Discussion
A little bit of preamble...
I'd recently been looking at getting out of the finance agreement on my MK6 Polo GTI+ - due to a potential career change on the horizon and other personal circumstances, I couldn't see myself keeping the car for the full 4-year finance term; now was the best time to get out while I could pay off the finance and retain some equity.
On reflection, that Polo GTI+ was a perfect introduction to performance cars - a little dull and easy to handle, but incredibly capable. I wanted to replace it with something more interesting.
Rewind to 13-year old me in 2010, where I remember reading in various places about how much of a good used buy the BMW 130i was, and how incredible that 6-cylinder engine was in its various guises. Since then I'd always had it on my "must try" list.
Finding a good one was difficult. I'd looked at an LE with significant mileage (159,000), excellent maintenance history but a less-than-fastidious owner that sent up some red flags; the front-right tyre kept going flat on my test drive despite the recently refurbished wheels and brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4s, one of the wheel bolts was missing on the rear-left wheel, and the coolant expansion tank was nearly empty. I doubted the mechanicals despite the good cosmetic condition, and moved on.
A few days later this LE came up for sale in London, some 200 miles away. The owner had bought it sight unseen from an auction in November 2020 in a slightly sorry state - no history, missing front bumper, damaged crash bar - and restored it to good condition with original BMW parts. Seller's photos below:
Before (November 2020)
During (November 2020-Jan 2021):
After
One year and 5000 miles on, including a trip through Scotland & Wales the owner's now moving back to Australia, taking his 997 911 home with him and leaving the 130 up for sale - fair enough.
Despite the lack of history I was intrigued, spent a lot of time chatting to the owner via WhatsApp, and was impressed with his attention to detail and his honesty.
I booked my train ticket for the 200-mile journey & went to view early one Sunday morning
111,000 miles
All BMW recalls sorted
Common issues including ABS pump and PDC computer failure have both been addressed. New battery
The colour match on the M-Sport bumper looked great
New brakes all-round
The seller had reconditioned and dyed the leather to be about 85-90% of its original condition
Reconditioned steering rack was fitted due to play in the steering
Engine pulled well on the test drive. At idle the engine sounds very smooth. From looking through the oil cap, the engine internals looked to be in great condition so despite the lost history I was happy it had been very well looked after in previous ownership
4 x matching Dunlop tyres
The bad (mainly cosmetic):
Needs a paint correction and wheel refurb
Service due
The rear lights are not the original high darkline tail-lights that originally came with the LE, with the 4 LED strips acting as the rear position lamps
1 key
Missing exhaust tip
After agreeing on a price that reflected the lack of some history and the service that was due next month, I drove her home that evening. Obligatory service station pic....
and the day after the car arrived home...
Been using it on my daily commute and I love it!! It's fabulous. The NA power delivery is so much more entertaining than the boring 4-pot turbo from the Polo GTI+.
I've inspected the car on ramps this morning and it's in great condition, with new OEM BMW parts everywhere underneath (rear trailing arms and coolant piping). The only issue to watch will be the leaking sump and valve cover - no big surprise on the N52 engine.
My immediate plans for the car from now until spring, are
A major service including gearbox oil and differential service and coolant change - this will come after my trip away to Norway in early Dec as I'd like access to a lift
Winter tyres
Return to the correct spec tail-lights
Paint correction and wheel refurb. Those wheels are an incredible design, but the centre caps are looking a little tired and the wheels have some kerbing.
Sort out a slight vibration at motorway speeds (80mph+). Possibly wheel balancing issues or sticking callipers?
The xenons seem slightly misaligned so need adjusting. They point slightly too high and main beam doesn't seem to add much of a difference to visibility! I can still see absolutely fine and they're by no means anywhere near dangerous.
Adding the rear "130i" badge again
Longer term plans;
iDrive software update. The iDrive is the CCC iteration and the maps are, obviously, completely out of date. If I can add Apple CarPlay to the system I will.
The gear-change is very notchy (common I believe) and there's a little bit of side-to-side play in the mechanism. I'd like to get the gear change action tightened up using an SSK and/or weighted gear knob.
BMWP exhaust
Front brake upgrade. Performance-wise the brakes are more than adequate but I'd like to improve the brake-pedal feel.
