BMW 118i 2016 Question

[R.G]

Hello everyone,

New here, first post, but came across this site and thought it might be an ideal platform to ask this question.

Am literally about to pull the trigger on a 2016 118i which has one of these new 1.5 three cylinder engines and kicks out 136 bhp and 0-60 in about 8.5 secs.

To give you a background, I'm not a massive petrol-head, I just like a decent quality car and that's about it. As an example I bought my last car new over a decade ago, a VW Golf 1.6 FSI which is 115bhp but four cylinders and 0-60 in about 11.5 secs.

Have been reading up a lot recently about how manufaturers are producing modern cars with smaller engines (cc wise) but still rolling out respectable BHPs and torques.

Should I be concerned that three cylinder engines are no good, or not proper engines?

Presumably, the power, acceleration, will all far better than what I'm used to previously with my Golf?

I know you may think I'm answering my own questions, but I'd rather be on the safe side and ask, in case there is anything I'm missing.

There is also a 120i, which is a second faster at 0-60 but has a bigger bhp at about 174bhp I think.

Would there be much that's noteworthy between the two (118i and 120i)?

I spoke to a couple of dealers and they say out of all of the petrol engines, they sell far, far more 118is as they are more popular.

One other important thing I wanted to ask was that I have read many peoples input about how there is extra strain on small engines producing high levels of bhp, like 1.0 or 1.2 litre cars. Am I right to assume that a car that has a 1.5 litre is perfectly large enough with its turbo to get 136 bhp out of the engine? (given that some 1.2 cars give out the same bhp). Hope that makes sense.

All responses welcome and apologies in advance if this is a stupid set of questions to some of you.

Thanks in advance

Edited by R.G on Tuesday 14th February 23:23

Edited by R.G on Tuesday 14th February 23:32

Edited by R.G on Tuesday 14th February 23:33

[steve-5snwi]

It's the same engine that goes into the Mini Cooper and the i8, it's a nice little engine and it will be much better than the 1.6 that's in your golf.

[Screechmr2]

It won't be stressed, it's only approx 90bhp per litre, many cars having been reliably producing more than that for decades so you should have no worries.

[numtumfutunch]

Welcome to PH and congratulations on spending enough time here to adopt the "pull the trigger" catchphrase

[sparks_E39]

It's a decent enough engine with enough poke for the car. Someone will be along shortly to tell you it must have 6 cylinders and 300 more bhp.. it doesn't. Good luck!

[TheDrBrian]

numtumfutunch said:

Welcome to PH and congratulations on spending enough time here to adopt the "pull the trigger" catchphrase

He'll be a powerfully built company director in no time

[R.G]

sparks_E39 said:

It's a decent enough engine with enough poke for the car. Someone will be along shortly to tell you it must have 6 cylinders and 300 more bhp.. it doesn't. Good luck!

Thank you.

There are, albeit very few, 120i's on the market wich are 1.6 with an extra 1 cylinder (four in total) and an extra 40 Bhp. Don't know if there will be massses of difference there, or if the four-cylinder engine makes it better than three particularly?!

Sorry for my lack of understanding with the anatomy of engines and welcoming your responses.

Thanks again

Edited by R.G on Wednesday 15th February 04:33

Edited by R.G on Wednesday 15th February 05:54

[R.G]

Screechmr2 said:

It won't be stressed, it's only approx 90bhp per litre, many cars having been reliably producing more than that for decades so you should have no worries.

Hello, thanks for the post, so am I right in thinking that the larger engine, the 1.6 that outputs about 170bhp will technically be under more strain at around 106bhp per litre?! Or is that counteracted because it has an extra cylinder (4 in that model instead of 3)?

Thanks

[CraigyMc]

You need six cylinders and at least 436bhp.

[R.G]

Ok so I think I can see why you've posted that.

Clearly, based on your post count you must know something about engines...

Can you give me something constructive? Clearly I'm not a regular, so I'm out of the loop on the humour on this forum.

Thanks

Edited by R.G on Wednesday 15th February 05:51

[CraigyMc]

R.G said:

That's contructive.

Based on your post count clearly you're an OG here but that doesn't help me does it..

A little humour never hurt anyone.

With regard to your question about the engine, the B38 is a tough little thing. The same basic engine is in the BMW i8 - with 230bhp in that application. No major changes.

The one you're looking at is called the B38A15M0 by BMW.
It's mostly used in the MINI, in terms of sales numbers.

Neither of the engines you mention are anywhere near "stressed", in the sense that neither of them are relying on big boost pressures or anything fancy to make their numbers.
If anything, the inline-4 is probably less stressed even with more power per CC because as an inline-4 it's got a less unbalanced crankshaft/piston arrangement than the inline 3 which has to have rotating balance shafts just to make it not thrum itself to bits.

I'd not let that sway you at all though, both are perfectly decent engines. The B38 won international engine of the year for the capacity class last year in the BMW i8 Hybrid package, beating the non-hybrid version of itself into second place.

If you want to read a little you could try here http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/b38.html

Incidentally, the B38 is made in BMW plant Hams Hall in Birmingham (because it's mostly supplying the MINI plant in Oxford), if you're bothered about buying British.

