About the 1-Series
The E87 five-door arrived in 2004 to replace the 3-Series Compact. Petrol versions included the 115bhp 116i with the N45 engine, 1.6-litre 16-valve with double-vanos variable valve timing. These all had a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, as did the 118i, although both were also available as automatics. The 118i and 120i both used the N46 2.0-litre unit with the same basic engine design, but with Valvetronic valve lift management and twin balance shafts – the 118i gives 127bhp and, with some ECU trickery, the 120i with the same engine gives 150bhp and benefits from a six-speed manual and a bigger, stronger final drive.
As for diesels, there were initially just two: a 118d 2.0 with 120bhp and a 120d with the same basic engine (the M47N2) tweaked to a useful 160bhp. Both cars had a six-speed manual gearbox, but while the 118d used a small case Type 168 final drive (as did the 116i and 118i), the 120d was equipped with the bigger Type 188.
Trim levels were Base (steel wheels, no aircon, no nothing), ES (alloys, aircon, CD player), SE (electric rear windows, auto aircon with climate control, cruise control, multi-function steering wheel) and Sport (funkier bumpers and sill covers, stiffer suspension, nicer alloys with SE trim and equipment level).
Late 2007 saw the launch of the Coupé and three-door models, plus replacement of the M47N2 diesel engine with the all-new N47. This all-alloy unit boasted 174bhp as a 120d and 140bhp as a 118d. The weak Type 168 diff was banished in the 118d and the bigger Type 188 diff was standardised, but the trade-off was a penchant for the new N47 to exhibit timing chain trouble. On earlier units, the teeth of the crank sprocket (integral with the crank) could be machined slightly wrongly – and, on these units, the chain is at the back. Not only that, there were problems with the chain stretching and with the tensioner – really, the whole thing was a debacle and many specialists recommend a new chain and guides at 100,000 miles if not sooner.
The LCI models also arrived in 2007– LCI stands for Life Cycle Impulse or ‘facelift’ to you and I. Changes were minimal: revised tail-lights with smaller reversing lights, new wheel and trim designs, and not much else.
Late 2007 also saw the replacement of the N46 petrol engine with the N43. Until 2009 these were 1.6 for the 116i and 2.0 for the rest, but after 2009 they were all differently tuned 2.0-litre units. They all used direct injection and the timing chain guides, coil packs and injectors have a less than glowing reputation.
All four-cylinder petrols need a timing chain replacement by 100,000 miles at the latest and they just love to leak oil. The M47 diesel is the wise choice and you can still buy a clean, sensible mileage example and avoid any such dramas.
The two high-performance models were the 123d and the 130i. The 123d arrived in 2008 and was a twin-turbo version of the N47 with 204bhp – these are extremely quick point-topoint and about the best 1-Series when 45mpg is taken into account. But the 261bhp 130i is a fantastic thing – the N53 straight-six direct-injection motor is a peach and it will still exceed 30mpg if driven with some restraint. 2009 also saw the launch of the 2.0-litre 116d with 113bhp, the majority of which were the E81 three-door.
Production ended in 2011 with the arrival of the F20 range.