1-Series questions - soz!
Discussion
Hi,
Just a few questions about the new[ish] shape 1-Series [which may have been covered on here before].
My wife is in the market for a new [to her] car. She's got a decent wedge so looking for a car that's a year or two old. Top of her list is the Petrol 1.4 150bhp Audi A3 and Golf. We've driven both and they seem to fit the bill. I original had a 1-Series on the list but thought they may be a bit pricey compared to the two VAG cars, but a local BMW dealer has two that caught my eye. We will go see the cars to answer my below questions for ourselves but thought I'd ask here too...
- Interior space. I'm sure this has been covered a lot but I was wondering if rear seat and boot space is a big chuck smaller than the front-wheel-drive cars mentioned above? The car must work as a 'family' car [I'm 6' 6" by the way]!
- The two 1-Series' I've seen are 125's [so more performance than Mr BUG4LIFE probably needs] but one is pre-facelift [early 2015] and the other post-facelift [early 2016]. Both are M-Sport spec. I was just wondering if the post-facelift is worth the extra cash, what is the main differences [besides the look]?
The 2015 car is an auto with red leather, two big plus points, hence wondering about the differences with the later car as the auto could swing it in the older cars favour!
Thanks for your help
Just a few questions about the new[ish] shape 1-Series [which may have been covered on here before].
My wife is in the market for a new [to her] car. She's got a decent wedge so looking for a car that's a year or two old. Top of her list is the Petrol 1.4 150bhp Audi A3 and Golf. We've driven both and they seem to fit the bill. I original had a 1-Series on the list but thought they may be a bit pricey compared to the two VAG cars, but a local BMW dealer has two that caught my eye. We will go see the cars to answer my below questions for ourselves but thought I'd ask here too...
- Interior space. I'm sure this has been covered a lot but I was wondering if rear seat and boot space is a big chuck smaller than the front-wheel-drive cars mentioned above? The car must work as a 'family' car [I'm 6' 6" by the way]!
- The two 1-Series' I've seen are 125's [so more performance than Mr BUG4LIFE probably needs] but one is pre-facelift [early 2015] and the other post-facelift [early 2016]. Both are M-Sport spec. I was just wondering if the post-facelift is worth the extra cash, what is the main differences [besides the look]?
The 2015 car is an auto with red leather, two big plus points, hence wondering about the differences with the later car as the auto could swing it in the older cars favour!
Thanks for your help
BUG4LIFE said:
Hi,
Just a few questions about the new[ish] shape 1-Series [which may have been covered on here before].
My wife is in the market for a new [to her] car. She's got a decent wedge so looking for a car that's a year or two old. Top of her list is the Petrol 1.4 150bhp Audi A3 and Golf. We've driven both and they seem to fit the bill. I original had a 1-Series on the list but thought they may be a bit pricey compared to the two VAG cars, but a local BMW dealer has two that caught my eye. We will go see the cars to answer my below questions for ourselves but thought I'd ask here too...
- Interior space. I'm sure this has been covered a lot but I was wondering if rear seat and boot space is a big chuck smaller than the front-wheel-drive cars mentioned above? The car must work as a 'family' car [I'm 6' 6" by the way]!
- The two 1-Series' I've seen are 125's [so more performance than Mr BUG4LIFE probably needs] but one is pre-facelift [early 2015] and the other post-facelift [early 2016]. Both are M-Sport spec. I was just wondering if the post-facelift is worth the extra cash, what is the main differences [besides the look]?
The 2015 car is an auto with red leather, two big plus points, hence wondering about the differences with the later car as the auto could swing it in the older cars favour!
Thanks for your help
I don't remember there being much of a difference, I've had them as courtesy cars over the years.Just a few questions about the new[ish] shape 1-Series [which may have been covered on here before].
My wife is in the market for a new [to her] car. She's got a decent wedge so looking for a car that's a year or two old. Top of her list is the Petrol 1.4 150bhp Audi A3 and Golf. We've driven both and they seem to fit the bill. I original had a 1-Series on the list but thought they may be a bit pricey compared to the two VAG cars, but a local BMW dealer has two that caught my eye. We will go see the cars to answer my below questions for ourselves but thought I'd ask here too...
