RE: Shed Buying Guide | BMW 1 Series (E87)
Discussion
I have owned a 123d E82 coupe from new, its manual and opted out of the sat nav because i thought that would age the dash as the kit went out of date because i planned to keep it a long time, it is now on 99k miles and i think it has aged well. it still drives extremely well, the things i have done are to get rid of the god awful run flats for regular pilot sports which transform the ride, the only issue i have had with it in 100k miles is seized front brake calipers, the cause was seals which split from around the piston and allowed the pistons to rust, each time i sorted that with just a ~£18 kit off ebay, which came with new piston and seals, and it was back on the road. It's a great chassis but they suffer from understeer on factory setup, which can be helped with some wider section fronts, then it is a lot more neutral. the average mpg reads 41.5mpg, i don't think i have reset it for around 6 years! definitely the best daily car i have ever owned but is not always as practical as it needed to be, but have always found it surprisingly practical for the shape that it is in coupe form, as the boot looks very small, but seats go down and still it has done a lot of successful tip runs. i will be sad when it goes.
A friend of mine has a 130i, which I do rather like. The older One was a much nicer looking car than the more recent ones, and his even appeals more than the M-lite versions, being a true NA RWD package.
That being said, this article focuses on the bottom of the market, where you're only going to get a four-pot petrol or diesel. Those buyers are probably not going to be so heavily influenced by the RWD vs. FWD thing and looking for a good all-rounder. Given the limitations of these in terms of interior space, I think there are probably better cars out there for the money.
That being said, this article focuses on the bottom of the market, where you're only going to get a four-pot petrol or diesel. Those buyers are probably not going to be so heavily influenced by the RWD vs. FWD thing and looking for a good all-rounder. Given the limitations of these in terms of interior space, I think there are probably better cars out there for the money.
I’ve got a massive soft spot for the 130i in M-Sport guise. Something different to the Golf R32 & Audi S3’s of the era.
My cousin bought 123d M-Sport a few years ago. He threw me the keys for a blast up the local b-road, it was rapid but dull as dishwater.
I can imagine the 6’er being a lot more fun the peddle along.
My cousin bought 123d M-Sport a few years ago. He threw me the keys for a blast up the local b-road, it was rapid but dull as dishwater.
I can imagine the 6’er being a lot more fun the peddle along.
Had a 118d M-sport as a company car for 50K+ miles during 2010-2013, average fuel consumption average between 46 - 53 mpg - once got 60 mpg on a single run between Cambridge & Rochdale mostly up the A1 at NSL, although in general the range estimate was way out so I was a nerd and used the indicator hack into the original i-drive to recalibrate.
Pluses: M-sport seats are super comfortable, the best I have ever driven they could certainly munch-up the miles with no aches or pains, never had any traction problems with winter tyres.
Minuses: Linear power delivery - there's no VAG style boost, I spec'd normal suspension and although the ride was fine on run-flats it did chew outer edges of front tyres - solved by keeping pressures at 1.8 bar, head unit on standard stereo was terrible but somehow much better if you used the aux input, took me 18-months to discover there was an additional speaker in the floor but *only* underneath the passenger seat, had infamous cracking of pleather on driver's seat squab, notchy gear shift - that surprisingly wasn't there when I drove a similar age SE, claustrophobic with heavily raked screen and black headlining if like me you have super short-ar$e legs and long torso.
Pluses: M-sport seats are super comfortable, the best I have ever driven they could certainly munch-up the miles with no aches or pains, never had any traction problems with winter tyres.
Minuses: Linear power delivery - there's no VAG style boost, I spec'd normal suspension and although the ride was fine on run-flats it did chew outer edges of front tyres - solved by keeping pressures at 1.8 bar, head unit on standard stereo was terrible but somehow much better if you used the aux input, took me 18-months to discover there was an additional speaker in the floor but *only* underneath the passenger seat, had infamous cracking of pleather on driver's seat squab, notchy gear shift - that surprisingly wasn't there when I drove a similar age SE, claustrophobic with heavily raked screen and black headlining if like me you have super short-ar$e legs and long torso.
The timing chain/tensioner issues is what really worries me with this car (and other contemporary BMW models) as it's a mixture of poor design, cheapness and lazy owners (skipping servicing) meaning it can fail at any time regardless of age or mileage.
It is also mounted at the back of the engine, so is a pretty big job too.
Then there's all the doom about recalls, fires and key-code thieving and it's a no from me.
Although I do like the 1M coupe..
It is also mounted at the back of the engine, so is a pretty big job too.
Then there's all the doom about recalls, fires and key-code thieving and it's a no from me.
Although I do like the 1M coupe..
sixpistons said:
One thing not mentioned here is the weak diffs on these, particularly on the small case version used on 116 and 118 models, but the bigger ones aren’t immune either - the one in my 130i shat itself last year at great expense. They use ball bearings rather than taper rollers and aren’t very strong - I can’t count the number of e90 3 series or e87 1 series I hear go past with a high pitched whistling noise from a dying diff. Once you’ve had it on your own car you recognise it instantly.
Yep, the diff failed at 160k miles on the 130i a family member of mine had. Game over for running it as a shed.My girlfriend had a e87 120D, it was relatively low mileage and had full service history, but it was a bit of a money pit and ended suffering the dreaded timing chain failure (I think it was the tensioners that let go) that can occur on the N47. I cleared it off as spares or repairs.
This episode and others with diesel engined cars is why we both switched back to non-turbo petrol. Needless to say, I'd recommend avoiding the N47.
This episode and others with diesel engined cars is why we both switched back to non-turbo petrol. Needless to say, I'd recommend avoiding the N47.
NicoG said:
Only issues are that the specs of the cars really seem to make very evident where they sat in the BMW range.
Bluetooth and non-total-s
te stereos are tricky to find.
I fitted an Alpine EZI-DAB to mine to add Bluetooth/DAB, all you can see if a small box on the windscreen.Bluetooth and non-total-s
te stereos are tricky to find.a11y_m said:
Comments about tight rear space and small boot… 2 x young kids in car seats in ours plus buggy in boot (on top of the space-saver spare). Not an issue, plenty of space. The double-buggy was a tighter fit I admit, but was still possible.
We are starting to find it a bit tight for holiday with two toddlers, but day to day it is fine. having said that, my wife's Yaris does seem to have more interior space...Paul578 said:
Had a 118d M-sport as a company car for 50K+ miles during 2010-2013, average fuel consumption average between 46 - 53 mpg - once got 60 mpg on a single run between Cambridge & Rochdale mostly up the A1 at NSL, although in general the range estimate was way out so I was a nerd and used the indicator hack into the original i-drive to recalibrate.
Pluses: M-sport seats are super comfortable, the best I have ever driven they could certainly munch-up the miles with no aches or pains, never had any traction problems with winter tyres.
Minuses: Linear power delivery - there's no VAG style boost, I spec'd normal suspension and although the ride was fine on run-flats it did chew outer edges of front tyres - solved by keeping pressures at 1.8 bar, head unit on standard stereo was terrible but somehow much better if you used the aux input, took me 18-months to discover there was an additional speaker in the floor but *only* underneath the passenger seat, had infamous cracking of pleather on driver's seat squab, notchy gear shift - that surprisingly wasn't there when I drove a similar age SE, claustrophobic with heavily raked screen and black headlining if like me you have super short-ar$e legs and long torso.
Whats the i-drive re-calibration hack?Pluses: M-sport seats are super comfortable, the best I have ever driven they could certainly munch-up the miles with no aches or pains, never had any traction problems with winter tyres.
Minuses: Linear power delivery - there's no VAG style boost, I spec'd normal suspension and although the ride was fine on run-flats it did chew outer edges of front tyres - solved by keeping pressures at 1.8 bar, head unit on standard stereo was terrible but somehow much better if you used the aux input, took me 18-months to discover there was an additional speaker in the floor but *only* underneath the passenger seat, had infamous cracking of pleather on driver's seat squab, notchy gear shift - that surprisingly wasn't there when I drove a similar age SE, claustrophobic with heavily raked screen and black headlining if like me you have super short-ar$e legs and long torso.
Craikeybaby said:
NicoG said:
Only issues are that the specs of the cars really seem to make very evident where they sat in the BMW range.
Bluetooth and non-total-ste stereos are tricky to find.
I fitted an Alpine EZI-DAB to mine to add Bluetooth/DAB, all you can see if a small box on the windscreen.
Thanks! - I always had Alpine gear in my yoof, but I honestly didn't know this box existed.Bluetooth and non-total-s
te stereos are tricky to find.I fitted an Alpine EZI-DAB to mine to add Bluetooth/DAB, all you can see if a small box on the windscreen.
How does it connect to the car??
there's a box that's hidden right? - this must be hard-wired somehow.
If this can be made to work in my above mention Volvo, I am literally buying one right now....
Edited by NicoG on Thursday 25th July 13:00
I bought a '59 118d M-Sport from my sister that had spent it's life on the M40. Tight as a drum (the car) and I loved it. The steering was superb, much better than the 320d I've replaced it with.
Ultimately I sold it as it was too small for me and my two boys, I thought.
I wish I'd have kept it.
Ultimately I sold it as it was too small for me and my two boys, I thought.
I wish I'd have kept it.
MX6 said:
My girlfriend had a e87 120D, it was relatively low mileage and had full service history, but it was a bit of a money pit and ended suffering the dreaded timing chain failure (I think it was the tensioners that let go) that can occur on the N47. I cleared it off as spares or repairs.
This episode and others with diesel engined cars is why we both switched back to non-turbo petrol. Needless to say, I'd recommend avoiding the N47.
The BMW NA petrol 4s have the issues too!This episode and others with diesel engined cars is why we both switched back to non-turbo petrol. Needless to say, I'd recommend avoiding the N47.
BMW I6s not as bad and are good engines but not without it's flaws.
B'stard Child said:
Aug 2nd hopefully I’ll collect a 2013 125i coupe - looking forward to that as the new daily driver that Mrs BC approves of........
They're as good as a 1 series gets. No direct injection, or diesel to worry about.The 1 series is a decent enough steer, but the only ones I would spend my money on are:
The 54-56 plate diesels (M47 engine)
The 6-cyl petrol models.
The other stuff is too fragile for me. High mileage isn't an issue provided the history is there, though. I drove a nail of a 120d sport years ago that had been clocked and it still drove nicely. Gearing is right for an 80 cruise, too.
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