About the BMW 1 Series
The BMW 1 Series began life in 2004 as an entry level BMW for those looking for a way into the luxury car maker's marketplace without the heffty price tag and the extra fluff. The BMW 1 Series was small yet powerful because it was adorned with the same engine offers as its bigger brother the 3 series but in a more compact package. For the enthusiast who the loved BMWs this was the coming of the small cars like the E30 or E46 chassis all over again.
Offered orginally in Hatchback ,Coupe and Convertible the coupe and convertible were traded of over to the BMW 2 series platform in 2014.
The First Generation Chassis Code Layout:
E81 - The 3 Door Hatchback
E82 - The Coupe & 1 M (2011 only)
E87 - The 5 Door HatchBack
E88 - The Convertible
The First Generation of the BMW 1 Series was produced from the 2004 - 2013 when production of the Coupe and Convertaible were still available. By far this Generation often referred to as the E8X by enthusiast is the most popular, for mainly two reasons. One you cant get a BMW 1 Series coupe / convertible again and Two the 1M (2011) was also only produced on this E82 Chassis a car by which most hardcore BMW enthusiast swear is the Best BMW M Car ever made.
Obviously the later statement is subjective but haven driven one I can see why most would feel that way. There is something to said about a straight 6 BMW with or without turbo paired with rear wheel drive and a hydrolic streering in such a tiny package just screams fun. You really feel the Road in the BMW 1 series.
The Engine Code Layout:
The first generation BMW 1 series came with 3 engine options:
1.) The BMW N52 is a 3.0 inline-6 cynlinder naturally aspirated engine which puts out 230 Hp, barring the valve gasket leak its know to be pretty reliable.
2.) The BMW N54 is a 3.0 inline-6 cynlinder Twin Turbo engine which puts out 300 Hp, its know for not being very reliable.
3.) The BMW N55 is a 3.0 inline-6 cynlinder Signle Turbo engine which puts out 320 Hp, Its know to be more reliable than the N54 variant.