Discussion
Hi guys, first post on this forum so thanks in advance for any replies.
I’ve just bought a 3 door 2007 BMW 130i M sport, really like the car, totally standard and only 66000 miles.
Just wondering what people’s thoughts were regarding the best upgrades etc? Seen the birds conversations but a tad pricey for me atm.
Handling seems a tad washy but maybe just me.
Also, does anyone know if there’s any difference in weight compared to the 5 door?
Thanks again
I’ve just bought a 3 door 2007 BMW 130i M sport, really like the car, totally standard and only 66000 miles.
Just wondering what people’s thoughts were regarding the best upgrades etc? Seen the birds conversations but a tad pricey for me atm.
Handling seems a tad washy but maybe just me.
Also, does anyone know if there’s any difference in weight compared to the 5 door?
Thanks again
I’d suggest getting on babybmw.net. There’s a chap on there who’s tried just about every suspension option there is and done extensive write ups on how they compare.
I had one with the full Birds kit, LSD and big brakes and it was night and day compared to the standard set up.
It also had the performance intake and exhaust, which I could take or leave TBH. Certainly wouldn’t be first things on my list.
M3 steering rack is the other thing people talk about, although it makes Steering very heavy, so not ideal if it’s a daily driver.
I had one with the full Birds kit, LSD and big brakes and it was night and day compared to the standard set up.
It also had the performance intake and exhaust, which I could take or leave TBH. Certainly wouldn’t be first things on my list.
M3 steering rack is the other thing people talk about, although it makes Steering very heavy, so not ideal if it’s a daily driver.
I’ve recently bought one having sold my m140i.
The Birds suspension is really bloody good (mine came with it); it’s firm but really really damped and controlled. Expensive, but it is very good.
Makes a nice noise too (have the performance intake, which like the exhaust are rocking horse of these days).
M3 LCA’s seem a popular upgrade and will be done at sone point.
Ditching the run flats makes a big difference too if you’re still on them.
The Birds suspension is really bloody good (mine came with it); it’s firm but really really damped and controlled. Expensive, but it is very good.
Makes a nice noise too (have the performance intake, which like the exhaust are rocking horse of these days).
M3 LCA’s seem a popular upgrade and will be done at sone point.
Ditching the run flats makes a big difference too if you’re still on them.
Court_S said:
I’ve recently bought one having sold my m140i.
The Birds suspension is really bloody good (mine came with it); it’s firm but really really damped and controlled. Expensive, but it is very good.
Makes a nice noise too (have the performance intake, which like the exhaust are rocking horse of these days).
M3 LCA’s seem a popular upgrade and will be done at sone point.
Ditching the run flats makes a big difference too if you’re still on them.
Would be very interested to hear how they compare. I’m trying to convince my wife that we could live with a M140 as a family car. The Birds suspension is really bloody good (mine came with it); it’s firm but really really damped and controlled. Expensive, but it is very good.
Makes a nice noise too (have the performance intake, which like the exhaust are rocking horse of these days).
M3 LCA’s seem a popular upgrade and will be done at sone point.
Ditching the run flats makes a big difference too if you’re still on them.
Where did you get the 130i with the Birds kit, wasn’t Yonex’s car by any chance?
survivalist said:
Would be very interested to hear how they compare. I’m trying to convince my wife that we could live with a M140 as a family car.
Where did you get the 130i with the Birds kit, wasn’t Yonex’s car by any chance?
The M140i is a great car, but for me it lacked something that I can’t quite put my finger on. It was fast, properly quick but often it only felt exciting at properly illegal speeds. I appreciated it much more when I was using it lots; quick, discreet, comfy and frugal if needed. But due to Covid I wasn’t really using it and I found it lacked something, a feeling etc.Where did you get the 130i with the Birds kit, wasn’t Yonex’s car by any chance?
When I bought it, I was torn between the 140 and an E9x M3. I ended up compromising and going for the 140; faster on paper, cheap VED etc. But it lacks that final feeling that I can only describe as ‘zing’ that the M cars have. The engine in the 140 is bloody superb but it writes cheques that the chassis can’t cash and ultimately this was my biggest frustration. Even with softer H+R springs, the underbody brace and Bilstein B8’s on the rear there was a disconnect in the chassis that made itself felt on a good back road.
In the end I was paying a chunk of cash for a car that didn’t tickle my funny bits anymore. With values being crazy high, I took the opportunity to jump. I wanted to jump into an M2/4 but prices are too high currently.
I figured that my little 130 LE shouldn’t shed too much cash whilst I wait for a sense of normality to return to car prices. It’s obviously a lot slower, but the N52 is a peach that thrives on revs. I took it out for a spirited drive the other night and keeping it between 4 and 7k was lots of fun and ridiculous speeds weren’t reached. The Birds suspension is superb; firm but it never feels out of control like the 140 did. There’s one slight S bend near hone and there’s a horrible ridge part way through that had always really unsettled my previous BMW’s (E46 325ti, E90 330, M140i and my other half 125i) but the 130 deals with it superbly. I think it sounds nicer than my 140 which had the PPF. I’ve enjoyed the manual too.
I miss the tech from the 140 though; the pro nav was very very good, CarPlay. There was more interior room too.
Sorry for going off topic OP...
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff