BMW 1 Series MK1, what spec?

[Jackk_18]

Hi all

Looking for a cheap, temporary run around as my daily miles is currently about 10 and i commute to work via train so sits in the car park pretty much all day... I'm thinking the 1 series will be a good shout to fit the bill however i'm not entirely clued up when it comes to all the different engines/trims and things to look out for. I'll be looking for a petrol due to low mileage, preferably 3 door as i don't really need 5 & also a model which isn't completely sluggish...

Any advice would be great!

[Shiv_P]

If you need a temp run around don't buy a 1 series. The 4 cylinder models all have issues and combined with st ride quality and poor interior space there's no need to buy one over a focus/golf etc. For a run around I'd look for a mk2 focus or mk5 golf with petrol engines

[Jackk_18]

Shiv_P said:

If you need a temp run around don't buy a 1 series. The 4 cylinder models all have issues and combined with st ride quality and poor interior space there's no need to buy one over a focus/golf etc. For a run around I'd look for a mk2 focus or mk5 golf with petrol engines

Forgot to ask in the above post which ties in...would the low daily mileage covered be detrimental to the car seeing as the overall vehicle mileage for the price im looking at being 90K+ ?

Edited by Jackk_18 on Thursday 29th August 13:31

[Jimmy Recard]

Jackk_18 said:

Forgot to ask in the above post which ties in...would the low daily mileage covered be detrimental seeing as the overall vehicle mileage for the price im looking at be £90K+ ?

Ninety thousand miles or pounds?

[Jackk_18]

Jimmy Recard said:

Ninety thousand miles or pounds?

My bad, meant 90K+ miles...would the low daily miles negatively impact the car do you think?

[ScoobyChris]

Jackk_18 said:

Hi all

Looking for a cheap, temporary run around as my daily miles is currently about 10 and i commute to work via train so sits in the car park pretty much all day... I'm thinking the 1 series will be a good shout to fit the bill however i'm not entirely clued up when it comes to all the different engines/trims and things to look out for. I'll be looking for a petrol due to low mileage, preferably 3 door as i don't really need 5 & also a model which isn't completely sluggish...

Any advice would be great!

Depends what you’re looking for - the basic trim levels were Sport, Comfort and M-Sport with several special editions that got specific options. Parker’s can tell you the differences but when I was shopping I opted for M-Sport as it has the sporty bits and the toys. I ended up with a 120d and loved every minute of it. Reliable, comfortable and fun to drive. Replaced it with a Focus and after a year traded it in for another 1-Series 😄

Chris

[WJNB]

Jackk_18 said:

Hi all

Looking for a cheap, temporary run around as my daily miles is currently about 10 and i commute to work via train so sits in the car park pretty much all day... I'm thinking the 1 series will be a good shout to fit the bill however i'm not entirely clued up when it comes to all the different engines/trims and things to look out for. I'll be looking for a petrol due to low mileage, preferably 3 door as i don't really need 5 & also a model which isn't completely sluggish...

Any advice would be great!

I note you have to have a BMW & I wonder why? Is the badge SO important? Will friends & colleagues never ever talk to you should you choose say a Ford?

[Jackk_18]

ScoobyChris said:

Depends what you’re looking for - the basic trim levels were Sport, Comfort and M-Sport with several special editions that got specific options. Parker’s can tell you the differences but when I was shopping I opted for M-Sport as it has the sporty bits and the toys. I ended up with a 120d and loved every minute of it. Reliable, comfortable and fun to drive. Replaced it with a Focus and after a year traded it in for another 1-Series ??

Chris

Thanks for the info and yeah M-Sport probably would be the trim i would go for....did you prefer the 1 Series or the Focus?

[Jackk_18]

WJNB said:

I note you have to have a BMW & I wonder why? Is the badge SO important? Will friends & colleagues never ever talk to you should you choose say a Ford?

Have had a number of Fords in the past and never let me down...never had a BMW though & i quite like the look of the 1 Series!

[Poppiecock]

ScoobyChris said:

Depends what you’re looking for - the basic trim levels were Sport, Comfort and M-Sport

Eh?

ES, SE and Sport were the initial options.

This became ES, SE and M-Sport, but Sport was reintroduced later above the ES and parallel with the SE.

ES is really poverty spec, SE is the minimum I'd look for. M-Sport can ride very badly, the later Sport is a good compromise.

Personally, I think they're badly built heaps of junk.

[ScoobyChris]

Poppiecock said:

This became ES, SE and M-Sport, but Sport was reintroduced later above the ES and parallel with the SE.

You’re quite right - for some reason I thought SE was named Comfort but maybe that was just the seats. Forgot the ES but that’s probably no bad thing.

Chris

[ScoobyChris]

Jackk_18 said:

Thanks for the info and yeah M-Sport probably would be the trim i would go for....did you prefer the 1 Series or the Focus?

1-Series. Focus was a nice car but interior feels cheaper, the driving position is far too high and it doesn’t drive as well. Focus has a bit more boot space.

Chris

[anonymous-user]

Poppiecock said:

ScoobyChris said:

Depends what you’re looking for - the basic trim levels were Sport, Comfort and M-Sport

Eh?

ES, SE and Sport were the initial options.

This became ES, SE and M-Sport, but Sport was reintroduced later above the ES and parallel with the SE.

ES is really poverty spec, SE is the minimum I'd look for. M-Sport can ride very badly, the later Sport is a good compromise.

Personally, I think they're badly built heaps of junk.

There is a Romanian run car yard near me where part exchanged cars that no garage wants go to die. I occasionally have a look around if I am bored on a Saturday and they always have a few 1 series. Last time I was there they were trying to coax a diesel one to life which it finally did, shaking and spluttering and filling the whole place with acrid smoke.

They had a tidy petrol one and the guy saw me looking at it and gave me the keys. Having heard about how bad the Petrol N43 engine is I wanted to find out for myself so took it for a spin. It started OK, but the idle felt weird and it had that going to stall unless you pull away perfectly feel about it. Gear change was horrible, really stiff and nothing about the car made me think quality.

I get the impression at this age the four cylinder engines are all ticking time bombs and could literally go at any point.

I would personally rather get a Honda Civic for half the cost and not constantly have to worry about the engine killing itself.

The new ones are not much better, I sat in a two year old 1.5 diesel M sport at work and could not believe how agricultural the engine felt and why anyone would buy one. Then I noticed the distinct lack of equipment but the M Badge on the back and understood why this person had ordered this company car.

[RazerSauber]

I'd stump for the <2005 cars with the M57 engine. Not as many faults as the N47 engine. Mine was sublime in the engine department and I did have a tendency to kick its head in. I had an E87 Sports model, the only thing I would've wanted more is cruise control. Ride was a bit firm but not uncomfortable.

[Obee72]

130i, you won’t regret it!!!

[stevesuk]

We had a 2004 120D SE (10 years ago or so) - loved it and regretted selling it. Quick, comfortable and would manage 50 MPG + on a run.

Were the cam chain problems on the diesel engines a thing back then, or was that later models? We did have a problem with the ABS/DSC pump on ours (which I seem to recall was a common issue at the time).

Steve.

[Mr Tidy]

The cam-chain problems began with the early 2007 facelift models when BMW started fitting the N47 engine in the diesel models.

If I was thinking of a 120d I'd look for a good earlier one with the M47 engine (and no DPF)! And I'd definitely want SE or Sport spec - rather that the pretty basic ES.

But as someone has already said, the best option is definitely a 130i.

[freenote]

135i - engine and handling are addictive and I can’t stop driving it.

[chriscoates]

As has been said, if you're looking at a 1 series either get an early diesel with the M57 engine or a 130i - failing that don't buy one. The 4 cylinder petrols aren't worth the worry of when they might st themselves.

As your commute is short, a diesel wouldn't make much sense, so what are you waiting for had my 130i for 18 months and love it.

[Mr Tidy]

chriscoates said:

As has been said, if you're looking at a 1 series either get an early diesel with the M57 engine or a 130i - failing that don't buy one. The 4 cylinder petrols aren't worth the worry of when they might st themselves.

As your commute is short, a diesel wouldn't make much sense, so what are you waiting for had my 130i for 18 months and love it.

Good advice!

I couldn't quite find the budget for a 130i as my daily, so I got a 55 plate 330i instead.

The N52 petrol engine is fantastic!