2008 2.0TD 9k miles

Driven for about 60miles, but it wasnt mine so it was drove, erm, with enthusiasm.

Firstly it took me 20 minutes to start the thing. which was a general negative about this car, its to gimmicky. Its the 'ultimate driving machine' not the 'ultimate toy'. There are to many stupid modern touches the car simply doesnt need. And why is the light switch pointing at the floor??? Like driving a mainstream car, id expect to be able to sit in it and use it. Not need to get the instructions out

The engine is a diesal, given the variety of Petrol turbos ive been driving the engine gave me no reason to get excited. It was ok. no more, no less. That said, it wasnt slow strictly speaking. Infact for a 1.8 id be happy with this even tho our 1.8 VAG petrol would muller it.

Unlike the gimmicks, there is no messing with the steering and chassis balance. Im a FWD man and this matches the best of them without trying. BMW completly ruin this by backing it up with the worst ride i have ever encountered on any car, possbily short of a 70's mercs clown seat assisted blamange fest. The 1 series springs around like a chaved nova with no dampers.

In terms of ability it finds impressive accelerative traction thanks to the RWD layout, Oversteer is tricky and the one time i got some movement ESP quickly cut in quelling it. But overal it feels more capable than your average front driver.

So, it has some very strong points, but also some daft touches.

Would i want one? I could live with it, but i wouldnt spend my money on one, what else can you get for the money...

--------------------------------

Edit.

Got some performance figures to backup the 118 review.

Figures in brackets are an Octy vRS mk1 for comparison. The in gear times shows the small turbo petrol with less torque is a more flexible unit than the bmw 2.0d engine.

RWD does give a launch advantage however, with the BMW ahead until it has to grab second.

(vRS 1.8t)

30 3.2 (2.7)

40 4.5 (3.8)

50 6.2 (5.7)

60 9.1 (7.1)

70 11.6 (9.7)

80 14.9 (11.9)

90 19.7 (14.4)

st.qtr: 16.653 @82.08mph (15.625 @ 93.4mph)

60ft 2.375 (2.650)

3rd gear.

30-50 4.1 (3.8)

40-60 4.5 (3.6)

50-70 5.0 (3.8)

60-80 6.2 (4.0)

J

Edited 5 February, 201214 yr by r200ti

miss read

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

And the blokes at work with a 1 series were completely scr****d the other week when it snowed. It was so funny because they are cr*p in snow.

miss read

Edited 24 January, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

Having done an awful lot of 'snow mileage' this winter, I'm not so sure that's all there is to it. RWD is definitely a handicap.

Just out of interest was it an M sport or SE you drove???

2008 2.0TD 9k miles

The engine is a diesal, given the variety of Petrol turbos ive been driving the engine gave me no reason to get excited. It was ok. no more, no less. That said, it wasnt slow strictly speaking. Infact for a 1.8 id be happy with this even tho our 1.8 VAG petrol would muller it.

its a 2.0 not a 1.8, we have one, lovely car to drive, but poor in the wet or snow, just wants to slide if you accelerate too much. is also quite a challenge reversing up my lane, quite an incline or loose gravel, FWD struggles going up forwards though in all honesty! heres a pic of ours:

Ah, yes BMW do a lot of badging misleads with engine size! like the 530d and 535d etc.

They do drive well to be fair, like anything i guess its swings and roundabouts.

Twas an SE I drove, i heard the M spec ones are better?

J

As a previous owner of a 123D I can only say it's the best drivers hatchback I have ever owned (including all the VAG cars I have had). I am puzzled that it took you 20 mins to start it?? It took me about.............well I guess 1 second. Put the key in and press the starter. I didn't usually wait for glow plugs as the direct injection start virtually immediately and even if it was very very cold, the car starts automatically once the plugs have done a touch of warming. It didn't seem that complicated to me.

I will agree that (certainly with the 300lb/ft of the 123D) that it was worse than useless in snow and a real hoot (or a bit unruly depending on your viewpoint) in the wet. I turned the esp and tc down to a minimum nanny position (press and hold the esp button) and the car was very lively.

I would agree the ride is rubbish, but I think this is mainly because of the bloomin' run-flats. the Dampers were certainly more than capable, but the tyres made the whole thing a bit choppy. It's the reason I went for SE suspension rather than the M Sport as I felt it was better for British roads.

It's not a car without compromise, but it is a better car to press on in than the other hatches I demo'd. Perhaps the 118D was a bit underpowered for a very heavy little car (it isn't that much lighter than a 3 series). Find a 123D and give it a blast, the engine is almighty, not because of any headline figures, but because it pulls hard all the way from very low revs to the 5K limit. You can hardly tell when the second turbo comes in.

nah, i disagree with the starting thing.

