RE: BMW 130i M Sport: PH Carpool
Discussion
nickfrog said:
Ahbefive said:
(although I'm sure that you have never in your life said anything or anyone is ugly without prefixing it with "in my opinion")
I don't need to prefix it as I tend to say "I don't like it" about a design. Mainly because it's subjective. Which even my 9-year old understands.Still not seen your MI about the 1-series designed being almost universally disliked btw ?
t/crap/pretty/ gorgeous/beautiful/delicious/smart/ sublime/tidy etc etc looking/tasting/smelling/sounding/ handling/feeling etc etc.You never say "ooh that dinner was delicious" to your Mrs?
Now your are just talking total bulls
t, like your 9 year old (who obviously never says anything like that either 
) probably does on occasion 
Hilarious.
Edited by Ahbefive on Thursday 27th July 20:09
Had one of these for 3 and a half years. My first foray into 'proper' cars. Yes the looks are subjective but personally i think they look fantastic with LCI upgrades, and were actually small unlike their bloated replacement. You cannot beat the feeling of big engine in a small car, it's something we'll never have again.
They are pretty quiet from standard, i added the 135i backbox, de resonated it and added in a y pipe after which it was sublime. Handling was very decent if a little unresolved over rough surfaces as to be expected with M sport trim. Reliability wise it was incredible, nothing other than regular servicing.
Averaged 26MPG over 40k miles mixed use
They are pretty quiet from standard, i added the 135i backbox, de resonated it and added in a y pipe after which it was sublime. Handling was very decent if a little unresolved over rough surfaces as to be expected with M sport trim. Reliability wise it was incredible, nothing other than regular servicing.
Averaged 26MPG over 40k miles mixed use
I’m on my second. First was standard and was definitely too soft/wallowy. Second has uprated ARB and control arms and is noticeably improved. Looking to fit new shocks/dampers or coilovers soon. In terms of looks I’m not sure I know of another car where 3 vs 5 door is so decisive. 5 door look too long and ungainly, 3 door look, well, just right.
RTrip. Spain? by Andrew Trousdale, on Flickr
RTrip. Spain? by Andrew Trousdale, on Flickr
Slightly off topic, driving home yesterday in my 130i, I had a warning light come up on the dash. Yellow temperature sign. 200 yards later I pulled into a side turning, and about 30 seconds after the first warning (yellow) the same symbol comes up again, this time in red. Turned off engine immediately. First thought was electric water pump, later nominally confirmed by AA who towed me and provisionally confirmed over the phone by local BMW Indy, who'll be changing it for me, along with a new thermostat as a precaution. Expecting it to cost about £700ish.
To anyone thinking of getting a 130i, this is worth knowing. Wish I'd changed my WP as a precaution, as joining the AA and forking out on a "call out charge" (as I'd broken down when I joined) has added considerably to my bill. Car's done 76K, and I remember reading various advice/guides saying these pumps fail at around 75K. No other damage by the look of it, and head gasket seems to be OK (I acted quickly - don't try and get to the next motorway junction etc if it happens to you). Good news is, from what my Indy tells me, 130i's are fairly reliable cars, the WP being the only known big bill that's likely to hit you as a matter of course by about 75K. Might be a good bargaining point if you're thinking of buying a car approaching 70Kish.
To anyone thinking of getting a 130i, this is worth knowing. Wish I'd changed my WP as a precaution, as joining the AA and forking out on a "call out charge" (as I'd broken down when I joined) has added considerably to my bill. Car's done 76K, and I remember reading various advice/guides saying these pumps fail at around 75K. No other damage by the look of it, and head gasket seems to be OK (I acted quickly - don't try and get to the next motorway junction etc if it happens to you). Good news is, from what my Indy tells me, 130i's are fairly reliable cars, the WP being the only known big bill that's likely to hit you as a matter of course by about 75K. Might be a good bargaining point if you're thinking of buying a car approaching 70Kish.
The best looking hatch ever?
The proportions are great and the clean styling solutions all around the car are just genius.
