High Mileage Hatch

[NightStalker]

Hi guys,

Browsing autotrader I came across a few 2012 1 series 118's and 120d's and sparked 2 questions

1: Reliability wise with the cars over 100 000km will it be better to go diesel or petrol?

2: fun factor; Which will be more fun after a few small mods like exhaust, sw and filter , torque of the diesel or the tuned petrol sound with more revs?

Curious to see what you guys think.

 

[FerdiBotha]

120d without a shadow of a doubt.

The 118i goes fairly well (still slower than the diesel), but is plagued by all sorts of issues (turbo, cooling system etc.)

I would bash the French motor (PSA motor), but I see you have driven quite a few, so you seem to like them, but I do believe that is where the issues stem from with this car.

 

[NightStalker]

:fencelook: yup a few of them...

I've not really had a lot of issues with the ones that I drove,
thought the engine in the 118 is different as the layout looks totally different to the pugs/citroens.

 

[r0ckf1re]

I think the PUG engine is in the mini, not the BMW.

 

[FerdiBotha]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_engine#BMW_N13_/_Mini_N18

 

[Nikhil]

Personally the diesels have a better track record in compared to the high mileage and even low mileage 4 cylinder turbo petrol engines. the 120d is more economical, and responds well to modifications. in terms of sound the petrol will sound better not that it will matter much if you get stuck on the side of the road. ive seen a few engine replacements , oil pump failures and time chain guide failures, eccentric camshaft actuator failures on the 4 cylinder petrol models as well as turbo failures all of the above occurring on cars both on and off motorplan. with regards to the diesel i only know of the crank dampner pulley which requires replacement generally at +/- 150k km upwards in some instances only at 200k km. cost for the crank pulley is about 7k from bmw and around 1500 for labour.

personally i would go for the diesel... downpipe, software and a good exhaust and you are pretty much sorted. similar mods can be done to the petrol model however i would be concerned about reliability.

 

[NtandoN]

118i - 1.6l turbo, 125kw
120d - 2.0l turbo, 135kw

 

[ChiefMagomani]

118i - 1.6l turbo, 100kw
120d - 2.0l turbo, 135kw

No issues with injectors on the 120d?

 

[FerdiBotha]

118i - 1.6l turbo, 125kw
120d - 2.0l turbo, 135kw

The 118i is 125kw

 

[FerdiBotha]

OP you can read about common problems on the 116i/118i here - https://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1367345

 

[AlexYannoulatos]

120d all the way :smilebounce:

 

[Stompie]

eventhough i dont have a newer 2012ish one, my 2006 120d is still running strong and sittling on 175k on clocks.

 

[Bmw.wp]

i would love a 3.0d engine inside a 120d hatch. lol

 

[NightStalker]

i would love a 3.0d engine inside a 120d hatch. lol

now that would be fun!

---

OP you can read about common problems on the 116i/118i here - https://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1367345

Thanks for the read. dis tread seriously did sway me more towards the diesel.

 

[FerdiBotha]

Thanks for the read. dis tread seriously did sway me more towards the diesel.

You can’t go wrong with a 120d.

My SO drives an F20 120d auto and it’s really a blast to drive. Even when compared to my tuned 30d.