Just less than two years after the F20 BMW 1 Series’ arrival in Malaysia, the facelift launches to take its place – although there’s only one CKD variant for now. Now, if any of you were put off before by the looks, this one should entice better, with new front and rear treatments that are easier on the eye.
A reshaped kidney grille is flanked by new, slimmer headlamps with corona rings that are now on the same level – our car gets full-LED headlamps. There’s also a new, larger-intaked front bumper, and round the back, you’ll see new L-shaped rear lamps that eat into the tailgate, brandishing double-L LED tubes at night. Below sits a tauter-looking rear bumper.
This is an M Sport, so you get 18-inch twin-spoke alloys with 225/40 front and 245/35 rear tyres, a bodykit, M Sport suspension, the Individual high-gloss Shadow Line package and a chrome tailpipe. Inside, you’ll find anthracite headlining, cloth/Alcantara-upholstered sports seats, M-badged door sills, Aluminium Hexagon interior trim with matte Estoril Blue accents, an M leather steering wheel and an instrument panel with red highlights and chrono scaling.
A lot of kit is to be found inside, including auto dual-zone air-con, keyless entry and start, plus auto lights and wipers. Also on are cruise control with braking function, front and rear parking sensors, and a Light package comprising reading, vanity mirror, ambient, footwell, exit and boot lights.
There’s an 8.8-inch Navigation System Professional with the big touch-enabled iDrive knob – the pre-facelift 125i M Sport had it too. This system offers DVD, MP3, Bluetooth, USB and AUX. Sound is piped in through seven speakers. As before, the Driving Experience Control offers Comfort, Sport and Eco Pro modes.
This 120i has a direct-injected 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbo engine that feeds 177 hp at 4,800-6,450 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 1,500-4,500 rpm to the rear wheels via an eight-speed auto. You’ll actually recognise the mill as the pre-facelift 118i‘s. The century sprint is done in 7.2 seconds, while top speed is 222 km/h. Fuel consumption is a claimed 5.9 litres per 100 km, aided no doubt by the start/stop system.
Safety comprises six airbags (two front, two side, two curtain), DSC (including ABS, ASC, Cornering Brake Control and Dynamic Traction Control). This is very probably the last we’ll see of the rear-wheel-driven 1 Series, as the next generation is expected to move forwards, following in the footsteps of UKL graduates MINI, 2 Series Active/Gran Tourer and new X1.
Locally-assembled (CKD) in Kulim, Kedah, the five-door hatch is priced at RM219,800, OTR with GST and without insurance. Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, Mineral Grey and Estoril Blue body colours are available. As recently announced, all BMW models sold officially in Malaysia now come with a five-year unlimited mileage factory warranty and five years’/100,000 km free service.
Read our review to know how the 1 Series facelift drives. M Performance options are also available for the 1 Series facelift (see table below).
BMW 120i M Sport
BMW 120i M Performance
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Now, you can get a good low mileage BMW 520i 2014 F10 for RM250k. Brand new, the car is RM379k. In one year, the BMW can drop RM130k.
The worst part is, it is BMW Malaysia themselves selling at these low prices trying to clear their pre reg cars and demo cars and director usage cars. These cars are so new, they hardy clock 5000KM even.
So, if BMW Malaysia themselves are throwing such prices, you can imagine the real 2nd hand market. The prices plunge.
So be wise. Wait 1 year and buy this car for around RM130k, virtually brand new. Let the first buyer bear the bulk of depreciation.
Though the price... Hmm 218 is a lot of cash for this car, considering the 316i is cheaper. I'd gladly do the same thing, minus M sport for about 198k though.
Would definitely buy this over the A class cause at least on the old 118i it rode much better
And another thing, stop using twin power turbo! a lot of people think that it's a twin turbo, when in actual fact it's only a single turbo. i think BMW did that on purpose to mislead people.
Does not match the overall lool of the car.
In myyyy opinion, 220K for new 120i is a little bit pricy. Considering its pre-facelift 118i Sport/Urban (Carbase) was priced at 190k. 125i Sport & M-Sport has 15k difference only. If the M kits included in the new 120i is 15k, this should be priced at around 205k only and consider the implementation of GST, it should drag the price slightly lower. Plus, isn't it now driving with front wheels?
The 7.2 secs to 100kmh is not proper fast...even the Golf GTI will eat this Beemer for lunch.