buying 130i M Sport - essentials
Discussion
I'll be shopping for a 1 series 120d in the next month or so, and for me, Id say Xenons would be top of my wish list, along with the comfort pack which I think includes rain sensor wipers, auto lights-on, auto dimming rear view mirror and cup holders in the centre column, and possibly also front parking sensors and cruise depending on the age of the car. Leather isnt a big thing for me, but many like it so personal preference on that one really. Apart from that, look out for USB connectivity if you want the stereo to interact with your Ipod, although bear in mind that all cars have an aux input for basic Ipod input as standard. Also bluetooth prep might be useful for hands free phone use, although you can get pretty much OEM functionality using a £60 Parrot plus a connectivity kit that allows you to control it with the steering wheel buttons, so again it isn't high on my list. Externally about the only option is bigger 18" wheels which do look good, but I also like the standard 17" wheels, tyres are significantly cheaper and the ride is also supposed to be a little better on the smaller rims, so 18" wheels wouldnt be something I'd strive to find.
Make sure you research prices though whatever you decide on, as 130i prices seem to have been particularly hit recently due to the engine size etc. As you may have seen there was a 57 reg 1 year old 130i with 4k miles kitted out with leather, Xenons and the 18" wheels that appears to have sold in the PH classifieds by an independant deale for £15k(!) recently, an absolute bargain. There's another similar car with more miles on it for sale for £16k at the moment which still looks reasonable value, so considering a 3 year old car would no longer be in warranty and wouldnt have the Efficient Dynamics of the newer cars (giving better mpg and lower tax band) or be the facelift model (mid 2007), it would have to be quite keenly priced to be a good deal, and significantly cheaper than most 3 year old examples on Autotrader at the mo.
Make sure you research prices though whatever you decide on, as 130i prices seem to have been particularly hit recently due to the engine size etc. As you may have seen there was a 57 reg 1 year old 130i with 4k miles kitted out with leather, Xenons and the 18" wheels that appears to have sold in the PH classifieds by an independant deale for £15k(!) recently, an absolute bargain. There's another similar car with more miles on it for sale for £16k at the moment which still looks reasonable value, so considering a 3 year old car would no longer be in warranty and wouldnt have the Efficient Dynamics of the newer cars (giving better mpg and lower tax band) or be the facelift model (mid 2007), it would have to be quite keenly priced to be a good deal, and significantly cheaper than most 3 year old examples on Autotrader at the mo.
Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 15th November 19:39
LocoBlade said:
Make sure you research prices though whatever you decide on, as 130i prices seem to have been particularly hit recently due to the engine size etc.
+1 I guess your level of choice will be dependent on how much leeway there is in your budget. If you want the cheapest available (£10 - £12k probably ?) then it's a case of take what you can get in terms of options. The standard MSport kit levels are fine anyway so there are no real pitfalls to avoid as such. Second hand values really have died a death lately so you should be looking for a bargain. I've a 3 year old 130se which I'll be selling next year sometime and they way things are going at the moment I'll be needing to pay somebody to take it ! Yeh I'd say realistic prices for 3 year olds would be around the £10-12k mark like you say, but on Autotrader there's one selling privately at £11k with 80k on the clock, the next cheapest is £13k hence my comments, because if 57 plate cars with under 5k on the clock can sell for £15k (even if it was a one-off), I think Id feel hard done by if I paid much over £10k for a 3 year old car with say 30-40k on.
Its also worth mentioning not to discount the SE model, because with the (optional even on the 130i?) dynamic pack it has the same suspension as the M Sport, and inside its kitted out to a similar level, basically it just cosmetic differences with the standard bumpers rather than the (better looking, especially in pre-facelift guise) M Sport bumpers.
Its also worth mentioning not to discount the SE model, because with the (optional even on the 130i?) dynamic pack it has the same suspension as the M Sport, and inside its kitted out to a similar level, basically it just cosmetic differences with the standard bumpers rather than the (better looking, especially in pre-facelift guise) M Sport bumpers.
Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 15th November 21:54
BMWChris said:
I really want cup holders! anyone know if they were standard on early 130is?
I've nothing against SEs - I might prefer the ride - but there are remarkably few for sale. I guess everyone ordered M Sports when they were new.
Can you wait 6 months !? Seriously - SEs are rare and yes they do ride a lot better IMHO. I somewhat spoiled mine by adding 18s but before that it was a lot more comfortable. I've nothing against SEs - I might prefer the ride - but there are remarkably few for sale. I guess everyone ordered M Sports when they were new.
