Many people know the BMW brand by such legendary cars as the “five”, “seven” and “X-5”. These machines are very popular in Russia. But the BMW lineup is not limited to them. The German manufacturer also produces small cars. And this is not even a “troika”. This is a BMW of the first series. This car has been manufactured for more than ten years and is officially sold in Russia. What is a BMW 118i? Overview, photos and specifications - further in our article.
Appearance
The design of the car is very similar to the BMW of the second series - the same slanting linzovannye headlights, chrome grille and embossed bumper. A characteristic feature of the BMW 118i is a long hood. It is elongated substantially. Also, the car has a pronounced lateral line, which gives muscle in the back.
Depending on the configuration, there may be LED lights and 16-18 inch wheels. But even in the basic equipment, the car looks good. According to reviews, the car attracts attention no less than the “X fifth” or “Five”. The BMW 118i does not need tuning - the hatchback from the factory has a bright and dynamic design. Large taillights on the trunk lid also look quite stylish. They are LED and are painted entirely in red.
It is worth noting the quality of the paintwork. Chips and cracks do not appear on the vehicle during operation. But in our conditions, the owners are advised to cover the bumper and mirrors with armored film. No one is safe from rubble and other road “surprises”. And painting the car again is very expensive. Often models come in metallic color, where it is difficult to match the paint to match.
BMW in the M-package
For a fee, the manufacturer offers the installation of a sports M-package. It involves the use of an aerodynamic bumper, as well as door sills. Such a machine looks really dynamic and aggressive, especially when paired with 18-inch alloy wheels. By the way, the first series of BMW used the technology of tires "Ranflet".
These wheels with a significant impact protect the disc from damage, because they have a reinforced sidewall. This technology has been practiced by a German manufacturer for several years.
Sizes, clearance
Judging by the dimensions, the BMW 118i belongs to golf cars. So, the length of the car is 4.33 meters, width - 1.76, height - 1.44 meters. The car is quite compact, and despite the long hood, parking on it is very convenient. But what upsets the BMW 118i is its ground clearance. What is the problem? The car is very low - say the reviews. The BMW 118i comes standard with a 14-cm ground clearance. And in the M-package with plastic sills and other bumpers, even less - 12.5 cm. According to reviews, the BMW 118i is not intended for unpaved roads. The car can only be operated in a city where there is flat asphalt. On the primer and the rest of the terrain is better not to leave.
Salon BMW 118i
The interior of the BMW first-series car is modestly designed, but in a corporate sports style. So, there is a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with cutouts for a comfortable grip, as well as seats with good lateral support. The seats here can be adjusted in several positions. Despite the fact that the BMW of the first series is a compact car, in front of the place there is enough space with a margin.
The center console in the car is slightly turned towards the driver. On the dashboard is a multimedia display. Depending on the configuration, its diagonal can be from 6.5 to 8.8 inches. Reviews say that the car has a lot of buttons, which creates a feeling of overload.
Ergonomics in the BMW 118i are fine. The steering wheel is quite comfortable, the controls are at a convenient distance. The chair can be adjusted to your anatomical features. Surprisingly, the golf car has very good sound insulation. No matter what engine it is equipped with, the noise from it barely reaches the driver. There is no rumble from wheel arches. At a speed in the cabin, it is quiet enough, and the plastic does not make noise on the bumps.
According to the dealer, this car can be equipped with Hamman branded music with many speakers of different frequencies and a subwoofer. Music plays in this car really well - say the reviews. But for the "Hamman" you need to pay extra, and not every configuration has this system.
The radio supports USB, and is also equipped with Bluetooth. Through it you can listen to music from your phone, which is very convenient. Depending on the configuration and price, the BMW 118i can be equipped with conventional or sports seats in front. But as the owners say, ordinary chairs already have sufficient lumbar and lateral support. By the way, the seats in all trim levels have high-quality upholstery - it is leather or fabric. Sports seats are a bit harsh, but equipped with lumbar pumping, which is very convenient.
If we talk about the shortcomings, the most important minus is the space behind. He is sorely lacking here. Passengers knees rest against the back of the front seats. But the headroom is enough with a margin due to the direct location of the roof. In the back of the rear sofa there is a folding armrest with cutouts for cup holders. But the ski hatch is missing.
Trunk
The trunk in a BMW car of the first series is quite roomy by the standards of a golf class. It holds up to 360 liters of luggage. But that's not all. The backrest of the rear seat can transform from different positions, forming a flat cargo area.
As a result, the boot volume will be about 1200 liters. But there are also disadvantages. Reviews say that under the floor, the BMW of the first series has neither a spare wheel, nor a tool box. And while in Germany it is still possible to drive without a spare tire, then in Russia, alas, no.
Specifications
This car in the BMW model range is the most compact. Therefore, power plants do not differ in large displacement. So, the base for the German hatchback is a 1.6-liter engine. But do not forget that this is a BMW. The Germans squeezed the maximum power out of him by installing two turbines, a double vanos and a valvetronic system. All this gave a return of 136 horsepower. At the same time, the motor has a good torque - reviews say. It is 220 Nm in the range from 1.3 to 4.3 thousand revolutions. An automatic transmission “Steptronic” with eight steps or six-speed mechanics acts as a gearbox. The latter is non-alternative in the basic configuration.
Now about the most interesting - about the dynamics of acceleration. According to reviews, this car is quite fast. To hundreds, it accelerates in 8.7 seconds. Moreover, the maximum speed is 210 kilometers per hour. The car has cruise control and a speed sensor.
The BMW 118i is one of the most economical cars in the line. So, with a 1.6-liter engine, the car consumes about five and a half liters in mixed mode. This is a decent indicator, given that the engine is gasoline and is equipped with a turbocharging system.
