[ron_jeremy]

Hi. So i've owned the E84 for about 18 months.
And having owned 15 BMW, it's the BMW i've been least happy with overall.
Mediocre build quality, small and kinda falling behind two chairs beeing a low SUV or a high wagon.
So i've been looking towards either a F25 or a F11.
Then the F48 came along, and it looked like a great package, providing more space in the rear and cargo.
And it looks great as well.
As a hobby, i've written a couple of test of previous BMW for some sites and magazines.
So i'm currently writing on two seperate articles about the new X1 right now.
And i thought i should share some thoughts on this new baby X with you guys.


Above all, it's not just a new model, as new models usually is stretched a few cm here and there.
The F48 have been redone completly from the aging E84.
First of, the engine is transverse now, making the design very different from the E84 with the rather long hood.
Then the platform, beeing a mini and 2AT sibling (using UKL platform), there are obvious signs of this beeing a mix of mini and a BMW.
We have the all new Xdrive, a Haldex 5, a lighter system than the "classic" X-drive.
And it's initially a FW driwen 4WD system, not an all wheel driven system as usual 4 wheel drive/X-drive have been.
I have alot of experience with X-drive models, from the E83 to the F25.
And the F48 feels abit different from the "classic" X-drive with focus on RWD "feel".
It kind of feels apropriate on the F48 though, it doesn't feel FW driven (like the 2 series Active tourer with FWD)
The new X1 is very agile and quick, much more so than the
My test vehicle was a X-drive 20d, with 190 hp and the Aisin 8 speed sport transmission, it's plenty fast.
You feel the extra hight (53mm) from the predessecor, it's more like a proper SUV now and it looks much better.
But it's shorter than the original X1, and the wheelbase have also gotten shorten.
And although you can argue that the space inside almost is within F25 territory, the comfort is far from it.

The space is improved inside, the much improved luggage department have improved by 20% to 500 liters.
And the rear have a sliding seat now with improved space.
The width though is not so much an improvement sadly, as the increased space is kinda wasted. It seems the extra space is between the doors and the seats, this goes for the front and back.

The interior is a wast improvement from the E84 with better materials.
The HU unit is also not a cheap half baked solution as in the sibling Active tourer.
This head up unit is like the F25 and F11, works great.
The standard steering wheel and gear shifter is just horrible, cheap feel and plain ugly, an M steering wheel is a must imo!
The panorama is a lot bigger than the small roof that was in the E84.
Overall the new diesel and drivetrain is just great.

The hybrid is coming, same as 225eX but sounds like a late 2016 release at best.

So to sum it up.
Pros:

- F48 is a much more mature car than the original X1, it looks like a baby suv now with much improved look from the original.
- Improved interior.
- less noise inside and from the drivetrain.
- Drivetrain.
- Improved space inside.
- Fast and agile car, fun to drive.
- Options, a lot of them now.
Cons:

- steering wheel and gear shifter, cheap feel and plain ugly.
- Comfort is not great due to the decrease in the wheelbase.
- A bit expensive.

[ron_jeremy]

Added pictures.
:-)

[ShinySteelRobot]

Thanks for the mini-review.

What did you think of the seats? (It looks like the model you drove had sport seats.)

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by ShinySteelRobot

Thanks for the mini-review.

What did you think of the seats? (It looks like the model you drove had sport seats.)

Well, it's the same seats as the sibling Active tourer has. And it's ok.
The standard seats are very flat, so you should opt for these sport seats. Theyr not as good as the sportseats you'll find in the E9* generation, the E84 obviously have those. They look better and is just way better to sit in.

[KPD]

Don't remember seeing those wheels in any of the brochures. Are they 17" or 18"?

[Verker]

I recall i read several time that the new X1 is shorter than the old one, but still having a LARGER wheelbase than its predecessor. Did you get that wrong in your mini review, or is everyone else wrong about that data?

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by Verker

I recall i read several time that the new X1 is shorter than the old one, but still having a LARGER wheelbase than its predecessor. Did you get that wrong in your mini review, or is everyone else wrong about that data?

Well, despite this being a hobby of mine, i´ve gotten it right.
Quote from the official F48 technical training docs:
Wheelbase [mm] F48:2670 E84: 2760 – 90

So in my opinion, EDC on the F48 makes little or no sense, as the comfort still isn´t very comy, because of the even shorter wheelbase found in the E84.

[ttimbo]

I'm slightly confused abut the terminology you're using, Ron. The EDC, or in my brochure, Driver Experience Control, is standard on all the F48 models, and controls the steering and throttle mapping. The optional Dynamic Damper Control adds adjustable dampers, and it is this addition I think you are questioning, based in the shorter wheelbase.

You may be right and, in any case, it is an option, albeit not too expensive.

I've had experience with adjustable damping in both my current M135i, and a VW Golf -- both of which have shorter wheelbases than the F48, and I've found it a great addition. Not so much for Comfort, as it doesn't alter the setting from standard, but for handling, by firming up the dampers when one needs to press on. So choosing that option might be of value for those drivers who have this need from time to time. Or not.

