130i, will I be waiting forever?
Discussion
bmwmike said:
survivalist said:
Not sure if this is true, but I was told by a BMW mechanic that they got rid of the water temp gauge as the electic water pump deliberately varies the water temp for efficiency/performance reasons and so a water gauge isn’t particularly helpful for identifying when there is an issue.
IIRC the idea behind the electronic pump is that it can reduce pumping speed when you’re at cruising speed, safely raising the coolant temp and therefore delivering better fuel economy. When you’re pushing the engine it goes to full speed for maximum cooling. Clever but expensive.
On my Z4 and 335i there’s an oil temp gauge instead - under repeated full load the oil temp goes up significantly on the 335
I heard both points too. Also with an electric pump it can be almost "off" when the engine is cold to aid getting up to temp quicker. I don't mind the electric pump given the benefits tbh.IIRC the idea behind the electronic pump is that it can reduce pumping speed when you’re at cruising speed, safely raising the coolant temp and therefore delivering better fuel economy. When you’re pushing the engine it goes to full speed for maximum cooling. Clever but expensive.
On my Z4 and 335i there’s an oil temp gauge instead - under repeated full load the oil temp goes up significantly on the 335
No dipstick though - criminal !
Agree about the lack of dipstick - my E46 had a dipstick and a low level sensor. How much did BMW save per car by not having a dipstick? 50p?
And if the temperature gauge is so unnecessary on an E90 or E91 why did they fit one to the E92, E93 and E86 with the same engine? I'd happily lose the stupid mpg "swingometer" for a temp. gauge!
I didn't buy a 325i for economy FFS.
When the water pump died in my 325i the warning light got from amber to red in less than half a mile, but at least when it happened in my E86 I could see the gauge climbing before the red light came on.
Nice choice OP.
I bought my LE last July and I absolutely love it. I had a 3.0si Z4 before (which I too felt made a better sound).
Mine has the aero skirts and spoiler and BMWP intake, exhaust and brakes. Can’t think of anything else I would want for the same money.
Mine took us on a 2k mile road trip down to Lake Como in the summer and it was utterly faultless.
Enjoy.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pawa46AK.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/m5fs6nFQ" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/m5fs6nFQ.jpg)
I bought my LE last July and I absolutely love it. I had a 3.0si Z4 before (which I too felt made a better sound).
Mine has the aero skirts and spoiler and BMWP intake, exhaust and brakes. Can’t think of anything else I would want for the same money.
Mine took us on a 2k mile road trip down to Lake Como in the summer and it was utterly faultless.
Enjoy.
Do you have any pics of the skirts?
I must admit I think the spoiler will be one of my first visual updates as it looks a bit un-finished as standard for a sports hatchback.
I bet it's a lovely car to do a long run in. It seemed very comfy for the drives I've done so far.
I'm very slightly tempted to get hold of spare ropey seat and have a play with padding though. Getting them to sit a touch lower and be a bit firmer like the Z4 M sport seats.
I wonder if the 1M front seats were different wrt padding. Hmmmm.
My car has a K&N but I'm going back to a paper filter. I'm really not sure on running these filters dry. I know the oil messes with MAF, but then without the right amount of oil surely fine particles will wear the engine innards?
The last owner fitted his about 3yrs ago and 35k miles, so it'll no doubt be drying up and ready for a clean now any way. If it goes back on to try out, I'll be cleaning and re-oiling, and then accelerating it's drip-drying maybe by spinning it about it's axis to remove any excess oil.
I've had foam and K&N before, and found stuff stuck in oil post-filter, so always thought how essential the oil was to holding stuff back. Hmmm.
I think I'll be leaving my exhaust, it's just right for me as you can 'make progress' at low rpm and high loads without attracting attention.
But I think the sound-generator has some extra to give. I bet it's got foam in it. I'm sure with appropriate tinkering you can get it to give a lot more induction noise ala 3.0Si Z4!
Well, £1080 at the indy for full service, brake fluid, and new discs/pads all round... eeek. OE discs/pads aren't cheap haha. Then I think a cam cover gasket leak and some preventative work and I'll be at £1,500.
Then recon wheels and new tyres... hmmm... £800 all in.