LSD and M3 control arms
I'd like to keep the car original and unmolested. These LEs are rare and I'd like to keep it OEM+
I'd recently been looking at getting out of the finance agreement on my MK6 Polo GTI+ - due to a potential career change on the horizon and other personal circumstances, I couldn't see myself keeping the car for the full 4-year finance term; now was the best time to get out while I could pay off the finance and retain some equity.
On reflection, that Polo GTI+ was a perfect introduction to performance cars - a little dull and easy to handle, but incredibly capable. I wanted to replace it with something more interesting.
Rewind to 13-year old me in 2010, where I remember reading in various places about how much of a good used buy the BMW 130i was, and how incredible that 6-cylinder engine was in its various guises. Since then I'd always had it on my "must try" list.
Finding a good one was difficult. I'd looked at an LE with significant mileage (159,000), excellent maintenance history but a less-than-fastidious owner that sent up some red flags; the front-right tyre kept going flat on my test drive despite the recently refurbished wheels and brand new Michelin Pilot Sport 4s, one of the wheel bolts was missing on the rear-left wheel, and the coolant expansion tank was nearly empty. I doubted the mechanicals despite the good cosmetic condition, and moved on.
A few days later this LE came up for sale in London, some 200 miles away. The owner had bought it sight unseen from an auction in November 2020 in a slightly sorry state - no history, missing front bumper, damaged crash bar - and restored it to good condition with original BMW parts. Seller's photos below:
Before (November 2020)
During (November 2020-Jan 2021):
After
One year and 5000 miles on, including a trip through Scotland & Wales the owner's now moving back to Australia, taking his 997 911 home with him and leaving the 130 up for sale - fair enough.
Despite the lack of history I was intrigued, spent a lot of time chatting to the owner via WhatsApp, and was impressed with his attention to detail and his honesty.
I booked my train ticket for the 200-mile journey & went to view early one Sunday morning
111,000 miles
All BMW recalls sorted
Common issues including ABS pump and PDC computer failure have both been addressed. New battery
The colour match on the M-Sport bumper looked great
New brakes all-round
The seller had reconditioned and dyed the leather to be about 85-90% of its original condition
Reconditioned steering rack was fitted due to play in the steering
Engine pulled well on the test drive. At idle the engine sounds very smooth. From looking through the oil cap, the engine internals looked to be in great condition so despite the lost history I was happy it had been very well looked after in previous ownership
4 x matching Dunlop tyres
The bad (mainly cosmetic):
Needs a paint correction and wheel refurb
Service due
The rear lights are not the original high darkline tail-lights that originally came with the LE, with the 4 LED strips acting as the rear position lamps
1 key
Missing exhaust tip
After agreeing on a price that reflected the lack of some history and the service that was due next month, I drove her home that evening. Obligatory service station pic....
and the day after the car arrived home...
Been using it on my daily commute and I love it!! It's fabulous. The NA power delivery is so much more entertaining than the boring 4-pot turbo from the Polo GTI+.
I've inspected the car on ramps this morning and it's in great condition, with new OEM BMW parts everywhere underneath (rear trailing arms and coolant piping). The only issue to watch will be the leaking sump and valve cover - no big surprise on the N52 engine.
My immediate plans for the car from now until spring, are
A major service including gearbox oil and differential service and coolant change - this will come after my trip away to Norway in early Dec as I'd like access to a lift
Winter tyres
Return to the correct spec tail-lights
Paint correction and wheel refurb. Those wheels are an incredible design, but the centre caps are looking a little tired and the wheels have some kerbing.
Sort out a slight vibration at motorway speeds (80mph+). Possibly wheel balancing issues or sticking callipers?
The xenons seem slightly misaligned so need adjusting. They point slightly too high and main beam doesn't seem to add much of a difference to visibility! I can still see absolutely fine and they're by no means anywhere near dangerous.
Adding the rear "130i" badge again
Longer term plans;
iDrive software update. The iDrive is the CCC iteration and the maps are, obviously, completely out of date. If I can add Apple CarPlay to the system I will.
The gear-change is very notchy (common I believe) and there's a little bit of side-to-side play in the mechanism. I'd like to get the gear change action tightened up using an SSK and/or weighted gear knob.
BMWP exhaust
Front brake upgrade. Performance-wise the brakes are more than adequate but I'd like to improve the brake-pedal feel.
LSD and M3 control arms
I'd like to keep the car original and unmolested. These LEs are rare and I'd like to keep it OEM+
Edited by HazzaCrawf on Saturday 27th November 19:59
Edited by HazzaCrawf on Saturday 27th November 20:01
Lovely looking car you have there. Had one 2013 - 2016 which I sold to get a 140i...
