BMW 120i Problems

But the really important question is: what do women want in a car?Finding the answer keeps carmakers tossing and turning at night, because they are well aware that women choose more than half the vehicles sold in Australia. There are all the ones they buy for themselves, as well as the deciding vote on most of the ones bought by households.Sorry, fellas. It’s true. No matter how much you want that souped-up sports car, unless the head of household finances agrees you may as well back away from the vehicle now.One of the earliest attempts to deliver a car for women was the mid-1950s Dodge La Femme. It was actually a 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer under the skin, but the Detroit designers camouflaged that skin as thoroughly as a make-up artist doing Vogue covers.The car was decked out in pink paint, with an interior covered in pink vinyl, set off by pink rosebud tapestry. And to show that this was not merely a cynical marketing exercise, Dodge kitted the car with accessories they thought reflected the growing independence of post-World War II women moving into meaningful career paths - a pink handbag complete with office essentials like a matching powder compact, lipstick case and comb.Sales estimates run as low as less than 1000 cars. And the pink panderer was quickly dropped from the Dodge range at the end of the following year.Australia’s own Carla Zampatti tweaked a Ford specifically for women in the 1980s, but whether it won women - with accessories including a hanging hook for handbags - is still open to question.However, Dodge and Ford weren’t completely on the wrong track. Women want a car to be stylish, but also practical. Luckily, these days there are quite a few vehicles that fit the bill – without playing the pink paint card. These are the best style picks for women today, from a woman's perspective, with the figures for the basic car.Don’t agree with these? Let us know what YOU think women want in a car in our poll at left.LIGHTMazda2Price: from $16,030Engine: 76kW/137Nm 1.5-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 6.4L/kmEmissions: 152g/kmThe baby 2 has cute and slightly edgy looks, is compact with usable space, and the long doors make it easy to get in the back seat. The auto will be preferred by most, but it adds to the weight of the little car.Close calls: Ford Fiesta from $16,990; Peugeot 207 from $22,490.SMALLBMW 1-SeriesPrice: from $38,900Engine: 160kW/270Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.2L/kmEmissions: 190g/kmA pocket-sized entry in German prestige – without breaking the pocket. Looks stunning, an amazing amount of room, and great to drive.Close calls: Mazda3 from $21,330; Hyundai i30 from $20,390.MEDIUMFord MondeoPrice: from $31,990Engine: 118kW/208Nm 2.3-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 9.5L/kmEmissions: 227g/kmThe best thing Ford has brought to Australia in … ever, possibly. Enough space to make you wonder if you’ll ever need a larger car, elegant design and well built.Close calls: Mazda6 from $31,834; Audi A5 Sportback from $78,400.LARGEAudi A6Price: from $74,500Engine: 125kW/350Nm 2.0-litre petrolTransmission: automaticEconomy: 5.8L/kmEmissions: 153g/kmThere’s not a high chic quotient in this class - where the homegrown Falcon and Commodore lean more to aggressive styling - so the Audi’s restrained elegance makes it a clear winner.Close calls: Honda Accord from $36,381Mercedes-Benz E-Class from $80,900.PEOPLE MOVERHonda OdysseyPrice: from $46,166Engine: 132kW/218Nm 2.5-litre petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.9L/kmEmissions: 212g/kmIn a class that’s dominated by lumpy boxes, the Odyssey is a sleek stand-out. It's low-slung, car-like and leading with a fashionable face.Close calls: Citroen C4 Grand Picasso from $39,990; Chrysler Voyager $60,990.SPORTYBMW Mini Cooper ClubmanPrice: from $36,600Engine: 88kW/160Nm 1.6-litre petrolTransmission: automaticEconomy: 6.8L/kmEmissions: 163g/kmA bonsai wagon with go-kart street cred and revamped retro lines, this one will get admiring glances from everybody.Close calls: Kia Cerato Koup from $23,690; Audi S3 from $69,100.CONVERTIBLEVolkswagen EosPrice: from $47,990Engine: 103kW/320Nm dieselTransmission: automaticEconomy: 6.0L/kmEmissions: 158g/kmThe EOS is streamlined and sophisticated, looks equally good with the roof open or closed – and has enough room in the back to get a couple of extra friends in for short trips.Close calls: BMW Z4 from $86,200; Lexus IS250C from $80,150. SUVHyundai ix35Price: from $26,990Engine: 122kW/197Nm petrolTransmission: manualEconomy: 8.5L/kmEmissions: 201g/kmThere’s heaps of practicality but precious little style in the SUV paddocks. But Hyundai’s new compact ix35 proves you can have both. Ultra-modern lines, trim shape and space to spare.Close calls: Jeep Wrangler (medium) from $31,590; Land Rover Range Rover Sport (large) from $99,900.

It was only a matter of time before BMW introduced a new small car below its long serving and super successful 3-Series. The 3-Series was no longer the same relatively cheap and cheerful entry model that it was way back when it first hit the road, and as BMW's top selling model it made a huge contribution to the bottom line.When, over time the 3 Series grew larger and better equipped and consequently less affordable for those wanting to buy into the brand it left a gaping hole at the lower end of BMW's model range, one that just had to be filled by a smaller car like the 1 Series that arrived here in 2004.MODEL WATCHWhen it became known that BMW was going to introduce a new small car it was feared it would be a makeover of the Mini, but the German carmaker stuck true to its roots and the new 1 Series was rear-wheel drive. It also stuck to its own out-there styling path with sharply carved lines and chunky curves rather than follow the Mini's more loveable shape.The result was that the 1 Series polarized opinion, some thought it looked great, others awful. Opinion at the time of its launch tended towards the latter, but that's the same with most cars the Bavarian carmaker has launched in the last few years.BMW's approach with the 1 Series was similar to that it had to the 3 Series before it. With relatively affordable pricing the new small car provided a new entry point for those aspiring to own a Beemer, but it wasn't a cheap and cheerful car. It was well built, came packed with features and buyers had plenty of options to choose from.Later there would be six-cylinder engines, a diesel, coupes and convertibles, but at the launch the range opened with the 118i and the 120i four-cylinder five-door hatches.The engine in both was a double overhead camshaft 2.0-litre unit, in the case of the 118i it put out 95 kW at 5500 revs and 200 Nm at 3600 revs, but in the 120i it put out 110kW at 6200 revs and 175 Nm at 3750 revs. Anyone looking for a spirited drive would have found the 118i wanting, but would have been delighted with the 120i, which was a much more fun drive.The transmission choices were a six-speed auto and five-speed manual in the 118i, and six-speed auto and six-speed manual in the 120i. Fully independent suspension front and rear helped make the 'One' a sporty drive, and with anti-lock braking, traction and stability control it was also a safe one. The ride was firm thanks to the suspension settings and the run-flat tyres it used.Inside, the 1 Series wasn't particularly roomy, but it did have enough room for a couple of adults in the front and space for kids in the rear. Both models boasted a heap of features from air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking and CD sound. On top of that the 120i had cruise control.IN THE SHOPCarsguide readers have had little to report on the 1 Series suggesting they're enjoying a happy time with their little BMWs. While that suggests the 1 series doesn't have any serious problems, it would be wrong to suggest BMWs don't break down. Servicing and repairs can be expensive if you use factory dealers, but there are lots of experienced BMW specialists around who can maintain and fix cars at more affordable rates. Check for crash damage and service records to ensure cars have been looked after and well maintained. Expect tyres and brakes to wear faster than on some other makes.IN A CRASHWith an impressive arsenal of electronics, including anti-skid brakes, traction control and stability control the 1 Series had a solid underlying active safety package. There was also an impressive package of airbags to provide protection in a crunch, including dual front airbags, combined with head airbags and side front airbags.AT THE PUMPRoad testers of the time of the launch reported average economy figures of around 8.4 L/100 km on the 120i. BMW claimed an average of 7.8 L/100 km for the 118i and 7.9 L/100 km for the 120i.OWNER SAYSIan Robinson bought his 125i convertible after previously owning two other BMWs. He says it looks good and drives well, and to date there have been no mechanical trouble apart from a hole in the convertible roof, which was replaced under warranty after much argument with his dealer, but he says the leather interior seems to be of an inferior quality than the other BMWs he's owned. His main complaint is about the dealers he's used who in general, he says, haven't delivered good after-sales service and have been reluctant to fix problems under warranty.LOOK FORChunky looksCozy interiorRear-wheel driveEconomical foursResponsive chassisBMW badge cred.THE BOTTOM LINE: Great driving hatch with typical BMW rear-drive dynamics, but with firm ride and tight cabin.