Monday 24th July 2017

BMW 130i M Sport: PH Carpool

Where do you turn when none of the new hot hatches appeal? Back to the old 130i!

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Name: Richard Showan
Car: 2008 BMW 130i M Sport (LCI)
Owned since: June 2016
Previously owned: 1998 Ford Ka, 2005 Ford SportKa, 2003 R53 Mini Cooper, 2006 R56 Mini Cooper S, 2005 BMW 130i M Sport, 2013 Ford Fiesta ST-2 MP215

Richard even likes the looks. Yeah, really

Why I bought it:
"I loved my first 130i and was more than a little heartbroken when I had to hand it over to our local franchise dealer in part-exchange for the more fiancée-friendly Fiesta. When what I thought was just another casual browse of the classifieds resulted in me buying an Abarth 500 Esseesse last year I had an opportunity to replace the Fiesta with something bigger, faster and with a bit more character. Having driven, and felt let down by, the usual suspects for one reason or other (M135i, A45, Golf R, FK2 Civic Type R) and a few not so usual (GT86, Mini R56 GP) all roads seemed to lead back to the 130. It only took one drive in the best car I could find within 100 miles and I had it bought!"

What I wish I'd known:
"Not much about the car as four years with the first one had taught me much of what I needed to know (it wasn't faultless, but never left me stranded). I was caught out by the dealer going into administration a week after buying the car which really has caused some headaches, so wish I had known that!"

Could you find two more different hot hatches?

Things I love:
"The engine is the star and dominates the driving experience for me. It feels oversized in such a compact car (in a really good way), is so smooth and is always making a lovely, lovely noise. I love the fact that most people don't know what it is (not a bonus for everyone, I know) by virtue of the fact that it is actually quite a rare car. I just feel that it suits me and I can't think of any other car I would rather have as a daily. I even love the looks!

"I was always a little surprised at the way the 130i was overlooked in the M135i discussions a few years ago, as for me it offers the same formula just with more character."

Things I hate:
"The cabin does have a few intermittent rattles and squeaks which I have had to chase around but then it is nearly eight years old. Other than that I can't think of much."

Costs:
"Shortly after purchasing the car I refreshed the brakes and pads, replaced all four tyres and upgraded the four speakers in the front. I had unfortunate luck with a failed air conditioning compressor and coolant pump, both of which have been fixed under warranty, and the last service revealed a split rocker cover (was split causing a small oil leak) which needed fixing. Comprehensive insurance is less than £300 on our multicar policy and it is averaging around 28mpg (close to 40mpg on a run) which for the roads around us is pretty good in my book."

Scotland one of a good few adventures

Where I've been:
"The bigger trips include Cornwall in November and January; it drove me to my wedding in February and to the West Highlands of Scotland (Ullapool more specifically) over the Easter weekend as well, when it performed brilliantly. All from south Buckinghamshire.

What next?
"The BMW isn't going anywhere in the foreseeable future and I get the feeling it is going to be a real wrench to part with it. I occasionally find myself tempted by the BMW performance exhaust but just worry it might ruin it (and would really want to keep the existing tips), having had my fingers burnt in the past doing that very same thing. Tempting though! No, it's a keeper."

[a11y_m]

I sometimes wonder why the hell I didn't buy one of these instead of my R56 Cooper S last year. I owned an e90 330i for a few years before having a gap in car ownership, and loved it.

Regarding exhaust, if it's anything like the BMW Performance exhaust I fitted to my 330i then DO IT NOW. Not one for lairy exhausts (''twas my family car with 2 x under-2s) and it was perfect: no booming and just enhanced the already excellent soundtrack. Not cheap but worth every penny. I only realised how good I had it - the noise - now that it's gone

[2 GKC]

Lot of words here which seem to say very little about the driving experience

Like it though. If it were mine, I'd keep that exhaust standard...

[Dannbodge]

I was very tempted by one of these before getting my 335i.

If the exhaust note is anything like my old E36 it would sound incredible with the PE

[anonymous-user]

Great cars, when modded a little they're brilliant. No idea what to replace mine with, it's a better road car than the M3 tbh. Discreet, quick enough and make a lot of sense. Especially with that engine.

[Motormatt]

I had an '07 120d from new which was a great car, I always thought it would be cracking as a 130i.

I have watched these in the classifieds for a while and this looks great. Post facelift 130's seem always seem very scarce, most seem to be '56 or earlier pre facelift cars, so this being a really late model is a great find.

[TristPerrin]

I've had mine for 3 years now and still love driving it to work every day. For a 3.0 l6 it's pretty economical on the motorway.

The only thing I hate is the interior build quality doesnt really seem to be very good. Dont get me wrong it's a nice place to sit but EVERYTHING seems to creak and rattle over bumps in the road.

[Scottie - NW]

Last year I had a friend turn up to Rockingham in one of these for our annual track weekend there, using the BTCC layout. Got to have a few passenger laps in this, with a talented driver, and as a standard car was very impressive and good fun, albeit excessive body roll and missed as LSD for getting the power down.

[Bencolem]

OP said:

Having driven, and felt let down by, the usual suspects for one reason or other (M135i, A45, Golf R, FK2 Civic Type R) and a few not so usual (GT86, Mini R56 GP)

OP said:

"I was always a little surprised at the way the 130i was overlooked in the M135i discussions a few years ago, as for me it offers the same formula just with more character."

