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bmw 1-Series road tests and consumer car reviews

The BMW 1 Series, featuring an unmistakable, eye-catching design that makes it stand out in a crowd. With a sporty exterior and assured interior the BMW 1 Series offers dynamics and efficiency that you have come to expect from BMW’s exceptional engineering.

bmw 1-Series consumer reviews by year of make: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

BMW 1-Series

118d Efficient Dynamics - The luxury end of the market is going green and the first car we have on test is the BMW 1-Series 118d EfficientDynamics variant. The five door car looks like a normal 118d as it doesn’t have any spec... read more

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bmw 1-Series car reviews

Number of reviews: 25

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Vanita Eden, London

BMW 1-Series 2009

Clunky choice between this car 118d sports model and a Mitsubishi Colt cleartec. Which one would you choose? I will miss my Parrot in my old Vauxhall Corsa, it’s been great fun! Not a single problew with it since I inherited it, unheard of in this technological day. Hope the car performs as well.

Submitted: 03/03/2010 06:38:38 | ID: 4762

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Andy, Derbyshire

BMW 1-Series 2005

I’ve just bought the BMW 116i se model, it looks great from the outside and inside, it drives and handles brilliantly. A few cons are you can’t see out of the rear window very well although you do get a rear parking sensor, which is useful; I find the steering is really heavy and not very powerful for a 1.6 and trying to engage reverse gear is very hard and stiff.

Submitted: 16/01/2010 23:07:13 | ID: 4324

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John Hartill, Renfrewshire

BMW 1-Series 118d Sport 2009

Just purchased mine, I love the drive and think the mpg and road tax is great!!!!!

Submitted: 13/01/2010 15:11:24 | ID: 4293

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Stanley Watson, County Armagh

BMW 1-Series 118d sport 2009

Clutch judder, £20 fuel every 150miles if lucky!

Submitted: 31/12/2009 12:15:08 | ID: 4189

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Jim, England

BMW 1-Series 118i SE Auto 2007

I had a BMW 320d SE Auto (2007 model) for 2 years but found the boot impractical, didn’t need the rear seat space, and dropped from doing 20,000+ miles to 6,000 mile/year. So we changed to a 118i SE Auto (I just love auto’s). The 118i is far better suited to us. Great access to the more useable boot, and although far less room for rear passenger, that’s not a problem. Ride and handling - very similar to the 3 series to be totally honest. Same runflat tyres, so hard ride and feels most bumps, but that’s a characteristic of most BMWs and German cars generally. The 1 series does feel more sporty. I’ve found it more of a joy to drive than the 3 series, possibly also down to it being petrol rather than diesel - Oh the joy of not hearing that clatter when you start up. Internally very little difference to the 3 series. Same climate control, similar sound system, similar trim, although the doors don’t feel as solid as the 3 series. We went for a 5 door (just incase we do put someone in the back), and glad we did. Although the front doors are rather small, it’s much easier getting out in tight spaces (and less likely to damage the doors) than the large doors on the 3 door. I had a MK 5 2.0L golf for 3 years, and although I loved the golf, I test drove a new golf and 1 series before settling on the BMW for it’s handling (rear wheel drive makes a big difference), better quality and of course that badge! The Golf did offer more room inside though. So overall very pleased with the 1 series. Only gripe is fuel consumption. Official figures show little difference between the 118i (we have the Efficient Dynamics version) and 320d. I don’t know where these figures come from but around town the 118i is delviering 12 mpg less than the 320d.

Submitted: 12/12/2009 20:28:32 | ID: 4080

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James, England

BMW 1-Series 2008

A very good car. I’ve had it from new ;on it’s first service I had to have a new clutch fitted at only 15000 thousand miles which I wasn’t impressed with.

Submitted: 30/11/2009 14:41:28 | ID: 3984

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Sibin, Hampshire

BMW 1-Series 116i Sports 2009

This is my first BMW and I absolutely love it. I had a Corolla, which is a great car but this is a class apart. Just like they say in their advert, it really is a joy to drive this car. People say it has less space and is impractical etc... but then you will love it for all the wrong reasons. You step inside it and it becomes your world and then when you drive this it engages you with the road and the car always communicates with you. The Efficient Dynamics is a real cool function. The car stops and starts with the touch of the pedal (it freaked me out at first though). 116i 2009 is still a 2 Ltr engine with less horse power compared to other variants but still is a good drive and won’t let you down. After all this is a serious BMW machine, highly recommended.

