2006 BMW 116i Road Test

By Paul Maric | December 26th, 2005

When I initially approached the 1 series with the thought of reviewing it, I was a little apprehensive. Because just about every review I have read of this car was not a good one. Yet, they didn’t seem to comment on the car itself, it wasn’t liked because it was not a “real” BMW. So, I decided to focus on what it’s actually like as a car and not whether I believe it is a “real” BMW or not.

However, after having said that right from the beginning the car makes sure you know you are driving a BMW. To unlock the car you press on the BMW symbol on the remote control, and to open the boot you flip the BMW symbol up and it becomes a handle, which I found quite clever.

Other than the branding, the first thing I noticed about this car is how good looking it is. Even though this was just the base model with a 1.6 liter engine it has a low stance and fat tires, giving the car a mean and sporty look. From the vertical grill, even down to the way the roof slopes down at the back, this car looks good from any angle. It makes you wonder why the same design philosophy wasn’t applied to the rest of the BMW range.

Step inside and you are greeted with equal style, a minimalist design with an emphasis on quality. The great thing about this car is that every single detail imaginable has been thought of, right down to the coat hanger handles above the windows that are spring loaded and dampened so they glide back into position rather than flick back like in most other cars. A similar mechanism is applied to the arms in the cup holders that ensure any sized drink is always held in place. Another quality feature I liked is that the handbrake well is entirely sealed with a leather jacket so that no grime can fall in and get stuck. Now, although these might seem like minor additions, it’s this eye for detail that creates the overwhelming feel of amazing build quality and engineering. This is certainly one thing that BMW can do better than any other competitor in the small 5-door car market.

The driving position is fantastic and any facet of it is adjustable, however the mechanism on the base model isn’t electric but still works very well and it’s very easy to adjust the seat and steering wheel. The steering wheel itself is also excellent; it’s thick with a small diameter. This adds to the overall sporty feel of the car and it is trimmed in leather adding to the feel of quality.

This is the first car that I have driven that doesn’t have a key at all. You insert the remote control into a slot on the dash and are greeted by an animation on the multipurpose LCD located between the speedometer and the tachometer, showing you how to push the clutch in and push the start button. One touch of the start button and the engine comes to life, it’s a nice… er, touch.

The car I had the pleasure of driving was the bottom of the pack so to speak and therefore was only equipped with a 1.6 liter engine, however it is BMW’s new engine which uses new Double VANOS variable vale timing technology. It manages to put out a respectable 85kW of power at 6,000rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, whilst hardly using any fuel. Given the fact that this small car is relatively light, weighing in at 1205 kg and the engine is mated to an excellent and precise 5 speed manual gearbox, the car feels quite zippy. It manages 0-100kmh in 10.8 seconds and goes onto a top speed of 200kmh, which I feel is very decent for a 1.6 liter engine.

What really stands out to me about this car compared to other cars of its class is that this car is a real BMW, meaning that it is of course rear wheel drive. This, coupled with the fact that the cassis is amazingly engineered for perfect 50/50 weight distribution, there is almost no overhang over the front and rear wheels and the engine is even set right back, starting over the front axel. This makes the car stick to the road like glue. The car has also benefited from its heritage by replacing the traditional wishbone rear suspension with the fantastic five-link rear suspension used on the 5 and 6 series. This allowed BWM engineers to change the camber of the wheels for better handling.

As a drivers car it is superb. You can really see and feel that although it is a small car, it has retained the technology and the DNA of its bigger BMW siblings. The car will do seemingly impossible things, turning smoothly through any corner you push it through. The power steering isn’t overly assisted, connecting you with the road. The gear changes are short and precise and you can tell that this car has been built with the driver in mind. BMW designed this car with a bigger power plant in mind to create the ultimate driving machine, which is of course is the 130i with its inline 6-cylinder engine producing 190kw. Thanks to this, the 116i drivers are still left with a car that is just so fun to drive, yet for $30k less.

Despite its small size and being built around handling, the 116i has managed to score a 5 star safety rating, the highest there is. It has 6 airbags, including intelligent, dual-stage front airbags that inflate in speed and size depending on the severity of the impact. They work in conjunction with active seatbelt tensioners to insure the best possible chance of the occupants surviving an accident. The car also has an impressive array of active safety features including the latest generation Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) and Dynamic Brake Control (BDC).

The advanced BMW electronics allow you to view average speed, average fuel consumption, current fuel consumption, external temperature, distance to empty and even the oil level. All this is displayed on the LCD in the dash at the touch of a button.

