BMW/Mini 1.5 triple - any experiences?
Discussion
Looking at BMW 2/3 with the 18i engine. Interested to know if it is a decent drive, because the price gap between it and a 20i is large, especially on the 2 series.
Also interested if anyone has had experiences with
Hexagon cloth or M Hexagon Cloth/Alcantara interior
6 speed manual
Harman/kardon audio in the 2 series.
Thanks all
Also interested if anyone has had experiences with
Hexagon cloth or M Hexagon Cloth/Alcantara interior
6 speed manual
Harman/kardon audio in the 2 series.
Thanks all
We have had a 2017 218i Auto Gran Tourer since new with the triple, fuel economy hasnt been good, 27mpg over 34k miles. Its lethargic in any mode other than sport but driving in sport really kills the fuel economy.
I regretted the small capacity engine right from the off, we now have a 220i with the 2 litre petrol turbo on order! I would not recommend the 1.5 triple. Maybe in a mini it would feel more nippy because there's less weight but my experience has been one of regret.
I regretted the small capacity engine right from the off, we now have a 220i with the 2 litre petrol turbo on order! I would not recommend the 1.5 triple. Maybe in a mini it would feel more nippy because there's less weight but my experience has been one of regret.
NicheMonkey said:
We have had a 2017 218i Auto Gran Tourer since new with the triple, fuel economy hasnt been good, 27mpg over 34k miles. Its lethargic in any mode other than sport but driving in sport really kills the fuel economy.
I regretted the small capacity engine right from the off, we now have a 220i with the 2 litre petrol turbo on order! I would not recommend the 1.5 triple. Maybe in a mini it would feel more nippy because there's less weight but my experience has been one of regret.
Current town car is shared w son who is about to take his driving test.... takes nearly 17 seconds to 60 and I want to get rid. Well “want”, but I can live with it. If there’s anything better at a sensible price, I would take it. Shame, I like the 2 series but the 220i LCI’s just are a bit more than I am willing to spend being so new. Maybe I will look at LCI 320s instead. The original pre facelift coupe 220s are starting to look a bit dated in my eyes.I regretted the small capacity engine right from the off, we now have a 220i with the 2 litre petrol turbo on order! I would not recommend the 1.5 triple. Maybe in a mini it would feel more nippy because there's less weight but my experience has been one of regret.
Or maybe I might just go humdrum and buy a Golf
I have had alcantara in a 1 series M sport & it is a fine material , although if you spill anything on it stains are hard to remove where leather will normally wipe clean.
Money no object go for the 2.0L but the1.5 is OK in a 1 series . I get low 40s MPG driving carefully . Had a mini cooper S loan car ( same 2.0L ) engine as the 2 series a few months ago & yes it was rapid but it seemed to sound not as nice as the little 3 cylinder 1.5 when flooring it.
Money no object go for the 2.0L but the1.5 is OK in a 1 series . I get low 40s MPG driving carefully . Had a mini cooper S loan car ( same 2.0L ) engine as the 2 series a few months ago & yes it was rapid but it seemed to sound not as nice as the little 3 cylinder 1.5 when flooring it.
Glasgowrob said:
Got a F40 118i
The 1500 triple sounds great but the economy is horrendous. Mines is on 6500 miles now and has averaged 31mpg since new.
Too much unfortunately for what I’m willing to spend.The 1500 triple sounds great but the economy is horrendous. Mines is on 6500 miles now and has averaged 31mpg since new.
Anyone had any experience for 320i’s?
These have a better value for money prospect. A simple remap will see it at ~260hp, 375Nm (if I ever felt it was too slow), harman/kardon is widely specified, and all have leather (albeit Dakota)
ocrx8 said:
HK on the 1/2/MINI is a lot more basic vs the 3/4, very limited sound adjustment. There also seems to be variation from car to car on the 1/2/MINI, the HK in my MINI is terrible and for the life of me I can’t understand the glowing press reviews.
Agree and the HK system in my MINI just sounds like a normal car stereo to me. Whereas the HK system in my brother in laws 2017 model 530i sounds absolutely amazing in comparison. The engine suits a Mini quite well. Credit to Mini for keeping their cars around 1100kg. 45mpg with plenty of efficient long runs, and that’s measured directly brim to brim. It goes quite well too. Sounds like the BMWs are too heavy for it.
