A BMW to take on the VW Golf? Imagine the nervous atmosphere in the BMW
board-room at that presentation. It wasn’t helped when Jeremy Clarkson
concluded his review for this newspaper thus: “I’m choosing the words for my
conclusion with even more care than usual. So here goes. The 1-series is
crap.”
All in all, then, this hatchback got off to a difficult start. Possibly
because of its lukewarm reception, there are some great secondhand bargains
– but even at under £10,000, is it worth it?
Launched in 2004, the entry-level 1.6 litre, £15,000 116i felt surprisingly
agile thanks to its rear-wheel-drive configuration, even though its engine
was decidedly lacklustre. Four years on and the 1-series range has been
expanded to include three-door, coupé and cabriolet derivatives, though the
original five-door hatchback remains something of an oddball. A top-spec
example costs more than £30,000 – with an impressive options package – only
£2,500 less than an identically powered 3-series saloon.
The first thing to decide is which engine to go for. If you’re looking for
hot-hatch performance the 115bhp in the 1.6 litre will not be enough.
Confusingly, the 118i and 120i petrol are both 2 litre units producing
129bhp and 150bhp respectively. My advice is: save the best part of £500 and
opt for the 118i.
BMW upped the power game in September 2005 with a 265bhp 3 litre 130i model,
which, in theory, should be fun to drive but never feels as quick as the
0-62mph time of about 6sec suggests.
For me the best buy is a diesel. Not only does the promise of 50mpg from the
122bhp 118d look appealing but a generous helping of torque makes it a
relaxed drive. And with emissions of 150g/km, it’s relatively clean too.
Used examples are under £10,000.
The BMW’s well-balanced chassis will reward any keen driver, but the main
problem is lack of interior space. The transmission tunnel intrudes into the
driver’s footwell and robs rear-seat passengers of what precious little foot
space there is. The swooping bodywork and tiny rear doors mean the car feels
cramped.
Some buyers may feel the 1-series offers other benefits such as
afford-ability, excellent build quality and generous equipment, but even
these claims need closer inspection. Used buyers will find their budget goes
further on a VW Golf. Similarly, the gulf in build quality between a Ford
and a BMW has narrowed; test-drive a one-year-old Ford Focus and see for
yourself.
The 1-series was meant to go head to head with the mainstream by offering a
blend of practicality, prestige and great driving dynamics – a job already
done by the 3-series.
CHECK THE FOLLOWING
BOOT At 330 litres, it’s 20 litres less than in a VW Golf or Vauxhall
Astra and 55 litres less than in a Ford Focus
DRIVING DYNAMICS Both traction control and dynamic stability control
are standard
ENGINES Revised engine lineup from spring 2007 meant improved power,
lower emissions and better fuel economy. Latest 18d promises up to 60mpg
NO SPARE WHEEL All 1-series are shod with run-flat tyres to save boot
space
SAFETY Five Euro NCAP stars for adult occupancy but one for pedestrians
SAT NAV Option on all models, but do not pay more than a £350 premium
VISIBILITY Thick rear pillars and high rear screen make visibility poor
VITAL STATISTICS
MODEL BMW 118d
SE ENGINE 1995cc, four cylinders
POWER 122bhp
TRANSMISSION Six-speed manual
FUEL 50.4mpg CO2 150g/km
ACCELERATION 0-60mph: 9.8sec
TOP SPEED 125mph
COST NEW (2006) £19,130
ROAD TAX BAND C (£120 a year)
THE ONE TO BUY
BMW 118d SE five-door 2005 55 with 20,000 miles. Pay £12,095 at a dealer or
£11,000 privately
OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY
2005 55 Audi A3 1.9 TDI SE, 2006 55 Vauxhall Astra 2.0T VXR, 2006 55 Ford
Focus 2.5 ST3, 2006 06 VW Golf GT TDI, 2006 56 Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi
OWNER’S VIEW
I bought a 120i but wish I had bought another 320i. Getting in and out of the
back seats is impossible unless you’re a child Michael Blake, Bath