Mine had the a very notchy gear change too (especially 1st to 2nd) I did the CDV delete which I thought didn't make much difference. What did make a big difference was a weighted gear knob, though whilst it looked a bit naff it seemed to hide the notchy feeling.
Mine had the a very notchy gear change too (especially 1st to 2nd) I did the CDV delete which I thought didn't make much difference. What did make a big difference was a weighted gear knob, though whilst it looked a bit naff it seemed to hide the notchy feeling.
A 130i LE is a great car. 
And the N52 is a great engine - I'm currently on my 4th in an E90 330i (previously had two Z4 Coupes and an E91 325i). I've fancied a 130i for a while but prices seem to be climbing, whereas my 330i isn't!
BMW manual gearboxes seem to be a bit hit or miss in my experience, but fresh transmission fluid, a CV delete and a heavier gear-knob help. I think there is also a bush on the bottom of the gear-lever that can be replaced to reduce any sloppiness.
If you ever get any snow/ice where you live and have to get out and about winter tyres are pretty essential - I fitted mine to my 330i last week.
And if you haven't seen it there is another thread on here from a 130iLE owner here:-
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
And the N52 is a great engine - I'm currently on my 4th in an E90 330i (previously had two Z4 Coupes and an E91 325i). I've fancied a 130i for a while but prices seem to be climbing, whereas my 330i isn't!
BMW manual gearboxes seem to be a bit hit or miss in my experience, but fresh transmission fluid, a CV delete and a heavier gear-knob help. I think there is also a bush on the bottom of the gear-lever that can be replaced to reduce any sloppiness.
If you ever get any snow/ice where you live and have to get out and about winter tyres are pretty essential - I fitted mine to my 330i last week.
And if you haven't seen it there is another thread on here from a 130iLE owner here:-
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Remember seeing this in the Copart auction last November before I bought my 130i 3dr. Loved the past year ownership in mine and I did put it up for sale but have decided to keep it. Similar age to you and also being aware of them way back when they were new always preferred them over the R32 and always said I'd get one. If you don't mind me asking was this for sale on eBay a few weeks back just remember seeing a similar exhaust with the trim missing.
Edit: found a pic from my gallery I'm sure it's the same on.
Edit: found a pic from my gallery I'm sure it's the same on.
Edited by E63M6 on Saturday 27th November 23:50
Clio200pat said:
Lovely looking car you have there. Had one 2013 - 2016 which I sold to get a 140i...
Mine had the a very notchy gear change too (especially 1st to 2nd) I did the CDV delete which I thought didn't make much difference. What did make a big difference was a weighted gear knob, though whilst it looked a bit naff it seemed to hide the notchy feeling.
Thanks very much! Mine had the a very notchy gear change too (especially 1st to 2nd) I did the CDV delete which I thought didn't make much difference. What did make a big difference was a weighted gear knob, though whilst it looked a bit naff it seemed to hide the notchy feeling.
Out of interest what’s the best way to delete the CDV? Bore out the original CDV or just remove it and reattach the pipe to the slave cylinder directly?Mr Tidy said:
A 130i LE is a great car.
And the N52 is a great engine - I'm currently on my 4th in an E90 330i (previously had two Z4 Coupes and an E91 325i). I've fancied a 130i for a while but prices seem to be climbing, whereas my 330i isn't!
BMW manual gearboxes seem to be a bit hit or miss in my experience, but fresh transmission fluid, a CV delete and a heavier gear-knob help. I think there is also a bush on the bottom of the gear-lever that can be replaced to reduce any sloppiness.
If you ever get any snow/ice where you live and have to get out and about winter tyres are pretty essential - I fitted mine to my 330i last week.
And if you haven't seen it there is another thread on here from a 130iLE owner here:-
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
They were so rare to begin with, they’re only going to get rarer! Exciting times lie ahead. I love the understated nature of them - people don’t expect the performance from a 1 series - most are 120d’s in this generation!And the N52 is a great engine - I'm currently on my 4th in an E90 330i (previously had two Z4 Coupes and an E91 325i). I've fancied a 130i for a while but prices seem to be climbing, whereas my 330i isn't!
