Discussion
Home alone on a Sat night so thought I’d start a thread on my 130i.
I did have a 130i LE some four years ago now, but sold it to finance a wedding/house purchase. Since then a string of straight 6 BM's and others came and went but I always hankered after another 130.
The car is ok spec wise, but is missing nav (not bothered) and xenons (bit bothered).
The car has had a few mods already: Superpro arms and KW anti-roll bars. I’ve ordered the BMWP air filter and have a custom made exhaust fitted with mid-box delete. Whilst I love the sound now (nice bassy tone, few pops, no drone) I’m not too keen on the visible back box. I may spray it black to hide it a little better, or have a different box made up.
Future plans are CDV delete, change the vanos solenoids (current are dirty/worn causing slight hesitation when accelerating in 4th- 6th), Bilstein B12 and a remap. My wife and I are planning a two week European road trip in the summer so, funds/wife permitting, I’ll get the bits be done before then.
I did have a 130i LE some four years ago now, but sold it to finance a wedding/house purchase. Since then a string of straight 6 BM's and others came and went but I always hankered after another 130.
The car is ok spec wise, but is missing nav (not bothered) and xenons (bit bothered).
The car has had a few mods already: Superpro arms and KW anti-roll bars. I’ve ordered the BMWP air filter and have a custom made exhaust fitted with mid-box delete. Whilst I love the sound now (nice bassy tone, few pops, no drone) I’m not too keen on the visible back box. I may spray it black to hide it a little better, or have a different box made up.
Future plans are CDV delete, change the vanos solenoids (current are dirty/worn causing slight hesitation when accelerating in 4th- 6th), Bilstein B12 and a remap. My wife and I are planning a two week European road trip in the summer so, funds/wife permitting, I’ll get the bits be done before then.
) and think a well specced LCI 130i will be my next BMW. Something about a small car with a big six in it...Always thought of these as a bit of a hidden gem. For the year they were made I think they were a hot hatch ahead of their time. Even now in the era of new hot hatches its 0-60 time and power output still looks impressive. Great performance, great sounding engine, understated and solid build. Downsides for me is fuel consumption mid twenties and yes doesn't like mid corner bumps. Reminds me a bit of my dads m3 e46 he used to have ( obviously not quite in the same league) but with cheaper running and repair bills.
Mines in black but prefer your silver or the metallic blue. Also want to get the rear roof spoiler you've got. Certainly improves the rear end look. Without it always looks like having an overly short hair cut at the back.
Mines in black but prefer your silver or the metallic blue. Also want to get the rear roof spoiler you've got. Certainly improves the rear end look. Without it always looks like having an overly short hair cut at the back.
Liquid Tuna said:
I've re-read the OP but can't see where he mentioned what he paid for it? Looks a nice clean example anyway.
No the OP didn't mention price (but then neither did I), but my post was based on my personal experience - of course if yours is different please be welcome to expand upon it - just man up, balls-out
ETA,
Unnecessary.
Edited by Big Al. on Monday 7th March 17:47
Mr Tidy said:
No the OP didn't mention price (but then neither did I), but my post was based on my personal experience - of course if yours is different please be welcome to expand upon it - just man up, balls-out
Perhaps the OP wanted more space, either way it's poor form to stroll into a thread and start telling people to 'fk off' just because you lack the writing skills needed to have a normal conversation and/or mentioning price as if the OP has paid over the odds?Very strange indeed.
Gompo said:
Similar to mine, albeit mine's black and standard. Can you notice much difference between it and your past LE?
Keep on thinking of moving mine on but the old 'what do I replace it with?' scenario comes up..
With the Boston lemon leather and every option ticked the LE did feel that little bit more special. I loved the carbon black paint and the 261 (or 216?) wheels as well. We did set out to get another LE but didn’t find one to our liking (there was one but was heavily modified and 9 owners which put us off!) or within budget (there was another @ 14k miles but priced at £14k!)Keep on thinking of moving mine on but the old 'what do I replace it with?' scenario comes up..
You’re right about what to replace it with. May be the newer M135i when the prices come down but obviously that has a slightly different character being a turbo.
Mr Tidy said:
Nice car OP, but they do seem expensive for what they are!
I paid similar money for a Z4 Coupe - same engine, less weight, more fun.
I would struggle to fit four in Coupe though. Nice car nonetheless. I had a Z4 SI roadster for 12 months. I liked it, but never really bonded with it and prefer my old and current MX5’s as a ‘fun car’.I paid similar money for a Z4 Coupe - same engine, less weight, more fun.
Hifly130 said:
Always thought of these as a bit of a hidden gem. For the year they were made I think they were a hot hatch ahead of their time. Even now in the era of new hot hatches its 0-60 time and power output still looks impressive. Great performance, great sounding engine, understated and solid build. Downsides for me is fuel consumption mid twenties and yes doesn't like mid corner bumps. Reminds me a bit of my dads m3 e46 he used to have ( obviously not quite in the same league) but with cheaper running and repair bills.
Mines in black but prefer your silver or the metallic blue. Also want to get the rear roof spoiler you've got. Certainly improves the rear end look. Without it always looks like having an overly short hair cut at the back.
I agree completely, and for the exact reasons you quote. I find the fuel consumption ok for the engine size, and better than the previous gen 3litre I had in the E46 330 and Z3 3.0. The skittish back end is a little off putting. I have the sub frame inserts ready to put in when I do upgrade the suspension, which I’m led to believe this rectifies it somewhat. Mines in black but prefer your silver or the metallic blue. Also want to get the rear roof spoiler you've got. Certainly improves the rear end look. Without it always looks like having an overly short hair cut at the back.
Fully enough, with my last 3 cars having been silver I would have preferred any other colour! However, the 3 door version doesn’t appear for sale that often, and this one was too good a deal to pass up on.
Mr Tidy said:
No the OP didn't mention price (but then neither did I), but my post was based on my personal experience - of course if yours is different please be welcome to expand upon it - just man up, balls-out
You're an odd one, aren't you?Edited by Big Al. on Monday 7th March 17:48
Congrats on your very nice new 130i.
Had mine 5 years/80k miles, it's a brilliant everyday driver that still makes me smile when the opportunity to play comes along.
Despite what some on here might say, I think they represent exceptional value for money and have a feeling they're now close to being depreciation proof if purchased wisely.
Had mine 5 years/80k miles, it's a brilliant everyday driver that still makes me smile when the opportunity to play comes along.
Deutscheblonde said:
You’re right about what to replace it with. May be the newer M135i when the prices come down but obviously that has a slightly different character being a turbo.
Have seriously considered swapping mine for an M135i a couple of times. Good motor, very fast but it seems to me to provide quite a detached driving experience. All three I've driven had the ZF 8 speed auto and I just don't like it despite all the rave reviews. Will keep looking for a manual which might change my mind but suspect I'll be in the 130 a while longer despite it's age and mileage (8 years/124k miles).Despite what some on here might say, I think they represent exceptional value for money and have a feeling they're now close to being depreciation proof if purchased wisely.
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