E82 125i Vs E87 130i
Discussion
As per the title, I'm currently after one of the above. I'm aware the 125i can be remapped to near enough the same power as a 130i so that's not my question here.
My question is around the driving experience of these two cars. Has anyone had any experience with or owned both cars, is there any difference at all?
I am more drawn towards the coupe as I loved my old E46 and it shares similar proportions, and I prefer the way it looks. However the added practicality of the hatch is obviously something to consider.
Apologies if this has been asked before, I couldn't find any direct comparisons other than the mentioned remap.
My question is around the driving experience of these two cars. Has anyone had any experience with or owned both cars, is there any difference at all?
I am more drawn towards the coupe as I loved my old E46 and it shares similar proportions, and I prefer the way it looks. However the added practicality of the hatch is obviously something to consider.
Apologies if this has been asked before, I couldn't find any direct comparisons other than the mentioned remap.
Sorry I haven't had either, but I'm on my 4th BMW with the N52 engine and it's a great motor!
I did have an E87 123d some years ago with the M-Sport suspension that drove really well (apart from the sound-track) - very similar to the E46 325ti Sport Compact I had more recently.
I wanted a 130i last year but ended up with an E90 330i because of budget limitations.
Anyway I would have thought that an E82 would drive much like an E87 as I think the running gear is the same. Although the 130i had bigger front brakes than the 125i. A pre-facelift E87 would steer better as they had hydraulic PAS, facelift E87s and therefore all E82 had electric PAS which isn't as good but saves a few quid on Road Tax!
I think the E82 is slightly longer so the boot is bigger, but the E87 has back doors so maybe it depends which of those features might be more useful for you. Then again there is always the E81 3 door as well.
Anyway I don't think there is a wrong answer!
I did have an E87 123d some years ago with the M-Sport suspension that drove really well (apart from the sound-track) - very similar to the E46 325ti Sport Compact I had more recently.
I wanted a 130i last year but ended up with an E90 330i because of budget limitations.
Anyway I would have thought that an E82 would drive much like an E87 as I think the running gear is the same. Although the 130i had bigger front brakes than the 125i. A pre-facelift E87 would steer better as they had hydraulic PAS, facelift E87s and therefore all E82 had electric PAS which isn't as good but saves a few quid on Road Tax!
I think the E82 is slightly longer so the boot is bigger, but the E87 has back doors so maybe it depends which of those features might be more useful for you. Then again there is always the E81 3 door as well.
Anyway I don't think there is a wrong answer!
I haven't driven both but I've owned my 125i with remap for 4 and half years now putting 25k miles on. Original plan was for a 130i but they were hard to find and kept getting sold before I got a chance to buy.
To be honest I much prefer the coupe looks anyway and once I found out they could be brought up to the same power I forgot about the hatch.
Practicality-wise the only thing I miss about a hatch is not being able to carry my 2 dogs but I've got the missus car for that so not a major problem. It's got a decent sized boot and with the seats dropped it can easily swallow a bike.
Reliability has been almost perfect, it's a 12 year old car on 88'000 miles and I've only needed to replace the 2 rear ABS sensors, replace the bonnet catch cable (common fault) and dry out the PDC unit in the rear due to a bit of water ingress (another common fault). All DIY jobs and very cheap.
Performance is very good, the engine is fantastic but really needs the remap to bring it alive. You might miss the shove of a turbo if that's what you're used to but it's very rewarding to rev out. Handling is a little sketchy on poor road surfaces and it's not a car to drive fast in the wet but on the right roads in the right weather its got lovely balance.
Currently plan on keeping mine at least another 4 years as I can't think of anything to replace it with, except maybe an M2,
To be honest I much prefer the coupe looks anyway and once I found out they could be brought up to the same power I forgot about the hatch.
Practicality-wise the only thing I miss about a hatch is not being able to carry my 2 dogs but I've got the missus car for that so not a major problem. It's got a decent sized boot and with the seats dropped it can easily swallow a bike.