BMW manual gearboxes seem to be a bit hit or miss in my experience, but fresh transmission fluid, a CV delete and a heavier gear-knob help. I think there is also a bush on the bottom of the gear-lever that can be replaced to reduce any sloppiness.
If you ever get any snow/ice where you live and have to get out and about winter tyres are pretty essential - I fitted mine to my 330i last week.
And if you haven't seen it there is another thread on here from a 130iLE owner here:-
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I would love a Z4 Coupe at some point!
Thanks for the info re the bush on the gear-lever. Forgot about that. Will add it to my list.
Currently bidding on a set on eBay now. 225/40/R18s I believe
Ah yes I saw that thread! Gorgeous example. Proud to be part of the club
E63M6 said:
Remember seeing this in the Copart auction last November before I bought my 130i 3dr. Loved the past year ownership in mine and I did put it up for sale but have decided to keep it. Similar age to you and also being aware of them way back when they were new always preferred them over the R32 and always said I'd get one. If you don't mind me asking was this for sale on eBay a few weeks back just remember seeing a similar exhaust with the trim missing.
Edit: found a pic from my gallery I'm sure it's the same on.
Yep, that’s the one. Checked everything over when I viewed it and it’s been repaired very well. Seller sent photos over although I’ve not seen that particular one. Was trying to work out if the Xenons I have on the car now were the original ones pre-crash (and just left in the boot) or if they were replaced because the originals were damaged. I think I have my answer thanks to your photoEdit: found a pic from my gallery I'm sure it's the same on.
Edited by E63M6 on Saturday 27th November 23:50
It was down on Copart as used unrecorded so no write off marker. Me and the seller couldn’t work out why as it’s obviously had a front end impact
Also just to say, I think I was in contact with you a little while ago when yours was up for sale. I recognise the reg on yours from your eBay listing. Small world
HazzaCrawf said:
Yep, that’s the one. Checked everything over when I viewed it and it’s been repaired very well. Seller sent photos over although I’ve not seen that particular one. Was trying to work out if the Xenons I have on the car now were the original ones pre-crash (and just left in the boot) or if they were replaced because the originals were damaged. I think I have my answer thanks to your photo
It was down on Copart as used unrecorded so no write off marker. Me and the seller couldn’t work out why as it’s obviously had a front end impact
Also just to say, I think I was in contact with you a little while ago when yours was up for sale. I recognise the reg on yours from your eBay listing. Small world
Yes I seem to recall it wasn't down as a Cat car which is an added bonus. From your location I'm guessing it's Harry ? Brilliant to see you've found one and you'll definitely enjoy it. I'd keep an eye out for a 135i backbox they do transform the overall experience of the car. I've seen autodoc have got the Bilstein B12 kit for around £350 which Is a steal and I don't think I can resist not pulling the trigger on the kit at that price.It was down on Copart as used unrecorded so no write off marker. Me and the seller couldn’t work out why as it’s obviously had a front end impact
Also just to say, I think I was in contact with you a little while ago when yours was up for sale. I recognise the reg on yours from your eBay listing. Small world
E63M6 said:
Yes I seem to recall it wasn't down as a Cat car which is an added bonus. From your location I'm guessing it's Harry ? Brilliant to see you've found one and you'll definitely enjoy it. I'd keep an eye out for a 135i backbox they do transform the overall experience of the car. I've seen autodoc have got the Bilstein B12 kit for around £350 which Is a steal and I don't think I can resist not pulling the trigger on the kit at that price.
That’s me! That is a steal indeed - bookmarked it. I’ll get it through this winter with maintenance and winter tyres, get the cosmetics sorted and then starting checking out suspension bits!
135i backbox will definitely be on my list. BMW Performance exhausts are hard to find so 135i backbox would be a good compromise
There’s a thread on BabyBMW here of a guy testing various suspension setups, not sure if you’ve seen it https://babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t...
I nearly bought that car a couple of weeks ago but missed out by a day. Looked gorgeous
Edited by HazzaCrawf on Sunday 28th November 00:42
HazzaCrawf said:
They were so rare to begin with, they’re only going to get rarer! Exciting times lie ahead. I love the understated nature of them - people don’t expect the performance from a 1 series - most are 120d’s in this generation!
They are pretty understated, which is one of the reasons I like them! And you're right the LE was always rare plus it had a great spec.I'll confess, my only 1 Series was a 57 plate 123d - but I was doing business miles and getting a car allowance at the time so it seemed to make more sense. But now I just wish I had let my heart rule my head!
