Discussion
bodhi said:
In my completely unbiased opinion, it's probably worth looking at 125i Coupes as well. Bit more than the 325ti, but has that oh-so-lovely N52 up front from the 330i, and a quick remap gets them kicking out similar power too.
I'm finding it much less boaty than my old E46. Sadly it mostly does commuting miles at the moment, but I can tell you it's absolutely superb on the sweeping bends at the top of the M5
Nice one and it sounds a great package. I'm finding it much less boaty than my old E46. Sadly it mostly does commuting miles at the moment, but I can tell you it's absolutely superb on the sweeping bends at the top of the M5
Im just about to out my E92 M3 for one. About to start doing a few more miles and cant really justify a 4.0 V8.
I thought it would be easy to pick one up but tbh there isnt a great deal of choice. Im after white, Auto, 3 door 2014 or newer.
What have been the main spec changes with LCI? Only obvious thing i can see is the steering wheel.
I thought it would be easy to pick one up but tbh there isnt a great deal of choice. Im after white, Auto, 3 door 2014 or newer.
What have been the main spec changes with LCI? Only obvious thing i can see is the steering wheel.
Inverted said:
Im just about to out my E92 M3 for one. About to start doing a few more miles and cant really justify a 4.0 V8.
I thought it would be easy to pick one up but tbh there isnt a great deal of choice. Im after white, Auto, 3 door 2014 or newer.
What have been the main spec changes with LCI? Only obvious thing i can see is the steering wheel.
Steering wheel actually changed in 2014, before the lci came out.I thought it would be easy to pick one up but tbh there isnt a great deal of choice. Im after white, Auto, 3 door 2014 or newer.
What have been the main spec changes with LCI? Only obvious thing i can see is the steering wheel.
Around the same time bluetooth streaming was implemented as standard, previously you had to have the enhanced BT option.
2013 saw the engine change from pneumatic wastegate to electronic wastegate. It doesn't really matter too much, apart from EWG cars get like 6hp extra, this was never mentioned, but lci was rated to get this gain, the ewg pre-lci is exactly the same.
lci gets "extended storage" for free, previously an option. Gives you a couple of extra cubby holes and the boot net (I think). Lci also gets LED lights (I believe these only came with adaptive lighting on pre lci models). Small change inside - the bit that surrounds the radio and vent controls in the centre console is gloss black on lci, just regular plastic on pre-lci.
September 2015 on cars have business nav for free (well sort of, they increased the price of the car to cover it). As a result these cars also get the black panel instruments (previously an option).
Black panel does look a lot nicer to be honest, any car with the pro media navigation will have it.
You can find out the options on any car by sticking the last 7 digits of the vin in to this: http://www.bimmer.work/ or this: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do
Note both will show various bits of kit that are standard too.
Black panel display looks like:
vs normal:
With black panel the whole thing is black (duh), the bottom right hand corner where you see M135i will show navigation directions and if the car is equipped with nanny aids speed limit signs etc.
If you can spare a few pennies I reckon this one would be worth a look : http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/1-Series/3.0-M135i/Worce...
Edited by Crafty_ on Friday 8th July 19:27
bodhi said:
In my completely unbiased opinion, it's probably worth looking at 125i Coupes as well. Bit more than the 325ti, but has that oh-so-lovely N52 up front from the 330i, and a quick remap gets them kicking out similar power too.
I'm finding it much less boaty than my old E46. Sadly it mostly does commuting miles at the moment, but I can tell you it's absolutely superb on the sweeping bends at the top of the M5
Yes, I probably should try a 125i sometime. I'm finding it much less boaty than my old E46. Sadly it mostly does commuting miles at the moment, but I can tell you it's absolutely superb on the sweeping bends at the top of the M5
For some reason BMW made the 325ti Compact much more entertaining than any other E46,but then lost the plot by not putting the 330i engine in it?
I have a Z4C with the 3 litre N52 engine as a "special days" toy so I know exactly what you mean about the N52 engine, it is a fantastic motor (even though an OEM electric water pump cost me £500 + fitting)!
In an ideal world I would like an E46 Compact with the 3 litre N52 - maybe I should try a 130i?
Inverted said:
Fantastic thats a great help. Must admit I was a bit confused about the black panel display and why it was important. Now i see.
Ive got a mental budget of about 22-23k anything under the better.
No problem, loads more info on babybmw.Ive got a mental budget of about 22-23k anything under the better.
Pro Media is a fairly common option, as is the auto box. Be aware the cars don't come with cruise control as standard which I think is odd, it comes as a pack with parking sensors (called PDC), which is rear only, front sensors are a separate option again. Adaptive suspension is a subjective choice, but I think the car is better with it.
If you can live with a manual box you'll get ore for your money as they are quite a bit cheaper. Some find the driving position uncomfortable, never been in one so can't comment.
I think you'll be choosing between a newer car vs an older one with more options / miles whatever you end up with.
cerb4.5lee said:
Mr Tidy said:
cerb4.5lee said:
It's the ugly duckling of the BMW range by an absolute mile(appreciate BMW's aren't renowned for their looks though anyway), as a package though I am sure that it's the business and I will always appreciate the big engine/small car combo and in that sense it really appeals to me.
Ugly duckling? I thought my 325ti Compact was the ugliest duckling by a country mile - how do these 1 Series usurp my ugly duck status? Mind you they are sh*tloads quicker - maybe I need to get one........! 
