BMW 130i LE | Spotted
Yellow leather and a punchy price always made the LE an outlier - now it's almost a cult classic...
BMW has a long and (mostly) brilliant history of putting very large straight six engine in cars most would consider too small to house them. Even as far back as the E21 323i, it was determined for the back axle to be given a workout by a great big engine. Over the years cars like the 325ti Compact and M135i have continued the tradition; even today it might be argued that something like the M240i xDrive occupies that space, despite the 2 Series being larger (an xDrive-ier) than ever. There isn’t anything else like it, as per those older models, pairing a relatively compact body with an engine BMW does better than anyone else.
When the first 1 Series was introduced (almost 20 years ago now), a big six seemed a dead cert, especially given one had featured in the preceding E46 3 Series Compact. In 2005 we got that car, N52-engined 130i, and a compact classic was born. Perhaps it wasn’t the most thrilling hatchback in the world to drive, but in offering a classic rear-drive BMW experience in a model beneath the 3 Series, the 3.0-litre 1 Series won a fair few fans.
So much so, in fact, that come the time of a 2007 facelift, a three-door model was introduced to compete with those more traditional hot hatches (the 130i having launched as a five-door-only model). To mark the occasion, BMW created something called the LE; just 160 would be allocated to the UK market, priced at £30,300 (or more than £48k in today’s money!), with natty wheels inspired by the 3 Series WTCC racer and offered only in Carbon Black with Lemon leather interior. Yes, really - bold upholstery choices are not reserved to the BMWs of today. Additional M Sport accessories were also included.
Back then, the LE was really one for the dedicated BMW fans, carrying a near £4k premium over a three-door 130i M Sport for a car very similar to drive. Sports suspension was standard, and the 18-inch wheels would have been on run flats, but it would have been a familiar 1 Series experience. Just with more yellow. With the passage of time, however, it might well be said that the LE has become more interesting, with rarity in its favour and a spec that’s just different enough to mark it out to the eagle eyed. That’s on top of the appeal, seemingly growing by the day, of a manual, rear-drive BMW with the N52 engine. Even looks quite smart, all these years later…
This one looks a particularly nice LE. It’s covered 83,000 miles and is said to boast an ‘outstanding’ service record as well; that’s in addition to four new Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, recent springs and dampers, plus refurbed alloy wheels. Those in particular look fantastic, showing how well a great set of wheels can really set a car off. Miraculously, the Lemon leather still looks zesty fresh (sorry).
As the 130i has become more desirable over recent years (the days of £4k cars are long gone, unfortunately), so the LE would inevitably command some extra interest as well. This one is for sale at £9,450; probably more than the last time any of us saw one for sale, but such is the enthusiasm for these little BMWs now. As the future looks uncertain, so people look to the past for their thrills. For some proof of the 130i love in, the selling dealer also has a standard M Sport, which now commands £7k. Still, after its awkward years, it feels like the very best original 1 Series will be cherished for a while yet - particularly the Lemon Edition…
SPECIFICATION | BMW 130i LE
Engine: 2,996cc, straight-six
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 265@6,650rpm
Torque (lb ft): 232@2,750rpm
MPG: 34
CO2: 197g/km
First registered: 2007
Recorded mileage: 83,000
Price new: £30,300
Yours for: £9,450
Tbh just get a 330i instead, the 130i was a thoroughly rubbish car with a fantastic engine.
The run flats caused most of the handling issues. Since getting normal tyres on my 130i I can say from experience its a lovely drive that sticks to the road. Has quite a turn of speed too..
Tbh just get a 330i instead, the 130i was a thoroughly rubbish car with a fantastic engine.
The facelift cars are much better inside than the very early cars although you do sacrifice the HPAS for EPAS.
Mine came with Birds B1 springs / dampers plus the very rare carbon intake and aero spoiler.
I also added M3 LCA’s and camber plates which improved the front end and a 135i exhaust added a bit extra to the noise.
It was a really good, fun little car but that was the problem it was really small inside.
Tbh just get a 330i instead, the 130i was a thoroughly rubbish car with a fantastic engine.
The run flats caused most of the handling issues. Since getting normal tyres on my 130i I can say from experience its a lovely drive that sticks to the road. Has quite a turn of speed too..
I was more talking about the 1-series as a whole being a crap car. The OBC is rubbish, the rear doors are a deeply annoying/useless shape, fuel tank too small, interior quality very meh, window line too high so it feels like driving a pillbox, intrusive traction control, the front end looks aren't great (none of the 1-series look good imho).
Many of the car’s shortcomings are correctly listed above but it really is an interesting car to pedal, arguably more interesting than my 340i.
I keep threatening to move it on and buy an M2 but something stops me. Just a quirky little car that i’ve owned longer than any other (over 10 years) and the engine always makes me smile on the rare occasions I drive it.
Back in the day these attracted a fair few mods and i added:
- BMW Performance Exhaust
- BMW Carbon Intake
- BMW Performance Spoiler
- BMW fitted Alpine sound kit
I recommend anyone looking to pick one up get an LCI and seek out the dynamic Xenons which lift the front end (alot!) and provide the LEDs at the rear. The LCI also benefits from better interior finish and wider rear wheels.
However if that seller is the same person who used to be involved with car sales at Birds Garage then I wouldn't give him a penny of my money. Absolute cowboy, both him and the mockney salesman Gordon who used to work at Birds Garage.
I'd not heard of the LE model though, that was news to me. Lovely sounding engine.
To my eye, these 1 Series' are looking better and better as time goes on. This looks like a nice example and pretty fresh with that leather. The dash and steering wheel let it down though and do look very dated.
Tbh just get a 330i instead, the 130i was a thoroughly rubbish car with a fantastic engine.
The run flats caused most of the handling issues. Since getting normal tyres on my 130i I can say from experience its a lovely drive that sticks to the road. Has quite a turn of speed too..
I was more talking about the 1-series as a whole being a crap car. The OBC is rubbish, the rear doors are a deeply annoying/useless shape, fuel tank too small, interior quality very meh, window line too high so it feels like driving a pillbox, intrusive traction control, the front end looks aren't great (none of the 1-series look good imho).
The OBC is the same as it was on the E9x 3 series…the interior quality of the pre-facelift cars is poor; the door cards with no fabric insert we’re nasty. The facelift cars are fine and compare well enough to the competition of the time. The main touch points like the wheel and gear stick are shared with the 3 series as is other switchgear.
I think they look good, especially in three door format, but I like this era BMW.
My 130i felt more urgent than my old 330i; the N52 powered 330i got the older magnesium topped engine with less power. Even with a remap, our current 330i feels a decent chunk slower than my 130i did.
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