RE: Shed Buying Guide | BMW 1 Series (E87)

[micloi]

I am running a 2005 120d m sport with the m47 mk2 engine. 234k, the bulk of these done by the previous owner, a very good friend, on the motorway on a long commute. Car still drives fantastically well, no creaks or other noises, no rust, power steering feels much better than any other car I own and the car looks and feels like it has done 80k. Highly recommended if you find a good one with the m47 mk2 engine as no chain issues to worry about.

[Touring442]

Mine - a 2007 M47N 118d ES (Extra Spartan) did 220k before it was sold. The original dampers were replaced at 200k but when sold it was on its original turbo and diff. Lots of oil changes and long trips preserved it. It was a good car and was typically BMW-good to drive. Useless rear room and terrible visibility but a solid 45-50 mpg and impeccable reliability.

[anonymous-user]

Poppiecock said:

Funny how opinions change.

These were almost universally slated at the time of launch for being cramped, cheaply made, badly equipped in many cases, and not fit to wear the badge.

Probably as the cost to buy new was a joke for what you're actually getting. Now, for a few grand the appeal is more favourable, unless it's a 4cyl car and you're on your third timing chain.

[Touring442]

They were pricey new, but resale was very strong for years. Therefore upon resale time, your 118d worked out cheaper than an Astra.

[B'stard Child]

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread on it)



It turns out it’s “carbon black” so looks dark blue in sunlight which is a result cos I didn’t really want another black car

Early days from a driving perspective - rides a little harsh on run flats so they won’t stay long - but steering seems nicely weighted and precise and aside from the fact the performance from 5000 rpm to 7000 rpm is flatter than a witches tit it tucks all the boxes

[s m]

B'stard Child said:

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread on it)



It turns out it’s “carbon black” so looks dark blue in sunlight which is a result cos I didn’t really want another black car

Early days from a driving perspective - rides a little harsh on run flats so they won’t stay long - but steering seems nicely weighted and precise and aside from the fact the performance from 5000 rpm to 7000 rpm is flatter than a witches tit it tucks all the boxes

Looks very smart BC


Tested

Edited by s m on Saturday 3rd August 21:21

[B'stard Child]

s m said:

Looks very smart BC

Thank you - the big bonus is the passenger seat occupant is quiet as a mouse now

[rallycross]

B'stard Child said:

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread es

What year is your 125i?
If it’s 2009 or newer a simple Quantum remap will give it 270 bhp on
Place of its current strangled set up with 210 bhp.

No other parts needs changing it’s just a Bmw map that strangles the 3.0i from
130 spec down to 125 spec . I had a 130i and a 125i at the same time and after remapping the 125i it was obvious it was back up to 130 levels of power.

Best £150 you will ever spend on a 125i.

[swanny71]

B'stard Child said:

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread on it)

Looks fantastic, enjoy.

[B'stard Child]

rallycross said:

B'stard Child said:

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread es

What year is your 125i?
If it’s 2009 or newer a simple Quantum remap will give it 270 bhp on
Place of its current strangled set up with 210 bhp.

No other parts needs changing it’s just a Bmw map that strangles the 3.0i from
130 spec down to 125 spec . I had a 130i and a 125i at the same time and after remapping the 125i it was obvious it was back up to 130 levels of power.

Best £150 you will ever spend on a 125i.

Late 2012 build registered 2013

I'm looking at remap options right now

[B'stard Child]

swanny71 said:

B'stard Child said:

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread on it)

Looks fantastic, enjoy.

Thanks right now I'm really enjoying the peace and quiet from the passenger seat - Mrs BC did not like the Skoda at all and whilst I thought it was a cracking little car and at 50 mpg no matter how I drove it would compensate nicely for the excessive thirst of the LC it was not to be

[B'stard Child]

rallycross said:

B'stard Child said:

Well I picked my 125i up yesterday (not without incident but I’ll cover that when I do a readers rides thread es

What year is your 125i?
If it’s 2009 or newer a simple Quantum remap will give it 270 bhp on
Place of its current strangled set up with 210 bhp.

No other parts needs changing it’s just a Bmw map that strangles the 3.0i from
130 spec down to 125 spec . I had a 130i and a 125i at the same time and after remapping the 125i it was obvious it was back up to 130 levels of power.

Best £150 you will ever spend on a 125i.

