£6k manual petrol 5 doors - sorry it's a what car thread

[VR99]

Greetings all, v long time lurker.. first time poster!
I am in my mid 30's and am looking to change my car.current steed is a near 15 year.old MK1 focus..has been a great run about and flying through MOT's but it's 3 door and need an excuse.to change
I hardly drive near let alone beyond the M25..majority is weekend stop start journey's in traffic ridden London going to the shops. Annual mileage circa 5/6k at a push.
The BMW 130i in 5 door guise is tempting..straight 6 and more reliable I believe than the 4 cylinder variants but am I kidding myself about running costs? The £290/315 tax is rather off-putting and under no illusions the fuel and repair bills will be a significant increase over my.trusty focus but.what are people's thoughts on the 130i and real world running costs? Alternatives? I don't want diesel..mileage and nature of journey's do not.justify the.potential.dpf issues and maintenance...imo.
Sorry for a long post, appreciate the help!

[Obee72]

Had my 130i for six months now and I'm loving it. Mine is mainly used for short journeys so am getting 21-23mpg but took it up to Durham today and got 34mpg on the trip home. You'll need to do some investigations if you really want a good 130i. Best place to start is BabyBMW and this thread in particular - https://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&a... Another good place is the BMW 130i Owners group of FB. Lots of good info/owners on there.

Don't be put off by high milers. Mine is 125k and counting and if looked after, will last a lot longer. Big things to check are water pump, vanos solenoids and ABS Pumps.

£6K should get you a decent one around 70-90k miles if Autotrader is anything to go by. Check AT, eBay, GumTree, FB group and BabyBMW for owners selling theirs. Do your usualy checks for MOT and mileage and don't be afraid to travel to find the right one.

I chose the 130i over FN2 Type R, Focus ST and Megane R26 and happy I did. Also don't be afraid of looking at ones with mods but BMWP ones are usually the best. Happy hunting !!

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the Focus ST-3 in five door form it's got a peach of an engine & the handling is on point too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

130i's with sensible mileage are hard to find but they're out there:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Another car with 6 cylinders is the Audi A3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you haggle hard & can stretch the budget you can land a Giulietta Cloverleaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you want a low miles warm hatch then the 1.4T 170 Giulietta Veloce trim is a good shout:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or the 180 Megane GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leon Cupra

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[VR99]

Thanks for the input guys, all very useful!
I really like the Focus ST in 5 door guise but...2.5l already thirsty engine coupled with twin superchargers makes me worried about fuel and maintenance costs..more complex more to go wrong?
Ideally I would of preferred a 116/118/120 but have seen a lot of negative comments about the engine in both the 1 and 3 series so not sure what to make of it? My friend ran a 116 from 30-100k with no issues though I accept it's probably the model most say to avoid at all.costs given poor performance and efficiency.
Curious if anyone here has owned both a 130i and either a focus ST or 116/118/120i for comparison? (Not performance comparison , reliability, running costs etc)

[NordicCrankShaft]

Haven't owned any of the above but I think as long as you do your homework and all the relevant general car buying checks you'll be fine. Full service history is key.

[Obee72]

Sounds like you are concerned with running costs so maybe a 130i or ST would be a step too far. When owning these, you have to expect a relatively poor return in MPG for running around town and also the odd bill for maintenance. What put me off the ST3 was the fact its a four seater although you can get five door versions. The ST1 and ST2 are five seaters but I think its the Recaro's in the ST3 that make it a four seater.

1 Series are hugely popular but again you need to be careful what you're buying. Google N47 issues and you'll find timing chain issues so maybe look for one that's been done. Beyond that something a bit more vanilla - newer Focus or Astra might be safer.

It all depends on your attitude to risk. I was in a similar boat but plumped for the 130i knowing what it costs to run but the sound and smile on my face when driving and even just seeing it when I open the blinds in the morning, make it worthwhile. Way more so than my previous 207GT

[Jamescrs]

VR99 said:

Thanks for the input guys, all very useful!
I really like the Focus ST in 5 door guise but...2.5l already thirsty engine coupled with twin superchargers makes me worried about fuel and maintenance costs..more complex more to go wrong?
Ideally I would of preferred a 116/118/120 but have seen a lot of negative comments about the engine in both the 1 and 3 series so not sure what to make of it? My friend ran a 116 from 30-100k with no issues though I accept it's probably the model most say to avoid at all.costs given poor performance and efficiency.
Curious if anyone here has owned both a 130i and either a focus ST or 116/118/120i for comparison? (Not performance comparison , reliability, running costs etc)

I owned a Focus ST upto 100k and it was still going strong when I sold it, they tend to be fairly reliable except for MAF and MAP sensors on higher mileage but both are easy to change and fairly cheap to do, so much so some owners consider them service items. The engine is a 2.5 litre single turbo by the way, no twin turbos or superchargers, it's essentially a Volvo T5 lump slightly bored out so maintenance is fairly simple for any competent garage and loads of specialists also.

