BMW 1 Series Coupe (2008 – 2013) Review

November 2007

Longer, coupe on 1 Series floorpan 4,360mm long and 1,934mm wide with 370 litre boot, on sale in UK from November 2007. Launch engine range:

120d: EfficientDynamics 177PS, 350Nm torque, 0-60 7.3 seconds, 141mph, 58.9mpg combines and 128g/km CO2.

123d EfficientDynamics: 204PS, 400Nm torque, 0-60 6.7 seconds, 148mph, 54.3mpg combined and 138g/km CO2.

135i (N54): 306PS, 400Nm torque, 0-60 5.1 seconds, 155mph, 30.7mpg combines, 220g/km CO2 (so £205 - £215pa VED rather than £300 - £400).

125i Coupé announced 31-1-2008. 218hp from 2,996 cc, the 125i Coupé accelerates from 0 to 60mph in 6.2 seconds and achieves a top speed of 152mph. EfficientDynamics delivers 35.8mpg on the combined cycle and 190g/km of CO2.

The 125i Coupé SE costs £23,195 OTR while the M Sport derivative, with its 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats and body styling, costs £25,050 OTR. The new BMW 125i Coupé goes on sale in March 2008.

August 2009

Two new BMW 1 Series Coupé models announced: 118d Coupé and BMW 120i Coupé from September 2009.

The BMW 118d Coupé uses a four-cylinder diesel engine with third generation common rail diesel technology and achieves 119g/km CO2 and a combined consumption of 62.8mpg, making it the cleanest and greenest diesel-powered sports coupé available. Performance is zero to 62mph time of 9.0 seconds, top speed of 130mph.

The BMW 120i Coupe is powered by a Hams Hall built 1,995cc engine producing 170hp. 0 to 62mph in 7.8 seconds and 139mph top speed. The four-cylinder engine achieves 42.8mpg on the combined cycle and recording CO2 emissions of 153g/km.

BMW 118d Coupé 143PS, 300Nm, 0-60 8.7, top speed 130, 62.8mpg com, 119g/km

BMW 120i Coupé 170PS, 210Nm, 0-60 7.5, top speed 139, 42.8mpg com, 153g/km

The BMW 118d Coupé’s low CO2 emissions figure means it sits within the lowest benefit-in-kind tier of 13 per cent and its annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rate is just £35.

Prices for the BMW 118d Coupé start at £20,500 OTR for an ES model rising to £23,375 OTR for an M Sport variant. The 120i Coupé starts at £21,115 OTR for an ES rising to £23,990 OTR for an M Sport. Both new engine derivatives go on sale 1 September.

Sport specification has been added to the line-up of the BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible models on all four-cylinder-engined cars. The standard specification includes 17-inch Star-spoke light alloy wheels, front foglights, heated exterior mirrors and windscreen washer jets, Network cloth upholstery, Sport multi-function leather steering wheel and Sport seats. All Sport models are priced at the equivalent ES price and offer customers £1,075 of added value.

December 2010

BMW 1 Series M Coupé announced at £39,995, UK deliveries from May 2011.

The sporty character of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé is expressed by a dramatic exterior design, with widened wheel arches, exclusive 19-inch Y-spoke M alloy wheels, and dual chrome tailpipes. A discreet spoiler lip generating additional downforce and a rear apron with side openings echoing the look of the front air intakes ensure the look of sporting intent matches the model’s sporting ability. L-shaped rear light clusters with two light banks fed by LED units complete the M car look. Exterior paint finishes are Alpine White non-metallic, Black Sapphire metallic and the exclusive Valencia Orange metalic.

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé is fitted as standard with twin corona bi-xenon headlamps, and LED-fed positioning lights. A hallmark M-branded feature is the elongated chrome gill element on the front wheel arch, while the door mirrors are from the BMW M3, but tuned for the specific aerodynamic characteristics.

The standard sports seats in Boston leather feature Kyalami orange stitching and offer both driver and front passenger excellent lateral hold. The interior is exclusively modelled for the BMW 1 Series M Coupé, with an M leather steering wheel and the use of Alcantara with Kyalami orange contrast stitching on the door trim, door inserts, handbrake and gear lever gaiter and instrument binnacle cove. The M logo is also embossed in the front of the headrests.

