Discussion
I appreciate that there is a BMW sub forum, but traffic appears to be higher through here 
.
Anyway, my current car (a golf V5) seems to be in terminal decline with gearbox issues, so my current thinking is to get shot of it, and get a BMW 1 series, trouble is i know next to nowt about them.
I don't mind considering diesel or petrol, frankly anything that gets over the 25mpg i currently get will be a god send. I don't need a luxobarge sized car, just something that is practical with a bit of performance behind it.
Unfortunately not being a company director yet I would be having to buy second hand
, although a budget of around 10K with maybe 1k for my current car as trade in.
Any input would be much appreciated, or ideas of other cars that are in the same kind of area (or even MX-5s).
Cheers
.Anyway, my current car (a golf V5) seems to be in terminal decline with gearbox issues, so my current thinking is to get shot of it, and get a BMW 1 series, trouble is i know next to nowt about them.
I don't mind considering diesel or petrol, frankly anything that gets over the 25mpg i currently get will be a god send. I don't need a luxobarge sized car, just something that is practical with a bit of performance behind it.
Unfortunately not being a company director yet I would be having to buy second hand
, although a budget of around 10K with maybe 1k for my current car as trade in.Any input would be much appreciated, or ideas of other cars that are in the same kind of area (or even MX-5s).
Cheers
Hi ya ... I've not owned a 1 series, but I did make a habit of hiring 118d/120d M-Sports from Avis when they were on the fleet in the last few years, and I love them. So much fun to drive, pleasant interior, brilliant engine that's fast enough and yet does 45-50mpg even if you thrash it (which I did constantly)! Can't recommend them enough. I think, if I had family etc to consider, I might sight the interior space in the back and boot as a bit miserly. However, my choice if I was going to buy one would be a 3 door with the 18" wheels...and maybe a 123d (not driven one, but more is better, yeah?!)instead of the 120d. To be fair though, even the 118d M-Sport that I got one time was pretty good, although I didn't see any fuel consumption advantage between that and the 120d. Avis ones were always 118d and 120d M-Sport 5 doors with 17" wheels...but cracking cars nonetheless.
J.
J.
I had a 118d SE as my old company car, it did 48mpg and was relatively fun in the corners, if a tad odd as it had soft SE suspension but rock hard run flats...
I have since move to a 320d, if you can afford one, which you can at circa 10k, I really would go for a 3. Much more room (the 1 really is tiny inside), more balanced in the twisties and even on a hard drive I see 50+ mpg
I have since move to a 320d, if you can afford one, which you can at circa 10k, I really would go for a 3. Much more room (the 1 really is tiny inside), more balanced in the twisties and even on a hard drive I see 50+ mpg
I'm a big fan of the 1er and have owned them for six years now!
If you can live with the smaller rear seats and boot, I think you should give one a try.
I've driven the different versions and have come to some conclusions that I'll cover quickly here....
116i. Quite slow and thirsty, as are most petrol 1600cc cars these days.
Still nice to drive though.
116d. Low tax and a little annoying as it's a little too eco-centric.
Company car audience.
118d. As an all rounder, possibly the best balance. Just enough poke to avoid
feeling slow, really good mpg if driven gently. Long 6th.
120d. Feel brisk and pull strongly on motorway hills etc. Can be quite thirsty
if driven hard, which takes some by surprise.
123d. Performance twin turbo 2l with just over 200bhp. Short gearing for a TD.
Some say the 120d is a better motorway tool. Drive it more like a petrol
and it's pretty brisk!
125i. Restricted 130i engine in coupe form only. If you must have an NA six in
a coupe, this is the car.
130i. The cream of the crop for a performance all rounder! Amazing engine that
sounds fantastic and has great reach. You can pretend it's a propper
performance car at the weekends. Very good mpg for the poke on offer!
135i. Not greatly faster than a 130i, but way less effort involved to go
quickly. Boost from idle speed that peaks under 1500rpm! Can lack
emotion/sound compared to the 130i and only available as a coupe.
They all feel good to drive and are small enough to make haste on B roads.
Can feel to hard for some on M-Sport springs with run flats.
They feel planted and grown-up enough to feel ok on motorways.
Fun to find balance in the chassis if you like to go quickly.
Those interested in engine and chassis performance have many mods for you.
They all have minor points to look out for, so get ont babybmw.net and read up.
I could go on but it could get boring!
Edit: 130i for 5 years, 135i for 1 year and all the rest were loan cars.
