BMW 123d Coupe - A Few Questions!

[chazhs]

Hey all,

Standard lurker who now has a question so has registered. I'll try to keep it brief but a bit of background and thoughts before I ask opinions.

I have a BMW M5 (an E60) which I love to bits, but obviously it's pretty unusable as a daily, fuel consumption, maintenance, don't want to rack miles on it etc. plus driving something every day is a makes it not special anymore when you do drive it!

I therefore mill about in my knackered old Vauxhall Astra Van 1.9CDTI which isn't exactly luxurious, I'm an electrical engineer & electrician so its really just intended for work, but I tend to use it for virtually everything and just use the M5 when I fancy a bit of a blast or need to take a few people around.

Anyway, I've been giving some serious thought to getting a BMW 123d Coupe to be my new daily runabout. Neither the M5 or the Astra Van would be going, it would just be my commuting and daily driver to really save the M5 for when I want to drive enthusiastically and reserving my crappy van for just work.

Having done some research I've decided I want:

1) M-Sport Variant (don't worry I won't stick undeserved badges all over the poor thing)
2) Bi-Xenons are a must for me, I don't like the stock 1 Series headlights and I really want some nice Angel-Eyes
3) iDrive/Nav is also pretty high on the list, I'm not a fan of having aux chords draped all over and I do need Nav sometimes

The main query on here is, do I go Auto or Manual with this car? I'm not bothered about having the 3rd pedal, and I'm wondering if making the most of this engine is best with an auto box as I've heard the manual is incredibly short geared especially in 1st and 2nd.

Thoughts please?

Thanks

[smashy]

Do yourself a very big favour ...as The Fourtops nearly sang just walk away chaz https://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6240...

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t...

or just google.N47 engine timing chain babybmw

Edited by smashy on Sunday 7th October 17:45

Edited by smashy on Sunday 7th October 17:54

[Smuler]

My thought was how many miles p/a if it’s not for work use and you’ve M5 for fun ; and if not lots , why a diesel?

I recall the good reviews of 123d when released and it may have been BMW ads with a strapline something like “mpg of a Golf 1.4 but performance of a GTi . “ So I’m not knocking it , but there was 125i petrol which would mean a straight six n/a engine which , in my opinion, would suit a manual.

Or the 135i , latterly with , if you want auto, a DCT.

123d I’m almost certain had only the six speed step auto which I found awful when I test drove 335i cars fitted with it.

Suppose this is a long answer , to “vote” in favour of the manual if you go 123d.

[chazhs]

Smuler said:

My thought was how many miles p/a if it’s not for work use and you’ve M5 for fun ; and if not lots , why a diesel?

I recall the good reviews of 123d when released and it may have been BMW ads with a strapline something like “mpg of a Golf 1.4 but performance of a GTi . “ So I’m not knocking it , but there was 125i petrol which would mean a straight six n/a engine which , in my opinion, would suit a manual.

Or the 135i , latterly with , if you want auto, a DCT.

123d I’m almost certain had only the six speed step auto which I found awful when I test drove 335i cars fitted with it.

Suppose this is a long answer , to “vote” in favour of the manual if you go 123d.

I should probably say I will be using it for some long commutes over the next year or so, and I have the M5 if I want some petrol madness. Just quite like the instant torque for daily driving of a diesel as well.

Ta.

[chazhs]

smashy said:

Do yourself a very big favour ...as The Fourtops nearly sang just walk away chas https://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6240...

https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t...

or just google.N47 engine timing chain babybmw

Edited by smashy on Sunday 7th October 17:45

Thanks for the heads up, certainly something to look out for!

[smashy]

What year you thinking? 2011/.2012 can get noisy but I dont think of any reports of snapping to be fair however I remember having a conversation with a BMW service manager and he said only now(2014) would he use his own money to buy a car with an N47 engine

[aeropilot]

chazhs said:

The main query on here is, do I go Auto or Manual with this car? I'm not bothered about having the 3rd pedal, and I'm wondering if making the most of this engine is best with an auto box as I've heard the manual is incredibly short geared especially in 1st and 2nd.

