2011 BMW 1 Series Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 BMW 1 Series overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 1 Series, and includes BMW 1 Series safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

The BMW 135i coupe and convertible receive a new turbocharged six-cylinder engine for 2011. BMW’s optional seven-speed DCT automated manual transmission is also newly available.

The 2011 BMW 1 Series is available in coupe and convertible body styles, and two trim levels: i28i and i35i configurations. The 2011 128i Coupe comes standard with leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, interior air filter, AM/FM/CD/HD audio with auxiliary input jack, multi-function steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, cruise control, high-gloss black interior trim, split folding rear seat, power windows, door locks, and heated mirrors, remote keyless entry, trip computer, outside-temperature display, rain-sensing variable-intermittent wipers with heated washers, rear defogger, automatic headlights, theft-deterrent system, fog lights, and run-flat tires on alloy wheels. A 6-speed manual gearbox comes standard; a 6-speed automatic can be purchased for an additional $1,375.

The 128i Convertible is similar to the Coupe, however it doesn’t offer folding rear seats since you’re going fully open air with this one.

The 135i Coupe includes a firmer sport suspension and high-performance brakes, M Sport aero body kit, adaptive xenon headlights with washers, sunroof, and gray poplar wood interior trim. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard. New for 2011 is an optional 7-speed DCT dual-clutch automated manual transmission for an additional $1,575.

Like the 135i Coupe, the 2011 135i Convertible is similarly equipped, but does not offer folding rear seats but does include a fully automatic soft fabric folding top.

The M Sport package is available for both models and adds a Sports package with different wheels and a dark-colored headliner. The 128i gets the M steering wheel and the 135i’s aerodynamic body kit. The 135i receives the increased top-speed limiter, M Sport seats, M Sport steering wheel, black headliner for the coupe, Shadowline trim, body cladding, and 18-inch performance tires.

Two engines are available for the 2011 BMW 1 Series and both engines require premium unleaded gasoline.

An inline-six 3.0-liter electronic fuel-injection engine powers the 2011 128i coupe and convertible and generates 230 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. Both automatic and manual transmissions are available for the rear-wheel drive car. The manual transmission rushes from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds, while the automatic is slightly slower at about 6.7 seconds. The EPA projects fuel economy for the 128i at 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

A single twin-scroll turbocharged inline-six 3.0-liter direct -injection engine powers the 2011 135i coupe and convertible. This engine makes 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. Like the 128i, automatic and manual transmissions are available. However, for the 135i, an optional double-clutch transmission that pushes the 2011 135i from zero to 60 in about five seconds is available. Fuel economy for the 135i is rated at 20 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway.

The 2011 BMW 1 Series comes standard with BMW’s driver and passenger front airbags with dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment, plus front-passenger seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment. Front-seat-mounted front side-impact airbags are also standard. The vehicle also includes 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with dynamic brake control, dynamic stability control with brake fade compensation, brake drying, and brake stand-by features with dynamic traction control. Front and rear head protection system.

The 2011 BMW 1 Series has not been tested in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) revised their New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)*. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also not tested the 2011 1 Series.

J.D. Power and Associates predicts the BMW 1 series will deliver better than average reliability. Consumer Reports disagrees and in a somewhat perplexing juxtaposition of good and bad, the publication notes that the 1 Series received a very good rating for owner satisfaction, yet simultaneously received a poor reliability rating. Owner costs are also higher than average. The Consumer Reports data creates the perception that BMW 1 Series owners like their cars a great deal even though ownership costs are high.

BMWs have a reputation for being expensive to maintain and many die-hard BMW owners are quick to encourage even used BMW buyers to purchase certified pre-owned vehicles to ensure their vehicle falls under warranty protection. New car buyers will welcome the 4-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranty on the 2011 1 Series. This warranty also includes free maintenance for the four-year/50,000 mileage period as well.

* Starting with 2011 models, the NHTSA introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about safety feature performance and crash avoidance technologies. Because of the more stringent tests, ratings for 2011 and newer vehicles should not be compared to ratings for 1990-2010 models.

We spent a week driving the 2011 BMW 135i single scroll twin-turbo convertible that was priced at $48,525. This Ultimate Driving Machine did more than just impress; one Vehix driver in particular became obsessed with this convertible.

Think of it this way: 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque that propels this machine from 0 to 60 in 5 seconds. Small, nimble, convertible. There’s a lot to love here. The way it hugs the corners, the constant desire to press the accelerator for a refreshing blast of acceleration of your foot pressing the gas pedal, this is a car that understands the joy of driving. Although the 1 Series looks like the baby brother of the 3 Series, like many younger siblings, it still packs a pretty good punch.

From a pure driving perspective, we’ll recommend 1-Series all day long. Spend a few hours behind the wheel in some twisties and you’ll be sold. But think of this as anything more than a weekend car, and practical challenges will rear their ugly heads. While we enjoyed zipping through traffic and dropping the top on a few gorgeous spring days, we still wonder if the BMW 3 Series may ultimately be a better choice. For instance, legroom for rear-seat passengers is tight. Really tight. In fact, our only satisfied rear passengers were children under the age of 10. In addition, since the trunk only offers 10-feet of space, plan on only hauling one set of golf clubs.

Drop the top and trunk space is even smaller. That doesn’t leave much room for you and a guest to take a weekend golf vacation. Choose the coupe and you’ll still face space and practicality challenges, but it will likely prove to be the more practical option. Either choice will deliver plenty of driving fun, especially if you choose the manual transmission.

We found the BMW 1 Series to be a delightful occasional driver but were still grateful we had an available family sedan when it came time to zip out for lunch with four co-workers. If you’re looking for sports car thrills in a relatively affordable luxury car, the 135i may be a great fit. But don’t discount stepping up to the always-impressive 3 Series before you pull the trigger on a purchase. You’ll find the same levels of performance with a bit more practicality thrown in the mix. And sometimes, a little more practicality goes an awful long way.

By Alex Callister and Michael Waterman