2013 BMW 125i 6 on the floor (N52)

[B'stard Child]

Demelitia said:

B'stard Child said:

I hope you are right because it's a wodge of cash to replace the runflats and then find that I really should have gone down a wheel size from 18 to 17 and a corresponding increase in tyre profile

When you go to non run-flats, make sure you get ones with a reasonably stiff sidewall, probably stiffer than you’d expect for the car.
I’ve got eagle f1 asy 3’s on, with a 94 load rating on my 130i. The suspension is setup for the stiffer run-flats and the handling can feel wishy-washy without a substitute for that sidewall rigidity. The ride is still fine on 18” wheels, 35 section tyres on the rear.

Edited by Demelitia on Tuesday 27th August 16:17

My back would probably appreciate a softer ride but I’ll take your point on board

[JakeT]

I have the same knob in my 330i. Much better than the ones these cars come with now.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought that ZHP gear-knob for my Z4 Coupe - it's so much better than the mostly aluminium thing BMW fitted!

My 330i had the same aluminium one, but that only got treated to an "ali-express" budget one.

You probably already know, but on the wheels/brakes topics 17" wheels will still fit over the bigger 123d/130i front discs. My 123d was an SE so it only had 17s, as does my current E90 330i.

BTW I love your Senator thread OP.

[B'stard Child]

Mr Tidy said:

I bought that ZHP gear-knob for my Z4 Coupe - it's so much better than the mostly aluminium thing BMW fitted!

My 330i had the same aluminium one, but that only got treated to an "ali-express" budget one.

You probably already know, but on the wheels/brakes topics 17" wheels will still fit over the bigger 123d/130i front discs. My 123d was an SE so it only had 17s, as does my current E90 330i.

BTW I love your Senator thread OP.

Have you got to Part 3 yet......... It all got a bit..... well daft at that point

[Mr Tidy]

B'stard Child said:

Have you got to Part 3 yet......... It all got a bit..... well daft at that point

Yes, just read Part 3! Not daft at all.

My 6 cylinder RWD addiction only began in 2014, but it's BMWs because I like a manual gearbox.

I've obviously got some way to go though - I'm only on Numbers 4 and 5 at present.

[Andrew D]

Great looking car OP, good work.

I had an E88 (i.e. convertible) 125i for six years and loved it. Only downsides were (as mentioned) the power flattening off after 5k, a bit of a tendency to understeer when pushed, and it was a little thirsty for the power available (not bad though, still returned high 20's MPG on a mixed cycle). Looked the business though and sounded amazing.

bodhi said:

Am probably going to replace (or possibly compliment) it with a 440i GC at some stage, but with my current finances that is looking like it will be next year now, so have at least another 6 months in the little 1er. And I am absolutely fine with this

I swapped my E88 for an F33 (again convertible!) 435i. The F33 is plenty fast and probably a bit more neutral handling, but it feels like a barge in comparison; less agile and precise, more like you're piloting the USS Enterprise. Still, sounds good for a turbo motor and loads of toys, and the gearbox is a giant leap forward (both cars were automatics and the E88 Steptronic was pretty slushmatic-y), but I'll definitely be getting something smaller next time.

[luke2397]

I don't know if you'll recall but I spent most of a morning chasing your wonderful Carlton in my Orange/Red 125i on the Sporting Tour. Glad to see that I've left a lasting impression and you had to witness them for yourself

Wonderful motors and (relatively) trouble free. Remap massively improves the whole feel as does a new exhaust, lets out so much more character from the engine

Enjoy!

[B'stard Child]

luke2397 said:

I don't know if you'll recall but I spent most of a morning chasing your wonderful Carlton in my Orange/Red 125i on the Sporting Tour. Glad to see that I've left a lasting impression and you had to witness them for yourself

Wonderful motors and (relatively) trouble free. Remap massively improves the whole feel as does a new exhaust, lets out so much more character from the engine

Enjoy!