In more expensive trim levels, BMWs of the first series are aggregated with a two-liter gasoline engine for 177 horsepower. This engine is also equipped with a turbocharger and a modern Valvetronic. The engine torque is 250 Nm. Moreover, it is implemented in a fairly wide range - from one and a half to four thousand revolutions. As for acceleration, a hundred cars gaining in 7.2 seconds. And the maximum speed reaches 222 kilometers per hour. In terms of consumption, the BMW hatchback is a fairly economical car. Reviews say that the 177-strong modification consumes about 5.7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. But it should be noted that the engine is very picky about fuel quality. Here you need to fill in gasoline with an octane rating of at least 95.
BMW M
The most expensive BMW modification of the first series is the "M". It is equipped with a three-liter gasoline in-line six-cylinder engine. Like the previous ones, there is a turbine. But in addition, the Germans used the GDI direct fuel injection system. This unit develops as many as 326 horsepower. The torque is 450 Nm. It is also implemented in a wide range - from 1.3 to 4.5 thousand revolutions per minute. As the gearbox used eight-speed intelligent automatic transmission.
Acceleration to hundreds of this "baby" takes less than five seconds. And the maximum speed is 250 kilometers per hour. Moreover, the maximum speed is limited by force. As soon as the arrow reaches this value, the speed sensor activates and stops the flow of fuel into the cylinders. As for fuel consumption, according to passport data, it is 7.6 liters in the combined cycle. But as practice shows, the real numbers are completely different. So, in most cases, the consumption is from ten to fifteen liters of gasoline per hundred.
BMW 118i chassis: description
The car is built on a rear-wheel drive platform. Front suspension is independent with MacPherson struts and aluminum levers. Also, a stabilizer bar is used here. The rear is also an independent suspension, but the shock absorbers are separate from the springs. In total, five levers are used here on each side. The manufacturer claims that the body of the BMW of the first series is made entirely of steel. In view of this, the car is not only highly safe, but also has a large curb weight. Depending on the engine installed, the BMW 118i weighs between 1,374 and 1,520 kilograms. This is one of the heaviest hatchbacks in its class.
Ride quality
Reviews indicate a good handling of the car. This is not surprising, because all the curb weight is evenly distributed throughout the body. Even the battery here is not under the hood, but in the trunk. Plus, the car has a low center of gravity. Steering gear - with electric booster. As an option, the manufacturer offers the installation of a gearbox with a variable gear ratio.
BMW 118 is a fast and maneuverable car. But with its sporting character, this car is not very smooth. The pit suspension is frankly stiff. The slightest junction - and the bump is noticeably felt in the cabin. Perhaps this is the only minus of this model. The behavior of the car at high speeds (120 and above) is very predictable. The machine is equipped with round disc brakes. This provides effective braking. By the way, the front disk mechanisms have cutouts for ventilation.
It is worth noting that the sports M-version has a more powerful brake system. So, four-piston calipers and 34-centimeter disks with ventilation are used here.
Drive unit
Like all BMWs, the “unit” has rear-wheel drive. But if we talk about the top-end modification of the "M", the "XDrive" drive is used here. This is a smart all-wheel drive technology that can automatically distribute torque between the front and rear axles in different proportions. When the situation changes, the torque can be redistributed 100 percent on one of the axles. But four-wheel drive is not used here to overcome the terrain. Thanks to this system, the best grip of the wheels with the road is ensured during a sharp acceleration.
Cost and configuration
You can buy a new BMW 118 at a price of 1 million 550 thousand rubles. This will be the basic configuration, with a manual gearbox. In addition, the buyer receives the following set of options:
- Side and front airbags, as well as air curtains for the rear and front row of seats.
- The stability control system.
- Help system when starting downhill.
- Tires with Ranflet technology.
- Tire pressure loss indicator.
- Halogen headlights.
- 16 inch stamped wilds.
- Heater washer nozzles.
- One-zone climate control.
- Acoustics on six speakers.
- Leather steering wheel.
- Upholstery
- The function of choosing a driving mode (including "Eco Drive").
- 6.5-inch multimedia system.
- Starting a car with a button.
- The BMW Teleservice system.
At the same time, the buyer receives after-sales service for a period of three years (or 200 thousand kilometers).
If we talk about the most expensive version of the BMW M, it is available at a price of 2 million 800 thousand rubles. In addition to a powerful motor, automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system, the buyer will receive:
- Dynamic cruise control.
- Climatic installation.
- LED adaptive optics.
- 18-inch alloy wheels.
- Aerodynamic M-package.
- Sports suspension and braking system with ventilated mechanisms on the rear axle.
- Repair kit for tires.
- Alcantara upholstery.
- Aluminum and matt inserts in the cabin.
- Puffy leather multifunction.
- A stereo system with six speakers and a subwoofer.
- Full power accessories.
- Armrest in front.
- Velor rugs.
- Handsfree system with Bluetooth.
- Adaptive steering.
- Sports seats.
This car also has a post-warranty service for a period of three years, or 200 thousand kilometers (whichever comes first).
Conclusion
So, we found out what the BMW 118i has specifications, price and features. If you compare this car with other hatchbacks, definitely, BMW has no competitors (except that the Mercedes is an A-class). However, in terms of price, the car is inaccessible to many motorists. The first series BMW is one of the most expensive golf cars. Even the Mercedes A-Series is a little cheaper. However, you need to understand that BMW uses the most advanced technologies, due to which excellent acceleration dynamics and high fuel efficiency are realized. Salon assembled better than any Korean or Japanese counterpart, and at times. BMW first series - not just a compact hatchback. This is a car for those who want to get the maximum drive and emotions. But you have to pay for this pleasure.