125i....Engine Any Good?

[MikeGoodwin]

Hi all. Anyone owned or driven (more than once) one of these?

Ive driven and covered a fair few miles in a 130i and a 335i so I know exactly what these engines are like. But never touched a 125, or the '25 engine for that matter.

I want a 1er coupe for my next car and having considered a 135i, I think perhaps in light of fuel consumption/insurance it might not be a good idea (Dont want diesel). Im now considering the 125i, but with 200lbft and just over 200bhp I can imagine it lacking the "urge" to rev top end. The 130i seemed very keen and was relativly quick. Will the 125 be the same?, its 0-60 (if its anything to go by) is 6.2 which is okay i suppose. The 130 is 5.8 I think.

Thanks

[Andrew Coates]

I bought a 125i and have had it for a few weeks. A lot of people don't like the fact that the engine has been deliberately de-tuned (same 3.0 six as in the 130i) but in all honesty I haven't noticed a lack of urgency. That said, I haven't had it right at the top end as yet and if BMW had made a 130i coupe I would have certainly bought that over a 125i. If you have driven a 130i, you might notice the power difference more than I have as I have not driven a 130 but the fact that there's an NA six under the bonnet swayed it for me. Oh, and the noise is lovely too!

[MikeGoodwin]

Cheers. Im sure it produces the torque, and with it being a 6pot will produce it further down the rev range. But I just worry that itll feel really lazy higher up the rev range. Be interested to hear your thoughts if youre going to open it up any time soon. As you said though, will sound good still.

[RiccardoG]

We have a 2008 325i Manual, (Touring, so a bit heavier than a 125i) and have had it since new, its now on 12k miles.

I would say that its a 'nice' engine from a petrolhead point of view as it sounds good from inside (less so outside at idle given the direct injection) and is very refined. But, to me, its quite dissapointing in terms of power/speed/torque. It claims 220bhp (I think) but honestly feels more like 150bhp, if that. Past 3.5k revs it starts to pick up a bit. Maybe its just that the delivery is so linear that you don't feel it?

Perhaps the 125i would be better as its lighter and more agile, although for me that engine remains more of a crusing type than all out power/torque.

I also have an E39 530i Auto Touring (2001) which I find a bit underwhelming but, at roughly the same stated power output than the newer 325i and despite more weight, feels faster.

[MikeGoodwin]

The 130 never really felt like it had lots of low down grunt but then it is a straight 6, not Vee, sure the torque was there but it was all further up the rev range before it really got going. I prefered the Straight six power delivery to the V6's ive driven in other cars, felt like it was more rev happy where as the V6's were all just torque low down but no real surge of power top end.

Was considering a 123d too but servicing costs /replacement cars and my mileage might not be suitable.

[aeropilot]

MikeGoodwin said:

I want a 1er coupe for my next car and having considered a 135i, I think perhaps in light of fuel consumption/insurance it might not be a good idea (Dont want diesel).

Insurance might be a group or two less than a 135i, but it will barely be better than 5% on fuel compared to a 135i with the N54 engine, and not better at all than a N55 engined 135i given what I'm getting to the gallon out of my N55 engined 135i

[MikeGoodwin]

Not under my foot it wont. The 125 is notably cheaper too. I achieved some terreible MPG figures in the 335i during the times I drove it.