BMW 1 Series (E87)
The first generation of the BMW 1 Series consists of the BMW E81 (3-door hatchback), BMW E82 (coupe), BMW E87 (5-door hatchback) and BMW E88 (convertible) compact cars. The E81/E82/E87/E88 generation was produced from 2004 until 2013 and is sometimes collectively referred to as the E8x. The E8x replaced the 3 Series Compact as the entry level models of the BMW range.
| BMW 1 Series (E81/E82/E87/E88) | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Production | 2004–2013 |
| Model years | 2005–2011 (up to 2013 for coupe & convertible) |
| Assembly | Germany: Leipzig; Regensburg |
| Designer | Peter Gabath, Marc Michael Markefka (E82) Chris Chapman (E87) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact executive car (C) |
| Body style | 2-door coupe (E82) 2-door convertible (E88) 3-door hatchback (E81) 5-door hatchback (E87) |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Platform | BMW L2 |
| Related | BMW Z4 (E89) BMW 3 Series (E90) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Petrol: 1.6-2.0 L N43/N45/N46 I4 3.0 L N52 I6 3.0 L N54/N55 I6 turbo Diesel: 2.0 L M47/N47 I4 turbo-diesel |
| Transmission | 5-speed Manual 6-speed Manual 6-speed ZF 6HP Automatic 6-speed GM 6L45 automatic 7-speed Magna 7DCI600 M-DCT dual-clutch |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,660 mm (104.7 in) |
| Length | 4,227–4,380 mm (166.4–172.4 in) |
| Width | 1,748–1,803 mm (68.8–71.0 in) |
| Height | 1,420–1,430 mm (55.9–56.3 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | BMW 3 Series Compact |
| Successor | E81/E87: 1 Series (F20/F21) E82/E88: 2 Series (F22/F23) |
The chassis has an aluminum multi-link suspension, and a rear-wheel drive layout with a longitudinally-mounted engine giving 50:50 weight balance, which was a rare configuration for a hatchback as most cars in this market segment use front-wheel drive. The engines available were four-cylinder turbo-diesel, four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol, six-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol and six-cylinder turbocharged petrol (the latter only available on coupe and convertible models).
The highest performance trim is the 1 Series M Coupé which was powered by the BMW N54 turbocharged inline-six engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It was produced in only the coupe body style and is considered the predecessor to the BMW M2.
Following the introduction of the F20/F21 1 Series in 2011, the E81/E87 hatchback models began to be phased out, while the E82/E88 coupes and convertibles remained in production until 2013, when they were replaced by the F22/F23 2 Series models.