BMW 1 Series 2010 - 2011
Discussion
Following on from this thread https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I am now looking at buying a 1 Series (got a budget of £6500) and was looking at around a 2011 BMW 116i or 118i for this budget, and just wondered if there is any known faults on these cars, or anything to look out for/check has been done prior to agreeing a deal? From my understanding these engines are chain driven and do not require a cambelt change?
Was also interested in buying an E85 Z4 as it seems I can get a good example for this money, however wasn't sure if they will be more expensive to run/maintain? What is the reliability like on these, again do they have any well known faults?
Many thanks
I am now looking at buying a 1 Series (got a budget of £6500) and was looking at around a 2011 BMW 116i or 118i for this budget, and just wondered if there is any known faults on these cars, or anything to look out for/check has been done prior to agreeing a deal? From my understanding these engines are chain driven and do not require a cambelt change?
Was also interested in buying an E85 Z4 as it seems I can get a good example for this money, however wasn't sure if they will be more expensive to run/maintain? What is the reliability like on these, again do they have any well known faults?
Many thanks
JordanM200 said:
130i seem to be very rare especially with sub 90k miles.
What is the newer shape 116i like in terms if reliability I.e 2012 onwards (61 plate/12 plate?)
Awful. Timing chain (as low at 50k they're often shagged), turbo heat shields, vanos solenoids and the leaking coolant elbow on the back of the cylinder head that requires gearbox removal to replace. You either go 6 cylinder petrol, or play timing chain roulette with a diesel. What is the newer shape 116i like in terms if reliability I.e 2012 onwards (61 plate/12 plate?)
JordanM200 said:
Was also interested in buying an E85 Z4 as it seems I can get a good example for this money, however wasn't sure if they will be more expensive to run/maintain? What is the reliability like on these, again do they have any well known faults?
Now these are worth having. Avoid the 2.0i as they're crap (engine) but a nice 2.5i or 3.0i with good history and miles is a lovely thing. £6000 should get a nice garaged one. Buy on condition rather than year as not the the older M54 and later N52 are both good engines. What's more they'll always hold their money whereas a 1 Series is just another weigh bridge dodger that will be a £1000 banger in no time. The N43 isn’t the nicest of engines. My other half as a 116 and it’s been fine reliability wise. Her mum and dad had it before us, so we know the car. It’s in about 79k now.
The engine is a bit course, uses too much fuel for the performance and costs a lot in VED for what it is. I’d far rather a 125/130 and accept higher mileage.
The engine is a bit course, uses too much fuel for the performance and costs a lot in VED for what it is. I’d far rather a 125/130 and accept higher mileage.
Touring442 said:
Awful. Timing chain (as low at 50k they're often shagged), turbo heat shields, vanos solenoids and the leaking coolant elbow on the back of the cylinder head that requires gearbox removal to replace. You either go 6 cylinder petrol, or play timing chain roulette with a diesel.
Why would you remove the gearbox to do that elbow? It’s three 10mm bolts - it’s fiddly but more than doable in 20-30minutes on a rampJordanM200 said:
Why is the 2.0 in the Z4 a crap engine? It's unreliable or just slow?
N46 engine which is basically the older version that was replaced with the n43 in a 1 series, but z4 stuck with it.It’s a better option than the n43, but it’s still has its issues - cracked manifolds, valvetronic motors, timing chains, oil leaks.
6 cylinders are nice engines but they can also have issues, m54 and n52 are pretty good though
Personally - a late n47 diesel engine is probably the best option for low running costs, an n46 in a z4 is second best for running costs I’d say
N43 not worth a second thought
Elliot2000 said:
Why would you remove the gearbox to do that elbow? It’s three 10mm bolts - it’s fiddly but more than doable in 20-30minutes on a ramp
OK.This is an N13. There is a temp sensor that plugs into it and it leaks from a crack that develops in the plastic housing around said sensor. If all the bolts come undone, it's doable. If the bottom bolt often rusty - decides it wants to round off, then you're taking the box off. Same if one of them snaps off as it's rusted into the steel sleeve.