On a side note, anyone have real life experience of the 1.0 in the Civic? That’s not a small car anymore, dread to think of real mpg for so little performance
On a side note, anyone have real life experience of the 1.0 in the Civic? That’s not a small car anymore, dread to think of real mpg for so little performance
The 1.5 3-cyl is a lovely sounding engine - has a nice gruff off-beat thrum to it. It feels far more torquey than the figures suggest too - it pulls nice from quite low down, but itn't a particularly high revving engine. Sometimes it actually feels a bit like a very smooth and quiet diesel.
Economy is absolutely fine if driven sensibly (mid 40's easily achievable when driving normally, high 40's/low 50's are achievable if you like driving like a granny), but the character of the engine does encourage spirited driving - and like any turbo's petrol car it will sup fuel if driven hard.
My only real criticism is when coupled with a manual gearbox, the overrun can make fast up-changes feel jerky - i.e. when changing up from 2nd to 3rd, when you clutch in and lift off the accelerator, the engine revs don't fall very quickly so when you engage 3rd and release the clutch you get a little jolt forward. It seems a common trait of 3 cylinder engines - presumably having less cylinders = less compression = less 'friction' slowing the ending down? Dunno.
Economy is absolutely fine if driven sensibly (mid 40's easily achievable when driving normally, high 40's/low 50's are achievable if you like driving like a granny), but the character of the engine does encourage spirited driving - and like any turbo's petrol car it will sup fuel if driven hard.
My only real criticism is when coupled with a manual gearbox, the overrun can make fast up-changes feel jerky - i.e. when changing up from 2nd to 3rd, when you clutch in and lift off the accelerator, the engine revs don't fall very quickly so when you engage 3rd and release the clutch you get a little jolt forward. It seems a common trait of 3 cylinder engines - presumably having less cylinders = less compression = less 'friction' slowing the ending down? Dunno.
manracer said:
O/H has a 2014 mini cooper with the 1.5t B38 mated to the older 6 speed auto.
She's managed 39mpg over the last 4000 miles, 47mpg on a run at 70/75 is possible using cruise.
Sounds decent, but can sound a bit rough on a cold start.
My experience is very similar. 1.5 was perfectly fine in the Mini, and pretty quick when it needed to be. She's managed 39mpg over the last 4000 miles, 47mpg on a run at 70/75 is possible using cruise.
Sounds decent, but can sound a bit rough on a cold start.
CABC said:
The engine suits a Mini quite well. Credit to Mini for keeping their cars around 1100kg. 45mpg with plenty of efficient long runs, and that’s measured directly brim to brim. It goes quite well too. Sounds like the BMWs are too heavy for it.
That is what I like about the 2.0 B48 in my Cooper S, and it doesn't have to work that hard in the Mini so it ends up being pretty decent on fuel. There isn't much worse for me than a small engine working hard in a big car. I remember disliking my 520d touring for that, and 177bhp was nowhere near enough for me in a car that weighed 1700kg. So you just ended up with poor performance with poor economy to go with it.
2020 BMW 218i Grand Tourer from new, 6k miles - average 36 mpg. 7 speed DCT. OK for normal driving, not so good for overtaking, or sporty driving, does not like to rev, but which new small turbo engine does? I think it depends on the gearbox, new DCT is superb.
A bit rough when restarting in stop-start mode. It does feel like small and very quiet diesel. Sounds OK when pressing.
If I had a choice I would buy 2L, but the lease deal was too good to refuse.
A bit rough when restarting in stop-start mode. It does feel like small and very quiet diesel. Sounds OK when pressing.
If I had a choice I would buy 2L, but the lease deal was too good to refuse.
Challo said:
manracer said:
O/H has a 2014 mini cooper with the 1.5t B38 mated to the older 6 speed auto.
She's managed 39mpg over the last 4000 miles, 47mpg on a run at 70/75 is possible using cruise.
Sounds decent, but can sound a bit rough on a cold start.
My experience is very similar. 1.5 was perfectly fine in the Mini, and pretty quick when it needed to be. She's managed 39mpg over the last 4000 miles, 47mpg on a run at 70/75 is possible using cruise.
Sounds decent, but can sound a bit rough on a cold start.
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