-
1 Attachment(s)
The end of the world...
Yes the time has come. This is the end of the world as we know it. Because I'm driving a diesel.
It's a brand new BMW 118d 3 door which we collected yesterday. And after having done 200km or so with the car here are the first impressions.
First of all it strikes me the quietness and smothness for a diesel I found those quite amazing. Especially when all of my previous diesel experience was with pumpe duse (or however they call it) VAG diesels. However don't be fooled by those people who say "you can't tell it's a diesel!" because you can but it's true that the progress which has been made in like 10 years is amazing.
Comfort is another aspect where this car scores highly especially if you compare it to the good ol' Mini (altough probably even bed of nails would be more comfortable than it). Ride is quite more compliant and the noise is much reduced especially at motorway speeds thanks to the long gear ratios. That means sixth is only effective above 100km/h, but that's ok.
Performance is adequate not outstanding but not bad either. It's delivered very diferently from the Mini, though. In the Mini putting your foot down was an event, even in sixth, accompained by the growl of the exhaust and the whine of the superchager. In this everything is much more sedate and constant. There's no drama, you gain speed without almost noticing it. And you can't really argue with the fuel consumption. We averaged 6,2l/100km over 200km of motorway at an average speed of about 140km/h.
But it's perfect the excitement, pasion and charisma the Mini had is somewhat lacking. Yes it's very effective and efficient but it lacks that extra something makes us love cars. Oh and the start-stop system, very clever indeed but a bit annoying once the novelty has passed and not exactly smooth when starting up again.
Two things to end, first the only pic I have is that awful thing taken with my phone in which you can see almost nothing, I promise better pictures as soon as I can. And finally I haven't commented on the handling because I didn't have the opportunity to drive on twisty roads. I'll tell you what I think about it once I've had the opportunity to drive it on country roads.
-
Cool purchase!
What's the fuel consumption converted to MPG? I gotta learn how to do that.
Any chance that these cars will come to the states? I know that the coupe will come, but will the hatches?
-
welcome to the new world...
-
Nice, congrats on the purchase.
-
Nice one Albert! What's the trim level / specification like?
-
looks like an ES to me.
Sounds pretty cool Albert. My cousin's about to swap her '97 Fiesta 1.25 for an '04 Z4 2.2i. Did you use the Mini as Part Exchange or did that go privately?
-
[QUOTE=NSXType-R;769758]Cool purchase!
What's the fuel consumption converted to MPG? I gotta learn how to do that.
Any chance that these cars will come to the states? I know that the coupe will come, but will the hatches?[/QUOTE]
85mph, 46mpg UK and 39mpg US.
[QUOTE=henk4;769760]welcome to the new world...[/QUOTE]
Any advice form our resident diesel expert? ;)
[QUOTE=Clivey;769769]Nice one Albert! What's the trim level / specification like?[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Waugh-terfall;769775]looks like an SE to me.
Sounds pretty cool Albert. My cousin's about to swap her '97 Fiesta 1.25 for an '04 Z4 2.2i. Did you use the Mini as Part Exchange or did that go privately?[/QUOTE]
We have no trim levels here. But it doesn't have sports suspension or big wheels (16" alloys, 195/55) so I guess that it resembles UK's SE spec most. It's mostly standard except for the Xenons, color coded exterior trim and the alloys.
An we sold the Mini privately because the BMW dealer didn't offer anywhere near enough compared to the 2nd hand market.
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769780]85mph, 46mpg UK and 39mpg US. [/QUOTE]
That's not bad. How come the US and UK mpgs are vastly different?
-
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769780]
Any advice form our resident diesel expert? ;)
[/QUOTE]
in Dutch, but I think the message is clear. (but useful only after expiring of the engine warranty:)
[url=http://www.ziptuning.nl/chiptuning/Bmw-118-D-122pk.html#header]Chiptuning Bmw 118 D 122pk - Klaar terwijl U Wacht ![/url]
-
[QUOTE=NSXType-R;769784]That's not bad. How come the US and UK mpgs are vastly different?[/QUOTE]
United States = U.S. liquid gallon = 3.785411784 litres
United Kingdom = Imperial gallon = 4.54609 litres
-
[QUOTE=fisetdavid26;769793]United States = U.S. liquid gallon = 3.785411784 litres
United Kingdom = Imperial gallon = 4.54609 litres[/QUOTE]
the blessings of going metric are once more soooo evident....
