2008 BMW 135i Convertible

2008 BMW 135i Convertible

The newest drop-top Bimmer is available as the BMW 128i and BMW 135i, and this 1 Series convertible slots in comfortably between the Mini Cooper and 3 Series convertibles. But young social climbers have no reason to be turned off by the entry-level position of the 1 Series drop top in the BMW lineup. At a base price of $39,100 (which can quickly be ratcheted up via option choices), the 2008 BMW 135i Convertible is a financial burden weighty enough to earn a head nod of respect from Hollywood PAs lunching on the Strip. While it might be small, the 135i's electrically operated, fully insulated soft top with a heated glass rear window and a hard tonneau cover lends this car's appearance a sense of moneyed legitimacy.
The interior is accented with light burl-walnut trim and covered in sexy Coral Red Boston Leather made with BMW's Sun Reflective Technology; pigments in the upholstery keep surface temperatures 20 degrees cooler than the usual leather. We were able to readjust ourselves without fear of scorching our bare legs on the solar-heated seats. A good thing, since the 135i spent most of its time with us with its top stored under the hard tonneau cover.
With this lightweight, Z-fold, electrically operated fabric top, the great outdoors can be had in just 22 seconds. Because of its simple operation, any time became top-down time, whether running a mundane errand or sacrificing our carefully styled 'do for a blast on the freeway. (The optional wind deflector reduces in-cabin air turbulence and noise very nicely.) Also, the top goes down in the interval at a traffic light, and it operates at up to 25 mph if traffic starts to move before you've finished the job.
The freedom of roof choice isn't the only enviable aspect of our 2008 BMW 135i Convertible. This compact, rear-wheel-drive two-door is powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that generates 300 hp and 300 pound-feet of torque.


This is the same engine found under the hood of the pricey BMW 335i, but since the 1 Series is 9 inches shorter, 1.4 inches narrower and 288 pounds lighter than a 3 Series hardtop convertible, this package is a lot more fun to drive on the twisties. The most important difference might be a wheelbase that's 4 inches shorter, which adds lots of agility without too much sacrifice in ride quality.
This all translates into a car that accelerates smoothly yet authoritatively, and slices through traffic like a well-sharpened Wüsthof. Slow-moving cars on the Pacific Coast Highway never had a chance when we were at the wheel. Even better, this engine emits a deep, throaty hum — surprising coming from a small car — so it's especially nice to hear it when the top is down.
Even so, the convertible's weight handicap doesn't seem to hurt its performance in the slalom, as it records a speed of 68.6 mph. True, it isn't as structurally rigid, well damped or as easy to control as the 1 Series coupe (which achieves a slalom speed of 72.4 mph), but we wouldn't kick it out of our garage either. It's still a blast to drive and considerably well-mannered even with the compromise to its structure and weight.
And the convertible is able to stop shorter than the coupe at 107 feet versus 109 feet. Plus it displays the same braking performance we've come to expect from BMW — immediate effectiveness with a solid and consistent pedal feel. The 1 Series convertible's standard stability control and dynamic traction control will let you know that the electronics are watching you, but plenty of fast cornering is there to enjoy.
For a cool grand, the optional sport package styled our tester for the kind of fun you can have in L.A. Eight-way, manually adjustable front sport seats with adjustable back bolsters and thigh support held us in place during some canyon dancing around the 'Bu (or Malibu, as it's known to those forced to live in the Valley or someplace like that). The chubby rim of the M-division steering wheel feels reassuring when you give into twin-turbo temptation while tackling tight corners. The sport package also includes some smart exterior trim, 18-inch wheels with performance tires and an electronic limiter that permits a top speed of 155 mph.
With the optional $400 iPod/USB adapter, we could scroll through our iPod for just the right soundtrack to go with our day of flogging the 135i on the Mulholland Highway or cruising Topanga Canyon.
As a BMW with a 3.0-liter engine, all that horsepower and a base price of $39K, there really aren't any competitors for the 2008 BMW 135i Convertible. All you can do is compare it to the other convertibles in the BMW lineup. Do you want to pay less for the lesser-powered Mini or about $10K more for the larger 3 Series convertible with its heavy, all-weather hardtop?
And with the option to put the top down and decent performance numbers comparable to the coupe, we can't think why anyone would want the plain old 1 Series coupe. Just fork over that extra $4,200 and call it a day. A beautiful, sunny day.

Source : edmunds.com