BMW 118i - (F20 facelift) - how bad?

[MitchT]

The OH has a Feb 2005 E87 120d SE which she wants to swap for something newer. She doesn't want a diesel due to a change in her driving habits not suiting a modern diesel. She can afford up to £12k. This will put her in a decent 68 plate 118i. Will this car feel utterly inadequate after a 120d? Should she go for an older, higher mileage, 120i instead? I'm keen for her to get one with the B48 engine, so I guess that limits how old she can go on a 120i.

[rosejem]

I think its a sensible change the F20 is decent car and the B38 in the 118i is a good proven little petrol engine. The auto suits the engine really well.
For local journeys I don't think she will mind the loss in power.
On hills and Motorways she will miss the torque and pull of the 120d the 118i will be working hard on hills to maintain a decent pace.
For a small engine economy is only going to around 40 at best.
I went form a 118d to a 118i and it was only hills I missed the torque and it would change down a couple of gears to maintain the same speed you would be doing 4,000 revs as apposed to 2, 700 in the diesel and economy on was around 10 mpg less.

[Mr Tidy]

I had a 2007 123d years ago and managed to get Sytner to give me an F20 118i as a courtesy car when mine was being serviced.

I really liked it, and being a turbo I didn't find it too lacking in performance. I keep looking at them now, but every time I drive my 2005 330i I find myself loving the straight 6 grunt - and how little it owes me!

[MitchT]

Interesting stuff, thanks.

[MitchT]

rosejem said:

The auto suits the engine really well.

Might be a job selling that the my OH. She can't stand the idea of an auto. I've told he she'd better get used to it as everything's going auto and she won't have a choice in future!

[helix402]

The 118i is okay. Mpg will be poor after the M47. I spoke a friend today who has one. He gets 34 mpg indicated . They work well as an auto.

Edited by helix402 on Thursday 9th May 22:08

[DKIE92]

The 118i B38 is a good car. I had one for a few weeks as a courtesy car and enjoyed it.

It was surprisingly nippy and has enough power for everyday driving. In sports mode it’s decent fun and even though it’s a 3cyl it didn’t feel unrefined at all.

Imo the newer entry level 1 series have distanced themselves from older generation which were plagued with issues. The B series engines are modular so you’ll get similar reliability with the 3cyl B38 and 6cyl B58.

I’m sure it will do your partner fine. If power isn’t her priority, then a better spec’d 118i will serve her better than a worse spec’d 120i.

Edited by DKIE92 on Thursday 9th May 22:14

Edited by DKIE92 on Thursday 9th May 22:15

[MitchT]

Sounds promising - I'll encourage her to drive one and see what she thinks. I know she used to enjoy the shove she got in the 120d but she seems to have lost her enthusiasm for spirited driving, so the 118i might be enough these days.

[Court_S]

It’ll be a good car.

The B38 is a good engine; it won’t be hugely economical. I think my wife’s old MINI Cooper with that engine averaged high 30’s over the three years she had it. I’d imagine a bit worse in the bigger 1 series.

A colleague’s wife leased one a while ago and he really liked it and though the B38 was a decent enough engine.