Mr Tidy said:
HazzaCrawf said:
They were so rare to begin with, they’re only going to get rarer! Exciting times lie ahead. I love the understated nature of them - people don’t expect the performance from a 1 series - most are 120d’s in this generation!
They are pretty understated, which is one of the reasons I like them! And you're right the LE was always rare plus it had a great spec.I'll confess, my only 1 Series was a 57 plate 123d - but I was doing business miles and getting a car allowance at the time so it seemed to make more sense. But now I just wish I had let my heart rule my head!
But the unique colour, wheels and lemon leather make up for it...
Service bits arrived:
Engine Oil,
Oil, Air, Cabin Filters
Differential Oil
Gearbox Oil (MTF-LT3 spec as per the blue sticker on the gearbox)
6x Spark Plugs
Coolant (not arrived yet)
Differential Fill plug and Engine drain plug (BMW receipt)
Gearbox drain and fill plugs (on order from Germany)
Also spent a bit of time attempting to realign the headlights as I've had a couple of flashes from oncoming drivers. The drivers-side headlight seemed to be aimed a little bit too high. A few clockwise turns on the adjustment screw...
.... and the aim seems mostly level - as close as I can get it by eye, at least.
I will have to drive it for a few days and keep adjusting every now and again until I'm happy, so I'll report back with a proper picture of the beam pattern when I'm on a darker road.
Final update...
I restored the 130i badge to the boot lid. £35 from BMW for a badge! It's not 100% straight if you stare at it long enough, but to the untrained eye it looks fine. I will probably end up adjusting it in the future with the use of a tape measure and proper reference to the measurements on BMW TIS.
QD to remove dirt and grime first, obviously...
Engine Oil,
Oil, Air, Cabin Filters
Differential Oil
Gearbox Oil (MTF-LT3 spec as per the blue sticker on the gearbox)
6x Spark Plugs
Coolant (not arrived yet)
Differential Fill plug and Engine drain plug (BMW receipt)
Gearbox drain and fill plugs (on order from Germany)
Also spent a bit of time attempting to realign the headlights as I've had a couple of flashes from oncoming drivers. The drivers-side headlight seemed to be aimed a little bit too high. A few clockwise turns on the adjustment screw...
.... and the aim seems mostly level - as close as I can get it by eye, at least.
I will have to drive it for a few days and keep adjusting every now and again until I'm happy, so I'll report back with a proper picture of the beam pattern when I'm on a darker road.
Final update...
I restored the 130i badge to the boot lid. £35 from BMW for a badge! It's not 100% straight if you stare at it long enough, but to the untrained eye it looks fine. I will probably end up adjusting it in the future with the use of a tape measure and proper reference to the measurements on BMW TIS.
QD to remove dirt and grime first, obviously...
Edited by HazzaCrawf on Monday 29th November 17:41
Update on the LE. Replaced the low darkline LCI taillights with the high darkline units with the 4 LED bars - standard fit on the LE I believe. The old units were in a horrible state - the plastic had melted inside the unit which was causing light to bleed across the different sections of the light:
New on left. Old on the right. Subtle
Done!
Update #2: added the OE first aid kit and warning triangle:
Update #3: changed all fluids, filters and spark plugs this week, including differential and gearbox oils. Was lucky enough to have access to a 2-post lift so no faffing with undertrays while on my back and trying to keep the car level.
She’s in great condition underneath for her age. Just needs the rear subframe sandblasting & powder coating to prevent corrosion (common issue on these). The guibo at the diff is starting to crack a little (maybe the source of my vibration at 80mph?), and the sump, valve cover and valvetronic motor gaskets are weeping slightly, but nothing needs urgent attention.
Update #4: winter tyres! Got these for a reasonable price from eBay. Pirelli Sottozero tyres, one pair with 6mm tread (rear) and the other pair with 3mm of tread. I’ve gone for 225/40/18 all round
Wheels are crying for a refurb though!
Other than that, she’s been great fun. Silky smooth Straight-6 is proving addictive and it just wants to be revved! A stark contrast from a boring turbo 4-pot. Off to the lakes for a few days next week so will provide some more arty shots then
Thanks for reading
New on left. Old on the right. Subtle
Done!
Update #2: added the OE first aid kit and warning triangle:
Update #3: changed all fluids, filters and spark plugs this week, including differential and gearbox oils. Was lucky enough to have access to a 2-post lift so no faffing with undertrays while on my back and trying to keep the car level.
