Road Test
BMW 118d SE
Test date Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Price as tested £20,685
For Handling, refined engine, quality
AgainstPrice, rear seat space
Little cars have played a big part in the history of BMW. Forbidden from making aero engines after the First World War, BMW turned to motorcycles and then cars.
The Austin Seven-based 1928 Dixi was its first four-wheeler. In the 1950s, BMW struggled to sell its luxury saloons and was saved by the Italian ISO Isetta ‘bubble car’ built in Munich with BMW motorbike power.
But the 1-series’ closest ancestor was the ’02 series of the ’60s. Like the One, it featured 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol engines in a small, high quality sporting package.
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