130i M LE to replace 123d M
Discussion
Looking at doing a lot less milage and was looking around at 130i and 135i Coupe options.
Noticed that Birds have a 130i LE which is tempting. Any views on the 130i and in particular LE spec? Only thing I don't like is the leather colour!
http://www.birdsgarage.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-1-serie...
Noticed that Birds have a 130i LE which is tempting. Any views on the 130i and in particular LE spec? Only thing I don't like is the leather colour!
http://www.birdsgarage.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-1-serie...
mikeyscott said:
Looking at doing a lot less milage and was looking around at 130i and 135i Coupe options.
Noticed that Birds have a 130i LE which is tempting. Any views on the 130i and in particular LE spec? Only thing I don't like is the leather colour!
Lemon interior looks great.Noticed that Birds have a 130i LE which is tempting. Any views on the 130i and in particular LE spec? Only thing I don't like is the leather colour!
Does need to be kept clean, more so if you are a jeans wearer as the denim dye transfers into the Lemon leather easily.
I looked at a few LE's before I bought the 135i, but the lack of heated seats in an otherwise comprehensive spec list in the LE was a no-no for me.
An ex-work collegue of mine and fellow PH'r has a lovely LE with lots of BMWP bits on it.
aeropilot said:
mikeyscott said:
Looking at doing a lot less milage and was looking around at 130i and 135i Coupe options.
Noticed that Birds have a 130i LE which is tempting. Any views on the 130i and in particular LE spec? Only thing I don't like is the leather colour!
Lemon interior looks great.Noticed that Birds have a 130i LE which is tempting. Any views on the 130i and in particular LE spec? Only thing I don't like is the leather colour!
Does need to be kept clean, more so if you are a jeans wearer as the denim dye transfers into the Lemon leather easily.
I looked at a few LE's before I bought the 135i, but the lack of heated seats in an otherwise comprehensive spec list in the LE was a no-no for me.
An ex-work collegue of mine and fellow PH'r has a lovely LE with lots of BMWP bits on it.
Been looking at 135is too, but not sure re how much I'm wanting to spend.
I've had a 130LE for about a year and half now, personally I think the Lemon leather looks great but I think you need to see it in real life as it can look too yellow in photographs.
I spent ages looking for the right spec only to find one car would have some goodies that I wanted but not others, where as the LE has everything I wanted (apart from heated seats)
I'd definitely look at ditching the run flats at some point as they ruin the ride, apart from that all good.
One of the all time great engines!
I spent ages looking for the right spec only to find one car would have some goodies that I wanted but not others, where as the LE has everything I wanted (apart from heated seats)
I'd definitely look at ditching the run flats at some point as they ruin the ride, apart from that all good.
One of the all time great engines!
I had a 123d for 4 years before I swapped it for a facelift 130i last June. Firstly, you'll initially miss the torque a bit as in the first half of the rev range the 123d is more punchy. In comparison a 135i is very much like the 123d low down but just keeps on pulling harder all the way to 7k rpm, so if you like that turbo punch then a 135 would be a better match.
The 130i is a lovely engine though, its still strong at lower revs and is just as flexible in terms of pulling barely above tickover, then once above about 4.5k it really flies and sounds great. Depending on the type of driving you do it's also not too bad on fuel, on a mostly dual carriageway 30 mile each way commute I get 32-33mpg from the 130 where I was getting 43-44mpg in the 123d. Neither is an ideal motorway cruiser though due to relatively low gearing, with the 50L tank on the 1 Series even 33mpg equates to only just over 300 miles before the fuel warning with another 50 miles to find a fill-up, if you spank it a bit more then that will drop to high 20s and barely 250 miles before the warning. The 135 in twin turbo guise will be a few mpg worse, although the 2009/10 year N55 single turbo engine is meant to be better, probably on a par with the facelift 130.
ISTR you looking for a 123d around the time I sold mine, and you live/work down near Portsmouth somewhere? If so I work in Portsmouth so give me a shout if you need to see what a 130 is like.
