BMW 1 series, anything I should know?

TommyV

TommyV

TommyV

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I'm in the market for a 1 series with a budget of about 6k, so at a stretch I am hoping to bag a 56 plate with around 50k miles (according to my research on autotrader so far). Engine sizes and speed don't appeal to me, just want something reliable which looks professional, have been looking at the 116 in particular.

Can anyone point out any known issues or faults I should look out for?

I'm Bristol based if anyone can recommend any reputable local dealers!

Tommy
 
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My gf has a '54 120d. It's been reliable in the 20k or so miles she has done in the last 18 months.

It's a sport so the ride is ok, but could be a bit softer, after all its no hot hatch, but still quick enough.

Only thing I can fault it for is practicality. Despite it being 5 door legroom in the back is pretty poor and the boot isn't ideal due to space required for the wheels etc.

The 116i pre-facelift wouldn't appeal to me personally.

If you don't have kids or want to use the back seats much then its a decent choice.
 
Thanks Andrew. I'll do a little more research.

What year was the 116 facelift introduced? Is it the newer ones (10plate onwards?) I see cruising around?

No kids fortunately! :)
 
I've run a 54 plate 120d for 30k miles and it's been a fantastic little car.

First things first, if the previous owners haven't already, ditch the runflats. They make the ride absolutely awful, and don't do much for the handling either.

But other than that, don't get a sport, go for at least the SE or the M Sport. SE comes pretty well specced, but the M Sport looks a lot better (although to me I prefer the look of the SE, the cardboard insert looking rear bumper looks awful on the M Sport). The handling on the SE with the softer suspension is still brilliant and can provide great fun throwing it around some B roads. It also means with the state of roads, going over a pothole doesn't put you in A&E

Options to go for, iDrive if you can although it's rare, especially at that age and budget. But Professional Headunit at the very least (I think thats what it's called), the standard audio is turd, but even the first level upgrade on the audio makes it worth while. And at 56, you'll get a sub under each seat (after they facelifted they only had a sub under the drivers seat). Climate control, multi-function steering wheel are other musts, just for the look of the interior and obviously the functionality they add. Couldn't live with a car without climate control now

120d returns decent fuel economy, I'd see 48mpg on a few trips up to Darlington and back. Also my commute to work would return 45-48 for the most part. Town driving and cold winters you'll see low to mid 30's which kind of sucks.

Only issue I had with mine was rattles, the interior is full of them especially in hot weather. I've had to put cable ties in between certain panels to stop me from burning it to the ground :D

Reliability wise, in 3 years I've not had a single bill. Although most sites suggest they about average in terms of reliability
 
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Thank you Steedie, very helpful of you.

Will look a lot more into it, and see what the budget will allow. That was only a finger in the air number, can go upto about 10k if absolutely necessary/worth it!

Any websites other than autotrader I can look around on? pistonheads is one if I recall!
 
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To further steedies post.

On a run from Norwich to shrewsbury it was good for 50+ Mpg.

The facelift (07 onwards) introduced efficient dynamics, better interior and a different kidney grille I think, not 100%.

Facelift ones are supposedly faster and more efficient, on paper.

My gfs car has idrive, whilst I don't rate it much, the satnav is useful and it makes the dash where it pops up a bit more interesting.
 
With a budget of £6k and a requirement for something reliable I am not sure that a 1 Series should feature on your shortlist. The pre facelift examples, which is what your budget gets, are a bit cheap and nasty inside anyway. So really the main benefit of the original 1 Series over something like a Golf was it's great chassis offering decent handling, but you are not bothered about performance so I doubt you'll care about that or get an engine to exploit it.

Therefore, buy a MkV Golf. IMHO it's a better £6k car.

The 116i is a particularly terrible car. I know you dont care about performance but it's absolutely ridiculous.
 
10k will get him a facelift one.

I'm not going to get involved with the 4k 'financing' issue though. :)

As mentioned the 116i is a pretty dire engine performance wise but was a great way for people to buy/finance into the badge.

How many miles you do?
 
I live 1.5miles from the office, and 1 mile from the gym.

Essentially about 50-60 miles a week tops! Most of it sat in traffic!
 
Peerzy said:
For £6k?

£6k is Focus, Astra, Golf, Mazda 3 money etc.....

You need closer to £10k if you want a half decent A3, 1 Series etc.....
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There seem to be a number of them for between 4 and 6k on AT currently. Cant comment if they're any good or not, but a lot seem like tidy examples

The cars you mention are much better buys though
 
iaind said:
There seem to be a number of them for between 4 and 6k on AT currently. Cant comment if they're any good or not, but a lot seem like tidy examples

The cars you mention are much better buys though
Click to expand...

I recently was investigating a potential A3 / 1 Series for £6k-£8k and ended up recommending a standard non premium family hatch.

£6k will get you an A3 or 1 Series but just be prepared for worn cruddy interiors, parking dings, high mileage, poverty spec, dodgy service historys etc.....
 
With the kind of engines the op is looking at there would be no problem finding a decent example of a 1 series, A3 or golf at £6-7k. If looking for something more appealing to drive then yes you'd likely want to up that a little. Even then I've seen some tidy 3.2 A3's for less than £6k

Tbh I don't see the point or the appeal in a 116, the cars main redeeming feature of rwd becomes redundant with such little power on offer. Whilst the A3 is a much older design I think i'd rather have a 1.6 8P with some actual space in the back and a reasonable boot than any 116 or 118.

Or a golf, but then everyone wants all of these cars too.
 
6k was just a figure I've plucked having looked around on AT. Could go to 10k but not having a huge interest in cars apart from it looking tidy, I feel that's a bit much and couldn't justify the spend, consdiering the 50-60 miles a week is all it'll be used for.

As I say, just needs to look professional and reliable. Not worried about the mod-cons, nor engine size or bhp under the hood.

Will look into the 118, or possibly an A3. Not a fan of golfs/astras, everyone drives them!
 
Don't bother with a 118 either - it doesn't really improve matters. The 120 is ok but still, if all you want is a car that has a premium badge and looks nice you'd be as well to buy a small engined A3 / golf.
 
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