BMW 130i - Have I bought an absolute unicorn?

[MBE1991]

Hi All

In another installment of "What has MBE bought without needing it?", an alert on my FB marketplace showed a low mileage BMW 130i in a peculiar spec located in a small town of McGregor, about 150km inland from Cape Town.

Cue asking a friend if he fancied a drive up to McGregor, enticing him with a free lunch and the opportunity to drive a 190kw, 6 speed manual, RWD hatch back on some windy mountain roads. Friend convinced, deal concluded with a fellow car enthusiast. It's always been a bucket list car for me but the more I researched the spec the more peculiar it looked. So, what have i bought?

2008 BMW 130i 6 speed manual (non MSport)
132k km on the clock (approx 80k miles)
Black Sapphire Metallic over Boston Black leather
Xenons with headlamp washers
Sunroof
PDC
Climate
Cruise

So up to this point it seems rare but not too odd - I believe in the UK, the non MSport was dropped with the LCI, so a LCI "SE" spec is already quite rare. Where it becomes odd is that this car still has the Hydraulic steering, known to be discontinued with the LCI in favour of Electric steering.

A quick "Co Pilot" search brings up the following blurb:

"If your car was built in early or mid-2007, it may be an LCI body with pre-LCI mechanicals, including hydraulic steering. Some regions (like South Africa) received unique spec combinations — for example, LCI body with hydraulic steering and manual transmission — that weren’t available elsewhere. South Africa received a limited number of 130i models, and even fewer in SE trim. If your car is a manual SE with unique options (like sunroof, leather, or rare colors), it could be one of very few in the country."

This vehicle, despite being first registered in 2008, is actually a March 2007 build, so must be one of the first LCI models, so is almost a mix of LCI and pre LCI (best bits of both). I have run the VIN to get the spec sheet but if anyone on this forum could help me get some more info - what I am particularly interested is how many LCI E87 were produced with Hydraulic steering, and then even more granularity regarding the amount of LCI, SE spec, manual and hydraulic steering (must be very very few)

VIN: WBAUD52070PF53042

Pictures as follows

[trevalvole]

On the HPAS, this 2008 Japanese import appears to have HPAS (if the reservoir is the thing with the green circle on it in the engine bay), so may be other markets continued with HPAS when we got EPAS? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167614034801

[Truckosaurus]

Always liked the 130i. Were 1-series assembled locally in South Africa?

[helix403]

Your car is a European spec. LCI produced in March 2007. As you say, an early LCI.

[danb79]

trevalvole said:

On the HPAS, this 2008 Japanese import appears to have HPAS (if the reservoir is the thing with the green circle on it in the engine bay), so may be other markets continued with HPAS when we got EPAS? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167614034801

Earlier pre-LCi ones had HPAS; LCi ones, like the 130i LE I've literally sold to its new owner this morning, had EPAS and I never found it bad at all; I didn't find it lifeless, I could feel very much what the road was doing, what the wheels were doing and the feedback was very good IMO

However, lightweight alloys with decent tyres may have helped that a lot, the OEM alloys are bloody heavy and they can really dull the feel down

[trevalvole]

danb79 said:

trevalvole said:

On the HPAS, this 2008 Japanese import appears to have HPAS (if the reservoir is the thing with the green circle on it in the engine bay), so may be other markets continued with HPAS when we got EPAS? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/167614034801

Earlier pre-LCi ones had HPAS; LCi ones, like the 130i LE I've literally sold to its new owner this morning, had EPAS and I never found it bad at all; I didn't find it lifeless, I could feel very much what the road was doing, what the wheels were doing and the feedback was very good IMO

I presume (though I might be wrong on this as I'm not really up on BMWs) that the 2008 one I linked to is an LCI?

[helix403]

Should be, as its post 03/07.

[Mr Tidy]

That's quite a rarity, although there's more black going on than I would want.

Spec does seem to vary in different markets though - you mention Climate Control but IIRC dual-zone CC was standard on LCIs in the UK. My September 2007 123d had it but also had EPAS, although it was much better than the EPAS my Z4 had.

I often wish I had bought a 130i instead of my 330i, but it doesn't seem worth changing when I've got the same drivetrain, a sunroof and Xenons.

Enjoy your low mileage gem.

[DoubleSix]

MBE1991 said:

Hi All

In another installment of "What has MBE bought without needing it?", an alert on my FB marketplace showed a low mileage BMW 130i in a peculiar spec located in a small town of McGregor, about 150km inland from Cape Town.

Cue asking a friend if he fancied a drive up to McGregor, enticing him with a free lunch and the opportunity to drive a 190kw, 6 speed manual, RWD hatch back on some windy mountain roads. Friend convinced, deal concluded with a fellow car enthusiast. It's always been a bucket list car for me but the more I researched the spec the more peculiar it looked. So, what have i bought?

