BMW 1 Series F20 LCI (2015-2019)
15 reviews
A weapon of a car, but – Prior to this car I owned a Golf GTI, Focus ST among other hot hatches/sports cars. Firstly I found the aperture of entry to the drivers seat to be way too small. When entering the car you have to slightly duck your head then push yourself rearward to sit basically level to the B pillar. This is due to the 50/50 weight distribution of the car… Read more
which pushes the engine up to the firewall thus pushing the dash further rearward and the drivers seat, keep this in mind as it is a pain in the A to get in and out of, once in however; it is a comfortable driver position albeit a little high in the seating position and strange floor shape from seat to pedals. The engine is absolutely crazy!! Torque hits you from a bit over 2500 rpm and pins you to the seat, on a couple of occasions I had head spins! The power then continues and does not drop off until a bit over 5300 rpm yet you don't feel it much (the power drop off that is). Be careful of that right foot, as you can oversteer in the dry in third gear easily and I have also had wheelspin in 5th gear in the rain... oh and the noise this thing makes is truly pornographic, all I done was removed the resonator and the crackles and bangs were a joy! Another point on the engine that it is closer to 270KW than 250 (proven on many dynos), I believe BMW under quoted the power to not detract from the M2 market so much. The ZF 8 speed gear box had me skeptical at first, how can it beat a DCT I was thinking. After owning for 3 years I can say I absolutely loved the gear box, much smoother than a DCT when leaving the lights and the gear shifts are incredibly quick in Sports and Sports + modes, a perfect pairing the the almighty B58 engine. The handling was mainly let down due to the open differential, will it single spin or lock up both wheels out of a corner is the game of roulette you play daily, having said that, I found that if you leave a corner without too much aggression and yaw you can have it hook up both wheels like an LSD and leave you power drifting out of the corner..... 500NM definitely requires an LSD though. The suspension is as firm as you would want for the road in Sport + mode yet you can feel a little bit of lack in the bodies torsional rigidity, que the window rubbers squeaking as you exit drive ways on a 3/4 angle. I could also feel it slightly when hitting a hard bump when loaded up around a corner, nothing terrible though but it is by now means the firm chassis of say a Focus RS or a Megane RS; more so a GT type of feeling you get from the car rather than a stiff track/corner focused set up. The cornering is quiet impressive having said this with rather minimal body roll in the stiffer settings, you can feel the weight transfer nicely to where you want it due to the 50/50 weight distribution, very rarely did I understeer at all, mainly a very sharp turn in with oversteer on the ready. Interior wise I had no issue in regards to quality or tech execution, typical BMW quality on all switch gear and surfaces you touch, my only gripe is that you have no choice of single zone on the climate control which is so ridiculous considering this feature is a total farce; designed to keep your passenger quiet even though you are both sitting in the same closed space which will end up in the middle of both of your desired climate preferences :D All in all a weapon of a car which can eat up some serious miles and scalp some serious machines along the way, happy to answer any questions. Cheers guys!
Brilliant little hatch! – Had our 125i M Sport since new, so approx. 3.5 years. Had a quirky issue early in our ownership with passenger front window refusing to auto up and stay there. It would auto up all the way then come back down about half way, weird. Although it could be inched up with the switch carefully. This lasted about 2 weeks before fixing itself. Since then… Read more
there's been no issues. Ours is optioned with Professional Nav, meaning larger wide screen with 20GB HDD and Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi which is outstanding. Also love how crisp the screen is and how quick and responsive the menus are on screen. The 2.0L and 8 speed auto are a great combo especially in sport mode where it hauls along quite nicely with minimal fuss. Overall it is a very well engineered vehicle and if you appreciate driving, smoothness and the feel of a vehicle you could do a lot worse.
