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

[cerb4.5lee]

DoubleSix said:

cerb4.5lee said:

If I compare the two cars I have currently the 330i is 221 ib/ft at 2500-4000 rpm and the 640d is 465 ib/ft at 1500 rpm, to me the 330i is completely gutless low down whereas the 640d picks up almost instantly with a twitch of a toe.

Change down!!

You can't expect an N/A to have the same in gear pull as the diesel. You're just using the tool wrong and then criticising it as not fit for purpose. If you can't be bothered working the box then that's not a failing of the car.

Agree and they have a completely different power delivery and you have to drive them much differently, I'm not saying a N/A engine is crap...I just prefer a forced induction engine much more that's all.

[paul n]

Just to update this I bailed on buying the GTI in the end! I could possibly be the most indecisive man on the planet! God knows what I will end up with! Will look again at the 130i option but knowing me I'll end with another subaru!

Cheers Paul

[Mr Tidy]

paul n said:

Just to update this I bailed on buying the GTI in the end! I could possibly be the most indecisive man on the planet! God knows what I will end up with! Will look again at the 130i option but knowing me I'll end with another subaru!

Cheers Paul

Maybe you should look for a 135i - RWD and a turbo engine that can be chipped?!

[paul n]

Just to finish up this thread so it may be helpful to other people in a similar situation.

I finally got a new car and it ended up being a golf GTI edition 30 with a revo stage 1 remap so about 300bhp.

I was very very close to buying my friends M135i but after a second test drive I realised I need 5 doors and I think I would prefer the auto versions I think it would mate very well to the incredible engine! it's almost hard to keep up with it with the manual box!

Ironically my other friend bough my mates M135 I so tonight we went for a wee spin and in the same loop in both cars and it was quite revealing. They are both great cars and very similar in pace. The engine in the BMW is amazing and sound awesome but the wee golf engine with 300bhp packs a hell of punch! Both cars have "issues" with traction in the wet! but coming from AWD Subaru's in a way this makes it quite exciting as you have to really measure when to apply throttle! Both have incredible amounts of torque which really sells the cars as it means that can be a comfortable cruisers one minute and then savage beasts the next! I think that is the 1 think the 130i was missing for me! it's nice to work the gear box but sometimes it is great to be able to cruise and chillout and still have overtaking urge! I have had lots of all out performance/ track cars but for a family hatch back it needs to be an all-rounder!

Handling wise the golf is probably easier to throw down a wet road with a little bit of safe understeer built in and it is my friends first rear wheel drive car so he is timid right now! The BMW is probably more rewarding when you get it right but the golf if a fun wee car at speed!

I did have a pang of regret then I was in the BMW that I didn't buy it but the golf was under half the cost so I think I made the right choice! I think I will get a M135i in the future but in 2-3 years when they are close to 10k and I would get 5 door and an auto!

Ironically I started this thread about a 130i ended up buying a golf and will most probably buy a m135 in the future! funny which turns the car buying journey takes!


cheers Paul

[stuart-b]

Good choice with the Golf, but a similarly tuned M135i will push nearly 400 hp without a sweat. There are 700+ hp 135i's with hybrid turbos !

[GusWilliams]

GusWilliams said:

rm163603 said:

I can second this, the n52 is really good on fuel. 30mpg is pretty much the average. I achieved over 40mpg a few times in my 130 on long motorway runs driving at the speed limit.

The N54 I have now though is terrible in comparison, I'm getting 24mpg driving 'normally'.

The small tank on the 1 series doesn't help either.

We're only averaging around 22mpg in it (130i) - but that's because it's mostly just very local driving. On the occasions I have taken it down the M5 then it starts to climb considerably (I can see it returning over 30pmg).... but if you are local driving (while occasionally driving enthusiastically around A/B roads ;-) then don't expect over 25mpg.

Just thought I'd come back to this post as a couple of months ago we switched to using only Shell V-Max fuel (was using standard anything prior to that). The local around-town consumption has gone up to just shy of 25 mpg (an extra 3 mpg over standard fuel).

Furthermore - low rev torque increase is very noticeable - really picks up much more quickly.

So a very worthwhile change - will only run it on SUL from now on.........

[bennyboysvuk]

paul n said:

Just to finish up this thread so it may be helpful to other people in a similar situation.

I finally got a new car and it ended up being a golf GTI edition 30 with a revo stage 1 remap so about 300bhp.

I was very very close to buying my friends M135i but after a second test drive I realised I need 5 doors and I think I would prefer the auto versions I think it would mate very well to the incredible engine! it's almost hard to keep up with it with the manual box!

Ironically my other friend bough my mates M135 I so tonight we went for a wee spin and in the same loop in both cars and it was quite revealing. They are both great cars and very similar in pace. The engine in the BMW is amazing and sound awesome but the wee golf engine with 300bhp packs a hell of punch! Both cars have "issues" with traction in the wet! but coming from AWD Subaru's in a way this makes it quite exciting as you have to really measure when to apply throttle! Both have incredible amounts of torque which really sells the cars as it means that can be a comfortable cruisers one minute and then savage beasts the next! I think that is the 1 think the 130i was missing for me! it's nice to work the gear box but sometimes it is great to be able to cruise and chillout and still have overtaking urge! I have had lots of all out performance/ track cars but for a family hatch back it needs to be an all-rounder!