2008 BMW 130i 6 speed manual (non MSport)
132k km on the clock (approx 80k miles)
Black Sapphire Metallic over Boston Black leather
Xenons with headlamp washers
Sunroof
PDC
Climate
Cruise

So up to this point it seems rare but not too odd - I believe in the UK, the non MSport was dropped with the LCI, so a LCI "SE" spec is already quite rare. Where it becomes odd is that this car still has the Hydraulic steering, known to be discontinued with the LCI in favour of Electric steering.

A quick "Co Pilot" search brings up the following blurb:

"If your car was built in early or mid-2007, it may be an LCI body with pre-LCI mechanicals, including hydraulic steering. Some regions (like South Africa) received unique spec combinations for example, LCI body with hydraulic steering and manual transmission that weren t available elsewhere. South Africa received a limited number of 130i models, and even fewer in SE trim. If your car is a manual SE with unique options (like sunroof, leather, or rare colors), it could be one of very few in the country."

This vehicle, despite being first registered in 2008, is actually a March 2007 build, so must be one of the first LCI models, so is almost a mix of LCI and pre LCI (best bits of both). I have run the VIN to get the spec sheet but if anyone on this forum could help me get some more info - what I am particularly interested is how many LCI E87 were produced with Hydraulic steering, and then even more granularity regarding the amount of LCI, SE spec, manual and hydraulic steering (must be very very few)

VIN: WBAUD52070PF53042

Pictures as follows

Mind if i ask what you paid? Mine is on v similar mileage and v similar spec (albeit, quite a few BMW P upgrades) and im really am not sure how to value it…

[Alfred Pina]

I m looking for a car like this for the Mrs. Low mileage SE would be ideal but they really are rare. Only people with taste (and those that have driven the rock-hard msport) would agree

I have sent you a message Doublesix ^^

Edited by Alfred Pina on Wednesday 23 July 07:21

[MBE1991]

Thanks all for the input

@Mr Tidy - the car has an option pack called "Shadowline Pack" which among other stuff comes with darker accents on the grill, side mirrors and the trim around the windows. I agree its a lot of black - I think the chrome trim around the Windows would definitely lift the aesthetic.

Also regarding climate - It wasn't standard on the LCI here in SA - I saw one (albeit a 3 door E81), with manual aircon, also in SE spec. South African spec cars seem to be a mish mash of whatever parts they have left in the factory

One other thing I'm trying to ascertain is whether the engine is the 195kw from the pre LCI or the 190kw from the LCI. Is there any way to check this with certainty?

[DoubleSix]

It was late when i read this thread and i hadn’t clocked you were in SA! Thanks for the DM nonetheless

[Dr G]

This is what BMW have:

[MBE1991]

Thanks Dr G

That gap in the service history is concerning - I will hopefully be able to track down some history from that time. Also interesting to me how long it took between build date and first registration

[Bemmer]

Hadn't realised how rare these have become..? 11 advertised on AT. 10 are 5dr inc 2 Jap imports,7 private ad's and 2 Dealer with ONLY ONE 3DR....!!!

[MBE1991]

Also, just checking on the UK Autotrader, not a single one advertised is an SE spec. All of them MSport

[MDMA .]

MBE1991 said:

Thanks Dr G

That gap in the service history is concerning - I will hopefully be able to track down some history from that time. Also interesting to me how long it took between build date and first registration

Lot of people were a little bit more careful with money mid way through 2007

Edited by MDMA . on Wednesday 23 July 18:19

[Mr Tidy]

Bemmer said:

Hadn't realised how rare these have become..? 11 advertised on AT. 10 are 5dr inc 2 Jap imports,7 private ad's and 2 Dealer with ONLY ONE 3DR....!!!

They've become a bit of an enthusiasts' car, much like the E46 325ti Compact that went before them and generally only has 1 or 2 advertised at any one time.

SE model 130is seem to be very rare but I suppose people reckoned Sport suited the quickest 1 Series of the time. 3 doors are rare because they were all 5 door until the facelift.

Weird about the lack of standard Climate a country like SA!

[911Spanker]

They are great cars! I have spent more than I paid buying mine on upgrades and preventative maintenance. Like all BMWs they need a few tweaks to come alive and make the best of the basic ingredients.

It's now bloody ace. A truly great all rounder and one that truly does it all.

There's not much at any price point I would change it for.

[MBE1991]

In South Africa at least, the 130i was completely overshadowed by the 135i coupe which offered more power (and problems) than the 130i so it never really sold here in big numbers. I also think MDMA's point is valid - launching the LCI into the GFC probably didn't help sales when everyone was tightening their belts