My other half’s new daily; E88 BMW 125i cabriolet
Discussion
bodhi said:
Your OH sounds entirely sensible if I'm honest, I think these things are worth hanging onto with the move towards electrification and cars doing everything by themselves, I've certainly got no plans to let mine go.
That is an incredibly generous offer on the binnacle and I hope to be able to take you up on that - I'm sending it in for an Inspection service plus new water pump and potentially starter motor, so as long as that isn't too horrendous I'll start on the interior.
Anyway rather than clogging up your thread with my ramblings I'll use this as an excuse to finally update mine so, to be continued
It was only going to get swapped for something else with six cylinders; a Z4 Coupe which she really liked as well. Ultimately the money that would have been spent on that is going on an office in the garden which is probably far more sensible (if not as exciting).That is an incredibly generous offer on the binnacle and I hope to be able to take you up on that - I'm sending it in for an Inspection service plus new water pump and potentially starter motor, so as long as that isn't too horrendous I'll start on the interior.
Anyway rather than clogging up your thread with my ramblings I'll use this as an excuse to finally update mine so, to be continued
You’re more than welcome to the binnacle; it’s just sat in my random box of car bits. The alcantara dash from and binnacle to make it a nicer place to sit.
Sounds like an expensive service; I had to do the starter on this last year. Not that bad, but a bit fiddly.
bodhi said:
Your OH sounds entirely sensible if I'm honest, I think these things are worth hanging onto with the move towards electrification and cars doing everything by themselves, I've certainly got no plans to let mine go.
That is an incredibly generous offer on the binnacle and I hope to be able to take you up on that - I'm sending it in for an Inspection service plus new water pump and potentially starter motor, so as long as that isn't too horrendous I'll start on the interior.
Anyway rather than clogging up your thread with my ramblings I'll use this as an excuse to finally update mine so, to be continued
It was only going to get swapped for something else with six cylinders; a Z4 Coupe which she really liked as well. Ultimately the money that would have been spent on that is going on an office in the garden which is probably far more sensible (if not as exciting).That is an incredibly generous offer on the binnacle and I hope to be able to take you up on that - I'm sending it in for an Inspection service plus new water pump and potentially starter motor, so as long as that isn't too horrendous I'll start on the interior.
Anyway rather than clogging up your thread with my ramblings I'll use this as an excuse to finally update mine so, to be continued
You’re more than welcome to the binnacle; it’s just sat in my random box of car bits. The alcantara dash from and binnacle to make it a nicer place to sit.
Sounds like an expensive service; I had to do the starter on this last year. Not that bad, but a bit fiddly.
Gave the old girl a clean this morning because it was looking rather grotty after the snotty weather this week. It’s definitely ready for it’s post winter detail.
[url=https://postimg.cc/gnHPvv8h]
Unfortunately, I found something that I didn’t want to find; a small blister in the paint by the rear wheel arch.
It’s quite hard to see in the picture, but it is there. Luckily it’s on the side that needs paint due to a ding in the crease of the door. I’ve been putting off the paint for a while, but it definitely needs sorting this summer.
There is a load of mud and silt behind the arch liner, so I need to remove them both and clean that crap out.
[url=https://postimg.cc/gnHPvv8h]
Unfortunately, I found something that I didn’t want to find; a small blister in the paint by the rear wheel arch.
It’s quite hard to see in the picture, but it is there. Luckily it’s on the side that needs paint due to a ding in the crease of the door. I’ve been putting off the paint for a while, but it definitely needs sorting this summer.
There is a load of mud and silt behind the arch liner, so I need to remove them both and clean that crap out.
bodhi said:
Aye after resisting rust so well compared to my old E46 I've got a couple of spots appearing on mine - one in a similar position to yours which I assume is stone chip damage, and a small portion on the boot slam panel near the latch.
They do seem to be holding up better than their predecessors, but I guess the mud traps will eventually take their toll. There are a few spots on the inner face of the arch too. Took the 125i to Holyhead yesterday. It needed a good run out, so it had a bit of an Italian tune up. I’d forgotten how much fun it is to drive and it definitely makes me miss a manual n a good B road.
Managed to enjoy a fair about of the trip with the roof down too despite the very moody skies particularly around Snowdon.
Managed to enjoy a fair about of the trip with the roof down too despite the very moody skies particularly around Snowdon.
cerb4.5lee said:
Nice one Sam and it is great that you got to enjoy some roof down motoring. 
I bet it was nice to enjoy a bit of cog swapping as well for a change, and I'm looking forward to getting the 370 back on the road to shift my own gears again.
