With the top up, the cabin is well-isolated from its surroundings, but with the top down at 60 mph it's a little windy in the driver's seat. But no matter which 1 Series you choose, you're in for a good time. I do love the little, fat, steering wheel! It was not ever fixed the first time even on a recall issue. The rear seats are just a rumor for anyone above the age of 11. Rusty Blackwell, Copy Editor I had the 128i convertible over the weekend and made the mistake of trying to squeeze four adults into it. Heated front seats are also available by themselves or in the cold-weather package.
Both the Euro car and ours use essentially the same silky-smooth 3. Both the 128i and 135i will be fitted with either a smooth-shifting 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic, but the 135i will come standard with the M Aerodynamics package, M Sports Suspension package and 6-piston front calipers with larger rotors. Less appealing is the optional six-speed automatic transmission, which sometimes executes slow, jerky shifts in the 128i. The convertible's optional sun-reflective leather seating, for instance, is a luxurious touch not often found in the compact luxury segment. The 135i features a turbocharged 3. As a matter of fact, there was another family there while I was waiting to hand in the keys, they were just as disgusted with the service, and overall treatment you will receive.
The 1 Series convertible's options list includes the Moonlight Black soft top with shiny metallic fibers that produce a metallic silver appearance in sun- and moonlight. Simply lengthening the shifter by an inch would remedy this—and the pain in our elbows. The 135's twin-turbo inline-6 engine is incredibly versatile and offers an intense slug of power and acceleration without any perceptible turbo lag. The 1 Series rides on what is essentially a shortened 3 Series platform it kind of looks like a squished-up 3 Series , using the same basic suspension but with less use of aluminum — part of the reason the 1 Series is not as light as it looks. Dynamic Stability Control is standard in case the driver gets in over his head on snow covered or gravel strewn roads. .
Little of substance has changed with this year's model. There's ostensibly space for four people in the 128i convertible, as it features a two-place backseat, but passengers confined to the back will need either to be short or able to persuade those sitting in front to scoot their seats forward in order to give them more legroom. Under the hood are the same powerful engine choices as in the marque's more expensive and larger 3 Series. And, of course, glancing up at the stars on a clear night while traveling on an unlit two-lane road is a treat I never tire of. This is all balanced by the gem of an engine, good visibility, good looks, solid handling, etc. Fuel economy is so-so, with a pretty-decent highway rating of 28 mpg but a not-so-good city rating of just 18 mpg.
Those are probably my two main complaints with the car. The rear seat is cramped and some controls are complicated. Few four-place convertibles, even some larger in size, are able to make that claim. A six-speed manual is the standard transmission on all trim levels, and a six-speed automatic with manual shift control is optional. This car is a rocket and handles like nothing I've ever driven. I tested a 128i convertible with the 230-horsepower inline-six-cylinder engine.
Both come in 128i and 135i trim levels. It's the same engine used in the larger, heavier 3 Series and in the smaller 135i, it delivers great power to pass and a swift zero-to-60-mph time of 5. The Sport Package increases the speed setting of the top-speed limiter and adds sport seats plus other racy details. Also, the overall design is a little bland, but the center stack and the other controls are simple and easy to use. Otherwise, this bare-bones 128i is very good. An unexpected benefit is its ability to use a smaller than usual parking space in Manhattan. There is room in the back, but what do you expect, really? The revised iDrive software is better than before, but it remains stifling at first encounter and often counterintuitive with experience.
I can honestly say that this car is the greatest thing I have ever purchased. The coupe's decent-sized trunk holds 13 cubic feet of luggage. I tested a 128i convertible with the 230-horsepower inline-six-cylinder engine. The cloth top is simple and almost feels old fashioned these days, much like the normally aspirated engine. No nav, no iDrive, no bling — just a sweet-handling, nicely balanced, droptop that fits you like a glove.
I got tired of the occasionally harsh ride and uncomfortable seats. I love the feel of the wind rush, and the open sky above my head. The convertible also features pop-up rollover hoops. Thankfully this has all been cheerfully replaced under warranty. The 2009 comes with the twin turbo N54 engine which is the best part. With its rear wheel drive it is not especially good in the snow and its small rear seat is useful only in a pinch by a fairly dexterous person. The six-speed manual transmission is silky smooth; and the ride is nice until you hit a rough patch of road, then it rattles your fillings in part thanks to the sport package.
Precise steering combined with a well-balanced chassis makes the coupe and convertible feel right at home on a freeway or a serpentine road. The engine is smooth, powerful and returns relatively good fuel economy. Power aside, the trunk is quite large and the back seats fold down. It handled the wind noise much better than the new roadster we recently sampled. The car is a little hard-riding and the stock seats are not particularly supportive or comfortable.