2007 118d sport ?? performance, fuel and baby's ??

[Lgfst]

We had a 2010 118d sport (well my wife did), when the little one cane along a year later it felt very cramped, the issue with the rear facing seat was as described above, and we had a bugaboo pram which took up most of the boot space.

Believe it or not, we traded it in for a mini countryman SD all4 which had the same engine, pram fitted better in the boot (taller) and there wasn't an issue with the rear facing seat.

The 118d was ok to drive but I personally preferred the mini over it. Strange I know

[gizlaroc]

rb5er said:

They are slow, don't expect it to be any kind of fun, its a white goods car.

Oh do one.

All you ever do is come in and post about cars you have never owned.

You sound like a tt.

[Spuffington]

gizlaroc said:

Oh do one.

All you ever do is come in and post about cars you have never owned.

You sound like a tt.

+1

That post was about as unhelpful as it gets and so unrepresentative of the vehicle in question, which shows you've clearly never driven one.

The 118d will certainly not set anyones pants on fire but it's one of the best balanced chassis that's out there for the money and what it lacks in grunt, more than makes up for in handling.

[paul n]

Spuffington said:

+1

That post was about as unhelpful as it gets and so unrepresentative of the vehicle in question, which shows you've clearly never driven one.

The 118d will certainly not set anyones pants on fire but it's one of the best balanced chassis that's out there for the money and what it lacks in grunt, more than makes up for in handling.

yes objective feedback from people who have owned one would be much appreciated!



I have my westfield for outright speed/ thrills so a sweet handling chassis with some power (as i say i would definitely get a remap up to 180ish bhp) that can do good mpg would be spot on! I have owned 2 x mk 1 MX5's so i know that a car can be slow but still alot of fun!

it looks like the 1 series is a bit of a marmite car! probably like the mini, i had a 2003 mini cooper S and hated it! had to 4 months and sold to get another Subaru!

i have really looked an the 1 series really does seem to be the only option for a sensible car with good MPG that is RWD, I have looked at going down the Golf diesil GT or A3 quatrro option but they look so dull that i might as well go all the way, give up on life/fun in the daily and get a 1.6tdci focus as they would be cheaper and probably handle better (for a FWD car)

hmmmm

[Spuffington]

paul n said:

Spuffington said:

+1

That post was about as unhelpful as it gets and so unrepresentative of the vehicle in question, which shows you've clearly never driven one.

The 118d will certainly not set anyones pants on fire but it's one of the best balanced chassis that's out there for the money and what it lacks in grunt, more than makes up for in handling.

yes objective feedback from people who have owned one would be much appreciated!



I have my westfield for outright speed/ thrills so a sweet handling chassis with some power (as i say i would definitely get a remap up to 180ish bhp) that can do good mpg would be spot on! I have owned 2 x mk 1 MX5's so i know that a car can be slow but still alot of fun!

it looks like the 1 series is a bit of a marmite car! probably like the mini, i had a 2003 mini cooper S and hated it! had to 4 months and sold to get another Subaru!

i have really looked an the 1 series really does seem to be the only option for a sensible car with good MPG that is RWD, I have looked at going down the Golf diesil GT or A3 quatrro option but they look so dull that i might as well go all the way, give up on life/fun in the daily and get a 1.6tdci focus as they would be cheaper and probably handle better (for a FWD car)

hmmmm

That's the problem, isn't it? In reality, for what we're doing with our 118d, I perhaps should've just got a Focus, which would've saved me even more Money. But when we bought it, it was our only car and I needed to preserve some kind of enjoyment factor and the 118d does that. The RWD drivetrain, chassis balance and just enough poke from the torquey diesel gives it a tiny bit of enjoyment when I'm not karting wife & child about. Something I know I would miss with a Focoid (having had a Focus ST too). And perhaps that's a good case in point - the Focus ST-3 was quick, which made it fun..........for about a month, until the novelty wore off and it was "just" a Focus......wasn't special in any way other than the 5-pot, thirsty and understeered.

The 118d might be a lowly powered derv but looks good enough, has enough cachet to feel like I've not given up on life and has said enjoyment from the chassis. A good compromise.

But if you have the Westfield for kicks, perhaps the Focoid is not such a bad idea if it's just a method of family Transportation and nought else? In reality, only you can decide. But agree with you that your research should be on the basis of those who have driven and owned them rather than plonker comments.

[rb5er]

gizlaroc said:

rb5er said:

They are slow, don't expect it to be any kind of fun, its a white goods car.

Oh do one.

All you ever do is come in and post about cars you have never owned.

You sound like a tt.

I have driven one enough to know that is it slow and not at all fun, same goes for the 123d. I guess in your BMW fanboy wonderland all magazine reviewers must not be entitled to an opinion either?

Childish name calling...really? How juvenile.

Calling a car lacklustre is not acceptable but insulting someone is? You sound like many expletive adjectives that I don't feel the need to mention.

OP should drive one and see how much "fun" he thinks driving a ten a penny diesel car is.

