Potentially buying a used 1 series - anything to look for?
Discussion
Hi all, I am currently looking to trade up to a slightly larger hatchback than my current car (an 04 Corsa...) as now im hitting 21 I can finally begin to insure something a little better. I have perused the market for a few cars now, I couldn't fit comfortably in an MX5 as I am 6'4 tall, I tried an Astra Twintop (thought the roof was an expensive gimmick) and an Astra Sporthatch but I felt cold by both of those offerings. In fact I have received some pretty poor service with VX dealers. I don't really like VW Golf's, and there are no Audi A3's in the area that have less than 60,000 miles on the clock. The power element doesn't worry me really, but I did want a 1.6 or above and ideally a petrol. I had just about given up looking really, but then a BMW 1 Series came on the radar that seemingly ticks every box.
It is a 2006 116i SE, and seems to be fairly well specced up, with some nice touches on the car including rear parking sensors, automatic climate control and a BMW business radio.
I am totally new to 1 Series' however, and I was just wondering if there were any tips of things to look for when buying one? Are there any major reliability things about these models? Recalls?
Couple of other questions though:
1) I noticed under the arm rest that there is an AUX port, I am guessing this is for the CD player so would a regular cable fit the slot for my iPod to work? I read something about recoding on the internet, sounded expensive and confusing?
2) There are buttons on the steering wheel which seem to be for a phone (left hand side), I know this car doesn't have Bluetooth, but if I was to some day go to BMW and get Bluetooth retro fitted would these work?
3) The internet suggests this car is in emissions class I (based on 2011 figures) and that the tax is at £210! Is this about accurate?
The car seems in very good condition, full service history and only a couple of tiny stone chips in the bonnet and one slight scratch inside. The dealer, non BMW but a well known main dealer, said that they would have a look at getting them sorted.
Any help or advice would be welcomed.
Thanks,
Rob
It is a 2006 116i SE, and seems to be fairly well specced up, with some nice touches on the car including rear parking sensors, automatic climate control and a BMW business radio.
I am totally new to 1 Series' however, and I was just wondering if there were any tips of things to look for when buying one? Are there any major reliability things about these models? Recalls?
Couple of other questions though:
1) I noticed under the arm rest that there is an AUX port, I am guessing this is for the CD player so would a regular cable fit the slot for my iPod to work? I read something about recoding on the internet, sounded expensive and confusing?
2) There are buttons on the steering wheel which seem to be for a phone (left hand side), I know this car doesn't have Bluetooth, but if I was to some day go to BMW and get Bluetooth retro fitted would these work?
3) The internet suggests this car is in emissions class I (based on 2011 figures) and that the tax is at £210! Is this about accurate?
The car seems in very good condition, full service history and only a couple of tiny stone chips in the bonnet and one slight scratch inside. The dealer, non BMW but a well known main dealer, said that they would have a look at getting them sorted.
Any help or advice would be welcomed.
Thanks,
Rob
Head over to www.BabyBMW.net for all things 1-series, what they don't know over there isn't worth knowing. I've been really pleased with my 1-series and am considering another when the time comes to change. Don't imagine the 'Business' head unit is anything special - it isn't, it's the most boggo basic one and sounds pretty crap if I'm honest. Look for one with the Professional HU as a minimum. Also look for one with the Business Loudspeaker Upgrade as a minimum - this adds tweeters and better mid-ranges in the doors. Earlier 1-series have two subs under the front seats - they're not brilliant but better than nothing at all. The Business HU doesn't display much, only 001-001 (eg. 'album 001, Track 001') which is pretty much useless on a CD full of MP3s. The Pro unit gives album and track names.
What you've read about 'recoding' is only if you're changing things like adding USB - this requires that the head unit be recoded to be 'told' it has a certain feature. The Aux socket will let you plug in any MP3 player but you'll have to control it from the device. A car with a USB socket will read the contents of the device and allow you to control them from the head unit. Another alternative is what I use - a Kensington LiquidAUX which is a bluetooth adapter that allows me to play music from my phone via Bluetooth - the LiquidAUX runs off the cigarette lighter under the armrest and plugs into the Aux input. It comes with bluetooth remote control for the device (such as an Android handset or iPhone).
The wheel sounds like the 'multifunction' wheel and they all have those buttons even if they don't do anything. My phone and voice buttons don't work as I don't have bluetooth as a factory-fitted option. It's horrendously expensive to retro-fit and a lot of hassle (and will require the aforementioned recode of the car/head unit).
The 116i is in fact a 2.0 engine, just tuned down. I'm afraid I don't know what the tax bracket should be for it. Would it be more expensive on insurance to get a 116d? It'll have more oomph and would be my choice over a 116i. In fact, up to the 125i, I'd choose the diesel variants over the petrol ones every time.
