BMW 1-series coupe - opinions?
- Thread starter Raider
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From the little research I've done, the 120D can easily be chipped to 200bhp putting it on par with a petrol Golf GTI.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Nowhere near as thrilling and interesting though.
[TW]Fox;10160903 said:
Guess that is the reason some people buy a Golf GTI over an old BMW 530i!
I've had no issues with the handling of my 1 series. I personally prefer the power delivery of a diesel and actually bought the 120D over a Golf GTI. At the time I bought it I saw some new Golf GTI's in a car supermarket for about £18.5K ... agree they sounded nice but no where near as comfortable. I couldn't see myself driving 30K miles a year in the Golf.
The handling is about the only thing the 1 Series does really well. I couldn't see myself driving 30k miles a year in a 1 Series - infact I decided I couldn't be bothered with a 300 mile trip I was going to make when I had a 116i for the week. Went the next week instead.
Soldato
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- 10 Oct 2006
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Thats all fair and well but a Golf GTI can be remapped to around 270bhp with over 300lbft, diesel torque over double the revs and petrol power. Won't do diesel MPG though however should be in the 30s. (The ED30 Golfs are remappable to over 310bhp and 300lbft) Its not really fair comparing a remapped car to standard car.
I would however take the 135i over the 123d, I've still to see a performance diesel match its quoted MPG in the real world. I bet on the normal tank full the 123d driven on my normal route will be in the low 40s high 30s certainly good for its performance but not enough to move me away from a petrol.
[TW]Fox;10161113 said:
Why?
I drive about 700 miles a week in my 1 series with no problems. Fair enough it isn't in a base model 116i but my seats are comfortable, the cabin in quiet, the hifi is good and it sits on cruise control at 80 in 6th gear for most the journey. After a 4 hour journey I am able to get out without any pains or feeling overly tired.
So it doesn't have electric seats (well mine does have electronic lumbar support) but no one else drives it.
It doesn't have a massive boot ... but usually it is only me in the car
It doesn't have a v6 engine... but it does have a class leading diesel which allows me to do 600 miles on a tank and 0-60 in less then 8 seconds
When I bought my car, I could have bought an 3 or 4 year old 5 series. But I didn't want a large car and I didn't want an old one. I could have even bought a 1 year old 3 series but the spec of my car is better then the 3 series of the same price.
You compare a poverty spec 1 series to the higher ones. How do you compare the 520i to the 530i?
Every 1 Series I've driven has had at least one really irritating problem that would put me off taking it on a long trip.
116i - absolutely horribly underpowered engine and no cruise control
118d M Sport and 120d M Sport - very, very joggly ride on dual carriageways and Motorways. Seriously grated me after 20 miles let alone 700. It wasn't the fact it was firm, but the fact it was firm and bouncy as well. It skipped over imperfections in the carriageway. And had no cruise, but I guess thats an option.
The E90 3 Series is a far better long distance companion. The 1 Series is ok for popping into town and stuff, but for proper long distance work, it isn't as well suited as other cars in the BMW range, IMHO.
I think a lot of people have hit the nail on the head when they say its the sort of car you buy your wife when she wouldnt be seen in a Focus.
116i - absolutely horribly underpowered engine and no cruise control
118d M Sport and 120d M Sport - very, very joggly ride on dual carriageways and Motorways. Seriously grated me after 20 miles let alone 700. It wasn't the fact it was firm, but the fact it was firm and bouncy as well. It skipped over imperfections in the carriageway. And had no cruise, but I guess thats an option.
The E90 3 Series is a far better long distance companion. The 1 Series is ok for popping into town and stuff, but for proper long distance work, it isn't as well suited as other cars in the BMW range, IMHO.
I think a lot of people have hit the nail on the head when they say its the sort of car you buy your wife when she wouldnt be seen in a Focus.
[TW]Fox;10161509 said:
Most reviews I've read recommend you don't buy the Sport version with the Sport suspension. That might be the issue you have had. I never had a problem with the ride .... yes it can be a little firm but not uncomfortable.
Additionally yep the crusie control is an option ... then again being a BMW so was the cup holder!
A little off topic ... but you do seem to know your BMW's. What is the best way of wiring in an iPod? Currently using the Aux socket in the arm rest but do have all the cd changer connections pre-wired in the boot. Don't know if it makes any difference but it is the Professional Radio/CD with Hi Performance Speaker package.
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You want an Intravee - it's in development and it's a little pricey but it works SO well. It will give you total Ipod control via your OEM stereo screen. You will, unfortunately, lose your CD changer as it uses the same port on the stereo.
My 06 118D manages well over 50 MPG - Which is over the quoted MPG figure.
Most BMW figures are conservative - not optimistic!
Soldato
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I've driven a 120d/320d/330d/535d not one driven normally by me has matched its quoted MPG figures the trip on the 320d was also quoting 5-6mpg higher than brimming it (I never filled the others so can't compare), I have noticed Audi trip are the same on the diesels recently.
If you get 50mpg+ I bet you drive it steadily around 60-70mph without a lot of town driving to get 550-600miles out of a tank in a 1 series. I don't drive like a boy racer but I generally do a fair bit of ovetaking on A roads and will sit when safe to do so at 80-95 on the motorway. I got a real world 39mpg out of a 320d someway off its quoted 52mpg, at 95 it was struggling to get over 35mpg.
The 535d was remapped and very quick yet it struggled to break 25mpg although comparable speed petrols would struggle to break 20mpg in such a large car I suspect.
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