You get two 'drop in' cupholders between the front seats as standard I believe.
dibbly_dobbler said:
You get two 'drop in' cupholders between the front seats as standard I believe.
Im not so sure on that, I thought they only came with the comfort pack. Here's a one series without them....
Here's one with:
The above aren't 130's or M Sports though so I may be wrong, but I was under the impression they were optional throughout the range.
Edited by LocoBlade on Sunday 16th November 17:48
The cupholders can be added quite easily yourself.
IIRC, the 3.0 cars all come with the auto lights and wipers.
Traditionally BMWs need leather and metallic paint (can't recall seeing many non-metallic 130s though) for good resale value.
The SE's are a little cheaper, they were cheaper new but they don't hold their value as well as M Sports. More difficult to sell also; I recall there was a 130i SE in Preston BMW, silver 55 plate. It was still there over 12 months later - It was an SE with no options other than metallic and comfort pack.
As for ICE: Business CD really is awful, try and get a car with at least the 'professional CD'.
If you look in the right places you should find a 130iSE for less than 10k. I have seen 2007 facelift M Sports for £17k recently.
Facelift cars are easy to spot by looking at the rear light clusters or (interior of the) front door
IIRC, the 3.0 cars all come with the auto lights and wipers.
Traditionally BMWs need leather and metallic paint (can't recall seeing many non-metallic 130s though) for good resale value.
The SE's are a little cheaper, they were cheaper new but they don't hold their value as well as M Sports. More difficult to sell also; I recall there was a 130i SE in Preston BMW, silver 55 plate. It was still there over 12 months later - It was an SE with no options other than metallic and comfort pack.
As for ICE: Business CD really is awful, try and get a car with at least the 'professional CD'.
If you look in the right places you should find a 130iSE for less than 10k. I have seen 2007 facelift M Sports for £17k recently.
Facelift cars are easy to spot by looking at the rear light clusters or (interior of the) front door
texasjohn said:
The cupholders can be added quite easily yourself.
IIRC, the 3.0 cars all come with the auto lights and wipers.
Traditionally BMWs need leather and metallic paint (can't recall seeing many non-metallic 130s though) for good resale value.
The SE's are a little cheaper, they were cheaper new but they don't hold their value as well as M Sports. More difficult to sell also; I recall there was a 130i SE in Preston BMW, silver 55 plate. It was still there over 12 months later - It was an SE with no options other than metallic and comfort pack.
As for ICE: Business CD really is awful, try and get a car with at least the 'professional CD'.
If you look in the right places you should find a 130iSE for less than 10k. I have seen 2007 facelift M Sports for £17k recently.
Facelift cars are easy to spot by looking at the rear light clusters or (interior of the) front door
Although I can't imagine many will come up at this price, as mentioned above, a 57 plate facelift M Sport with 4k on the clock and plenty of options sold for £15k in the PH classifieds! http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/781466.htm.IIRC, the 3.0 cars all come with the auto lights and wipers.
Traditionally BMWs need leather and metallic paint (can't recall seeing many non-metallic 130s though) for good resale value.
The SE's are a little cheaper, they were cheaper new but they don't hold their value as well as M Sports. More difficult to sell also; I recall there was a 130i SE in Preston BMW, silver 55 plate. It was still there over 12 months later - It was an SE with no options other than metallic and comfort pack.
As for ICE: Business CD really is awful, try and get a car with at least the 'professional CD'.
If you look in the right places you should find a 130iSE for less than 10k. I have seen 2007 facelift M Sports for £17k recently.
Facelift cars are easy to spot by looking at the rear light clusters or (interior of the) front door
Agree about the pro head unit from what Ive read. I think facelift standard Business unit will play MP3s whereas the older one wont, but either way its main weakness is the crap amplification and no tweeters in the doors. This can be resolved though with the very good value (just over £200) BMW/Alpine upgrade consisting new front door speakers and tweeters, plus an amp to run the front door speakers as well as the under seat woofer speakers that are otherwise all driven from the head unit. It doesnt need to be fitted by a dealer either, is DIY'able.
LocoBlade said:
dibbly_dobbler said:
You get two 'drop in' cupholders between the front seats as standard I believe.
Im not so sure on that, I thought they only came with the comfort pack. Here's a one series without them....The above aren't 130's or M Sports though so I may be wrong, but I was under the impression they were optional throughout the range.
Edited by LocoBlade on Sunday 16th November 17:48
LocoBlade said:
Yeh they might be standard spec on 130s, does yours not have the comfort pack then? I guess though its the kind of option that could easily be fitted in error at the factory when new, so your car could even have had a freebie.
