RE: BMW 130i | Spotted
Discussion
Had my 130i since April 2011 and done well over 100k miles in it.
It’s been absolutely brilliant - fun, fast enough, reliable, cheap to look after and that engine is one of the greats IMO. My perfect daily driver.
It’s on 168k miles now but feels like it’ll manage 300k just fine, which is a good thing as nothing modern appeals as a replacement so I don’t think I’ll ever sell it.
My favourite of all the cars I’ve owned, I even love the way it looks.
It’s been absolutely brilliant - fun, fast enough, reliable, cheap to look after and that engine is one of the greats IMO. My perfect daily driver.
It’s on 168k miles now but feels like it’ll manage 300k just fine, which is a good thing as nothing modern appeals as a replacement so I don’t think I’ll ever sell it.
My favourite of all the cars I’ve owned, I even love the way it looks.
Taylor James said:
I had a 330i touring for a while and the fuel consumption was poor for the performance on offer. What are people getting out of the 130?
Mine is averaging around 27 - 28 in every day driving, mix of town and A-Roads. I've had 41 mpg out of it over 160 miles keeping up with traffic on the M1. In fact it's great on fuel for the performance as long as you avoid a) stop-start traffic and b) the automatic gearbox option. s m said:
SD_1 said:
mrpenks said:
there was a 323ti compact with the same formula in the mid 90s
Am I right in thinking they didn't make it to the UK? But there are a fair few about and often one up for sale somewhere in UK
The E46 325ti is a peach too though; if you've never driven one, do (before they disappear completely).
Taylor James said:
I had a 330i touring for a while and the fuel consumption was poor for the performance on offer. What are people getting out of the 130?
I do mostly long, brisk M’way and A road runs early morning or late evening when it sits around 34mpg. Any ‘town’ mileage drags that down quickly though.Overall I’ve averaged 32mpg (recorded on fuel apps) over 100k miles.
sagarich said:
I’m unsure what to replace it with apart from a 987 Cayman... which is now out the window with the arrival of my second son this week.
Great little cars!
Congratulations and good luck! (I have 2 boys - youngest is a menace)Great little cars!
Oh, and I've always pined over a 130i but as others have said, their value is holding too well.....
I owned a 2005 M sport for 4 years and had 102k on it when I sold it. It wasn't prefect but I really liked that the car. The engine dominated and it sounded great.
I sold it for about 5.5k 5 years ago and looking online don't think it's worth much less today. It was Le mans blue and from most angles I actually thought it looked quite good in a purposeful kind of way. Mine was also debadged so unless you knew what the twin exhausts meant it just looked a 116i M Sport to most people.
It was fully loaded with leather, xenons and HiFi sound system but the ride was pretty hard even after ditching run flats and the rear space non-existent especially behind me as I'm over 6ft. so once kids started appearing I decided to sell it.
As for value I think they're far cheaper than the R32 which is arguably beaten by the 130i in most areas.
Like most 3.0 BMW of this era the water pump will go at some point usually around 70k mark and is around 600 even at an independent.
Buy one of these and enjoy depreciation proof motoring with one of the best engines to ever grace a hatchback.
I sold it for about 5.5k 5 years ago and looking online don't think it's worth much less today. It was Le mans blue and from most angles I actually thought it looked quite good in a purposeful kind of way. Mine was also debadged so unless you knew what the twin exhausts meant it just looked a 116i M Sport to most people.
It was fully loaded with leather, xenons and HiFi sound system but the ride was pretty hard even after ditching run flats and the rear space non-existent especially behind me as I'm over 6ft. so once kids started appearing I decided to sell it.
As for value I think they're far cheaper than the R32 which is arguably beaten by the 130i in most areas.
Like most 3.0 BMW of this era the water pump will go at some point usually around 70k mark and is around 600 even at an independent.
Buy one of these and enjoy depreciation proof motoring with one of the best engines to ever grace a hatchback.
BFleming said:
We went shopping for a Compact back in 1998, and due to our budget at the time, we were limited to a 6 month old 316i, or a 2-3 year old 318ti. We went for the newer car. In the showroom though, there was a near-new 323ti in that copper colour of the period with the flat face 16in alloys (amazing what I still recall). The 323ti was extremely rare even back then, mostly as there was a huge price jump between the 316i/318ti and the 323ti.
The E46 325ti is a peach too though; if you've never driven one, do (before they disappear completely).
The E46 325ti is a peach too though; if you've never driven one, do (before they disappear completely).
I considered swapping both of my cars for one car to do it all a couple of years ago, that one car was narrowed down to a 130i.
The problems started with me much preferring the coupe to the hatch, that's possible to get around.
Then started reading about the handling/suspension & the upgrade costs started to get a bit out of hand so I stuck with what I've got.
My OH bought an E90 330i auto though so it wasn't a complete waste of effort
That N52 in the smaller 1 Series, especially with a manual box must be a lot of fun though.
The problems started with me much preferring the coupe to the hatch, that's possible to get around.
