Best Reviewed
Convertibles
- Best premium four-seat convertible 2011 BMW 3 Series Convertible *Est. $45500
- Best premium roadster 2011 Porsche Boxster *Est. $47600
- Bargain four-seat convertible 2011 Ford Mustang Convertible *Est. $27145
- Best roadster value 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata *Est. $23110
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2009 BMW 1 Series convertible
- Typically precise BMW handling
- Same powerful engines as pricier BMWs
- Power soft top
- High-quality fit and finish
- Respectable fuel economy
- Tiny backseat
- Poor rear visibility with top up
- Small trunk with top down
- No crash-test data available
Free Price Quote for 2009 BMW 1 Series convertibleReviewers gleefully anticipated the birth of the BMW 1 Series convertible in 2008: a smaller, cheaper but equally powerful alternative to the critically acclaimed BMW 3 Series convertible (*Est. $44,550 to $50,700). A year later, most agree that the 1 Series has delivered on its promise.
Bimmer's 1 Series convertible lacks two of the BMW 3 Series' main features: a retractable hardtop and a usable backseat. But testers say a lightweight power soft top and microscopic backseat keep the 1 Series small, light and fast. "Unless you need to convey rear-seat passengers every day, this is all the BMW you need," Popular Mechanics says of the 1 Series convertible.
The rear-wheel-drive BMW 1 Series offers plenty of muscle, testers say, thanks to the same powerful engines as the 3 Series. The BMW 128i convertible (*Est. $34,000) gets a 230-horsepower, 3.0-liter inline six. The BMW 135i convertible (*Est. $40,150) packs on more muscle via turbocharging, with a 300-horsepower version of the same engine. Experts say both models deliver the same precise handling as the 3 Series, and a shade better gas mileage. Expect 21 mpg in combined driving with the 128i convertible (18 mpg city and 28 highway with the six-speed manual transmission, 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway with the six-speed auto) and 20 mpg combined with the 135i convertible (17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with either transmission).
Both BMW 1 Series convertibles come with similar standard features, including automatic temperature control with a special top-down setting. The BMW 135i convertible gets a standard sport suspension with 17-inch wheels that's optional on the 128i convertible. Edmunds.com says the sport package adds more comfortable and supportive seats, but ConsumerGuide.com testers find it hurts ride quality. The 135i also gets wood interior trim instead of the 128i's piano black. Sun-reflective leather seats are optional on both models.
The BMW 1 Series' soft top folds up or down in just over 20 seconds. Reviewers say it's well insulated, with a glass rear window and defroster. But testers say visibility is worse with the small-windowed soft top than with the more expensive BMW 3 Series' retractable hardtop, and wind buffeting makes conversation more difficult in the 1 Series with the top down at highway speeds.
We found no crash tests for either the BMW 1 Series convertible or coupe. This relatively new model has not accumulated much of a reliability history, either, although J.D. Power and Associates notes that BMW cars in general experience about the same number of problems as the average car. The BMW 1 Series convertible carries four-year, 50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties.
Several reviews of the BMW 1 Series convertible -- including those at LeftLaneNews.com, Cars.com and Popular Mechanics -- date back to 2008 when the car initially hit the market, but the 1 Series is basically unchanged since then. Reviews at ConsumerGuide.com, Car and Driver and Edmunds.com have been updated for 2009; ConsumerGuide.com's review concentrates a bit more fully on the convertible version of the 1 Series. FuelEconomy.gov is the place to find the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's fuel-economy estimates for nearly every car on the market. J.D. Power and Associates surveys car owners to judge the reliability of 37 brands, including BMW.
Our Sources
ConsumerGuide.com highly recommends the 2009 BMW 1 Series. Editors test the BMW 128i convertible and rate it on 11 measures (such as acceleration and value) against the luxury class average.
Review: 2009 BMW 1 Series: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
2. Car and DriverDetails/Subscribe
The BMW 1 Series convertible is a 2009 Editors Choice at Car and Driver. In this concise review, editors say the convertible is "a very rewarding car" but pricey compared with the 1 Series coupe.
Review: 2009 BMW 1 Series Convertible, Editors of Car and Driver
3. Edmunds.com
The 2009 BMW 1 Series convertible is a top recommended model at Edmunds.com. The small, powerful four-seater has a niche all its own, according to this full, test-based review.
Review: 2009 BMW 1 Series Review, Editors of Edmunds.com, Not Dated
Like most reviewers, Mark Elias tested the BMW 1 Series convertible when it debuted in 2008. This complete, well-organized review outlines a few drawbacks, but overall Elias finds the 1 Series a great car for the true driving enthusiast.
Review: Review: BMW 1 Series (135i, 128i) Coupe and Convertible, Mark Elias, March 7, 2008
5. Cars.com
The BMW 128i convertible is an Editors' Choice for Sun Lovers at Cars.com. This brief summary displays testers' list of pros and cons for the car, as well as links to other reviews, including a full Cars.com review for the almost identical 2008 convertible.
Review: 2009 BMW 128, Editors of Cars.com, Dec. 15, 2008
6. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
The BMW 128i convertible is one of 10 chosen by Popular Mechanics for its relatively low price and good gas mileage. This brief write-up, which is based on a test of the 2008 car, lists several things editors like about this model, including its small size -- an asset as long as you only need the backseat occasionally.
Review: 10 Fun Convertibles that Won't Pinch at the Pump or the Lot, Editors of Popular Mechanics, July 3, 2008
7. Environmental Protection Agency
This chart compares gas mileage for dozens of subcompact cars, including the manual- and automatic-transmission versions of both the BMW 128i convertible and BMW 135i convertible.
Review: 2009 Subcompact Cars, Editors of the Environmental Protection Agency
8. J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates finds that BMW cars have an average number of problems, according to extensive owner surveys.
Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study Results, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, March 19, 2009
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