BMW 1-Series Coupe (2007 - 2013) 120d SE 2d (2011/60) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
-
Summary
What does this car say about you?
Wanted a fancy badge, didn't want a big car, enjoys a spirited drive.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
It's a 50:50 split, it's a proper Marmite car.
Would you buy this car again and why?
No, the clutch puts me off buying another manual BMW.
What are you likely to buy next?
Quite liking the look of the new Volvo V40, though my order is already in on an F20 1 series (automatic!).
-
Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchised
Did you buy this car new?
Yes
What price did you pay?
£0
When did you buy the car?
January 2011
Did you get a good deal and why?
Neither good nor bad. I do resent the poverty spec, things like dimming rear view mirror should be standard, got about 9% off.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Did originally order a VW Golf but production kept being put back and a 16 week wait for a family sized hatchback seemed a bit unreasonable.
What was the dealer like?
Very good, completely unexpected. Friendly, unassuming, relatively good coffee.
-
Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Stunning amounts of torque make for relaxed driving, it keeps pace on the motorway and is powerful enough to make you constantly frustrated on A roads .. but for the times you can use it, it's great. I have averaged 47.7 MPG (calculated) over the past 18 months, mostly A/B roads. Can get 52 MPG on a run. However - The clutch is a monstrosity, I didn't rate the automatic in the test drive so went for the manual. 25k miles since new I am getting rid as it hasn't "loosened up" or got any easier to deal with, coupled with an offset driving position means it is a problem for me on clutch-heavy journeys. Please be sure to test it thoroughly for your own compatibility with this clutch.
What's it like to park?
Easy. Parking sensors (rear) standard and good visibility.
-
Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
No.
What's most practical about your car?
Two big doors mean it's practical for people of reasonable athletic ability to get in and out of the back seat and it is comfortable for 4 people for journeys. A big boot and folding rear seats (standard) mean a reasonable luggage capacity, for a coupé.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
USB socket probably my favourite option, annoyingly not standard fit, though difficult to navigate large collections of music. Even the "professional" stereo is rubbish, if you like music be prepared to keep spending. BMW do sell the tweeters you'll need.