Had the pleasure of sitting in and starting a DB9 yesterday and it was key in column, press big start button on dash. Dead easy.

From what i rembember the beemer had a fob, that goes where? not in the column, not in the centre console. Maybe the coin holder in the dash? nah.. that would be silly. O wait, yes it fits! oh, no it doesnt, ah if i turn it round it does, result!

Now what?

Does it turn? nope. What about pressing a button on it? nope. Voice activated, erm no im not even trying that. Not with security watching me faff like a tart.

Right so it must be a button being this 1.8 diesal company car is obviously a track car... But where is it???

I forget where, but it wasnt easy to find.

Really, whats wrong with a key that turns in the column!!!

You might be right with the run flats. For a modern car it may well explain why it felt so bad, yet actually handled ok.

I thought for a base car the engine was good to be honest. I can see the 123 being quite impressive!

J

I am honestly amazed you couldn't' find the sizable slot for the fog. It not in a totally dissimilar position to my Audis slot. It's also easier to see, rather than having to peer around a steering column to insert a key too. I think the Audi system of of push to start, is better than the BMW of insert, then push a button to start, but it is the work of a couple of seconds to start a BMW and unlike the Audi, it didn't turn the engine over till the plugs had warmed up slightly (if it was truly cold obviously). The Audi churnes the engine over till it starts (still only a second or two).. Perhaps your seating position made it difficult for you to see the BMW slot? Oh, don't forget that whilst the BMW fob is inserted it is recharging. Wish Audi had learnt that trick :(

SWMBO drove one not long ago. She hated it said the steering was too heavy. I didn't believe her so I drove it. I could hardly park it the steering was so heavy. Worse than the 1.8 diesel fiesta without power steering I learned to drive in.

Salesman insisted there was nothing wrong and "they're all different". Couldn't be bothered to get into a petty argument about BMW not being able to build two cars the same so we left. SWMBO was keen on one till then, won't consider them now.

SWMBO drove one not long ago. She hated it said the steering was too heavy. I didn't believe her so I drove it. I could hardly park it the steering was so heavy. Worse than the 1.8 diesel fiesta without power steering I learned to drive in.

Salesman insisted there was nothing wrong and "they're all different". Couldn't be bothered to get into a petty argument about BMW not being able to build two cars the same so we left. SWMBO was keen on one till then, won't consider them now.

You think the BMW steering is heavy, you should try the A4s, it isn’t even connected to the front wheels. I ordered the ADS and I have a choice of frictionless and no feeling, a bit heavier and no feeling, or about 3 times the weight of the BMWs and no feeling. It is rubbish To be honest, I think the BMW steering is just about the best of any car I have ever owned and one of the best of any car I have driven. I hate light steering in a car (except when I am parking and cant turn the dammed thing ).

I wonder if the BMW you drove had a fault? The steering is certainly no heavier than my previous Octy?

I wonder if the BMW you drove had a fault? The steering is certainly no heavier than my previous Octy?

I think so. It was more the salesman attitude to us when we tried to tell him it was so heavy something must be wrong.

I like my steering on the heavy side but I think the power steering was knackered on this one.

I think so. It was more the salesman attitude to us when we tried to tell him it was so heavy something must be wrong.

I like my steering on the heavy side but I think the power steering was knackered on this one.

It was probably electric, so it could easily have had a fault I guess :(

In the new year will be looking for a 3 year old motor for the good lady and narrowed it down to a 1 Series 120d or Golf GT as they are similar in price/options/performance etc.

Been interesting to read people's views on the Beemer!

In the new year will be looking for a 3 year old motor for the good lady and narrowed it down to a 1 Series 120d or Golf GT as they are similar in price/options/performance etc.

Been interesting to read people's views on the Beemer!

I honestly believe the best drivers car is the 120D, but it doesn’t have much of a boot (one reason I went for a bigger car when I changed) and the rear room is a bit tight too. The Golf is a much more practice car and probably as quick in the real world (as well as having the oooh blue lighting ). I still prefer the BMW to the Golf, but you have to put up with a few compromises along the way

My work collegue has a 120d "sport" pre-facelift and both him+missus loves it.. considering they rate it above the mini cooper S they had before id say thats high praise.

When ive passengered in it, its a noticeably firm ride.. but at the same time its has a "solid" feel you just dont get in VAG cars.

My work collegue has a 120d "sport" pre-facelift and both him+missus loves it.. considering they rate it above the mini cooper S they had before id say thats high praise.

When ive passengered in it, its a noticeably firm ride.. but at the same time its has a "solid" feel you just dont get in VAG cars.

To be honest I'd like to go for the 1 as weve had 3 Golf's GTI-VR6(10 year period, shes got a 53 plate polo) etc so a change would be refreshing!

M tec or SE ?

