120d V 123d

[GarryA]

Hi,

Been away from BMWs for about 4yrs, last car M3 so miles away from what I am looking at now,

Went to the local dealers today to check out a 123d coupe M sport but they didn't have one in, they did however have a 120d Coupe M sport, when looking at the spec the sales guy said they could add BMW performance pack to the 120d and it would knock out 205bhp which is the same as the 123d.

This leaves me with a couple of questions,

120d with BMW PP - 205bhp / 370Nm @ 1750 rpm

123d - 205bhp / 400Nm @ 2k rpm

Would it really be worth the extra for the 123d when this can be achieved? I have thought about going for the auto steptronic box, anyone got anything to say about them? Never considered it before on any car I've had, you can get shift paddles on the 123d but unsure whether that would make or break the deal.

Ta

[smashy]

Hi , Guess you willhave to try the auto yourself.I would never go back to manual think my 120d auto is great TBH.Want fun just use the stick.I live in London and also do a shed load of miles so manuals not for me.

I allways wanted to get the 123d as my next car however a lot of posts mention the gearing and at 70 im on 1900rpm but the 123d is 2200 hence not so good motorway MPG.

I sometimes stick a Tuning box on I have and it has to be all the speed I will ever need.So your BMW tuned 120d would be pretty quick.

Guess the power is more linear in the twin turbo,then again my Tuning box evens it out very nicely,so the BMW pack probably does as well.

Of course if you got the 123d then you could allways take THAT up to 240-250bhp and that must be ....!!!Good Luck

[Sticks.]

I found the hesitation in pulling away in my 120d auto irritating, and someties scary. That's despite having had a 330d and Z4, both of which were auto.

[GarryA]

Sticks. said:

I found the hesitation in pulling away in my 120d auto irritating, and someties scary. That's despite having had a 330d and Z4, both of which were auto.

What like? Say you are at the lights in D and you plant it, there is a delay when setting off?

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Go for the 123d - no lag at all.

And, if you remap it, apparently it is very fast indeed.

[sprinter11]

I've been in a 123d and it was FAST!

Remapped by Emaps. Lightening springs to mind!

[gizlaroc]

I have had a mapped 120d auto and a mapped 123d auto, you buy the diesel to get MPG and the 120d walks it.

The gearing on the 123d is set up for quicker 0-60 but kills motorway cruising, so for me the mapped 120d has the edge as an all round car.

I would never consider one of these in manual, certainly not the 123d, you are constantly swapping cogs and it makes for very hard work, the rev range is so short, you have from around 2000rpm to 4000rpm that'a all, that an auto makes far more sense.

If you want manual get a 130i, a proper car.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

I've got a manual 123d and I think it's ok.

OP - try them both for yourself.

[V8A*ndy]

Sticks. said:

I found the hesitation in pulling away in my 120d auto irritating, and someties scary. That's despite having had a 330d and Z4, both of which were auto.

At least you avoid the clutch judder problem.

Also I thought the BMW performance upgrade was 197BHP? It's also mega bucks to fit the performance option to an auto.

[grar]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

I've got a manual 123d and I think it's ok.

OP - try them both for yourself.

Just OK, we think ours is great

[Sticks.]

GarryA said:

Sticks. said:

I found the hesitation in pulling away in my 120d auto irritating, and someties scary. That's despite having had a 330d and Z4, both of which were auto.

What like? Say you are at the lights in D and you plant it, there is a delay when setting off?

Exactly.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

grar said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

I've got a manual 123d and I think it's ok.

OP - try them both for yourself.

Just OK, we think ours is great

It is great I had an absolute blast in mine yesterday.

[gizlaroc]

Sticks. said:

GarryA said:

Sticks. said:

I found the hesitation in pulling away in my 120d auto irritating, and someties scary. That's despite having had a 330d and Z4, both of which were auto.

What like? Say you are at the lights in D and you plant it, there is a delay when setting off?

Exactly.

I never had an issue with this on any of mine, have had on a couple of Audis before and it made me sell the car.

[AB]

Lag in the 120d annoyed me.

123d definitely worth it IMO.

[Tea Pot One]

AB said:

Lag in the 120d annoyed me.

123d definitely worth it IMO.

The 123d auto I drove had no lag as I noticed ... but my 320d auto is almost as good - certainly nothing that I notice. Seems to be something that is maybe worse on some cars than others ? and gets noticed by some more than others driving ? The only way is to try them both ...

FWIW I think the BMW auto box is superb and suits the diesels best

[AB]

Tea Pot One said:

FWIW I think the BMW auto box is superb and suits the diesels best

Agreed.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Manuals are good too, and I don't find myself constantly swapping cogs.

The 123d is very torquey and you can put it into a high gear at low speeds and leave it there, if that is your thing.

[Ash333]

I thought both had the same engine, in different states of tune:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_1_Series_(E81)#En...

[AB]

Ash333 said:

I thought both had the same engine, in different states of tune:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_1_Series_(E81)#En...

Both 2.0 - 123d has 2 turbos, the 120d just the one.

[Oh Behave]

I have a 123d, goes well especially pulling in 3rd. Sister has a 120d but much prefer the engine in the 123d, alot smoother, almost petrol like linear delivery