It was indeed; I got a few odd looks because it was a bit drizzly at times but it was fine. I love driving with the roof down; the extra sounds etc. I bet it was nice to enjoy a bit of cog swapping as well for a change, and I'm looking forward to getting the 370 back on the road to shift my own gears again.
I really enjoyed driving a manual on some good roads; I’ve not forgotten how to heel and toe! Despite being largely very critical of BMW manual’s, the shift in this is actually pretty good.
When is the 370 coming out of hibernation?
bodhi said:
Despite the prevailing view of BMW Manuals I've always really liked the shift in my 125i. OK it can be a racalcitrant bugger when the fluids are still getting up to temperature, and 1st to 2nd is always a challenge to do smoothly, but it's great out on the open road. Seems to get better the harder you drive it as well, which is nice.
I think they’re quite hit and miss; my E46 was very grumpy but the manual in my 130i and in this are actually pretty good. A fluid change definitely helped as did a new shifter bush, but the biggest difference is binning the CDV.
Saying that, I had a brand new X1 for the day last summer and the manual is that was hideous; floppy, overly light and very vague….like stirring a bowl or air. Grim.
cerb4.5lee said:
I had originally planned for the 1st of April, but because the weather seems so changeable at the moment I'm going to push it back to the 1st of May now. I have really missed driving it as you can imagine, and the last time I drove it was the 11th of October last year!
Changeable is one way to describe it! March has been utterly s
te so far; it’s quite mild here out of the wind, sunny one minute and then raining the next. Bored of it now.Today was spring clean for the 125i…
Up on axle stands, all wheels removed and the car and arches getting snowfoamed.
The arches were particularly grotty on this after the winter and rubbish March we’ve had.
After rinsing the car, washing it and drying it, I gave it a chemical decontamination. Lots of fall out reacting.
Whilst the various chemicals were doing their thing, I cleaned the roof with the Autoglym kit. Annoyingly there are a few stubborn spots of mould / mildew that I can’t shift.
The car was then washed and rinsed again.
Despite using Trix and Korrosol, there were some really stubborn contamination that was a sod to remove with a clay bar.
After the car was clayed and I went over if with Scholl S20 and my DA.
After polishing, it was wiped down with a panel wipe, glazed before I applied a coat of in2detailing’s ceramic wax. This was then topped off with Soft99 Kiwami extreme.
Quick beading test
The arches where then dressed and I turned my attention to the wheels….lots of fall out!
It took ages to get all of the st off the wheels. Once they were as clean as I could get them, they received two coats of Poorboys wheel sealant, tyres were dressed and the wheels refitted.
I protected the roof with the Autoglym stuff before turning my attention to the interior and giving everything a good clean, including the seats.
And a few arty shots.
Up on axle stands, all wheels removed and the car and arches getting snowfoamed.
The arches were particularly grotty on this after the winter and rubbish March we’ve had.
After rinsing the car, washing it and drying it, I gave it a chemical decontamination. Lots of fall out reacting.
Whilst the various chemicals were doing their thing, I cleaned the roof with the Autoglym kit. Annoyingly there are a few stubborn spots of mould / mildew that I can’t shift.
The car was then washed and rinsed again.
Despite using Trix and Korrosol, there were some really stubborn contamination that was a sod to remove with a clay bar.
After the car was clayed and I went over if with Scholl S20 and my DA.
After polishing, it was wiped down with a panel wipe, glazed before I applied a coat of in2detailing’s ceramic wax. This was then topped off with Soft99 Kiwami extreme.
Quick beading test
The arches where then dressed and I turned my attention to the wheels….lots of fall out!
It took ages to get all of the s
t off the wheels. Once they were as clean as I could get them, they received two coats of Poorboys wheel sealant, tyres were dressed and the wheels refitted.I protected the roof with the Autoglym stuff before turning my attention to the interior and giving everything a good clean, including the seats.
And a few arty shots.
cerb4.5lee said:
That is a brilliant spring clean Sam for sure. 
I said to my missus that your spring clean is awesomely detailed in comparison to my effort. Great work bud.
Cheers Lee. It scrip well despite my other half’s best efforts to make it look like it’s completed a WRC stage. I said to my missus that your spring clean is awesomely detailed in comparison to my effort. Great work bud.
Looks like it’s the end of the road for the little 125i…
I’ve come to the conclusion that the current combo of cars is a bit of a pain in the arse; a coupe and a cabriolet aren’t great for boring stuff. I’ve spent too much on the 335i this recently to let that go, so it looks like this is getting sacrificed. The fact that my other half literally never puts the roof down has played a part.
It’s a compromised car in many ways with piss poor visibility when reversing with the roof up, the rear seats aren’t great, seats don’t fold etc. To then not put the roof down when the weather is good seems a bit daft.
