BMW 1 Series Mileage

[SmithyM]

Hi all, looking at getting an older 1 Series (05-56~), probably a 118d (I'm 21 so the insurance won't be too kind to me if I go any higher!), the mileage is tending to be around 150k at that age for within my price range, so could anyone give me some insights to issues that have cropped up around that mileage? Thanks!

[helix402]

Look on baby bmw forum. If you can, get an M47 120d, not a later N47 as they have timing chain problems. The 118ds have weak diffs.

[housen]

https://drive-my.com/en/blogs/entry/buying-guide-h...

[helix402]

Op is looking at the older models, E87 etc.

[Joratk]

Rather than skimping to get into the cheapest, oldest, highest mileage BMW why not just get a cheaper, newer, more reliable car?

[Craikeybaby]

My E87 is on a '54 plate, with less than 80,000 miles and it is already starting to feel tired, lots of squeaks/rattles inside, electrical things not working. I've had to replace things like door hinges etc. Not sure It is a decent drive, but if you want cheap motoring, it isn't a car I feel I could recommend.

[kiethton]

Craikeybaby said:

My E87 is on a '54 plate, with less than 80,000 miles and it is already starting to feel tired, lots of squeaks/rattles inside, electrical things not working. I've had to replace things like door hinges etc. Not sure It is a decent drive, but if you want cheap motoring, it isn't a car I feel I could recommend.

This Fiancé's cousin has a '05 118d

It throws on average ~£1500 of bills a year and is really showing its age now (~140k miles)

[Simon12001]

I've got a 2013 120D M-Sport X-Drive sitting at 91k - it still drives like new. No problems that haven't been sorted by the warranty in the 4 years i've owned it.

Looking to sell soon though, i'm hoping the market is strong for a higher mileage car!

[iSore]

I ran a 2006 118d up to 211'000 miles. Original turbo and flywheel, quiet diff. It did need four dampers at 200k and i was surprised at how shagged they were. It drove absolutely as new afterwards.

A well maintained 120d (more go, stronger diff) is fine.

[bodhi]

My 125i Coupe has just ticked over 115k miles, and if I'm honest, it drives like one that has done 15k, and actually seems to be in much better condition than when I bought it on 56k - when I bought it the dash rattled like a good un, but taking the runflats off got rid of the rattles all together.. Only non-service items I've had to replace are two rear brake calipers and an ignition coil, other than that it's been just consumables.

OTOH my sister had a '55 plate 118d, and that wasn't in quite such good condition - she had to replace the diff, and when she sold it the handbrake warning light wouldn't extinguish, and it did feel quite tired. I think it was on about 90k - great little car, but I believe it was going to get quite expensive quite quickly.

What about an e46 Compact? Should be able to get much lower miles for the same outlay as an early 1 Series?

[Mr Tidy]

You may have picked the sweet spot for a Diesel 1 Series - just avoid anything with the N47 engine!

While my N47 engined 123d did get to 81K miles without any cam-chain issues I felt I was living on borrowed time.

Good luck finding one you like!

[bodhi]

To be fair, my colleague in the Netherlands ran an N47 120d up to 300,000 km, only issue he had was a clogged DPF which meant it wouldn't rev past 3000 rpm, otherwise it seemed in great condition.

Ironically enough he was worried about the cost of replacing the DPF so he replaced it with a Subaru Forester - 2 months later the engine on that completely shat itself, leaving him with a 4k bill :/