[benjijames28]

I would be going for the 2.0 engine personally.

Yet again for the money that car is going to cost, I wouldn't be buying a 1 series. But that's personal choice.

[Crumpet]

Can't comment on the BMW three cylinder engine but all of the three cylinder cars I've driven have made a fairly satisfying 'thrum' and have been far more characterful than a four cylinder. For that reason alone I'd go for the three cylinder engine.

[stuckmojo]

benjijames28 said:

I would be going for the 2.0 engine personally.

Yet again for the money that car is going to cost, I wouldn't be buying a 1 series. But that's personal choice.

This, I tried the 2 series with that engine and it was anemic, so I ended up buying the 220, which is ok and can be remapped to over 250hp

[R.G]

benjijames28 said:

I would be going for the 2.0 engine personally.

Yet again for the money that car is going to cost, I wouldn't be buying a 1 series. But that's personal choice.

Of course, appreciate spending that money on a 1 series isn't everyone's cup of tea.

With ref to litres, the 120i is actually 1.6 these days - BMW have changed their model references. There is a 2 litre higher up the scale but that's not in my sights.

If you know all this already, apologies for my naivety.

[R.G]

CraigyMc said:

A little humour never hurt anyone.

With regard to your question about the engine, the B38 is a tough little thing. The same basic engine is in the BMW i8 - with 230bhp in that application. No major changes.

The one you're looking at is called the B38A15M0 by BMW.
It's mostly used in the MINI, in terms of sales numbers.

Neither of the engines you mention are anywhere near "stressed", in the sense that neither of them are relying on big boost pressures or anything fancy to make their numbers.
If anything, the inline-4 is probably less stressed even with more power per CC because as an inline-4 it's got a less unbalanced crankshaft/piston arrangement than the inline 3 which has to have rotating balance shafts just to make it not thrum itself to bits.

I'd not let that sway you at all though, both are perfectly decent engines. The B38 won international engine of the year for the capacity class last year in the BMW i8 Hybrid package, beating the non-hybrid version of itself into second place.

If you want to read a little you could try here http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/b38.html

Incidentally, the B38 is made in BMW plant Hams Hall in Birmingham (because it's mostly supplying the MINI plant in Oxford), if you're bothered about buying British.

Hi,

Sorry, I didn't understand your post at first but as soon as it clicked I rushed back to edit haha, you obviously still got my original response so apooogies for that.

Thanks for such a detailed explanation, that's amazing! Thank you.

I have a few really basic questions and I'm sure what you've had said essentially renders some of these concerns as pointless but I guess it will be easier for me to break down if I ask them anyway.

As mentioned, I've been used to my golf 1.6 fsi (115bhp) for the last ten years. I am right to assume that the 118i (136bhp) will beat it in terms of acceleration and also top end? Basically I want to ensure my next car isn't any less powerful.

Are 118i's totally fine for motorway driving I.e they are not meant for jut around town like mini compacts or something?

I keep my cars for a long time - essentially from new/almost new to up to a decade in some instances. Presumably there is nothing that makes this newe less technology of engine to last any shorter time-wise?

Based on a 1.6, 4 cylinder, 170ish bhp in a 120i and a 1.5, 3 cylinder, 136 bhp in the 118i, whilst I can see the facts on paper in terms of 0-60 etc, will this translate in to a real physical difference when actually driving the car? One that's worthwhile?!

Sorry for the questions, and I thank you for your advice.

[R.G]

stuckmojo said:

This, I tried the 2 series with that engine and it was anemic, so I ended up buying the 220, which is ok and can be remapped to over 250hp

The car I've had for over ten years has been a golf 1.6 so that's what I'm comparing it with. I know that loads of people will laugh at not only the power of my existing vehicle and also the one I'm getting, but I guess that in comparison to the 1.6fsi the 118i is a better performer.

Also was the 118 and 220 models you tried of the new versions where by all the engines and spec have changed?

I ask because these models from 18 months ago or later were different with different outputs etc.

Thanks

Edited by R.G on Wednesday 15th February 08:35

[Bonefish Blues]

Crumpet said:

Can't comment on the BMW three cylinder engine but all of the three cylinder cars I've driven have made a fairly satisfying 'thrum' and have been far more characterful than a four cylinder. For that reason alone I'd go for the three cylinder engine.

This, I too would prefer the 3.

[stuckmojo]

R.G said:

The car I've had for over ten years has been a golf 1.6 so that's what I'm comparing it with. I know that loads of people will laugh at not only the power of my existing vehicle and also the one I'm getting, but I guess that in comparison to the 1.6fsi the 118i is a better performer.

Also was the 118 and 220 models you tried of the new versions where by all the engines and spec have changed?

I ask because these models from 18 months ago or later were different with different outputs etc.

Thanks

Edited by R.G on Wednesday 15th February 08:35

2017 model 1 series with the 3 cylinder vs 2016 220i 2 litre turbo.

Biggest difference would be in MPG I guess, but the 220 is quite economical for a petrol.

[R.G]

Ok so how about this question, lastly.

Option of having a

118i (1.5, 3 cylinder 136bhp)
or
120i (1.6, 4 cylinder 177bhp)

Same price, same age (2016) and same sort of mileage.

What should I go for?