bmw 1 series F20, 118i?

[hardwareguy15]

it seems the 118i 170ps is good except this car seems to be really rare, does anyone know why? (i get a sense that it is rare implies that there is something others can see that i can't)

116i's are like common ore
and even the 125i 135i are more common than the 118i?

[finlay666]

Either you've got the money to get the cheapest one or you pay the extra to get the higher end models, low (but not entry) to mid range engines are typically not very popular because you don't have the performance of the higher end models (if you want that) and you already have the model if you care about the cost. Only exception is things like a Focus 1.8 where there was a distinct improvement over the 1.6

That would be my guess anyway, that and a lot more people would go for a diesel now for rep cars

[Barakka]

Isn't the 118i the same engine as the 116i just with a different ecu map ? So it's cheaper to buy the 116i and get it remapped to 170ps rather than buying the 118i ?

[malfunction]

Only exception is things like a Focus 1.8 where there was a distinct improvement over the 1.6

Was there? I thought it was the opposite - that the 1.8 petrol didn't give much of an advantage over the 1.6, though I know from mine if you want to go fast you have to rev the 1.6 (or at least I did know, before it came to an untimely end...)

[herulach]

Its probably also to do with the fact that the 118 isn't available in ES trim, which I'd guess account for most of the sales, and the 118d feels very similar to drive (it isn't as fast, but you can't really tell driving it) and only costs another £600 (which you'd save most of in road tax).

Couple that to the huge number of these in fleet cars, when the big jump in CO2 makes them hideously expensive.

[finlay666]

Was there? I thought it was the opposite - that the 1.8 petrol didn't give much of an advantage over the 1.6, though I know from mine if you want to go fast you have to rev the 1.6 (or at least I did know, before it came to an untimely end...)

IIRC it was smoother and a bit more refined, but still not as good as the 2.0

[Tumble]

Its probably also to do with the fact that the 118 isn't available in ES trim, which I'd guess account for most of the sales, and the 118d feels very similar to drive (it isn't as fast, but you can't really tell driving it) and only costs another £600 (which you'd save most of in VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY).

Couple that to the huge number of these in fleet cars, when the big jump in CO2 makes them hideously expensive.

Fixed that there mistake for you

[hardwareguy15]

i'm thinking to avoid the diseals because of the particulate filter bad press, its tempting to buy a diseal and get it removed but i heard from somewhere that they may make that filter a mandatory component of the mot test?

plus i don't drive that much, only appx 5000 miles a year

i've yet to test drive the 116 and 118, the 118 looks better on paper, ie same MPG but better performance. my worry is that its pushing the 1.6L engine to its limits and could be less reliable vs the 116 in the long run?

[herulach]

For that kind of mileage, definately don't get a diesel, unless its 5000 miles of 50 mile trips. Are you set on a 1 series? Golf/Leon cad be had in much nicer spec with (imo) better engines for the same money.

[Macadee]

From my understanding, the MOT now will fail new cars that have been modified to remove manufacturer fitted items such as DPF filters and Catalytic convertors.

Diesel 116 & 118 both have a 2L engine, petrol 116 & 118 both have a 1.6L engine, ECU mapped differently.

Look at the all in cost over 5 years, diesels were cheaper if you did over 20,000 miles per year.

[Barakka]

i've yet to test drive the 116 and 118, the 118 looks better on paper, ie same MPG but better performance. my worry is that its pushing the 1.6L engine to its limits and could be less reliable vs the 116 in the long run?

170bhp from a 1.6 turbo petrol engine should be fine, fiat do puntos with 165bhp from a 1.4 turbo with no problems.

From a quick look around the f20.1addicts.com forum it seems the 116i and 118i are indeed identical (engine, clutch, gearbox, turbo, intercooler etc) except for a component of the exhaust. There are ecu tuning kits available to take the 116i to 160bhp and the 118i to 205bhp with the difference being that they are based on modifying the response of the original ecu. But there is a german firm getting ready to launch one that will take both the 116i and the 118i to 200 bhp confirming they are identical.

Interestingly I saw someone had reviewed the 116i kit he had fitted taking his car to 160bhp and said it now drove like the 118i having more pull over 70mph, but no significant difference at lower speeds, which he said is equal to how the 118i compares to the 116i (only noticable at higher speeds).

[hardwareguy15]

From a quick look around the f20.1addicts.com forum it seems the 116i and 118i are indeed identical (engine, clutch, gearbox, turbo, intercooler etc) , which he said is equal to how the 118i compares to the 116i (only noticable at higher speeds).

i think i read somewhere that the 118 has stronger brakes,

i suppose having the stronger pull at higher speeds won't be that useful in reality say verses having stonger pull off the mark

[finlay666]

Nope much more useful

Unless you drive like it's a traffic light 1/4 mile drag race everywhere the in gear acceleration is best day to day/motorway driving IMO

[Spud1]

I've owned a 116i, my parents have a 118i, and I now have an M135i..so I have some experience of the F20 range

The real world difference between the 116i and 118i is minuscule..performance wise you will barely notice the difference, however the 118i's real world fuel consumption is around 5mpg worse than the 116 due to how it's tuned and the extra weight from a couple of the uprated components.

It simply isn't worth the extra money over the 116i (the most popular models are in the "sport" trim).

As mentioned above people also either go for the bottom of the range (lets forget the 114i, its one of the most pointless cars BMW have made in recent years other than the 6 series) or the top of the range M135i, especially with the huge discounts available on the M135i at the moment (mine was list £34k with its options, I paid £28k).

Are you considering buying one?

[Gerrard]

I am thinking of chopping in my Merc and going for a 120 petrol. I do very few miles (since getting my car almost a year ago, I've done 3000 miles so far!), but they are usually longish trips of about half hour/40 miles+. As mentioned above, with such low mileage, it's not worth me getting a diesel and as I still wanted a RWD car, but a bit smaller and more sensible, the 1-series seems to tick the right boxes.

[Spud1]

They are very nice cars for the money - for the F20 upwards anyway, its a huge leap up in quality and standard equipment compared to the EXX series which was renowned for cheap hard plastics and a gigantic options list.

On a 116i you would be looking for a minimum of 7% discount, rising to minimum 10% for a 120i and 15-20% for the M135i. My experience with BMW deals varied dramatically..local ones in Manchester wouldn't offer anything near that level (claiming it was impossible), so I bought my car from Tunbridge wells (250 miles away) - over double the discount levels!

You can get an M135i for £329/month on a PCP with a £329 deposit, if that tempted you (5 door, standard spec which includes leather/xenons), or a 116i is around £269/month with a £269 deposit. Those are advertised offers so I would expect to beat them in person the 125i would probably fall in the middle of those prices....all based on 4 year PCPs but the same deals are around for cash.

Have a look at babybmw.net when it's back up - plenty of good advice on there. I really cannot recommend the M135i enough if you can/are willing to stretch your budget to it - 320ish bhp/0-60 4.8s for £28k in a car thats actually a really nice to be in as a daily driver..there is nothing to compete.

Still a lot of money though even if its a bargain