Opinions & advice for a first time Beamer buyer

Opinions & advice for a first time Beamer buyer

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Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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Hello all!

After realizing the appeal of my latest (quite recent) car purchase has already worn down to nothing but loathing & frustration. I decided I couldn't bare it any longer & am looking to go for what was my second choice at the time, albeit a bit newer than I had originally planned.

I'm now quite keen on getting a 120d hatch. Will be checking a few out on the weekend & ready to buy there and then if they fit the bill. The one I'm most interested in is a 2013 120d M Sport manual.

Reason being I want to go for a 120d is I think they look pretty good, interiors look like a nice place to be, rear wheel drive & I've been told by a fairly reliable source that they return great MPG & aren't slow.

So my questions to the Beamheads of PH is what specific things should I be looking for around the cars & also is this one of those models I hear so much about getting remapped, makes them into little monsters?

Monty Python

4,812 posts

196 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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What sort of mileage do you do?

Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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Monty Python said:
What sort of mileage do you do?
About 230 miles a week.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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Your mileage is low, for needing a diesel, in my opinion. But I appreciate it is still fuel efficient option.


Only 1'er I've driven is the M135i and I would see that meeting the little monster definition, 0-62 is a limited benchmark, but that one breaches 5 seconds.

I have difficulty thinking a remapped 120 whilst nice would meet the definition. Plus remaps can increase insurance, breach the warranty and potentially have some detriment on engine parts.

Unless the 120d is significantly cheaper for your initial outlay, I would look to getting a car that is faster stock. There is a 125d if you want to go diesel route. A quick look on BMW AU database, and I saw some 125d around the same price!!

Cheapest M135i on BMW AU site was 21k (non franchised dealers will be cheaper) which may be too much with fuel. But I would do a calculation before ruling out petrol cars.



Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Smuler said:
Your mileage is low, for needing a diesel, in my opinion. But I appreciate it is still fuel efficient option.


Only 1'er I've driven is the M135i and I would see that meeting the little monster definition, 0-62 is a limited benchmark, but that one breaches 5 seconds.

I have difficulty thinking a remapped 120 whilst nice would meet the definition. Plus remaps can increase insurance, breach the warranty and potentially have some detriment on engine parts.

Unless the 120d is significantly cheaper for your initial outlay, I would look to getting a car that is faster stock. There is a 125d if you want to go diesel route. A quick look on BMW AU database, and I saw some 125d around the same price!!

Cheapest M135i on BMW AU site was 21k (non franchised dealers will be cheaper) which may be too much with fuel. But I would do a calculation before ruling out petrol cars.
I don't need a brutally fast car. In terms of big speed I got all that out of me, for now, with my last car. Plus where I work has me driving plenty of real powerhouses a few times a week so that also helps. I really am just after a good ride, mpg & for it not to be slow in general.

The problem with those 123d's are that I really only want a 1series hatch, manual with less than 25K on the clock for around £15K (trade) & there don't seem to be any about that matches those requirements. In fact, on AT the only one that matches is a convertible with plain everything on it. No thanks.

The 120d will do me fine. I will be looking further into the remapping of it though. Maybe after its remaining warranty expires tongue out

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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I've got a 2012 118d manual and it's quick enough, although I wouldn't say no to more horses. We don't do a massive amount of miles in ours but it was the only way I could get xenons and heated leather under my 15k budget at the time. Petrol would've been a better bet. MPG-wise it averages about 45mpg in our more urband environment but never got more than 50mpg on the 2k run I did down to the south of France in it, averaging 85mph. I think the relative lack of fuel economy is down to the manual and would, next time, go for the 8-speed auto without batting an eyelid. The gearbox also isn't the nicest in the 1er - quite notchy.

So for me, it'd be >118i or d but with 8-speeder auto if I was going for another (which incidently I could imagine - they are great little cars, very well balanced and have a lovely, exploitable chassis).

Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Spuffington said:
I've got a 2012 118d manual and it's quick enough, although I wouldn't say no to more horses. We don't do a massive amount of miles in ours but it was the only way I could get xenons and heated leather under my 15k budget at the time. Petrol would've been a better bet. MPG-wise it averages about 45mpg in our more urband environment but never got more than 50mpg on the 2k run I did down to the south of France in it, averaging 85mph. I think the relative lack of fuel economy is down to the manual and would, next time, go for the 8-speed auto without batting an eyelid. The gearbox also isn't the nicest in the 1er - quite notchy.

So for me, it'd be >118i or d but with 8-speeder auto if I was going for another (which incidently I could imagine - they are great little cars, very well balanced and have a lovely, exploitable chassis).
I'll keep an eye out for that 1st gear thing. If I'm completely honest, the only reasons I wouldn't want an auto is because I'm afraid I'll get rusty using manuals & I really hate having to the push the brake down to shift into drive every time I put the car in park at the lights. It's stupid I know, but is a preference.

Most of my journey to and from work each day is half motorways & half country so I'm hoping to see a return of at least 50mpg. At the moment I'm averaging just less than about 34mpg so even another 10 will make a big difference. But I need to get back into driving in a more eco friendly style myself first. I've noticed the 1series come with a switch that helps encourage this hehe

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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Just a few comments on your post....

When I said notchiness, I meant the entire gearbox. My reference was to 1er (i.e. 1-series) rather than 1st gear. Sorry for the confusion!

In terms of auto vs. manual. I, personally, think it's like riding a bike - you'll never forget. I have had autos for the past 7yrs and then this year have bought three vehicles with manual gearboxes. Can't say I feel out of practice or that it's been a difficult transition. Feels normal to me, in the same way as driving an auto would feel normal if I did it tomorrow.

Drive to Park issue - NO. Autos are not designed to be driven like this. Once you're in Drive, you just continue until such time as you a) need to park! or b) need to go into reverse. At a junction or stop line, you just keep your foot on the brake pedal or put the handbrake on. Simples! Doesn't mess up your torque converter. In fact, you'd probably do more harm shifting it between Park and Drive all the time! wink

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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I'd say stick with manual, if that's what you prefer. It is like riding a bike, but I switched to DCT and I'm only happy driving it in manual mode. I try driving the ZF 8 speed autos that way and it feels wrong.

I do agree that putting it into P in traffic is unnecessary and never do that.

If the 1 series has the same manual as the current 3 series, it's good. I had a loaner the other day. But if it has the same box as the Mini....hmm, I'm not so sure, I hated that.


Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
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Good luck with the search OP. thumbup

I had a 123d SE Dynamic for 6 and a half years, and over 80,000 miles it averaged nearly 48 mpg which while reasonable for the performance could have been better - the 123 has lower gearing to make it seem quicker than it really is.

If I was in the market for another diesel 1 Series I would look for a 120d with the 20 bhp upgrade BMW offered - best of both worlds, 123 grunt with 120 gearing!

Having said that the N47 engine common to both (and the 118d of that era) has issues with the cam-chain and if early ones fail I believe it can mean a crankshaft replacement as well!eek Someone on here scrapped one due to a lack of goodwill at the time!

Mine was still going so I just sold it last year!

If it has full BMW service history they may pick up the tab, but haven't always done so - I would be a bit wary in your position! Or given your mileage, just get a 130i and have a better experience all round! laugh

Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
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Yesterday I figured the M Sports come with Alcantara seats.......so yeah I'm getting an M Sport no matter what.

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
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Animala said:
Yesterday I figured the M Sports come with Alcantara seats.......so yeah I'm getting an M Sport no matter what.
Only in the base spec seating (alcantara & cloth). Most people chose leather....

Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
Spuffington said:
Only in the base spec seating (alcantara & cloth). Most people chose leather....
I love Alcantara & think the seats looks great. Looking forward to checking it out now.

bigalx

135 posts

119 months

Friday 9th October 2015
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Why not consider the 130i - yep not the 135i but if you look you could possibly find a cracker in your price bracket and it will have economy and pace as well as being the last straight 6 NA BMW are likely to produce - I have a 330i with the NA engine and its a cracking car and that's having come from a 320td.