The new BMW 1 Series M Coupé has a high revving, in-line six-cylinder engine with twin turbocharger, direct injection technology and double VANOS variable valve timing to develop a maximum output of 340hp. Such performance equates to a highly desirable car that takes just 4.9 seconds to accelerate from zero to 62mph. The BMW M tuned twin-turbocharger technology used consists of two relatively small turbos which, because of their low inertia characteristics, are active even at low engine speeds, ensuring no turbo lag, yet a peak power output which is achieved at 5,900rpm.

Note: *With overboost. **Electronically-limited.

The great flexibility of the 2,979cc engine means that maximum torque of 450Nm is produced from as little as 1,500rpm. A flat torque curve for swift in gear acceleration sees peak torque maintained up to 4,500 rpm. This figure can be increased by another 50Nm when the car is under full throttle by means of an overboost function. With this performance the BMW 1 Series M Coupé will blast to 62mph from standstill to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. In fact, such is its stunning performance and handling, it is expected to be significantly faster around the Nürburgring Nordschleife than the previous generation E46 BMW M3.

The engine control system of the car allows two differing performance curves: in standard mode the BMW 1 Series M Coupé offers a more torque-orientated, flexible character to the engine’s performance delivery, while in M Dynamic Mode (MDM), activated by a button on the steering wheel, engine speeds rocket instantly, accessing the highest power levels as quickly as possible.

The cooling system of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé has been designed for constant high load, high speed track driving, through the use of an additional separate radiator and a specific air duct to deal with the increased thermal stress which can occur when driving in a particularly sporty style on the race track.

The efforts made in optimising performance and efficiency are also reflected in a newly developed dual-mass flywheel. Its lightweight construction benefits the engine's efficiency and it also has an increased solidity which is able to cope with the six-cylinder engine’s high level of torque.

In addition, EfficientDynamics measures such as brake energy regeneration and needs-based control of auxiliary units ensure that recorded combined fuel consumption is 29.4mpg and CO 2 emissions are 224g/km.

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé is only offered with a six-speed manual transmission, specially designed to work with high-torque engines. This newly developed transmission is operated using a very short-shift M gearshift lever.

The chassis of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé has been tested using BMW M GmbH's racing-oriented development process, and uses numerous key components, originally conceived for the BMW M3, have been modified for use in this car.

The latest M car weighs a trim 1,495kgs courtesy of extensive use of aluminium. The double pivot front axle and the five-link rear axle are made almost entirely of aluminium. Tubular stabilisers, axle links made of forged aluminium and aluminium shock absorbers round off the lightweight construction concept. With chassis technology derived directly from motor racing, a power-to-weight ratio of 227hp/tonne has been achieved. The footprint of the car is bigger than a standard BMW 1 Series Coupé with it being 55mm wider than the BMW 135i Coupé. The width of 1,803 mm is the result of optimisation of the front and rear axle to enhance driving dynamics.

As standard, BMW 1 Series M Coupé comes with Variable M differential lock, compound brakes, DSC with MDM and M Servotronic. The Variable M differential lock responds to differences in rotational speeds in the rear wheels, redirecting torque within a fraction of a second for optimum traction and maximum thrust on slippery surfaces and when accelerating out of bends.

The M-specific compound high-performance brake system of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé uses inner-vented and perforated discs with a diameter of 360mm at the front and 350mm at the rear, providing impressive stability even under extreme stress, as well as being extremely light.

Rack-and-pinion steering is fitted with Servotronic hydraulic power steering while the Dynamic Stability Control system that includes elements such as an anti-slip control function (ASC), the brake assistant Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), a drive-off assistant, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), an anti-fading function and a dry brake function is also standard. The driver can activate M Dynamic Mode (MDM) on the instrument panel, raising the point at which the driving stability control system intervenes.

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé comes with an extensive range of standard equipment, including 19-inch Y-Spoke alloy wheels, two-zone air-conditioning, cruise control, BMW Radio Business with MP3-capable CD player and six speakers. It also has a Boston leather interior with Alcantara trim with Kyalami orange stitching in the cabin.