The 130i is a lovely engine though, its still strong at lower revs and is just as flexible in terms of pulling barely above tickover, then once above about 4.5k it really flies and sounds great. Depending on the type of driving you do it's also not too bad on fuel, on a mostly dual carriageway 30 mile each way commute I get 32-33mpg from the 130 where I was getting 43-44mpg in the 123d. Neither is an ideal motorway cruiser though due to relatively low gearing, with the 50L tank on the 1 Series even 33mpg equates to only just over 300 miles before the fuel warning with another 50 miles to find a fill-up, if you spank it a bit more then that will drop to high 20s and barely 250 miles before the warning. The 135 in twin turbo guise will be a few mpg worse, although the 2009/10 year N55 single turbo engine is meant to be better, probably on a par with the facelift 130.
ISTR you looking for a 123d around the time I sold mine, and you live/work down near Portsmouth somewhere? If so I work in Portsmouth so give me a shout if you need to see what a 130 is like.
Edited by LocoBlade on Monday 24th February 18:54
@ Locoblade - recognised your username from babybmw and read on there that you have the Birds B1 springs. Any chance of a look at/chat about and maybe a ride in your 130? (I'm in Port Solent most weeks).
Mine is approaching 100k miles and a suspension refresh is looming - Birds are an (expensive) option I'm considering.
Cheers
Mine is approaching 100k miles and a suspension refresh is looming - Birds are an (expensive) option I'm considering.
Cheers
My friend and also fellow pher has a 130i LE. I've been in it quite a bit now and its an amazing car! The heated seats are a downside but you don't really need them if and if you do its only for 30% of the year!
We've just been to the lakes and went round in the 130 and its just an epic car. I'd definitely recommend getting one and not to look back!!
We've just been to the lakes and went round in the 130 and its just an epic car. I'd definitely recommend getting one and not to look back!!
LocoBlade said:
I had a 123d for 4 years before I swapped it for a facelift 130i last June. Firstly, you'll initially miss the torque a bit as in the first half of the rev range the 123d is more punchy. In comparison a 135i is very much like the 123d low down but just keeps on pulling harder all the way to 7k rpm, so if you like that turbo punch then a 135 would be a better match.
The 130i is a lovely engine though, its still strong at lower revs and is just as flexible in terms of pulling barely above tickover, then once above about 4.5k it really flies and sounds great. Depending on the type of driving you do it's also not too bad on fuel, on a mostly dual carriageway 30 mile each way commute I get 32-33mpg from the 130 where I was getting 43-44mpg in the 123d. Neither is an ideal motorway cruiser though due to relatively low gearing, with the 50L tank on the 1 Series even 33mpg equates to only just over 300 miles before the fuel warning with another 50 miles to find a fill-up, if you spank it a bit more then that will drop to high 20s and barely 250 miles before the warning. The 135 in twin turbo guise will be a few mpg worse, although the 2009/10 year N55 single turbo engine is meant to be better, probably on a par with the facelift 130.
ISTR you looking for a 123d around the time I sold mine, and you live/work down near Portsmouth somewhere? If so I work in Portsmouth so give me a shout if you need to see what a 130 is like.
Live in locks Heath - work in Guildford. Job accepted in whitely, however may go contracting near Hook.The 130i is a lovely engine though, its still strong at lower revs and is just as flexible in terms of pulling barely above tickover, then once above about 4.5k it really flies and sounds great. Depending on the type of driving you do it's also not too bad on fuel, on a mostly dual carriageway 30 mile each way commute I get 32-33mpg from the 130 where I was getting 43-44mpg in the 123d. Neither is an ideal motorway cruiser though due to relatively low gearing, with the 50L tank on the 1 Series even 33mpg equates to only just over 300 miles before the fuel warning with another 50 miles to find a fill-up, if you spank it a bit more then that will drop to high 20s and barely 250 miles before the warning. The 135 in twin turbo guise will be a few mpg worse, although the 2009/10 year N55 single turbo engine is meant to be better, probably on a par with the facelift 130.