She’s in great condition underneath for her age. Just needs the rear subframe sandblasting & powder coating to prevent corrosion (common issue on these). The guibo at the diff is starting to crack a little (maybe the source of my vibration at 80mph?), and the sump, valve cover and valvetronic motor gaskets are weeping slightly, but nothing needs urgent attention.
Update #4: winter tyres! Got these for a reasonable price from eBay. Pirelli Sottozero tyres, one pair with 6mm tread (rear) and the other pair with 3mm of tread. I’ve gone for 225/40/18 all round
Wheels are crying for a refurb though!
Other than that, she’s been great fun. Silky smooth Straight-6 is proving addictive and it just wants to be revved! A stark contrast from a boring turbo 4-pot. Off to the lakes for a few days next week so will provide some more arty shots then
Thanks for reading
Quick update - 1500 miles into my ownership and the 130i LE has been performing great. Changing the gearbox oil has mostly sorted the notchy gear-change and I'm very happy with it, although a CDV delete and a weighted gearknob will help even further.
Obligatory winding-road-in-the-distance shot. Needs a wash though
Also took the time to give the interior a full seats-out detail.
ColourLock Leather products are amazing; see the clean vs dirty shot below! These leather cleaners were kindly provided by the previous owner - thanks, if you're reading
The interior looks great now and I'm really happy with it, save for the scratched trim surrounding the iDrive selector, and the lemon leather needing a re-dye in some places especially on the bolster
In the new year she'll be getting some new gaskets to cure the minor oil leak, plus more for preventative maintenance, so that's: valve cover gasket(s), OFH/OC gaskets, ESS seal, oil cap seal, and valvetronic motor gaskets. All have been ordered from LLLparts so will be BMW original parts. I've heard mixed reviews about LLLparts so fingers crossed they'll deliver on time.
After that I'll be taking the subframe down to refresh/upgrade the suspension and engine mounts, and sort the oil leak from the sump. Hopefully the wheels will be refurb'ed at the same time, funds permitting.
Obligatory winding-road-in-the-distance shot. Needs a wash though
Also took the time to give the interior a full seats-out detail.
ColourLock Leather products are amazing; see the clean vs dirty shot below! These leather cleaners were kindly provided by the previous owner - thanks, if you're reading
The interior looks great now and I'm really happy with it, save for the scratched trim surrounding the iDrive selector, and the lemon leather needing a re-dye in some places especially on the bolster
In the new year she'll be getting some new gaskets to cure the minor oil leak, plus more for preventative maintenance, so that's: valve cover gasket(s), OFH/OC gaskets, ESS seal, oil cap seal, and valvetronic motor gaskets. All have been ordered from LLLparts so will be BMW original parts. I've heard mixed reviews about LLLparts so fingers crossed they'll deliver on time.
After that I'll be taking the subframe down to refresh/upgrade the suspension and engine mounts, and sort the oil leak from the sump. Hopefully the wheels will be refurb'ed at the same time, funds permitting.
Looking good OP - fellow 130i owner. Not an LE mind, I needed 5 doors, plus don't think I'd get on with that lemon interior.
If ordering lots of original parts try cotswold BMW via babybmw.net as there's a little forum discount.
I managed to get my local to match cotswold on their discount, so I get parts quicker and returns / issues are resolved easily, plus they're around the corner from my work office!
I'm on first name terms with my local bmw dealer parts guy.
There's a guy on YouTube doing a 116i for the 116i racing series. Anyways he's done a subframe removal, acid dip and powder coat. Honestly looks an absolute world of pain,and that's not removing bushes and rusted bolts. Polybushes make re-bushing straightforward I suppose.
However re-installing subframe without a lift is a mission.
Anyways, looking forward to your posts on that.
I had to switch out my diff so decided to sort my subframe insitu. Obviously can't get to all bits but rust converter, hammerite underseal and Bilt Hamber Dynax. I only got so far so need to finish it off (I got bored, cold and needed the car on the road).
Really frustrating that the front end being aluminium is in fantastic condition, yet the steel subframe at the rear looks like its been through a war zone. Wish it was all aluminium.
If ordering lots of original parts try cotswold BMW via babybmw.net as there's a little forum discount.
I managed to get my local to match cotswold on their discount, so I get parts quicker and returns / issues are resolved easily, plus they're around the corner from my work office!
