Out with the new and in with the old; my 130i LE
Discussion
Court_S said:
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! 
I think we have the same stubby (genuine BMW one?) and the radio reception is absolutely fine. Worryingly I do find myself listening to R4 more often nowadays 
Court_S said:
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!
Same! 
The original aerial on the 370 looked awful to my eyes(it looks especially bad on the Roadster as well because the boot is so flat). 
WhisperingWasp said:
I think we have the same stubby (genuine BMW one?) and the radio reception is absolutely fine. Worryingly I do find myself listening to R4 more often nowadays
Yeah, it’s the genuine BMW jobbie. I fitted one to my other half’s 125i as well which seems to work fine.d_a_n1979 said:
Lovely looking motor; sits really well on those alloys too 
I love the wheels. They’re supposed to be pretty light too. ChapmanC said:
Lovely spec, still look great these do. Rare wheels too, great interior choice as well!
I’m a big fan of the lemon leather.I’m thinking that when I get the alcantara bits done, I’m going to ask RSW if they have a thread in that colour. Rather than grey details like on my other half’s 125, I get yellow to match the leather.
Court_S said:
I’m a big fan of the lemon leather.
I’m thinking that when I get the alcantara bits done, I’m going to ask RSW if they have a thread in that colour. Rather than grey details like on my other half’s 125, I get yellow to match the leather.
That might look really good or it might look lost - I'm not sureI’m thinking that when I get the alcantara bits done, I’m going to ask RSW if they have a thread in that colour. Rather than grey details like on my other half’s 125, I get yellow to match the leather.
B'stard Child said:
That might look really good or it might look lost - I'm not sure
It works with the 1M and its orange stitching. I’ll speak to RSW and see what they say. They seem to use a pretty chunky thread so I hoping it’ll be Ok.IAche said:
I was going to suggest leather coloured stitching, I reckon it would look ace.
I'd be half tempted to get the gaters and parts of the wheel done in lemon leather.
I think I’ll do the 12 o’clock marker in lemon to match the seats.I'd be half tempted to get the gaters and parts of the wheel done in lemon leather.
I was thinking the bits that are perforated currently, maybe a bit smaller so they are just bigger than your hands. Then alcantara top and bottom, and possibly the centre Y piece.
You would have to keep on top of the cleaning, especially if its also perforated, but to call you anal when it comes to cleaning would be an understatement.
You would have to keep on top of the cleaning, especially if its also perforated, but to call you anal when it comes to cleaning would be an understatement.
IAche said:
I was thinking the bits that are perforated currently, maybe a bit smaller so they are just bigger than your hands. Then alcantara top and bottom, and possibly the centre Y piece.
You would have to keep on top of the cleaning, especially if its also perforated, but to call you anal when it comes to cleaning would be an understatement.
I’m not sure even I’m brave enough for pale coloured leather where I hold the wheel!You would have to keep on top of the cleaning, especially if its also perforated, but to call you anal when it comes to cleaning would be an understatement.
I prefer particular!
MDifficult said:
This is fantastic, lovely looking thing and your to-do list looks great too.
Personally, I’d be swapping the chrome shadow line for a dark one, but otherwise it looks perfect.
Bookmarked
Thanks, I can’t decide what to do with the chrome. I’m coming round to it and it kind of denotes that it’s an LE. My other half hates it though. It’s might try getting it wrapped in gloss black. At least it’s easy to swap back. Personally, I’d be swapping the chrome shadow line for a dark one, but otherwise it looks perfect.
Bookmarked
The PH sticker is proving controversial on BabyBMW though especially with me wanting to remove the 130i badge.
Glad I’ve got this though…
It gives the car a lovely induction noise, especially in the upper echelons of the rev range. They’re like rocking horse poo to find these days too.
Edited by Court_S on Tuesday 25th May 22:24
Bit more fiddling with my 130 LE...
- Fitted my roof bars and bike carrier inc. BMW gutter protectors
- Changed some of the interior bulbs for LED ones I had left over from my other half’s 125i, the missing ones will be here tomorrow hopefully
- Did a temporary fix on the spoiler which was lifting at the edges. It needs removing and refixing but getting the old 3M tape off is such a s
t job that it can wait for another day - Did some more coding; true speed not corrected, reduced the headlight cleaning to the bare minimum because it does my head in, turned up the DRL’s
Been toying with the idea of a roof rack for mine... Don't need it for anything but thinking about it all the same!
To partly answer question above I cannot compare to the M140i but can say that in the 4 years I've had mine I've averaged 31.41mpg. Not bad at all for the age of the car, performance, etc.
To partly answer question above I cannot compare to the M140i but can say that in the 4 years I've had mine I've averaged 31.41mpg. Not bad at all for the age of the car, performance, etc.
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Wednesday 26th May 20:46
anonymous said:
[redacted]
The 140i is shed loads quicker; off the line, mid range especially but it gets to very, very illegal speeds all too easily especially with the very impressive ZF8. It’s a noticeably bigger car, but that doesn’t seem to translate in a vastly bigger interior. My long term fuel economy over two years was 28mpg. This is a shade under 26mpg at the moment. The 140i will be better on a long run with the tall eight gear and the ability to use eco pro which reduces the A/C etc.I wouldn’t describe the 140i as a hit hatch. Sounds odd, but it’s far more a mini GT with slightly bouncy suspension. The engine is a masterpiece but I writes cheques that the chassis just can’t cash. It’s not as bad as the internet makes out, but the rear end especially falls apart on you average B road. Mine was better with B8 dampers, softer springs and the underbody brace but it was still very busy and could be rather disconcerting and not that confidence inspiring. On the right road it was good though.
It never managed to get under my skin though. As a fast, cheap to run daily I liked it but using it less I was a bit meh. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something was missing for me.
The 130i is lots slower, but it sounds better (my 140i had the OPF fun sponge) especially once it hits 5,000rpm and there’s a harsh but nice tone from the carbon intake. I appreciate that I’ve not quite had it a week yet but I find it more confidence inspiring on roads I know well, having taken it out fir a local hoon tonight. The Birds B1 suspension is really very, very good. Despite having a typical BMW manual gearbox, I’ve enjoyed the extra interaction over the ZF8. I’m hoping that a CDV delete and new white bush will improve the shift. I’ll get the gearbox oil changed at sone point. Much like her 125i, it seems to be working it’s way under my skin already.
WhisperingWasp said:
Been toying with the idea of a roof rack for mine... Don't need it for anything but thinking about it all the same!
To partly answer question above I cannot compare to the M140i but can say that in the 4 years I've had mine I've averaged 31.41mpg. Not bad at all for the age of the car, performance, etc.
That’s pretty good going, I’m a bit under that so far.To partly answer question above I cannot compare to the M140i but can say that in the 4 years I've had mine I've averaged 31.41mpg. Not bad at all for the age of the car, performance, etc.
Edited by WhisperingWasp on Wednesday 26th May 20:46
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