120d Auto. To buy or not to buy?

[Hyades]

Hey!

This will be my first post here. Hopefully there will be many more.

Let me jump right in and ask my questions.

It's time for the wife to get an upgrade from her Fiat Palio. We have been looking at the new Hyundai i20 and KIA Rio. So the budget is around the R150k to R190k.

We chatted, and I'm quite keen on a 120d Auto. I'm in the process of gathering more info on the car.

What are your views on this car? With that budget will we be-able to get a nice one? My plan is to keep the car even when the motor-plan expires. Are there many independent mechanics you can recommend in the West rand area?

How are the turbo's on this car? I know the e46's had issues, and plenty of turbo's died. Will this car suffer the same fate?

What other known issues are there on this car, that you know about?

Thanks.
Chris

 

[Coisman]

Hi there, and welcome! :thumb:
Why do you want to go for a 1 series?? For that money you can have a well kept E90 3 series, still with motorplan probably, and it will be a 320d, 323i, 325i, or even 330i or 330d if you look around a bit.

 

[Hyades]

Hi there, and welcome! :thumb:
Why do you want to go for a 1 series?? For that money you can have a well kept E90 3 series, still with motorplan probably, and it will be a 320d, 323i, 325i, or even 330i or 330d if you look around a bit.

Hey,

I hear you, but, and I quote the wife "I like the 1-series, it's cute"

So, this is going be her car, so rather she gets what she wants.... you know?

Haha

Thanks
Chris

---

The reason I want to diesel, is purely for fuel consumption, and the reason for the AUTO box is cause the car will be used in traffic everyday, and AUTO is just nicer to drive in traffic.

 

[Coisman]

Take to go drive both. The 3 series is ALLOT more quiet in the inside than the 1 series, less road and engine noise.
My wife was the same about the 1 series, and now, she ONLY wants to drive my 325i, and even said she is glad we didn't go for a 1 series.
Another thing is space... the 3 series has way more legroom in the rear than the 1 series, and obviously, you get a boot, so another plus point. :thumb:

 

[///Maniac]

I actually like the 1 series. Dare I say more than the E90. I find it a more fun car to drive whereas the 3 series is more refined. So it all depends what you are looking for in the car. 120d is brilliant in terms of fuel consumption and reliability. I don't think there are any turbo issues. Just stick to ultra low sulphur diesel and you'll get miles of pleasurable motoring.

 

[Nitrous]

Performance vs fuel consumption on the 2.0d engine is brilliant. 120d or 320d, you can't go wrong. Turbo problems have been fixed

 

[Blue Shirt]

Here is a nice one for sale. If you can get the price down a bit, it will be a winner.

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=35880