
Even though many engines are same, the facelifted 1 Series fuel consumption is slightly higher in some models such as the 123d, and slightly lower in some models such as the 120i.
, developed by BMW
's motorsport branch BMW M
. It is currently the smallest and least expensive M model available. The name was chosen to avoid confusion with the original BMW M1
.
BMW M Boss Dr. Kay Segler officially announced the making of the M variant of the BMW 1-Series Coupé on July 9, 2010, via an official YouTube video and press release.
On December 9 2010, BMW officially announced all details on the car exclusively on the internet.
Unlike other M models (like the M3 and M5) which use M-derived engines named Sxx, the 1 Series M Coupé uses a M-tuned, twin turbocharged version of the N54
engine, as found in the 335is and Z4sDrive35is. Still a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with direct injection
, it produces 335 hp at 5900 rpm and 332 lbft torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm (with +369 lbft overboost). The redline is 7,000 rpm. Official 0-60 mph time is 4.7 seconds, quarter mile (~400 m) in 13.2 seconds. The car is electronically limited to 155 mi/h top speed. There is an M Drive button that activates a quicker throttle response program. The sole available gearbox is a six-speed manual transmission with an M gearshift knob, dry sump lubrication system, and 3.15:1 final drive ratio.
The body on the BMW 1 Series M Coupé has been modified as well, giving the car a significantly wider track and bigger body, as well as a body kit to distinguish it from the standard 1 Series. Despite the car's larger size, it is 77 lb (34.9 kg) lighter, giving it a weight of 3296 lb (1,495 kg).
The 1 Series M Coupé is available in Valencia Orange and Black Sapphire colors, both metallic. Only non-metallic color available is Alpine White. All 1 M Coupe comes with Y-Spoke Style 359M alloy wheels.
BMW was originally going to release the E82 1M Coupé as a limited edition model of approximately 2,700 units. Due to positive response, the company lifted the cap and will produce as many E82 1M Coupés as they can until production ends in Spring of 2012.
The 1M was featured on Top Gear on 26 June 2011 and recorded a time of 1:25.0 round the Top Gear test track
(the fastest M series BMW so far) and also beat the Porsche Cayman R and Lotus Evora S in a drag race. The 1M was met with favourable reviews with Jeremy Clarkson likening it to the original Volkswagen Golf GTI.
In the 1-series hatchback commercial, Kermit the Frog
was shown driving a BMW 1 Series around in a desert making figure eights, showcasing the car's agile nature and playful handling.
BMW is showing a 3-episode web movie http://1series.bmw.jp/ promo (filmed in Hamburg
with a New York
cast) that looks almost like a film noir and feels more like a mini–TV movie or film, with the main focus on the actors and more subtle appearances of the car itself. These episodes were made for viewing in Japan
ese movie theaters.
BMW recently released a viral campaign to promote the BMW 1 Series. The campaign centered on an online video 'mockumentary' called Rampenfest that chronicles the adventures of a small Bavarian town attempting to use a giant ramp to literally launch the new BMW from Germany to the U.S.
Jeremy Clarkson
, and other journalists raised a number of other complaints about the 1-series which were or are aesthetic, and have influenced sales demographics. At varying times, the 1-series has been described as having 'Bread-van' looks, or as a 'Shameless attempt by BMW to sell a badge rather than a car'. Clarkson in particular had described the average BMW 1-series owner as receiving the following assessment from his next door neighbours: 'Hmm, that’s an expensive car. He must be off his rocker.' Clarkson went so far as to end his review for the Sunday Times with 'The 1-series is crap.'
Critical response has dramatically changed in recent years with the introduction of the coupe and convertible model - which have been described as 'returning BMW to its roots', and the 135i has been described as the spiritual successor of the original E30 M3 of the 1980s. Clarkson himself awarded the 2008 model five stars, and had the following to say: 'The 135 coupé is the best car BMW makes.' Generally, the 1 Series coupé is more popular with critics and fans than the hatchback model.
The BMW 118d, which is not sold in North America, won the prestigious 'World Green Car Award' in 2008 being the only performance oriented car with CO2 emissions and fuel consumption comparable to Toyota Prius
.