Cheers

Nee

To be honest I'd like to go for the 1 as weve had 3 Golf's GTI-VR6(10 year period, shes got a 53 plate polo) etc so a change would be refreshing!

M tec or SE ?

Cheers

Nee

I went for the SE when I had my 123D. After test driving an M and an SE I thought the M was just to firm for UK roads. It would probably be just about OK if it didn’t have ruddy run-flats, but they seriously ruin the ride and make the car skip over anything less than perfect roads. In my opinion, the SE was the faster car cross country because of this and it meant I didn’t need a chiropractor on standby too. The M looks better, but if you have the money there is a very smart aero kit for the 1 series. I don’t know how new you will be looking at, but I would definitely look for the energy efficient version with stop/start. They are really much more economical and have the more powerful engines. Plus they warm up incredibly fast in winter as they have a blind over the radiator that doesn’t open until the car is up to temperature and lots of other clever things (the engine is a world first all alloy diesel car engine). It will pump warm air into the cabin for about 15 mins after the engine is switched off too, which for someone like me who hates the cold, is perfect You must look at getting sports seats though as they are easily worth the money and incredibly fitting (they have electric side bolsters). All in all, a brilliant and thoroughly engineered car and one that will continue to surprise you with little details long after others have given up their secrets. Little things like the electric indicators can be used for side parking lights, but when you turn the engine on, they don't put the indicators on like most cars (including my Audi ).

Oh and if you try an M Sport, check the steering wheel as some of the M Sport wheels are very very thick rimmed and if your other half has small hands it may be a bit too big.. They are crazy big in width

Edited 6 November, 201015 yr by Lady Elanore

I went for the SE when I had my 123D. After test driving an M and an SE I thought the M was just to firm for UK roads. It would probably be just about OK if it didn’t have ruddy run-flats, but they seriously ruin the ride and make the car skip over anything less than perfect roads. In my opinion, the SE was the faster car cross country because of this and it meant I didn’t need a chiropractor on standby too. The M looks better, but if you have the money there is a very smart aero kit for the 1 series. I don’t know how new you will be looking at, but I would definitely look for the energy efficient version with stop/start. They are really much more economical and have the more powerful engines. Plus they warm up incredibly fast in winter as they have a blind over the radiator that doesn’t open until the car is up to temperature and lots of other clever things (the engine is a world first all alloy diesel car engine). It will pump warm air into the cabin for about 15 mins after the engine is switched off too, which for someone like me who hates the cold, is perfect You must look at getting sports seats though as they are easily worth the money and incredibly fitting (they have electric side bolsters). All in all, a brilliant and thoroughly engineered car and one that will continue to surprise you with little details long after others have given up their secrets. Little things like the electric indicators can be used for side parking lights, but when you turn the engine on, they don't put the indicators on like most cars (including my Audi ).

Oh and if you try an M Sport, check the steering wheel as some of the M Sport wheels are very very thick rimmed and if your other half has small hands it may be a bit too big.. They are crazy big in width

Do prefer the look of the M but as its not for me think the SE is the way to go.

Didnt know anything about 1 and appreciate the insight!

Just looking for when the Energy Efficient model came out as its a 10k fund plus px value of low mileage 53 plate 5dr 1.2Polo S.

Cheers

Nee

Oh, don't forget that whilst the BMW fob is inserted it is recharging

Now thats something i really hate about german cars. Smarta75es!

Regarding the steering I actually like light steering, i found the Octy's artificially stiff which detracts from throwing them around effortlessly. But the 1 series i drove the weighting was perfect. As was the feel. Infact it matched the feel of my focus with a better weighting, and id say it even matched both the weighting and feel of Rovers vitty sport rack (best ive ever used). For Beemers base car this mildly impressed me to say the least.

And Stop start! nooooo! that was another anoyance. Everytime the motorway traffic stopped so did the engine. Im an old dog that struggles with new tricks, so i found this massivly annoying.

Id recomend anyone to steer clear unless they care about poisoning the poor petrol owner behind them more than having to use valuable brain cells figuring out whats going on. I guess the good point is rather than getting peeved at the traffic you start taking it out on the car.

I have to say that if you enjoy driving, BMWs trounce Skodas for feedback and handling. I have to drive my Octavia much slower than my previous BMW on the same roads, as it feels wallowy and lacks feel, which doesn't inspire confidence. I suspect the Skoda will be better once the snow comes, though. Having said that, I am more and more convinced that the secret to winter handling is mostly in the tyres.

Boot space baby friendly or not?

Boot space baby friendly or not?

Not terribly, but you can split the rear seats on most models. If you have a baby and fancy this car, so it now, as once she/he grows up, the boot will probably be too small. Then you will need something more like a Volvo Articulated wagon

Unless when you say 'boot friendly' you intend to put your baby in the boot!!