1 Series automatic

[DarkMatter]

Having decided to sell my Audi A4 (manual) I originally intended to buy an Audi A3 TDi with DSG gearbox but I'm also quite tempted by a 1 Series automatic (a 120d M Sport auto 2006/2007). So, I have some questions about the 1 Series with automatic gearbox...

Is the 1 Series auto box a good one?
Is it possible to still enjoy a 'press on' style of driving, i.e. is the box responsive enough?
Is it a traditional fluid flywheel/torque converter box?

Thanks, Andrew.

[VerySideways]

Yes, yes, and yes.
6 speed auto i drove in a 130 was awesome, same box i've also driven in a 325d.

Any chance you could stretch to a 123d?

[ab@]

I have auto in 123d form. Excellent.

[DarkMatter]

Thanks 'VerySideways' and 'ab@' for your replies. Unfortunately I doubt that I'll be able to stretch to a 123D. However, I'm pleased to hear that the auto box is a good one, and will still allow 'press on' driving.

Does the auto box have a very detrimental effect on mpg?

Andrew

[carlovers]

Hi Dark can you not stretch to an EFF. DYN. version a lot better all round and i reckon better residuals. Im on www.babybmw.net uk website lot of info for you ,good luck

[gizlaroc]

120d m-sport auto was the best all round car I have ever owned.

If you can stretch to an ED one though do, the pre ED only returns 28-38mpg, post will return 38-55mpg.
So if you do 12k miles or more a year and you are using finance the post ED car is a fair bit cheaper overall.

[niva441]

DarkMatter said:

Is the 1 Series auto box a good one?
Is it possible to still enjoy a 'press on' style of driving, i.e. is the box responsive enough?
Is it a traditional fluid flywheel/torque converter box?

Thanks, Andrew.

No
Despite the promises it is significantly less efficient than DSG.

No
I always found it reluctant to change down.

Yes

[RobJShe]

ab@ said:

I have auto in 123d form. Excellent.

Totally off topic. I did`nt know you had a new toy ab@. Any pics?

[DarkMatter]

Thanks again for your comments. I cannot stretch to a 123D or an ED model.

From what I've read here and on another thread it looks to me as though I'd be lucky to average any more than 40 mpg. I was hoping I'd be able to average nearer to the 48.5 mpg which I've achieved over 78k miles from my manual A4 TDi. Wishful thinking on my part I suppose.

[gizlaroc]

Not but you will wonder how you managed to fall asleep in the Audi if you get a 1er.

[niva441]

DarkMatter said:

Thanks again for your comments. I cannot stretch to a 123D or an ED model.

From what I've read here and on another thread it looks to me as though I'd be lucky to average any more than 40 mpg. I was hoping I'd be able to average nearer to the 48.5 mpg which I've achieved over 78k miles from my manual A4 TDi. Wishful thinking on my part I suppose.

Even when I was trying really hard the 120d struggled to better 40 mpg.

Some of the ED features aren't on the automatics (Stop-start at least), so they won't see the improvements claimed for the manuals. DSG and similar gearboxes will achieve equal or in some cases better economy than the equivalent manuals.

[carlovers]

i have a 120d auto ED saturday went from chiswick to worthing, including stop start on the M25 OBC showed 54mpg. Have a tuning box ,the power and mpg ratio is the reason i keep this car .Only runflats will stop me buying another BMW dont like the ride. Test drove a merc c series the ride was superb.

Edited by carlovers on Monday 1st September 11:20

[VerySideways]

carlovers said:

i have a 120d auto ED saturday went from chiswick to worthing, including stop start on the M25 OBC showed 54mpg. Have a tuning box ,the power and mpg ratio is the reason i keep this car .Only runflats will stop me buying another BMW dont like the ride. Test drove a merc c series the ride was superb.

Ditch the runflats, you'll be amazed at the difference.
Oh, and you can buy Holts Tyreweld for less than a tenner

[carlovers]

VerySideways how does that work then? if i have a puncture am i right in saying you have to drive to a garage (if you can find one)on the flat, pump the tyre up then put the tyreweld in it ? thanks

[niva441]

Bear in mind that you need to report changing from Runflats to conventional tyres to your insurance company, as you've changed the vehicles spec.

[NickB12]

I wasn't as impressed with the autobox in my 120D M Sport (facelift) as I was in my E46 330D for two reasons.

As said elsewhere, it's reluctant to change down when in Drive. I'd suggest for 'Drive' read 'Economy' - such as it was, I averaged 42mpg over a year. In Sport mode though it's reasonably lively.

Don't think you can make a quick getaway from a standstill either, as there's a frustrating pause of a second or two after depressing the throttle before anything happens.

I'd second the comment about ditching the runflats. I'd had rft's before but wasn't expecting such a poor ride and low levels of grip from the Pirelli's over bumpy and wet surfaces. I changed them for Continental Sportcontact2's and by increasing the pressure from the min by 0.2 bar the handling and ride were greatly improved.

I'd have to say not to expect the normal levels of BMW quality, in my experience. At a year old I'd had a new glove box, staorage bin, interior light, a door seal 'fixed' 3 times, useless air con and automatic headlights, sorry, I mean constant, and flaking paint, for which the stealer kindly gave me an estimate to repair. Minor but not good for the money.

Still, I sorted all that - ironically just bought an Audi If you're looking for a fun hatch maybe consider a Golf and enjoy a short holiday with the change.

[Fox-]

niva441 said:

Bear in mind that you need to report changing from Runflats to conventional tyres to your insurance company, as you've changed the vehicles spec.

In the same way you 'change the vehicles spec' if you change from standard fit Dunlops to say some Goodyears?

[niva441]

Fox- said:

niva441 said:

Bear in mind that you need to report changing from Runflats to conventional tyres to your insurance company, as you've changed the vehicles spec.

In the same way you 'change the vehicles spec' if you change from standard fit Dunlops to say some Goodyears?

No changing from Runflats to conventional tyres is more significant than that. The very different construction results in different handling charactistics that hasn't been signed off by the manufacturers.

[Fox-]

niva441 said:

No changing from Runflats to conventional tyres is more significant than that. The very different construction results in different handling charactistics that hasn't been signed off by the manufacturers.

You can order an E60 5 Series from the factory without runflats.

[niva441]

Fox- said:

niva441 said:

No changing from Runflats to conventional tyres is more significant than that. The very different construction results in different handling charactistics that hasn't been signed off by the manufacturers.

You can order an E60 5 Series from the factory without runflats.

But the factory has approved that vehicle to be supplied with both specifications. That isn't the case for the 1 series. Although that might change if they find the space for a jack and other tyre changing kit.