2009 BMW 1 Series Review and Photos

MSRP
$29,400 - $40,150
The 2009 1 Series is a 2-door, 4-passenger luxury sports coupe, or luxury convertible, available in 4 trims, ranging from the 128i Coupe to the 135i Convertible.

Upon introduction, the 128i Coupe is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, I6, 230-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 28-mpg on the highway. The 135i Convertible is equipped with a standard 3.0-liter, I6, 300-horsepower, turbo engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional.

Purchased the car new with premium and m-sport pkgs along with navigation, comfort access, and smart phone integration. Total price with tax & license was $49.5K which is pretty pricey for a small car; however, all of the electronics work flawlessly and the i-drive menu/button system provides intuitive use. I've had the car for about a month with about 2K miles and can say it is comfortable to drive whether on twisting hills or straight highway miles. Seats are exceptionally comfortable and have multiple adjustment capabilities. Standard transmission works well and I utilize lower gears since the torque/acceleration capability is available from about 1500-5000 rpm. Visibility is excellent with almost no blind spots created by either small windows or pillars. Automatic lights, rain sensor and cruise control all work very well. Took awhile to get accustomed to the comfort access since touching the handle for unlocking/locking not part of my normal habit pattern. Mileage has been 20-22 mpg in the city and about 24-26 on the highway (driving 75-85 mph). I noted another review that got 30 mpg which may be true if you're traveling around 50-55.