Out with the new and in with the old; my 130i LE
Discussion
Following on from my thread on my M140i, here is the thread for my new car a 2007 BMW 130i Limited Edition. Apologies for the very long post. I collected the 130i on Friday in some pretty grim conditions.
The car has 102k on the clock and scrubs up pretty well although it ends a fits painting at some point. Mechanically it seems very good though and it has a good history and has been loved.
It’s carbon black with Boston yellow leather, electric seats, CCC nav and the all important xenons etc. Annoyingly there are no heated seats (can live with that) or cruise which is getting retrofitted soon.
The good:
Performance spoiler
Performance carbon air intake which re like rocking horse poo these days
Birds B1 suspension fitted at 96k
Four brand new Michelin PS4’s all round
Recent discs and pads
N52 isn’t leaking
Drives well
Style 216 wheels
The not so good:
Needs some paint; there’s a repair on the door which isn’t great, the front bumper has a few stone chips and 102k’s worth of gravel rash and the sill of the rear bumper has a few scuffs from having g stuff put in the boot.
The drivers seat squeaks a bit over bumps (will whip it out this week and see if I can lube it etc).
There’s a few other age related marks but it’s a 14 year old car.
Gear change is a bit sloppy, far more so than that of my other half’s 125i.
A few pictures from the dealer.
I’m pleased with the deal agreed; he took my 140i off my hands for the same value as WBAC and Sytner offered. The car was prepped really well and I had a good time picking it up; he rents a unit in a hell of a location with some serious metal kicking about (not his stock but cars he looked after).
I had a s
t drive there and back because the M1 was closed and I realised on the way home that manuals and traffic again! On a more serious note it’s a nice enough place to sit and drive. It’s obviously a fair chunk slower than the 140i was but it’s quick enough and makes a nice noise. By the time I got home, the car was minging. First job Saturday was to give it a clean.
I did my first mods to the car; I fitted a stubby aerial, a red starter button, my PH smiley and some coding.
I have a few more plans;
Sort the squeaky seat
I’ll get the CDV removed in the next few weeks and will pop in some E46 M3 gearbox mounts at the same time.
Once I’ve sold the parts from my 140i, I’ll be getting the steering wheel, binnacle cover, gear gaiter, handbrake and gaiter and dash insert done in black alcantara with grey stitching by Royal Steering Wheels.
M3 LCA’s and the camber pin will get done
Have the paint on the drivers door done
Fit a CarPlay solution from Integrated Automotive
Wrap the interior trim in carbon and ditch the ashtray for a cubby hole.
Other than that, I’ll enjoy it. It drives well, the Birds suspension is very good. It’s very firm but well judged; it’s never uncomfortable and always feels very controlled especially after the loose back end of the 140i. I’ve been impressed with the way it drives so far and am looking forward to sone fun drives out over the summer. After the 140i it feels really small, it’s so much smaller but it sits nicely on the Birds suspension.
The car has 102k on the clock and scrubs up pretty well although it ends a fits painting at some point. Mechanically it seems very good though and it has a good history and has been loved.
It’s carbon black with Boston yellow leather, electric seats, CCC nav and the all important xenons etc. Annoyingly there are no heated seats (can live with that) or cruise which is getting retrofitted soon.
The good:
Performance spoiler
Performance carbon air intake which re like rocking horse poo these days
Birds B1 suspension fitted at 96k
Four brand new Michelin PS4’s all round
Recent discs and pads
N52 isn’t leaking
Drives well
Style 216 wheels
The not so good:
Needs some paint; there’s a repair on the door which isn’t great, the front bumper has a few stone chips and 102k’s worth of gravel rash and the sill of the rear bumper has a few scuffs from having g stuff put in the boot.
The drivers seat squeaks a bit over bumps (will whip it out this week and see if I can lube it etc).
There’s a few other age related marks but it’s a 14 year old car.
Gear change is a bit sloppy, far more so than that of my other half’s 125i.
A few pictures from the dealer.
I’m pleased with the deal agreed; he took my 140i off my hands for the same value as WBAC and Sytner offered. The car was prepped really well and I had a good time picking it up; he rents a unit in a hell of a location with some serious metal kicking about (not his stock but cars he looked after).
