Does any one here own one or have owned one?

Looking at getting one for the other half as she is starting up her own mobile business and these look ideal for here, Cheap insurance (£500 FC, business use) not too expensive to buy, looking at 04-06 models.

Are there any common problems or recalls that should have been done?

Tried looking on google but not getting much info.

What can she expect mpg wise? will be mostly low speed driving from house to house etc. very little motorway.

Thanks.

 

dont get one with dpf as it will cause issues with that sort of driving.

Look out for turbo's going due to poor servicing, they have a breather above the turbo and this is often ignored and has been revised in design as the old one glogged, starving the turbo of oil.

Clutches wont be cheap, approx £400-500 quid job

They have a common issue with dsc/dtc iirc and again, not a cheap fix.

Boxes are a bit stiff 1-2nd gear especially and she might not like it, give her arm ache etc if she is doing a lot of short trips.

Runflats are not cheap.

My mates have had them, we picked one up of a gent who clearly enjoyed cars and looked after his, it has been trouble free for 3 years.

My other mate got one of a minted bird who was not ontop of servicing and they had the turbo go, clutch, dsc issues etc etc and just chopped it in as it was costing ££££££ in repairs, one thing after another.

If you buy one, buy carefully, but I would suggest looking at other cars if you are buying in the bottom end of the range money wise, it may cost you.

 

we have an ex co car at work full spec inc satnav and better wheels in silver 57 plate £6999 good price i though was thinking of selling it on myself for a bit of profit but didnt like the risk incase it didnt go and prices dropped 60 -70 odd k i think full beemmer history new tyres and the guy who drives it drives like he is paying the fuel himself! the print out from fuel card gave it 50-60 mpg i think

 

I own a 2010 116i and would never buy another 1 series. 20000 miles and the clutch went apparently its pretty common

there is very little value for money interior wise feels quite bland, definately more well equipped cars for the money and I only get 45 miles to £10!

2 partworn runflats cost me £100 which ain't cheap

 

We have two 1 series bmws at work a 118d and a 120d and the 120d is far better imo

 

Cheers for the info guys.

Been out all day looking at cars. Seen a few BMW's and the other half is very impressed with them. She's the one who is going to be using it anyway.

Not seen one we want to buy just yet but looks like it will be a 1 series.

 

ive changed 2 diffs in 118d, no bearings available for them either, nearly 2k for the job

 

Dont get one, ive worked on a fair few, mainly being turbo job's as said the breathers fail on them causing the turbo to fail, last one i done was a seized turbo, the one before that destroyed the engine as it took off

 

I am on my third atm. I had a 2005 116i petrol 5 door hatchback fom new 3 years problem free. My second was a 2008 120d 3 door hatch again no problems and was getting 45mpg. I now own a 2011 123d coupe which has had an alarm problem but nothing else. Maybe because I have bought new and the troubles hadn't started before I chopped i n I don't kno.Granted the runflats are not cheap though and need replacing every year and make the already firm ride even firmer. I did think about a scirocco last year but opted for the coupe. The diesels are quite quick and the 2.3 I got now keeps you on your gaurd as it loves doing 100mph everywhere.

 

There was a recall a few months back on the diesel's for a fuel heater or the wiring for it? (certainly on my mums 09 116d).

 

As this really, I have a 123d coupe and it has been ok, bar two issues, washer jets packed up, turned out to be gunk in the washer bottle, common and it is bumper off to get at it. And windows playing up - coupe issue.

But of the two 118ds I mentioned, the one that had been properly maintained and looked after has been issue free, the one owned by a minted girl from new had mixed servicing, not at main dealers and so had issues which cost £££.

It will come down to buying a car that has been maintained and looked after, do that and you should be fine.

Check out www.babybmw.net really helpful site for the 1 series bmw.

 

It's your money chap, but in my experience having driven several company 1 series; they are very cramped, not particularly comfortable, not great quality of build and really not all that great to drive unless you have a stonking engine in one.

If you want a BMW, i'd say go with a 3 series, much more bang for your buck, if it's just a small premium car you are after, i'd say A3 if you need the doors and boot or Mini if you don't!

 

They are a bit cramped even more so in the hatchbacks but my coupe can actually seat adults in the back unlike the hatches. I forgot to mention that I have also had an issue with the windows being if you click unlock twice the passenger window will come down half way its going into bmw Thursday for this

 

I clicked on this because I have a 118d 1 series sitting here in the way with Turbo failure. It is a design issue and the late ones have a different revised turbo unit

the other one that has annoyed me belongs to my friend wife again a 118d serviced as per BMW the clutch gave up in a big way for no reason. Her car was owned from new

So there is only 3 of these cars amongst my friends and 2 have given major agg...

A mechanic friend in the trade has also said to me to avoid these cars as a lot of it is spares from main dealer only, its a shame because they drive OK when they are working.
I'd buy a 3 series if you want a BMW or a Mini if you want a small BMW