But should be ready for a summer of fun drives out!
I must admit I think the spoiler will be one of my first visual updates as it looks a bit un-finished as standard for a sports hatchback.
I bet it's a lovely car to do a long run in. It seemed very comfy for the drives I've done so far.
I'm very slightly tempted to get hold of spare ropey seat and have a play with padding though. Getting them to sit a touch lower and be a bit firmer like the Z4 M sport seats.
I wonder if the 1M front seats were different wrt padding. Hmmmm.
My car has a K&N but I'm going back to a paper filter. I'm really not sure on running these filters dry. I know the oil messes with MAF, but then without the right amount of oil surely fine particles will wear the engine innards?
The last owner fitted his about 3yrs ago and 35k miles, so it'll no doubt be drying up and ready for a clean now any way. If it goes back on to try out, I'll be cleaning and re-oiling, and then accelerating it's drip-drying maybe by spinning it about it's axis to remove any excess oil.
I've had foam and K&N before, and found stuff stuck in oil post-filter, so always thought how essential the oil was to holding stuff back. Hmmm.
I think I'll be leaving my exhaust, it's just right for me as you can 'make progress' at low rpm and high loads without attracting attention.
But I think the sound-generator has some extra to give. I bet it's got foam in it. I'm sure with appropriate tinkering you can get it to give a lot more induction noise ala 3.0Si Z4!
Well, £1080 at the indy for full service, brake fluid, and new discs/pads all round... eeek. OE discs/pads aren't cheap haha. Then I think a cam cover gasket leak and some preventative work and I'll be at £1,500.
Then recon wheels and new tyres... hmmm... £800 all in.
But should be ready for a summer of fun drives out!
Posted this on GG, but worth a read for any 125i/130i owners.
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-130i-named-...
Look after then and they will go forever.
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-130i-named-...
Look after then and they will go forever.
Mr Tidy said:
When the water pump died in my 325i the warning light got from amber to red in less than half a mile
Yep, same as when the water pump failed in my 135i while doing err <cough> 70mph in the outside lane of the M4.......by the time I had registered the amber warning light it had already gone to red and then into limp mode, and car was starting to slow down, and then I was in 'oh f
k' mode trying to negotiate my way across 3 lanes of motorway traffic in a 'dead' 135i.....I'm not sure my car has had a water pump.
07 on 102k miles.
I'll ask my independent to check it over, I think there is a diagnostic check you can run or something.
For the relatively low price (vs failure) it's probably worth just doing pre-emptively once I get all the obvious stuff done. And do a coolant swap at the time.
It definitely needs a machine polish before spring and the sunlight starts hitting it. It's not as bad as I thought after a bit of sun yesterday, but it'll clearly look stunning once it's done on a nice day!
Dave
07 on 102k miles.
I'll ask my independent to check it over, I think there is a diagnostic check you can run or something.
For the relatively low price (vs failure) it's probably worth just doing pre-emptively once I get all the obvious stuff done. And do a coolant swap at the time.
It definitely needs a machine polish before spring and the sunlight starts hitting it. It's not as bad as I thought after a bit of sun yesterday, but it'll clearly look stunning once it's done on a nice day!
Dave
Mr Whippy said:
I'm getting the car booked in at Autohaus at York for a good look over, full service, and check a cam cover leak. I'm guessing I'll be £350 lighter on service items, then another £400 on discs/pads/handbrake sorting, maybe £450 on cam cover gasket (assuming that's what it is)
My mate just had the cam cover gasket go on his 130LE last month......and yes, that was an almost 500 bill.Mr Whippy said:
Ah I see, like strakes/vents in the sides of the standard ones. Thanks for posting.
I like the big yellow brakes! Are they the BMW P ones? Or something different?
I could take or leave the skirts. I certainly wasn’t looking for them and in the sale pics I thought they looked a bit naff. In the metal (plastic?!) I think they suit the car great but I wouldn’t have made the change myself. I like the big yellow brakes! Are they the BMW P ones? Or something different?
The brakes are the BMWP ones. I’ll get a better pic later. I think you can get the rears too. It doesn’t need them but would look good!