Then started reading about the handling/suspension & the upgrade costs started to get a bit out of hand so I stuck with what I've got.
My OH bought an E90 330i auto though so it wasn't a complete waste of effort
That N52 in the smaller 1 Series, especially with a manual box must be a lot of fun though.
bodhi said:
I've been running it's even less well known cousin, a 125i Coupé for 5 years now, and it's been the best car I've owned by a country mile. Bought it on 56k, now on 138k with not much more than routine servicing. It's had a couple of brake calipers and it's going in today to get the ABS Rings replaced, but other than that it's just needed tyres, plugs and fluids.
The 125i has exactly the same engine as the 130i, just detuned from the factory, but speak to a friendly chap with a laptop and it is easily put back up above 130i levels (280bhp is quite common). I've had this done to mine and it is properly quick now - as in incredibly close to an M140i quick. Other main mod I did was to take the f
king runflats off and replace them with a set of PS4's. Night and day difference, and I personally now find it to be a great steer. Can feel a touch ragged over the bumps, but that just adds to the fun for me.
I'm probably biased but I even love the styling - of the Coupé anyway. Not sure I'd call it pretty, more imposing for a little car.
It may have to get replaced later in the year depending upon it staying reliable, and grown up stuff like carting friends around and playing golf means I'll probably have to look at a 3 or 4 Series next - but I'm seriously tempted to keep the 1'er to run alongside. In fact if I didn't need the space, I'd be tempted to find a 2013 example and run that instead.
The coupe looks really good. A friend has recently bought a 125 coupe, its done 157k but the interior is mint.The 125i has exactly the same engine as the 130i, just detuned from the factory, but speak to a friendly chap with a laptop and it is easily put back up above 130i levels (280bhp is quite common). I've had this done to mine and it is properly quick now - as in incredibly close to an M140i quick. Other main mod I did was to take the f
king runflats off and replace them with a set of PS4's. Night and day difference, and I personally now find it to be a great steer. Can feel a touch ragged over the bumps, but that just adds to the fun for me. I'm probably biased but I even love the styling - of the Coupé anyway. Not sure I'd call it pretty, more imposing for a little car.
It may have to get replaced later in the year depending upon it staying reliable, and grown up stuff like carting friends around and playing golf means I'll probably have to look at a 3 or 4 Series next - but I'm seriously tempted to keep the 1'er to run alongside. In fact if I didn't need the space, I'd be tempted to find a 2013 example and run that instead.
Are they really that quick with a remap? My old 330 with an N52 feels a long way off the performance of an M140 which has bags more torque.
They aren’t fast, but pile on speed deceptively. I quite like the fact you have to work it, keeps things sane. A remap will give 10-15HP and improve the throttle response, others have said it slightly lifts the fuel consumption as well.
Spent the same again modifying mine and would say it’s a perfect road car. Must try the 100-0 sometime
Thread here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Spent the same again modifying mine and would say it’s a perfect road car. Must try the 100-0 sometime
Thread here.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
My best mate has had a 130i for around 9 years and has put over
50k onto its mileage to date. Nothing has gone wrong with it in all that time
and it gets some proper use, European trips and regular sprints to 7k.
It’s a fun package and has a very nicely tuned exhaust note,
This being one of the last series of Bmw’s before audio enhancement crept in.
It’s not a natural track weapon (neither is the m135i that followed)
But it makes a fun, quirky, rare 6 pot road car.
50k onto its mileage to date. Nothing has gone wrong with it in all that time
and it gets some proper use, European trips and regular sprints to 7k.
It’s a fun package and has a very nicely tuned exhaust note,
This being one of the last series of Bmw’s before audio enhancement crept in.
It’s not a natural track weapon (neither is the m135i that followed)
But it makes a fun, quirky, rare 6 pot road car.
Court_S said:
The coupe looks really good. A friend has recently bought a 125 coupe, its done 157k but the interior is mint.
Are they really that quick with a remap? My old 330 with an N52 feels a long way off the performance of an M140 which has bags more torque.
Purely unscientific testing puts my 125i somewhere between a 330d and M235i for performance. Are they really that quick with a remap? My old 330 with an N52 feels a long way off the performance of an M140 which has bags more torque.
Court_S said:
Not a bad result really for £300 or so. I wasn't trying to be a dick, I was genuinely surprised that's all.
No worries at all - I was pretty surprised first time I put my foot down as well 
Also good to hear there's another Coupe out there with more miles than mine, guess I might be able to keep it for a bit longer after all.
bodhi said:
No worries at all - I was pretty surprised first time I put my foot down as well
Also good to hear there's another Coupe out there with more miles than mine, guess I might be able to keep it for a bit longer after all.
It seems like a cracking little car that has been cared generally cared for; there's a dent in one wing, but the seat bolsters are barely marked and the trim doesn't look worn. I think the dent put people off if, but my mate has been really pleased with it so far. Makes a good noise too.Also good to hear there's another Coupe out there with more miles than mine, guess I might be able to keep it for a bit longer after all.
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