I remember it well - I also remember the conversation with my navigator - went along the lines for a 2.5 that bloody 1 series is proving quite hard to shake off

Did not know it was 3.0 or “mapped” but even so it was no slouch - I’ll know better next week when the throttle butterfly calibration issue is resolved

[B'stard Child]

PS - I’ve always liked the hot wash coupe - not so much the hatch - just needed to have something sensible to oil the wheels in terms of Mrs BC

Would have liked 135i coupe but as I said way back in the thread I tend to buy on condition rather than spec and having looked at a lot of ropey 135i’s I was doubting I would find a good one - finding this 125i was a breath of fresh air compared to what I had seen and a little compromise doesn’t hurt

In other news intake resonator delete completed



And the car is back with me without a giffer graze on the front bumper



Also changed air filter and pollen filter plus a quick clean of the engine bay



Getting on top of it now

[Demelitia]

If you haven’t seen it on babybmw already, the camber pin mod can be done on yours to help with any understeer you might find. Easy and free with the added bonus of helping you get even tyre wear.

Edited by Demelitia on Thursday 29th August 10:38

[bodhi]

I'm interested in the Intake Resonator Delete you've done - what's the thinking behind it? More noise? Power?

And how much?

[B'stard Child]

Demelitia said:

If you haven’t seen it on babybmw already, the camber pin mod can be done on yours to help with any understeer you might find. Easy and free with the added bonus of helping you get even tyre wear.

Edited by Demelitia on Thursday 29th August 10:38

Yeah I had searched that out - on the list as they say but thanks for the input

[Demelitia]

bodhi said:

I'm interested in the Intake Resonator Delete you've done - what's the thinking behind it? More noise? Power?

And how much?

More intake noise, takes away the resonator (obviously) that dulls certain frequencies of intake noise. Some people have said they can feel the car pulling better after install but I’m inclined to think it’ll be a placebo effect. The hose is about £50 from eBay. There have been reports of the hose not being the best fit (it could do with being 10mm or so longer) so you might have to loosen some other fasteners to get things to fit up correctly, then tighten everything back down.

I’ve had it on my eBay watch list for a while but haven’t convinced myself to bother with it...yet.

[B'stard Child]

bodhi said:

I'm interested in the Intake Resonator Delete you've done - what's the thinking behind it? More noise? Power?

And how much?

It was primarily done because I don’t like concertina plastic parts on induction side - they tend to crack and allow unfiltered/unmeasured air in - so give problems that are hard to diagnose

It was £45 (or thereabouts) 10 mins to fit and has changed the induction sound quite a bit - little more vocal (slightly howly)

No difference in seat of pants bhp test but sounds nicer and Mrs BC approves of nicer sound

[Demelitia]

B'stard Child said:

Getting on top of it now

I think you’ve a cover missing off the oil filter housing cooler? Metal block in front of the oil filter cap usually has black plastic over it.

[B'stard Child]

Demelitia said:

B'stard Child said:

Getting on top of it now

I think you’ve a cover missing off the oil filter housing cooler? Metal block in front of the oil filter cap usually has black plastic over it.

Didn’t know that - adds part to parts list order - thanks

[Demelitia]

B'stard Child said:

Didn’t know that - adds part to parts list order - thanks

Quarry motors are often handy for little bits and bats like that.

[luke2397]

B'stard Child said:

I remember it well - I also remember the conversation with my navigator - went along the lines for a 2.5 that bloody 1 series is proving quite hard to shake off

Did not know it was 3.0 or “mapped” but even so it was no slouch - I’ll know better next week when the throttle butterfly calibration issue is resolved

It's surprising just how quickly they can cover ground, they have a way of getting under your skin and now have plans to keep hold of it forever and just add other cars around it. Seeing you do the resonator delete might be another thing to add to my upgrade list especially if it gives more intake noise

[B'stard Child]

luke2397 said:

B'stard Child said:

I remember it well - I also remember the conversation with my navigator - went along the lines for a 2.5 that bloody 1 series is proving quite hard to shake off

Did not know it was 3.0 or “mapped” but even so it was no slouch - I’ll know better next week when the throttle butterfly calibration issue is resolved

It's surprising just how quickly they can cover ground, they have a way of getting under your skin and now have plans to keep hold of it forever and just add other cars around it. Seeing you do the resonator delete might be another thing to add to my upgrade list especially if it gives more intake noise

I just add cars to the collection and keep them all for a long time (skoda excluded) currently sitting at 7 with 4 two wheeled vehicles to keep them company

[bodhi]

luke2397 said:

It's surprising just how quickly they can cover ground, they have a way of getting under your skin and now have plans to keep hold of it forever and just add other cars around it. Seeing you do the resonator delete might be another thing to add to my upgrade list especially if it gives more intake noise

Good to see another 125i owner justifying not getting rid of it - I'm currently persuading the wife that a 280 bhp 1 Series is all she needs to potter to the gym