Discussion
yonex said:
Yes it was. Funny we both said at the time, the 130's would go 
I'm looking for wheels. I'd love some steel wheels for winter and something more lightweight without looking too brash.
I run the obligatory Team Dynamics 1.2 for winter wheels on my Focus. Cheap, strong and light.I'm looking for wheels. I'd love some steel wheels for winter and something more lightweight without looking too brash.
yonex said:
DoubleSix said:
Ok - well, if you decide to move it on give me a shout.
p.s. I think it was you that bought my winter shod M208s many moons ago?
Yes it was. Funny we both said at the time, the 130's would go p.s. I think it was you that bought my winter shod M208s many moons ago?
I'm looking for wheels. I'd love some steel wheels for winter and something more lightweight without looking too brash.
yonex said:
survivalist said:
Not sure that steels will fit over those brakes. Apart from maybe very skinny ones with a big offset.
Thinking of banding a pair from something else. I’ll have to do some digging on the offset etc. Driving along today it reminded me again how smooth the I6 is. 6th gear, little over 1100 rpm at 30 mph and absolutely no complaints. What an engine. Still processing after the couple of diesels tbh. It feels special, the damping is just so, difficult to explain. Perhaps the best way is to say when it pissed down I immediately switched the traction control off. The LSD is so good, after the Atom it all happens in slow motion and it’s all low speed. If ever there was a car worth many times more than the sum of its parts its this one.
Still looking for BMPF carbon mirror covers at a sensible price, given up on fancy wheels, the 208’s are just ‘right’. Focus instead has shifted to installing cruise control and a decent stereo.
Still looking for BMPF carbon mirror covers at a sensible price, given up on fancy wheels, the 208’s are just ‘right’. Focus instead has shifted to installing cruise control and a decent stereo.
yonex said:
Driving along today it reminded me again how smooth the I6 is.
The N52 is so silky smooth for sure and the only engine I've had that bettered it(for me) was the N62 V8 in my X5. Both are quite muted engines in standard guise for me though. From reading on here though the N52 is much more vocal in the 130i/Z4 than it was in my 330i.
Really pleased you're enjoying it.
cerb4.5lee said:
The N52 is so silky smooth for sure and the only engine I've had that bettered it(for me) was the N62 V8 in my X5. Both are quite muted engines in standard guise for me though.
From reading on here though the N52 is much more vocal in the 130i/Z4 than it was in my 330i.
Really pleased you're enjoying it.
I’ve got the carbon intake, which makes absolutely no more power at all but gives it a little bit more character. The exhaust valve has a T piece so it’s open all the time, it’s not loud at all but misses the baritone of the stock silencer, it more than makes up for this though as the revs increase. Its just a very sweet thing, I don’t miss my M3, but I always wanted one more drive in this. From reading on here though the N52 is much more vocal in the 130i/Z4 than it was in my 330i.
Really pleased you're enjoying it.
That is a cracking example of a 130i OP, I can see how you ended up buying it back after selling.
Having run a 125i Coupe with the same engine (and mapped to the same power) for the last 5 years or so I can't agree with what you say about the engine more, it really is a beauty. More than happy pottering around, then when you get bored of that off it goes. Doubt I'll ever get bored of that noise, and I have the standard airbox/exhaust still fitted.
It's just given me quite a hefty bill for a major service and having the ABS Rings replaced, however it stayed on the naughty step for around...ooh...30 minutes whilst I told the wife. Then I went out in it and all is forgiven. It's on 137k now but drives like it not long left the factory.
It will need replaced at some point, but even when it does I'm not selling. In fact if it wasn;t midnight and raining your posts would have tempted me to take it out for a spin, just for the hell of it. Not bad after 5 years.
Apologies for gratuitous pic:
Having run a 125i Coupe with the same engine (and mapped to the same power) for the last 5 years or so I can't agree with what you say about the engine more, it really is a beauty. More than happy pottering around, then when you get bored of that off it goes. Doubt I'll ever get bored of that noise, and I have the standard airbox/exhaust still fitted.
It's just given me quite a hefty bill for a major service and having the ABS Rings replaced, however it stayed on the naughty step for around...ooh...30 minutes whilst I told the wife. Then I went out in it and all is forgiven. It's on 137k now but drives like it not long left the factory.
It will need replaced at some point, but even when it does I'm not selling. In fact if it wasn;t midnight and raining your posts would have tempted me to take it out for a spin, just for the hell of it. Not bad after 5 years.
Apologies for gratuitous pic:
yonex said:
Driving along today it reminded me again how smooth the I6 is. 6th gear, little over 1100 rpm at 30 mph and absolutely no complaints. What an engine. Still processing after the couple of diesels tbh. It feels special, the damping is just so, difficult to explain. Perhaps the best way is to say when it pissed down I immediately switched the traction control off. The LSD is so good, after the Atom it all happens in slow motion and it’s all low speed. If ever there was a car worth many times more than the sum of its parts its this one.