- Interior space. I'm sure this has been covered a lot but I was wondering if rear seat and boot space is a big chuck smaller than the front-wheel-drive cars mentioned above? The car must work as a 'family' car [I'm 6' 6" by the way]!
- The two 1-Series' I've seen are 125's [so more performance than Mr BUG4LIFE probably needs] but one is pre-facelift [early 2015] and the other post-facelift [early 2016]. Both are M-Sport spec. I was just wondering if the post-facelift is worth the extra cash, what is the main differences [besides the look]?
The 2015 car is an auto with red leather, two big plus points, hence wondering about the differences with the later car as the auto could swing it in the older cars favour!
Thanks for your help
The below site, seems to agree on changes,
Face-lift is, in my opinion, much better looking.
Never driven the rivals, but I would think all feel small for your height.
I presume you mean 125 petrol, as that's the fuel in the rivals. I believe that's a 4cylinder petrol, I've driven it in slightly lower tune and found it laggy, BMW 6 cylinders are their strong suit.
The manual trans in the 1'ers were sh*t. I'm not auto fan, but ZF8 Speed is a good box.
Red leather can be nice, but I think the looks of the face-lift would swing it the other way.
https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/2015-bmw-1-series-ol...
I've got a 2016 1 series and if you're going to be driving it, I'd recommend the auto. The transmission tunnel cuts into the interior space and the pedals are slightly off set as a result. The taller you are, the more uncomfortable you will be. For reference, we have an XC90 which ticks off most duties but my 3 door 1 series does have to do the odd family run. Boot isn't massive but the pushchair fits fine, even with some shopping. Access isn't too bad for my 2 year old although when his seat was rear facing, not having the extra doors was a chore. I don't normally recommend VAG products but if driving enjoyment isn't high on the priority list, I'd probably go for the Golf.
Smuler said:
I don't remember there being much of a difference, I've had them as courtesy cars over the years.
The below site, seems to agree on changes,
Face-lift is, in my opinion, much better looking.
Never driven the rivals, but I would think all feel small for your height.
I presume you mean 125 petrol, as that's the fuel in the rivals. I believe that's a 4cylinder petrol, I've driven it in slightly lower tune and found it laggy, BMW 6 cylinders are their strong suit.
The manual trans in the 1'ers were sh*t. I'm not auto fan, but ZF8 Speed is a good box.
Red leather can be nice, but I think the looks of the face-lift would swing it the other way.
https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/2015-bmw-1-series-ol...
Yeah that's right, the 4 cylinder petrol. As much as I'd love my wife to have a M135, having a car that's a bit younger with more warranty is more important to her...I just want the car to have more useable performance than her current 2007 MINI Cooper [which to tell the truth the 120 would have too].The below site, seems to agree on changes,
Face-lift is, in my opinion, much better looking.
Never driven the rivals, but I would think all feel small for your height.
I presume you mean 125 petrol, as that's the fuel in the rivals. I believe that's a 4cylinder petrol, I've driven it in slightly lower tune and found it laggy, BMW 6 cylinders are their strong suit.
The manual trans in the 1'ers were sh*t. I'm not auto fan, but ZF8 Speed is a good box.
Red leather can be nice, but I think the looks of the face-lift would swing it the other way.
https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/2015-bmw-1-series-ol...
I think testing the manual will be a good idea. I currently own a manual E36 328 and [although I know it'd from a vastly different time] if it's anything like that I wouldn't mind.
As long as the seat can go quite low, I think getting comfortable with my long legs should be fine [I fit in her MINI fine], I more worried about the space behind the drivers seat, compared to the other 2 cars I mention.
BUG4LIFE said:
Yeah that's right, the 4 cylinder petrol. As much as I'd love my wife to have a M135, having a car that's a bit younger with more warranty is more important to her...I just want the car to have more useable performance than her current 2007 MINI Cooper [which to tell the truth the 120 would have too].
I think testing the manual will be a good idea. I currently own a manual E36 328 and [although I know it'd from a vastly different time] if it's anything like that I wouldn't mind.
As long as the seat can go quite low, I think getting comfortable with my long legs should be fine [I fit in her MINI fine], I more worried about the space behind the drivers seat, compared to the other 2 cars I mention.
