120D E82 Coupe as a Second car

[Nightingale090]

Good evening Gentle-///M-an ive recently joined the forum and have been looking at buying a 120d E82 Coupe as my next car
I currently drive a 2014 Polo Vivo and i feel the overhwelming 55KW is too much and id like to downgrade to a much smalled engine (being the 120KW ish Turbo Diesel) ive heard alot about the great fuel economy and how reliable the 2.0 Diesel engine is but nothing else such as running expense
Is their anyone that daily drives this vehicle?

And if not a good buy, what would be a good car to begin with, my work commute is usually walked with considering i stay 1Km from my workplace and driving there would just be a waste
So this will most likely just be a weekend car

Regards

 

[Gordvisr]

I would take the 120d anytime as a daily, or any other 20 or 30D powered BMW

 

[golfer23]

If its a weekend car, why not the 125i?
Issue with diesels is it must go through the full heat cycle.

 

[Jakes4R]

The E82 is definitely a good looking car, even more so when it's a well looked after example. My brother-in-law drove a 2012 Alpine White E82 120d for 2 years. Overall it was quite reliable. He only had one part fail during his ownership - the ABS sensor. Apart from that the only other costs incurred was for oil services and filters.

 

[momoPike]

Driving a 220d as a daily. Oodles of fun.
Often consider changing to something along x40 but it sits my needs and cheap to drive.

Considered a 120d but they are rare as hens teeth to find a looked after one. If you've found one. Get it!

 

[Nightingale090]

And what is the cost of a Minor and Major service, does anyone have a roundabout price?

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If its a weekend car, why not the 125i?
Issue with diesels is it must go through the full heat cycle.

Because the 125i is a N/A inline 6
Ive been in the passenger seat of a 120d and it smokes the 125i
And i know you can try to mod it but then your fuel economy goes to town on you

---

Driving a 220d as a daily. Oodles of fun.
Often consider changing to something along x40 but it sits my needs and cheap to drive.

Considered a 120d but they are rare as hens teeth to find a looked after one. If you've found one. Get it!

I was looking at the 220d as well, what are your running costs exactly, and how much do you get out of a tank (KM’s)

 

[momoPike]

And what is the cost of a Minor and Major service, does anyone have a roundabout price?

---

If its a weekend car, why not the 125i?
Issue with diesels is it must go through the full heat cycle.

Because the 125i is a N/A inline 6
Ive been in the passenger seat of a 120d and it smokes the 125i
And i know you can try to mod it but then your fuel economy goes to town on you

---

Driving a 220d as a daily. Oodles of fun.
Often consider changing to something along x40 but it sits my needs and cheap to drive.

Considered a 120d but they are rare as hens teeth to find a looked after one. If you've found one. Get it!

I was looking at the 220d as well, what are your running costs exactly, and how much do you get out of a tank (KM’s)

---

---

Get 800-900km per tank of diesel.
Running costs have been R0 as still on motor plan. Brake discs and pads were just replaced all around for R12k or so I believe.

Only one major service taken place so far and I believe that was R8k or so.

 

[Nightingale090]

And what is the cost of a Minor and Major service, does anyone have a roundabout price?

---

If its a weekend car, why not the 125i?
Issue with diesels is it must go through the full heat cycle.

Because the 125i is a N/A inline 6
Ive been in the passenger seat of a 120d and it smokes the 125i
And i know you can try to mod it but then your fuel economy goes to town on you

---

Driving a 220d as a daily. Oodles of fun.
Often consider changing to something along x40 but it sits my needs and cheap to drive.

Considered a 120d but they are rare as hens teeth to find a looked after one. If you've found one. Get it!

I was looking at the 220d as well, what are your running costs exactly, and how much do you get out of a tank (KM’s)

---

---

Get 800-900km per tank of diesel.
Running costs have been R0 as still on motor plan. Brake discs and pads were just replaced all around for R12k or so I believe.

Only one major service taken place so far and I believe that was R8k or so.

---

---

Wow thats actually more than i expected to get on a tank, and the brake discs and pads arent too bad, im guessing it would cheaper since the E82 is an older platform.
But yes i strongly believe that my next Purchase will be a E82 Coupe more specifically the x20d

 

[Big_L]

We have recently purchased a e82 125i for my wife. Driving it as a weekend car is fun, as a daily not so fun as it hurts your pockets with the fuel consumption. We actually looking at selling it now to get her a 120d as she will need something as a daily but also finding it hard to find one that is in good condition.