In 2006, a BMW 120d modified with a BMW customer racing kit available for €95,000, entered by "Schubert Motors" repeated a similar if not better result. It scored 5th in a field of 220 cars, many of them (Porsche 911 GT3
, BMW M3
, Lamborghini Gallardo
, Aston Martin
, Maserati
) were much more powerful than the 120d Motorsport, thus a significantly stronger field of competitors than in 1998.
The engines below are preceded by their model year
introduction.
In early 2006 the 5-speed manual transmission
in the 116i and 118i was phased out in favor of the 6-speed gearbox available across the rest of the range. From 2011, 135i model is available with 7 speed DCT gearbox.
and Leipzig
, Germany.
During its first full year on the market in 2005, it became one of BMW's most successful products with only the 3 and 5 Series
selling better.
Sales statistics according to BMW's annual reports:
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
since 2004. The 1 Series is unusual in its class as it features rear-wheel drive, 50:50 weight balance, a longitudinally-mounted
Longitudinal engine
In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back....
engine and an advanced aluminum multilink suspension. It is currently BMW's second best-selling automobile worldwide, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the total sales in 2008.
History
The 1 Series was launched globally in Autumn 2004 and shares many structural, chassis, powertrain, hardware and electronic elements with the larger 3 Series. The model was started to provide a lower point of entry into the BMW range as the 3 Series moved gradually up-market. Initially launched as a five-door hatchback, a three-door version was also launched in July 2007. The 1 Series is priced between the MINIMINI (BMW)
Mini is a British automotive marque owned by BMW which specialises in small cars.Mini originated as a specific vehicle, a small car originally known as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and developed into a brand encompassing a range of...
and the current E90
BMW E90
The saloon model was the first model sold of the 5th generation BMW 3 series. Debuting in the US in 2006, the E90 came in two trims, the 325i/xi and 330i/xi models...
3 Series. Because the coupe is the only rear wheel drive vehicle in its class, it is often considered the successor to the BMW 2002.
The 1 Series coupe (E82) and convertible (E88) went on sale in the United States and Canada in model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
2008 (30 June 2007) as the 128i and the 135i. Other countries received the 120i and 125i in both platforms. The convertible, unlike the 3 Series convertible, uses a soft-top instead of a folding hardtop. This is lighter, cheaper to manufacture and preserves more trunk space than the folding hardtop would allow.
The North American introduction of the coupe and cabriolet was during the second quarter of 2008, which was credited for helping BMW overtake Lexus as the top luxury brand.
Unlike its predecessor, the new vehicle is built on its own platform
Automobile platform
An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...
(E87); however, it shares many components with the E90
BMW E90
The saloon model was the first model sold of the 5th generation BMW 3 series. Debuting in the US in 2006, the E90 came in two trims, the 325i/xi and 330i/xi models...
3 Series. Shared parts include MacPherson struts in the front of the car and a trapezoidal-link rear axle. BMW has stated that it shares over 60% of components with the current E90 BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
.
The 135i comes with the world's first differential with double-helical ball bearings which have the advantage of running at an even lower operating temperature
Operating temperature
An operating temperature is the temperature at which an electrical or mechanical device operates. The device will operate effectively within a specified temperature range which varies based on the device function and application context, and ranges from the minimum operating temperature to the...
reached more quickly than before thanks to the reduction of fluid required in the differential. The 123d (150 kW) heads up the range of diesels.
Rumoured origins
In 1996, BMW owned the Rover GroupRover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
, and was preparing a new car that would replace their Rover 200 and 400
Rover 400
The second generation 400 Series, codenamed Theta or HH-R, was launched in the summer of 1995 as a hatchback and later a saloon. This time it was based on the Honda Domani, which had been released in Japan in 1992, and was sold as part of the European Honda Civic range in five-door hatchback form...
ranges, called Project R30, developed jointly with Project R50 and R40, that would become, respectively, the New Mini and the Rover 75
Rover 75
The Rover 75 is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK...
.
The new model, which would have been badged as the Rover 55, was planned to be built in the Longbridge plant
Longbridge plant
The Longbridge plant is an industrial complex situated in the Longbridge area of Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is currently owned by SAIC Group and is a manufacturing and research and development facility for its MG Motor subsidiary....
alongside the New Mini, and BMW were granted a £152 million subsidy by the British government to refurbish the plant.