Best Car Ever – Bought my car new in 2017 and I love it! I have never had anything go wrong apart from a nail in my tyre which was easily fixed in 10 minutes and with the run flat tyres i was able to safely drive to the dealership and get it fixed. The car handles amazingly and people don't expect it to be as quick as it is pulling off the lights. I would always recommend someone to pick a 1 Series over an A3 or A class. Show details
I love this car – Bought this car I'm.so in love with it it's very lux and very reliable car my kids love it too I service this car every km that is required never had any issues with this car when I had taken to the service Show details
BMW 118i a fun car to drive – This car comes with a 1.5L turbo 3 cyl so it is not a sports car. It is fun to drive though. Handling and ride qualities are top notch. Fuel consumption is fairly high at around 8.5L/100km for such a small engine. Build quality is very good. Interior space is limited as it can barely fit five small adults. Leg room is poor. I like the dashboard… Read more
very much. Nice, clean and simple. I like how the hybrid analog and digital dials supplement each other. It is probably better than a fully LCD screen.
One thing to watch out though is auto folding of side mirrors is an option. I was surprised that it didn't come standard for a car at this price point.
I got 4 years of free servicing so I can't comment on the costs. Customer experience wise was great at the Doncaster BMW. Hassle free and I was treated like a VIP.
M140i LCI – Have had the 140i for coming up on 2 years, on buying this i wanted a old school rear wheel drive with good power. It hasn't disappointed. Im fussy with my cars and will pick the hell out of a car. I love every 99% of this car, the power is unbelievably good, smooth and right through the rev range, from around 1500rpm its pushing you into the seat… Read more
all the way to redline. The gear box is awesome, i really wanted a manual but in the model i brought it wasnt availabe so the 8 speed auto is what i ended up with and im not disappointed. One thing it lacked was an LSD and my opinion it needs it, to the point where i had one fitted. Stepping out of a VF SS Commodore i do miss the space of a large car. You wouldnt want to be much taller then 6ft with this car, whilst it has leg room dodging the pillar to get in takes a bit of getting used to. And again general cabin space took a bit of getting used to. All in all anyone who wants a fun car to drive i would recommend the little 140, its spirited small car that needs to be driven and will go down in history. Was listed as number 1 hot hatch of all time in a reputable car magazine recently with the SS Torana coming in second. Thats a big statement.
Best car! – I’ve bought my125i back in 2014 with 30000+km on the clock. BM came chip tuned and with varex exhaust - this was worried me at the beginning. It have currently 150000km on the clock and have only 2 minor problems. One is the lumbar support which was not kept the air (warranty covers) and second right LED tail light lost brightness (outside of the… Read more
warranty and could reported as common issues and bad design) had to replace for $300.
Original brake pads and rotors replaced with reputable aftermarket brand. Original wearing off very quickly.
I’m recommend this car and definitely will refreshing this within next couple of years. For the owners I’ll recommend to service it more frequently than it’s recommended by BMW - change oil every 10k not 20k as recommended.
Excellent car, has it all, very comfortable with great headroom – Love this car, it has great power, comfort, handling and safety. It's also got a great navigation system with voice control. Can't fault this car at all to be honest. It also seems to have more headroom than other vehicles and is a pleasure to go on holiday trips with. Show details
Great little city car and gentle on the petrol...A+ – Driving experience is great with flat run tyres and iDrive. Mine is a diesel so a bit more grunt. Queenslanders BEWARE when I bought mine from Townsville BMW (sent to Brisbane) I asked 15 times is it a 2015 on the compliance plates - yes its a 2015. They paid the first years rego so the following year when I got the rego car is 2014! They can… Read more
lie in Queensland as the model is 'considered a 2015' because that's when it arrived in Australia. No other state in Australia can a dealer get away with it.
Took the shine of the car but I still love it.
Ultimate driving machine, it is! – I have now owned this car for almost a year and have just completed my first service, so I think it is time to share my thoughts on Product Review. Well, the car had been a blast to drive - there you have it. Okay, if you're still reading, this is the longer version. You feel a sense of happiness when he first approach the car, admiring its… Read more
nice curves and the long bonnet. When seated inside, you see the bonnet goes on for an infinity like a sports car. Internally, the car feels more spacious than competitors in the small hatchback segment. I have the Dakota leather seat option and upgraded multi-media which I strongly recommend as it completes the internal feel of the car. No point to spend all the cash you saved up for a premium car when you skip the leather seats and other posh options right?