Mr Whippy said:
I'm not sure my car has had a water pump.
07 on 102k miles.
I'll ask my independent to check it over, I think there is a diagnostic check you can run or something.
For the relatively low price (vs failure) it's probably worth just doing pre-emptively once I get all the obvious stuff done. And do a coolant swap at the time.
It definitely needs a machine polish before spring and the sunlight starts hitting it. It's not as bad as I thought after a bit of sun yesterday, but it'll clearly look stunning once it's done on a nice day!
Dave
Did a preventative replacement of my water pump and thermostat at 150k. Running perfectly OK but figured they’d done well to get that far and I could do without the hassle of a sudden failure. By all accounts there is very little warning as to when a water pump is about to give up.07 on 102k miles.
I'll ask my independent to check it over, I think there is a diagnostic check you can run or something.
For the relatively low price (vs failure) it's probably worth just doing pre-emptively once I get all the obvious stuff done. And do a coolant swap at the time.
It definitely needs a machine polish before spring and the sunlight starts hitting it. It's not as bad as I thought after a bit of sun yesterday, but it'll clearly look stunning once it's done on a nice day!
Dave
Also worth checking/changing the gaskets around the oil filter housing and oil/coolant heat exchanger at the same time. I had to do them a month after the water pump - easy job but a pain dropping the coolant again.
Ah OK thanks for that.
I'm almost certain my cam cover will be coming off, so I'll be getting all the usual preventative in/around there at the time... while it's away getting jobs done and bits off, it may as well get a job lot done.
It's a shame the water pump failure is so rapid. Pre-emtive is a sensible move, but it also seems daft if I might get another 50k miles and many more years from it. Or it might go tomorrow haha.
I'm almost certain my cam cover will be coming off, so I'll be getting all the usual preventative in/around there at the time... while it's away getting jobs done and bits off, it may as well get a job lot done.
It's a shame the water pump failure is so rapid. Pre-emtive is a sensible move, but it also seems daft if I might get another 50k miles and many more years from it. Or it might go tomorrow haha.
Mr Whippy said:
It's a shame the water pump failure is so rapid. Pre-emtive is a sensible move, but it also seems daft if I might get another 50k miles and many more years from it. Or it might go tomorrow haha.
The water pump went on my 135i at 56k....and just shy of it being 5 years old.Yes, it's definitely pot luck with water pumps.
It died on my 1st Z4 Coupe at 60K miles after 10 years.
On my E91 325i it managed 135K miles and 12 years - shame it didn't die a bit sooner as I'd only had it 4 months.
I don't know if my current Z4 Coupe has had one or not - only time will tell.
It died on my 1st Z4 Coupe at 60K miles after 10 years.
On my E91 325i it managed 135K miles and 12 years - shame it didn't die a bit sooner as I'd only had it 4 months.
I don't know if my current Z4 Coupe has had one or not - only time will tell.
Hrmrmrmrmmmm, some sporadic failures there.
It's weird that BMW didn't appreciate that such failures would have dramatic consequences and develop a system with some kind of warning ahead of time. Hmmm. Ah well.
A full service of everything in the book is £1,100 at my independent, so oils, filters, discs/pads all round, yadda.
Cam cover seal job is likely gonna be £350 ish I think.
Rear spoiler £300 painted/fitted?!
Wheels reconditioned and new tyres, £800 ish.
Then finally maybe new dampers for next MOT, £500 and tracking etc.
Hmmmm. £3,000.
Still some change left once I get rid of the R32, and £750 cheaper a year than the R32 in tax, fuel and insurance
It's weird that BMW didn't appreciate that such failures would have dramatic consequences and develop a system with some kind of warning ahead of time. Hmmm. Ah well.
A full service of everything in the book is £1,100 at my independent, so oils, filters, discs/pads all round, yadda.
Cam cover seal job is likely gonna be £350 ish I think.
Rear spoiler £300 painted/fitted?!
Wheels reconditioned and new tyres, £800 ish.
Then finally maybe new dampers for next MOT, £500 and tracking etc.
Hmmmm. £3,000.
Still some change left once I get rid of the R32, and £750 cheaper a year than the R32 in tax, fuel and insurance
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