2005 BMW 1 Series 120d SE from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

I own a 120d Sports in the UK for almost six months now. Despite everyone said it is a bad car, I found it working fine for my daily 180 miles trip (motorway and cross-country). Even with the run-flat the ride isn't too firm as people claimed. The price is more than usual for what you get, then again it is not a Ford, it is a BMW. I says if you can't afford it then simply just don't buy it. VM. May 2006.

I have owned a 120d SE for about 4 months now and love it. Yeah there is the odd noise and it can feel a hard drive, but then they are all (sports hatch's) and sport means you're not going to get a ride on a cushion of air, so you all knew what you were buying (a sports car)

I was lucky with mine, it came with loads of extras, (electric sun roof, full electric pack, interior/exterior lights package, leather sports seats, cruise control... you name it it seems to have it. BMW service was first class when I took it in for the sun roof sensor replacing. They replaced the sensor and told me that this model was due a new alternator part of a recall, which they changed and even washed the car before I left. The drive is fun, powerful and very economical if driven sensibly.. keep to the speed limits and you can expect about 540 miles per tank.. boot it and you will get around 420mpg. All in all, well happy.

Hello again!

I originated this review and must state that not all sports/sporty hatch models have a ride quality as unyielding as a 1 series - try the latest Golf GTi, for instance.

My qualms with the 120d I had were the numerous quality issues expeienced, rather than the driving characteristics.

I may have been unlucky, but coupled with indifferent dealer service, it was just too much to take.

I just hope that you never experience all that I did during your tenure with yours.

My 1 series was new at Christmas 2004. It is now coming up to 70,000miles and has only been to the dealer once apart from its routine servicing. This fault occurred in Europe and BMW assistance were brilliant and the fault was cured promptly. It goes to the dealer at 8.30 am and I get it back around 10, washed and vacuumed out. It has been available to use every day I've wanted it and is still fun to drive. I'd definitely have another.

To the person who commented on 21 August, you are perhaps lucky.

I am the originator of this review, and while my 120d never let me down by breaking down, it was just one irritating fault after another occuring to the point where every journey in it just became an exasperation.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but paying out a not inconsiderable sum of money for a car, one would have expected it to behave better in terms of quality. All my past BMWs did and to me, the 1 series remains a big let down.

Come to think of it, so does the new 3 series, with which I've lived with both the 320d and the 320i for a few times when my 120d was in the shop while the dealer tried vainly to fix the many issues it had.

Frankly, I think BMW's lost the plot with its current 1 and 3 series models. While they drive well, their quality and ergonomic issues need sorting out.

I have read with great interest the above comments made by owners /drivers of the Bmw 1

I am x Police driver & currently an A D I.I recently partexchanged my Golf t d I in for the Bmw 1 the golf was very overrated rough clutch & a tendency to stall @ any time in traffic.

I find the 1 a dream @ any traffic speed with smooth power to the legal limit (possibly beyond)

Its not that big inside would have bought a 3 if necessary.

My car was 1st reg Sept 06 by B m w,staff car.purchased April 07 1056 miles its the 120 sports loaded with uprated alloys + some more toys.

In the last 1000 miles the car has averaged 45 mpg.I insure it all risks 2 drivers for £245.00 a year.

I think the running costs well match the rep mobile market.As for the garage (main dealer they have rung me three times to make sure every thing is fine so far cannot fault the vehicle or the dealers.

I have a 07 1 Series and I think it is a quality hatch. Unless you are lucky enough to be able to afford the X3, the only option you have if you want to be able to enjoy the quality of BMW and a hatchback is the one series. I certainly am not disappointed with the car its young and fresh and is much more appealing and practical than the 3 or 5. Perhaps the people who comment that its for people who want to drive a BMW, but can't afford the three series are the real victims of car snobbery and just can't hack the fact that BMW has made its self available to a younger hipper market and they no longer feel (I have beemer so I must be rich status) poor things.