In 2000, development was close to completion, but after BMW sold the Rover Group
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
, the project's rights were taken by BMW, which stopped the project and kept the only working prototype in their headquarters of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Although BMW tried to sell the project's rights, first to MG Rover and later to a number of Chinese car manufacturers
Automobile industry in China
Automotive industry in the People's Republic of China has become the largest automotive market in the world since late 2008. China's automobile industry has been in rapid development since the early 1990s...
, the model never entered production.
It has been rumoured that the Rover R30 was finished by BMW and transformed into the BMW 1-Series. However, BMW have stated that the 1-Series is unrelated to the R30, and was developed alongside the E90 3-Series.
3/5 door hatchback (E81/87)
The 1 Series was originally sold as a five-door hatchback, with range of straight four- and six-cylinder engines mated with five- or six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmissions. It replaced the BMW 3 Series CompactBMW Compact
The BMW Compact is a compact car / small family car, basically a truncated liftback version of the BMW 3 Series, produced by the German automaker BMW between 1993 and 2004. From 1994, it was based on the BMW E36 platform, switching to the BMW E46 platform in 2001...
range as the smallest and most affordable vehicle (depending on the engine model) in the BMW range
Coupé/Convertible (E82/E88)
Like the three- and five-door BMW 1 Series models, the E82 also features a combination of equipment, marketed by BMW as EfficientDynamics, to reduce fuel consumption (see below). The Coupé is 133 mm (5.2 in) longer than the hatch, creating 20 litres (0.71 cubic feet) of extra bootTrunk (automobile)
The trunk or boot of an automobile or car is the vehicle's main storage, luggage, or cargo compartment. Trunk is used in North American English and Jamaican English; boot is used elsewhere in the English speaking world. Trunk is also primarily used in many non-English speaking regions, such as...
space, but 220 mm (8.7 in) shorter than the 3-series Coupé. The published unladen weights (EU) of the 120d, 123d and 135i Coupés' are 1450 kg (3,196.7 lb), 1495 kg (3,295.9 lb), and 1560 kg (3,439.2 lb), respectively. This is similar to an E46
BMW E46
The BMW E46 is the fourth generation of the 3 Series compact executive cars produced by BMW, produced from 1998 when it succeeded the BMW E36 until it was replaced by the BMW E90 in 2005....
3-series or an E34
BMW E34
The BMW E34 is the version of the BMW 5 Series automobile built from February 1988 to 1995 with the Touring model ending June 1996. It replaced the BMW E28 in 1988 and was replaced by the E39 in 1996....
5-series.
The 1 Series Coupé (E82) was unveiled in Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung
Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung
The Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung , also known as the Frankfurt Motor Show or Frankfurt Auto Show, is one of the world's largest motor shows. It is held biennially in Frankfurt, Germany. The show occupies 12 buildings.The IAA is organized by the Association of the German Automotive Industry...
(IAA) 2007, which went on sale on November 24, 2007.
The 1-Series Cabriolet uses a fabric top, to differentiate it further from the now steel-roofed 3-series convertible E93
BMW E90
The saloon model was the first model sold of the 5th generation BMW 3 series. Debuting in the US in 2006, the E90 came in two trims, the 325i/xi and 330i/xi models...
.
2007
In 2007 the 1 Series gained a facelift along with the introduction of a three-door hatchback, coupe and convertible body styles. Engines were upgraded and more fuel efficient, along with new bumpers and other exterior and interior updates.2011
In 2011, the coupé and cabriolet bodies gained a facelift. Exterior changes to the model were minor headlight and taillight revisions, new front/rear bumpers and minor revisions to the interior. The only new engine was the N55 which replaced the N54 twin-turbo, with power and torque output remaining the same.Even though many engines are same, the facelifted 1 Series fuel consumption is slightly higher in some models such as the 123d, and slightly lower in some models such as the 120i.
M version
The BMW 1 Series M Coupé is a high-performance version of the BMW 1 Series CoupeBMW 1 Series (E81)
The BMW 1 Series is an entry level sports car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004. The 1 Series is unusual in its class as it features rear-wheel drive, 50:50 weight balance, a longitudinally-mounted engine and an advanced aluminum multilink suspension...
, developed by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
's motorsport branch BMW M
BMW M
BMW M GmbH is a subsidiary of German car manufacturer BMW AG.BMW M, also known as M-Technik or just "M" was initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, which was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s...