I had a s
t drive there and back because the M1 was closed and I realised on the way home that manuals and traffic again! On a more serious note it’s a nice enough place to sit and drive. It’s obviously a fair chunk slower than the 140i was but it’s quick enough and makes a nice noise. By the time I got home, the car was minging. First job Saturday was to give it a clean.I did my first mods to the car; I fitted a stubby aerial, a red starter button, my PH smiley and some coding.
I have a few more plans;
Sort the squeaky seat
I’ll get the CDV removed in the next few weeks and will pop in some E46 M3 gearbox mounts at the same time.
Once I’ve sold the parts from my 140i, I’ll be getting the steering wheel, binnacle cover, gear gaiter, handbrake and gaiter and dash insert done in black alcantara with grey stitching by Royal Steering Wheels.
M3 LCA’s and the camber pin will get done
Have the paint on the drivers door done
Fit a CarPlay solution from Integrated Automotive
Wrap the interior trim in carbon and ditch the ashtray for a cubby hole.
Other than that, I’ll enjoy it. It drives well, the Birds suspension is very good. It’s very firm but well judged; it’s never uncomfortable and always feels very controlled especially after the loose back end of the 140i. I’ve been impressed with the way it drives so far and am looking forward to sone fun drives out over the summer. After the 140i it feels really small, it’s so much smaller but it sits nicely on the Birds suspension.
Mo28 said:
Bookmarked. Will be good to hear your thoughts on the car as you put some more miles on.
Have put one of these on the short list for when the search for a decent manual E46 M3 hits the fan, which is likely to happen soon as nearly 18 months have passed and I've got nowhere.
Thanks. There’s a fair amount of dross out there to sort through still.Have put one of these on the short list for when the search for a decent manual E46 M3 hits the fan, which is likely to happen soon as nearly 18 months have passed and I've got nowhere.
E63M6 said:
Looks great!!! Welcome to the club. Had mine since Jan. Keep an eye out for a 135i backbox they sound brilliant 
alongside a res delete.
Thanks. alongside a res delete.I’m keeping an eye out for a 135i exhaust but they’re proving tough to find. I might try and mod the stock one for more noise.
Really like that.. there’s something about the 00-10 cars that BMW created and a n/a straight 6 is always a great engine, even better in a small hatch..
Congrats!
I know what you mean about the manual gearbox and sitting in traffic. My E91 330d is manual and when I hit traffic on my 60 mile motorway commute it can be pretty crappy after a long day at work. Although pays dividends when you get to the twistys as it’s a hoot going through the gears with a torquey engine
Will be following this post
Congrats!
I know what you mean about the manual gearbox and sitting in traffic. My E91 330d is manual and when I hit traffic on my 60 mile motorway commute it can be pretty crappy after a long day at work. Although pays dividends when you get to the twistys as it’s a hoot going through the gears with a torquey engine
Will be following this post
B'stard Child said:
Oh that’s nice - will be following
Cheers. It’ll be nicer soon once I’ve had some of the paint dealt with. The drivers door bothers me the most, I can live with the chips etc on an older car for now. F1GTRUeno said:
What was the limited edition for? What makes it different to a standard 130i? Just curious that’s all.
Looks in really good nick and looks great on those wheels. Like the colour combo a lot.
I think the limited edition was introduced as per of the facelift and the introduction of the three door E81. Looks in really good nick and looks great on those wheels. Like the colour combo a lot.
It’s basically a fixed spec that you got; M Sport in carbon black but with the silver window trim, the lemon yellow seats, xenons, electric seats, nav and those style 216 wheels which were fitted to this and the 320SI homologation special. There were 600 worldwide with 160 in the U.K. This is number 095.
5mileofdeath said:
Really like that.. there’s something about the 00-10 cars that BMW created and a n/a straight 6 is always a great engine, even better in a small hatch..
Congrats!
I know what you mean about the manual gearbox and sitting in traffic. My E91 330d is manual and when I hit traffic on my 60 mile motorway commute it can be pretty crappy after a long day at work. Although pays dividends when you get to the twistys as it’s a hoot going through the gears with a torquey engine
Will be following this post
I really like the last of the E series cars. For me they’ve aged pretty well, are relatively simple to get stuck into yourself but modern enough not to rust and can be modernised relatively easily for CarPlay etc. Congrats!
