BMW 1 Series Snotter

[martin mrt]

So, after nearly 3 years in a VW T5 with no real need for a van I decided to get rid and buy something cheap for running to work.

Cue a Mondeo TDCI, then a sheddy 330ci followed by a Mk4 Golf 1.8t passing through my ownership in a matter of weeks, driving the soon to be mrs mrt bonkers in the process. Then this came up for sale............

It's an early E87 120d SE in my most hated hue, black. However that minor detail had to be overlooked as I wanted something I enjoyed driving for sub £1500 and this came in well under budget. Bingo.

So onto the car, it's an early 1er with the 163bhp M47 Engine and 6 speed box, but it's fitted with a host of options such as
Xenons, Heated Sport leather seats, cruise, Bluetooth, extended lighting pack, extended storage, armrest, electric folding mirrors and that climate comfort screen.









It's by no means perfect, but as a £1200 daily to run to work it's ideal for what I need

Yesterday I gave it a clean inside and took it to the local hamdwash just to make it semi presentable.
Next week I will be fitting the swirl flap blanks Ive ordered, giving it a service, changing the crankcase breather and then enjoy it for what it is

[Henners]

£1.2k?! Is that the going rate?

Would have assumed even the early ones are c£4k (based on no knowledge what so ever!)

[Mr E]

Your definition of snotter and mine are vastly different.

[martin mrt]

It came from a friend in the trade that has ran it as his own runabout for 3 years, so it was cheaper than it usually would be yes

[Darkslider]

Lovely car, and an absolute steal! Been eyeing up one of these myself. How many miles has yours done?

[e30m3Mark]

That was a bargain. I'd like a Coupe so that I can drop an S54 in the front.

[martin mrt]

Darkslider said:

Lovely car, and an absolute steal! Been eyeing up one of these myself. How many miles has yours done?

Thank you, as soon as I got the call about this my ideas of tidying up the 330 died instantly

It's done 137k but you'd never know from how it drives

[Mr Tidy]

That really was a bargain OP - especially with those extras!

I had a 123d for over 6 years and it was a great car!

[Butter Face]

Hell of a bargain there.

I enjoyed our 1 series and that was just a 116i SE, with a decent engine and spec I’m sure it’s a great car!

[Barchettaman]

Bargain, that's a top result.

I've just had my early E90 320d remapped from 163 to 190-ish, and it was well worth the £140. good on fuel, too!

[CornedBeef]

I can't believe how cheap these have become. Is this one clear of the timing chain woes of some of the later 4 cylinder BMW diesels? I recall it was somewhere in 2006/2007 onwards it became an issue.

[martin mrt]

CornedBeef said:

I can't believe how cheap these have become. Is this one clear of the timing chain woes of some of the later 4 cylinder BMW diesels? I recall it was somewhere in 2006/2007 onwards it became an issue.

This is an early pre DPF M47 engine so afaik clear of the timing chain, DPF and all the other issues associated with modern diesels

As for the price, it's what they expected it would return at auction after fees and transport costs so I believe I did get it an absolute steal, I certainly can't find anything remotely similar for the same money.

Beats a clattering Mk3 Mondeo TDCI any time

Edited by martin mrt on Monday 16th October 16:55

[martin mrt]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Funny you mention that, I have a plate on retention I intend to put on at the end of the month for this very reason

[Barchettaman]

CornedBeef said:

I can't believe how cheap these have become. Is this one clear of the timing chain woes of some of the later 4 cylinder BMW diesels? I recall it was somewhere in 2006/2007 onwards it became an issue.

That's the N47, I believe - this (and my E90) have the older M47 carried over from the E46.

The M47 engine is not without its problems, swirl flap ingestion being one of them, and at this age and mileage the DMF/clutch will most likely need replacement. Fortunately the previous owner had just done mine.

[Mr Tidy]

Barchettaman said:

That's the N47, I believe - this (and my E90) have the older M47 carried over from the E46.

The M47 engine is not without its problems, swirl flap ingestion being one of them, and at this age and mileage the DMF/clutch will most likely need replacement. Fortunately the previous owner had just done mine.

Yes, the cam-chain issue came with the 1 series facelift in early 2007 when the 120d suddenly got 177 bhp, and then the 123d was invented - which is largely why I sold mine before it broke.

While the M47 may have issues, sorting swirl flaps is much cheaper than a rebuild on an N47 with new cam-chain, tensioners and maybe crankshaft (especially as the chain, etc. is at the back of the engine so replacing it requires removal).

But then BMW have sold millions of them, and they don't all break!

Do you feel lucky?

[martin mrt]

Today the swirl flaps arrived, I’m just waiting on the vortex breather to arrive and I’m going to get stuck in and get it serviced

EGR threw up the EML earlier, I was told that this might happen, so I’m going to blank that off and have it coded out with a remap

200ish Bhp RWD BMW that isn’t completely knackered for less than £1500 once it’s mapped. Chuffed with that

[helix402]

Looks good. They do run better with egr fitted though.

[BlueHave]

Tidy examples are £3-4k so getting it for mates rates at £1500 is a steal.

[mooseracer]

BlueHave said:

Tidy examples are £3-4k so getting it for mates rates at £1500 is a steal.

£1200 is even better....

[martin mrt]

£1200 I know was a steal, I haven’t seen anything remotely similar for less than 2.5k

I genuinely have a love for the car even though it’s black, and I hate black cars.

However, it’s magically fixed itself overnight, no EML today.


Service and swirl flaps on Wednesday