Discussion
Hifly130 said:
I quite often look at auto trader looking other options too trade in my 130i but I have a feeling it would be something I would regret. It's got a fantastic engine, handling is great, some space for the kids but also build quality feels solid. Something not all French and Japanese alternatives can offer but as always everything is a comprise.
I would love to be doing mods such as yourself but as always seems to be other domestic things to spend the money on. Mines going through 100k miles now but still feeling strong. Was tempted to visit Birds but knew it would be an expensive visit.
It is, but it depends how you look at it. I considered loads of cars, let's take the Cayman S for example. If, and it's a bloody big 'if' the engine was perfect it would be about 10K to change. in 3 years I would have lost about half of that I would think. My M3 lost £7K in 15 months roughly, pure depreciation. I would love to be doing mods such as yourself but as always seems to be other domestic things to spend the money on. Mines going through 100k miles now but still feeling strong. Was tempted to visit Birds but knew it would be an expensive visit.
Also good point on the build. Mine is the earlier car so not as plush as the LCI. But, I drove a wonderful FD2 Civic Type R and whilst it felt bolted to the road I hated the understeer (it was wet) and the rattles.
If this sum lets me keep the car for three years or so it's not that much in the great scheme of things. It can always go back to stock and the parts sold if needed?
lewisf182 said:
I'm exactly the same as you. Constantly looking at other options but it just seems anything that's genuinely an 'improvement' would be at least £10k on top of my car, and i just can't see it being worth that! I wish I could bring myself to spend some money like the OP has to improve it but given it's still depreciating and not worth that much I just can't justify it to myself.
Hitting 94k miles this month so approaching the big milestone.
I have exactly that mileage on the clock! I owned an E90 M3 and it was quick(er) and made all the right noises. Handled superbly and despite the weight had incredible body control. The big problem for me was its ability made it quite dull at anything below 100mph. Also it wasn't that practical. I got bored of it to be honest. Hitting 94k miles this month so approaching the big milestone.
The straight 6 is a far better road engine and although the 130 isn't fast by today's standards it seems to be enough of everything wrapped up in a really fun package. The stock brakes and suspension are built to a price but as a used example is 5-8K it's just brilliant value.
Travelling back tomorrow from France to pick it up. Genuinely excited
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 1st March 18:44
Polarbert said:
I quite often find I have trouble in the 1>2 gear change. I put it down to me being stupid and wanting to change gear quickly. I think I'll get rid of it the next time I'm at the garage.
Thanks for the information! :-)
And definitely change the gearknob for something heavier, I used Storm but there are other options out there. That really helped the smoothness of my gearchanges.Thanks for the information! :-)
Hi,
Ignoring the brakes as they aren't strictly necessary and they add a fair lump. Budget roughly £3000 for the full package of diff, ARB's and dampers, Roughly half of that without the diff. On top of what they quoted they did an inspection FOC to see if there was anything on the car which needed attention and not make the best use of the package. It was very thorough, much more than any main dealer I have used before to be honest.
More info here
Ignoring the brakes as they aren't strictly necessary and they add a fair lump. Budget roughly £3000 for the full package of diff, ARB's and dampers, Roughly half of that without the diff. On top of what they quoted they did an inspection FOC to see if there was anything on the car which needed attention and not make the best use of the package. It was very thorough, much more than any main dealer I have used before to be honest.
More info here
Well, s
t. We have issues. Dropping the car back in tomorrow as the diff is weaping and there are few odd noises. The leaking is annoying, but these things happen when you piss about with an old car. Still feels awesome on the road but inclined to dial it back until everything is sorted.
t. We have issues. Dropping the car back in tomorrow as the diff is weaping and there are few odd noises. The leaking is annoying, but these things happen when you piss about with an old car. Still feels awesome on the road but inclined to dial it back until everything is sorted.So, it's back again. The leak was from one of the diff seals, maybe damaged on install. Both were replaced so all good. The noises all came from the monster calipers/pads. Applying more tension (i.e. bending) the retainers everything is sorted. Handing back the 120d wasn't a problem! The drive home was nice, really missed the little thing. Best of all they gave it a wash, looks better than it has in a very long time, top job.
Now to get back on with the job of enjoying it
Now to get back on with the job of enjoying it
cerb4.5lee said:
Love the new brakes. 
I bet it's a cracking car to have some fun in with the choice upgrades, enjoy it. 
When we picked it up the other half said 'what's that writing on the brakes?'. Given that I had explained the car had gone in for a 'service' I had to think pretty quickly I bet it's a cracking car to have some fun in with the choice upgrades, enjoy it. Although she was driving it the other week and made a few observations which I guess would lead her to draw her own conclusions
Looking forward to the next spell of wet weather.
PaulGT3 said:
Nice, I've been considering one of these for a while to replace my 325ti Sport and this thread isn't helping! The 325ti isn't bad but a 130i with a few choice mods like this I feel would be a worthy step up! I've found a nice low mileage LCI model local to me but the only worry is that these apparently have electric PAS whereas the earlier ones like yours don't, I wonder how much difference there is between the two?
I'd love to buy one with the spec of yours but I doubt anyone whos sorted one that much will be in a rush to sell it!
People make a big deal about the hydraulic vs electric steering but I wouldn't worry about it. The LCI has a much nicer interior and I would always choose on condition rather than anything else. I'd love to buy one with the spec of yours but I doubt anyone whos sorted one that much will be in a rush to sell it!
