130i........doesn't feel as fast as it should?

130i........doesn't feel as fast as it should?

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Discussion

ManaghGB

682 posts

182 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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paul n said:
even down a bumpy b road?

it's funny I started this thread disappointed in the punch from the BMW engine but after driving the golf I think it is the ride of the BMW rarther than the engine is what would put me off most now!

The golf just wouldn't put the power down at all. Just span either wheel the whole time.

Another thing is the steering. The bmws is brilliant with it being weighty but really direct with loads of feel. The golf is none of those.

Don't get me wrong the Golf was a good car and you could drive long distances no problem. But if your after something fun, after experiencing both, I'd recommend the 130i.

mikeyscott

1,200 posts

207 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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I was going to get a 130i, but got an E82 N55 135i

Just had a great Le Mans trip in it, it has Birds kit on it. Planning on adding LCA, sub frame inserts and poss LCA.

Was having beers with some of the Birds guys in Le Mans as a number of the crew know them.

paul n

Original Poster:

247 posts

168 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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ManaghGB said:
The golf just wouldn't put the power down at all. Just span either wheel the whole time.

Another thing is the steering. The bmws is brilliant with it being weighty but really direct with loads of feel. The golf is none of those.

Don't get me wrong the Golf was a good car and you could drive long distances no problem. But if your after something fun, after experiencing both, I'd recommend the 130i.
what tyres did you have on the GTI? was that a standard car mapped stage 2 to 270bhp or an edition 30 ? (as they have different turbos) I take it you only mean it was spinning it's wheels in the wet! I do hate that and this I why I have gone 4 x 4 before!

do you have a pre facelift bmw?

the BMW steering is very nice!

I know what you mean about getting used to the power




gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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The problem with the VW is when you put the power down the back end squats down and the front lifts, you then have your front wheels scrabbling for grip. However, this is only really a problem when trying to pull away. Trying to pull out of fast junctions, especially when wet, was a nightmare, you simply can't use the power.

However, that for me was not a real issue, it was the torque steer that drove me mad. Mine was mapped to 250hp and it was too much, I had the map taken off but then it didn't feel quick so we put it back on.

I forgot about all this and last spring I bought a stage 2 modded Audi 2.0T A4 Avant, that was mapped to 280hp and it was crap! Lasted about 5 weeks before I admitted defeat, which was a shame as it was a really nice looking thing that cost me buttons.

ManaghGB

682 posts

182 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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paul n said:
what tyres did you have on the GTI? was that a standard car mapped stage 2 to 270bhp or an edition 30 ? (as they have different turbos) I take it you only mean it was spinning it's wheels in the wet! I do hate that and this I why I have gone 4 x 4 before!

do you have a pre facelift bmw?

the BMW steering is very nice!

I know what you mean about getting used to the power


New Michelin Pilot SuperSports on it all round. It was mapped to stage 2 on the standard KO3 turbo but with an upgraded fuel pump for a bit more. ~280bhp and 300ft/lb. Used to spin the wheels in the wet in third and even in second one wheel would break traction.

Yeah mine is a pre-facelift with Bilstein suspension, M3 lower arms, fully polybusged, Eibach roll bar front and rear and LSD.

It's a high spec car and the way it drives really shows.

BMW is better on fuel as well driven the same way if that matters to you at all.

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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ManaghGB said:
I don't even need to start on the handling, the GTI wouldn't see which way the 130i went.
This fascinates me because the Golf GTI is such a highly regarded car if you go on reviews and the motoring press, whereas the 1 series has always been criticised for it's ride and handling and is known for not having a great chassis by the motoring press.

It just proves you can never believe anything you read, and you have to experience it for yourself.


paul n

Original Poster:

247 posts

168 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
ManaghGB said:
New Michelin Pilot SuperSports on it all round. It was mapped to stage 2 on the standard KO3 turbo but with an upgraded fuel pump for a bit more. ~280bhp and 300ft/lb. Used to spin the wheels in the wet in third and even in second one wheel would break traction.

Yeah mine is a pre-facelift with Bilstein suspension, M3 lower arms, fully polybusged, Eibach roll bar front and rear and LSD.

It's a high spec car and the way it drives really shows.

BMW is better on fuel as well driven the same way if that matters to you at all.
ok so your BMW is not standard then!! sounds like a nice set up! if I did decide to get a 130i then I would want to do similar mods to help the ride/ handling but the costs add up eh!

was the traction control not effective at helping with spinning wheels in the wet? I don't know how good the vw system is?