Edit, just looked at your profile:
"Been through all the sporty things and think I must be getting old, a decent stereo and a comfy ride is all I want, if it can get 40mpg as well that is a bonus"

Are you serious? All you have owned is BMW and Audi cars.

Edited by rb5er on Thursday 26th November 13:07

[Spuffington]

Is your only measure of the effectiveness / ability of a car to derive fun from, BHP or 0-60 times?

[crashley]

Mrs Crash has a 2013 118D Sport cabriolet and on the right road you can still have plenty of fun, you just have to do a little more planning and be a little more committed, obviously when wifey isn't in the car.

Sadly ours will have to go soon (also have little one incoming at Christmas, and i struggle to fit with seat in place, and the boot will take pram but nowt else) - but i'd have another in a heartbeat.

Incidentally, is the 5door hatchback definitely a non-starter for a newborn (rear facing seat)?

[Spuffington]

crashley said:

Incidentally, is the 5door hatchback definitely a non-starter for a newborn (rear facing seat)?

It's not impossible (my mate in Frankfurt has a 8month old and an F20 5-door) and he manages but I don't imagine it's an easy thing to live with. I was always amazed at how much the darn seat took up in the 550i and that's a good sized saloon. That was partly why we went for the X5, just so we didn't have to move the front pax seat forward to accomodate the Little'un and her whackily big seat.

I'd say the 1er is perfect from 2yrs old when the amount of rubbish needing hoiking around diminishes enormously. Up until then you need clever packing and nerves of steel as I imagine it would quickly become tiring trying to squeeze a travel System into the boot (and all the other rubbish).

[rb5er]

Spuffington said:

Is your only measure of the effectiveness / ability of a car to derive fun from, BHP or 0-60 times?

Offset pedals, crashy ride, crap gearbox, gutless and unregined engine, cramped in the back compared to similar sized cars, poor seats, feels overly heavy etc etc. The only redeeming factor imo is that it is RWD which makes little difference with such a cack engine.

Bhp & 0-60 times have nothing to do with it, a Puma is a great fun car and probably a fair bit slower (and no I'm not suggesting a puma as an alternative). I guess if you want a diesel white goods vehicle then the options are limited but as none of them are really fun, a proper saloon diesel makes more sense if you must have diesel imo.

I bet I send the BMW forum into a frenzy with this kind of blasthemic talk

[paul n]

that escalated quickly!

just for entertainments sake RB5r, what would be your suggestion for an alternative?

[gizlaroc]

rb5er said:

Offset pedals, crashy ride, crap gearbox, gutless and unregined engine, cramped in the back compared to similar sized cars, poor seats, feels overly heavy etc etc. The only redeeming factor imo is that it is RWD which makes little difference with such a cack engine.

Bhp & 0-60 times have nothing to do with it, a Puma is a great fun car and probably a fair bit slower (and no I'm not suggesting a puma as an alternative). I guess if you want a diesel white goods vehicle then the options are limited but as none of them are really fun, a proper saloon diesel makes more sense if you must have diesel imo.

I bet I send the BMW forum into a frenzy with this kind of blasthemic talk

Offset pedals? Many don't notice and it is better than the VAG pedals that are different heights.

On proper tyres it rides wonderfully.

Seats on the sport models are wonderful, one of the very best.

The weight of it is through the steering and it is superb, it is a solid car, and not some lightweight Jap crap or VAG tat.


Also, as far diesels go, I think it is a belter, mine was mapped to 210bhp and was quick, quicker than my S4 at the time on the twisties and far more fun. of course there are quicker cars, but many at the price are no where near as balanced.
It is an excellent way to have some fun and still do 20k miles a year in comfort.

The gearbox I do agree with you on, if you get a good 'un it is spot on, but many have the poor clutch/flywheel and it lets the car down.


Personally I would go for a 130i, but the 120d outlasted some much better metal for me. It is a car that gets better and better as you spend more and more time with it.

[IATM]

If you are looking for a "family car" the bmws 1 series is just not that, full stop.
As you can gather from the posts here people have "just" managed to use the thing for a family (2 or less children)

The guy who purchased a CRV is spot on for the type of vehicle you should be buying. or get a hatchback from a different manufacturer or a 5 series equivalent.
Anything less and you'll be seriously put out.

Also I wouldn't get caught up with the whole MPG thing - manufacturers claims are one thing reality is another.
Dont base changing your car on just or mainly the MPG aspect - you will never win in terms of doing the overall cost.

[paul n]

I think i slightly mislead people on this I don't need the car to be the main family car! I have my big work car for that! The only reason i mentioned the baby was really for if the wife was on her own when i am away for work and venturing out with the baby so getting into the rear is probably my biggest concern (and its seems not great but doable) if it was my main family car (or we only had one car) no way i would be looking at 1 series!)

anyway i am viewing a 2007 120d m sport tomorrow! Worked out it will save us about £900 a year in terms of fuel, tax insurance over the Subaru. My only worry is that the Subaru has been very reliable and cheap to fix so far and i have heard some horror stories about BMW repair bills! but i think alot of that is people going to main dealers!?

will report back what i think of it!

many thanks for all the advice guys!