By comparison I owned a 320i after the Focus, the BMW was far more expensive to maintain especially at main dealer rates, Ford tend to be quite cheap cars maintenance wise compared to most brands. The 320i would not touch the Focus for performance either but it's not really a fair comparison. I bought the 320i because I needed a practical estate car and it was right price and right car at the right time.

I found both the Focus and the BMW to be reliable in the main though more electrical gremlins with the BMW, mine was the estate and I had issues with the wiring loom which went from the main body of the car into the boot hatch, an inherent design fault causes the wires to rub and eventually break, I did repair the broken wires of which there were a lot! shortly after I traded the car in against a new car for the wife.

The other issue I had again with the boot was the glass hatch failing to open as it should, that was sorted under warranty from the dealership but took them 4 days to get it right.

It personally gave me a bad impression of BMW's, the cars are lovely when they work but the dealers are pretty bad on service when things go wrong, and expensive.

[VR99]

Interesting perspectives. I've heard plenty about electrical gremlins in BMW's..I have no idea what is normal Vs higher than normal issues but in 9 years did not have a single electrical issue in my focus which I think is quite impressive for a 14 yr old Ford.
The 130i's do appear to be quite a rare car so may require a longer search for the right one. A standard non modded 5 door ST in ST1/2 guise in a sober colour (no go faster stripes or lairy orange) is appealing and might be slightly easier to find.
I put a insurance quote in for a 130i and was coming out at £520 which is reasonable I guess?

[andyalan10]

Six cylinder sweetness plus build quality?

Lexus IS250? No need to spend all of your 6k budget if you don't want to.

There's even a Lexus main dealer with one at £5k.

I'd be tempted to go high mileage and low price if you do a low mileage, keep some pennies in the bank.

Andy

[Obee72]

IS250 was also on my list and would have gone down that road but the £540 road tax

[Kewy]

VR99 said:

Thanks for the input guys, all very useful!
I really like the Focus ST in 5 door guise but...2.5l already thirsty engine coupled with twin superchargers makes me worried about fuel and maintenance costs..more complex more to go wrong?
Ideally I would of preferred a 116/118/120 but have seen a lot of negative comments about the engine in both the 1 and 3 series so not sure what to make of it? My friend ran a 116 from 30-100k with no issues though I accept it's probably the model most say to avoid at all.costs given poor performance and efficiency.
Curious if anyone here has owned both a 130i and either a focus ST or 116/118/120i for comparison? (Not performance comparison , reliability, running costs etc)

My mate used to have an ST, then got a DC5, now owns a 130i – I'll ask him later for you. That being said his ST was Stage 2 running nearly 400bhp so probably not a great comparison.

I drive a CL7 Accord (JDM import) – might be worth looking at? Granted it comes to life on the country roads which it sounds you don't get many of, but its 2.0 NA – 220bhp – potters round at 2-3000rpm when you want it to and revs to nearly 9000rpm when you want it to. Has 4 doors, not awful on fuel, holds its value. Might be worth looking at

[Torquey]

VR99 said:

Greetings all, v long time lurker.. first time poster!
I am in my mid 30's and am looking to change my car.current steed is a near 15 year.old MK1 focus..has been a great run about and flying through MOT's but it's 3 door and need an excuse.to change
I hardly drive near let alone beyond the M25..majority is weekend stop start journey's in traffic ridden London going to the shops. Annual mileage circa 5/6k at a push.
The BMW 130i in 5 door guise is tempting..straight 6 and more reliable I believe than the 4 cylinder variants but am I kidding myself about running costs? The £290/315 tax is rather off-putting and under no illusions the fuel and repair bills will be a significant increase over my.trusty focus but.what are people's thoughts on the 130i and real world running costs? Alternatives? I don't want diesel..mileage and nature of journey's do not.justify the.potential.dpf issues and maintenance...imo.
Sorry for a long post, appreciate the help!