Yes, go for the auto *IF* you must have a 123d, or *IF* a manual is preferable, buy a 120d instead.

As said by others, they are not hugely economical in all honesty, and as said there's the timing chain issue.

I actually know someone that bought a 123d coupe new, and after 3 years, traded it in for a used 135i coupe, and was only averaging 3 mpg worse with the 135i compared to the 123d.

If you genuinely want economy, buy a 120d not the 123d, or as someone said, buy a 125i instead of a 123d, as you really want use that much more fuel in the 125i compared to the 123d.

[gareth h]

I had a 2008 manual car, remapped and sorted suspension, I thought it was pretty good for an economical reasonably sport car, 270bhp and 47mpg.
I've had a couple of beemers with the 8 speed auto which is great, wouldn't go back to 6 speed auto though

[chazhs]

aeropilot said:

Yes, go for the auto *IF* you must have a 123d, or *IF* a manual is preferable, buy a 120d instead.

As said by others, they are not hugely economical in all honesty, and as said there's the timing chain issue.

I actually know someone that bought a 123d coupe new, and after 3 years, traded it in for a used 135i coupe, and was only averaging 3 mpg worse with the 135i compared to the 123d.

If you genuinely want economy, buy a 120d not the 123d, or as someone said, buy a 125i instead of a 123d, as you really want use that much more fuel in the 125i compared to the 123d.

I like what I've read about the 123d with it's twin turbo setup. I think I'll go 123d auto, as for the chain issue I guess I should speak to BMW or find one thats been done already!

[Josho]

2012 N47.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a 57 plate pre-reg 123d Hatch in 2008, and kept it for over 6 years and 80K miles. It averaged just over 48 mpg.

Mine was a manual, and did seem low-geared after the E46 320td I had previously. I later realised they 120d was higher geared - they gave the 123d a lower geared final drive to help it's performance. If I had known I would have got a 120d and had the 20bhp upgrade BMW were offering!

But I never had an issue with the cam-chain, although reading about them is one of the reasons I sold it!

Only unexpected failures were the AGM battery and the starter motor. After they got replaced I always turned the stop/start nonsense off! When I sold it the discs, pads and wiper blades were all original - great car overall.

Edited by Mr Tidy on Monday 8th October 22:09

[14-7]

I ran 123d coupe for 5 years and it never missed a beat. I had the six speed manual and it was fine. Like most diesels though 1st gear was a bit rubbish as you ran out of puff very early. 3rd and 4th gears were epic for easy overtakes though. The car itself was comfy and with the professional radio and leather was a comfy cruiser.

BMW did a recall for the timing chain and luckily mine got done at 97000 miles by them which was good.

MPG wise I can't understand the poster above saying their mate only got 3mpg more out of the 123d compared to a 135i. I always got between 45-55mpg no matter how I drove mine. By comparison I only get 25-32mpg out of my 140i.

[Winston4692]

I've just bought a 123d M Sport 5 door; great car. Even better than mine had the BMW recall for the timing chain!

If you can find one that's had that done, snap it up. I believe they fit stronger runners etc too but they only did it on few cars in a very small window of time.

Great performance and doesn't necessarily feel like a diesel. Driven hard you can expect ~42mpg but be nice and it's in the 50s!

[Winston4692]

Winston4692 said:

I've just bought a 123d M Sport 5 door; great car. Even better than mine had the BMW recall for the timing chain!

If you can find one that's had that done, snap it up. I believe they fit stronger runners etc too but they only did it on few cars in a very small window of time.

Great performance and doesn't necessarily feel like a diesel. Driven hard you can expect ~42mpg but be nice and it's in the 50s!

Just realised didn't answer OP's questions! Mines a manual, 1st and 2nd are short but I wouldn't go auto unless DCT after having an auto E92 325d!

[Funk]

Smuler said:

123d I’m almost certain had only the six speed step auto which I found awful when I test drove 335i cars fitted with it.

