New company BMW - questions on choice and timing of facelift
Discussion
So, it's time for me to choose a new company car (new job 
) and I've narrowed my choice down to a well equiped 118dA, a sparcely equiped 318dA Touring or a well equiped 318 dA Touring (with some monthly contribution by me).
I have a couple of questions:
) and I've narrowed my choice down to a well equiped 118dA, a sparcely equiped 318dA Touring or a well equiped 318 dA Touring (with some monthly contribution by me).I have a couple of questions:
- Is a 5-door 1-series a family car? The contract lasts 5 years, and there is a distinct possibility that a baby will arrive sometime in the second half of that period.
- Is a 5-door 1-series as comfortable as a 3-series in all driving situations (city, B-roads, long-distance motorway driving)? I'm trying to set up some test drives to find out myself of course, but my schedule is fully booked and I'll want/need to order pretty soon.
- Are any facelifts/updates due for each & if so: when? I came across some spyshots of an updated 3-series but it seems it'll only be released sometime in 2015, which seems a bit long to me...
Steve vRS said:
If you are stuck with it for 5 years, ask yourself these questions:-
1. Will it fit a pram in the boot without either dismantling the car or the pram.
That is all!
Does it have to be a BMW? Plenty of nice, big cars out there.
Steve
Cheers for the info :-)1. Will it fit a pram in the boot without either dismantling the car or the pram.
That is all!
Does it have to be a BMW? Plenty of nice, big cars out there.
Steve
It doesn't necessarily have to be a BMW, but based on the accepted brands/models in our car policy and my experience with them, my preference went to these but I'm open for suggestions!
Short answer no...
The problem with the 1 series and babies is the size of the rear seats to actually get a car seat in. I had one as a loaner when my 6 series was in for a service and it was an absolute mare.
Mrs Herbs has a Civic which has been adequate for car seat and all the crap which goes with babies and at times its been a bit tight but certainly wouldn't want to go any smaller.
The problem with the 1 series and babies is the size of the rear seats to actually get a car seat in. I had one as a loaner when my 6 series was in for a service and it was an absolute mare.
Mrs Herbs has a Civic which has been adequate for car seat and all the crap which goes with babies and at times its been a bit tight but certainly wouldn't want to go any smaller.
oilslick said:
Good luck fitting all the baby paraphernalia into a 1-series!
My step-sister had one and swapped it not long after the baby arrived due to lack of boot space for a pram and the endless bags of other stuff babies seem to require when leaving the house...
Totally agree, I had a one series 5 door, then the baby came along. The boot is really shallow given the rear wheel drive gubbins and the battery is in the boot aswell. The rear doors hardly open and the clearence to get in the car is poor. Trying to get a baby seat in and out with the isofix was a pain. My step-sister had one and swapped it not long after the baby arrived due to lack of boot space for a pram and the endless bags of other stuff babies seem to require when leaving the house...
Given the rest of rubbish you need to carry around with a baby, a day out in a 1 series is almost impossible. The parcel shelf was always removed on mine. Id go for a 3 series out of the two, or look at other brands.
Edited by oldaudi on Thursday 26th June 13:27
Accelebrate said:
The new 1 series is bigger than the 1 series of old. Given the choice I'd probably go for the 3 series tourer though.
Sat in the driving seat, apart from having more car behind you the current 1 and 3 series are remarkably similar.
My experience was with a MY14 model and whilst you are correct about them being remarkably similar - every thing relating to a baby happens behind you! Sat in the driving seat, apart from having more car behind you the current 1 and 3 series are remarkably similar.
I've got a 125d, with 2 x kids (13 months and 2.5 years).
For day to day travel its fine, we use car seats without isofix, but at ages under 4 or 5 its perfectly acceptible even with the bigger forward facing stage 2 and 3 ones.
Boot space has a good load area but not great load depth due to the battery and RWD, but we have a big folding travel system and it fits in. However, there isnt much room for anything else. For that you're looking at the rear footwells and the remainder of the rear bench.
But its perfectly achievable. If, concievably (pardon the pun) you have a kid in 9 months, then for the oldest your eldest kid is going to be at time of renewal is just over 4 years old, at which age rear leg room still won't be an issue.
Admittedly there are more practical cars around but I certainly wouldnt discount the 1-series on the basis of it being completely impractical. If you really want one, you'll cope fine.
ETA - i've had the car two years/40k miles, so this is a long term view. But if you're in any doubt, usually carry a lot of luggage in addition to potential baby stuff, or you don't have access to other cars with more space, then the touring would be the better option.
In addition, I actually think the F20 is pretty flawed in respects as a driver's car, not least the dreadful steering.
Another thing to bear in mind - BMW are replacing the N47 series engine with a far better 2.0 lump, make sure whichever you choose is equipped with it. The N47 is totally tractor.
For day to day travel its fine, we use car seats without isofix, but at ages under 4 or 5 its perfectly acceptible even with the bigger forward facing stage 2 and 3 ones.
Boot space has a good load area but not great load depth due to the battery and RWD, but we have a big folding travel system and it fits in. However, there isnt much room for anything else. For that you're looking at the rear footwells and the remainder of the rear bench.
But its perfectly achievable. If, concievably (pardon the pun) you have a kid in 9 months, then for the oldest your eldest kid is going to be at time of renewal is just over 4 years old, at which age rear leg room still won't be an issue.
Admittedly there are more practical cars around but I certainly wouldnt discount the 1-series on the basis of it being completely impractical. If you really want one, you'll cope fine.
ETA - i've had the car two years/40k miles, so this is a long term view. But if you're in any doubt, usually carry a lot of luggage in addition to potential baby stuff, or you don't have access to other cars with more space, then the touring would be the better option.
In addition, I actually think the F20 is pretty flawed in respects as a driver's car, not least the dreadful steering.
Another thing to bear in mind - BMW are replacing the N47 series engine with a far better 2.0 lump, make sure whichever you choose is equipped with it. The N47 is totally tractor.
Edited by kpb on Thursday 26th June 14:31
Church of Noise said:
- Is a 5-door 1-series a family car? The contract lasts 5 years, and there is a distinct possibility that a baby will arrive sometime in the second half of that period.
And there's supposedly a facelift later this year or early next. It could only improve that front end!
Herbs said:
My experience was with a MY14 model and whilst you are correct about them being remarkably similar - every thing relating to a baby happens behind you!
I was trying to address the ride/interior quality. I would undoubtedly get the 3 series tourer with a baby to move around.
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