Used 2013 BMW 1 Series Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2013 1 Series, so we've included reviews for other years of the 1 Series since its last redesign.
Traded a Z4 for a 128i Convertible
danwatson, 10/20/2013
updated 10/31/2022
2013 BMW 1 Series 128i 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl 6M)
50 of 52 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2003 Z4 when they were first introduced and thoroughly enjoyed driving it for 55,000 miles. At the age of 52, it was a great purchase. At 62, with bad knees, and 6'3", it became more difficult to get in and out of. And, being a roadster with a small trunk, it wasn't good for more than a quick overnight trip. So, we traded it on a new '13 128i convertible and so far, it's a wise decision. Had to special order it since I wanted a manual transmission and was willing to pay only for the options I wanted. Only 1000 miles so far, so it's too soon to determine reliability. The fit and finish is typical BMW qaulity and the engine and transmission are smooth. UPDATE: I've now owned the 128i convertible for three years. It's got 16,600 miles, all trouble free. It's still fun to drive and I got another compliment on its appearance just the other day. It's Vermillion Red with a black top and tan interior. This is not my primary driver, but now that I'm retired, it does get driven more. It's a good combination of being a true sports car, but with more room than a roadster. The 2 series BMW should provide the same benefits since it's basically the same car with a different number and Engine. Update: Five years of ownership and I still love the car. It's approaching 30,000 miles and still no problems. But, because of the cost of repairs I purchased an extended warranty that will cover it for 10 years. This car replaced a 10 year old Z4 I purchased new in 2003. Both were outfitted similarly with a manual transmission, and not a lot of bells and whistles or technology. What was surprising was that the 128 was only a few hundred dollars more than what I paid for the Z4 10 years earlier. I've now owned the 128i convertible for 7 years and 33,000 miles. I've moved to Southern Arizona where I drive with the top down more often. I'm still happy with the car. There's only been one minor problem with the heat control that will be fixed next time I take it in. Still enjoy driving the 128i after 37,000 miles. It's been very reliable. I still like the looks, much better than the new BMWs with monster grills. I have no plans to get rid of the car. Contrary to my last entry, I decided to sell my BMW after 9 years and nearly 50,000 trouble free miles. I never lost the joy of driving it on a nice day, but I'm at a point in my life where I'm trying to downsize. We had three vehicles and a two car garage meaning one had to park in the desert sun of Southern Arizona. I wasn't driving it much and decided it was time to let it go to a new owner. After owning BMW's for nearly 20 years, I no longer am. Both my Z4 and 128i were fine cars that gave me lots of driving pleasure.
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Incredible Little Car
socalh2oskier, 03/24/2014
2013 BMW 1 Series 135i 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
This 135i convertible with M Sport package is one of the most---no, make that THE MOST FUN--car I have ever owned, and I have owned many, including Jaguars, Corvettes, and Porsches, to name a few. Fantastic engine pulls strong from a dead stop to 7k rpms. DCT transmission is a blast. Handling is sharp. This thing scoots around like a Miata on steroids. The only thing I dislike about this car are the run-flat tires, which I switched out after one week for some non-run-flat Michelins--this immediately improved the ride tremendously. I think this may be the best car BMW makes.
This is my favorite car
socalh2oskier, 05/30/2014
updated 05/08/2016
2013 BMW 1 Series 135i 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
Best car I've ever owned. I have had Corvettes, Jags, Benzes and a multitude of others, but by far my favorite is the 135i convertible. It is a fun, peppy car that strikes an almost perfect balance between ride/handling--and this is with the sport package. Mine has the DCT transmission--it works flawlessly and is so intuitive I rarely use the manual function. Handling is superb. The ride is a bit rough with the OE run-flats. I swapped mine out for non-run-flat Michelins right away--the ride is much improved. IMO, BMW should do away with OE run-flats. They are horrible. Update after driving this car for 25,000 miles. I still love the car, but I wish I would have gotten the manual transmission. The DCT is great if you are driving fast, but for normal mundane around town stuff--which is 90 percent of my driving--the DCT sucks. It has a horrible problem where it is almost as if the car dies when you come to a stop quickly and then try to step on the gas--nothing happens for 2-5 seconds, and then all of a sudden the transmission figures out you want to go and it takes off. This is not turbo lag--the car simply will not move--you can have the gas pedal floored and it feels as if the car shut off--nothing happens for a few seconds, which is scary in some situations. I took it to the dealer and they kept it for a week trying to fix it--they got it improved slightly, but it is still not fixed. I have discovered that, if you slap the gear shift over into sport mode as you are coming to a stop, this takes care of the problem, so, as long as you can plan ahead, you are okay. This won't help in emergency situations, but for most around town driving, I can now at least avoid this problem. Other than the DCT issue, and my previously described disdain for run-flats, I LOVE THIS CAR.
