Does the BMW 1 Series have a four-cylinder engine?
3 Answers
Both the BMW 1 Series 120i and 125i are equipped with four-cylinder engines. Specifically, the 120i comes with a 2.0T four-cylinder turbocharged engine, while the 125i features a 1.5T three-cylinder and a 2.0T four-cylinder engine. The 1.5T turbocharged engine delivers 140 horsepower and a maximum torque of 220 Nm. It reaches its maximum power at 4,600 to 6,500 rpm and its peak torque at 1,480 to 4,200 rpm. This engine is equipped with direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block. It is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 2.0T four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces a maximum power of 192 horsepower and a peak torque of 280 Nm. It is matched with an 8AT transmission, achieving a top speed of 235 km/h and an official 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.5 seconds. The fuel consumption is rated at 6.4L per 100 km according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and it meets the China VI emission standards. This engine also features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
I used to drive a BMW 1 Series 118i with a 3-cylinder engine, but later upgraded to the M135i with a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The power improved significantly, achieving 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds, and it feels extremely stable on the highway. For daily commuting, the fuel consumption is decent, averaging around 8L. The 4-cylinder models in the current F40 series are quite mainstream, like the M135i xDrive paired with an 8AT transmission, which has much less vibration and noise compared to the 3-cylinder. My friends who drive older 1 Series models all say the upgrade is worth it—the 4-cylinder engine makes handling more precise, with agile body movement during turns, making it perfect for those who enjoy sporty driving. It also handles stop-and-go city traffic well, and while maintenance is slightly more expensive, it’s durable. When choosing a car, the M135i or 125i are great options.
From a technical perspective, the BMW 1 Series indeed offers an optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, with the top-tier M135i being a prime example, delivering 306 horsepower paired with an xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Based on data comparisons, the four-cylinder variant surpasses the entry-level three-cylinder in terms of smoothness and responsiveness, with superior noise control and significantly reduced vibrations, especially during high-speed cruising. Optimized for environmental compliance, it meets Euro 6 standards with an approximate fuel consumption of 8L/100km. It delivers a spirited driving experience in daily use, featuring smooth automatic transmission shifts, making it ideal for users seeking balance. While lower-end models come with three-cylinder engines, the higher trims exclusively feature four-cylinders to uphold BMW's sporty DNA.