Reliability has been almost perfect, it's a 12 year old car on 88'000 miles and I've only needed to replace the 2 rear ABS sensors, replace the bonnet catch cable (common fault) and dry out the PDC unit in the rear due to a bit of water ingress (another common fault). All DIY jobs and very cheap.
Performance is very good, the engine is fantastic but really needs the remap to bring it alive. You might miss the shove of a turbo if that's what you're used to but it's very rewarding to rev out. Handling is a little sketchy on poor road surfaces and it's not a car to drive fast in the wet but on the right roads in the right weather its got lovely balance.
Currently plan on keeping mine at least another 4 years as I can't think of anything to replace it with, except maybe an M2,
I went for the 125i as we don't really use the back seats, but being a golfer I needed the bigger boot of the Coupé, and over 6 years it has been a fantastic little car. Properly quick once it's been remapped, great fun down a B-road once you get rid of the runflats (I'd highly recommend Michelin PS4's as a replacement - wet grip is astonishing) and it has been incredibly reliable over the 100k miles I've done in it. It's on 151k now and feels like it's got at least another 100k in it.
Haven't driven a 130i but I think the main differences are a) HPAS in the Pre-LCI model, and b) shorter ratios in gears 1 - 3, so with the remap it should actually be slightly quicker than a 130i. I've seen plenty of remappers get a verified 280bhp out of them, so they go
My only complaint with it is BMW calling it a Coupé, when blatantly it's a 2 Door Saloon. Wouldn't sound as glamorous though sadly.
Haven't driven a 130i but I think the main differences are a) HPAS in the Pre-LCI model, and b) shorter ratios in gears 1 - 3, so with the remap it should actually be slightly quicker than a 130i. I've seen plenty of remappers get a verified 280bhp out of them, so they go
My only complaint with it is BMW calling it a Coupé, when blatantly it's a 2 Door Saloon. Wouldn't sound as glamorous though sadly.
MikeM6 said:
If you are drawn to the extra power, a coupe and hpas, have you looked at the 135i?
The biggest difference though is that they aren't naturally-aspirated, and do seem to suffer from a few issues. The N52 engine is generally pretty bullet-proof. Edited by MikeM6 on Tuesday 18th August 21:53
If you don't need rear seats or hatchback practicality then a 3.0Si Z4 Coupe would be better still! I've had a couple and they just feel so much more special, even before you start the engine.
The coupe has slightly more rear leg room too.
I like they way they both look but the coupe edges it for me.
My friend has a 125i which is running about 280bhp following a trip to P Torque. He seems to really rate it and it feels pretty strong despite
having done 155k. It’s been pretty reliable too.
I’m looking at either a 130 or 125 to replace my other half’s 116. Prices are all over the place.
I like they way they both look but the coupe edges it for me.
My friend has a 125i which is running about 280bhp following a trip to P Torque. He seems to really rate it and it feels pretty strong despite
having done 155k. It’s been pretty reliable too.
I’m looking at either a 130 or 125 to replace my other half’s 116. Prices are all over the place.
Mr Tidy said:
The biggest difference though is that they aren't naturally-aspirated, and do seem to suffer from a few issues. The N52 engine is generally pretty bullet-proof.
They are turbo, but twin turbo and low boost so about as good as turbo units of that age get. I enjoyed my N54 and the engine was reliable, just the rest of the car wasn't. No BMW over 3 years old is that reliable.MikeM6 said:
They are turbo, but twin turbo and low boost so about as good as turbo units of that age get. I enjoyed my N54 and the engine was reliable, just the rest of the car wasn't. No BMW over 3 years old is that reliable.
Maybe, but my 123d was also a twin turbo - it's just a shame about the N47 cam-chains! Since then I have had 6 other BMWs that were more than 3 years old and not had any major issues with them.
Maybe I've been lucky, or maybe they aren't that bad - only time will tell.
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