BMW 1 Series

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BMW 1 Series
BMW 1 Series
Manufacturer: BMW
Production: 2004–present
Predecessor: BMW Compact
Class: Small-luxury car / small family car
Body style: 5-door hatchback
Platform: FR E87
Engine: 1.6 L I4
2.0 L I4
2.0 L diesel I4
3.0 L I6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
6-speed manual
6-speed semi-automatic
Wheelbase: 2660 mm
Length: 4227 mm
Width: 1751 mm
Height: 1430 mm
Curb weight: 1320-1450 kg
Similar: Alfa Romeo 147
Audi A3
Volvo C30
Volkswagen Golf

The BMW 1 Series (code name E87) is a Small-luxury car / small family car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004. Designed to compete against the Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf, the 1 Series is the only vehicle in its class featuring rear-wheel drive and a longitudinally-mounted engine.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The 1 Series was first offered to the market in 2004 as a 5-door hatchback. It replaced the BMW 3-series Compact range and is currently the smallest and most 'affordable' vehicle (depending on the engine model) in the BMW range. Unlike its predecessor, the new vehicle is built on its own platform (E87), however, it shares many components with the E90 3 Series. These 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 BMW 3-series E90 [1]

The 1 Series is built in Regensburg, Germany, with some of the engines coming from the Hams Hall plant in Birmingham, England.

During its first full year on the market in 2005, it became one of BMW's most successful products. 149,493 units were sold, coming in third place: only the 3- and 5 Series sold better.[1]

[edit] Criticism
The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.

The 1-Series has been a controversial product for BMW.

Few owners and mostly professional critics alike have voiced annoyance at the 1-Series' lack of reasonable boot or cabin space to accommodate the rear wheel drive drivetrain for the sake of driving dynamics.[citation needed] However, comparison to the 1-Series' competitors show a similarity in boot size, with the 130i having a 330L boot capacity, compared to the 350L and 281L boot capacities of the Volkswagen Golf R32 and the Audi S3 respectively.

Some reviewers have commented that the 1-Series is believed to have moved BMW downmarket with a below-par compact hatchback that is considered by many to be overpriced.[citation needed] BMW sales figures for the 1-Series, however, do not fully reflect this opinion. Areas of criticism have included relatively poor quality interior build and materials, small rear passenger space and "unrefined" ride.[citation needed] The styling is considered by many to be modern and progressive while others believe it to be misproportioned and inelegant. Again, however, most of the criticism has been by so called "professionals" and not the people who buy, own and live with these cars day to day.

Rear view of a 1 Series
Enlarge
Rear view of a 1 Series

There have been many professional comparisons with the similarly priced and successful Audi A3 and the cheaper and very successful Mercedes-Benz A-Class. In some comparisons by high-profile reviewers, the 1-Series was judged inferior in terms of build, price, practicality and refinement[citation needed], yet high sales of the 1-Series and overall customer satisfaction show that the reviews are more than likely somewhat wide of the mark. Many owners familiar with all 3 marques place the BMW on a par with the Audi and well above the A Class in terms of build and significantly ahead in terms of dynamics.

BMW 1-Series owners generally do not agree with the Top Gear reviews, and hold that the particular reviewer in question has a significant bias against BMW cars in general. It is also apparent that Top Gear contradicts itself, with one presenter praising the driving dynamics highly.

[edit] Engines

The engines available for E87 are basically the same as found in the E90/E91, with exception for the 3.0 L inline-6, which is slightly modified to produce more power. The engines below are preceded by their model year introduction.

In early 2006 the 5-speed manual transmission in the 116i and 118i, were phased out. Consequently, all models are equipped with the 6-speed by default.

