E88 · 2008–2013
The 125i is the Convertible’s naturally aspirated six, offered from its 2008 launch. It does not exist as a five-door: use this page, not the 130i one.
Figures apply to the cited configuration and market; equipment and transmissions may vary by production date.
Specification source : [4] BMW Group
2,996 cc straight-six with a magnesium-aluminium crankcase, double VANOS and VALVETRONIC: 160 kW at 6,100 rpm and 270 Nm at 2,500 rpm. Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. BMW quotes 0–100 km/h in 6.8 s; BMW Austria’s 03/2008 price list gives 8.1 l/100 km.
Oil change with filter: 6.5 l according to TIS data for the N52K B30; 7.0 l if the engine has the auxiliary oil cooler. Longlife-04 oils are approved for petrol engines only in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein; outside that area, use the approval BMW specifies for the country.
The oil due date is calculated from the fuel used, with 25,000 km as the starting value; the N52K is not among the engines BMW moves to 30,000 km in 09/2008. At every oil service: oil and filter, handbrake check, microfilter. Every third oil service: air filter and spark plugs. Front and rear pads, brake fluid and the vehicle check each have their own service.
At the vehicle check, the workshop triggers the rollover protection system via the diagnosis interface, with the top opened first. The top’s hydraulic system is filled for life: no fluid change is scheduled, and only the approved fluid is used if it leaks.
Chain-driven. The N52K TIS describes chain replacement, but no chain item appears among the maintenance operations: it is a repair, not scheduled maintenance.
The 125i Convertible gets the Air Curtain front apron and the new headlights and L-shaped tail lights; it is still in BMW Austria’s January 2013 price list with 160 kW.
Have the engine code read and check for an auxiliary oil cooler: the oil quantity depends on it. Count oil services since the last spark plugs and air filter.
AutoKarnet advice
CBS: starting value 25,000 km
The CBS calculates the due date from the fuel used: 25,000 km is only a starting value. From 09/2008 BMW encodes 30,000 km for several ECE petrol engines, including the N54; the list does not name the N52K.
Source [2]CBS due date per axle
Two separate services. Pads replaced, brake air ducts cleaned, discs checked (surface, thickness) and replaced below minimum thickness; at the rear the handbrake is checked too.
Source [11]At every oil service
With air conditioning: microfilter replaced at every oil service, per BMW’s operation list for petrol models built from 03/2007.
Source [16]Every third oil service
Replaced at every third oil service, so they follow the oil interval calculated by the CBS.
Source [16]Every third oil service
Filter element replaced at every third oil service; BMW asks for shorter intervals in dusty regions.
Source [16]Due date shown by the CBS
A separate service: brake fluid replaced, then the CBS display reset. The documents consulted for the Coupé and Convertible do not state the interval.
Source [12]Due date shown by the CBS
Same scope as the Coupé plus one Convertible item: the workshop triggers the rollover protection system via the diagnosis interface, after opening the top first.
Source [13]No scheduled change
The system is filled with lifetime fluid. If it leaks, only the approved fluid may be used; the system bleeds itself through repeated operation of the top.
Source [14]TIS lists the 125i as N52K; ADAC gives the engine as N52B30A. Read the full code on the engine before ordering parts.
6.5 l with filter; 7.0 l if the engine has the auxiliary oil cooler, according to TIS for the N52K B30.
Source : [3]
At the vehicle check it triggers them via the diagnosis interface, after opening the top. This test is in BMW’s vehicle check list for the Convertible.
Source : [13]
Yes, TIS describes an emergency procedure: front doors open, rear windows fully lowered, top compartment lid unlocked from the luggage compartment, then the top lock released with the hexagon socket from the on-board tool kit. BMW requires two people and even force on both sides so the frame does not bend.
Source : [15]
Yes, up to 40 km/h; BMW quotes 22 s to open or close it.
Source : [4]
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · SI 11 03 04 (156) · revision 09/2005 · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · ECE · SI 00 13 07 (391) · 10/2007 · launch 09/2008 · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · TD 11 40 · with filter; with auxiliary engine oil cooler · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW Group · EN · Europe · Word attachments: Brief description · long version (soft top, rollover protection) · Technical Data 118i, 120i, 125i, 135i, 120d · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW Group Schweiz · DE · Switzerland · Medien-Information 12/2010 (PDF), p. 2 and section 2.1 “Das neue BMW 1er Coupé / Cabrio” · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW Austria · DE · Austria · “BMW 1er Reihe Coupé E82” and “BMW 1er Reihe Cabrio E88” · kW/PS, consumption, type keys · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW Austria · DE · Austria · “BMW 1er Coupé (E82)” and “BMW 1er Cabrio (E88)” · Accessed 08/10/2026
ADAC · DE · Germany · Technische Daten: Motorcode, Leistung, Drehmoment, Modellstart · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 11 31 · E88 archive, “1 Series 125i (N52K) Convertible” · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 00 00 610 · E88 archive copy · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 00 00 612 (front) and RA 00 00 614 (rear, next document) · E82 archive · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 00 00 618 · E82 archive · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 00 00 625 · E88 archive: “Trigger rollover protection system (Convertible) via diagnosis interface” · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 54 34 · “No changing of the hydraulic fluid necessary” · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 54 34 · E88 archive · Accessed 08/10/2026
BMW AG — TIS (archive) · EN · Europe · RA 00 00 610 · E82 archive copy · Accessed 08/10/2026