BMW 118d
If Any BMWs 1 Series Was Going To Be Overlooked, Its Probably The 118d. Andy Enright Makes A Case For The Entry-Level Diesel
If the
BMW 118d featured in a high-school yearbook, it would never be student Most Likely To Succeed or Outgoing Prom Queen. It would be the hard worker who everybody forgot even existed, overshadowed by its more illustrious siblings. The 1 Series line up is currently structured in such a way that the petrolheads will gravitate to the 120i or perhaps the 118i, the bargain hunters will buy the 116i and those looking for some real muscle will opt for the poster child of the range, the 120d. Which leaves the 118d.
Surely a car this good deserves a little play?
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Priced around £1,500 less, model for model, than the 120d, the smaller of the two diesel engines is still capable of putting on quite a show. Although theres very little in it when it comes to fuel economy or emissions, the 118d scores a decisive advantage over the 120d when it comes to insurance costs, being rated a full three groups lower at Group 11. For the record, the 118d will average a fuel economy figure of 50.4mpg and emits 150 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre, putting it on par with some superminis.
Where the 118d starts to become a more compelling choice is when budgetary constraints are taken into account. All 1 Series models are pretty pricey when essentials like alloy wheels, air conditioning and metallic paint are factored into the equation, and the 118d stays just the right side of £20,000 for the Sport and SE models that feature such kit an important psychological barrier for many buyers and often a cut-off point for company car user/choosers. Ignore the base price of £17,680 for the basic model nobody but the most craven badge snob will drive a 1 Series without the aforementioned kit. The £19,630
BMW ask for the SE and Sport variants is far more indicative of real 118d money.
"Although the heart may say 120d, the head more often than not opts for the 118d"
The only mechanical difference between the 118d and the 120d is in the engine management software. This limits the junior model to 122bhp and credits the 120d with the full 163bhp monty. BMW played a
smart trick with the petrol-engined cars (gearing the less powerful 116i so that its performance disadvantage was nullified somewhat in the lower gears) but have chosen not to do likewise with the 118d. The upshot of this is that the 118d will feel a little sluggish if you drive it back to back with the 120d, but otherwise its an agreeably swift hatch, notching off the dash to 60mph in less than ten seconds and running on to a top speed of 125mph.
The excellent six-speed automatic gearbox offered as an option on the 120d sadly isnt available to 118d buyers. If you are dead set on this automatic, this could be the real deal breaker but otherwise although the heart may say 120d, the head more often than not opts for the 118d. The big selling point of the 1 Series is rear wheel drive and although the 118d doesnt possess tyre-scorching power to capitalise fully, youll still notice the benefits. Deploying the full quota of 207lb/ft of torque as you accelerate out of a side turning would, in a front-wheel drive car, generate copious torque steer, that raggedy tugging of the steering wheel as the front tyres struggle to put down the power.
Even at higher speeds, front-wheel drive cars with a hefty slug of torque can veer rather dramatically when they come on-cam. Just try accelerating hard in a
Ford RS Focus with your hands off the wheel. On second thoughts dont. A ditch could beckon.
Theres none of this corrupting influence with the 118d. About the most extreme thing that ever happens is that in damp conditions the ESP light will give a little blink as it winds the power back slightly. Most of the time it just grips and goes. No drama, no writhing steering wheel or tramping axle.
Just purity. Things arent all ambrosia however. Open one of the narrow back doors and youll spot the trade off right away. Theres less room in the back of the 1 Series than youll find in a supermini like a
Honda Jazz.
With a six-footer behind the wheel, legroom is shockingly bad and the transmission tunnel means that you wont ever want to travel piggy in the middle on the rear bench. Thats not what the 1 Series is all about. If you want a practical car, go and buy a
mini-MPV. If you want the latest urban bauble that will turn heads and get tongues wagging, the 1 Series will be more your thing.
At a stroke it manages to make the
Audi A3 in particular look ridiculously staid. Of course, that styling isnt going to rest easy on every eye. For what its worth, we think its ugly but interesting, the scalloped surfaces and bold slashes pure Bangle-era BMW. The bowing sills and stumpy tail arent beautiful in any conventional sense but the 1 Series is a car that keeps you looking, trying to see what the designers were trying to pull off.
If it was to merely make a very controversial shape, theyve certainly succeeded. Youll forgive it the moment you sit behind the wheel. The interior features a start button to get things fired up and a clean, minimalist look to the fascia. The dashboard resembles that of the BMW Z4 and theres dotted around the cabin are twin front airbags and head airbags for all occupants.
Factor in Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, Dynamic Brake Control and the non-dynamic but still worthwhile Electronic Differential Lock and theres also a high level of active safety offered. Its easy to get a little carried away with the 1 Series. Does it really do a great deal that the familiar 3 Series Compact doesnt, albeit with five doors and a sassier suit? In short, no, but the concept has evolved very nicely and the unsung hero of the process is the 118d. Rationality has rarely looked so appealing.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: BMW 118d
PRICES: £17,680 - £19,630 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 150g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.8s / Max speed 125mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 50.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and head airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4227/1751/1430
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