How much fun is 125i ?
Discussion
Hi
Been looking at 330i & 330d convertibles .. But the 125i convertible has caught my eye.
Looking to spend £15k , and drive around 150000 miles .. So mpg is a factor for me .. Otherwise it would be a 335i or 135i , and the extra tax is putting me off.
So would the 125i convertible be fun / reliable ... Assume a manual would be best.
Cheers
Rich
Been looking at 330i & 330d convertibles .. But the 125i convertible has caught my eye.
Looking to spend £15k , and drive around 150000 miles .. So mpg is a factor for me .. Otherwise it would be a 335i or 135i , and the extra tax is putting me off.
So would the 125i convertible be fun / reliable ... Assume a manual would be best.
Cheers
Rich
I've got a e93 325i cab it's decent, previously had 330i and m3,in comparison the 325 isn't breath taking but got enough poke for over taking and decent fun on a roads and motorways. Mine is a auto im averaging high 25's - mid 26 fuel wise, that's quite abit of town work though, I also do similar mileage, like you I did want a manual but got fed up of looking and opted for auto, don't really regret it but I do reckon a manual will see better mpg figures better yet a 325 in a 1 series cab weighs less so should definately see better fuel due to that too.
130i is probably not for you - they didn't make a 130i convertible!
125i has fundamentally the same N52 3 litre engine as the 130i but detuned so 218 bhp rather than 265 bhp, although Evolve can reportedly remap a 125 to close to 130 output fairly
cheaply.
But if you want "show" a 125i convertible will do fine - if you want "go" a 130i hatch is probably a much better starting point! Or maybe a 135i Coupe............
125i has fundamentally the same N52 3 litre engine as the 130i but detuned so 218 bhp rather than 265 bhp, although Evolve can reportedly remap a 125 to close to 130 output fairly
cheaply.
But if you want "show" a 125i convertible will do fine - if you want "go" a 130i hatch is probably a much better starting point! Or maybe a 135i Coupe............
Mr Tidy said:
But if you want "show" a 125i convertible will do fine - if you want "go" a 130i hatch is probably a much better starting point! Or maybe a 135i Coupe............
This.Vert has a floppy chassis, so is 'show' not go, and as such a manual 125i vert with an exhaust mod with be more than adequate and give a nice noise to listen to with the top down, as the N52 engine is a peach.
If you want 'go' forget the vert, with whatever engine is under the bonnet.
Let's not forget that 218bhp isn't actually going to be that slow.
Yes it won't be veyron fast but it will leave most things behind and be able to make progress sufficiently.
IMO you should go and drive one/them all and decide.
If the 125i has enough poke, then your sorted.
If not then maybe the 135i is the better choice (130is are few and far between)
Yes it won't be veyron fast but it will leave most things behind and be able to make progress sufficiently.
IMO you should go and drive one/them all and decide.
If the 125i has enough poke, then your sorted.
If not then maybe the 135i is the better choice (130is are few and far between)
Can't comment on the Convertible but I've been the very happy owner of a 125i Coupé for around 9 months now, and I can confirm that yes, it is a lot of fun. After my old 330d it feels a lot like a Go Kart with a lovely big straight 6 up front. That engine is worth the admission price alone, sounds glorious no matter the revs, wonderfully flexible and pretty good on fuel considering.
Plenty of grip from the chassis, ride is nowhere near as bad as some will have you believe, and it makes for a very comfortable long distance cruiser - we've done 2 road trips in it now, and it was a great companion for both. Seats are enormously comfortable if you get an M-sport as well, with a huge range of adjustment available.
MPG wise it's averaged about 32 since I had it, often does 40 on my commute in in the morning (30 miles of average speed camerad motorway), might drop to 25 round town or if you use the performance frequently. I do a similar mileage to the OP, and I fill it up once a week, costs around £55. In fact that's my only grumble - the petrol tank is quite small (52 litres iirc), but that still does 300 - 350 miles depending on use.
Plenty of grip from the chassis, ride is nowhere near as bad as some will have you believe, and it makes for a very comfortable long distance cruiser - we've done 2 road trips in it now, and it was a great companion for both. Seats are enormously comfortable if you get an M-sport as well, with a huge range of adjustment available.
MPG wise it's averaged about 32 since I had it, often does 40 on my commute in in the morning (30 miles of average speed camerad motorway), might drop to 25 round town or if you use the performance frequently. I do a similar mileage to the OP, and I fill it up once a week, costs around £55. In fact that's my only grumble - the petrol tank is quite small (52 litres iirc), but that still does 300 - 350 miles depending on use.
Agree about the fuel tank being small!
My 1 Series was a diseasal so not such a problem, but while my Z4C has a 55 litre tank similar to the 1 Series my 325ti Compact has a 63 litre tank like all E46 3 Series I believe.
Both seem to average just over 30 mpg so the Z4 may do 350 miles on a tank but the 325 is nearer 400.
Mind you if you can tolerate the black stuff my E46 320td Compact could easily do 600 miles on one tank (but it wasn't exciting)!
My 1 Series was a diseasal so not such a problem, but while my Z4C has a 55 litre tank similar to the 1 Series my 325ti Compact has a 63 litre tank like all E46 3 Series I believe.
Both seem to average just over 30 mpg so the Z4 may do 350 miles on a tank but the 325 is nearer 400.
Mind you if you can tolerate the black stuff my E46 320td Compact could easily do 600 miles on one tank (but it wasn't exciting)!
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