Cheers Paul

[Mr Tidy]

paul n said:

that escalated quickly!

just for entertainments sake RB5r, what would be your suggestion for an alternative?

From his garage it seems to be an Ovlov of some sort, but in diseseal format they seem to need at least 5 cylinders to produce less power than my 123d did....WTF!

[rb5er]

Mr Tidy said:

paul n said:

that escalated quickly!

just for entertainments sake RB5r, what would be your suggestion for an alternative?

From his garage it seems to be an Ovlov of some sort, but in diseseal format they seem to need at least 5 cylinders to produce less power than my 123d did....WTF!

I never suggested a Volvo of any description. Even less fun than a 1series despite being better in every other way its not what the OP is looking for. I suggested that all small diesel cars are crap so its a tough choice.

[Sohlman]

The 1 series is a nice drive. Probable slightly better than the 3 series. However for baby duties it's tight in the back when using a type 0 car seat. If you are tall 6ft plus it's just not going to be big enough. I am 6ft 5 and could not sit in the passenger seat in our x3 when my wife was driving with a baby seat behind. If you and your wife are smaller then you can probable operate the car with a rear facing seat behind you but it would be worth getting your baby seat first and check before spending any monies. The first 6 months of having a baby as a new parent no car is big enough as you will end up buying a travel system that never seem to fit properly in any car, along with lots of other rubbish that you don't really need. Once your child is over 6 months and can sit up unaided you can migrate to an umbrella fold pram and things get a lot easier.

Having isofix in the back is really useful and makes life easier particularly when it's raining as you can put your child in the car in seconds rather than minutes. I would advice getting a higher car as lifting the child into the car through a narrow opening is a back destroyer particularly as your child gets bigger. We went with a 4x4 x3 and it was a good decision. You can get away with a small 4x4 and their a couple that are great to drive. The mini in cooper s or sd spec has reasonable shove and they handle great. I drove one on a BMW press launch event on track and they will transfer all power to the rear.. The other which was a revelation is a skoda yeti. Beautiful soft ride, but seems really stiff under hard cornering and plenty of space. You also have an x1 which is a little softer in the bends.

I am not in anyway saying a 1 series is a bad car. Far from it, but once you get that little bundle of joy you may regret your decision. Then having to buy a car in a sleep deprived state results in poor decisions so get it right before the bundle arrives

[Craikeybaby]

I've got a 5 door 1 series and a baby on the way, fortunately both my wife and I are quite short and we tend to travel light, as for the last few years our big/sensible car was a Fiat 500.

[bennyboysvuk]

paul n said:

Yeah I was thinking one in the drivers seat, one in the back with the baby ! Also this would be only very occasionally as have the big work car which would be used most of the time.

When you talk about the dynamics of the two cars (120d vs 330) what were the differences?

Practalities aside would be interested if anybody had experience of a 120d vs a Subaru in terms of driving fun/ dynamics ?

I love my Subaru but more for the straight line acceleration and noise ! To be honest the handeling is ok but not great. The steering is too light and it's not the most precise thing in the world !

I would Happily give us some straight line performance for nice steering feel and cornering balance !

Or will it feel just like other modern cars, I.e driving a computer game !

Cheers paul

Sorry, I was rather slow to respond on this one!

I've never driven a Subaru so I can't give you any insight to how they compare to BMWs. However, with regard to the BMWs...

I had a 330i E91 Auto. It had 18 inch 255 rear tyres and was all grip and no interaction. The front suspension design hampered the handling. With the E90 series BMW introduced a front suspension with a hydro bush, which deflects badly during cornering (the M3 suspension was different) which makes your outside front wheel go from negative camber to positive camber when pushed hard. This makes it very safe since when you start pushing it, it understeers. However, in practice it just felt horribly understeery unless I went into corners like I was trying to provoke lift-off oversteer, in which case it would feel quite neutral. The 120d M-Sport was delightful by comparison. The suspension was a lot choppier, but it did make it more fun to be in. The car felt a lot lighter on its feet. It was easier to provoke into a slide and although it didn't really have the power to properly powerslide, it was possible to make it go sideways in the wet. The whole car feels less refined than the 330, so you get more of a feeling of connection with the road too. When I had the choice of both cars for a month, I took the 120d 4 out of 5 days of the week, only driving the 330i to keep it ticking over.

[bennyboysvuk]

Sohlman said:

I am not in anyway saying a 1 series is a bad car. Far from it, but once you get that little bundle of joy you may regret your decision. Then having to buy a car in a sleep deprived state results in poor decisions so get it right before the bundle arrives

With this in mind, just go straight to an M135i. Sure, it's a little tight and a bit too refined, but it's bigger than the first 1 series, has ample power and if your child is anything like mine, will have them asking you to "go faster" in no time.