My sense, after a 30km test drive over varying surfaces, is that ride issue is neither the effect of the short wheelbase (there are some shorter wheelbase cars that ride really, really well, eg Mk7 Golf, Peugeot 308, and at 2.67m, the F48 is not really short) nor the damping, but is very much the result of the RFTs, especially the low profile RFTs on 19" wheels. I say this because of the way you feel the ride irregularities, which are less through the body and more through the wheels.

I'm prepared to test this once I get my car, but it'll be a bit of a wait. And I may be wrong!

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by ttimbo

I'm slightly confused abut the terminology you're using, Ron. The EDC, or in my brochure, Driver Experience Control, is standard on all the F48 models, and controls the steering and throttle mapping. The optional Dynamic Damper Control adds adjustable dampers, and it is this addition I think you are questioning, based in the shorter wheelbase.

You may be right and, in any case, it is an option, albeit not too expensive.

I've had experience with adjustable damping in both my current M135i, and a VW Golf -- both of which have shorter wheelbases than the F48, and I've found it a great addition. Not so much for Comfort, as it doesn't alter the setting from standard, but for handling, by firming up the dampers when one needs to press on. So choosing that option might be of value for those drivers who have this need from time to time. Or not.

My sense, after a 30km test drive over varying surfaces, is that ride issue is neither the effect of the short wheelbase (there are some shorter wheelbase cars that ride really, really well, eg Mk7 Golf, Peugeot 308, and at 2.67m, the F48 is not really short) nor the damping, but is very much the result of the RFTs, especially the low profile RFTs on 19" wheels. I say this because of the way you feel the ride irregularities, which are less through the body and more through the wheels.

I'm prepared to test this once I get my car, but it'll be a bit of a wait. And I may be wrong!

Yes, that's correct, i meant adjustable dampers.
EDC is the old term i belive, i'm getting old, and English is not my native Language.
:-)
DDC in my opinion, made less of a difference on the F48 than on say the F25.
I relate this to basicly the short wheelbase.
And as such, the comfort is the achilles of the F48, and i hoped the DDC was the solution to this problem.
In my opinion, it did not.
And a feature that doesn't really do much, isn't that important.
In the F1* and F25 i'll say it's a very welcome feature, as it brings a very different feel to these cars.

[ttimbo]

Ah, so the model you test drove had DDC. I think you're the first (non-journalist) reviewer to have driven an X1 with this option. I can't imagine the Sport setting would do any favours for the car's ride, but what about handling?

[KPD]

Originally Posted by ttimbo

Ah, so the model you test drove had DDC. I think you're the first (non-journalist) reviewer to have driven an X1 with this option. I can't imagine the Sport setting would do any favours for the car's ride, but what about handling?

I have EDC (or DDC; is it Electronic or Dynamic?) option on mine and it makes a HUGE difference.

I've been experimenting with it a little since my quick review HERE. I deliberately disabled powertrain responsiveness in Sport Mode and only enabled stiff suspensions.

The difference in suspension stiffness is easily noticeable. I have the standard 18" with RTFs and in comfort/Eco Pro with soft suspension the car soaks up the bumps. There is tyre roll noise, of course. But that's normal for rigid RFTs. Switching to Sport mode with stiffer suspension (same gearbox/throttle response as before), you will easily notice the bumps. Steering feedback changes entirely and you get no more roll than a regular hatchback on roundabouts. It will definitely feel crashy on bad roads even with 18" wheels, let alone with 19".

The way I understand it is that with EDC you get a soft and a stiff mode. Soft is the default in Eco Pro and Comfort drive modes and cannot be changed. Stiff is the default in Sport drive mode, but can be disabled if needed. In comparison, soft is softer than standard suspension on cars without EDC. Stiff is almost as stiff as M Sport suspension. So if you're after comfort, it's a dynamic dampers are a must have. If you're after sportiness, either get the M-Sport suspension which is stiff all the time in all drive modes or... again, get the EDC which is stiff when you want it to be, soft for normal drives.

TL;DR: It is a must have if you have bad roads.

EDIT: Confirmed this with my contact at the local dealership who's also a personal friend:

Firstly... It's now called DDC, as in Dynamic Damper Control. But shows up as EDC or Electronic Damper Control in order forms and some brochures! Same thing, just different marketing lingo!

Secondly... As I thought, M Sport suspension is more rigid than stiff mode with EDC/DDC/whateveryouwannacallit. It uses different springs, absorbers, bushings, etc. Having driven with stiffened up suspension in Sport Mode in my car, I can only assume that M Sport suspension will be ridiculously uncomfortable on UK roads.

[ron_jeremy]

Thanks for your input KPD!
I guess your experience goes to show how individual experience is.
And for making the confusion about the naming of this feature, less confusing!
I guess when this feature came along, it was named EDC, but as with other things, it's evolving.

Good to hear you're happy with your purchase, it's certainly come a long way since the E84.

[li21]

I havent driven with DYnamic Damper but so hoping it is the answer to both adding comfort and sportiness to the drive. It was must option for me as it was pretty well priced

I can't wait to test it out