Overall the 1-series is a great little car. The handling is sweet (and a 116i on non-low profile rubber won't be overly firm) but I think a 2006 is pre-facelift; the FL cars have revised suspension settings and seem to ride much better. Many will tell you to take off the runflats and put regular tyres on. I'm happy with the ride of my runflats, but then mine's an '09 car (so facelift suspension spec). Is the one you're looking at SE or 'Sport' suspension?
I've not really heard of much going wrong with them at all on babybmw.net. You get the odd creak and rattle etc but on the whole they seem to be very robust. Mine doesn't rattle even after 40,000 miles. I'm very pleased with mine and can't really fault it.
What you've read about 'recoding' is only if you're changing things like adding USB - this requires that the head unit be recoded to be 'told' it has a certain feature. The Aux socket will let you plug in any MP3 player but you'll have to control it from the device. A car with a USB socket will read the contents of the device and allow you to control them from the head unit. Another alternative is what I use - a Kensington LiquidAUX which is a bluetooth adapter that allows me to play music from my phone via Bluetooth - the LiquidAUX runs off the cigarette lighter under the armrest and plugs into the Aux input. It comes with bluetooth remote control for the device (such as an Android handset or iPhone).
The wheel sounds like the 'multifunction' wheel and they all have those buttons even if they don't do anything. My phone and voice buttons don't work as I don't have bluetooth as a factory-fitted option. It's horrendously expensive to retro-fit and a lot of hassle (and will require the aforementioned recode of the car/head unit).
The 116i is in fact a 2.0 engine, just tuned down. I'm afraid I don't know what the tax bracket should be for it. Would it be more expensive on insurance to get a 116d? It'll have more oomph and would be my choice over a 116i. In fact, up to the 125i, I'd choose the diesel variants over the petrol ones every time.
Overall the 1-series is a great little car. The handling is sweet (and a 116i on non-low profile rubber won't be overly firm) but I think a 2006 is pre-facelift; the FL cars have revised suspension settings and seem to ride much better. Many will tell you to take off the runflats and put regular tyres on. I'm happy with the ride of my runflats, but then mine's an '09 car (so facelift suspension spec). Is the one you're looking at SE or 'Sport' suspension?
I've not really heard of much going wrong with them at all on babybmw.net. You get the odd creak and rattle etc but on the whole they seem to be very robust. Mine doesn't rattle even after 40,000 miles. I'm very pleased with mine and can't really fault it.
Really great responses, thanks.
I only really considered the 1 series because there happens to be one in my area and in budget that was affordable. I have perused Auto Trader again, and there really isn't anything in my area (up to 40 miles away) and in budget that would have either the diesel engine or the upgraded head unit. I was considering waiting, but I don't think the one I have seen will hang around for very long. I felt the ride was good actually, I don't know if it has the original run flats on - I will check that when I go and have another look at the car tomorrow. It was running on Continentals, but that's all I remember, and the car has done less than 30k miles so it may still be running on them. I didn't realise there was a dedicated website for the car, so I shall head over and have a look at what they have to say.
Retrofitting Bluetooth wasn't something I was particularly considering actually, just wondered casually
.
Thanks again for the replies, really in depth and useful.
ETA: Funk, I just saw the pictures of your 1 Series on your profile, really nice looking car!!
I only really considered the 1 series because there happens to be one in my area and in budget that was affordable. I have perused Auto Trader again, and there really isn't anything in my area (up to 40 miles away) and in budget that would have either the diesel engine or the upgraded head unit. I was considering waiting, but I don't think the one I have seen will hang around for very long. I felt the ride was good actually, I don't know if it has the original run flats on - I will check that when I go and have another look at the car tomorrow. It was running on Continentals, but that's all I remember, and the car has done less than 30k miles so it may still be running on them. I didn't realise there was a dedicated website for the car, so I shall head over and have a look at what they have to say.
Retrofitting Bluetooth wasn't something I was particularly considering actually, just wondered casually
. Thanks again for the replies, really in depth and useful.
ETA: Funk, I just saw the pictures of your 1 Series on your profile, really nice looking car!!
Edited by RobFerrari on Friday 27th May 19:05
You really, really, really do not want a 116i. I had one as a loan car once and it is absolutely dire. Foot to the floor off the line and people driving normally in diesel Mondeos were leaving me for dead.
It's just horrible - I'd forgive it if the reward was outstanding economy but it wasn't, it's no more economical than a 118i or a 120i.
It's just horrible - I'd forgive it if the reward was outstanding economy but it wasn't, it's no more economical than a 118i or a 120i.
Fox- said:
You really, really, really do not want a 116i. I had one as a loan car once and it is absolutely dire. Foot to the floor off the line and people driving normally in diesel Mondeos were leaving me for dead.
