Powertrain families
N43/N45/N46 petrol I4 · N47 diesel I4 · N52/N54/N55 petrol I6
1 Series (E81/E82/E87/E88) — Cabriolet
2004–2013
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E88
- Production
- 2004–2013
- Body style
- 2-door convertible
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
1 Series → E81/E82/E87/E88 → Cabriolet
1 Series E81/E82/E87/E88: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected cabriolet fits into the family.
The first 1 Series brought BMW's longitudinal engine and rear-wheel-drive layout into the premium compact class. It began with the five-door E87 in 2004; the three-door E81, E82 coupe and soft-top E88 cabriolet followed as genuinely different bodies rather than trim variants.
The four codes do not share one production window. The hatchbacks were phased out for F20/F21 from 2011, while the coupe and cabriolet continued to 2013 and then moved into the 2 Series lineage. Their dimensions, luggage space, glass, doors and structural parts must remain body-specific.
Four-cylinder petrol and diesel models formed the volume range, with naturally aspirated and turbocharged six-cylinder derivatives above them. The E82-based 1 Series M Coupe is a separate BMW M record; its widened body, N54-based engine and M chassis should not be merged into an ordinary 1 Series engine list.
2004–2013generation lifecycle
4body branches
3engine/drive families
12range designations
E81/E82/E87/E88factory code
longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Cabriolet: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,360 mm
Width1,748 mm
Height1,411 mm
Wheelbase2,660 mm
Luggage260–305 L
Fuel tank51–53 L
Seats4
Doors2-door convertible
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-door Hatchback | E81 | 2004–2013 | 3-door hatchback / 4–5 | 4,239 mm | 330–1,150 L |
| Coupe | E82 | 2004–2013 | 2-door coupe / 4 | 4,360 mm | 370 L |
| 5-door Hatchback | E87 | 2004–2013 | 5-door hatchback / 5 | 4,239 mm | 330–1,150 L |
| Cabriolet | E88 | 2004–2013 | 2-door convertible / 4 | 4,360 mm | 260–305 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented cabriolet applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118i | 2004–2011 | N46B20 / N43B20 inline-four | 129–143 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series Convertible |
| 120i | 2004–2013 | N46B20 / N43B20 inline-four | 150–170 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series Coupé |
| 125i | 2007–2013 | N52B30 inline-six | 218 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series Convertible |
| 128i | 2007–2013 | N52B30 inline-six | 230 hp | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | North America | The new BMW 1 Series Coupé |
| 135i / 135is | 2007–2013 | N54B30 / N55B30 turbo inline-six | 306–320 hp | 6MT / 6AT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 1 Series Coupé |
| 118d | 2004–2013 | M47D20 / N47D20 diesel inline-four | 122–143 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series Coupé |
| 120d | 2004–2013 | M47D20 / N47D20 diesel inline-four | 163–177 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series Coupé |
| 123d | 2007–2013 | N47D20 twin-turbo diesel inline-four | 204 PS | 6MT / 6AT | RWD | Europe | The new BMW 1 Series Coupé |
Factory designations
116i · 118i · 120i · 125i · 128i · 130i · 135i · 116d · 118d · 120d · 123d · 1 Series M Coupe
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- E81: 4,239 mm × 1,748 mm × 1,421 mm
- E82: 4,360 mm × 1,748 mm × 1,423 mm
- E87: 4,239 mm × 1,748 mm × 1,421 mm
- E88: 4,360 mm × 1,748 mm × 1,411 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
E87 five-door launch
The five-door hatch established the new 1 Series as BMW's compact rear-wheel-drive line.
Three-door and coupe
E81 joined the facelifted hatch range and the E82 coupe opened a distinct two-door branch.
E88 cabriolet
The fourth production body added an electrically operated fabric roof and its own packaging.
Split succession
F20/F21 replaced the hatchbacks; E82/E88 remained until the F22/F23 2 Series arrived.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
3-door Hatchback
E811 Series E81 is a distinct E81/E82/E87/E88 body branch. A compact hatchback body with two passenger doors and a full-height rear hatch. Engines/drive: N43/N45/N46 petrol I4, N47 diesel I4, N52/N54/N55 petrol I6.
Coupe
E821 Series E82 is a distinct E81/E82/E87/E88 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: N43/N45/N46 petrol I4, N47 diesel I4, N52/N54/N55 petrol I6.
5-door Hatchback
E871 Series E87 is a distinct E81/E82/E87/E88 body branch. A compact five-door body designed around everyday access, a folding rear seat and a short overall footprint. Engines/drive: N43/N45/N46 petrol I4, N47 diesel I4, N52/N54/N55 petrol I6.
Cabriolet
E881 Series E88 is a distinct E81/E82/E87/E88 body branch. An open body with a folding roof and generation-specific structural reinforcement, seating and luggage packaging. Engines/drive: N43/N45/N46 petrol I4, N47 diesel I4, N52/N54/N55 petrol I6.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- E81 — 3-door Hatchback; E82 — Coupe; E87 — 5-door Hatchback; E88 — Cabriolet
- Range designations
- 116i, 118i, 120i, 125i, 128i, 130i, 135i, 116d, 118d, 120d, 123d, 1 Series M Coupe
- Powertrain families
- N43/N45/N46 petrol I4, N47 diesel I4, N52/N54/N55 petrol I6
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 1 Series (E87)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary body-code, engine, production and succession overview for E81/E82/E87/E88.
- 02The new 1 Series CoupéBMW Group PressClub
Factory launch material for the E82 coupe, including concept, engines and dimensions.
- 03The new BMW 1 Series ConvertibleBMW Group PressClub
Factory launch material identifying E88 as the fourth body variant and documenting its roof and package.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- The generation-level 2004–2013 range is correct only as an umbrella. Exact start/end months belong to E81, E82, E87 and E88 separately.
- 1 Series M Coupe, regional engine designations and US-only combinations require separate modification rows.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026