First Impressions
This is an interesting and a bit of an oddball car – especially for a BMW.
With an itty-bitty wheelbase that’s close to a Mini Clubman’s, it’s a surprise that BMW is able to stuff the 3.0 liter straight 6-cylinder AND rear drive. The drive shaft couldn’t be much more than a foot long. It’s one of the smallest 4-passenger, front-engine/rear-drive cars sold in the U.S.
This is one of the last vehicles in BMW’s fleet that has styling remnants from the recent, unusual past. In other words, non-concentric lines bend in unusual ways. It’s most notable on the doors where a drooping line gives it a pot-belly look. That’s not to say it’s ugly, because the overall 135i image is rather cute.
The 2011 BMW 135i Convertible (view photos) gets sexy, wide ‘M’ wheels that give some masculinity to an otherwise feminine image. Add to that an ‘M’ steering wheel and this little tiger has the feel of an overpowered ‘M’ series car. With its top lobbed off, the 2011 BMW 135i has an almost toy look about it.
Quad-headlights and the prerequisite BMW dual nostrils look as aggressive as they do on all BMWs. We particularly like the huge, dual exhaust pipes. Not only do they resonate in the minds of BMW admirers, but they look like two bazookas placed side-by-side and have a sonorous voice.
During a week of driving this little drop-top, we noticed a lot of people staring. Not, sadly, at the professional and dashingly handsome drivers behind the wheel. They liked what we were driving. Indeed, the cutesy proportions of the 135i resonate with young professionals and elder, wealthy folks who like the feeling of wind in their hair.
Pricing, Trims and Options
The 2011 BMW 135i Convertible starts at $40,350. A number of packages allow bimmer drivers to customize their ride.
The Premium Package ($1,950) comes with a universal garage-door opener, digital compass mirror, ambiant lighting, power front seats with driver seat memory, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, BMW Assist with Bluetooth and lumbar support with Boston Leather seats (several color choices).
Get a little sporty with the M Sport Package ($1,200) that includes an increased top speed limiter, M steering wheel, sport seats, Shadowline exterior trim, and 18" light alloy double-spoke wheels style 261M with performance run-flat tires.
The Sport Package ($1,000) features 18" light alloy star-spoke wheels style 264-with performance run-flat tires, Shadowline exterior trim, the M steering wheel, increased top speed limiter and sport seats.
Not every convertible owner enjoys the sun and heat of Miami year round. If you're a cold weather dweller, you'll want to opt for the Cold Weather Package ($740) that includes heated front sets and a through-loading system with integrated transport bag.
Popular options and accessories:
- Navigation system ($2,100)
- 7-speed transmission ($1,575)
- Active steering ($1,500)
- BMW Performance Steering Wheel with Shift Lights and Performance Display ($1,104)
- Power front seats with memory ($995)
- Harmon Kardon sound system ($875)
- BMW Assist with Bluetooth ($750)
- BMW Portable Navigation Pro System ($738)
- Keyless entry ($500)
- Heated front seats ($500)
- Park distance control (rear only) ($350)
- Apple iPhone USB snap in adapter ($204)
- Heated steering wheel ($190)
Interior Features
As always, BMW offers some of the best front seats in the business. They are one of the few companies who build seats that work beautifully for sport while delivering all-day comfort. Diminutive size of this convertible aside, front legroom is better than expected.
There’s no getting around the parcel shelf in back BMW calls “back seats.” For evaluation purposes, I always (attempt to) sit in the back seats of every car I drive. I move the driver’s seat back to facilitate my just under 6’2” frame then see if I can fit in the back. It should be no surprise that I was completely unsuccessful in that endeavor in this tiny car. Still, I was a bit surprised that I could get my 5-year-old and toddler in the back while remaining somewhat comfortable in front. The room is reminiscent of BMW’s other small convertible – the Mini Cooper Convertible. But let's be clear: the back seat is marginally comfortable at best. It's most realistic to consider the 135i a two-seat car.
Another surprising aspect is the BMW 135i Convertible’s trunk space. Okay, 8-cubic feet may not seem like a lot, yet it was capable of holding a few small suitcases, diaper bag and a 5-year-old’s backpack. Being that the roof is fabric, the trunk space is nowhere near as compromised as a hardtop convertible’s.
The negative of having a fabric top is especially notable driving top-up in traffic. Lots of noise enters the cabin and cold weather seeps in. Then again, this car was never built for snow country.
There is very little storage inside and no armrest cubby, either. All things being equal, few competitors offer these basic amenities on convertibles. Then again, you could always upsize to a 3Series (for about the same price) and get plenty of storage and a hard top. Definitely something to consider.
Among all of the great interior color choices, Coral Red Boston Leather and Taupe Boston Leather looked stunning. We highly recommend the ‘M’ package, if for no other reason than the beefy steering wheel from that package is one of the best feeling units we've sampled.
Safety, Quality and Reliability
BMW’s bumper-to-bumper warranty covers 4-years/50,000 miles. The power train warranty also covers 4-years/50,000 miles as does scheduled maintenance.
Corrosion is covered for 12-years/unlimited mileage and roadside assistance is included for 4-years/unlimited mileage.
In terms of safety, no scores were available for the 2011 BMW 135i Convertible (view photos) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHSTA) at the time of this writing. If you are seriously considering purchasing the 135i convertible, we recommend you visit both safety sites to get the latest safety updates.
Consumer Reports rates the reliability of the 135i (coupe) below average. JDPower.com overall reliability ratings are slightly better than average for the coupe with 3.5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.