Even my regular BMW Indy specialist recommended at least 6 cylinders, and preferably petrol when I asked him for some advice.
So I've had a few of them!
The M54 in the Z4 or the N52 in the facelift Z4s and 130i/125iCoupe both cope well with high mileages. I had a 325i with the N52 that had done 139K miles when I sold it and it still ran really well.
If the N52 has a weakness it's the electric water pump as new ones tend to cost £250+. I'm on my 4th car with an N52 - 2 have needed new pumps and I've still got my fingers crossed with my current one! But you'l probably only ever need to do it once as they last anywhere from 60-90K.
Z4 roof motors get soaked by water from the roof drains, but there are a few people on z4forum who will relocate them to the boot so they stay dry for around £200 which is much cheaper than a new motor!
So I've had a few of them!
The M54 in the Z4 or the N52 in the facelift Z4s and 130i/125iCoupe both cope well with high mileages. I had a 325i with the N52 that had done 139K miles when I sold it and it still ran really well.
If the N52 has a weakness it's the electric water pump as new ones tend to cost £250+. I'm on my 4th car with an N52 - 2 have needed new pumps and I've still got my fingers crossed with my current one! But you'l probably only ever need to do it once as they last anywhere from 60-90K.
Z4 roof motors get soaked by water from the roof drains, but there are a few people on z4forum who will relocate them to the boot so they stay dry for around £200 which is much cheaper than a new motor!
Touring442 said:
OK.
This is an N13. There is a temp sensor that plugs into it and it leaks from a crack that develops in the plastic housing around said sensor. If all the bolts come undone, it's doable. If the bottom bolt often rusty - decides it wants to round off, then you're taking the box off. Same if one of them snaps off as it's rusted into the steel sleeve.
Fair enough - I never had that issue, but they were still under 5 years old when I was doing them weekly and I can imagine them being a bugger now they are getting olderThis is an N13. There is a temp sensor that plugs into it and it leaks from a crack that develops in the plastic housing around said sensor. If all the bolts come undone, it's doable. If the bottom bolt often rusty - decides it wants to round off, then you're taking the box off. Same if one of them snaps off as it's rusted into the steel sleeve.
Elliot2000 said:
Fair enough - I never had that issue, but they were still under 5 years old when I was doing them weekly and I can imagine them being a bugger now they are getting older
I just won't touch this stuff now, too much aggro. The same job on an old M43 wasn't much fun but at least you could see it from up top. Court_S said:
The N43 isn’t the nicest of engines. My other half as a 116 and it’s been fine reliability wise. Her mum and dad had it before us, so we know the car. It’s in about 79k now.
The engine is a bit course, uses too much fuel for the performance and costs a lot in VED for what it is. I’d far rather a 125/130 and accept higher mileage.
I'd forgotten about the fuel consumption! 118i the best I got was 39.9mpg on a 5 hour motorway drive at about 60mph accelerating downhill and slowing down up hill (traffic permitting), fuel efficiency was the only entertainment when the family were asleep while I was driving. Such bad fuel consumption.Doing the same on the X3 30d I get 48.7mpg with 2 more passengers and a full boot. The 118i still makes me angry even thinking of it...The engine is a bit course, uses too much fuel for the performance and costs a lot in VED for what it is. I’d far rather a 125/130 and accept higher mileage.
I had a 116i 2.0 company car at BMW in 2009/10. As well as not having enough power to pull you out of bed, 30 mpg overall was all the car would do in normal driving. At the time I was running a 1998 318Ti Compact E36 that would do 36 mpg with ease, 40 on a run. It was somewhat livelier too. That's progress!
Touring442 said:
I had a 116i 2.0 company car at BMW in 2009/10. As well as not having enough power to pull you out of bed, 30 mpg overall was all the car would do in normal driving. At the time I was running a 1998 318Ti Compact E36 that would do 36 mpg with ease, 40 on a run. It was somewhat livelier too. That's progress!
Company car? Must be battersea or nine elms dealer at a guess?Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff