2007 BMW 1 Series Coupe (E82) 135i 6MT RWD (306 HP)

Vehicle Overview

In 2007, BMW made a surprising move and introduced a two-door version of the 1 Series when it launched the E82, which became the only premium coupe in the small-sized segment.

When the German automaker launched the first generation of the 3 Series in 1975, that model became an instant hit thanks to its low price, good performance for top versions, and fuel efficiency for the lower-powered ones. That success continued with the second generation, the E30, that followed in 1982. But all these new generations grew up in sizes and prices. As a result, young customers couldn’t afford them anymore. To gain back some of its lost customers, BMW introduced the 1 Series in 2004 as an affordable vehicle. Furthermore, besides the three- and five-door hatchback versions, the automaker also offered it as a two-door coupe, also known as the E87.

Maybe it wasn’t the best-designed BMW ever, but the E82 impressed its customers with its front fascia. The automaker offered it with either a standard or an M-package look. Still, both shared the same organic-shaped headlights that resembled those from its bigger sibling, the 3 Series. While the lower grade got a simple bumper with an apron that sported a rectangular lower grille flanked by a pair of scoops that housed the fog lamps, the M-package version featured a trapezoidal center air intake and a lip spoiler underneath the bumper.

The car’s profile revealed a raked windshield followed by an arched greenhouse that ended into a sloped down rear window onto the short deck. Its frameless doors and fixed rear windows resembled the lines of the first generation of the 3 Series. Depending on the trim level, the car sported aerodynamic side skirts and large wheels, while at the back, a duck-tail adorned the trunk. Furthermore, the rear bumper featured a lower-mounted diffuser with single or double side exhausts, depending on the engine version.

Inside, BMW offered the vehicle in a few grades, with either comfort or M sports seats for the front passengers. The driver fronted a narrow instrument cluster where the speedometer and tachometer took most of the area, including the fuel level and engine temperature gauges at their bottom. Base versions featured single-zone manual air-conditioning, while top versions provided dual-zone automatic climate controls. The 1 Series could also be equipped with a retractable screen for an infotainment system, which is folded onto the dashboard’s top. In the back, there was hardly any room for adult-size passengers, but those two seats could still be used for short distances.

Under the hood, BMW installed a wide choice of diesel and gasoline engines ranging between 143 PS (141 hp) and 306 PS (302 PS). Power went to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, depending on the option.