Nope, it could also be had with a 6-speed manual. However, the manual has shorter gearing than the manual in the 120d (to make it feel brisker no doubt) but the reality of it was that due to the short rev-range and gearing you're forever shifting gear and the final drive is also short so 70+ on the motorway was a noisier affair thanks to the revs sitting higher. I always regretted getting the manual and should've got the auto.

As an engine it's fantastic to drive, torquey, revved quite freely and it was a genuinely quick car (204PS, 295lb/ft torque as standard). In M-Sport guise many complained about the ride on runflats but the reality was they were fine in the ~50k I put on mine. The 123d also gets the 'e-LSD' which would act like a diff - in the wet on roundabouts it could be coaxed into some lurid slides which was a good giggle.

Overall I really liked mine but I'd echo others here - unless you're doing 20k/yr in it you'd be better off with a 125/135i. And if you're doing 20k/yr in one, you don't want the manual. If you DO want a manual derv, get the 120d and remap it instead.

[Mr Tidy]

Si te=Funk
As an engine it's fantastic to drive, torquey, revved quite freely and it was a genuinely quick car (204PS, 295lb/ft torque as standard

Overall I really liked mine but I'd echo others here - unless you're doing 20k/yr in it you'd be better off with a 125/135i. And if you're doing 20k/yr in one, you don't want the manual. If you DO want a manual derv, get the 120d and remap it instead.
[/quote]

My 123d was great, but it was still a diesel and even if it could rev to 5,000rpm it didn't really want to!

Had mine for 6+ years and 80K miles, then I bought a 3.0Si E86 - different world with a 7,000 rpm redline!

I also bought a 325ti as a daily - "only" 192 bhp but it drove so much better than the 123d and felt quicker (plus it sounded way better)!

After 6+ years of 123d ownership I'd have to say it was a bit "white goods".

[Mr Tidy]

Si te=Funk
As an engine it's fantastic to drive, torquey, revved quite freely and it was a genuinely quick car (204PS, 295lb/ft torque as standard

Overall I really liked mine but I'd echo others here - unless you're doing 20k/yr in it you'd be better off with a 125/135i. And if you're doing 20k/yr in one, you don't want the manual. If you DO want a manual derv, get the 120d and remap it instead.
[/quote]

My 123d was great, but it was still a diesel and even if it could rev to 5,000rpm it didn't really want to!

Had mine for 6+ years and 80K miles, then I bought a 3.0Si E86 - different world with a 7,000 rpm redline!

I also bought a 325ti as a daily - "only" 192 bhp but it drove so much better than the 123d and felt quicker (plus it sounded way better)!

After 6+ years of 123d ownership I'd have to say it was a bit "white goods".

[rayyan171]

If a 335d can get 47mpg+ combined (32 fish city, 50 ish motorway), I would be looking at a straight 6 diesel. Unless you do stupid miles per year, or can't afford the extra tax and the extra insurance cost (possibly), I would go for a 6 cylinder diesel of some sort, whether it was a 325d, 330d or 335d, as they are all the same engine.

A general rule of thumb I keep is to try and avoid BMW 4 cylinders, as they don't always get them right. They use the Prince engine in many applications, which had some issues when used in the early years (later ironed out and became great engines in cars such as the Cooper S) and there was service bulletins roaming about dealerships talking about the BMW 4 cylinder petrols and their timing chains.

I say all this yet I am considering a 318ci for myself anyway. I'd tread carefully with the 4 cylinder engines, and look wisely into all the issues surrounding all engines, as even M57 diesels had swirl flap issues. Something to even consider, related to the 123d being a twin turbo, is that the small turbo can like to give out sometimes, and never really the big one, as no one is a nutter enough to drive around at 4000rpm and using the second turbo mainly. They are very good on the motorway however, and the two turbos makes for a better power band. Doesn't match the 35d engine though

[Mr Tidy]

Fair comment - my BMW Indy told me to keep to at least 6 cylinders, preferably petrol.

So I currently have the E86 and an E91 325i.

Maybe less economical than my 123d, but much more fun!