I don't get this bold part. I don't know what cars are suitable for driving in the center of London. But 200-300bhp cars? I'm quite surprised there is not something more suitable. Focus 1.0 Ecoboosts or a 1.4 civic

Edited by Torquey on Thursday 10th January 11:54

[VR99]

I get the point about not being able to use 200+ bhp in clogged up London roads...at the same time the v well.documented issues have put me right off Ecoboost..no offence intended to Ecoboost owners. I want some n/a goodness if I can find it. Lexus IS250 was high on my.list untill I saw the £540 tax...£315 seems very reasonable now

[ZX10R NIN]

Obee72 said:

IS250 was also on my list and would have gone down that road but the £540 road tax

The £540 tax is for the Manual only the auto is cheaper.

[ZX10R NIN]

VR99 said:

Thanks for the input guys, all very useful!
I really like the Focus ST in 5 door guise but...2.5l already thirsty engine coupled with twin superchargers makes me worried about fuel and maintenance costs..more complex more to go wrong?
Ideally I would of preferred a 116/118/120 but have seen a lot of negative comments about the engine in both the 1 and 3 series so not sure what to make of it? My friend ran a 116 from 30-100k with no issues though I accept it's probably the model most say to avoid at all.costs given poor performance and efficiency.
Curious if anyone here has owned both a 130i and either a focus ST or 116/118/120i for comparison? (Not performance comparison , reliability, running costs etc)

The ST is a 2.5 with a single turbocharger not twin superchargers mine averaged 27mpg which seems to be the average, don't get tricked into going for the smallest engine one series as it still has to pull the same weight which can mean in reality the 118 is no better on fuel than the 120.

The running costs for ST's is very sensible even when using a main dealer let alone an independent as I said if you want something more sensible take a good look at the Alfa Giulietta as they're as very good mix of sensible running costs with decent performance as well.

[Obee72]

ZX10R NIN said:

The £540 tax is for the Manual only the auto is cheaper.

Quite correct, but auto was never on my list tbh. When you live as close the the Yorkshire Dales as I do, auto is just frustrating around the bumps and curves !!

[ZX10R NIN]

It's actually not bad in sports mode you can bang on the limiter & the changes are pretty swift.

[Galahad]

I wouldn’t focus too much on the £540 road tax. I was after a winter hack recently and having had a 130i before and although I loved it, I remembered how woeful they are in the snow, so ended up with a MkV Golf R32 manual 5 door. It’s done 125k miles but is immaculate with FSH and I had set myself a budget of 8k but got this for a little under 6k. The engine is a peach and it goes really well. I figured an extra £600 in tax over 3 years was offset by it being 2k less than my original budget! Much better ride than the 130i M Sport which was very crashy on potholes etc.

Edited by Galahad on Thursday 10th January 22:22

[Mr Tidy]

Well I would (and did) focus on the £540 road tax! I could live with that for an M3, but otherwise why would you? And for a Toyota - really?

I had an E46 BMW 325ti Sport for 3+ years which was in Band K, but just stuck winter tyres/wheels on it. They cost me £180 and 3 years later I sold them for over £100, so cheaper than the road tax premium for the same time-frame!

I replaced it last February with an E91 325iSE (also Band K) that came on winters, so I bought a set of summers on Gumtree.

An E91 330i would seem to fit your bill OP.

[VR99]

I've been thinking this through a bit more though still undecided but...
I don't think I am enough of an enthusiast to pay a premium for a 130i..they are quite rare and I could have a similar beemer 6 cylinder engine at.a cheaper initial outlay with more practicality if I plumped for an E90/91 325I/330CI..however I have a slight image issue with these cars as you see a lot of them about (granted lot less than the E46) for those who want the 'badge' bragging rights.
I actually really like the E90/91 made in 2011..the bog standard facelifted 318/320i..look simple but smart however.the 4 cyl engines (N43/M43..?) used in those cars has been described as a hound and dog amongst this and other forums so it's enough to scare me off and only consider the 6 cyl engines.
As an alternative and a v.diff one at that..the recent Mazda 3 takes my fancy in 2.0 n/a format..more pricey but like the shape and based on 9 years with my MK1 focus I can only describe Mazda engines as absolute tanks..not had a single.big issue with my focus 1.8 apart from consumables and maintenance.. underpowered and uninspiring but does a job!
So yep am still undecided and sorry for the long post...but appreciate all your input!