So sad the next 1-series lost every bit of this model's style and bold integrity.
The 130 engine is a real gem too...
However with a Z4M Coupe in the garage, my choice will be a winter car, the frugal 120i or 118d. (With this M-bodykit!)
The proportions are great and the clean styling solutions all around the car are just genius.
So sad the next 1-series lost every bit of this model's style and bold integrity.
The 130 engine is a real gem too...
However with a Z4M Coupe in the garage, my choice will be a winter car, the frugal 120i or 118d. (With this M-bodykit!)
Johnny5hoods said:
Slightly off topic, driving home yesterday in my 130i, I had a warning light come up on the dash. Yellow temperature sign. 200 yards later I pulled into a side turning, and about 30 seconds after the first warning (yellow) the same symbol comes up again, this time in red. Turned off engine immediately. First thought was electric water pump, later nominally confirmed by AA who towed me and provisionally confirmed over the phone by local BMW Indy, who'll be changing it for me, along with a new thermostat as a precaution. Expecting it to cost about £700ish.
To anyone thinking of getting a 130i, this is worth knowing. Wish I'd changed my WP as a precaution, as joining the AA and forking out on a "call out charge" (as I'd broken down when I joined) has added considerably to my bill. Car's done 76K, and I remember reading various advice/guides saying these pumps fail at around 75K. No other damage by the look of it, and head gasket seems to be OK (I acted quickly - don't try and get to the next motorway junction etc if it happens to you). Good news is, from what my Indy tells me, 130i's are fairly reliable cars, the WP being the only known big bill that's likely to hit you as a matter of course by about 75K. Might be a good bargaining point if you're thinking of buying a car approaching 70Kish.
I know the feeling - my first Z4 Coupe had the same problem at 60K miles and 9 years old. To anyone thinking of getting a 130i, this is worth knowing. Wish I'd changed my WP as a precaution, as joining the AA and forking out on a "call out charge" (as I'd broken down when I joined) has added considerably to my bill. Car's done 76K, and I remember reading various advice/guides saying these pumps fail at around 75K. No other damage by the look of it, and head gasket seems to be OK (I acted quickly - don't try and get to the next motorway junction etc if it happens to you). Good news is, from what my Indy tells me, 130i's are fairly reliable cars, the WP being the only known big bill that's likely to hit you as a matter of course by about 75K. Might be a good bargaining point if you're thinking of buying a car approaching 70Kish.
But at least the Z4C has a temperature gauge.
These pumps seem to die at around 8-10 years, but then I've had to change mechanical ones sooner than that so I can live with it.
What I didn't like was the cost - £500+ for an OEM pump, £100 for an OEM thermostat and a bill for over £800 from an indy!
Which is why I think I'll stick with an E46 325ti as my daily, despite the temptations of a 130i.
My 130i water pump was still going strong at 80k miles, but my 330i water pump failed at around 60k miles.
Seems to be a common issue with the N52.
Frankly, given how brilliant everything else about the engine is (performance, noise, economy, throttle response) i hardly see it as a showstopper.
It's a foible, albeit an expensive one.
Seems to be a common issue with the N52.
Frankly, given how brilliant everything else about the engine is (performance, noise, economy, throttle response) i hardly see it as a showstopper.
It's a foible, albeit an expensive one.
Johnny5hoods said:
Slightly off topic, driving home yesterday in my 130i, I had a warning light come up on the dash. Yellow temperature sign. 200 yards later I pulled into a side turning, and about 30 seconds after the first warning (yellow) the same symbol comes up again, this time in red. Turned off engine immediately. First thought was electric water pump, later nominally confirmed by AA who towed me and provisionally confirmed over the phone by local BMW Indy, who'll be changing it for me, along with a new thermostat as a precaution. Expecting it to cost about £700ish.