Cheers Paul

ManaghGB

682 posts

182 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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cerb4.5lee said:
This fascinates me because the Golf GTI is such a highly regarded car if you go on reviews and the motoring press, whereas the 1 series has always been criticised for it's ride and handling and is known for not having a great chassis by the motoring press.

It just proves you can never believe anything you read, and you have to experience it for yourself.
In fairness to the golf my 130i isn't standard in terms of suspension. The golf just felt really heavy and didn't have much feel to it at all.

paul n said:
ok so your BMW is not standard then!! sounds like a nice set up! if I did decide to get a 130i then I would want to do similar mods to help the ride/ handling but the costs add up eh!

was the traction control not effective at helping with spinning wheels in the wet? I don't know how good the vw system is?

Cheers Paul
You don't need to go to those extremes, even some simple changes like getting rid of the runflats and updated are highly regarded mods.

Yeah the traction control would kick in and just kill the power, it's not the most sophisticated system. Once you had traction it did feel quick, especially overtaking. I'm sure an LSD would make a huge difference on the Golf.

ManaghGB

682 posts

182 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
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If you've got a spare half an hour this thread is an interesting read. The OP sold the 130i for an E90 M3 and ended up buying it back as he preferred it.

He's also got the car up for sale at the moment with all the suspension work already done.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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ManaghGB said:
If you've got a spare half an hour this thread is an interesting read. The OP sold the 130i for an E90 M3 and ended up buying it back as he preferred it.

He's also got the car up for sale at the moment with all the suspension work already done.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
I've read the thread, and loved it!

But why sell a 130i for an E9* M3 then change your mind? And then have the 130i up for sale? Seems like some indecision going on here, but I'm not sure! :laugh;

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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Having spent a lot of time in a friends Golf and now owning a 130i, the 130i wins hands down in all departments. OK, you have to make a few low cost changes; you'll have to replace RFTs when they wear down in any case, so just replace with decent rubber, M3 lower control arms at £50 each, camber pin mod to allow even wear of the tyres (free), front M3 roll bar for £80-100 and fit yourself. It all makes a difference.
I'm not sure you want to lose money on it so the car and modifications might not be for you.

s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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paul n said:
ManaghGB said:
New Michelin Pilot SuperSports on it all round. It was mapped to stage 2 on the standard KO3 turbo but with an upgraded fuel pump for a bit more. ~280bhp and 300ft/lb. Used to spin the wheels in the wet in third and even in second one wheel would break traction.

Yeah mine is a pre-facelift with Bilstein suspension, M3 lower arms, fully polybusged, Eibach roll bar front and rear and LSD.

It's a high spec car and the way it drives really shows.

BMW is better on fuel as well driven the same way if that matters to you at all.
ok so your BMW is not standard then!! sounds like a nice set up! if I did decide to get a 130i then I would want to do similar mods to help the ride/ handling but the costs add up eh!

was the traction control not effective at helping with spinning wheels in the wet? I don't know how good the vw system is?

Cheers Paul
There were a few articles on "fixing" the 130i ride/handling balance in the past





aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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Biggest problem with the 130i (and125i/135i) is other than the run-craps, they are underdamped and oversprung - which is great on smooth German tarmac, but not so great on the average UK B-road.

But the engine is driving the correct sets of wheels, which is the most important thing smile

If wanting n/a I'd have a remapped 125i coupe instead of a 130i despite the leccy steering, as the stiffer coupe bodyshell makes a difference.

bodhi

10,333 posts

228 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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I moved from a mapped E46 330d to a 125i Coupe, and did initially feel like it wasn't as fast as it doesn't have the big slug of torque - but wring it out and even my strangled 125i is pretty quick, and so much more fun to make go quickly. It really does sound fantastic over 4000 rpm, and tunnels are to be enjoyed with the windows down. It won't keep up with an M135i/Golf R, but still has plenty for day to day driving.

Only chassis mod I've done so far is to take the Runflats off and put some PS4's on - night and day difference. Hardly ever see the flickering yellow light on the dash, and it's far better behaved on B-Roads.

Also not sure where this idea that the engine sounds muted has come from - unless the Coupe has a different exhaust to the others, but I definitely wouldn't call it quiet.

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
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bodhi said:
Also not sure where this idea that the engine sounds muted has come from - unless the Coupe has a different exhaust to the others, but I definitely wouldn't call it quiet.
The N52 is definitely muted inside the 330i and you can just about hear the exhaust with all the windows down, maybe it's deliberate in the 3 series though and it's louder in the 1 series with it being less of a cruiser perhaps.

paul n

Original Poster:

247 posts

168 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
ManaghGB said:
If you've got a spare half an hour this thread is an interesting read. The OP sold the 130i for an E90 M3 and ended up buying it back as he preferred it.