-
[QUOTE=henk4;769794]the blessings of going metric are once more soooo evident....[/QUOTE]
Using metric units everyday, I agree. But why going the simple way when you can go the complicated way?
-
[QUOTE=fisetdavid26;769795]Using metric units everyday, I agree. But why going the simple way when you can go the complicated way?[/QUOTE]
Because we aint no commie europeans, gal durnit! Git out a here with yer metric system!
-
[QUOTE=fisetdavid26;769793]United States = U.S. liquid gallon = 3.785411784 litres
United Kingdom = Imperial gallon = 4.54609 litres[/QUOTE]
Ugh, I hate the USA. :D
-
[QUOTE=henk4;769792]in Dutch, but I think the message is clear. (but useful only after expiring of the engine warranty:)
[url=http://www.ziptuning.nl/chiptuning/Bmw-118-D-122pk.html#header]Chiptuning Bmw 118 D 122pk - Klaar terwijl U Wacht ![/url][/QUOTE]
Actually it's really only a 21bhp gain. Since the 118d has 143bhp in most countries now. The 122bhp is an older version of the engine.
I find those lower fuel consumption figures VERY hard to believe.
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769753]
But it's perfect the excitement, pasion and charisma the Mini had is somewhat lacking. Yes it's very effective and efficient but it lacks that extra something makes us love cars. Oh and the start-stop system, very clever indeed but a bit annoying once the novelty has passed and not exactly smooth when starting up again.[/QUOTE]
Can you disable the start-stop system ?
-
well, i am happy for you, but i am sad to see you leave the wonderful community of mini owners. so there are 2 of us left, and i'm now the only one with an S.
-
[QUOTE=cmcpokey;769843]well, i am happy for you,
so there are 2 of us left.[/QUOTE]
as am i
that's 'cause nobody wants a mini.....unless it's an older version of course:p
-
[QUOTE=orshow;769866]as am i
that's 'cause nobody wants a mini.....unless it's an older version of course:p[/QUOTE]
i dont want an 07 on... but my 04 is great, if not a bit small, and uncomfortable on long journeys. i still love it even after 3 years.
-
[QUOTE=Lagonda;769840]Actually it's really only a 21bhp gain. Since the 118d has 143bhp in most countries now. The 122bhp is an older version of the engine.
I find those lower fuel consumption figures VERY hard to believe.[/QUOTE]
in that case
[url=http://www.ziptuning.nl/chiptuning/Bmw-118d-143pk-2006.html#header]Chiptuning Bmw 118d 143pk 2006 - Klaar terwijl U Wacht ![/url]
lower fuel consumption will most likely occur if you would drive the tuned version in exactly the same "normal" way as the non-tuned version. Asking for the added power permanently will see an increase...
and I just quoted the first site I came across, there are many more options...
-
[QUOTE=Lagonda;769842]Can you disable the start-stop system ?[/QUOTE]
Yes you can.
-
Congrats Albert.
Do you make long distances now?
With the petrol prices in Spain, it's not an obvious choice unless you really travel a lot.
It's a very nice car. ;)
-
[QUOTE=McReis;769947]Congrats Albert.
Do you make long distances now?
With the petrol prices in Spain, it's not an obvious choice unless you really travel a lot.
It's a very nice car. ;)[/QUOTE]
Well 71,000km in just under 3 years with the Mini. You can do the maths... :p
The car which is only about 2 days old already has almost 400km on the clock.
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769912]Yes you can.[/QUOTE]
Switchable from inside the car IIRC?
Albert, you might want to consider an ECU remap as Pieter recommends. They are very worthwhile: More MPG (seriously), BHP and lbs/ft, as well as a better spread of that power and torque. It should help to recover some of the driveability that you seem to think you've lost in the transition from the Mini. - and don't forget: You have RWD now :cool:.
44k miles in three years actually isn't a lot. Nevertheless, you'll see the benefits of a diesel - so long as the servicing costs aren't as ridiculously high as the Mini One D's my family have.
-
[QUOTE=Clivey;769955]Switchable from inside the car IIRC?[/QUOTE]
Yup there's a little button under the radio.
[QUOTE=Clivey;769955]Albert, you might want to consider an ECU remap as Pieter recommends. They are very worthwhile: More MPG (seriously), BHP and lbs/ft, as well as a better spread of that power and torque. It should help to recover some of the driveability that you seem to think you've lost in the transition from the Mini. - and don't forget: You have RWD now :cool:.