MOT time today. I chose Eagle F1's all rounbd as the Yoko's were absolutely knackered. Straight through no advisories, which is kind of expected given the recent spend I asked my mate at the garage to take it out for a spin and give me some feedback. I value his opinion as he put in an 8:20 at the ring on his 130 a few years back with just KW's. The word was 'it's nice' code for 'I think it's too soft', it would be compared to various track refugees i suppose? "Those brakes though, fk me'
Very content with it to be honest. I really don't want for much else as a daily driver.
I asked my mate at the garage to take it out for a spin and give me some feedback. I value his opinion as he put in an 8:20 at the ring on his 130 a few years back with just KW's. The word was 'it's nice' code for 'I think it's too soft', it would be compared to various track refugees i suppose? "Those brakes though, fk me'Very content with it to be honest. I really don't want for much else as a daily driver.
SidewaysSi said:
Sorry but boring question - was your insurer happy with the modifications? If so, who do you use?
I have an E36 on the drive. And a set of Bilstein B12s and Vibratechnics engine mounts on the table at home...
PM'dI have an E36 on the drive. And a set of Bilstein B12s and Vibratechnics engine mounts on the table at home...
I think there is a load of old BMW's that make great road cars really. I can't see them getting any less interesting now as the days of the NA I6 and manual boxes are over.
Some of the last binary cars IMO, shame it took me so many years to try my first one before waking up to them.
ManaghGB said:
Did you have this up for sale on BabyBMW recently?
Hi, Yes, had a couple of enquiries but nothing concrete so I am still enjoying it! My company have been pushing me to move to something else, looked at the 140, i3 and 320d, none of which really hit the same spot, not to mention the tax on the 140 is a little bit daft for what it is! swanny71 said:
Regularly drive mine just before/after an Exige V6 or 182 Trophy - never disappointed by the 130i, even after those two well regarded but very different 'drivers cars'.
Kinda sits nicely in the middle ground between, and at the same time compliments them both.
That's some collection! Serious question how do you rate the 130 chassis after the Lotus? I know standard they're a handful and after the M3 tbh, it just felt broken! Now though with some tweaks it's great, fast enough but will really good fun at sensible speeds. Kinda sits nicely in the middle ground between, and at the same time compliments them both.
We sailed past 100K miles the other week, still tight as a drum and I was beginning to wonder when anything might present itself. Well, this week the dash pinged up a warning symbol I hadn't ever seen before, I guessed it was likely to be a water pump issue as it is on its original part. Sure enough after recovering it to the local Indy this was confirmed. £600 later she's back on the road. I guess I can't complain too much really, it had to fail at some point and is unlikely to ever need any attention again. It does beg the question though, what is actually wrong with a belt driven pump in the first place....£400 for a pump!?
Company car is ordered so it won't be long now before I will have to do something. The problem is, every time I drive it after anything else I genuinely still love it.
Company car is ordered so it won't be long now before I will have to do something. The problem is, every time I drive it after anything else I genuinely still love it.
DoubleSix said:
Ooof!! £600 notes...
Mate, should have posted up. These chaps doing a cracking job of not only repairing but replacing the design flaw in the original part (which BMW still have in their replacement part). And for a lot less £600..... £195
http://www.ecutesting.com/bmw/3-series-z4-1-series...
My local BMW specialist now uses them after I pointed this out!
I guess, end of the day I needed the car back quickly so sod it. This one lasted all this time so all good. I can't see a water pump on that site?Mate, should have posted up. These chaps doing a cracking job of not only repairing but replacing the design flaw in the original part (which BMW still have in their replacement part). And for a lot less £600..... £195
http://www.ecutesting.com/bmw/3-series-z4-1-series...
My local BMW specialist now uses them after I pointed this out!
So I have started to have some calls on the car, thought i'd get around to an update and a clean up!
The wash wipe decided to pack up the other month, it was getting annoying. A bit of research revealed that it was the pump so off to eBay. New pump sourced for about £6 and an hour or so fitting. I was quite impressed with the water bottle and how tightly packaged it all is in there.
After a clean I still look at the car and think it's a very cool thing. It continues to amuse every day and feels as tight as the brand new 320d which I have been given. It also makes a much, much nicer noise and handles properly. I am going to miss everything about the car when it goes to be honest and I am mulling over the idea of long term storage as it's just a ridiculous amount of fun and cost nothing to keep. Given the low numbers of them maybe in a few years they will creep up. This one owes me a lot of money so it will likely be a poor investment but on the flip side it's one of those cars that when the right buyer drives it, it will be gone. Otherwise we strip all the cool parts away. But it would bug me.
So.
Decisions.
The wash wipe decided to pack up the other month, it was getting annoying. A bit of research revealed that it was the pump so off to eBay. New pump sourced for about £6 and an hour or so fitting. I was quite impressed with the water bottle and how tightly packaged it all is in there.
After a clean I still look at the car and think it's a very cool thing. It continues to amuse every day and feels as tight as the brand new 320d which I have been given. It also makes a much, much nicer noise and handles properly. I am going to miss everything about the car when it goes to be honest and I am mulling over the idea of long term storage as it's just a ridiculous amount of fun and cost nothing to keep. Given the low numbers of them maybe in a few years they will creep up. This one owes me a lot of money so it will likely be a poor investment but on the flip side it's one of those cars that when the right buyer drives it, it will be gone. Otherwise we strip all the cool parts away. But it would bug me.
So.
Decisions.
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