It’ll be getting replaced by a 330i touring with the same N52 engine. It won’t happen for a few weeks because the 330’s owner is currently waiting for his company car to be delivered.
I’ll definitely miss this car; I’ve enjoyed driving it a lot and it’s been a good car to own in all fairness. The NC500 trip in it last year was a real highlight in our ownership.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the current combo of cars is a bit of a pain in the arse; a coupe and a cabriolet aren’t great for boring stuff. I’ve spent too much on the 335i this recently to let that go, so it looks like this is getting sacrificed. The fact that my other half literally never puts the roof down has played a part.
It’s a compromised car in many ways with piss poor visibility when reversing with the roof up, the rear seats aren’t great, seats don’t fold etc. To then not put the roof down when the weather is good seems a bit daft.
It’ll be getting replaced by a 330i touring with the same N52 engine. It won’t happen for a few weeks because the 330’s owner is currently waiting for his company car to be delivered.
I’ll definitely miss this car; I’ve enjoyed driving it a lot and it’s been a good car to own in all fairness. The NC500 trip in it last year was a real highlight in our ownership.
Matt_E46 said:
Makes perfect sense. A 330i touring is a fairly rare thing these days…it’s a manual right?!
The N52 is a great engine, I had a detuned version in my 325i super smooth and zinged suited nicely high up in the revs.
Yes, it’s a manual. Not many options ticked, but most of the petrol tourings are the same.The N52 is a great engine, I had a detuned version in my 325i super smooth and zinged suited nicely high up in the revs.
I’m a massive fan of the N52; this will be number four! I’ve had two black tops to date and one silver top (this will be silver top number two).
bodhi said:
It will be a shame to see another 125i go from the forums but totally get the logic - our Coupé is marginal on practicality at times, and that's with a slightly bigger boot and fold down seats.
The 330i you are going for sounds lovely though and am looking forward to see what you do with it. I might just keep this thread bookmarked for inspiration on mine when I get round to actually doing something with it.
Thanks I’ll be sad to see this go; it drives really nicely and the roof down adds loads to the experience but our lad isn’t getting any smaller plus he wants us to buy an inflatable kayak for our holiday this year and that’s not fitting in either of our cars! The 330i you are going for sounds lovely though and am looking forward to see what you do with it. I might just keep this thread bookmarked for inspiration on mine when I get round to actually doing something with it.
The replacement, whilst sensible is at least a six pot petrol.
roadie said:
A 330i really makes sense as you know your way around the E8x/E9x so well!
I’m certainly a creature of habit! 
They’re very much in my comfort zone. I did consider an E61, but she says they’re too big and she’s probably right. If this hadn’t come along at the right time / price, the cab would have stayed.d_a_n1979 said:
Think needs/must really Sam... And I know you're a fan of the E91 touring, so why not 
As you said; if the verts not being used to its potential, then why keep hold of it?
I love driving with the rod down whereas she seems less fussed! As you said; if the verts not being used to its potential, then why keep hold of it?
Yeah, they’re my favourite E9x shape. I do often wish that I’d bought the LMB 335i touring that I was offered by a PH member instead of the coupe.
I’m also thinking that the E91 would allow me to seriously look at a Cayman / Boxster next year.
CB 987 said:
I wish you’d bought it too haha! It actually popped up for sale again recently too…. The chap put nearly 17k on it in a year and other than the waste gates I don’t think it needed much else. Probably shouldn’t have mentioned that! The 330i will be great, I still miss mine which JakeT now owns.
:haha: I’ve come to realise that life with an N54 is neither cheap nor easy all of the time! Hey ho. I think the touring will fit the bill nicely. This will be missed though; gave it a quick wash tonight and it scrubs up well. Heading up to Ignition Cars and Coffee tomorrow afternoon in it.
Sofa said:
Sad to see the 125i go as the owner of a Space Grey Coupe myself, but sounds like it makes sense considering your circumstances and the fact it rarely gets driven with the roof down. I’m a single bloke and I still sometimes find myself wishing I’d gone for an E91 so I could easily chuck mates and stuff in when going on trips, rather than having to endure being a passenger on lovely Welsh roads.
Makes me feel more content sticking with the N52 for the time being and not trying to get into say an M140i when so many people such as yourself seem to have tried those but keep coming back to the N52!
The N52 is an absolute peach of an engine. I live the fact that BMW shoved such a good engine into stuff like a 3 series touring. Any replacement was going to need at least six cylinders. Makes me feel more content sticking with the N52 for the time being and not trying to get into say an M140i when so many people such as yourself seem to have tried those but keep coming back to the N52!
Stuff like the M140i works for many people but I just expected a bit more unfortunately.
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