Other BMW innovations that have been passed down to the 116i include the use of run flat tyres backed by the BMW Tyre Puncture Warning System that alerts the driver to a loss of pressure in a tyre. The car can drive safely for 150km at 80kmh with all tyres punctured eliminating the need for a spare. This has allowed BMW to move the battery to the boot to further help with weight distribution and increase battery life. Also included is BMW’s Brake Force Display, meaning the brake lights become brighter the harder you push the pedal to warn drivers behind of a sudden stop.

So, with a staring price of $34,900, is the BMW 116i worth it? Definitely. It contains all of the cutting edge technology, engineering and luxury that make BMW what they are, packed into a compact and practical form that looks better than any car in its class. So even though I wanted to focus on the car and not the brand, I have unintentionally found this to be a real BMW. They managed to downsize and cut the price without cutting out anything that makes BMW’s special. If you are in the market for a car like this you will not be disappointed with the BMW 1 series.

- Lloyd Clearihan

CarAdvice rating (out of 5):

benzanation

Is the 120d worth the extra cash compared to the Golf GT dsl and 308xte dsl??
OldMotorNut

Why are these not selling like hotcakes ?? Because like the 320, the interiors are in a word crap. Dark sombre places with cheap,hard, black plastic. Sit in one then sit in a Mazda 3 or Golf or Honda or any Toyota.After all we spend 80% of the time driving the thing and 20% looking at them. Yes children, interiors are why the Japanese sell more cars than anybody else.
weirluo

OldMotorNut, are you kidding me? “interiors are why the Japanese sell more cars than anybody else.” This is very debatable. It’s highly subjective to personal taste and affordability.

BMW selss less cars then Mazda/Toyota coz most people either can’t afford a BMW or can’t afford having two cars, one X5 4.8 and one 120d.

Afterall, you need $150,000 plus salary, as a single, to afford a brand new X5. Not many, are there? Most people will spend 50000 for a Prado for everythin, but always want to have a BMW.
Kaylee

I actually own a 120i. And it’s great. I can’t believe this old motor nut is claiming that they look crap inside. I test drove a mazda SP23, a golf GTI,an Audi A3, a turbo Astra, and a honda civic, and I have to tell you, whilst my price limit was probably higher then for your average run around car, there was no way I could have bought one of the others. And i think I’ll be holding onto it for years to come, I’d prefer it, then in 5 years time, buy a new Mazda when it’s all I can afford with a mortage!
Sorry but BMW wins this time Hands down!
konbon

I accidentally my 2009 MW M5.
Alex

And just what exactly is that meant to mean? ^^^
Geoff

Yes ,there will always be someone who simply bags a certain vehicle because they can do it.
Crap interior ? ? what a stupid comment when comparing to Japanese cars.I have owned many Jap cars and never a BMW but I have to say if you were to bag the BMW ,bagging the interior shows that you have not given it too much thought.
Or your online…so lets bag something.
I am currently debating whether or not to purchase a Mazda 3 Maxx Sport Hatch, which competes with the BMW.
I made the mistake of test driving a BMW 116i…..and yes its more cash.
I can afford it but can I justify the cash diff ?
At the moment I think I can.
I have test driven the Maxx Sport and its a great car but the BMW has something extra and that something is a combination of many things . The one that stands out for me was the feeling that I was having fun and not just driving a car from A to B.
Probably another plus with me is the rear wheel drive of the BMW & its no secret that front wheel drive is popular with manufacturers because of its cost savings in the build process. It has never been a favourite with me for many reasons.
There is no doubt the standard of quality for the BMW would be hard to ignore,even down to that solid..thump..when closing the door & the standard of finish including high spec fittings & parts.
The only issue’s I have so far are the run flat tyres,which are a great inovation but twice the cost of conventional tyres.(I guess new wheels and space saver spare ) The other is the cost of parts for future maintainence & to be honest I havent enquired about that as yet.
Again, more positive, is the fact that BMW engines seem to go forever….I have a brother in law who constantly preaches about that.
As I write this I am still undecided which to choose & I know that If I go the Mazda I will be invisible & will blend into the traffic with thousands of happy Mazda owner.
Its funny how you will notice a Beema though.
Alex

Geoff, when reading your comment it’s obvious that you want the BMW but your head is saying get the Mazda. There is only one right answer here – get the BMW. It’s the one you actually want and buying a car should never go any further than that. If you wanted the Mazda, it would be a different story but you’re obviously trying to talk yourself into it.
At the end of the day, the BMW isn’t going to be unreliable, bad quality or a bad choice in general so it’s not like buying a 1 Series is a stupid idea.
May I suggest you look at the BMW approved used website and see what you can get? They bring the cars back to new condition so that’s no problem, and it might make it more affordable.
But new or used, don’t make a decision that you’ll regret and I think that in your case, the Mazda is the wrong decision.
Frank

