2011 BMW 120i Reviews

The smallest vehicle in the BMW car range, the 1 Series uses sporty engines driving the rear wheels. Like everything else produced by the German auto maker it's aimed at those who enjoy driving, rather than people who treat it as a chore. However rear-drive inevitably steals cabin and boot space, something that's more

The 1 Series gave aspiring owners a propeller badge but costs mount with the miles. New The blue-and-white spinner emblem of BMW has been one of the more desired badges on the Australian motoring landscape. With so many aspiring to own a BMW, the company expanded its model range so more could join the club. The 3

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first and second generation BMW 1 Series coupe and hatch from 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 as a used buy.

Graham Smith reviews the first-generation BMW 1 Series as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2004-2014 BMW 1 Series.

Graham Smith road tests and reviews the 2008 - 2012 BMW 135i as a used buy.

Even in its smallest model, the 1 Series, BMW has stuck to its guns in providing pure driving pleasure. Witness the use of rear-wheel drive to provide the sort of chassis balance that keen drivers just love.The downside of RWD is that there isn’t a lot of room inside a BMW 1 Series because of the long engine bay needed to house straight-six engines, space for a driveshaft under the floor, and a differential under the back floor.  Having said that, the cabin has good legroom in the front seats, though some may find foot-width is restricted.There's not a lot of passenger space in the back unless the front occupants are willing and able to give up a fair bit of their legroom. By the way, BMW does sell a front-wheel-drive car – it’s called the Mini. However, it’s not exactly spacious in the back seat either.When launched in Australia in October 2004, BMW 1 Series came only as a five-door hatch. A smart two-door coupe and a pretty little soft-top convertible were added to the range in May 2008. BMW 1 Series’ styling in hatchback format gives it a tail end treatment that's almost wagon like. So while the boot is relatively shallow due to the aforementioned differential being under it, there reasonable overall volume.Most of these small BMWs are powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine.The coupe and convertible aren’t as useful in their luggage spaces as the five-door hatch, but that’s hardly unusual in the sporty market. As always, try for yourself to see how the brilliant baby Bimmer meets your individual needs in people / luggage carrying.BMW 1 Series comes with a staggering choice of powerplants. In petrol format, these range from 1.6-litre and four cylinders all the way to 3.0 litres with six cylinders. Some of the sixes have twin turbochargers, others don’t have a blower at all. The twin-turbo engine is a superb unit and takes the 300 horsepower, 224 kilowatt BMW 135i to close to the famed BMW M3 in its performance.The 1 Series M Coupe, with even more power from its twin-turbo six than the standard turbo-petrol models, provides excellent performance and many are saying it could have been called the M1 to join the M3 and M5 in the high-performance lineup. However, the M1 tag was used on a BMW supercar model in the late 1970s and the company chose not to use it for the new hot coupe.Most of these small BMWs are powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine. Even the so-called 118i has a 2.0-litre capacity, though others actually do displace 2.0 litres. To further add to the confusion, the 125i engine actually has a displacement of 3.0 litres (it's the six-cylinder unit without turbochargers).Transmission choices are generally six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.An impressive 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine became part of the lineup, in BMW 120d format, from May 2006. The grunt of the modern BMW diesels is great, but they miss out on the virtually instantaneous throttle response provided by non-turbo powerplants so many drivers aren’t keen on them.Improbably as it would have seemed a decade back, the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is even used in BMW 1 Series coupes and convertibles. It is tuned for greater power, so has the title of 123d, rather than 120d. Transmission choices are generally six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. Some of the smaller-engined, lower cost models were sold with a five-speed manual in their early days.BMW manual gearboxes are a joy to use, with slick changes through the well-chosen ratios. This is another benefit of the use or rear-wheel drive as the gearbox is close to the lever, not way out near one of the front wheels as in a front-drive car. Unless you do a lot of hard commuting we suggest the pleasure of the manual should be yours.BMW is long established in Australia and there are dealers in all metropolitan areas, as well as in major country centres. However, if you do travel into semi-remote areas you may have trouble finding either a dealer or a mechanic experienced on the marque.Ideally a BMW should be serviced and repaired by an authorised dealer as these are complex cars with a lot of electronic components. The car can be connected to a computer to assist in fault diagnosis. There are some mechanics with formal BMW training and who now operate as independent specialists. They generally have a high reputation.A 1 Series with a written service record stretching back to day one will generally fetch a higher price on the used market. Smart buyers of second-hand models will keep up this record ad infinitum. Insurance charges are high for a small car – but not too bad when you consider the complexity and quality of the BMW's body and the fact that you're buying an image machine, not simply a car.WHAT TO LOOK FORCheck the back seat and boot trim in case some large items (such as people!) have been squeezed into a space that wasn’t adequate for them. Many 1 Series live in suburban areas so could have had the odd bump or scratch. Look for signs of crash repairs such as mismatched paint, paint overspray and ripples in the panels.A magnet will tell you if the material under the repaired area is metal – or plastic filler that has been inserted to try and fool the innocent. Engine repairs can be expensive so make sure they start within moments of turning the key. Preferably arrange to do this with the engine stone cold after an overnight stop.During your test drive feel for any hesitation under acceleration and look for oily smoke from the exhaust when the engine is worked hard. Make sure manual gearchanges are quiet and ultra-smooth. Fast changes from third to second gears are usually the first to show problems.CAR BUYING TIPCars designed to be driven hard and fast seldom are. Don’t we live in a strange world? So if you do come across one that’s been driven the way its makers intended it may be best to look elsewhere.