I know what you mean about the manual gearbox and sitting in traffic. My E91 330d is manual and when I hit traffic on my 60 mile motorway commute it can be pretty crappy after a long day at work. Although pays dividends when you get to the twistys as it’s a hoot going through the gears with a torquey engine
Will be following this post
Few more things to add to my to do list…
Reattach the spoiler because it’s lifting slightly at the far edges
Mishimoto intake pipe
Debadge it
Fit white lights for the angel eyes
Going to tackle the squeaky driver seat tomorrow because that’s pissing me off now. The seat back comes off easily enough so hopefully I can lube the mechanisms to shut it up.
Mr Tidy said:
That looks lovely OP.
I have wanted a 130i for a few years, but never managed to find one at a price I could justify - so I've got an E90 330i instead!
Interesting that you find it more planted with the Birds set-up than your 140i was.
Thanks.I have wanted a 130i for a few years, but never managed to find one at a price I could justify - so I've got an E90 330i instead!
Interesting that you find it more planted with the Birds set-up than your 140i was.
I tried to buy one a few times, this was the third so perhaps it was a case of third time lucky! First time around I ended up with an E90 330 too, second time I bought the E88 125i instead.
Did a few bits to the car today....
Sorted the squeaky drivers seat which was driving me up the bloody wall. Some silicon spray on the junction between the base and back rest seems to have done the trick for now.
The trim around the idrive controller was a bit manky. I spoke to Sytner who say they can be ordered but they’re on back order with no idea on dates, so I decided that I’ll do a diy fix for now.
The sticky, weird rubber finish came off easily enough. Ready for painting.
Painted with satin black paint...
Looks loads better.
With the trim removed, I cleaned the crap from under the centre consol. Yuck, can’t wait to see what horrors wait when I remove the seats,
Hopefully my new wiper blades will arrive tomorrow.
Sorted the squeaky drivers seat which was driving me up the bloody wall. Some silicon spray on the junction between the base and back rest seems to have done the trick for now.
The trim around the idrive controller was a bit manky. I spoke to Sytner who say they can be ordered but they’re on back order with no idea on dates, so I decided that I’ll do a diy fix for now.
The sticky, weird rubber finish came off easily enough. Ready for painting.
Painted with satin black paint...
Looks loads better.
With the trim removed, I cleaned the crap from under the centre consol. Yuck, can’t wait to see what horrors wait when I remove the seats,
Hopefully my new wiper blades will arrive tomorrow.
J4CKO said:
Liking that, sounds like it’s going to get the works but is a good base to start from.
Cheers, mechanically it seems sound so I’m quite happy sorting the cosmetic bits and bobs. I have feeling it may end up getting a bit more love than I envisaged!WhisperingWasp said:
That’s a great photo. I’ll drop you an email with the details.beambeam1 said:
Wahey! Big fan of the small bunch of these cars on here, the wheels are just perfect for the car too. Will enjoy following the updates I'm sure.
Thanks. I love them, the two near side ones have a few nicks in them that have been touched in but I’ll see if I can sort a smart repair out. I don’t want to go for a full refurb because of the stickers as sad as that sounds!I popped the repainted idrive trim in the car whilst breakfast was cooking. Looks loads better but now makes me want to sort the cup holder and tray behind it (annoyingly I don’t think these can be removed from the centre console).
That trim that you've done does look really good for sure. 
Thinking about the stubby you put on it does the radio still work? I put a stubby on the 370Z and now the radio doesn't work! It doesn't bother me though because I haven't put the stereo on for the 2 years that I've had it anyway...because I enjoy/prefer the noise of the exhaust instead!
I'm just interested to know.
Thinking about the stubby you put on it does the radio still work? I put a stubby on the 370Z and now the radio doesn't work! It doesn't bother me though because I haven't put the stereo on for the 2 years that I've had it anyway...because I enjoy/prefer the noise of the exhaust instead!
I'm just interested to know. cerb4.5lee said:
That trim that you've done does look really good for sure.
Thinking about the stubby you put on it does the radio still work? I put a stubby on the 370Z and now the radio doesn't work! It doesn't bother me though because I haven't put the stereo on for the 2 years that I've had it anyway...because I enjoy/prefer the noise of the exhaust instead! I'm just interested to know.
Seems to still work although I don’t really listen to the radio so I’m not too fussed. I’d be happier with no radio and the stupid long riding crop aerial in the bin! Thinking about the stubby you put on it does the radio still work? I put a stubby on the 370Z and now the radio doesn't work! It doesn't bother me though because I haven't put the stereo on for the 2 years that I've had it anyway...because I enjoy/prefer the noise of the exhaust instead!
I'm just interested to know. 
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