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BMW 1-series mini review.....pass me the cream .........
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24-04-2013 10:53PM#1....to go with my slice of Humble Pie.............
...let's get a few prejudice's out of the way first: I have never 'gotten' the appeal of BMW's. I dunno why. There's no doubt they make some, and in the past have made many, fine cars....
But I have always found them wanting. Particularly in terms of interiors and design, generally. I admire their IL6's, and agree in petrol form they have tradtionally been the best of their ilk.
But, the main bread & butter BMW's are, to me, uneventful, to put it mildly. I find their 'invention' of models to create, not fill, a niche, almost cynical - X6 et al.....
Which brings me to my point: the 1-series. This car would normally never, ever even get on my radar.
So, I had a work trip to Germany last week, and bolted on a few days to it, and took the family. I booked a factory tour of the BMW factory, visited BMW Welt etc etc. Another day at Bauma 2013 - a huge machinery show - and another half day at another (car) museum. You ordinary petrol-head holiday then
I booked a Focus automatic, but on arrival, was handed the keys to a very recent 1-series automatic, a 118d. Another interesting aspect to my 'driving' holiday then, as I would have it for 5 days and deigned to give it a good test drive. As an aside, I actually think if you can, then to rent/borrow the new car of you choice for a week like that, then it's actually a great way to see past the shiney paint and 10 minute ooh-aah of the official test drive, but I digress......
First impressions: bloody tiny boot. Oh, and no spare wheel, either.....hmmmm. There were Mr & Mrs Gtt, and the two small TT's with us - 1 suitcase and 3 carry-on's. Barely got them in the boot. If here was a buggy or car seat involved, or one other suitcase, then forget it...........
The black colour of our hire car had the advantage of hiding to a certain extent, it's ugliness - because there's no other way to describe the 5-door other than as gawdawful.
Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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...on the inside then, no prizes continue to be won.
The instrument binnacle is very clear, and the instrument themselves nice, switches are.......switches..:D......and the central info display perched up on top of the centre of the dash whilst clear, certainly looks like it had just been 'left there' by someone, as distinct from being 'in' the dash. To be fair though, it was well placed for line-of-sight - and provided me a place to stand my Tom Tom against :P
Starting it is a push-button affair, and I found it very smooth, and very quiet.
The gearlever has this unlock button to press, and then you just select 'D' and off she creeps.....very smooth, very quiet, and gear changes imperceptible. All very good so far, then.
I didn't like the steering wheel at all - the feel of it that is - it felt awful plasticky - and the top of the dash was equally unimpressive. I think the plastic in a KIA is geniunely better looking and better from a tactile sense. I daresay ticking the leather option on the shopping list would cure that easy enough.
Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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Over the course of the next few days, some things came to be of note:
1. Starting it was by means of button - you just need the key on your person:
It's not that this system is confined to BMW, but I'm not a fan. On one occasion we couldn't find the bloody key, and were afraid to knock it off - we thought we'd left it at the apartment we'd rented or something so mini-heart attack at that: but actually one of the kids had it: they'd unlocked the car to get their stuff in.
2. This was an Efficient Dynamics equipped car - stop/start, in other words. Jeebus - I'd actually pay €€€ to have it removed. It is, frankly, awful. I do not for one second believe that it saves 1cc of juice. Add to that that I personally think it'll eat starters as it get's older. Compared to a manual car, which uses the operation of the clutch pedal as the 'signal' for auto-start to stop/start (say, at a junction), the auto merely relies on wheels stopping to cut out, and taking your foot off the brake to restart. Being an automatic, as soon as it restarts it rolls forward. I know someone with a Mini with the same system and it is on starter #3 already. You can disable the feature by pressing the 'A' button over the stop/start button, but every time you knock the car off and get out of it, it defaults to going back into Ed mode. This I'd have to have switched off - I don't know if that's even possible.
And it's all very well when the car is new, and the engine starts within 1/2 a revolution. But it when it gets older, and it takes more cranking to get it going, I don't know how ED is going to cope.Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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...like I said at the start........looks like I'll enjoy the Humble Pie, now.....
Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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The 118d is 143ps which is more than enough for that size of car (and a 3 Series) for day to day driving, and can certainly keep pace with Irish traffic.
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The 5 has an electronic handbrake (3 has a manual one, and I think the 1 does too) which also comes with Auto Hold. ............
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Standard SE seats in BMW's are pretty woeful (might be OK in 6 or 7 series - don't know though as we don't get them in) and tend to give me back ache fairly quickly. They need lumbar support adding at least to make them any way comfortable. Sports seats are much better. Sports seats with Lumbar is the ideal situation.