THE Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps sped to the top of the drivers' bucket list a few years ago after Britain's Top Gear crew judged it the best road in the world. Based on the bits shown on TV, Clarkson and co must have been inhaling exhaust fumes at the time.Carsguide retraced the route in what is probably the best four-seater yet built to tackle the lust-worthy drive, BMW's new 1 Series M.The stop-start shots between hairpins that Top Gear showed on TV look good in pictures but they aren't the reason the Stelvio draws car and bike enthusiasts from across Europe. To the north, the pass opens up into a phenomenal flowing road with humblingly stunning scenery.This is the best bang-for-your-buck car ever to wear an M badge and the Bavarian maker's refusal to call it an M1 in deference to the 1970s mid-engined supercar won't matter a damn to anyone who drives it. A rose by any other name.About $100,000 buys a two-door coupe that outperforms the $55,000-dearer BMW M3 in roll-on acceleration and is easier to toss through turns than any coupe this side of a Lotus Exige. It is about $25,000 dearer than the 135i and worth every heavily taxed cent of that.The differential lock proved its worth in the tight, slippery corners. In standard mode exits were marked by a frustrating pause as the traction control lit up to show it was struggling to keep rubber from slipping.Push the button to let the rear axle redirect torque and that hesitation drops back to a heartbeat before it hooks up. In theory, disabling the traction software altogether would help, too, but a strong sense of self-preservation intruded on that thought.The twin-turbo six-cylinder engine has won a swag of awards and in this guise is good for 250kW/450Nm. The alloy suspension components and 19-inch alloys from the M3 catalogue minimise weight and the interior features run from leather dash and seats to internet connectivity. This may be the first BMW made without an options list. The three paint choices are no-cost.This car has the best proportions in the M range. It is fundamentally a wickedly reworked 135i coupe, with 55mm added to the track to keep it planted on the road when the going gets silly. The flared guards needed to accommodate the extra track and meatier rubber give the baby M a distinct family resemblance to the M3 coupe.The quad exhausts and vented gills on the sides are trademark M design features. Changing gears quickly, the driver can hit an arm on tall bottles in the single cupholder on the centre console. The interior is straight out of the 135i but it's all been leather-wrapped with contrasting stitching. Even the gearbox gate cover is suede.The basic BMW 1 Series package is five-star rated and the extra attention that's gone into the 1 Series M should improve on that. The brakes would slow down a supertanker and repeated hammerings do no more harm than covering the front wheels in brake dust.Negotiating the 48 torturous switchbacks that mark the Stelvio's ascent to 2757m, the driver realises the difference between what rates as great TV and what rate as great roads. The M car outhustled and outhandled Subarus, Audis and Porsches alike as it carved a line through the rain and snow-topped bitumen.But the switchbacks themselves just aren't that much fun. It's a second or two of full acceleration, then hard on the brakes as speed bleeds back to single figures.But on either side of the hairpins the road opens out enough for the vehicle to flow from curve to curve and car and driver each work hard to maintain a decent pace. The coupe hits 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, fuel consumption is 9.6L/100km, and CO2 emissions are 224g/km.Me, I want 1. If I had $100K to part with, this would be the car. The only comparable car in terms of cornering dynamics is the Porsche Cayman and its lack of rear seats makes it less practical as a day-to-day driver. There are quicker cars and there are better handling cars but this is the best compromise I've driven.'There are quicker cars and there are better handling cars but this is the best compromise I've driven'

