27th Oct 2005, 00:19
You do have a choice -- these will include automatic door locking upon movement and unlocking only the driver's door initially. Not absolutely necessary, you're right, but it has its uses.
3rd Nov 2005, 07:04
Good grief!! The auto-lock feature is entirely optional. There is a little lever on the indicator stalk that allows you to set up various preferences, and that's one. I think the rant about not being fit to drive because your doors lock automatically was a bit over the top, wasn't it?
23rd Dec 2005, 17:50
I enjoyed driving a 1 series courtesy car while my ageing 5 series was being fixed the other day. But I wondered why it costs a clear couple of grand more than its competitors. (Golf, Focus, Corolla, Alfa 147.) Seemed to have less space, less kit and wasn't all that pokey. And although I'm not 100% convinced I expect the answer lies in a) build quality b) durability and depreciation and c) driving dynamics. And those dynamics were undeniably impressive. Rear while drive, beautiful balance, taut steering. I think I cld probably be convinced over time.
9th Sep 2006, 04:52
I'm the original poster of this review.
After 6 months I sold the 118d and bought a 530d M-Sport, which is a whole different car alltogether. Why? Basically, the 1-series just isn't good enough for the money (a lot of money at that) and it ate away at me. The interior is cheap and nasty, the ride actually becomes tiring once the novelty has worn off and nobody, but nobody will be impressed. After about 50 people has said "well it isn't a proper BMW is it" I had had enough.
If you must drive a Beemer, a used 3-series makes much more sense than the 1 series. Actually, a used 5-series makes even more sense. They are actually all much the same money as the initial depreciation on the bigger cars seems greater. Seek out a nice 330d or 530d and be happy :-)
14th Sep 2006, 23:36
I fully concur with the post that states that buying a used 3 or 5 is a much better proposition than a new 1, after haven travelled down a similar path myself.
I wrote the first review of the 1 series on this site - "Brilliant, but Not For Everyone" - on my 120d, which impressed initially, but soon became a pain owing to the numerous faults that developed.
I finally ditched the lemon at eight months at great financial loss and got myself a used 330d and it's so much better - more comfortable, greater oomph and less problems that the dealers don't know how to fix.
13th Nov 2006, 23:21
I have read the previous comments on this review with some amusement. The 1 series is the entry level BMW and does not suggest it is anything else. It competes, as I understand it, with the Audi A3, the Volvo C30 and perhaps upper end Golfs. These are cars aimed, unashamedly, at young, single professionals or couples, who want a prestige badge at a relatively affordable price. I drive a '06 BMW 320D and would not even consider a 1 series, although they are a really entertaining car to drive, especially the 120D. Perhaps years ago when I was moving up from a Golf I would have considered one had they been available. Why anyone would compare a 1 series with a 5 series is completely beyond me - of course it's not going to feel as luxurious, or as well made, or as substantial - but did you honestly expect it to be? In relation to people saying that the 1 series is not a 'real BMW', well it is, 100% so! You could argue that the A3 is just a Golf in designer clothes or that the C30 is a Ford Focus in gym gear, but the 1 series is 100% BMW, so get over it!
21st Nov 2006, 15:48
Sorry, but I could not disagree more.
The 1 series has a BMW badge on it and that means that it MUST deliver the expected BMW quality/ride/benefits. The ONLY difference between it and the higher level models should be the level of equipment.
If BMW can't build a proper small BMW then it should not have the badge, just like Lexus doesn't put its badge on a Yaris.
BMW and Mercedes failed in America with their small cars, but the reasons had nothing to do with size and everything to do with quality. Lo and behold, Audi brings over the A3 wagon featuring the SAME quality as its siblings and it becomes a hit. Surprise surprise.
BMW should learn this lesson and build QUALITY in ALL their vehicles.
21st Jan 2007, 08:59
<<So what about the Mini then?>>
I was talking BMW-branded, mainly a car that was larger than the Mini. And the Mini, one of the greatest cars on the road today, has horrible reliability, which is why I didn't get one. Squeaks and rattles are a pet peeve of mine, and I don't think I could live with them no matter how great the drive.
16th Feb 2007, 14:19
BMW 120d M Sport. An absolute pleasure to drive. The rear wheel drive propels the car away from any set of lights faster than most company cars. No fatigue noticed when travelling long journeys. On minor roads the stiffened sports suspension can be slightly bumpy.
23rd Mar 2007, 09:29
The 1 series just exacerbates the runflat problem because it has a shorter wheelbase. Every review of the 3 series I've read has complained about the runflats regardless of model or driving conditions.
Sometime technology can be a bad thing, and runflats are a prime example. Why should you suffer ALL the time in expectation of the one time you might hit a nail?
12th Aug 2007, 06:39
I guess I fit the young single person demographic. I've had my 05 118d SE for about a month now and am loving it so far. It does have its quirks, but feels nice and solid on the road, corners lovely-ly and has a much better turn of speed than I'd been led to expect from a diesel. It's also very comfortable and goes quickly with no fuss, so I've actually found myself enjoying the longer journeys. Oh, one last small-but-very-pleasing point: a 3.5mm jack for my digital music!
28th Aug 2007, 13:12
I heard that the chassis is pasted and not welded as the "elder" BMW series. Is that true?
26th Oct 2005, 07:58
This is nannying nonsense. If you can't be trusted to make a decision to lock the doors or not, you are in no state of mind to take a car out onto the public road. There's nothing to stop you driving the car sideways into a tree at 130 mph, but you can't have the doors unlocked when you do it. The logic is so skewed it's almost comical.
There is no plausible reason at all for the car locking the doors for you. If I want my doors locked I am quite capable of pushing a button. If I don't, I should have that choice. It's not like it's going to affect anyone outside the car.