For the mileage you suggest a BMW diesel isn't worth the premium and the potential bill which comes with the diesel...

Just my thoughts.

Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Friday 9th October 2015
quotequote all
bigalx said:
Why not consider the 130i - yep not the 135i but if you look you could possibly find a cracker in your price bracket and it will have economy
I'm not sure what to say. The 120d claims 61mpg combined which we all know is a fantasy but 45-50mpg is realistic.

& now two people have suggested a 3ltr petrol that claims to achieve about 30mpg combined.......

Well there is one thing for sure, Pistonheads certainly hasn't lost its touch. hehe

But as I said before, with a 3.5ltr V6 as my last car, I'm really not after a powerhouse at the moment & good MPG & a good amount of toys in the car is what's appealing to me now. Plus RWD, quite quick yada yada yada.

I'm not a BMW person & I do always struggle with identifying models & specs when manufacturers decide to name their vast range of models with extremely similar names so I have been looking up these models suggested. Already knew about the 123d's & wouldn't mind one but unfortunately with the age, mileage, body type & budget I'm looking at, they just don't seem to be about. & the 130i? Not even close with the mileage/age/mpg available in the price range I'm looking at. Think the best was a ten year old model with 55K on the clock. Pretty different from what I'm looking for.

I know my mileage isn't particular high but it's not so low & motorway speed absent that it's likely to cause DPF problems or anything. & as long as it doesn't turn out that BMW has also been using dodgy tactics to get their Diesels through emissions tests then I'm quite sold on them already.

Here's hoping to that last point.

Animala

Original Poster:

777 posts

161 months

Saturday 10th October 2015
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So I got the car today. Went to dealer, decided I liked it & drove it home. Something I didn't think could possibly happen on a Saturday!

Loving it so far. Only question I have is that I've tried 4 different ipods and all four couldn't be read & all four were from different years. Latest is like 2-3 years old I think. Is there something I can do to get them to play? Or should I get another (non Apple) MP3 player?

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Sunday 11th October 2015
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Animala said:
I'm not sure what to say. The 120d claims 61mpg combined which we all know is a fantasy but 45-50mpg is realistic.

& now two people have suggested a 3ltr petrol that claims to achieve about 30mpg combined.......

Well there is one thing for sure, Pistonheads certainly hasn't lost its touch. hehe

But as I said before, with a 3.5ltr V6 as my last car, I'm really not after a powerhouse at the moment & good MPG & a good amount of toys in the car is what's appealing to me now. Plus RWD, quite quick yada yada yada.

I'm not a BMW person & I do always struggle with identifying models & specs when manufacturers decide to name their vast range of models with extremely similar names so I have been looking up these models suggested. Already knew about the 123d's & wouldn't mind one but unfortunately with the age, mileage, body type & budget I'm looking at, they just don't seem to be about. & the 130i? Not even close with the mileage/age/mpg available in the price range I'm looking at. Think the best was a ten year old model with 55K on the clock. Pretty different from what I'm looking for.

I know my mileage isn't particular high but it's not so low & motorway speed absent that it's likely to cause DPF problems or anything. & as long as it doesn't turn out that BMW has also been using dodgy tactics to get their Diesels through emissions tests then I'm quite sold on them already.

Here's hoping to that last point.
Congratulations on your purchase, and I hope it serves you well!

Had a 123d for more than 6 years - good car, decently quick, 48ish mpg....

Changed jobs, less than half the salary now but run a 325ti as a daily and a Z4C for fun!

I will never go back to diesels - DPF issues, potential turbo failure
(and the 123d has 2 of them) and while I don't want to spoil any "new car" vibe, have you looked at N47 engine issues online - cam-chain and possible new crankshaft required........

Are you feeling lucky? I wasn't (never am) so moved my 123d on.

Anyway I hope yours behaves itself! thumbup