Handling wise the golf is probably easier to throw down a wet road with a little bit of safe understeer built in and it is my friends first rear wheel drive car so he is timid right now! The BMW is probably more rewarding when you get it right but the golf if a fun wee car at speed!

I did have a pang of regret then I was in the BMW that I didn't buy it but the golf was under half the cost so I think I made the right choice! I think I will get a M135i in the future but in 2-3 years when they are close to 10k and I would get 5 door and an auto!

Ironically I started this thread about a 130i ended up buying a golf and will most probably buy a m135 in the future! funny which turns the car buying journey takes!

cheers Paul

Hope you're enjoying the Golf. Conversely, I've just sold my M135i due to:

Lack of engagement (doesn't take much thought to drive fast).
No LSD was annoying.
Poor steering feel.
Doesn't feel special.
Electronic nannies a pain to turn off.

I had an E87 120D before it and in many ways, it was the more fun car, so I really feel that I missed a trick not buying the 130i in the first place.

By comparison, the E92 M3 I've replaced the M135i with fixes all of the above and I love that it has to be revved to get the best from it.

[Z4MCSL]

Just my opinion but I can never get my head around the auto box thing?

In the same way as a Tesla is really fast but I just cant get excited by one I would rather be slower but enjoy a manual gearbox, blipping the throttle on downshifts etc. Its the fact you can get it wrong that makes it so nice when you get it right.

That being said I have never had a long term auto car so cant really make this statement but considering that buying any car is a big comittment I cant see that I will ever risk it, as sad as that is when looking at RS6s and AMG cars.

[Mike335i]

Z4MCSL said:

Just my opinion but I can never get my head around the auto box thing?

In the same way as a Tesla is really fast but I just cant get excited by one I would rather be slower but enjoy a manual gearbox, blipping the throttle on downshifts etc. Its the fact you can get it wrong that makes it so nice when you get it right.

That being said I have never had a long term auto car so cant really make this statement but considering that buying any car is a big comittment I cant see that I will ever risk it, as sad as that is when looking at RS6s and AMG cars.

This is my view too, which was reinforced by my experience of the ponderous ZF8 box that everyone seems to love. Too many gears, too little involvement and it just made driving really dull, but really easy and comfortable.

[gizlaroc]

GusWilliams said:

Just thought I'd come back to this post as a couple of months ago we switched to using only Shell V-Max fuel (was using standard anything prior to that). The local around-town consumption has gone up to just shy of 25 mpg (an extra 3 mpg over standard fuel).

Furthermore - low rev torque increase is very noticeable - really picks up much more quickly.

So a very worthwhile change - will only run it on SUL from now on.........

I have said it time and time again, running 95ron on a car set up for 98ron is a false economy.
You lose at least 10% in MPG and often as much in power too.

[paul n]

Update

Ok so had the golf for 6 months..............got bored..........just bought a 130i...............epic wee car..........what a noise!

Just thought i would update the thread for anybody in a similar quandary!

Cheers Paul

[Mike335i]

Haha awesome, a Golf is great, but a straight six is better!

[cerb4.5lee]

Enjoy the straight six smoothness.

[swanny71]

Good man

[texasjohn]

Good call. I've had a couple of them. And three 35i's

[gizlaroc]

paul n said:

Update

Ok so had the golf for 6 months..............got bored..........just bought a 130i...............epic wee car..........what a noise!

Just thought i would update the thread for anybody in a similar quandary!

Cheers Paul

Haha, you really should have listened to those of us who have had both.

The Golf GTi is fine, for a VW, but I would take a 120d over a GTi.

[Mr Tidy]

paul n said:

Update

Ok so had the golf for 6 months..............got bored..........just bought a 130i...............epic wee car..........what a noise!

Just thought i would update the thread for anybody in a similar quandary!

Cheers Paul

Fair play for admitting it!

I hope the 130i lasts longer than the Golf did!

But if it doesn't please let me know - I just missed out on a 130i 6 miles from home (still kicking myself).

[Scobblelotcher]

I’ve seen a few I’m interested in over the past year and I have a question I’d like everyone’s input on.

How well do the semi-automatic versions of these cars drive? I’ve never experienced that gearbox (I think the gearbox in the M135i is brilliant).

Any opinions on this will be greatly appreciated!

[VerySideways]

Scobblelotcher said:

I’ve seen a few I’m interested in over the past year and I have a question I’d like everyone’s input on.

How well do the semi-automatic versions of these cars drive? I’ve never experienced that gearbox (I think the gearbox in the M135i is brilliant).

Any opinions on this will be greatly appreciated!

It's not a semi-auto, it's a conventional (proper) automatic gearbox. 6 speed ZF with a torque converter.
And it's very good actually, even manages better mpg on the motorway than the manual due to longer gearing in top.
It's not up to the standard of the more modern 8 speed ZF but it's still a great gearbox, and if you spend a lot of time in traffic then it's certainly preferable to the manual and the clutch pedal.

The only real "gotcha" is the road tax;
-> March 2006, around £285 p.a.
Late March 06 -> mid 07, around £500 p.a.
Mid 07 -> about £260 p.a.

Great cars. I had the manual 130i for 4 years, my mum had the auto 130i for 5+ years and now has an M135i (auto).

[Shaoxter]

What's with the weird tax thing? Thought all the years had the same engine (more or less)

The auto box (not semi auto, even if it has paddles/buttons) is nice and smooth, but I'm not sure it suits a small NA hot hatch unless you're sitting in heavy traffic all day.