Their on line quote is £349 for a 9% improvement on Bhp and Torque

218 - 238 bhp
280 - 306 Nm

I'd rather go to somewhere that does a dyno run before and after re-map if I'm being charged that sort of money

[rallycross]

B'stard Child said:

Their on line quote is £349 for a 9% improvement on Bhp and Torque

218 - 238 bhp
280 - 306 Nm

I'd rather go to somewhere that does a dyno run before and after re-map if I'm being charged that sort of money

H[/url]

The cost depends on who you buy it from there are hundreds of tuners using their software, I paid £125 which was mates rates, its an off the shelf simple re-map for these cars and it gives 270 bhp no need for any dyno run with this sort of stuff, not sure why you have been quoted 238 bh, all you are doing is putting the map to 130i spec.

[B'stard Child]

rallycross said:

B'stard Child said:

Their on line quote is £349 for a 9% improvement on Bhp and Torque

218 - 238 bhp
280 - 306 Nm

I'd rather go to somewhere that does a dyno run before and after re-map if I'm being charged that sort of money

H[/url]

The cost depends on who you buy it from there are hundreds of tuners using their software, I paid £125 which was mates rates, its an off the shelf simple re-map for these cars and it gives 270 bhp no need for any dyno run with this sort of stuff, not sure why you have been quoted 238 bh, all you are doing is putting the map to 130i spec.

Yeah I know - just shows the variability of what is on offer

I don't know anyone who can do mates rates but I do have a local (ish) place that I know will do a good job with dyno before and after

[mdavids]

I used PTorque for mine, was about £350 I think. Also got a before and after dyno run print out, power went 211 to 270 bhp. Its very noticeable at the top end

[B'stard Child]

mdavids said:

I used PTorque for mine, was about £350 I think. Also got a before and after dyno run print out

That's pretty much what I would expect

What were the results before and after?

[rallycross]

B'stard Child said:

That's pretty much what I would expect

What were the results before and after?

There is no need for a dyno run it’s just a very simple off the shelf remap and puts the 125i back to being a 130i. When I had my one done we already had a 130i here so was easy to compare back to back - the standard 125i set up is horrible you get a nice initial feeling of power then it’s very flat feeling at mid revs and never really builds up at higher revs.

So having been driving them back to back you see how artificially strangled the 125i feels; the remap on my car just made it feel exactly as per my 130; much more mid range and power builds up nicely at high revs - not surprisingly it completely transformed how the car felt to drive. Interestingly the fuel consumption stayed pretty much the same.

If you are in the Surrey area I can ask my mapping guy if he will do you a deal.

[B'stard Child]

rallycross said:

B'stard Child said:

That's pretty much what I would expect

What were the results before and after?

There is no need for a dyno run it’s just a very simple off the shelf remap and puts the 125i back to being a 130i. When I had my one done we already had a 130i here so was easy to compare back to back - the standard 125i set up is horrible you get a nice initial feeling of power then it’s very flat feeling at mid revs and never really builds up at higher revs.

So having been driving them back to back you see how artificially strangled the 125i feels; the remap on my car just made it feel exactly as per my 130; much more mid range and power builds up nicely at high revs - not surprisingly it completely transformed how the car felt to drive. Interestingly the fuel consumption stayed pretty much the same.

If you are in the Surrey area I can ask my mapping guy if he will do you a deal.

I'm in the middle of Norfolk so Surrey is a tank of juice there and back - becomes a consideration in the cost of going local or further afield but if you wouldn't mind asking I'd appreciate it

[mdavids]

B'stard Child said:

mdavids said:

I used PTorque for mine, was about £350 I think. Also got a before and after dyno run print out

That's pretty much what I would expect

What were the results before and after?

Sorry I went back and edited my post just as you replied.
Power went from 211 to 270, it feels all at the top end and the dyno graph supports this.
The pre and post map bhp figures stay largely the same until about 4. 5k rpm, pre- map then flattens out whilst post - map keeps on climbing to hit 270 at about 6.5/7k.
Makes it very rewarding to rev out and if you're not doing it too often the mpg stays the same. Only adds about £50 to my insurance as well.

[rallycross]

B'stard Child said:

I'm in the middle of Norfolk so Surrey is a tank of juice there and back - becomes a consideration in the cost of going local or further afield but if you wouldn't mind asking I'd appreciate it

OK will see what he says tomorrow and let you know.