To anyone thinking of getting a 130i, this is worth knowing. Wish I'd changed my WP as a precaution, as joining the AA and forking out on a "call out charge" (as I'd broken down when I joined) has added considerably to my bill. Car's done 76K, and I remember reading various advice/guides saying these pumps fail at around 75K. No other damage by the look of it, and head gasket seems to be OK (I acted quickly - don't try and get to the next motorway junction etc if it happens to you). Good news is, from what my Indy tells me, 130i's are fairly reliable cars, the WP being the only known big bill that's likely to hit you as a matter of course by about 75K. Might be a good bargaining point if you're thinking of buying a car approaching 70Kish.
You can get the original Pierburg pumps on ebay for about £360- even ECP about that with the discount codes.To anyone thinking of getting a 130i, this is worth knowing. Wish I'd changed my WP as a precaution, as joining the AA and forking out on a "call out charge" (as I'd broken down when I joined) has added considerably to my bill. Car's done 76K, and I remember reading various advice/guides saying these pumps fail at around 75K. No other damage by the look of it, and head gasket seems to be OK (I acted quickly - don't try and get to the next motorway junction etc if it happens to you). Good news is, from what my Indy tells me, 130i's are fairly reliable cars, the WP being the only known big bill that's likely to hit you as a matter of course by about 75K. Might be a good bargaining point if you're thinking of buying a car approaching 70Kish.
Should be looking at about £500 all in, fitted at the garage.
Floydroid123 said:
I very nearly bought a 130i but ended up with a 123D. I'm amazed by the 1 series for it's sturdy build and performance. I'd love to have the noise and performance of the petrol 3ltr but I can't equate the drop in fuel economy, also the speed of the 123D can't be that far off either.
Just noticed your post - I bought a pre-reg 123d in 2008 and had it for over 6 years. I should have tried a 130i first.
But I was getting a car allowance and had to use it for business miles.Anyway all that changed and I replaced it just over 3 years ago with a Z4 Coupe with the same N52 3 litre engine as the 130i.
Believe me, a standard 123d is not going to be close to the performance of a 130i! But the biggest difference is how the performance is delivered - the N52 engine just loves to chase the 7,000 rpm red-line whereas the 123d gets breathless after 4,500 rpm. Plus the sound-track is so much better!
But I can understand if you do serious miles the economy is important. FWIW my 123d averaged about 48 mpg over 80K miles, whereas I "only" manage about 33 mpg with my Z4C but it's a price I'm happy to pay!
If the economics could work you ought to try one, but if they wouldn't I'd recommend you don't as you'd want one anyway.
I've had a 3 door E81 130i for the past year. Quite an interesting, somewhat unusual car.
It feels more grown up than a lot of hot hatches, maybe due to the weight of the controls. But the size of it is nice.
And although I once hated it, the shape has really grown on me. It looks poised and solid; purposeful but understated. You need to have the MSport body kit and bigger wheels though. It's funny how new shapes challenge your preconceptions but I genuinely think this shape is an acquired taste. Mine is the limited edition so the inside is a nice place to be as well.
The engine is what sets it apart from every other hot hatch I've ever driven. With the sound and the instant throttle response it really is like sitting in a Porsche. It makes the car feel a bit special. In the summer I drive around everywhere with the windows open. It's kind of handy because when you press and hold the unlock on the remote key, both windows wind down, and when you lock it they wind up again. So I sort of pretend to myself it's a convertible. Although my wife keeps winding up the window when she gets in
The handling and suspension are not brilliant. They are not awful by any means, but it rolls a bit. I think this is what really needs a bit of attention in this car, and it's what most of the reviews picked up on when it was released. My next step is probably to add a LSD and change the springs and dampers. My guess is that if BMW had done a better job with these, we might have got rave reviews and ended up with a lot more of these cars on the road.
I recently had a blast in an E92 M3, jumping straight out of the 130i. The V8 engine was absolutely insane, and performance on a whole other level, like the car was going to take off. But the seat was a bit high, and the interior didn't feel as special. More like sitting in an ordinary rep-mobile. And above all, it just felt a bit too big.
It feels more grown up than a lot of hot hatches, maybe due to the weight of the controls. But the size of it is nice.
