130i

Author
Discussion

MidlifeC2S

17 posts

84 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Very nice!

PaulGT3

375 posts

171 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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Nice, I've been considering one of these for a while to replace my 325ti Sport and this thread isn't helping! The 325ti isn't bad but a 130i with a few choice mods like this I feel would be a worthy step up! I've found a nice low mileage LCI model local to me but the only worry is that these apparently have electric PAS whereas the earlier ones like yours don't, I wonder how much difference there is between the two?

I'd love to buy one with the spec of yours but I doubt anyone whos sorted one that much will be in a rush to sell it!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Sunday 19th March 2017
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PaulGT3 said:
Nice, I've been considering one of these for a while to replace my 325ti Sport and this thread isn't helping! The 325ti isn't bad but a 130i with a few choice mods like this I feel would be a worthy step up! I've found a nice low mileage LCI model local to me but the only worry is that these apparently have electric PAS whereas the earlier ones like yours don't, I wonder how much difference there is between the two?

I'd love to buy one with the spec of yours but I doubt anyone whos sorted one that much will be in a rush to sell it!
People make a big deal about the hydraulic vs electric steering but I wouldn't worry about it. The LCI has a much nicer interior and I would always choose on condition rather than anything else.

Scott_FPV

41 posts

153 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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yonex said:
When we picked it up the other half said 'what's that writing on the brakes?'. Given that I had explained the car had gone in for a 'service' I had to think pretty quickly biggrin

Although she was driving it the other week and made a few observations which I guess would lead her to draw her own conclusions rofl

Looking forward to the next spell of wet weather.
Hillarious. rofl

sixpistons

188 posts

122 months

Monday 20th March 2017
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PaulGT3 said:
Nice, I've been considering one of these for a while to replace my 325ti Sport and this thread isn't helping! The 325ti isn't bad but a 130i with a few choice mods like this I feel would be a worthy step up! I've found a nice low mileage LCI model local to me but the only worry is that these apparently have electric PAS whereas the earlier ones like yours don't, I wonder how much difference there is between the two?

I'd love to buy one with the spec of yours but I doubt anyone whos sorted one that much will be in a rush to sell it!
As said, buy on condition. It's an old BMW with a large engine so there'll be a fair few thrashed, crashed, badly modified or generally neglected ones by now. I'd drive one and make your own mind up about the steering. I've got an LCI and while my old E46 had nicer steering it's still not bad as electric systems go - it's nice and direct and has decent weight without that gloopy sticky feeling some cars I've driven recently have. With the suspension upgrades the 130i is great fun to drive and very predictable so any grumbles about the steering are quickly forgotten. In any case, I didn't think the hydraulic steering in the E90 was anything special when I drove my mate's one (same rack as a pre facelift 1 series)

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 8th May 2017
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MOT time today. I chose Eagle F1's all rounbd as the Yoko's were absolutely knackered. Straight through no advisories, which is kind of expected given the recent spend biggrin I asked my mate at the garage to take it out for a spin and give me some feedback. I value his opinion as he put in an 8:20 at the ring on his 130 a few years back with just KW's. The word was 'it's nice' code for 'I think it's too soft', it would be compared to various track refugees i suppose? "Those brakes though, fk me'

Very content with it to be honest. I really don't want for much else as a daily driver.


Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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So what's the full spec / mods list?

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Tuesday 9th May 2017
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Nice smile

Seems like a perfectly sensible daily driver to me.

ManaghGB

678 posts

182 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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Interesting read OP.

I've read through it all and your words are what convinced me to get my own 130i.

Picking up a Le Mans blue pre-facelift with a similar spec to yours in a few days.

Full Birds B1 kit, Quaife LSD, Eibach front and rear anti-roll bars, M3 front and rear lower arms, M3 subframe bushes, BMWP Exhaust and BMWP Brake kit with Performance Discs and braided lines.

Had a brief test drive and it felt great so I can't to wait to get it out for a proper drive!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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Hi, I hope it's good to you, they're certainly a great little road car. Still enjoying mine and it's all the better for the upgrades. It just makes me smile.

ManaghGB

678 posts

182 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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After quite a few Turbo FWD hatches it's going to take a while to get used to RWD but it felt brilliant on the test drive. Felt like an expensive car in terms of the feedbacks and the quality of the ride.

Mine is on Eibach springs and I'm not sure if theres much difference in the spring rates between them and the Birds springs.

I can't wait anyway!

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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Sorry but boring question - was your insurer happy with the modifications? If so, who do you use?

I have an E36 on the drive. And a set of Bilstein B12s and Vibratechnics engine mounts on the table at home...smile

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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SidewaysSi said:
Sorry but boring question - was your insurer happy with the modifications? If so, who do you use?

I have an E36 on the drive. And a set of Bilstein B12s and Vibratechnics engine mounts on the table at home...smile
PM'd

I think there is a load of old BMW's that make great road cars really. I can't see them getting any less interesting now as the days of the NA I6 and manual boxes are over.

Some of the last binary cars IMO, shame it took me so many years to try my first one before waking up to them.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 18th May 2017
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yonex said:
Some of the last binary cars IMO, shame it took me so many years to try my first one before waking up to them.
You are so right with that OP!

After nearly a decade of 4 cylinder turbo-diesel BMWs I bought a Z4 Coupe 3 years ago and realised what I had been missing for so long! banghead

So I then went and got a 325ti Compact as a daily!

I still have a Z4 Coupe and the 325ti - even if I won the lottery I would only upgrade to a 130i and a Z4M Coupe! I don't want forced induction, synthesized sound, flappy paddles and all that bcensoreds. laugh

arkeye

24 posts

224 months

Thursday 18th May 2017
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This is a great thread to stumble across. I also have a 130i which I have considered replacing many times but just can't quite bring myself to do it. Mine has the performance induction kit and exhaust which adds to the sweet sounding straight 6. It averages 32mpg on my route to work along some nice A roads and has ample power to surprise most things it comes across.

It's desperate for an LSD, I find quite often I'm left struggling behind when accelerating out of bends due to the wheel spin/traction control. However with hitting almost 122000 miles I'll either fit one when a good second hand ones comes up whilst running it into the ground or when 'the one' temps me and I'll sell it and buy that - what that will be I just don't know as this car is so good.

I'd love an M135i but my budget won't go as high as one of them is currently fetching. I do keep looking at Audi S3's as it seems pretty easy to get close to 400bhp out of them.

Do you live near Buckinghamshire?

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 19th May 2017
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Yes, not far off. It's difficult to replace without spending a fortune.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Monday 22nd May 2017
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yonex said:
SidewaysSi said:
Sorry but boring question - was your insurer happy with the modifications? If so, who do you use?

I have an E36 on the drive. And a set of Bilstein B12s and Vibratechnics engine mounts on the table at home...smile
PM'd

I think there is a load of old BMW's that make great road cars really. I can't see them getting any less interesting now as the days of the NA I6 and manual boxes are over.

Some of the last binary cars IMO, shame it took me so many years to try my first one before waking up to them.
Thanks but no PM received - I only realised I think I didn't have the facility turned on - please retry, thanks!

mylesmcd

2,520 posts

218 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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yonex said:
Mr Tidy said:
I still have a Z4 Coupe and the 325ti - even if I won the lottery I would only upgrade to a 130i and a Z4M Coupe! I don't want forced induction, synthesized sound, flappy paddles and all that bcensoreds. laugh
Agreed. I sold this 130 for an E90 V8 and although it was fun for a while, there were so many things that annoyed me about it. Buying back the 130 and driving it there was an obvious lack of quality in the suspension but without doubt the basis of a good car. It's cost about the value of the car again to get it to where it is now, arguably that's a bargain all things considered....especially come service time.

I look forward to the wet these days. With the new tyres it's less fun than before, as they have loads of grip, but you can still un-stick them at sane speeds.

It's depressing me to look at the list of potential replacements to be honest.
I sell US Spec Beemers, and we had a (EU Spec) M235i on the lot for a few weeks. I am not, sorry, was not a massive BMW fan, but that car changed the way I looked at the entire range. I owned Lotus Exige S in the past and the difference between playful rear slide and total mid engined slip is massive. More recently I have been driving a 420d M Sport GC - whilst it is nicer to look at......it is such a boring car to drive.

That 6 is a peach.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Sunday 28th May 2017
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I find the 130i so easy to work on too. Oil change; easy, brake pads; easy, front wheel bearing; easyish(!), front ARB; easy.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Monday 29th May 2017
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yonex said:
Agreed. I sold this 130 for an E90 V8 and although it was fun for a while, there were so many things that annoyed me about it. Buying back the 130 and driving it there was an obvious lack of quality in the suspension but without doubt the basis of a good car. It's cost about the value of the car again to get it to where it is now, arguably that's a bargain all things considered....especially come service time.

I look forward to the wet these days. With the new tyres it's less fun than before, as they have loads of grip, but you can still un-stick them at sane speeds.

It's depressing me to look at the list of potential replacements to be honest.
I can see your predicament!

Luckily I'm one step behind with my 325ti, so potential replacement is obviously a 130i - but after that N/A straight 6 is no longer an option.

I suppose you just have to keep the 130i and do more upgrades! laugh