If you can live with the smaller rear seats and boot, I think you should give one a try.
I've driven the different versions and have come to some conclusions that I'll cover quickly here....
116i. Quite slow and thirsty, as are most petrol 1600cc cars these days.
Still nice to drive though.
116d. Low tax and a little annoying as it's a little too eco-centric.
Company car audience.
118d. As an all rounder, possibly the best balance. Just enough poke to avoid
feeling slow, really good mpg if driven gently. Long 6th.
120d. Feel brisk and pull strongly on motorway hills etc. Can be quite thirsty
if driven hard, which takes some by surprise.
123d. Performance twin turbo 2l with just over 200bhp. Short gearing for a TD.
Some say the 120d is a better motorway tool. Drive it more like a petrol
and it's pretty brisk!
125i. Restricted 130i engine in coupe form only. If you must have an NA six in
a coupe, this is the car.
130i. The cream of the crop for a performance all rounder! Amazing engine that
sounds fantastic and has great reach. You can pretend it's a propper
performance car at the weekends. Very good mpg for the poke on offer!
135i. Not greatly faster than a 130i, but way less effort involved to go
quickly. Boost from idle speed that peaks under 1500rpm! Can lack
emotion/sound compared to the 130i and only available as a coupe.
They all feel good to drive and are small enough to make haste on B roads.
Can feel to hard for some on M-Sport springs with run flats.
They feel planted and grown-up enough to feel ok on motorways.
Fun to find balance in the chassis if you like to go quickly.
Those interested in engine and chassis performance have many mods for you.
They all have minor points to look out for, so get ont babybmw.net and read up.
I could go on but it could get boring!
Edit: 130i for 5 years, 135i for 1 year and all the rest were loan cars.
Edited by Red 5 on Monday 2nd April 10:43
Had a 123d 5dr MSport - brilliant car. Fast, frugal and an impressive piece of engineering!
Reason why we sold it? Small boot and lack of rear leg room! Its not bad, but as our only car and two growing kids, it was getting bad and a week away in Wales (without dog) was the final straw. Great car, thoroughly recommend them to anyone, but make sure you can live with them.
Reason why we sold it? Small boot and lack of rear leg room! Its not bad, but as our only car and two growing kids, it was getting bad and a week away in Wales (without dog) was the final straw. Great car, thoroughly recommend them to anyone, but make sure you can live with them.
Nuclearsquash said:
I appreciate that there is a BMW sub forum, but traffic appears to be higher through here .
Anyway, my current car (a golf V5) seems to be in terminal decline with gearbox issues, so my current thinking is to get shot of it, and get a BMW 1 series, trouble is i know next to nowt about them.
I don't mind considering diesel or petrol, frankly anything that gets over the 25mpg i currently get will be a god send. I don't need a luxobarge sized car, just something that is practical with a bit of performance behind it.
Unfortunately not being a company director yet I would be having to buy second hand, although a budget of around 10K with maybe 1k for my current car as trade in.
Any input would be much appreciated, or ideas of other cars that are in the same kind of area (or even MX-5s).
Cheers
If you are not doing many miles then buy as big an engine as possible. As a rule for the same money you'll buy a lower mileage, better spec and better condition petrol. So unless you NEED a diesel I'd stay petrol powered..Anyway, my current car (a golf V5) seems to be in terminal decline with gearbox issues, so my current thinking is to get shot of it, and get a BMW 1 series, trouble is i know next to nowt about them.
I don't mind considering diesel or petrol, frankly anything that gets over the 25mpg i currently get will be a god send. I don't need a luxobarge sized car, just something that is practical with a bit of performance behind it.
Unfortunately not being a company director yet I would be having to buy second hand
, although a budget of around 10K with maybe 1k for my current car as trade in.Any input would be much appreciated, or ideas of other cars that are in the same kind of area (or even MX-5s).
Cheers
The 130i is hatch only, but a cracking engine. Or if you prefer the looks (as I do) then see what's about in the 1 Series Coupe range for this money.
excel monkey said:
don't think the Coupe has been around for long enough to be sub £10k yet. Agree with your comments re: the 130i, though.
Shame as I think they look really good.EDIT: Just had a quick look in the classifieds and there are a couple, or at least within haggling range, but seems the 120d might be the only option. This doesn't sound too bad:
BMW 120d SE Coupe 2008 (2008)
45,000 miles £11,000
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3770406.htm
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff