The BMW 128i Coupe ($29,400) comes with automatic climate control; premium AM/FM/CD audio with auxiliary input jack; a leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel; leatherette upholstery; cruise control; power glass sunroof; high-gloss black interior trim; rain-sensing automatic headlights; fog lights; and 205/55HR16 all-season tires on 16-inch alloy wheels.

The BMW 135i Coupe ($35,850) adds, in addition to its twin-turbocharged engine, a firmer sport suspension and high-performance brakes; xenon headlights with adaptive light control; retractable headlight washers; Gray Poplar wood interior trim; and 215/40YR18 front tires leading 245/35YR18 rears, both of course on 18-inch alloy rims.

The BMW 128i Convertible ($34,000) and 135i Convertible ($40,150) are equipped similarly to their coupe counterparts, except that the 135i soft top rolls on less radical 205/50HR17 rubber front and rear. Both come with a fully automatic fabric folding top.

A Sport Package ($1,300) for the 128i models includes sport suspension, sport seats, M-style steering wheel, Shadowline trim, and wider tires on 17-inch rims. You can also add the seats, steering wheel, and trim to the 135i ($1,100), which already comes with the sport suspension and 18-inch wheels.

Options include leather upholstery ($1,450), heated front seats ($500), rear park distance control ($350), navigation ($2,100), BMW Assist ($750), Sirius satellite radio ($595), HD radio ($350), iPod/USB adapter ($400), Smartphone integration ($150), and xenon headlights ($900). Wood trim is available on the 128i ($500) and can be omitted from the 135i (for no charge). The 135i Coupe and Convertible offer variable-ratio Active Steering ($1,550) and, new for 2009, a heated steering wheel ($150). Both convertibles offer a rear-seat ski bag that loads through the trunk ($175). Various Cold Weather packages ($600-900) bundle some of the above-listed equipment, while Premium Packages ($3,400-3,700) combine leather upholstery with power memory seats and other amenities.

Safety features that come standard on the 1 Series include frontal airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, side curtain airbags (coupe only), ABS, electronic stability control, traction control, cornering brake control, and launch control for getting started on slippery surfaces. The brake lights include a panic-braking mode that lights up the entire lens extra bright whenever the brake pedal is stomped hard. A tire-pressure monitor is standard. The 135i comes with run-flat tires.