ISTR you looking for a 123d around the time I sold mine, and you live/work down near Portsmouth somewhere? If so I work in Portsmouth so give me a shout if you need to see what a 130 is like.
Edited by LocoBlade on Monday 24th February 18:54
Cheers for info. May check birds one out this weekend. My 123d has circa 47k on it and is a 59 plate. Bought last July at 31k
Would be interested in a local look at a 130
mikeyscott said:
I looked at that one online, but if I change it must have leather etc.
Looked good and has the diff upgrade.
Fair enough. I'd have preferrred leather too. Looked good and has the diff upgrade.
But as you say, mine has the Quaife diff, performance exhaust and big brake kit fitted and so the absence of leather, nav etc somehow makes it feel a bit more focussed.
That said, I think I'll miss cruise control.
Birds were a delight to deal with.
Gruber said:
mikeyscott said:
I looked at that one online, but if I change it must have leather etc.
Looked good and has the diff upgrade.
Fair enough. I'd have preferrred leather too. Looked good and has the diff upgrade.
But as you say, mine has the Quaife diff, performance exhaust and big brake kit fitted and so the absence of leather, nav etc somehow makes it feel a bit more focussed.
That said, I think I'll miss cruise control.
Birds were a delight to deal with.
Would be tempted to ask them to change the diff on the LE if I went for it.
What's the latest 130i that hit the UK shores, circa 58 plate?
mikeyscott said:
Yes Birds have been very helpful and particularly as I'm quite picky re spec! I'm after Cruise too.
As I've already said, Cruise is a £200 quid or so easy retro-fit, so don't get hung up by lack of cruise control on any car...
That's why I didn't spec my 135i with it, I spent the money on factory options that couldn't be easy retro-fitted, and if I really missed it, I could add it later if I wanted to (haven't missed it as I've never driving a long enough distance in traffic free conditions to warrant cruise)
mikeyscott said:
What's the latest 130i that hit the UK shores, circa 58 plate?
Almost all LE's will be on a 07 plate (there will be the odd exception, I've seen the odd 57 plate LE)The 130i was discontinued in the UK in the summer of 2009, so there are a handfull of 09 plate cars around, but not many as BMW only about 20-30 odd 130's in the last year they were on sale in 2009.
aeropilot said:
mikeyscott said:
Yes Birds have been very helpful and particularly as I'm quite picky re spec! I'm after Cruise too.
As I've already said, Cruise is a £200 quid or so easy retro-fit, so don't get hung up by lack of cruise control on any car...That's why I didn't spec my 135i with it, I spent the money on factory options that couldn't be easy retro-fitted, and if I really missed it, I could add it later if I wanted to (haven't missed it as I've never driving a long enough distance in traffic free conditions to warrant cruise)
mikeyscott said:
What's the latest 130i that hit the UK shores, circa 58 plate?
Almost all LE's will be on a 07 plate (there will be the odd exception, I've seen the odd 57 plate LE)The 130i was discontinued in the UK in the summer of 2009, so there are a handfull of 09 plate cars around, but not many as BMW only about 20-30 odd 130's in the last year they were on sale in 2009.
Would prob P/X my 123d with them
Can'd add too much to the discussion other than to say that the lemon yellow leather is lovely. We have it in our 330 (I particularly wanted Le Mans blue with lemon leather).
It makes the interior feel much lighter and a nicer place to sit. Ours is an 06 plate car and the leather has survived really well. Although it did look better after being attacked with some Gliptone.
Personally I like cruise and find myself using it a fair bit.
The N52 is a great engine. It's fun in our 3 series, so can only imagine how much more fun it'll be in a smaller, more compact package with a manual box.
It makes the interior feel much lighter and a nicer place to sit. Ours is an 06 plate car and the leather has survived really well. Although it did look better after being attacked with some Gliptone.
Personally I like cruise and find myself using it a fair bit.
The N52 is a great engine. It's fun in our 3 series, so can only imagine how much more fun it'll be in a smaller, more compact package with a manual box.
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