To be honest mate I have no idea ! When I bought it I was too busy wetting myself about the straight six to pay any attention to options or resale values etc ...Anyway - enought talk of cup holders ! Consider this - rear wheel drive, straight six, 0-60 in around 6, 150+ mph, mid 30s mpg on a run and as practical as a transit van !!
ok lied about the last one
I wouldn't get too hung up on spec - certain BMWs (such as 6 cyl 3s and 5s) probably do need leather and xenons etc. but I don't think that it matters on the 130i.
As has been pointed out already, the raison d'etre of the 130i is the glorious, glorious engine and the fact that it's rwd. Yes, prices hve slipped recently but mark my words, the 130i is rare, accomplished and charismatic enough to be a true cult car of the future, possibly even a borderline classic in years to come.
Buy one in the best condition and with the best history that you can find for your budget, and enjoy it.
As has been pointed out already, the raison d'etre of the 130i is the glorious, glorious engine and the fact that it's rwd. Yes, prices hve slipped recently but mark my words, the 130i is rare, accomplished and charismatic enough to be a true cult car of the future, possibly even a borderline classic in years to come.
Buy one in the best condition and with the best history that you can find for your budget, and enjoy it.
adycav said:
I wouldn't get too hung up on spec - certain BMWs (such as 6 cyl 3s and 5s) probably do need leather and xenons etc. but I don't think that it matters on the 130i.
As has been pointed out already, the raison d'etre of the 130i is the glorious, glorious engine and the fact that it's rwd. Yes, prices hve slipped recently but mark my words, the 130i is rare, accomplished and charismatic enough to be a true cult car of the future, possibly even a borderline classic in years to come.
Buy one in the best condition and with the best history that you can find for your budget, and enjoy it.
Sound advice there..!!As has been pointed out already, the raison d'etre of the 130i is the glorious, glorious engine and the fact that it's rwd. Yes, prices hve slipped recently but mark my words, the 130i is rare, accomplished and charismatic enough to be a true cult car of the future, possibly even a borderline classic in years to come.
Buy one in the best condition and with the best history that you can find for your budget, and enjoy it.
Personally i wanted a pretty decent spec for my second 130i Msport:
Sunroof (very rare!)
Cruise (possible to retrofit for about £400)
Leather (about half have leather)
Manual (autos are very rare)
Xenons (i reckon less than 30% have xenons)
However they all came with two cupholders (without Nav) or one cupholder and one iDrive controller (if you have Nav), the centre armrest, the decent seats with the inflatable sides, the chunky steering wheel, auto lights, auto wipers, climate, auto dip mirror and various other bits.
If you get one with Business CD you can pick up a Pro CD on ebay for £100 and it takes 20 minutes to swap them over.
Best mod? Ditch the runflats.
Fabulous car, so good i sold my 911 (seriously!).
Sunroof (very rare!)
Cruise (possible to retrofit for about £400)
Leather (about half have leather)
Manual (autos are very rare)
Xenons (i reckon less than 30% have xenons)
However they all came with two cupholders (without Nav) or one cupholder and one iDrive controller (if you have Nav), the centre armrest, the decent seats with the inflatable sides, the chunky steering wheel, auto lights, auto wipers, climate, auto dip mirror and various other bits.
If you get one with Business CD you can pick up a Pro CD on ebay for £100 and it takes 20 minutes to swap them over.
Best mod? Ditch the runflats.
Fabulous car, so good i sold my 911 (seriously!).
They're so well specced that you don't really need to worry, it comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. For me this meant leather, all the rest was standard. Some people like the bluetooth, but it can be pricey.
VS - please could you elaborate on this...
'If you get one with Business CD you can pick up a Pro CD on ebay for £100 and it takes 20 minutes to swap them over.'
The pro-cd has the 2 lines of text - does it give you anything else worth having?
VS - please could you elaborate on this...
'If you get one with Business CD you can pick up a Pro CD on ebay for £100 and it takes 20 minutes to swap them over.'
The pro-cd has the 2 lines of text - does it give you anything else worth having?
I've had the bluetooth kit and wasn't that impressed so i use a Parrot kit rigged in to the wiring loom of the car - i can use the steering wheel buttons, it mutes the stereo, plays through the car speakers, and the only bit that is visible is the parrot microphone.
As for the Business vs Pro head units, the Business only started playing MP3 discs during 2007, the earlier ones didn't. Also the Pro has a slightly better tuner and a MUCH better built in amplifier.
As for the Business vs Pro head units, the Business only started playing MP3 discs during 2007, the earlier ones didn't. Also the Pro has a slightly better tuner and a MUCH better built in amplifier.
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