. It is currently the smallest and least expensive M model available. The name was chosen to avoid confusion with the original BMW M1
BMW M1
The BMW M1 is a sports car that was produced by German automaker BMW from 1978 to 1981.In the late 1970s, Italian manufacturer Lamborghini entered into an agreement with BMW to build a production racing car in sufficient quantity for homologation. The result was sold to the public, from 1978 to...
.
BMW M Boss Dr. Kay Segler officially announced the making of the M variant of the BMW 1-Series Coupé on July 9, 2010, via an official YouTube video and press release.
On December 9 2010, BMW officially announced all details on the car exclusively on the internet.
Unlike other M models (like the M3 and M5) which use M-derived engines named Sxx, the 1 Series M Coupé uses a M-tuned, twin turbocharged version of the N54
BMW N54
The N54 is a direct injection twin-turbocharged straight-6 automobile engine from BMW. It was launched in late 2006 as a high-performance option for the BMW 3-Series, first to be released along with the new 3-series E92 Coupé, to be followed closely by other existing 3-series models, then with...
engine, as found in the 335is and Z4sDrive35is. Still a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with direct injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
, it produces 335 hp at 5900 rpm and 332 lbft torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm (with +369 lbft overboost). The redline is 7,000 rpm. Official 0-60 mph time is 4.7 seconds, quarter mile (~400 m) in 13.2 seconds. The car is electronically limited to 155 mi/h top speed. There is an M Drive button that activates a quicker throttle response program. The sole available gearbox is a six-speed manual transmission with an M gearshift knob, dry sump lubrication system, and 3.15:1 final drive ratio.
The body on the BMW 1 Series M Coupé has been modified as well, giving the car a significantly wider track and bigger body, as well as a body kit to distinguish it from the standard 1 Series. Despite the car's larger size, it is 77 lb (34.9 kg) lighter, giving it a weight of 3296 lb (1,495 kg).
The 1 Series M Coupé is available in Valencia Orange and Black Sapphire colors, both metallic. Only non-metallic color available is Alpine White. All 1 M Coupe comes with Y-Spoke Style 359M alloy wheels.
BMW was originally going to release the E82 1M Coupé as a limited edition model of approximately 2,700 units. Due to positive response, the company lifted the cap and will produce as many E82 1M Coupés as they can until production ends in Spring of 2012.
The 1M was featured on Top Gear on 26 June 2011 and recorded a time of 1:25.0 round the Top Gear test track
Top Gear Test Track
The Top Gear test track is used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear. It is located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom. The track was designed by Lotus Cars...
(the fastest M series BMW so far) and also beat the Porsche Cayman R and Lotus Evora S in a drag race. The 1M was met with favourable reviews with Jeremy Clarkson likening it to the original Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Market
The 1 Series Coupé was marketed in the US as a spiritual successor to the BMW 2002, a two-door from the 1970s known for its light weight and high level of performance (relative to the era). It was visually distinctive with its long bonnet, slim cabin and short rear.In the 1-series hatchback commercial, Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
was shown driving a BMW 1 Series around in a desert making figure eights, showcasing the car's agile nature and playful handling.
BMW is showing a 3-episode web movie http://1series.bmw.jp/ promo (filmed in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
with a New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
cast) that looks almost like a film noir and feels more like a mini–TV movie or film, with the main focus on the actors and more subtle appearances of the car itself. These episodes were made for viewing in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese movie theaters.
BMW recently released a viral campaign to promote the BMW 1 Series. The campaign centered on an online video 'mockumentary' called Rampenfest that chronicles the adventures of a small Bavarian town attempting to use a giant ramp to literally launch the new BMW from Germany to the U.S.
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
, and other journalists raised a number of other complaints about the 1-series which were or are aesthetic, and have influenced sales demographics. At varying times, the 1-series has been described as having 'Bread-van' looks, or as a 'Shameless attempt by BMW to sell a badge rather than a car'. Clarkson in particular had described the average BMW 1-series owner as receiving the following assessment from his next door neighbours: 'Hmm, that’s an expensive car. He must be off his rocker.' Clarkson went so far as to end his review for the Sunday Times with 'The 1-series is crap.'
Critical response has dramatically changed in recent years with the introduction of the coupe and convertible model - which have been described as 'returning BMW to its roots', and the 135i has been described as the spiritual successor of the original E30 M3 of the 1980s. Clarkson himself awarded the 2008 model five stars, and had the following to say: 'The 135 coupé is the best car BMW makes.' Generally, the 1 Series coupé is more popular with critics and fans than the hatchback model.
