Bmw 1 series 118d / 120d or 125d (second gen)
Bmw 1 series 118d / 120d or 125d (second gen)
Author
Discussion

ugene425

Original Poster:

316 posts

187 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Looking at getting one of these for my work car. I already own a x5 (for family use) and really like the brand. These engines seem to be a good compromise of power, economy and relatively cheap motoring.

Not sure which engine is the best one. Obviously most tempting for the 125d being the quickest one. Road tax is another £70 p/a in comparison to the other engines, whilst the car insurance is not much more at all. Does the economy drop a lot with 125d? Any helpful suggestions would be most welcome for any of these diesel engines.

Thank you.

Animal

5,663 posts

296 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Have had a 118d for 3 yrs now, averaged 43mpg over 30k miles. Wish I'd gone for a 120d though: more power, negligible impact on economy. 125d quite rare I think so might be hard to find one with the spec you want.

TheDrownedApe

1,756 posts

84 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Swapped my 330d for a 120d (i did seek out a 125d but after research the extra cash seemed pointless).

It's a great car for everyday use but very very bland. We found one with decent options (pro-nav, front/back sensors (a rare option it seems), black panel and upgraded climate) but the wife still misses the heated seats on the 330d.

Would i buy another? No, but not because of the car more the changing nature of our driving (95% short journeys) and it's electric next.

ugene425

Original Poster:

316 posts

187 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
Interesting to hear, thank you. I spotted this 125d on Autotrader. Looks rather good and probably little in it with the mpg to the 120D.

https://www.hiltoncarsupermarket.co.uk/used-bmw-1-...

ugene425

Original Poster:

316 posts

187 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
TheDrownedApe said:
Swapped my 330d for a 120d (i did seek out a 125d but after research the extra cash seemed pointless).

It's a great car for everyday use but very very bland. We found one with decent options (pro-nav, front/back sensors (a rare option it seems), black panel and upgraded climate) but the wife still misses the heated seats on the 330d.

Would i buy another? No, but not because of the car more the changing nature of our driving (95% short journeys) and it's electric next.
Interesting to read. Trying to get heated seats with front/rear parking sensors, automatic gear box and dual climate control seems impossible. My wife loves the heated seats too. Not sure if I am ready to buy electric yet

Wagonwheel555

909 posts

84 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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The difference between the 118d and 125d is about 74bhp which is fairly substantial in terms of power gain.

They 118/120/125d of the F20 variant all seem to use the 2.0 N47 engine up to 2015 when it was replaced with the 2.0 B47 engine.

N47 can suffer from timing chain wear and premature failure so bear this in mind, although my understanding is that is was the much earlier 2007-2011 that the issue occurred mainly on:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N47

If you can find or stretch budget a little, I would personally look for something with the latest B47 engine so 2015 onwards.

In terms of mpg, if they all use the same engine it's likely to be fairly similar or at least not world apart. You could probably get the 118/120d and have it remapped to get similar power to the 125d anyway. Its when you jump from a 2.0D to a 3.0D that mpg differences are often noticeable.


domtheone

157 posts

124 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Love the old school 1 series coupe (2007-12).

Might be in the market or one myself but seems they never came withCruise Control, Bonkers and a potential deal breaker for me so have swayed towards the higher spec 3 series from a similar age.

Hashtaggggg

2,326 posts

97 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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I have a 125d

80% town driving, 15% A roads and 5% dual carrageway and motorways

I am averaging 39.7mpg.

On motorways 55mpg is the norm.

Quite nippy, just a little small. I have a 3 door.

Keep looking at 330D estates, if only for the increased size.

it is a nice car

ZX10R NIN

30,478 posts

153 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Go for the 125d it's the best one of the three.

Mr Tidy

31,035 posts

155 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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If you are going to buy a BMW with the N47 engine you might as well get the most powerful option!

Well that's what I thought when I bought my E87 123d in 2008, but 6+years and 80+K miles later once cam-chain issues started to be an issue I sold it and have only had straight 6 N/A petrols since then.

Wagonwheel555

909 posts

84 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Mr Tidy said:
If you are going to buy a BMW with the N47 engine you might as well get the most powerful option!

Well that's what I thought when I bought my E87 123d in 2008, but 6+years and 80+K miles later once cam-chain issues started to be an issue I sold it and have only had straight 6 N/A petrols since then.
BMW just didn't seem to be able to make a decent 4 pot engine until the latest Bxx series come along and now it seems they have nailed it. Odd

QuartzDad

2,924 posts

150 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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My wife's runabout is a 66 plate 118d. Auto, front and rear park sensors, heated seats but no pro nav and the regular climate annoys me every time I want the front windscreen demisted.

My car:
press demister button.

Hers:
turn rotating thing to demist
wonder why BMW engineer did not program blowers to go on full at this point
Press and hold fan speed button to get it to go from min to max
swear at said BMW engineer that holding the button doesn't increase fan speed
jab at button half a dozen times to get fans blowing on max
make mental note again to ensure upgraded climate is on her next car

I managed 75mpg over 250 miles when hypermiling on the M1/M25 once, I get low 50s on a normal run and she gets low 40s with her regular 3-5 mile journeys.

ugene425

Original Poster:

316 posts

187 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
quotequote all
Hashtaggggg said:
I have a 125d

80% town driving, 15% A roads and 5% dual carrageway and motorways

I am averaging 39.7mpg.

On motorways 55mpg is the norm.

Quite nippy, just a little small. I have a 3 door.

Keep looking at 330D estates, if only for the increased size.

it is a nice car
Hi - are you looking to sell your 125d?