I fancy something a little smaller and a little lighter because large and boaty isn't cutting it for me currently, the 6 series is like throwing around an ocean liner and the 3 series is better but it still weighs far too much to be any fun.
ratty6464 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Mr Tidy said:
cerb4.5lee said:
It's the ugly duckling of the BMW range by an absolute mile(appreciate BMW's aren't renowned for their looks though anyway), as a package though I am sure that it's the business and I will always appreciate the big engine/small car combo and in that sense it really appeals to me.
Ugly duckling? I thought my 325ti Compact was the ugliest duckling by a country mile - how do these 1 Series usurp my ugly duck status? Mind you they are sh*tloads quicker - maybe I need to get one........! I fancy something a little smaller and a little lighter because large and boaty isn't cutting it for me currently, the 6 series is like throwing around an ocean liner and the 3 series is better but it still weighs far too much to be any fun.
I allways thought my 120d auto was my little go kart especially with the tuning box on god knows what an M140i would feel like....I wont mention the looks...........actually I really liked my 120d 177bhper as a driver but not once in 7 years did I lock it, walk 20 yards, turn round and have a sneaky look at it
Edited by smashy on Sunday 10th July 16:50
ratty6464 said:
I'm in a similar position Lee, went to the dealer today to talk about trading in the 435d for an M140i, in two minds but want something more fun and less boat like!
If your 435d is standard, and the handling is the main issue, then springs or springs plus dampers would clearly be the cheaper option than switching cars. I haven't driven an M140i, but the M135i I tried wasn't very different to an M Sport F30 in terms of handling. Both are a little understeery. I understand that the M135i can be significantly improved with better suspension components, much like the F30.If it's a petrol engine you crave then the M140i is certainly remarkable value at about £25k before you start adding options.
Crafty_ said:
Inverted said:
Fantastic thats a great help. Must admit I was a bit confused about the black panel display and why it was important. Now i see.
Ive got a mental budget of about 22-23k anything under the better.
No problem, loads more info on babybmw.Ive got a mental budget of about 22-23k anything under the better.
Pro Media is a fairly common option, as is the auto box. Be aware the cars don't come with cruise control as standard which I think is odd, it comes as a pack with parking sensors (called PDC), which is rear only, front sensors are a separate option again. Adaptive suspension is a subjective choice, but I think the car is better with it.
If you can live with a manual box you'll get ore for your money as they are quite a bit cheaper. Some find the driving position uncomfortable, never been in one so can't comment.
I think you'll be choosing between a newer car vs an older one with more options / miles whatever you end up with.
Inverted said:
Say I went for an older, well specced 2013 car I assume its possible to retro fit the newer steering wheel? I want to change to an alcantara wheel with the centre band anyway.
Yes it can be changed to the new one.There are several MPerformance wheels available which a dealer can fit for you, may be worth a look.
Crafty_ said:
Inverted said:
Say I went for an older, well specced 2013 car I assume its possible to retro fit the newer steering wheel? I want to change to an alcantara wheel with the centre band anyway.
Yes it can be changed to the new one.There are several MPerformance wheels available which a dealer can fit for you, may be worth a look.
smashy said:
I allways thought my 120d auto was my little go kart especially with the tuning box on god knows what an M140i would feel like....I wont mention the looks...........actually I really liked my 120d 177bhper as a driver but not once in 7 years did I lock it, walk 20 yards, turn round and have a sneaky look at it
I loved my 120d too. It was an underdog. It should have been very average, but it turned out that it had character. With it's rock hard damping and firm run-flats the ride was convincingly sports car. With well worn tyres it slid more readily than the M135i. It was only the lack of an LSD that limited its ability/fun in a world of tight wet T-junctions. I looked back at it on more than one occasion and appreciated the thing. To me, it seemed significantly smaller and better looking than the 1 series that replaced it.Edited by smashy on Sunday 10th July 16:50
Inverted said:
Say I went for an older, well specced 2013 car I assume its possible to retro fit the newer steering wheel? I want to change to an alcantara wheel with the centre band anyway.
If you are going to spend over £20k on a used car then I'd be looking at new. Discounts at the moment are around 20%. My car was a list of 35 down to 27. Not sure how you are financing your car but if you are using anything but cash its almost certainly going to be cheaper to buy new.335d said:
ratty6464 said:
I'm in a similar position Lee, went to the dealer today to talk about trading in the 435d for an M140i, in two minds but want something more fun and less boat like!
If your 435d is standard, and the handling is the main issue, then springs or springs plus dampers would clearly be the cheaper option than switching cars. I haven't driven an M140i, but the M135i I tried wasn't very different to an M Sport F30 in terms of handling. Both are a little understeery. I understand that the M135i can be significantly improved with better suspension components, much like the F30.If it's a petrol engine you crave then the M140i is certainly remarkable value at about £25k before you start adding options.
On the other hand it's comfortable and good for my long daily commute and it's generally just me in the car 99% of the time. I've swapped the tyres for MPSS and looked at the ACS springs and upgrading the HK speakers to a Bavaound set - although theres no pint doing those if I chop the car in.
There are some cracking deals on the 140 with coast to coast offering £7k off list - it looks like it would bre more fun, can spec a manual etc, just slightly concerned about the road noise and comfort over the commute (we have a 120d too, and there is a Lott of road noise after a while and it's quite fidgety on dual carridgeways)
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