The BMW 118d, which is not sold in North America, won the prestigious 'World Green Car Award' in 2008 being the only performance oriented car with CO2 emissions and fuel consumption comparable to Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, formerly a compact sedan developed and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation...
.
Motorsports
The racing version of 120d is called BMW 120d Motorsport. The inline-four engine was rated 245 PS@4200rpm and 450 newton metre@3000rpm with 5000rpm redline. It weighs only 1135 kg (2,502.2 lb) with a driver. It includes a 100 l (26.4 US gal; 22 imp gal) diesel tank.In 2006, a BMW 120d modified with a BMW customer racing kit available for €95,000, entered by "Schubert Motors" repeated a similar if not better result. It scored 5th in a field of 220 cars, many of them (Porsche 911 GT3
Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
, BMW M3
BMW M3
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93 3-series, and sold with coupé, sedan and convertible body styles...
, Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...
, Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
, Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
) were much more powerful than the 120d Motorsport, thus a significantly stronger field of competitors than in 1998.
Body styles
| Chassis code | E81 | E82 | E87 | E88 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body type | 3-door hatchback | Coupé | 5-door hatchback | Cabriolet |
| Model | |Years | |||
| 116i | 2007- | |||
| 2004- | ||||
| 118i | 2007- | |||
| 2004- | 2008- | |||
| 120i | 2007- | 2009- | 2004- | 2007- |
| 125i | ||||
| 2008- | ||||
| 2008- | ||||
| 128i | ||||
| 2008- | ||||
| 2008- | ||||
| 130i | 2007- | |||
| 2005- | ||||
| 135i | ||||
| 2007- | ||||
| 2007- | ||||
| 116d | 2009- | |||
| 2009 | ||||
| 118d | 2007- | 2009- | 2004- | 2008- |
| 120d | 2007- | 2007- | 2004- | 2008- |
| 123d | 2007- | 2007- | 2007- | 2008- |
Engines
According to the BMW website the 135i Coupé accelerates from 0–100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 5.3 seconds, however Car and Driver magazine recorded 4.7 seconds for 0-60 mph acceleration, and a quarter mile time of 13.3 seconds at 106 mph (170.6 km/h). Top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155.3 mph). Fuel efficiency is increased to 30.7 miles per US gallon, an improvement of 18% compared to its predecessor.The engines below are preceded by their model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
introduction.
In early 2006 the 5-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
in the 116i and 118i was phased out in favor of the 6-speed gearbox available across the rest of the range. From 2011, 135i model is available with 7 speed DCT gearbox.
| Model | Year | Engine code | Engine type | Power | Torque | Acceleration 0–100 km/h | Top speed | Body Styles | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline engines | ||||||||||
| 116i | 2004–2007 | N45B16 BMW N45 The N45 is a compact straight-4 automobile piston engine from BMW. The series debuted with the E87 116i in 2004. The engine does not have Valvetronic.-Models:... |
1596 cc I4 16v | 115 PS | 150 N·m (110.6 ft·lbf) | 10.9 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) |
200 kilometre per hour (MT) | E87 | ||
| 2007−2009 | N43B16 BMW N43 The N43 family of engines was introduced in 2007. The N43 is a group of 1.6 & 2 L new petrol engines, with a bore×stroke of 84×90 mm, 1,995 cc displacement, and 4 valves per cylinder for the 2.0 litre version... |
1599 cc I4 16v | 122 PS | 160 N·m (118 ft·lbf) | 10.1 s (MT) 11.1 s (AT) |
204 kilometre per hour (MT) 202 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87; E81 | |||
| 2009– | N43B20 BMW N43 The N43 family of engines was introduced in 2007. The N43 is a group of 1.6 & 2 L new petrol engines, with a bore×stroke of 84×90 mm, 1,995 cc displacement, and 4 valves per cylinder for the 2.0 litre version... |
1995 cc I4 16v | 122 PS | 185 N·m (136.4 ft·lbf) | 9.9 s (MT) | 204 kilometre per hour (MT) | E87; E81 | |||
| 118i | 2005–2007 | N46B20 BMW N46 The N46 is the larger of two modern straight-4 automobile piston engine families from BMW, the smaller being the N45. The series debuted with the E46 316i and 316ti and E87 120i in 2004.-Models:-N46B18:... |