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Excellent car - mixed bag transmission
kjgood, 01/03/2015
2013 BMW 1 Series 135i 2dr Convertible (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
This is my second 135i convertible, and I have over 20k on this car at the time of this review. I was somewhat reluctant to order it with the then-new-to-the-135 7-speed dual-clutch transmission instead of the manual, but I was persuaded by the thought of the lightning-fast shifts and the advantage of being able to select between auto and manual modes. The reality is that in manual mode, and even auto mode for fast acceleration, the transmission is brilliant. But in stop-start, mundane "through the neighborhood" use (where you just want to leave it in auto-mode), the transmission is hesitant, clunky and confused. In other words, where you most want it to be an automatic, it is wanting.
Fast, Fun and a reliable relic.
BMW Oregon, 02/10/2018
updated 08/22/2022
2012 BMW 1 Series 135i 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
Bought my 2012 BMW 135i coupe with 19K on the odometer and am a 2nd owner. It came out of Beverly Hills, California (checked the iDrive locations) and was in pristine condition. It was on a 36 month lease and I found it after it was returned after the lease expired...they drove it less than 7K/year. Thank you very much. Sticker was pushing $48,200 new. Ouch. I paid $20K less. I live in Portland, Oregon and it is a weekend play toy...I have an AWD SUV for work and outdoor pursuits. Even so, I ripped off the run flats and added Michelin tires that are superb in the dry and wet. Better tires all the way around and handling that sticks like glue and has a great ride. Have AAA if I ever get a flat, with a 200 mile tow, included. I wanted the 135i before the 2 series appeared with electric steering...I have had numerous BMW's before and there is nothing like hydraulic steering...and it's all too rare these days. The steering feel is a pleasure and the ride is terrific for this sized vehicle. People seem to be out of touch these days with the pleasure of driving. Sure, there's nothing wrong at all getting from point A to B in a huge Chevy Suburban...but if you really love to drive, fewer and fewer cars really fit that bill, but this is sure one of them. The car is a little rocket and being fast and little, I don't mention mpg or luggage room because that is not the purpose of this car, at least for me. Heck, small sports cars are not meant to be super practical...just super fun and are there for the smiles per mile...and this car delivers. The inline 6 is magnificent...I have added a few things to make it even more enjoyable like quad exhausts, a BMS open air filter then some basic carbon fiber but all very under the radar, plus the addition of BMW 1-Series M-Sport wheels...nothing "blingy" or that screams "please look at me"! I have also boosted the already powerful engine output to almost 400 hp/400 ft-lbs. torque with a Motorwerks ECU tune, that works beautifully, and the difference is fantastic. I got most all the accessories from BMW and all work is all done by BMW certified mechanics, so I have expectations that as well as I care for it, it will take care of me for years to come. To go along with that, I don’t “rabbit” start it, track it, drag it and have never had it on a “dyno.” Heck, I’m not in high school, so I drive it like a responsible adult who loves to, at times, let her run like a BMW knows how to do...The extra power in passing situations, entrance ramps and on open roads is magnificent. I’m guessing 0-60 times in the low 4’s. Overall, it is among my favorite cars to drive, ever...this and my past BMW V-8 powered 550, which was a bullet disguised as a sedan. BMW's just drive very well. They are fun, stable as can be and very solid on the road. Sure, they don't have the reliability as my girlfriend's Lexus, or the super comfy ride...but when she first drove my 135i, her first comment was "Holy cow, this is a fun car...and what a pleasure to drive this thing." She does think it's a rather interestingly proportioned car and I agree. I think it's kind of funny looking but I don't buy a car just on looks alone in any way, shape or form. Anyway, looks are always a matter of taste, I can’t see what it looks like when I drive it plus, the somewhat funny proportions are forgotten about after the 1st mile of driving. Various factors/criteria are always sought and this one makes my heart beat every time I get in it. I initially looked at Porsche Cayman (too pricey, lower power), Infiniti G37 (Japanese BMW copy for less money...no real passion), and the Audi TT (boring, but great interior). I was seeking a vehicle 2-3 years old, in great condition and fun...I found at least one of each of these cars somewhat meeting that criteria but the BMW was my favorite by far and the one that I drove away in. They say BMW lost their way a few years ago trying to move from a company that sold driving machines to just selling cars to as many people as possible...in the process, they lost purists who love to drive. Numerous articles spoke of this car being their attempt to get back to what they did best in the past...I have to agree. It's not a Costco grocery getter or a car that’s made to have you smile solely about mpg’s Iike a Prius...it does exactly what it was built for...just to be plain enjoyable and a pleasure to get in and drive each and every time. Update: After 6 years of ownership, my 135i m-sport continues to be as enjoyable as ever. Sure, Teslas and some other electric cars with their immediate torque are faster but to me, not nearly as enjoyable to drive. I don’t live on a drag strip but driving locally or on longer weekend trips, and this little car just continues to be just plain fun. The handling, engine noise and acceleration is something I continue to look forward to every time she comes out of the garage…I drove a newer Mazda Miata recently, and thought it was awful. Rough ride, louder than being in the front row of a rock concert and wanting for power in a massive way…oh, and it had no ability to take much of a trip due to no luggage capacity, so it pretty much has to be a local driver. I know they’re considered super fun, raw, pure sports cars with impeccable handling, adequate power and a blast to drive in the curves, but I thought the driving experience was underwhelming and again, way too loud…yep, the 135i continues to shine. In my opinion, the 135i just continues to make driving fun.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
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