Petrol engines:

  • 2004- 116i: N45B16 1596 cc I4, 16 valves, 115 hp/85 kW, 150 Nm
  • 2005- 118i: N46B20 1995 cc I4, 16 valves, 129 hp/95 kW, 180 Nm
  • 2004- 120i: N46B20 1995 cc I4, 16 valves, 150 hp/110 kW, 200 Nm
  • 2006- 130i: N52B30 2996 cc I6, 24 valves, 265 hp/195 kW, 315 Nm

Upcoming versions:

  • 2006- 125i: N52B30 2996 cc I6, 24 valves, 218 hp, 295 nm (* Not yet orderable)
  • 2007- 135ti: N54B30 2979 cc I6, 24 valves, 306hp/225 kW, 400Nm (* Not yet orderable) [2]

Diesel engines:

  • 2004- 118d: M47TU2D20 1995 cc I4, 16 valves, 122 hp/90 kW, 280 Nm
  • 2004- 120d: M47TU2D20 1995 cc I4, 16 valves, 163 hp/120 kW, 340 Nm

[edit] Production

Sales statistics according to BMW.

  • 2004: 39,247 (Launched in September)
  • 2005: 149,493

[edit] Future versions

Current event marker This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future automobile.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the vehicle.

Aside from the 5-door hatchback, BMW is believed to be developing more versions on the same platform. Rumours suggest that these plans include a 3-door hatchback and a 2-door coupé convertible. [3] A future M version has been denied by BMW (also to avoid confusion with the legendary M1). However, a 135ti using the new biturbo 3.0 L straight-6 with over 300PS seems quite possible. A 2-door coupe cabriolet version has been spotted testing on the Nürburgring track.

[edit] Promotion

The vehicle is currently promoted by Kermit from the Muppet Show. There is a commercial in which Kermit drives a BMW 1 Series around in a desert making figure eights, showcasing the car's agile nature and playful handling. The commercial has become a viewer favourite.

[edit] Racing

In 1998, a BMW E36 320d had won the 24 Hours Nürburgring, being able to drive very long turns. In 2006, a BMW 120d modified with a BMW customer racing kit available for 95.000 Euros [4], entered by "Schubert Motors" [5] repeated a similar if not better result. It scored 5th [6] in a field of 220 cars, many of them (Porsche 911 GT3, BMW M3, Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin, Maserati) much more powerful than the 245 PS of the 120d, thus a significantly stronger field of competitors than in 1998. The racing version of 120d is called BMW 120d Motorsport [7] and it weighs only 1135 kg/2500lbs with a driver. It includes a 100 liter/25 gallon diesel tank for endurance racing and has a maximum torque of 450Nm at 3000rpm - the maximum power, 245bhp is at 4200rpm and the redline is only at 5000rpm.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.bmwgroup.com/, Corporate News

[edit] Trivia

German 116i with optional M Sport Package
Enlarge
German 116i with optional M Sport Package
  • In the United Kingdom, customers who purchased a 1 Series before its release were invited by BMW to an all-day hospitality event at their Rockingham test track. On departure, each guest was given a copy of a special BMW 1 Series edition of the popular Gran Turismo 4 PlayStation 2 videogame.
  • In a road test in the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson gave the 1-Series 1 out of 5 stars. His reason for this low score was what he believed was excessive compromise in the name of driver involvement (which was the only thing which he liked), namely lack of interior space and practicality. He also detested the styling and disapproved of the poor interior quality, which he felt was not up to the standards one would expect from a £15,000 (minimum) to £32,000 (maximum) premium BMW.
  • Clarkson's Top Gear colleague, James May, was more lenient than him as he liked the 116i's bold styling (unlike Clarkson) and driving dynamics. He still viewed the interior as poor quality and lacking in practicality. In May's words, "If the [£15,000] 116i was all the car you could need then it [the price] would be OK. But it just isn't."
  • Top Gear later compared a 130i with a Volkswagen Golf R32 and preferred the Golf's more assured handling, better practicality, easier to accept styling, premium feel, good build quality, more comfortable interior and lower price to the 1-Series' lack of merits and above 3-Series and 5-Series pricing. The Stig managed to go around the Top Gear test track faster in the R32 than in the 130i, making the presenters applaud the R32 for its ability to provide all-round ability and making them as well voice their disgust at the 1-Series' extreme and excessive compromise for a lost cause of dynamics.
  • Interestingly, however, certain motoring publications such as Autocar and Evo Magazines rate the 1 Series extremely well, both giving it 4 out of 5 stars. The opinions of these magazines tend to be formed around a more extended review process, so it is possible the staff of Top Gear simply received a poor first impression of the practicality of the car.

[edit] External links

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