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2008 BMW 1 Series Expert Review
Rising gas prices and increasingly crowded roads have turned many car-buyers' eyes toward small cars. BMW would love to cash in on this growing interest, but can it do so without diluting or cheapening the brand's premium image? BMW hopes the 1 Series will prove it can, and is entering the lower levels of the United States' luxury market cautiously, so only the 1 Series Coupe and Convertible will be sold here, even though three and five-door versions are also available in Europe. Those who think BMW's 3 Series has grown too big or expensive can look to the 1 Series as a smaller, more affordable convertible option.

You'll Like This Car If...
If you think smaller and lighter cars tend to be the most fun, we think you'll like the 2008 BMW 1 Series Convertible. It features a quiet, well insulated top and excellent top-down air-flow management, freeing it from the vices that commonly plague convertibles.

What's New for
Over the years, the entry price of BMW's 3 Series Convertible has swelled to more than $43,000, pushing it out of reach for many buyers. The 1 Series Convertible is nearly $10,000 less expensive, giving more buyers the chance to own a BMW convertible without dipping into their childrens' college funds.

Driving It
Driving Impressions
While many convertibles drive like watered-down versions of their fixed-roof siblings, the 2008 BMW 1 Series Convertible retains most of the sharp handling dynamics found in its Coupe counterpart. Steering feel is good, offering just the right amount of resistance and precise control of the front wheels. The structure of the 1 Series Convertible feels strong and is generally free of rattles and squeaks when driving over rough pavement. The 230-horsepower engine in the 128i is no slouch, but with 300 horsepower on tap the twin-turbocharged engine in the 135i is the real star. It's the same engine used in the larger, heavier 3 Series and, in the smaller 135i, it delivers great power to pass and a swift zero-to-60-mph time of 5.3 seconds.

Favorite Features
Sun Reflective Upholstery
Driving a convertible is fun but also offers its share of inconveniences. For example, on particularly bright and sunny days the interior surfaces of many convertibles retain a lot of heat. The optional Boston leather interior treatment of the 1 Series Convertible features Sun Reflective technology, which virtually eliminates this problem.

Soft Top
The BMW 1 Series Convertible features a three-layer soft top that keeps road and wind noise to near coupe-like levels. Additionally, the power-operated top can be raised or lowered in about 22 seconds and at speeds up to 25 miles per hour.

Vehicle Details
Interior
The 1 Series is the least expensive convertible offered by BMW, but the interior treatment is anything but cheap, featuring high-quality materials and modern style. With the soft top in the raised position the cabin remains impressively quiet and, with the top lowered, airflow around the cabin is nicely controlled. Seating in the 1 Series Convertible is limited to four and, while front-seat passengers enjoy good head and leg room, rear-seat passengers might feel cramped by limited shoulder space. Trunk space is tight but, with clever arrangement, there is enough room for a weekend's worth of luggage.

Exterior
Notable Standard Equipment
Among the standard features offered on the BMW 1 Series Convertible are automatic climate control, power windows with one-touch up-and-down function, power-retractable soft top, rain-sensing windshield wipers, cruise control and a 10-speaker audio system with auxiliary input for MP3 players. In terms of safety, the 1 Series includes standard front and front-side airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls and active roll bars that automatically deploy in the event of a vehicle roll-over.

Notable Optional Equipment
Many of the available options are divided into packages. The Cold Weather Package includes heated front seats and a ski bag with pass-through from the trunk to the cabin. The Premium Package features power front seats with memory, auto-dimming mirrors, leather seating and an interior lighting package. The Sport Package increases the speed setting of the top speed limiter and adds sport seats plus other racy details. Stand-alone options include a navigation system, xenon headlights, HD radio, satellite radio and BMW's Active Steering system.

Under the Hood
Most buyers will find the 230-horsepower in-line six-cylinder engine powering the 128i to be perfectly acceptable.

3.0-liter in-line 6
230 horsepower at 6500 rpm
200 lb.-ft. of torque at 2750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 (automatic),