44k miles in three years actually isn't a lot. Nevertheless, you'll see the benefits of a diesel - so long as the servicing costs aren't as ridiculously high as the Mini One D's my family have.[/QUOTE]
Rear drive. That has been the big change. Yesterday I took the car to Montjuïc, to test the handling a bit and the first thing you notice is how nice the steering is. Unlike the Mini's it's not upset by the power or anything. I was a bit worried because those new BMW's have electric power steering and I thought that would ruin the feel, but I'm happy to report that this isn't the case. It's not as good as the Mini in that aspect but much better than anything Audi can manage that's for sure. It's a very balanced car, this. You can feel in the corners how if you press the throttle it doesn't go wide as the Mini did. The longer wheelbase makes it less agile in the corners but less frantic too. The Mini was a riot, this while not achieving Mini's level can be fun too, but then when you want to relax it can play those cards well too.
Oh and in case you were wondering, yes it can go sideways (Previous disengagement of the DTC ;)).
-
[QUOTE=Clivey;769955] 44k miles in three years actually isn't a lot. Nevertheless, you'll see the benefits of a diesel - so long as the servicing costs aren't as ridiculously high as the Mini One D's my family have.[/QUOTE]
Aggreed, the A6 is at 38,000mi in just over 2yrs
but the Mazda is at 42,000mi in almost 15yrs
What milage has your yellow Mini done, something ridiculous wasn't it?
My mates Step-Dad covered 35,000mi in one year in a brand new Toyota Verso 2.2D-4D, and he's just added another 35,000mi to a 3yr old 320d
How does this 'StopStart' thing work exactly..?
-
[QUOTE=Waugh-terfall;769976]How does this 'StopStart' thing work exactly..?[/QUOTE]
When you stop (at a junction, the lights, whatever...) knock it into neutral and step off the clutch the engine stops (if certain conditions are met). When you press the clutch it starts again.
-
So...how does the thing sound on start-up? Does it sound like a truck or more like a gasoline-burning engine?
I've heard it sounds more like the latter now on cars like the Bluetec E320.
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769980]When you stop (at a junction, the lights, whatever...) knock it into neutral and step off the clutch the engine stops (if certain conditions are met). When you press the clutch it starts again.[/QUOTE]
Aaah, that was my guess. is that standard on the 1-Series?
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769980]When you stop (at a junction, the lights, whatever...) knock it into neutral and step off the clutch the engine stops (if certain conditions are met). When you press the clutch it starts again.[/QUOTE]
It sounds quite annoying. And doesn't this compromise the reliability of an engine, since the diesels vibrate a bit when starting up?
I hate the idea.
-
[QUOTE=kingofthering;769982]So...how does the thing sound on start-up? Does it sound like a truck or more like a gasoline-burning engine?
I've heard it sounds more like the latter now on cars like the Bluetec E320.[/QUOTE]
Despite having improved greatly you can still tell it's a diesel. Especially from the outdside.
[QUOTE=Waugh-terfall;769985]Aaah, that was my guess. is that standard on the 1-Series?[/QUOTE]
Only in cars with manual gearboxes.
[QUOTE=McReis;769986]It sounds quite annoying. And doesn't this compromise the reliability of an engine, since the diesels vibrate a bit when starting up?
I hate the idea.[/QUOTE]
Once the novelty has faded away, yes it's a bit annoying especially because everytime it start again the gear level vibrates quite a lot. But I guess with time we'll get used to it. And concerning the reliability, well I hope BMW engineers have thought about that before implementing it on their cars...
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;769998]
Once the novelty has faded away, yes it's a bit annoying especially because everytime it start again the gear level vibrates quite a lot. But I guess with time we'll get used to it. And concerning the reliability, well I hope BMW engineers have thought about that before implementing it on their cars...[/QUOTE]
it seems to work only when the outside temperature is above 3 degree Celsius...pretty much always in most parts of Spain. I think you will keep it in gear much more than you were used to with the Mini and use the clutch much more. (the use of only the clutch and keeping the engine running idle, will bring you to third gear without any problem...)
