The rear-wheel drive 135i is available as either a coupe or convertible. The 135i is powered by a turbo, 300-hp, 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed double-clutch transmission with steering wheel paddle shifting. Standard safety features include six airbags on the coupe, four on the convertible, anti-lock brakes, adaptive xenon headlights, adaptive brake lights, stability and traction control and run-flat tires with pressure monitoring. The 135i features the usual BMW creature comforts such as a high-definition audio system, auxiliary input jack, power sunroof (coupe only), automatic climate control, wood trim, leather wrapped steering wheel and multi-way power adjustable front seats.
For 2012, the headlights and taillights have been redesigned, and power adjustable front seats are now standard.