Discussion
A friend of mine is looking to change a 10 year old 320 and fancies a 2 series coupe. He doesn't need any more power than the 218, but is a bit wary of a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder engine for motorway use. He'll mainly use for a 60 mile a day largely motorway/dual carriageway commute, with occasional longer trips.
Is it reasonably smooth and quiet? Does it feel like it's working hard in a 2 series because I'm told it does in a 318? Any significant pros or cons compared with the 220i?
Is it reasonably smooth and quiet? Does it feel like it's working hard in a 2 series because I'm told it does in a 318? Any significant pros or cons compared with the 220i?
We have the hatch 118i auto & it is fine on the motorway, on the whole it is a very smooth & pleasent quiet engine. I would say it will pull as well as the old 320i.
Average MPG is low 40s at around 70MPH. ( 2,000 RPM )
Money no object I would go for the 220i , but drive a 218i first & it may be all the car you need.
Average MPG is low 40s at around 70MPH. ( 2,000 RPM )
Money no object I would go for the 220i , but drive a 218i first & it may be all the car you need.
helix402 said:
The three cylinder is fine if you like driving a 4 cylinder with a misfire.
Complete b
ks. The three cylinder B38 is the mainstay of the Mini Cooper and is a brilliant engine. Even in a BMW 1 series its perfectly acceptable. I couldnt differentiate between the 3 pot and the 4 pot two litre unless I put my foot down - but it never sounds like there's a misfire. I drive a B58 six pot and the wifes Mini is probably a better drive unless I want to floor it.
3 pots that sound like 3 pots are Toyota Aygos and Citroen C1's.....
doog442 said:
Complete bks. The three cylinder B38 is the mainstay of the Mini Cooper and is a brilliant engine. Even in a BMW 1 series its perfectly acceptable. I couldnt differentiate between the 3 pot and the 4 pot two litre unless I put my foot down - but it never sounds like there's a misfire.
I drive a B58 six pot and the wifes Mini is probably a better drive unless I want to floor it.
3 pots that sound like 3 pots are Toyota Aygos and Citroen C1's.....
Yep, absolutely. I've said elsewhere on here how much I love my 218i coupé (sorry if I get repetitive). ks. The three cylinder B38 is the mainstay of the Mini Cooper and is a brilliant engine. Even in a BMW 1 series its perfectly acceptable. I couldnt differentiate between the 3 pot and the 4 pot two litre unless I put my foot down - but it never sounds like there's a misfire. I drive a B58 six pot and the wifes Mini is probably a better drive unless I want to floor it.
3 pots that sound like 3 pots are Toyota Aygos and Citroen C1's.....
I often read about the latest 300bhp, 400bhp, 500bhp cars and it just makes me want to go for a drive in my beautifully balanced 136bhp car.
The three ppt is a great little engine in my experience (had it in my other half’s MINi Cooper which we had for three years).
It makes a more interesting sound than most four pots and it’s fine on the motorway. The power is the same as previous four pots for the smaller cars and no one worried about them. I think it’s a nicer engine to use than the four pot in the older 118’s etc. It copes fine with the extra mass of a 1/2 series - a colleague’s wife has one for three years and he drive it a fair bit and liked it (he’s a fellow car nerd).
The ride on more modern M Sport cars died t seem too bad but is better if you ditch the fun flats. The F series cats are better than the last of the E series cars in my experience.
It makes a more interesting sound than most four pots and it’s fine on the motorway. The power is the same as previous four pots for the smaller cars and no one worried about them. I think it’s a nicer engine to use than the four pot in the older 118’s etc. It copes fine with the extra mass of a 1/2 series - a colleague’s wife has one for three years and he drive it a fair bit and liked it (he’s a fellow car nerd).
The ride on more modern M Sport cars died t seem too bad but is better if you ditch the fun flats. The F series cats are better than the last of the E series cars in my experience.
doog442 said:
Complete bks. The three cylinder B38 is the mainstay of the Mini Cooper and is a brilliant engine. Even in a BMW 1 series its perfectly acceptable. I couldnt differentiate between the 3 pot and the 4 pot two litre unless I put my foot down - but it never sounds like there's a misfire.
I drive a B58 six pot and the wifes Mini is probably a better drive unless I want to floor it.
3 pots that sound like 3 pots are Toyota Aygos and Citroen C1's.....
Having spent a bit of time driving various Minis with the 3 Cylinder engine, I'd say brilliant is probably the last word I'd use to describe it. Lumpy, rough and laggy spring to mind first tbh. It does the job, but it's not a pleasant thing to use. It feels like an old school TDI to me, with nothing until a big lump of torque at 2000 rpm, then loses interest not long after that. Maybe I've been spoiled by the straight 6 in the 125i, but they are not an impressive unit in the slightest. ks. The three cylinder B38 is the mainstay of the Mini Cooper and is a brilliant engine. Even in a BMW 1 series its perfectly acceptable. I couldnt differentiate between the 3 pot and the 4 pot two litre unless I put my foot down - but it never sounds like there's a misfire. I drive a B58 six pot and the wifes Mini is probably a better drive unless I want to floor it.
3 pots that sound like 3 pots are Toyota Aygos and Citroen C1's.....
I'd spend the extra on the 220i every day of the week.
bodhi said:
Having spent a bit of time driving various Minis with the 3 Cylinder engine, I'd say brilliant is probably the last word I'd use to describe it. Lumpy, rough and laggy spring to mind first tbh. It does the job, but it's not a pleasant thing to use. It feels like an old school TDI to me, with nothing until a big lump of torque at 2000 rpm, then loses interest not long after that. Maybe I've been spoiled by the straight 6 in the 125i, but they are not an impressive unit in the slightest.
I'd spend the extra on the 220i every day of the week.
Lets agree to disagree. I drive a 340i and Mini Cooper in equal measure and for what it offers and the price differential its a solid lump. I guess brilliant was over egging it but for a 3 pot it probably deserves its accolades .I've never noticed it to be rough, lumpy or laggy, its actually extremely smooth and you'll struggle to find anyone who doesn't agree. I'd spend the extra on the 220i every day of the week.
A quote from this very forum 'BMW use such a balance shaft in their inline 3 engines. The result should be a smooth engine.'
As for lag, I get more in the F30 and my old 135i - throttle lag a major issue in both.
Edited by doog442 on Thursday 14th November 19:35
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