I have the new 1.5L three pot engine and it doesn't feel anything like it's under-powered. I think they tuned the car perfectly for Australia. Even fuel consumption is good after the run in period as I managed to get nearly 680km on a full tank when driving sedately but it drops to about 500km with some spirited driving.
The car is planted and edges you to take corners at higher speeds than you would in other cars. I have driven it to its limit (safety of course and within road rules) and the car can still give more - so you will never do more than what it can handle unless you break the road rules. There were a few occasions when my arms and lower back felt numb after a long drive (about 250km). I think the cushion on the seats are not as supportive as their competitors and the run flat tyres transmit a lot of the undulations back to the steering. The higher the speed, the more you find the steering fighting with you, but on the whole, this is a consummate driver's car.
The service with BMW was good and a minor complaint I had was resolved and did not seem to occur again. I am generally happy with the car and I never ever considered a BMW, but I have never looked back since. This car has good torque for a small engine and steers well - puts a smile on your face from start to end of the journey. My only caution to a prospective buyer is that this car is a city driver and long journeys are best left to cars designed for it.
BMW Series 1 with extras – No other car in the same price range can compare to the handling of a BMW. I love the interior as I have the upgraded interior beige leather seats and the wooden trim, heated seats and sunroof - feels luxury, comfortable and definitely worth the money. The running costs are cheap! The car is very economical in terms of petrol. However, the best… Read more
part of the BMW has to be the navigation system, self-parking features and reverse camera. Second BMW owned to date but best one yet!
Rear wheel with Agile Movement – I have the M sport package, it has good performance, love the acceleration, and you can hear a very deep bass exhaust noise. Great for lady driver. The interior is pretty similiar to all BMWs, its very solid. but the only down side is going through speed bumps i can hear some weird noise coming from the car, like plastic-y sound falling apart.… Read more
But it didn't bothers me.
Its a lady driver, so not much wear and tear, fuel consumption is 11.5L/100km in urban area on 95 fuel.
Love this car – It has the best navigation system I have ever used in a car. It has all the functionality that a new car has - the automatic features like lights, windows, windscreens, voice control, electric seats, sensors and rear cameras. Would not go to another car brand since hopping on the BMW wagon. Show details
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A ripper – The 125i has about 160kw and handles like a go kart. Great fun to drive and can be pushed Sadly RWD is being replaced with FWD and I don't think they will be the same. Leather interior is well finished, outside trim is a step up from the 120i and looks really smart. The car is a pleasure to drive short and longer distances. Road and wind noise… Read more
well within reasonable limits. Suspension handles the car will.
The not so good..nothing! We really enjoy the car. It's fun, looks great, and is well put together (so far anyway).
125i M Sport 5 Door Hatch - Brilliant to drive – The rear wheel drive gives the 125i a really balanced feel. It is a drivers car and even with the 8 speed automatic there is the capacity to move to a manual mode via paddles. The car is comfortable for four adults and the five door hatch offers versatility and the capacity to carry larger loads. The interior is really classic BMW and it feels and… Read more
looks high quality.
On the road the car has lived up to expectation. It handles well, very responsive, beautifully quiet, smooth and a seamless driving experience. Practical and really fun to drive.
A month later:
Yes still a brilliant driving experience. The automatic gear box is outstanding and the sports suspension makes the ride poised and supple. The engine too has continued to impress - delivering ample, effortless power. The comfort package has been a great addition - heaterd seats on cool mornings and evenings has been a great option. Overall a really sweet ride.
One Year on and 20000kms.
Wow really love this car. Has continued to perform beautifully. I spend a lot of time driving to and from work. In the hustle and bustle of peak hour traffic this car is nimble, reliable, comfortable and fun to drive.
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