Short Take Road Test
When searching for the perfect diamond, the basic guiding factors are the four Cs: cut, clarity, color, and carat. The better each is, the higher quality the diamond and, of course, the higher the price. When we search for our favorite cars, there isn’t an easy or swanky way to abbreviate the guidelines, but we look for performance, a ride-and-handling balance, ergonomics, and value. Granted, as with diamonds, everyone’s needs (or wants) differ, but if you’re in the market for a four-seat convertible, the BMW 135i is one high-quality gem.
Velocity
The 135i earns a big checkmark in the performance column. Equipped with BMW’s brilliant twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six with 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, the 3700-pound ragtop shoots to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. That sub-five-second sprint means it’s only 0.2 second slower than the quickest coupe version we’ve tested—which was nearly 300 pounds lighter—and 0.1 second behind the Z4 sDrive35i roadster, which has the same engine. With your right foot planted, the 135i convertible shows no signs of weakness. The velvety smooth six keeps churning out thrust to run the quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds at 104 mph before topping out at a governed 148 mph, numbers that reside in sports-car territory. What goes fast must also eventually slow down, and the brakes on the 135i do a fine job, stopping it from 70 mph in a tidy 162 feet.
Getting a Handle on It
Straight-line speed is but one element of the equation, and we’re glad to report that the 135i checks out in the handling department, too. Our tester’s thick-rimmed M steering wheel—part of the $1100 Sport package that includes 18-inch wheels, darker metal trim, and sport seats—subtly communicated the goings-on between the firmly planted suspension and the road. A small amount of cowl shake was present over rougher surfaces, as the softtop is less rigid than its fixed-roof sibling, but this is still one of the most solid-feeling convertibles on the market. Throw this car into a corner, and the chassis stays mostly unperturbed while the tire’s 0.86 g of grip—compared with 0.89 for the coupe—maintains a hold on the road.
Big on the Inside
Being 8.4 inches shorter in overall length than a 3-series convertible, the 1-series is significantly smaller, but it’s rather hard to notice. That’s not because the car drives big but is instead because interior space is plentiful, considering the compact exterior dimensions. To our surprise, the back seat holds five-foot-six adults with comfort, even with a six-foot-tall driver. Few four-place convertibles, even some larger in size, are able to make that claim. Wind buffeting is minimal with the top down at highway speeds, even without a wind deflector, which makes the standard stereo all that is necessary for pleasing clarity.
The quality of the interior and the layout are almost identical to those of the 3-series, but we did have a few gripes about the ergonomic differences. The 1-series lacks the nifty electronic arms found in all 3-series coupes and convertibles that present front-seat occupants with their seatbelts. Although that function sounds like a ritzy perk for lazy people, it is extremely helpful in avoiding shoulder dislocation while hunting for a belt that hangs a foot behind you. And while the doctor is examining your shoulder, you might want to bring up the pain in your right elbow from banging it on the center console; the six-speed manual transmission proved flawless in its action, but we found that the placement of the center-console lid coupled with the shifter’s low placement meant oft-mangled one-two shifts. Simply lengthening the shifter by an inch would remedy this—and the pain in our elbows.
Is It for You?
Whether its diamonds or cars, it all comes down to how much you can afford. The base price of $40,975 for the hot-rod twin-turbo cabrio is steep, making it the 1-series to buy if you can afford it, but we’d suggest potential buyers look at trading some carat weight for a similar cut, color, and clarity in the form of the 128i convertible. The less-powerful car offers most of the same features and amenities at an entry price that will save at least a month’s salary.