Toon10 is right, the pedals aren't great, but most notable the feel of the manual felt wrong compared to my almost as old E46's.I think testing the manual will be a good idea. I currently own a manual E36 328 and [although I know it'd from a vastly different time] if it's anything like that I wouldn't mind.
As long as the seat can go quite low, I think getting comfortable with my long legs should be fine [I fit in her MINI fine], I more worried about the space behind the drivers seat, compared to the other 2 cars I mention.
I think the pre-facelifts came out in 2011, this being the 2nd generation of 1 series, I know the E90 which was the 3 series at the time was criticized for being too high sitting, so whether that bodes well for the 1'er only a test drive will tell you.
I've also had Mini Coopers as courtesy cars, a 120 (let alone 125) will outperform those, 125 should be more like the cooper s, but better as it's RWD
Thanks guys, some interesting stuff.
Think I'll need to go have a poke around the 1-Series' I mention above, see how awkward the offset pedals feel/give the manual a go.
The packaging of the car is more important then the performance, so it sounds like a Golf is more fitting for my Wife's needs, but it's worth a trip to the dealer to have a butchers I reckon
Think I'll need to go have a poke around the 1-Series' I mention above, see how awkward the offset pedals feel/give the manual a go.
The packaging of the car is more important then the performance, so it sounds like a Golf is more fitting for my Wife's needs, but it's worth a trip to the dealer to have a butchers I reckon
We've a 2012 125i with the ZF8 auto, and it's a cracking car. Personally I prefer the looks of the pre-facelift cars as the rears of the facelift are gopping imo.
Worth checking if the ZF8 is the normal fitment or the Sport Auto option - it will have a sport mode either way, but the Sport Auto is mapped differently and is what is fitted to the M135i/140i.
Peronally, having had a manual E87 1-series, I wouldn't look at another manual BMW again. It's a horrible gearchange - overly notchy, as though they think that makes it sporty, and has too long a throw. The ZF8 is superb. Smooth when taking it easy, but slams the changes home quick if you're on it and especially if you switch to manual mode.
Engines are different between pre and post facelift. The earlier one is the N20B20 with 218bhp, whereas post-facelift is the B48 with 221bhp. They seem fairly similar in terms of key stats.
It's a quick car - will hit 60 in low 6s with the ZF8 Sport Auto - I can't find the exact data anymore as Parkers has changed it and now refers to it as a Step Auto, which is wrong. It will easily return over 40mpg on a cruise as well, and the previous owner reckons his wife hit over 50mpg in EcoPro mode.
Worth checking if the ZF8 is the normal fitment or the Sport Auto option - it will have a sport mode either way, but the Sport Auto is mapped differently and is what is fitted to the M135i/140i.
Peronally, having had a manual E87 1-series, I wouldn't look at another manual BMW again. It's a horrible gearchange - overly notchy, as though they think that makes it sporty, and has too long a throw. The ZF8 is superb. Smooth when taking it easy, but slams the changes home quick if you're on it and especially if you switch to manual mode.
Engines are different between pre and post facelift. The earlier one is the N20B20 with 218bhp, whereas post-facelift is the B48 with 221bhp. They seem fairly similar in terms of key stats.
It's a quick car - will hit 60 in low 6s with the ZF8 Sport Auto - I can't find the exact data anymore as Parkers has changed it and now refers to it as a Step Auto, which is wrong. It will easily return over 40mpg on a cruise as well, and the previous owner reckons his wife hit over 50mpg in EcoPro mode.
Just to add to swervin's post. Mine's the M135i and I've always been a massive manual fan. The auto in these things is not only the best auto I've used, it's better suited to my car and just a better box than the manual. I don't think I'd go back to a manual for a daily driver now. Maybe if I had a more focused weekend car/track toy I'd get the manual but that's not really what the 1 series is about.
I'm 5ft 11 and I tend to have the seat about as far back as it goes. At your height, I think you may struggle but I can say that your rear passengers would be limited for leg space.
I'm 5ft 11 and I tend to have the seat about as far back as it goes. At your height, I think you may struggle but I can say that your rear passengers would be limited for leg space.