Need more words please! Was looking forward to understanding why the 130i offers more character than the M135i and how the driving experience compares to the "new hot hatches" and others you drove...

[PHMatt]

Seems more likely that a more modern M135i, universally praised, was overlooked for this because it costs 5 times as much. Probably the same with the A45 AMG?

I had an E46 330 Ci with the M54 engine. Lovely thing, but not sure I would say it was characterful. It doesn't rev particularly high, the power delivery is so smooth you don't get a kick out of it really. In the 3, even with the TC off you rarely break traction.

Personally, I like the 130i but I see it as a good sports car for the money rather than the best choice of all those listed.

[paulyv]

Forgive my lack of insight, but would this be the same 3.0l engine as in my Z4 Si Coupe, the N52?

[a11y_m]

paulyv said:

Forgive my lack of insight, but would this be the same 3.0l engine as in my Z4 Si Coupe, the N52?

Yep. e90 330i, e87 130i and e86 Z4 Si same engine, slightly different outputs though but very close.

I also had the older M54 in my Z4 convertible (same as e46 330i I think). Much of a muchness between the N52 and M54 IME.

[trickywoo]

The way something looks comes way down my list of priorities but these are just so ugly I don't think I could enjoy owning one.

[Mr-B]

trickywoo said:

The way something looks comes way down my list of priorities but these are just so ugly I don't think I could enjoy owning one.

Have to agree, I could never get past the looks of these. May well be great to drive and sound great but it is the ugly duckling of the BMW group to my eyes. Each to their own though.

[DMN]

a11y_m said:

paulyv said:

Forgive my lack of insight, but would this be the same 3.0l engine as in my Z4 Si Coupe, the N52?

Yep. e90 330i, e87 130i and e86 Z4 Si same engine, slightly different outputs though but very close.

E82 125i uses it too, just down tuned to 216hp.

[PistonBroker]

If you just remember to let it cool down first or wear gloves, you shouldn't get your fingers burnt if you change the exhaust this time. :-p

Good to hear you're enjoying it OP, but like others I want to hear more. Love the 'sleeper' aspect of this - de-badge it and everyone else will think it's a 116i. I like all cars that can be considered an alternative that gives you 9/10 of the experience of the more lauded car.

[nickfrog]

Mr-B said:

trickywoo said:

The way something looks comes way down my list of priorities but these are just so ugly I don't think I could enjoy owning one.

Have to agree, I could never get past the looks of these. May well be great to drive and sound great but it is the ugly duckling of the BMW group to my eyes. Each to their own though.

Fair enough but I reckon those things are quite subjective indeed.

I think a 3-door MK1 M-sport 1-series is one of the most beautifully styled cars on the road, even today.

A 5-door base looks quite challenging though to my eyes.

I have never seen such a contrast between 2 cars that should look almost identical.

[FN2TypeR]

An ugly little machine in my opinion, particularly in poverty spec, but to drive the 130i is lovely - the only fly in the ointment that I found was that it was a tad soft so it rolled about a bit when really I was pressing on, but I was really was giving it the beans on some pretty poor quality road surfaces.

I'd love to try one on a track with some decent suspension and an LSD!

[clemoug]

I currently own a 130i with the bmw performance exhaust and it sounds incredible from outside of the car. I just need to drive with all windows fully open to enjoy that sound otherwise it's still very quiet in the cabin.

[DonkeyApple]

Motormatt said:

I had an '07 120d from new which was a great car, I always thought it would be cracking as a 130i.

I have watched these in the classifieds for a while and this looks great. Post facelift 130's seem always seem very scarce, most seem to be '56 or earlier pre facelift cars, so this being a really late model is a great find.

I bought a 130 when the first child was on the horizon. It was my solution to needing a family runabout. The downside was that it needing to be auto for my wife to drive. It was a superb car. Slightly over rubbered at the front and would definitely have benefitted from some narrower tyres and the 6 speed auto box was a pile of laggy crap that made the car a total pain in London traffic when you drove with a London style. It just repeatedly left you sitting and then lunging forward 3 seconds later but 1 second after the other car had given up waiting for you and moved on into the space you were now leaping towards.

I sold it in a hissy fit when it wouldn't allow me to change the battery without taking it to a dealer. When I was at an indy having the computer reset someone offered me cash and I just took it.

A few weeks ago my wife inherited a 120D. It's an OK car. 09 with 9k miles. Same stty auto box (actually it's not the box but how BMW have programmed it) but I've driven it a few times recently and it has reminded me what a great car the 130 was.

I bought it as it was RWD, over engined and a straight six with no turbos. I regret selling it now but I'd never pay money for the auto again. Luckily, given how long I had to wait to find a 130 with an auto box I suspect not many owners have suffered at the hands of it.

It's a car that signifies the end of the hot hatch era of big engines and I think it was a brilliant car to have brought it to a close.

[anonymous-user]

Gratuitous whoring.






It's such a fun car. Last of the really sweet NA inline 6's with little electronic crap in the way. The only thing I would like to do to mine now is fit a 'normal' dipstick and cable driven throttle bodies.

OP. The BMWPF exhaust is good, don't bother with the carbon intake though, waste of time. Definitely fit 135i brakes and Pagid RS29's, they're brilliant. An LSD transforms the car, as does decent suspension. And do get the gearbox oil changed and fit a Storm gearknob, it really improves the shift.