2009 BMW 1 Series User Reviews

Pros

Sun-reflective leather interior, fun to drive, comfortable.

Cons

Blind spot with top up, small gas tank.

Purchased As New

I've owned my 128i convertible since Aug. 2009. It's White w/ Savanna Beige/Black boston leather interior & a Black top. It has the Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, iPod/USB adaptor & 6-spd Auto transmission. I did several months of research before buying this car, and after a few months of ownership, here's my opinion: -- I had the dealer leave two convertible tops down for 1/2 hour on a 90 degree day... one w/ leather & the other w/ leatherette. I highly recommend leather over leatherette mainly because leatherette was blazing hot w/ the top down. The leather has sun-reflective technology, enabling it to deflect the sun and remain cooler to the touch. The leather seats are supple & super comfortable.
-- I love the Premium Package mainly because of the Bluetooth. No need for a cellphone headset, just unlock the door & your connected. You listen through the car radio speakers & just speak. I've had no problem using it w/ the top down. (I don't believe you can order Bluetooth as a stand alone option.) Nevertheless, all of the other Prem. Package features like the auto-dimming rearview mirror, power searts, lumbar support & ambiance light package are nice to have too.

-- The Cold Weather package. The heated steering wheel barely gets warm, but the heated seats are nice on those cool nights w/ the top down.

-- The iPod/USB adapter is sweet. No need to scroll through your handheld iPod via an aux. jack. You will see all songs as layed out on your iPod directly on the dashboard radio.

-- The 6-speed Steptronic Auto transmission is nice, but it cannot be compared to a stick shift. I could not find a dealer in the tri-state area with a 128i on the lot that had standard transmisson... ALL were automatic. I suggest you order the car from scratch if you want a stick, because I assure you they are hard to find on dealer lots.

-- This is my third BMW. I've owned the 2003 & 2006 3 series. By comparison, this 128i is my favorite of the three. The top is quick and effortless with the push of a button. There is however a nasty blind spot btw the passenger door and rear window w/ the top up. I've taken a few long road trips & several short drives. The 128i has the best suspension of any BMW I've owned. It's a relaxing cruiser with lots of power and unbelievable handling. One negative is that the gas tank is much smaller than my 3-series... about 100 miles smaller on a full tank! The trunk is decent for a convertible, and the rear seats are only good for kids. Regardless, buy this car if you love to drive, if you don't mind getting looks and you love the sun & wind. This is a great car!