Good luck with your search, I really love the e82! Awesome cars!

 

[AlexYannoulatos]

They are excellent cars. I have a very clean white E82 120d sports pack with 95k km for sale, send me a watsapp on 07333 zero seven 135 for pics and details if you like.

 

[TurboLlew]

Just replace the polo with the 120d IMHO.

I am not sure why you care about fuel economy with the kind of driving you seem to do but either way its pointless to have the polo from an economy or risk perspective let alone the added creature comforts and build quality etc...

 

[TBP88]

TBH, if you're living 1km from work, and mostly walking that (what I do basically) your 2nd car can be something more exotic seeing as you won't be racking up big mileage... I'd say get a 135i if that's the shape you like. Or if the turbo reliability scares you a 125i.

Basically the only driving you'll be doing is for pleasure or longer distances, in which case having something a bit special is worth it (in my view)...

 

[MR_Y]

120d is a brilliant daily car.
Like all diesels, NOT for short distances though (read: https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/fuels-environment/diesel-particulate-filters)

For a pure weekend-only car, I would recommend an NA 6 cylinder over a turbo 4 diesel.
Weekend thrills are not about straight line speed or low down torque.
Weekend thrills, for me anyway, is about working a car hard and hearing its engine sing.
A 125i Coupe would be my choice.
The 135i would be quicker, but likely to have been more molested by the previous owner than a 125i.

 

[MikeR]

I have Both the 120d and the 125i
I would take the 120d any day over the 125i, its more fun and dont miss a beat, and its not slow at all.

If I could I would replace the 125i with another 120d if I had the opportunity.

 

[FerdiBotha]

120d is a brilliant daily car.
Like all diesels, NOT for short distances though (read: https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/fuels-environment/diesel-particulate-filters)

Just remove the DPF/CAT..

E82 will be out of plan and as with all older diesels should have the Cat/DPF removed.

120d may not be the perfect weekend thrasher but will give decent thrills and will still offer great consumption when driving long distance.

This side of a 135i the 120d is definitely the best 1-series to have.

Let's also remember what car the OP is upgrading from..



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[williambradleyn]

I have a 120d at the moment... The cost of. Owning this car and maintaining this car is peanuts really... I've done 8 trips from Durban to Cape Town... And 4 trips Durban to Pretoria. It's light and reliable. Last avg I got is 20.4km to a litre... It's super light... Used about 75 rand fuel from Escourt shell ultra city to my home in Durban... 120 - 130 the entire way... The only issue you must be aware of is the vibrantion damper... Other than that nothing to worry about... Good oil and good changes will keep her healthy for a long time.. You will thank me after buying a 120d

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[Nomad77]

I'm considering picking up a 120d in Jan as well. The e82 is just timeless, hopefully I can find myself a clean LCI model

 

[///M Individual]

Find a well taken care off example with a documented service history and all you have to worry about is normal services and a few preventative maintenance items like the vibration damper, gearbox service at ZF, suspension parts when worn etc. An oil service at BMW costs around R1500 and recommended at least every 10 000kms or annually. Other filters and brake parts can be purchased at BMW or you can get decent aftermarket brands from Goldwagen and get them fitted at a workshop and it will be much more reasonable than doing all of this at the agents themselves.

Agree with Llew, sell the Vivo and use the 120d daily and for the weekend.

Good luck with the search!

 

[Morribiscuit]

Considering the Polo is primary car, and a high hijack/theft risk [I have been there, twice], I agree with other suggestions to sell it and use that towards one car?
120d is awesome. do a dp/exhaust and you not worrying about DPF, and enjoy it.

But if it really is a weekend car, fuel consumption doesnt matter, so why not 135i? Fast, fun, and when everything around that motor breaks you have the polo to fetch parts

 

[trevor_e36m]

I really need to try one of these latest diesels, my diesel experience was ruined by an e46 320d I test drove many moons ago. A big hole in the power band below 2000 rpm, then boom it goes, only to flat again after 4000. Coming from a civic vtec I decided then and there I would never drive another diesel