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is one question that really needs answering would you buy one?WHAT IS IT?This is the current range topper in the BMW 1-Series lineup, to be supplanted in a few months by the awesome M1. The 135i cabrio offers pretty much everything you need to get a tan, go fast, look good and be safe.HOW MUCH?We reckon the upspec' test car came in at around $86,000 with the optional but highly desirable seven-speed manumatic auto.WHAT ARE THE COMPETITORS?Not too many really; the Audi A3 cabrio, possibly high-end Mini Cooper S cabrio, Lexus IS250 cabrio, base model E-Class Benz cabrio at a stretch.WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?Scores potent twin-scroll turbo, 3.0-litre, petrol six with variable valve timing and lift on inlet and exhaust sides. Absolute gem of an engine. Sounds unreal. Maximum torque — 400Nm, available from a low 1200rpm. Peak power is 225kW.HOW DOES IT GO?Like stink, capable of clocking mid 5.0 second 0-100kmh sprint, has great roll-on and is smooth as silk. Well matched to seven-speed twin clutch "auto" with launch control a possibility soon. Keeps pesky WRXs and Evos at bay and it's a rear wheel drive.IS IT ECONOMICAL?Can be if you can keep off the right pedal. We saw better than 8.5-litres/100km on the highway but averaged in the mid 9.0s combined.IS IT `GREEN'?'Greenish, passes Euro 5 so that's a big plus, probably mostly recyclable — another plus, CO2 emissions not too bad given performance potential. Uses elements of EfficientDynamics to lighten the load on the planet.IS IT SAFE?Five star safe. Has rollover protection, four air bags, sports stability control.IS IT COMFORTABLE?Extremely thanks to stylish and well appointed interior, expertly calibrated suspension and comfy seats with multiple adjustments. Soft top roof comes off electrically at speeds up to around 30kmh, back on at same speedsWHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?Impressive — dynamite on tight roads thanks to broad spread of engine power and tidy dynamics. Great brakes despite extra weight of cabrio. Definitely falls into the sports category - would show a clean pair of tyres to plenty of highly regarded contenders.IS IT VALUE FOR MONEY?At $82,500 kick off price, you are giving the government a fair old wad of cash upfront in tax. Makes us choke too. The seven- speed auto adds $3500 — definitely worth the extra dosh as it offers the best of both worlds. Plenty of kit — leather, premium audio, Bluetooth, electrically adjustable driver's seat. M package for go fast looks, bixenon lights, Multiple interior trim choices at no cost. Paddle gear change.WOULD WE BUY ONE?Yep, but would put bigger (19-inch) wheels on it, portable satnav as GPS is not standard.