1995 cc I4 16v | 129 PS | 180 newton metre | 9.4 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 10.1 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
208 kilometre per hour (MT) 204 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87 | ||
| 2007– | N43B20 BMW N43 The N43 family of engines was introduced in 2007. The N43 is a group of 1.6 & 2 L new petrol engines, with a bore×stroke of 84×90 mm, 1,995 cc displacement, and 4 valves per cylinder for the 2.0 litre version... |
1995 cc I4 16v | 143 PS | 190 newton metre | 8.7 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 9.3 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
210 kilometre per hour (MT) 210 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87; E81; E88 | |||
| 120i | 2004–2007 | N46B20 BMW N46 The N46 is the larger of two modern straight-4 automobile piston engine families from BMW, the smaller being the N45. The series debuted with the E46 316i and 316ti and E87 120i in 2004.-Models:-N46B18:... |
1995 cc I4 16v | 150 PS | 200 newton metre | 7.9 s (MT) 9.3 s (AT) |
212 kilometre per hour (MT) 208 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87 | ||
| 2007– | N43B20 BMW N43 The N43 family of engines was introduced in 2007. The N43 is a group of 1.6 & 2 L new petrol engines, with a bore×stroke of 84×90 mm, 1,995 cc displacement, and 4 valves per cylinder for the 2.0 litre version... |
1995 cc I4 16v | 170 PS | 210 newton metre | 7.7 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 8.3 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
224 kilometre per hour (MT) 222 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87; E81; E82; E88 | |||
| 125i | 2008– | N52B30 BMW N52 The BMW N52 is a straight-6 engine made by BMW, which debuted in 2004 on the BMW E63 630Ci. The N52 is BMW's 12th generation production straight-6 engine.Its crankcase is made entirely of magnesium and aluminum, a first in the world of engine construction... |
2996 cc I6 24v | 218 PS | 270 newton metre | 6.4 s (MT) 7.0 s (AT) |
245 kilometre per hour (MT) 243 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E88; E82 | ||
| 128i | 2008– | N52B30 BMW N52 The BMW N52 is a straight-6 engine made by BMW, which debuted in 2004 on the BMW E63 630Ci. The N52 is BMW's 12th generation production straight-6 engine.Its crankcase is made entirely of magnesium and aluminum, a first in the world of engine construction... |
2996 cc I6 24v | 230 PS | 271 newton metre | 5.7 s (MT) 6.4 s (AT) |
209.2 kilometre per hour (MT/AT) 241.4 kilometre per hour (MT/AT)(with Sport Package) |
E88; E82 | ||
| 2008– | N51B30 SULEV | 2996 cc I6 24v | 230 PS | 271 newton metre | 5.7 s (MT) 6.4 s (AT) |
209.2 kilometre per hour (MT/AT) 241.4 kilometre per hour (MT/AT)(with Sport Package) |
E88; E82 | |||
| 130i | 2006–2009 | N52B30 BMW N52 The BMW N52 is a straight-6 engine made by BMW, which debuted in 2004 on the BMW E63 630Ci. The N52 is BMW's 12th generation production straight-6 engine.Its crankcase is made entirely of magnesium and aluminum, a first in the world of engine construction... |
2996 cc I6 24v | 265 PS | 315 newton metre | 5.5 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 6.3 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
250 kilometre per hour (MT/AT) | E87; E81 | ||
| 130i | 2009– | N52B30 BMW N52 The BMW N52 is a straight-6 engine made by BMW, which debuted in 2004 on the BMW E63 630Ci. The N52 is BMW's 12th generation production straight-6 engine.Its crankcase is made entirely of magnesium and aluminum, a first in the world of engine construction... |
2996 cc I6 24v | 258 PS | 310 newton metre | 5.5 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 6.3 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
250 kilometre per hour (MT/AT) | E87; E81 | ||
| 135i | 2008–2010 | N54B30 BMW N54 The N54 is a direct injection twin-turbocharged straight-6 automobile engine from BMW. It was launched in late 2006 as a high-performance option for the BMW 3-Series, first to be released along with the new 3-series E92 Coupé, to be followed closely by other existing 3-series models, then with... |
2979 cc I6 24v twin turbo | |306 PS | 400 newton metre | 4.8 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 4.7 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
250 kilometre per hour (MT/AT) | E88; E82 | ||