Submitted: 16/10/2009 14:59:54 | ID: 3721

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Nick Grant, Buckinghamshire

BMW 1-Series 118D SE 2009

After coming from a choppy VW Golf Mk5 I consider the series 1 very smooth and comfortable, a great cruiser but my car doesn’t have run flats like the earlier models so the ride is just fine. Really enjoy driving it and 55mpg, Â£35 road tax and 130mph what more is there? It’s not a family car as the back is a tad tight but I’ve had three adults in the back but only for short journeys. The power band is very smooth and its a pleasure to drive, the rear wheel drive makes a huge difference from my Golf, it has also got a chain cambelt so 100,000 miles against 40,000 for the Golf. Although I hate marketing blurb, it does put a smile on ones face... recommended depite what Jeremy Clarkson says.

Submitted: 12/10/2009 09:30:02 | ID: 3704

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Chris, Somerset

BMW 1-Series 118d SE 2007

Excellent engine - smooth, quiet, powerful. Good economy - 50 mpg overall, best trip 56mpg. Fairly good build quality, though paint is lumpy. Go-kart handling. But very hard ride. Not bad on cats’ eyes but poor over uneven roads, so I blame hard springs rather than the run-flat tyres. I have standard wheels/tyres. Hard seats. Not comfortable. My car has the ’comfort pack’. Heaven knows what it’s like without. Controls, especially the clutch, are heavy. Nowhere to rest your right foot when cruise engaged (and for some reason, very few 1 series have cruise control). ’Engine Stop’ part of Efficient Dynamics is a waste of time. It cannot know how long the halt will be, so it stops each time the car comes to rest. On 99% of occasions, the road is clear to move off within 5 seconds so it isn’t worthwhile. I disable it - but this has to be done each journey. RDS function on the radio is poor. It suddenly ’loses’ the station. Press the stored button and it comes back OK. Irritating. And you need the extra tweeters in the doors for OK sound.

Submitted: 08/12/2008 10:41:54 | ID: 2236

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Mark Longley, Essex

BMW 1-Series 120d M 2008

The 1 series is ridiculously impractical. It’s awkward to get in and out of, the boot is just another glove box and there is very little other space to put things. So, if it’s a practical car your after buy a Ford Focus. What this car does have in abundance is quality - everything feels great, the handling is superb and it’s simply a pleasure to drive. I drive 40K a year on average and was a bit unsure this was a good choice but my heart won over my head and I’m glad it did. I’m 37 and I feel 18 again; absolutely love this car even though it cost a little over £25K I actually think it’s worth every penny. This is my first BMW and I always wondered what all the fuss was about. Now I know!!

Submitted: 25/11/2008 08:58:01 | ID: 2187

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Stephen Mackay, Pembrokeshire

BMW 1-Series 118d M Sport 2007

I’ve owned my 118d M Sport from new. Although It did cost a few bob but after getting over that issue there are just two little issues... and that is on the road you do feel every bump and there is not a great amount of room if you was to have a family. As for driving, handling, fuel and insurance you cannot fault it. In fact I’m going to part exchange it next year for the same model; just for the cheaper insurance.

Submitted: 12/11/2008 09:15:42 | ID: 2134

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Dan, Surrey

BMW 1-Series 116i SE 5dr 2008

The first thing that attracted me to this car were the looks. It is very distinctive and if you’re tired of bland hatches then this is the one for you... to my eyes it looks sporty and classy. Step inside and the driving experience lives up to the looks. This is a real drivers car, with direct handling and superb grip. I have the 116i engine, and whilst it’s not the fastest thing on the road I find it perfectly fine for everyday driving, and can get up to motorway speeds without fuss. Space in the back is a little tight, although I have had two adults there on a long journey and they never complained. The interior design is as sporty as the exterior, and it all feels very well made. Overall I am delighted with the car. If you want something distinctive, with a quality badge, then you must take a look. Friends and family are equally impressed with it - it’s the centre of attention wherever I go!

