1 Series (E81/E82/E87/E88)

The first generation of the BMW 1 Series consists of the BMW E81 (3-door hatchback version), BMW E82 (coupe version), BMW E87 (5-door hatchback version) and BMW E88 (convertible version) compact cars. The E81/E82/E87/E88 generation was produced from 2004 to 2013 and is sometimes collectively referred to as the E8x.

The E8x replaced the 3 Series Compact as the smallest and least expensive vehicle in the BMW range. The engines available were four-cylinder diesel and four- and six-cylinder petrol, in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. Unlike most hatchback competitors, the E81/E82/E87/E88 uses rear-wheel drive (instead of front-wheel drive). The 1 Series accounted for nearly one-fifth of the total BMW sales in 2008.

Following the introduction of the F20/F21 1 Series in 2011, the E81/E87 hatchback models began to be phased out. However, the E82/E88 coupes and convertibles remained in production until 2013, when they were replaced by the F22/F23 2 Series models.