I don't like the keyless start as I hate driving with keys in my pocket. There is a holder for the key near the cupholders on the 5 Series, but nothing on the 3 and the 1 looks similar. Leaves you with the option of either having (a fairly large) key in your pocket, or throwing it in to the cupholder/door pocket/any other cubby hole, to rattle & slide around.
I agree, whatever power it had, it was plenty.
This 1-series had a conventional handbrake (yay )
Seats were.....unremarkable - which means they must be o.k.. Longest trip in one go was 2 hours.
God I hate the key-in-the-pocket thing too - and you're right, this 1-series had nowhere on/in the dash to put them anyway.
I'd be interested to know if the car is noisy on Irish roads, given our shoite surfaces - in BMW-Welt-Land it was peachy quiet.
Looking at it again, in the right colour and maybe some graphics, you could do something with it. In plain Silver it was brutal entirely.Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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You mean it'll go like a cracking car, but it'll still look kak!The 135i looks like a cracking car especially in estoril blue.
I must say I absolutely love the keyless thing. Hate routing in pockets, especially when the arms are full!I agree, whatever power it had, it was plenty.
This 1-series had a conventional handbrake (yay )
Seats were.....unremarkable - which means they must be o.k.. Longest trip in one go was 2 hours.
God I hate the key-in-the-pocket thing too - and you're right, this 1-series had nowhere on/in the dash to put them anyway.
I'd be interested to know if the car is noisy on Irish roads, given our shoite surfaces - in BMW-Welt-Land it was peachy quiet.
Looking at it again, in the right colour and maybe some graphics, you could do something with it. In plain Silver it was brutal entirely.0 -
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You mean it'll go like a cracking car, but it'll still look kak!
I must say I absolutely love the keyless thing. Hate routing in pockets, especially when the arms are full!
You say that now. Wait 'til it lets you down........or you let it down by forgetting where they are and driving off ........ Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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You mean it'll go like a cracking car, but it'll still look kak!
Dunno, looks "correct" for a sporty hot hatch:
https://www.google.ie/search?q=m135i&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=8El5Ua6XJIKFhQf054GgBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1544&bih=766#imgrc=_0 -
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Matt Simis wrote: »Dunno, looks "correct" for a sporty hot hatch:
https://www.google.ie/search?q=m135i&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=8El5Ua6XJIKFhQf054GgBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1544&bih=766#imgrc=_
from your link : Yum.
Colour IS everthing on a car like this
Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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I hired one of those in Ireland recently. I found the fuel economy to be great! The engine cut-out can be turned off in the settings IIRC. Like the golf, the five door looks a lot worse than the three door. I found the B pillar to be too far forward, making the front access too tight. The three door should sort this out.
The car suffered some very rough roads down the south-east and it handled them very well. Solid and rattle free. The handling was a dream and it was very chuckable.
I found the best place for the key was in a little slot just ahead of the gear selector. Looked like it was for a cigarette packet. The car wouldn't start if I was at the driver's door with the key in my pocket. It seemed to need the key close-ish to the dash.
The auto box was a dream also. Changes were smooth and almost imperceptible. Not sure how many gears were in there. Six... maybe seven?
In short; I liked it a lot. 0 -
Not sure how it could let you down, there are ways around forgetting to heed the "low key fob battery" warning for a few weeks and letting it go completely dead, and also if you forget the key it won't start! Only issue to remember is if you're meeting the wife with the kid in the back and swapping cars to go in two seperate directions to give her the key or she'll get stuck if she stops at a shop!! You could just make a habbit of turning it off every time you stop, that way no one will drive off without it!You say that now. Wait 'til it lets you down........or you let it down by forgetting where they are and driving off ........
I don't mind the key in my pocket. I hate bunches of keys. I have the car key and the front door key on one ring, that's it. Any more and I don't want it in my pocket. Never understood this lark of 300 keys on the keyring and it cutting a hole in the jeans pocket or clanging off the side of the car while driving.0 -
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pred racer wrote: »I dont like it, in the side view the bonnet is too long for the rest of the car, back and front looks ok though.
And the saloon is just mingin.
Not for me I'm afraid.
...heh heh: ever seen a Capri......it's like an aircraft carrier, that is.... Ode To The Motorist
“And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, generates funds to the exchequer. You don't want to acknowledge that as truth because, deep down in places you don't talk about at the Green Party, you want me on that road, you need me on that road. We use words like freedom, enjoyment, sport and community. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent instilling those values in our families and loved ones. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the tax revenue and the very freedom to spend it that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said "thank you" and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a bus pass and get the ********* ********* off the road”
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