Need help from BMW enthusiasts

I've recently become fascinated with the 1 series but my God, trying to get any in-depth info on the specific models, years, what engines is proving difficult. Is there any decent place that gives a full rundown of all the specs, potential performance modification and so on? Most of what I can find is people modding them for things like drifting or as non-road legal track toys but in markets outside Europe which I assume come with engines that aren't available here due to emission standards.

Cheers in advance, and apologies if this isn't the place for such an enquiry.

Buddy Bubs

There used to be a forum called bmw-driver.net and also bimmerforums, not sure how active they are now I used to have a look back in the day.

The 1 series shared engines and mechanics found across the other models in the range so what's applicable to the 3 series which is much more popular may apply to 1 series depending on engine selected.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122294881#Comment_122294881

Perfect thank you, I'll give those forums a look. Of all the MFG's I would be attracted to one with a confusing naming convention.

Sir Galahad

Sadly Driver.net is a ghost town of a site now. I think instagram killed it.

kdevitt

Plenty of knowledge on them on backroads.ie if you pop up a question there.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122296289#Comment_122296289

Yeah so I see although bimmerforums.co.uk seems to be pretty active.

Cheers, I'll check that out too. Although so far what I am seeing is the 1 series aint worth is, which is a shame because I really do like the look of the first gen which even BMW owners say has the worst engine BMW ever made apparently.

kdevitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122297212#Comment_122297212

That entirely depends on what engine you're going for - the 4 pot petrols aren't great, the 4 pot diesels are fine, and the 6 pot petrols are super.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122297512#Comment_122297512

Ah yes well that's my issue, I don't really know which is which. Originally I was considering the 116i (which I believe is the 4 cylinder petrol) but I might actually go the diesel route so I assume that would be 11Xd model number?

Edit: Also I signed up to backroads and apparently I cannot access the forums now. Website seems kinda jank.

kdevitt

116i. 118, 120i are petrol 4 pots - avoid them all. 118d, 120d, 123d are 4 pot diesels - they're fine, but not without problems. I'd buy one of the 4 pot diesels over the 4 pot petrols every day of the week. 125i, 130i and 135i are petrol 6 pots - and are great - although insurance and tax isn't so great.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122297670#Comment_122297670

Perfect thank you! Yeah I'd say I am going the diesel route for sure. Although I'll probably start off with a VW Golf, or Audi A3 TDI and then get the 1 series when I have more experience.

Mac 3

bmwhaus.ie might be worth a look.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122297831#Comment_122297831

I looked it up but nothing 1 series related unfortunately.

CalamariFritti

Bimmerpost.com is very good and the forum there is very active too.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122297670#Comment_122297670

6 pot petrols also have fairly serious issues tbh

kdevitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122298968#Comment_122298968

Edit - forget it - have to remind myself not to engage on here!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122298309#Comment_122298309

Wasn't great for IRL/ UK based stuff but found a lead to a decent UK based vbulliten board so cheers for that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122298985#Comment_122298985

I had to delete all my social media to learn how to do that, fair play. That being said I was scrounging for popcorn 😂