I'm on first name terms with my local bmw dealer parts guy.
There's a guy on YouTube doing a 116i for the 116i racing series. Anyways he's done a subframe removal, acid dip and powder coat. Honestly looks an absolute world of pain,and that's not removing bushes and rusted bolts. Polybushes make re-bushing straightforward I suppose.
However re-installing subframe without a lift is a mission.
Anyways, looking forward to your posts on that.
I had to switch out my diff so decided to sort my subframe insitu. Obviously can't get to all bits but rust converter, hammerite underseal and Bilt Hamber Dynax. I only got so far so need to finish it off (I got bored, cold and needed the car on the road).
Really frustrating that the front end being aluminium is in fantastic condition, yet the steel subframe at the rear looks like its been through a war zone. Wish it was all aluminium.
ahas said:
Looking good OP - fellow 130i owner. Not an LE mind, I needed 5 doors, plus don't think I'd get on with that lemon interior.
If ordering lots of original parts try cotswold BMW via babybmw.net as there's a little forum discount.
I managed to get my local to match cotswold on their discount, so I get parts quicker and returns / issues are resolved easily, plus they're around the corner from my work office!
I'm on first name terms with my local bmw dealer parts guy.
There's a guy on YouTube doing a 116i for the 116i racing series. Anyways he's done a subframe removal, acid dip and powder coat. Honestly looks an absolute world of pain,and that's not removing bushes and rusted bolts. Polybushes make re-bushing straightforward I suppose.
However re-installing subframe without a lift is a mission.
Anyways, looking forward to your posts on that.
I had to switch out my diff so decided to sort my subframe insitu. Obviously can't get to all bits but rust converter, hammerite underseal and Bilt Hamber Dynax. I only got so far so need to finish it off (I got bored, cold and needed the car on the road).
Really frustrating that the front end being aluminium is in fantastic condition, yet the steel subframe at the rear looks like its been through a war zone. Wish it was all aluminium.
Thanks very much, I'll look into the Costwolds discount as LLLparts already took 2 weeks to deliver my tail lights in my previous posts - they're cheaper than most but it's not worth the c. 2-3 week wait each time. ThanksIf ordering lots of original parts try cotswold BMW via babybmw.net as there's a little forum discount.
I managed to get my local to match cotswold on their discount, so I get parts quicker and returns / issues are resolved easily, plus they're around the corner from my work office!
I'm on first name terms with my local bmw dealer parts guy.
There's a guy on YouTube doing a 116i for the 116i racing series. Anyways he's done a subframe removal, acid dip and powder coat. Honestly looks an absolute world of pain,and that's not removing bushes and rusted bolts. Polybushes make re-bushing straightforward I suppose.
However re-installing subframe without a lift is a mission.
Anyways, looking forward to your posts on that.
I had to switch out my diff so decided to sort my subframe insitu. Obviously can't get to all bits but rust converter, hammerite underseal and Bilt Hamber Dynax. I only got so far so need to finish it off (I got bored, cold and needed the car on the road).
Really frustrating that the front end being aluminium is in fantastic condition, yet the steel subframe at the rear looks like its been through a war zone. Wish it was all aluminium.
I agree, it'll be a big job. I'm lucky enough to be able to rent a lift near me so hopefully that makes things easier and it'll be worth the cost. I know the previous owner had the subframe off to recon/replace the steering rack so I think I'll be alright there. If the suspension and bushes and engine mounts are being refreshed at the same time, hopefully that subframe won't ever need to come off again
Rear subframe is a tricky one... I'd imagine that would be my experience - I probably would get bored of just tidying up what I could see, like yourself, and just bite the bullet and remove it all instead. Will happily pay someone to sandblast the rear subframe and re-paint it for me as I agree it looks uglier than a dogs dinner under there at the rear (only surface rust at the moment thankfully). It's a shame because the rest of the underside is mint.
Only problem is the diff would also need to be repainted (see below photo, taken after diff oil was changed 2 weeks ago) and if I'm going that far then I might as well swap the innards to an LSD...
In for a penny in for a pound!
I'd suggest doing brake lines and hoses if need doing while in there. Mine were pretty bad. One line runs behind the diff and definitely worth replacing. A replacement line from dealer was about £13 + vat iirc, pre shaped and all couplers installed.
LSD! Fully on board with you there.