Swervin_Mervin said:
Peronally, having had a manual E87 1-series, I wouldn't look at another manual BMW again. It's a horrible gearchange - overly notchy, as though they think that makes it sporty, and has too long a throw. The ZF8 is superb. Smooth when taking it easy, but slams the changes home quick if you're on it and especially if you switch to manual mode.
I guess they vary - the manual E87 123d I had for over 80K miles had the best gear-change of any of my 5 manual BMWs! At 6’6, a 1 series will be annoying to get in and out of while having to say goodbye to space in the back for whoever is sitting behind you, my mum had 2 120d autos, 2012-15 sport and 15-17 m sport, both were good cars, she loved them and enjoyed driving them but got tired of getting in and out of it, she’s 55 and of slender build.
I’m 5’10 and when I drove it a few times, it did feel cramped inside compared to my civic type r & 4 series at the time. I can’t comment on the 2012 sport model as it felt like the best car in the world compared to my seat Ibiza at the time when I was 17 but I will say the m sport one was quite bumpy, not sure if it’s the short wheel base with rwd and stiffened suspension or the runflats but it felt harsher than a mk7 Golf GTD!
If you can afford a 2015 125i, why not check out a Golf GTI/GTD
I’m 5’10 and when I drove it a few times, it did feel cramped inside compared to my civic type r & 4 series at the time. I can’t comment on the 2012 sport model as it felt like the best car in the world compared to my seat Ibiza at the time when I was 17 but I will say the m sport one was quite bumpy, not sure if it’s the short wheel base with rwd and stiffened suspension or the runflats but it felt harsher than a mk7 Golf GTD!
If you can afford a 2015 125i, why not check out a Golf GTI/GTD
Give me the RWD 125i any day of the week personally. It's not that cramped - I'm 5'11" and have no issue, and my daily driver is an E91 3series. That said, it may well feel tight if you're 6'6"!
This w/e we ditched the RFTs, and went to non-RFT Goodyear F1s. The difference is utterly astounding. It's gone from being a crashy poorly controlled ride, to beautifully composed. So if you do get one, do that!
This w/e we ditched the RFTs, and went to non-RFT Goodyear F1s. The difference is utterly astounding. It's gone from being a crashy poorly controlled ride, to beautifully composed. So if you do get one, do that!
Ive a new 125D M-sport auto and im 6ft 2 with decent width 
. The seat does have many angles and such so you should get plenty of room/head height i dont find it cramped, but as others have said you may lose the seat behind you unless they have no legs..... I think if i had the seat all the way to the back would struggle to reach the pedals!
Its quick to drive, economical and its orange!
. The seat does have many angles and such so you should get plenty of room/head height i dont find it cramped, but as others have said you may lose the seat behind you unless they have no legs..... I think if i had the seat all the way to the back would struggle to reach the pedals!Its quick to drive, economical and its orange!
As you're looking at the Golf/A3 1.4 petrol with 150bhp have you considered a SEAT Leon with the same engine? We've got an early 2015 FR ST (estate) with the 150bhp 1.4 Eco TSi engine and I love it, not as plush inside as my 2 series but perfectly acceptable, it's well specced, goes really well and brilliant as a do it all family wagon.
Edited by LocoBlade on Tuesday 21st November 23:02
Decent enough cars, if the manual gear change is anything like the e90 it's absolutely fine and nowhere near as bad as made out. The manual box in the m235i is decent, so if the 125i has the same weighted gear knob that improves it further.
As for the auto, if it is the non sport ZF8 then I would not buy one, drove me nuts on the ones I have used. Haven't tried the Sport ZF8 though.
As for the auto, if it is the non sport ZF8 then I would not buy one, drove me nuts on the ones I have used. Haven't tried the Sport ZF8 though.
LocoBlade said:
As you're looking at the Golf/A3 1.4 petrol with 150bhp have you considered a SEAT Leon with the same engine? We've got an early 2015 FR ST (estate) with the 150bhp 1.4 Eco TSi engine and I love it, not as plush inside as my 2 series but perfectly acceptable, it's well specced, goes really well and brilliant as a do it all family wagon.
If they are potential options I'd just go with VAG for the OH. Edited by LocoBlade on Tuesday 21st November 23:02
But if you might get to rag it around I'd look for a 125i - after all it's RWD and has more than another 50bhp!
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