Submitted: 08/10/2008 11:26:03 | ID: 1977

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Roger Thomas, England

BMW 1-Series 120d SE 2006

First off, this is a car better suited to a couple than a family, there is not enough room in the back and boot space is too limited to be ideal for a small family. The car is used mainly by myself for work and by myself and my girlfriend when we go on holiday. The driving experience is refined and provides a comfortable and relaxing environment that helps to keep me calm when traffic congestion is at its worst. I spent 4k on options to ensure this comfort, this is fully recommended if the price is not prohibitive. Fuel economy is as good as you would expect from a diesel and the 120d SE’s low CO2 emissions will leave me well placed following the 2008 budget. Reliability, handling and safety are all top class.

Submitted: 02/05/2008 13:53:06 | ID: 1405

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Matthew Collymore, Hampshire

BMW 1-Series 2.0 litre diesel 2008

This is a real drivers car. Excellent body control and balance make driving in rural settings breath-taking. This was the most expensive of all the cars I looked at but the high resale values swayed me. Head and leg room are ample. I really like this car but the ride is just a little too hard when on long motorway journeys, that’s why I can only award it 4 stars.

Submitted: 29/04/2008 09:55:48 | ID: 1375

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Kim Tegg, Northamptonshire

BMW 1-Series 116i SE 2007

Bought this car new in December 2007. Lovely car to drive, really comfortable and great handling (although not as good as a mini!). Good to have front and rear parking sensors and cruise control and got 5 years (60k miles) free servicing. Lacks acceleration and as for fuel consumption, what can I say? Bought this car believing combined fuel consumption of the 1.6 petrol, was 39 mpg, I’ve been lucky if I get 27 mpg out of it. Took it back to the dealer and they told me I’ve been getting 42 mpg out of it!?! However, I know how much petrol I’ve been putting in!

Submitted: 11/04/2008 10:42:13 | ID: 1264

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Tom, Wiltshire

BMW 1-Series 123d M 2008

I’ve now had this for a month / 2800 miles, and have achieved 44mpg overall, but this is with highly spirited driving (read "ragging it everywhere") - it’s fully maintained and I have a fuel card so the economy and reduced service interval is of no concern to me. I’ve just come back from a trip to the garden centre, and squeezed quite a lot in with the seats down - although the Volvo days of strapping fence panels to the roof are over. I can’t help comparing this to my V70 - on the motorway the idiots in bmw’s would get out of the way in case I was plod, but now _I_ am the idiot in the bmw and progress is somewhat slowed which is exceedingly frustrating. People seem genuinely surprised when I let them out! If I could buy this car all over again, I would remove the M package as the sports seats which are a little too sporty, the side supports hug a little too closely. I would also fit the 6 speed auto box as 1st and 2nd are very short; leaving the lights most petrol hot hatches will win up to around 30-40 (unfortunately the auto was not available to order 5 months ago). The pedals are very close together, it is all too easy to stab the brake pedal with my left foot when changing gear. An auto box would have disabled the damn auto stop-start which is a pain (eventually I’ll work out which fuse I have to ad or remove to disable permanently). I also wish I’d fitted front pdc, as with the high bonnet it is surprisingly hard to judge, and comfort access as the hole-instead-of-a-key is near the centre console, every time I get in the car I go to put the dongle in the ignition which isn’t there! It does sound like a plumbers escort van for the first few miles until it’s warm, but I think that’s true of all diesels. I’m still very happy with the car overall, the niggles are all relatively trivial. The handling is precise, there is plenty of power to get both in and out of trouble, and at the very least it is a conversation piece - as there aren’t many about and I had the model inscription deleted most people have no idea what it is. I genuinely haven’t come across another one in a month. Still only 4-stars as it’s not the 535d touring I really want!

Submitted: 11/04/2008 09:46:21 | ID: 1262

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Mike, Devon

BMW 1-Series 120d SE 5 door hatch 2005

I’ve owned my 120d for nearly 3 years and 42k miles and it continues to be an extremely impressive car. Outstanding performance coupled with sharp & predictable handling means that few cars can stay with me on a twisty road - or a straight one for that matter! The firm ride assists in this respect but I would not sacrifice existing comfort levels and go for the M Sport version or larger wheels to make it even firmer still. I’ve noticed that most negative magazine road tests test the Sport - perhaps to ensure they can find fault! It has been reliable, comfortable, economical (average 43 mpg on a semi-urban cycle) and great fun - even when commuting! I also really like the shape and styling but this is a matter of personal taste - something which most motoring journalists seem to ignore! The only criticism I would make is that rear leg room is limited - but I did change from a 5 series. All in all it has been the best car I have ever owned. Overall, it has been a very positive ownership experience and - so much so that I have just placed an order to replace it with a 123d 5 door hatch.