-
[QUOTE=Waugh-terfall;769976]What milage has your yellow Mini done, something ridiculous wasn't it?[/QUOTE]
It's about to break the 100k miles barrier and we've had it since June 2005. The car feels totally different to when I had my driving lessons in it (it was in good condition back then, now the mechanicals need a thorough overhaul (not economically viable) and it's getting worn on the interior), so I think it's going to be replaced soon I'm afraid.
It's a shame because we've become quite attached to that little car. It was Dad's first (proper) car for the driving school, and we used it to set the 'school up and running. I learned to drive (officially ;) ) in it, as did my best mate and girlfriend...and now it's not the little machine it once was :( . The bodywork's still perfect but driving school cars take such a beating mechanically and on all the control surfaces (steering wheel, gearlever etc).
[QUOTE=henk4;770004]it seems to work only when the outside temperature is above 3 degree Celsius...pretty much always in most parts of Spain.[/QUOTE]
That would make sense - diesels need pre-ignition time before starting in those temperatures, and that'd probably take too long for the Stop and Start tech to work properly.
[QUOTE=henk4;770004]I think you will keep it in gear much more than you were used to with the Mini and use the clutch much more. (the use of only the clutch and keeping the engine running idle, will bring you to third gear without any problem...)[/QUOTE]
As in moving off from rest using only the clutch, then once the engine management system's ticking it along, changing-up carefully?
-
[QUOTE=Clivey;770037]It's about to break the 100k miles barrier and we've had it since June 2005. The car feels totally different to when I had my driving lessons in it (it was in good condition back then, now the mechanicals need a thorough overhaul (not economically viable) and it's getting worn on the interior), so I think it's going to be replaced soon I'm afraid.[/QUOTE]
Bloody hell, and my Dad thinks the A6 is bad and it's only 1month newer than your Minis. Gonna replace them with newer Mini's? I've decided that I'm going to base my driving school on what cars they use lol, I've seen a few Skoda Fabia vRS's out front of college.
-
[QUOTE=Clivey;770037]As in moving off from rest using only the clutch, then once the engine management system's ticking it along, changing-up carefully?[/QUOTE]
yep, if you handle the clutch delicately, the engine will not stall. It comes in very handy in traffic cues.
-
It's fun, I drove (hid it when he wasn't looking) a friends 306 1.9TurboD the other week and I didn't touch the throttle once
-
[QUOTE=henk4;770061]yep, if you handle the clutch delicately, the engine will not stall. It comes in very handy in traffic cues.[/QUOTE]
I know, I was just seeking clarification of what you were meaning when you said:
[QUOTE=henk4;770004]I think you will keep it in gear much more than you were used to with the Mini and use the clutch much more. (the use of only the clutch and keeping the engine running idle, will bring you to third gear without any problem...)[/QUOTE]
It is great to be able to do that though, unless like in the Mini, the clutch is excessively heavy = sucks in traffic jams.
-
[QUOTE=henk4;770061]yep, if you handle the clutch delicately, the engine will not stall. It comes in very handy in traffic cues.[/QUOTE]
That is true, but also a bit annoying coupled to the longer gearing of 2nd. That's because in the Mini when I drove at very slow speeds (10-15km/h) I used to use 2nd for that. But in the BMW 2nd gear is 17,6km/h per 1000rpm which means that if I put it in second at like 10km/h the car accelerates "on it's own".
I'll have to get used to that and use first more often.
[QUOTE=Clivey;770068]It is great to be able to do that though, unless like in the Mini, the clutch is excessively heavy = sucks in traffic jams.[/QUOTE]
And I guess the Cooper S is even worse than the diesel. But I didn't thought it was [I]that[/I] bad. The 1-series is notably softer on everything, though.
-
[QUOTE=Ferrer;770069]That is true, but also a bit annoying coupled to the longer gearing of 2nd. That's because in the Mini when I drove at very slow speeds (10-15km/h) I used to use 2nd for that. But in the BMW 2nd gear is 17,6km/h per 1000rpm which means that if I put it in second at like 10km/h the car accelerates "on it's own".
I'll have to get used to that and use first more often.[/QUOTE]
Yes, same with the Minis, you control that with your clutch. A word of warning is to be careful when turning at a junction - you sometimes change down to second and drop to the speed that the engine management system kicks-in at. It will, if you're not careful, give you a bit of a shock and a "kick" of acceleration half way 'round a bend. If you partially depress the clutch when you drop below that speed, you avoid this.