And although I once hated it, the shape has really grown on me. It looks poised and solid; purposeful but understated. You need to have the MSport body kit and bigger wheels though. It's funny how new shapes challenge your preconceptions but I genuinely think this shape is an acquired taste. Mine is the limited edition so the inside is a nice place to be as well.
The engine is what sets it apart from every other hot hatch I've ever driven. With the sound and the instant throttle response it really is like sitting in a Porsche. It makes the car feel a bit special. In the summer I drive around everywhere with the windows open. It's kind of handy because when you press and hold the unlock on the remote key, both windows wind down, and when you lock it they wind up again. So I sort of pretend to myself it's a convertible. Although my wife keeps winding up the window when she gets in
The handling and suspension are not brilliant. They are not awful by any means, but it rolls a bit. I think this is what really needs a bit of attention in this car, and it's what most of the reviews picked up on when it was released. My next step is probably to add a LSD and change the springs and dampers. My guess is that if BMW had done a better job with these, we might have got rave reviews and ended up with a lot more of these cars on the road.
I recently had a blast in an E92 M3, jumping straight out of the 130i. The V8 engine was absolutely insane, and performance on a whole other level, like the car was going to take off. But the seat was a bit high, and the interior didn't feel as special. More like sitting in an ordinary rep-mobile. And above all, it just felt a bit too big.
HannsG said:
Is it possible to see 40mpg out of these?
Manual 130i, at about 65/70mph on a long motorway run? Yes.Auto also possible as it's got longer gearing, so turns less rpm in top and is actually more economical on long motorway runs as a result.
Yes, i've had both.
Yes, i've seen 40mpg from both.
Sadly, I had to part with mine (seen here at Bedford Autodrome) a few months ago, due to an accident. I've not been able to find a suitable replacement on the market at any cost, so have had to "settle" for a M140i.
It was a truly charismatic car, in part because of its manual RWD layout, but mostly that engine. Ride wasn't great (though switching out the RFTs for MPSS helped), especially over rough roads, and it rolled a lot on track. The variable steering was actually fine (compared to the M140i), and I had few troubles with the build or reliability in 3 years. What it succeeded in being was a fantastically practical car, that would offer up a little entertainment in every journey, be it a blast along a b-road or just growling and purring through town.
I'm still being to grips with the new car. It's undeniably fantastic, and so very very fast. But I doubt I'll ever get that same connection of the razor-sharp throttle, or the keenness to hug the redline, or the ability to have fun at really rather pedestrian speeds.
The 130i is a one of a kind car, and will be sorely missed.
Edited by Tarico on Tuesday 8th August 00:30
Slight thread revival. Following on from my previous post, I got the infamous electric water pump changed, along with the thermostat a couple of weeks ago at BMW Indy TGW Automotive, Camberley. They did a good job and I can recommend them to anyone round this neck of the woods. Bill was a few pennies shy of £600. Oh, and the runflats have finally gone and I'm lovin it! PremiumContact 6. To anyone thinking about ditching the runflats, stop thinking and just do it. I can now use the acceleration without the traction cutting in all the time. 4 wheel alignment is booked for a couple of weeks time and then I've got this baby right where I want it.
Johnny5hoods said:
Slight thread revival. Following on from my previous post, I got the infamous electric water pump changed, along with the thermostat a couple of weeks ago at BMW Indy TGW Automotive, Camberley. They did a good job and I can recommend them to anyone round this neck of the woods. Bill was a few pennies shy of £600. Oh, and the runflats have finally gone and I'm lovin it! PremiumContact 6. To anyone thinking about ditching the runflats, stop thinking and just do it. I can now use the acceleration without the traction cutting in all the time. 4 wheel alignment is booked for a couple of weeks time and then I've got this baby right where I want it.
Thanks for the revival. 
It was TWG that billed me £800 for a water pump and thermostat on my Z4C. 
I'll have to have a chat with Will next time I am there!
Anyway keep enjoying your 130i - that is the only car I am likely to consider as a replacement for my E46 325ti Compact!
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