GyGa Manual

2012 BMW 1 Series F20 125d M  Owners Manual PDF-I mistakenly thought we’d already tested the BMW F20 1-Series, and that all I needed to do was shoot the video. Turns out we hadn’t so, oops, down to me. I’d wanted to drive the 99g/km F20 116d ED, but someone else grabbed the keys first, leaving me the 125d M Sport.

The electric steering has just the right amount of feedback to feel the tyres squirming through corners. And though they’re big, low profile runflat tyres: 225/40 R18s on the front and 245/34 R18s on the back, ride quality is not bad at all. No skittering over cats eyes either, like the old 135i on similar profile rubber. Yes, of course you’ll feel hard ridges, but for this kind of car the ride is very acceptable.

Then there’s the way it goes. No jerks. No lag. Just seamless power and torque through the 8-speed autobox that you can override with steering wheel paddles if you want to. All fed through the back wheels rather than the fronts the way the doctor ordered. Enormously satisfying.

The power output is so flexible that on a B road it’s happy to tootle at B road limits. Then, if you need to overtake you’re always confident you have the grunt.

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