BMW 1 Series
5 chassis covered · 2004–2019 · 41 engine variants
Generations
| Chassis | Body | Years | Engines | M | Avg risk | Price span | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E87 | hatchback | 2004–2011 | 13 | – | R3 | €2,200–€14,150 | The volume body and the cheapest way in. A rear-drive hatch that drives better than its price, let down only by a firm ride on run-flats and a tight rear seat. |
| E81 | hatchback | 2007–2012 | 8 | – | R3 | €2,500–€12,600 | The three-door, sold only from the 2007 facelift onwards: mechanically identical to the E87, rarer, and no more practical for the compromise. |
| E82 | coupe | 2007–2013 | 8 | 1 | R3 | €3,250–€24,400 | The body people actually want: the last small rear-drive BMW coupé, home to the 135i and the collectible 1M, priced accordingly. |
| E88 | convertible | 2008–2013 | 8 | – | R3 | €3,400–€25,700 | A cloth-roofed convertible rather than a folding hardtop, lighter and simpler than the E93 3 Series, but with the same rule. The cheapest body to buy is the most expensive to keep dry. |
| F20 | hatchback | 2011–2019 | 3 | – | R3 | €5,500–€20,150 | The last rear-drive hatchback in the class, and still the best-steering car of its size. It's cramped in the back and nobody who buys one for the drive minds. |
Timeline
● in production · ◐ facelift year, the changeover often splits engines mid-year, so verify the engine code rather than the registration date.