Still looking for BMPF carbon mirror covers at a sensible price, given up on fancy wheels, the 208’s are just ‘right’. Focus instead has shifted to installing cruise control and a decent stereo.
There really is little that can match the purr of a 6 cylinder. Missing the days of our old E39 when it was being used, it truly purrs. Will put forward that BMW's 6cyl diesel isn't half bad, ride the torque everywhere and makes a great roar - will never be truly silky however. Still looking for BMPF carbon mirror covers at a sensible price, given up on fancy wheels, the 208’s are just ‘right’. Focus instead has shifted to installing cruise control and a decent stereo.
Truth be told, it’s a cheap vehicle. But personally as they say, goes a long way. The ex owner has asked if and when I sell, the ex-ex owner the same, at least one other has emailed about the car. It’s one of those things. It’s a sweet spot, affordable, rwd. 6 cylinder...this one with much enhancement of its strengths, they’ll never make anything like it again. Honestly, it’s wonderful.
yonex said:
I’ve got the carbon intake, which makes absolutely no more power at all but gives it a little bit more character. The exhaust valve has a T piece so it’s open all the time, it’s not loud at all but misses the baritone of the stock silencer, it more than makes up for this though as the revs increase. Its just a very sweet thing, I don’t miss my M3, but I always wanted one more drive in this.
My 330i has the T piece so sounds OK. But my Z4C has the "sound generator" and a custom cat-back exhaust - they can sound great!
My 130i was an absolute joy to own for 18 months. The only bills were 4 new callipers. Whoever painted the callipers before I had the car must have used tar. Brake dust just stuck to them like an std you can’t quite shake. This caused wear to the seals I think. Causing brake binding. That’s not really the cars fault.
It did circa 26mpg on my daily commute with a mix of mad runs and relaxed drives. Didn’t advise on MOT ever.
I mirror the thought of most of the forum. The engine was an absolute gem. Torque-y down low. Destructive mid and a decent top end.
I remember when I took it to my local mechanic. He had to move the car. Pressed the start button. Expecting a diesel clatter. Car started with a roar settling to a purr after a second or two. He was slightly taken back..
Left the car for a service with a quarter tank. Came back and it was on an 8th. Lowest mpg I’ve ever recorded on a hoon was 14. He got it down to 7.
When i came back he was telling me how great the car drives but the traction control is intrusive in his thick polish accent.
Ive been his customer for 10 years and he always looks after my car properly. Didn’t mind him having abit of a play. If it was somebody else. I probably wouldn’t be as nice about my car being smashed.
The ride is the let down of the entire car. Stiff. But not in a nice way. Jiggly and firm. It loses composure over bumpy road surfaces. The e46 m3 is harder but more compliant if that makes sense.
Keep the car looked after. And it will look after you. Like most cars. Castrol edge did cost more than I liked. But it didn’t burn oil. It was utterly reliable. In the sun snow and rain.
Bonus feature was you can run the heater for 10ish mins when the car is turned off. Great for popping into a shop and returning to a toasty car.
This could have genuinely been a baby e46 m3 if they got the suspension right along with an lsd.
Great car overall 7/10
Never realised you could run the heater after it was switched off, thanks for that
Yes. The LSD means the traction and stability can be left off, it doesn’t spin the power away and it remains fairly calm. The B1 kit is firm but compliant enough for the road, it definitely transforms the car. A 3 series chassis is better for sure, but there’s a certain charm about the 1 series, and it’s a bit different. Still surprises me that only 1000 were brought in, currently showing 730 being registered and 20 SORN.
Yes. The LSD means the traction and stability can be left off, it doesn’t spin the power away and it remains fairly calm. The B1 kit is firm but compliant enough for the road, it definitely transforms the car. A 3 series chassis is better for sure, but there’s a certain charm about the 1 series, and it’s a bit different. Still surprises me that only 1000 were brought in, currently showing 730 being registered and 20 SORN.
yonex said:
Never realised you could run the heater after it was switched off, thanks for that
Yes. The LSD means the traction and stability can be left off, it doesn’t spin the power away and it remains fairly calm. The B1 kit is firm but compliant enough for the road, it definitely transforms the car. A 3 series chassis is better for sure, but there’s a certain charm about the 1 series, and it’s a bit different. Still surprises me that only 1000 were brought in, currently showing 730 being registered and 20 SORN.
Just warm the car up. Turn off the Engine, Press the "rest" button which is on the right dial i believe,Yes. The LSD means the traction and stability can be left off, it doesn’t spin the power away and it remains fairly calm. The B1 kit is firm but compliant enough for the road, it definitely transforms the car. A 3 series chassis is better for sure, but there’s a certain charm about the 1 series, and it’s a bit different. Still surprises me that only 1000 were brought in, currently showing 730 being registered and 20 SORN.
Bask in the heat like an iguana.
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