120i vs 120d

Author
Discussion

IceBoy

Original Poster:

2,443 posts

220 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
Hi All, Merry Christmas....

Just wanted opinons of those that have driven both if possible.

I drove a friends 120d and was shocked at how good it really was, quick enough in the real world and with great economy. Looks best in M-sport but SE or Sport are both adequate.

Mrs. Ice still has not decided which car she wants and last night mentioned the 1-series.

So over to you all.
IceBoy

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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BMW are one of the very few that get diesels right, you may as well go for it. I'd miss the sound of a petrol.

EDLT

15,421 posts

205 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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I'd buy a slightly older 3-series tbh. They are just better in every way.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
EDLT said:
I'd buy a slightly older 3-series tbh. They are just better in every way.
Actually this.

H_Kan

4,942 posts

198 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
If you aren't going to be using the rear seats much then I'd say the 1 series is a fine motor.

GadgeS3C

4,516 posts

163 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
I have a 123d. My first oil burner. The extra umph over the 120d is nice but probably not worth the extra it costs me as a company car. Not driven the petrol but worth checking out the real world mpg as the 123d only does around 40mpg. The petrol might mot be that far off and it has to sound (a lot) nicer. Couldn't cope with the diesel noise if I didn't have a TVR to remind me what engines should sound like wink

It still saves me over £100 a month compared to my 2.0TFSI Quattro A3 though.
Gary


Sam.F

1,144 posts

199 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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The 120d will leave the 120i for dead in almost every real-world situation. The petrol is only a 4cyl engine so you wouldn't be missing out on a sonorous engine note if you went for the diesel.

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
I am no diesel fan and usually advocate petrol over diesel but the 2.0i isnt that great.

So get a 125i.

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
Fox- said:
I am no diesel fan and usually advocate petrol over diesel but the 2.0i isnt that great.

So get a 125i.
But then you'd be as well getting the 130i in that case.

randomman

2,215 posts

188 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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Patrick Bateman said:
Fox- said:
I am no diesel fan and usually advocate petrol over diesel but the 2.0i isnt that great.

So get a 125i.
But then you'd be as well getting the 130i in that case.
True, so getting back to "I need a RWD 2.0 with no need of back seats" what would PH suggest?

Oh and the 2.0d is a nice engine when it works, IIRC 2000 era-ish models had problems with Turbos and/or traction control inlet things that caused engine write offs.

Tea Pot One

1,842 posts

227 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
I have the 2.0d engine in a 58 plate 320d coupe (177) ..... having come from a Z4M Roadster !

It has a nice turn of speed and whilst no sports car is no slouch in the real world.

I get anything from 34 to 53 mpg (it's an auto).


If I was looking at 120d or 120i I would very quickly discount the 120i.

The 2.0d engine doesn't sound bad on the move and BMW diesels are in a different league to other manufacturers. 177bhp from a 2.0d is adequate in my book smile

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
randomman said:
Patrick Bateman said:
Fox- said:
I am no diesel fan and usually advocate petrol over diesel but the 2.0i isnt that great.

So get a 125i.
But then you'd be as well getting the 130i in that case.
True, so getting back to "I need a RWD 2.0 with no need of back seats" what would PH suggest?

Oh and the 2.0d is a nice engine when it works, IIRC 2000 era-ish models had problems with Turbos and/or traction control inlet things that caused engine write offs.
You'll be thinking of the swirl flaps.

Just an FYI- they're nothing to do with traction control.

Between a 120i and a 120d I'd have the diesel by a long shot.

CraigyMc

16,333 posts

235 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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Sam.F said:
The 120d will leave the 120i for dead in almost every real-world situation.
The 3-series is the only car I can find on www.bmw.co.uk with a modern 2.0 petrol engine in proper spec (the 118i is a 2.0 but it's in a low state of tune).

In every situation, lab-based and real world, the turbodiesel is quicker:

320i - 170bhp, 154lb/ft, 142mph, 0-62mph in 8.2s, 50mph-75mph in 4th gear in 8.3s
320d - 184bhp, 280lb/ft, 146mph, 0-62mph in 7.5s, 50mph-75mph in 4th gear in 5.9s

C



kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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randomman said:
True, so getting back to "I need a RWD 2.0 with no need of back seats" what would PH suggest?
A Honda K20 powered Elise. driving

hehe

BeeRoad

684 posts

161 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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If you gor for the 120i it will have to be used as BMW no longer make them new.

FesterNath

652 posts

235 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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kambites said:
randomman said:
True, so getting back to "I need a RWD 2.0 with no need of back seats" what would PH suggest?
A Honda K20 powered Elise. driving

hehe
Is there ever a thread where you don't mention THE Elise?

Jw Vw

4,826 posts

162 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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The 120d for me all day everyday over the 120i smile

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
FesterNath said:
Is there ever a thread where you don't mention THE Elise?
Certainly not one where someone wants a small engined two seat car. smile

Thom987

3,185 posts

165 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
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120d for me also, but the 1213d is well worth a look, if a little expensive.

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Saturday 25th December 2010
quotequote all
Seriously though, surely no-one buys a 1-series if they don't want rear seats because they'd buy a Z4 instead.

In my experience the diesel is a better car in just about every measurable way but I have an inherent distrust of modern high-pressure injection diesel engines.