Long story short I bought mine with a 'diff whine' changed the diff and turns out it wasn't the diff that was whining.
Now I have 2 diffs, one low mileage on the car and the original 137k one spare, ideal for LSD conversion. I'm just building up courage to get it done. It's an expensive mod.
I was pricing up and to supply and install professionally a Blackline LSD is about £1,100 ish and a quaiffe is c. £500 more on top, pumpkin fully refurbished and including bearings replacement etc.
I'd be genuinely interested if you get more competitive prices as I might be interested.
Or look for a used second hand one is an option.
If you reinstall your old diff, painting with rust inhibitor and then undersealing comes up really nice. Not great at taking pics but one has been painted in Krust treatment, the other hasn't.
I'd suggest doing brake lines and hoses if need doing while in there. Mine were pretty bad. One line runs behind the diff and definitely worth replacing. A replacement line from dealer was about £13 + vat iirc, pre shaped and all couplers installed.
LSD! Fully on board with you there.
Long story short I bought mine with a 'diff whine' changed the diff and turns out it wasn't the diff that was whining.
Now I have 2 diffs, one low mileage on the car and the original 137k one spare, ideal for LSD conversion. I'm just building up courage to get it done. It's an expensive mod.
I was pricing up and to supply and install professionally a Blackline LSD is about £1,100 ish and a quaiffe is c. £500 more on top, pumpkin fully refurbished and including bearings replacement etc.
I'd be genuinely interested if you get more competitive prices as I might be interested.
Or look for a used second hand one is an option.
If you reinstall your old diff, painting with rust inhibitor and then undersealing comes up really nice. Not great at taking pics but one has been painted in Krust treatment, the other hasn't.
Edited by ahas on Wednesday 22 December 23:40
ahas said:
In for a penny in for a pound!
I'd suggest doing brake lines and hoses if need doing while in there. Mine were pretty bad. One line runs behind the diff and definitely worth replacing. A replacement line from dealer was about £13 + vat iirc, pre shaped and all couplers installed.
LSD! Fully on board with you there.
Long story short I bought mine with a 'diff whine' changed the diff and turns out it wasn't the diff that was whining.
Now I have 2 diffs, one low mileage on the car and the original 137k one spare, ideal for LSD conversion. I'm just building up courage to get it done. It's an expensive mod.
I was pricing up and to supply and install professionally a Blackline LSD is about £1,100 ish and a quaiffe is c. £500 more on top, pumpkin fully refurbished and including bearings replacement etc.
I'd be genuinely interested if you get more competitive prices as I might be interested.
Or look for a used second hand one is an option.
If you reinstall your old diff, painting with rust inhibitor and then undersealing comes up really nice. Not great at taking pics but one has been painted in Krust treatment, the other hasn't.
Is that brake pipe visible with the subframe and diff installed? I may take a quick look at it next time I'm under there. Shocked at how cheap the replacement pipe is!I'd suggest doing brake lines and hoses if need doing while in there. Mine were pretty bad. One line runs behind the diff and definitely worth replacing. A replacement line from dealer was about £13 + vat iirc, pre shaped and all couplers installed.
LSD! Fully on board with you there.
Long story short I bought mine with a 'diff whine' changed the diff and turns out it wasn't the diff that was whining.
Now I have 2 diffs, one low mileage on the car and the original 137k one spare, ideal for LSD conversion. I'm just building up courage to get it done. It's an expensive mod.
I was pricing up and to supply and install professionally a Blackline LSD is about £1,100 ish and a quaiffe is c. £500 more on top, pumpkin fully refurbished and including bearings replacement etc.
I'd be genuinely interested if you get more competitive prices as I might be interested.
Or look for a used second hand one is an option.
If you reinstall your old diff, painting with rust inhibitor and then undersealing comes up really nice. Not great at taking pics but one has been painted in Krust treatment, the other hasn't.
Edited by ahas on Wednesday 22 December 23:40
Ah you must finish the story now - what was whining, out of interest?
Similar prices to me then. parts alone for a Quaife LSD from Birds would be £1100 inc VAT, with fitting it would be just shy of £1700 as you say. Add in the Birds suspension package and it's getting quite expensive, but so worth it. I'd be keeping the LE for a long time so I'm not fussed about getting it, and keeping it, well-sorted.
That rust treatment looks epic. Even if I went for an LSD it would still be reinstalled in the original casing AFAIK, so that will be a great tip regardless
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