BMW 1 Series Service Repair Workshop Manuals

Nowadays, the BMW Group is one of the best-known carmakers with one of the widest vehicle ranges. However, before the brand became what it is now, it went through several significant changes over its century-long existence. The exemplary reputation it enjoys today was only possible after a series of ups and downs.

BMW was first established as an aircraft engine manufacturer in 1916, for another Munich-based company called Rapp Motoren Werke. A few years down the line, the owner of Rapp had to resign due to financial troubles, and the company's new owners decided to merge with a reputed but small aircraft maker by the name of Gustav Otto Flugmaschinefabrik. The new venture was named Bayerische Motoren Werke, or BMW as we know it.

BMW’s first product under the new name was an inline six-cylinder aircraft engine called IIIa. The engine was excellent in terms of fuel efficiency and high-altitude performance, quickly attracting large orders from the German military. At the time, BMW primarily produced aircraft engines and motorcycles. Still, as the first World War ended, the aircraft engine side of the business saw dwindling sales and the imposition of several bans on its facilities. To survive, the German brand had to resort to producing household items like pots and pans, farming equipment, and even braking systems.

But tough times didn't last long for BMW, thanks to the rearmament of Germany in the 1930s, before the Second World War. The brand started manufacturing aircraft engines for the German military again, with motorcycles on the sidelines. However, automobile production didn't begin until 1923 and lasted merely 16 years before the aftermath of WW2 struck BMW hard.

By the late 1940s, BMW was finally allowed to start producing motorcycles again, but the brand's first post-war automobile wasn't unveiled until 1951. At first, the German brand had decided to make only luxury vehicles in limited numbers with high-profit margins. However, this plan took the backseat as the German market preferred affordable cars instead of mopeds or motorcycles. BMW then began working on small economy cars and came up with the Isetta and 600.

After nearly going bankrupt in the early 60s, BMW launched its extensive model lineup still used today. The 3, 5, and 7 Series came first, followed by the 8 Series in 1989, while the 1 Series was introduced much later in 2004. The 1 Series is a compact hatchback made and sold by BMW over three generations. It was also offered in coupe, convertible, and sedan form at various points in its life cycle.

If you have a 1 Series BMW, you know more than anyone that these cars can be susceptible to minor wiggles now & again, and can get really expensive to repair quite fast. To keep your beloved BMW in tip-top shape at all times, get access to our BMW 1 Series manuals and gain the ability to fix all major and minor issues yourself. These BMW 1 Series user manuals are prepared after extensive research and fact-checking, so only the most reliable and effective solutions are included.