2004 BMW 1 Series 5 doors (E87) Photos, engines & full specs

Audi dominated the premium compact hatchback segment, and BMW decided to end that when it introduced the first generation of the 1 Series in 2004, hoping to attract more customers to its showrooms.

BMW tried to sell a shortened version of the 3 Series Compact for two generations, and the results were not very satisfying, to say the least since the car manufacturer ditched the model. Meanwhile, the automaker’s engineering team was busy trying to find a better alternative for that, and they created the 1 Series. It was a hatchback that didn’t share its platform with any other vehicle on the automaker’s lineup until later when the E90 and the first generation of the Z4 roadster came around. The idea behind this model was to provide customers with a more affordable Bimmer with a rear-wheel drive setup and upscale features unavailable on most other cars in the same market segment.

The E87, as it was known in the factory coding, was introduced in late 2004 at the Paris Motor Show and was designed by Chris Chapman. He created a controversial-looking front fascia that followed the ideas introduced by Chris Bangle on BMW’s lineup. The clear lenses covered the dual headlamp units of the headlights, which were swept back towards the sides of the vehicle and also covered the turn signals. They flanked the classic kidney grille that was part of the wrapped-around plastic bumper. Lower, in the apron, the stylist created a smiling shape for a broad center air intake that could be flanked by available round fog lamps.

From its side, the 2004 BMW 1 Series was available exclusively as a five-door hatchback affair. It featured a short nose compared to the 3 Series, even though it shared its inline-six engines with that lineup. The cabin was pushed rearward with a panoramic windshield followed by a short, arched roof. To create a sloped-down look for the vehicle, Chris Chapman made the upper side of the rear doors arched downward but kept the Hofmeister kick on the C-pillars. At the back, the almost vertical tailgate was flanked on its mid-section by corner-mounted taillights featuring horizontal reversing lights with clear covers in the middle. Thanks to this styling tweak, the car seemed wider than it was. On the lower side of the rear fascia, the automaker installed a wrapped-around plastic bumper with a lower valance that allowed the exhaust (single or twin) to peak out.

Inside, the 2004 BMW 1 Series (E87) had a cozy interior fit for four occupants. At the front, depending on the grade and options, there were either fabric-covered seats with mild bolstering or bucket seats that promised to keep their occupants in place during high-speed cornering. On the bright side, it was available with leather upholstery. In the back, legroom was nothing to write home about. Fronting the driver was a small-sized and rounded instrument cluster filled with two large dials for the tachometer and speedometer. On the lower side of the latter, the automaker squeezed the fuel level gauge. Surprisingly, the car didn’t have the instant fuel consumption indicator like any other BMW from that era. Furthermore, there was no temperature indicator, only a bulb that was blue when the engine was cold and turned off when it was warm enough. Among other upscale amenities, the E87 was available with an iDrive infotainment system that also featured navigation.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a choice of straight-four or straight-six, gasoline or turbodiesel engines. Indeed, it was the only compact-segment five-door RWD vehicle to boast a six-cylinder unit. It was paired with either a five- or a six-speed manual, with an available six-speed automatic, depending on the powerplant.