It's just horrible - I'd forgive it if the reward was outstanding economy but it wasn't, it's no more economical than a 118i or a 120i.
I can agree with this.It's just horrible - I'd forgive it if the reward was outstanding economy but it wasn't, it's no more economical than a 118i or a 120i.
I would go Diesel. Missus had a 116d and now a 120d. Both Msport and the 116d could be hustled along nicely whilst returning 50+ MPG all day long.
However there was a major problem with clutch judder and the car was swapped out out under the AUC warranty.
The 120d has been a great car so far.
Appreciate the comments chaps, but the fact is that I never expected a 1 Series to be in my budget area. Hence, there isn't that much choice around and Diesel's are almost impossible to find in my local area - well up to 40 miles away anyhow. I drove the car and thought it was okay, the point being that right now I have a 1.2 litre Corsa so anything is going to seem faster than that.
Been back to see it this morning, running an insurance check and there isn't a cost change to my policy so I may well be committing to buy this afternoon!
Been back to see it this morning, running an insurance check and there isn't a cost change to my policy so I may well be committing to buy this afternoon!
RobFerrari said:
Appreciate the comments chaps, but the fact is that I never expected a 1 Series to be in my budget area. Hence, there isn't that much choice around and Diesel's are almost impossible to find in my local area - well up to 40 miles away anyhow. I drove the car and thought it was okay, the point being that right now I have a 1.2 litre Corsa so anything is going to seem faster than that.
Been back to see it this morning, running an insurance check and there isn't a cost change to my policy so I may well be committing to buy this afternoon!
It sounds like you can't really afford a 1 Series then, your budget must be very low if all thats in it is a 116i.Been back to see it this morning, running an insurance check and there isn't a cost change to my policy so I may well be committing to buy this afternoon!
Buy a Focus or something - the 116i is properly crap. Wait until you can afford a nicer BMW before you buy a BMW. If things are this tight that you cant scrape more than a 116i what are you going to do when it goes wrong - it might be a 116i but it still has the same complex DSC systems etc as the better models.
The only reason to buy this car is if your desperation for a BMW keyring exceeds your desire to buy a half decent car. It's terrible.
Fox- said:
It sounds like you can't really afford a 1 Series then, your budget must be very low if all thats in it is a 116i.
Buy a Focus or something - the 116i is properly crap. Wait until you can afford a nicer BMW before you buy a BMW. If things are this tight that you cant scrape more than a 116i what are you going to do when it goes wrong - it might be a 116i but it still has the same complex DSC systems etc as the better models.
The only reason to buy this car is if your desperation for a BMW keyring exceeds your desire to buy a half decent car. It's terrible.
I have a good budget, just a lot of parameters mostly surrounding mileage so that's why my search field is so narrow. I like the car I have seen, and at the end of the day that is what matters. Buy a Focus or something - the 116i is properly crap. Wait until you can afford a nicer BMW before you buy a BMW. If things are this tight that you cant scrape more than a 116i what are you going to do when it goes wrong - it might be a 116i but it still has the same complex DSC systems etc as the better models.
The only reason to buy this car is if your desperation for a BMW keyring exceeds your desire to buy a half decent car. It's terrible.
RobFerrari said:
I have a good budget, just a lot of parameters mostly surrounding mileage so that's why my search field is so narrow. I like the car I have seen, and at the end of the day that is what matters.
You only like it because you currently have a 1.2 Corsa and have driven nothing else. You will regret buying this car.What is your budget? Why wont you travel more than 40 miles in order to spend a 4 figure sum on a car? Some people travel more than that just to work each day!
The 116i is terrible. Do not buy it.
andy665 said:
Whilst the 116i is not quick, its also true that performance is not necessarily top of everyones list of requirements - factor in the age of the OP and the resultant insurance issues and a 116i might be perfect for him.
The 116i is perfect for nobody. It's just crap.The OP has noticed it's in the £210 band for road tax. This is because it isn't even that economical, the original 116i is actually LESS economical than the 118i available at the same time.
It just sucks! You need to be properly desperate for a BMW keyring to buy one over a Focus or something if you truely cannot stretch to a better 1 Series.
To be fair, both the humdrum 116 and boggo Focii will handles sweetly, it's just the oomph that will be missing. And the 116i will be as well built as a 1M, too.
If the OP doesn't need (or is prevented from having due to insurance reasons) the pokier engines, both a 1-series and Focus will be fun to hustle.
If the OP doesn't need (or is prevented from having due to insurance reasons) the pokier engines, both a 1-series and Focus will be fun to hustle.
Fox- said:
Funk said:
And the 116i will be as well built as a 1M, too.
No it won't - I'd imagine the 116i he has found is a pre LCI whereas obviously all 1M are LCI cars. The LCI made good headway in sorting out the naff plastics in the 1 Series.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff