123d - worth considering?

[Output Flange]

I seem to be doing far more miles these days than I expected, the bulk of which tend to be up and down the M1.

I'd like to do it in something (a) economical and (b) comfortable. I've got plenty of other stuff to cover interesting and fun.

I've been looking at the 123d online, mainly as a coupe. There seem to be as many stories of woe as of happiness.

What's the scoop? Are they worth considering? Do they have the rock-hard ride of that era of BMW?

[Johnnytheboy]

My old man had a 123d coupe; both he and I loved it.

[Court_S]

Comfort is massively improved if you sling the run flats in the bin.

My other half’s 125i rode awfully on them, so bad in fact that if we’d test driven it first (it was bought in lockdown so it was click and collect) I’d probably have not bothered. It’s a diff car on normal tyres.

Can’t talk for the reliability of the engine having not owned one.

[gareth h]

I had one for several years, lots of business miles, it was mapped to about 270 bhp, and went quite well, low 40s mpg, as has been said non runflats improve the ride, but it is still a small car so don’t expect luxury barge levels of ride / comfort

[PH User]

Don't bother, if you want reasonable economy and don't want something that sounds and feels so crap then get a 330d.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought a 57 plate pre-registered 123d in January 2008 and kept it for over 80K miles until I sold it in July 2014.

The only car I've ever had on the current plate! I loved it but if anything I found it lower-geared than I expected - probably to enhance the performance compared to the 120d. Economy averaged 48.7 mpg over the time I owned it though.

Only issues were an AGM battery that didn't last 5 years and the new one needed coding to the car plus a starter motor that dies before it was 7, but I think stop/start probably didn't help so I started turning it off after that!

Had 3 sets of tyres and 2 new number plate lamps but no other new bulbs and was on original brake pads, discs and windscreen wiper blades when I sold it.

But there are horror stories about N47 engine cam-chain issues which did play on my mind, and as I wasn't doing business miles any more and fancied a change I bought a petrol straight 6.

[AliMc99]

I drove a friends some years ago. Seem to remember it being a decent steer but very stiff ride combined with runflats meant it felt skittish on poor surfaces. Whilst quite punchy had a very narrow power band- at the time I remarked it would better with an auto gearbox. As OP’s have said a 330d is much more appealing.

[MikeA3]

I’ve had one for the last 7 years (70k) and it’s since become my wife’s wheels as we bought a 520d estate for family duties. The 123d has genuinely been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned and I can’t see us selling it anytime soon.

We’ve got the se model on 17’s so a bit softer all round which might be worth considering if you’re doing serious miles. Overall it’s been faultless really, servicing isn’t too bad and I think the biggest cost apart from consumables has been a new rear washer motor at about £30 ish.

As others have said, get shot of the run flats to improve the handling but if you want a 1 series I think they’re probably the pick of the Diesel engines

[helix402]

It has an N47, which quite possibly may break in some way.

[gareth h]

helix402 said:

It has an N47, which quite possibly may break in some way.

I think the problem cars were recalled and checked / modified, mine certainly was.