| 2011– | N55B30 BMW N55 The N55 is a turbocharged straight-6 automobile engine from BMW. It was launched in early 2009 in the new BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo in the BMW 535i GT model... |
2979 cc I6 24v turbo | |306 PS | 400 newton metre | 4.6 s (DCT) (estimated) |
250 kilometre per hour (MT/AT) | E88; E82 | |||
| Diesel engines | ||||||||||
| 116d | 2009– | N47D20A - N47D20C BMW N47 BMW N47 is BMW's latest four-cylinder common rail diesel engine, with many improvements over its predecessor, the BMW M47.Having made its debut in the face lifted BMW E87 and the E81 which were both introduced in March 2007, it was also offered from the outset in the BMW E82 and E88, which were... |
1995 cc I4 | 116 PS | 260 newton metre | 10.3 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) |
201 kilometre per hour (MT) | E87; E81 | ||
| 118d | 2004–2007 | M47TU2D20 BMW M47 The BMW M47 is a diesel straight-4 engine produced from 1998 through 2007, using at the beginning of its life high-pressure injection system over the Common Rail Applications:* 1999-2004 Rover 75 CDT* 2004-2005 Rover 75 CDTi... |
1995 cc I4 | 122 PS | 280 newton metre | 10.0 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) |
201 kilometre per hour (MT) | E87 | ||
| 2007– | N47D20 BMW N47 BMW N47 is BMW's latest four-cylinder common rail diesel engine, with many improvements over its predecessor, the BMW M47.Having made its debut in the face lifted BMW E87 and the E81 which were both introduced in March 2007, it was also offered from the outset in the BMW E82 and E88, which were... |
1995 cc I4 | 143 PS | 300 newton metre | 8.9 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 9.0 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
210 kilometre per hour (MT) 210 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87; E81; E82; E88 | |||
| 120d | 2004–2007 | M47TU2D20 BMW M47 The BMW M47 is a diesel straight-4 engine produced from 1998 through 2007, using at the beginning of its life high-pressure injection system over the Common Rail Applications:* 1999-2004 Rover 75 CDT* 2004-2005 Rover 75 CDTi... |
1995 cc I4 | 163 PS | 340 newton metre | 7.9 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 8.2 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
220 kilometre per hour (MT) 217 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87 | ||
| 2007– | N47D20 BMW N47 BMW N47 is BMW's latest four-cylinder common rail diesel engine, with many improvements over its predecessor, the BMW M47.Having made its debut in the face lifted BMW E87 and the E81 which were both introduced in March 2007, it was also offered from the outset in the BMW E82 and E88, which were... |
1995 cc I4 | 177 PS | 350 newton metre | 7.5 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) 7.7 s (AT Automatic transmission An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually... ) |
228 kilometre per hour (MT) 226 kilometre per hour (AT) |
E87; E81; E82; E88 | |||
| 123d | 2007– | N47D20 BMW N47 BMW N47 is BMW's latest four-cylinder common rail diesel engine, with many improvements over its predecessor, the BMW M47.Having made its debut in the face lifted BMW E87 and the E81 which were both introduced in March 2007, it was also offered from the outset in the BMW E82 and E88, which were... |
1995 cc I4 | 204 PS | 400 newton metre | 7.0 s (MT Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... ) |
238 kilometre per hour (MT) | E87; E81; E82; E88 | ||
Production
The 1 Series is built in RegensburgRegensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
and Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany.
During its first full year on the market in 2005, it became one of BMW's most successful products with only the 3 and 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
selling better.
Sales statistics according to BMW's annual reports:
| Year | Total | 5-door | 3-door | Coupé | Cabriolet | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 39,247 | 39,247 | ||||
| Launched in September. | ||||||
| 2005 | 149,493 | 149,493 | ||||
| 2006 | 151,918 | 151,918 | ||||
| 2007 | 165,803 | 133,525 | 30,984 | 1,287 | 7 | Facelift in March. 3-door version launched in May. |
| 2008 | 225,095 | 122,666 | 49,559 | 26,304 | 26,566 | |
| 2009 | 216,944 | 120,323 | 44,043 | 24,081 | 28,506 |