Submitted: 25/02/2008 10:24:16 | ID: 1064

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Andrew Webb, County Down

BMW 1-Series 116 Sport 2005

The 1 series with the full sports kit looks good. It also has a comfortable driving position and good interior features. However the car has pretty poor acceleration and for the money you could definitely get something a lot more sexy and speedy.

Submitted: 28/01/2008 12:50:17 | ID: 975

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Carl Holt, Lancashire

BMW 1-Series 116i m sport 2007

This car is the entry model dressed to kill with 17" alloys bigger than the SE 16" alloys front and rear muscular bumpers ,half leather ,interior climate control ,and the usual BMW features that give it the edge over the others in its class. Dont think for one minute BMW have cut corners with this being the entry series it is every bit a BMW in all ways.

Submitted: 02/01/2008 16:34:50 | ID: 887

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Ravi, Leicestershire

BMW 1-Series 120 d 2007

The 1 series diesel is a real drivers car. When I first saw it, it looked a bit like a beached whale!!!...but the M sport variant looks superb. The boot and rear legroom are very restricted but the car makes up for it with supreme and effortless pulling power throughout the rev range. In addition, I averaged 57 mpg from Wales to Leicestershire!!!!!!! When I first bought it, my friend couldn’t tell it was a diesel till he opened the door....its that refined. Handling is sharp but lacks ’feel’ that my older ’95 Bmw had. The ride is hard but I would gladly compromise this for the safety of runflat tyres..( my dealer said you could drive 150 miles on punctured tyre!!!- hence no spare tyre). Its a great all rounder, being easy to park in town and cruising superbly on the motorways. Worth every (costly) penny!

Submitted: 19/11/2007 17:30:11 | ID: 640

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Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire

BMW 1-Series 118d ES 2007

The performance of the 1 Series is second to none. The 118d ES is a simply magnificent car. Price, fuel economy, max speed are all spot on. The mpg of 60 is almost unbelievable. This is not a family car and is better suited to young professionals. This make going to and coming home from work a joy ... almost!

Submitted: 09/11/2007 09:57:46 | ID: 552

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Rekha Ramiah, Pembrokeshire

BMW 1-Series 120 d Msport 2007

The 120 d M Sport works out the better car in the series, be it a little costlier to run. I just purchased one, and I must say the performance is superb...overtaking on a large hill in 6 th gear ( any gear for that matter ) is a doddle. And having just upgraded from a VW polo, I was pleased that the BMW is just as easy to park and manouvre! The ride is a bit firm with the M suspension and it does have large blind spots......but with parking sensors this is negated. Inside BMW have given the ’ big car feel’ although a little more room in the rear would have helped. For all those interested in buying....try and get a demo car ( save on cost and running in time) and note that all the diesel models give around the same MPG!! So you could mainly save on road tax, the car price and insurance depending on the model you chose.

Submitted: 05/11/2007 15:23:48 | ID: 519

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Patrick, Lothians

BMW 1-Series 118d SE

In my opinion this is the best amongst the 1-series. A smooth ride with excellent economy and suspension make this an all-round perfect car.

Submitted: 04/10/2007 16:19:43 | ID: 274

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Laura Kelly, Shropshire

BMW 1-Series BMW 1 Series 118d

I have only just taken delivery of my new BMW Series 1 and so far I have only good things to say about it. My daughter loves it too and loves being able to ride in the front as ISOFIX and front passenger airbag deactivation is available as standard. Thoroughly recommend.

Submitted: 13/08/2007 10:14:52 | ID: 64

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Frank, Dorset

BMW 1-Series

I recently bought the 118d and have found the drive extremely smooth. The suspension isn't the best and that is why I'm only awarding this BMW 4-stars. Good economy and the 5th door really makes a difference.

Submitted: 30/07/2007 15:54:54 | ID: 17

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Number of reviews: 25

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