Optional extras include Comfort Access, Harman Kardon Surround Sound System, Professional Navigation system with hard drive storage, Adaptive Headlights and High beam Assistant.

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé goes on sale in May 2011 priced at £39,990 OTR

December 2010

BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible ranges received a number significant modifications and upgrades that make them more desirable and efficient.

Both models differentiate themselves from previous incarnations by way of a new front bumper with redesigned fog lights and redesigned Halogen headlights with an ‘eyebrow’ element. When Xenon headlights are specified this ‘eyebrow element features an LED illuminated light bar. At the rear the headlights have also been changed with a more detailed appearance.

However, the greatest change to ES, SE and Sport models is that they now come fitted with an Aero Curtain – a feature that channels the airflow around the front of the car to reduce aerodynamic drag, thereby increasing efficiency. Wheel arches are one of the main areas of aerodynamic drag and the Aero Curtain is BMW’s innovative solution to reduce this inefficiency. Derived from race technology, air is routed into two ducts in the front apron which then flows out of a narrow opening at high speed in the wheelarch. This jet of air effectively covers the side of the front wheels like a curtain and thus reduces turbulence.

As a result, CO2emissions have been lowered throughout the range, with the 118d now rated at only 118g/km, while all 2.0-litre petrol versions have CO2emissions of 155g/km or below.

As with all BMWs, the 1 Series Coupé and Convertible also come with a raft of other EfficientDynamics measures: Auto Start-Stop is fitted to all petrol and diesel models (excluding versions with automatic transmission), while Diesel Particulate Filters, Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering (excluding 135i), Intelligent Alternator Control and Optimum Shift Indicator for manual models are all standard throughout the range.

All BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible ES models come as standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, Dynamic Stability Control, Halogen headlights, MP3 playback capability and rear seat easy access system. Sport models have as standard 17-inch star-spoke alloy wheels, Sport multi-function leather steering wheel and front Sport seats – almost £1,200 worth of equipment that is currently offered for no additional cost over an ES model. SE models get rear Park Distance Control (PDC), front fog lights and automatic air conditioning with two-zone control.

All M Sport models, in addition to SE models, come with 17-inch light double-spoke style alloy wheels, door sill finishers with M designation, chrome front exterior trim, high-gloss Shadowline window surrounds, M aerodynamic bodystyling, M Sport suspension, Run-flat tyres, Sport seats and M Sport multi-function leather steering wheel.

BMW 135i M Sport versions add twin black-chrome exhaust tailpipes, a unique M aerodynamic package, M Sport suspension with 135i-specific calibration, hydraulic power-assisted steering, rear spoiler and up-rated high-performance braking system.

The new BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible go on sale March 2011, with prices starting from £21,960 OTR for the BMW 118d ES Coupé and £24,245 for the 118i ES Convertible.

BMW 1 Series Coupé

January 2013

BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible: Pure Design Package.

The BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible will see the introduction of the new Pure Design package on M Sport models from March 2013. A suite of exterior and interior features emphasise the sophisticated aesthetics of both models.

The Pure Design package is available with Mineral White metallic paint, Mocha leather upholstery with contrast white stitching, Fine-wood trim and a Mocha with metallic Silver fleck soft-top roof (for Convertible models only). These unique elements are enhanced with the inclusion of 18-inch M Double-spoke alloy wheels, Chromeline exterior trim, white and chrome kidney grille and heated front seats.

Alternatively Carbon Black or Space Grey paint is available at no additional cost, as is High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim. This package costs £1,750 on the Coupé and £1,800 on the Convertible,representing a customer saving of more than £600.

New generation Professional Navigation System now also available for the BMW 6 Series, BMW X3 and new BMW 1 Series.

The latest generation of the BMW Professional Navigation System capable of locating 7 digit UK postcodes works even faster thanks to an extremely powerful processor, offering additional route display functions and sharp 3D graphics for all menus. From Spring 2013 this system will be available in all BMW 6 Series models, the new BMW 1 Series and in the BMW X3.

January 2015

Numerous problems with 42k mile 2011 BMW E82 118d

N47 M Sport Coupe bought September 2014: Needed new clutch and DMF, then new timing chain, then an injector seal. Now clutch is juddering again and drver's electric window intermittently won't close.