Purchasing a BMW 116i F20

[Alanf56]

I start a new job shortly which is about a 10 minutes drive from where I live and was going to change my current car to a F20 BMW 116i. I’ve seen a couple for sale prices ranging from about £5k to £7k (£7k would be the max I’d spend on it). I’m looking at prefacelift models (2012-2015) so will have the 4 cylinder engine which is important to me.

Anyone had any experience of these ? The diesel one sadly won’t work for me.

[biggbn]

Alanf56 said:

I start a new job shortly which is about a 10 minutes drive from where I live and was going to change my current car to a F20 BMW 116i. I’ve seen a couple for sale prices ranging from about £5k to £7k (£7k would be the max I’d spend on it). I’m looking at prefacelift models (2012-2015) so will have the 4 cylinder engine which is important to me.

Anyone had any experience of these ? The diesel one sadly won’t work for me.

Why is the 4 cyl important?

[ChrisH72]

biggbn said:

Why is the 4 cyl important?

The only 6 cylinder would be an m135i which is out of budget anyway so it doesn't really matter.

I'd guess the reason for a 116i is low running costs. But if that's a priority I'd avoid BMW anyway.

[Jamescrs]

Op is it important to you that you have a BMW? I ask as a genuine question because a colleague of mine has a 116i albeit a face-lift I believe.

I've been in it a couple of times just moving it around the carpark as we block each other in. To me it's very basic inside, the tech is quite poor, bog standard AC, small I drive screen with the cheap plastic fillers on the sides, engine isn't great by reputation.

I drive an M240i f series and the interior quality difference is very noticeable.

For the money I'd probably buy something from another less expensive brand with better spec.

[SFTWend]

The four cylinder engine is problematic and best avoided. That's why they appear reasonable value for a BMW. The three cylinder is quite well regarded but will be out of budget.

[Alanf56]

Thanks for the responses guy. The reason for the 4 cylinder engine is I do not like 3 cylinder engines at all. The car will be parked most of the time in a car park so it’s likely that it will get the odd ding/scuff.

It doesn’t need to be a BMW and I’d consider other options too. I don’t like Vauxhalls and would avoid ford ecobooms.

It would need to be a petrol. Any suggestions of what else I could consider ?

[biggbn]

Alanf56 said:

Thanks for the responses guy. The reason for the 4 cylinder engine is I do not like 3 cylinder engines at all. The car will be parked most of the time in a car park so it’s likely that it will get the odd ding/scuff.

It doesn’t need to be a BMW and I’d consider other options too. I don’t like Vauxhalls and would avoid ford ecobooms.

It would need to be a petrol. Any suggestions of what else I could consider ?

The triples are cracking engines man, but if ya don't like them, ya don't like them. Fair enough.

[seadoo180]

Had one of these previously, the engine is PSA engine and it's not great on all fronts, sold it after 9 months.

Id see if you can get something with the VAG 1.4 TSI COD engine (not the older 1.4 they are problematic) far superior.

I think a Seat Leon might be your best bet to get in budget. Good car all around also.

[Alanf56]

Cheers for the responses. Sounds like I should maybe patch the 1 series. I have had 3 golfs in the past and liked them so that would be a good shout. All my golfs were diesels so a petrol one would be ideal. COD is that a reliable set up ?

[SFTWend]

Best value and one of the least troublesome cars for your budget is, perhaps surprisingly, an Alfa Giulietta 1.4 Multiair.

I think most VAG products in your budget will be the pre 2013 engine with timing chain grief.

[Jiebo]

Those 3 pot BMW engines are brilliant, I had it in the mini. Very silly to rule it out

[biggbn]

Jiebo said:

Those 3 pot BMW engines are brilliant, I had it in the mini. Very silly to rule it out

I've put 70k miles on my three pot diesel, it's on 107k now and still running great. F56 Mini One D

[Silvanus]

SFTWend said:

Best value and one of the least troublesome cars for your budget is, perhaps surprisingly, an Alfa Giulietta 1.4 Multiair.

I think most VAG products in your budget will be the pre 2013 engine with timing chain grief.

Agree with the Alfa, very underated cars. Other option worth looking at as the Kia Proceed GT and the Mazda3 with the 2.0, maybe the Hyundai Veloster.

[ChrisH72]

Civic could be another possibility.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023083013...

[biggbn]

Silvanus said:

Agree with the Alfa, very underated cars. Other option worth looking at as the Kia Proceed GT and the Mazda3 with the 2.0, maybe the Hyundai Veloster.

Kia and Hyundai are great shouts