He's also got the car up for sale at the moment with all the suspension work already done.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
just read this

seems like it takes a lot of work to get it to handle well and good to see it isn't just ne that thinks the standard M sport suspension is rubbish!

I think like of like on standard cars the golf has the edge in terms of handling and ride but after mods the BMW?

interesting to see his car up for sale! anybody else think 9-10k is a lot to ask? lovely car with the mods but everybody knows that you don't' get back what you pay for mods! and the car without the mods is probably a 4-5k car so it's 5k for the mods! I know he could strip the parts but 5k for the parts and the hassle of changing everything back over?

also don't like the colour! .......but like the bike rack idea! smile

hmmm still leaning towards the golf I think or a car like this with mods done for a more realistic price!...........in a nice colour!

p

bodhi

10,333 posts

228 months

Friday 23rd June 2017
quotequote all
paul n said:
just read this

seems like it takes a lot of work to get it to handle well and good to see it isn't just ne that thinks the standard M sport suspension is rubbish!

I think like of like on standard cars the golf has the edge in terms of handling and ride but after mods the BMW?

interesting to see his car up for sale! anybody else think 9-10k is a lot to ask? lovely car with the mods but everybody knows that you don't' get back what you pay for mods! and the car without the mods is probably a 4-5k car so it's 5k for the mods! I know he could strip the parts but 5k for the parts and the hassle of changing everything back over?

also don't like the colour! .......but like the bike rack idea! smile

hmmm still leaning towards the golf I think or a car like this with mods done for a more realistic price!...........in a nice colour!

p
The thing you have to remember with the 130i (and the 125i/135i) is that they didn't sell a huge amount of them in the UK and now have a bit of a cult following, so prices are holding firm, especially for sorted examples like that one. This can work in your favour however, so if you buy one and don't like it, you won't lose much, if anything on it.

I've had a few Golf GTi's now, albeit a much older model (the Mk3 16v), and whilst it doesn't have the grunt of the ones you are looking at, the rest of the driving experience was broadly similar - great whilst making progress, just a 4 cylinder Golf when you weren't. The 125i is a much nicer thing to drive around day to day, always smooth but with some entertaining burbles and crackles from the exhaust for amusement.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

223 months

Saturday 24th June 2017
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paul n said:
just read this

seems like it takes a lot of work to get it to handle well and good to see it isn't just ne that thinks the standard M sport suspension is rubbish!

I think like of like on standard cars the golf has the edge in terms of handling and ride but after mods the BMW?

interesting to see his car up for sale! anybody else think 9-10k is a lot to ask? lovely car with the mods but everybody knows that you don't' get back what you pay for mods! and the car without the mods is probably a 4-5k car so it's 5k for the mods! I know he could strip the parts but 5k for the parts and the hassle of changing everything back over?

also don't like the colour! .......but like the bike rack idea! smile

hmmm still leaning towards the golf I think or a car like this with mods done for a more realistic price!...........in a nice colour!

p
What is it you don't like about the handling?

So many people write of the 130i as they try it with run flats, it was never designed for run flats, in Germany you couldn't buy it with run flats. BMW UK specced them with run flats and so many people still have them on run flats and it is shockingly bad.

Get it off run flats and it comfy, grips well and bites hard in corners.

The only issue I have with it is the fact it can be a bit too soft.



s m

23,164 posts

202 months

Saturday 24th June 2017
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paul n

Original Poster:

247 posts

168 months

Saturday 24th June 2017
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gizlaroc said:
What is it you don't like about the handling?

So many people write of the 130i as they try it with run flats, it was never designed for run flats, in Germany you couldn't buy it with run flats. BMW UK specced them with run flats and so many people still have them on run flats and it is shockingly bad.

Get it off run flats and it comfy, grips well and bites hard in corners.

The only issue I have with it is the fact it can be a bit too soft.
The guy who did the mods to birds suspension etc said it was over damped and under sprung which is exactly what I thought when driving it and seems to be he verdict from reviews of it on bumper roads or when pushing on. if I got one I would definitely look to change the suspension!

anyway looks like I might have bought a golf in the end. high miles and abit tatty but cheap so gives me cash to do the mods!

the wife will definitely prefer he golf! will see how I get on.........I will probably hate it and end up buying a BMW!

many thanks for everybody's input!

Cheers Paul