BMW 1 Series

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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.

1 Overview
2 2007 update
3 Engines
4 Production
5 Future versions
6 Promotion
7 Racing
8 Notes
9 Trivia
10 External links

[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] 2007 update

BMW upgraded the 1-Series for 2007 and introduced a 3-door sports hatch variant. The changes to the model were minor headlight and tail-light revisions, new front & rear bumpers and a minor revisions to the interior. The dashboard has been updated, and a recommended gear indicator is now present on models with manual transmissions.^[2]

New technologies include an Auto Start-Stop function, Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering, an electric water pump, and a host of drivetrain modifications designed for fuel economy, increased performance, and lower emissions.^[3]

The 1-Series is effectively the first in the world to have mild hybrid technology as standard equipment, although BMW is careful in its marketing not to label it as a hybrid vehicle.

The 1-Series will go on sale in Europe during the Spring of 2007. Ongoing rumours that the 1-Series is heading for the US have still not been confirmed. In Australia, the 1-Series three-door will not go on sale, only keeping the 5-door variant. However, Australia and many other countries may also get a rumoured coupe convertible model.

[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 available to order)
2007- 135ti: N54B30 2979 cc I6, 24 valves, 306hp/225 kW, 400Nm (* Not yet available to order) [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

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 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

^ http://www.bmwgroup.com/, Corporate News
^ http://www.bmw.com
^ http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=115127

[edit] Trivia

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.

Jeremy Clarkson compared the 130i to the Volkswagen Golf R32. He was again disappointed by the 1-Series' extreme compromises for the sake of driver enjoyment. Clarkson vastly preferred the R32, believing it to be more practical, higher quality, easier to live with and almost as fun to drive as the 130i (the R32 has a Haldex all wheel drive system).

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."