If anyone were even remotely considering this car, the new VW Golf is most certainly every bit as good and in ways a far better bet. The 2.0 liter diesel will run circles around this one with respect to performance, fuel consumption and over all fit and finish.
Cameron

Frank, the Golf TDI is a great little car no doubt and has more interior space. But how can you substantiate those claims?
I think you need to check your facts!
Anthony

Hi all – it’s interesting to read all of the above comments – I bought a new 116i about 12 months ago, and it is a fabulous car. I thought about the Mazdas, Hondas Toyotas, etc, and there is no way they compare.

If you have even the faintest conscience about the environment, you would choose the BMW because not only is it more fuel economical, carbon emissions are also considerably lower. The fact the Asian manufacturers make it very difficult to find the carbon emissions data for their cars pretty well prove that.

The other thing to consider when buying a car is not just the purchase cost, but the total cost of ownership. My 116i’s first service is due at 25,000 kms. I’ve had it for 15 months now and have not had to spend a cent on servicing, and I’ve got 9,000kms to go before it’s first service is due!

The other thing is BMW’s retain their value more than the Asian cars, so when you go to sell your car in the future, the Asian car will have depreciated at a higher rate than the BMW, so you will be worse off.

Last, but certainly not least, these cars drive extremely well, for many reasons, but in my opinion a lot of it has got to do with it being rear wheel drive – it just handles so much better than any front wheel drive in this class.

Hope this helps!
bananaboat

Great review. Currently i am a poor student and have a 1994 (e36) BMW 318i as my first car. I love it to bits and haven’t found a car (including an Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 and FPV Pursuit Ute) that drives like a sports car, while still behaving like a tourer. I can take corners faster than both the other (lawfully) and feel every part of the car as one (50/50 weight distribution w/ Rear Wheel Drive)

This brings me to my dilemma. For the past two years i have been throwing up ideas about what my next car will be, XR4, Evo 7 or 8, Integra Type R, BMW 3-series (e46) etc. It has only been in the past two months that i have realized how good my current BMW is and how awesome it would be if i was able to get a newer BMW. There is no way i would be able to afford a high end 3-series (e46) e.g. 328ci or 330ci/330i, so i have ‘bit the bullet’ and decided that power isn’t everything. 116i or a 120i here i come!

Thanks for the great review and helping myself decide what my next car will be!

Bananaboat
bananaboat

Great review. Currently i am a poor student and have a 1994 (e36) BMW 318i as my first car. I love it to bits and haven\’t found a car (including an Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 and FPV Pursuit Ute) that drives like a sports car, while still behaving like a tourer. I can take corners faster than both the other (lawfully) and feel every part of the car as one (50/50 weight distribution w/ Rear Wheel Drive)

This brings me to my dilemma. For the past two years i have been throwing up ideas about what my next car will be, XR4, Evo 7 or 8, Integra Type R, BMW 3-series (e46) etc. It has only been in the past two months that i have realized how good my current BMW is and how awesome it would be if i was able to get a newer BMW. There is no way i would be able to afford a high end 3-series (e46) e.g. 328ci or 330ci/330i, so i have \’bit the bullet\’ and decided that power isn\’t everything. 116i or a 120i here i come!

Thanks for the great review and helping myself decide what my next car will be!

Bananaboat
Bigal

I have a July 09 116i 2.0ltr 3dr sport. Some facts and figures after 6 months of ownership.
So far done 6000mls I’m currently getting combined 42.8 mpg. On a recent 1500 mile trip I averaged 47.8 mpg.
My service indicator tells me I will not need a 1st service until June 2011.
The 139gm emission figure means I pay £120 p/a road tax.
If you go for the sport option, be prepared for a hard ride, but superb handling.
Run-flats are expensive at approx £140 each for 205 50 17 compared to standard £90 each. However, they claim run-flats last an extra 25% longer.

So far I am very pleased with the car as it suits our needs perfectly. The driving position and controls are excellent. There is plenty of room for load carrying with the back seats down and the frameless three door allows easy access.

Be warned though, there is very little room in the back for adult passengers if you are 6ft plus and need to push the drivers seat back. Kids would have plenty of room though.

Overall, excellent, solid build, economical and a pleasure to own and drive.

Hope this helps.
stavros

hey
does anyone know how to connect an iphone 3GS to an 116i in order to answer calls from the car????