130i owners, what was your next car?
Discussion
As the title suggests, I'm struggling for inspiration.
I've owned my 130i LE for 6 years next month. It's a brilliant car and still puts a smile on my face after I get out of wifeys A4 Avant. The engine is epic in a very small and unassuming body-shell. However, I've just hit 94k miles and getting too friendly with AA recovery over the past 5 months, it's time to move on.
The A4 does family duties, however on occasions and emergencies I need 4 seats for my sons. So my idea of a 987 boxster or cayman was out (I'm not brave enough to run a 997.1).
With a budget of 18-19k, I thought the M235i would be the obvious choice. However after a test drive last weekend, I was left rather cold, it felt massively fast and the additional tech and connectivity was great, but I wasn't really excited about it.
So, any suggestions? 4 seats, no slower than the 130i and fuel isn't an issue but with a son that's transfusion dependant, reliability is top of the agenda.
TIA
I've owned my 130i LE for 6 years next month. It's a brilliant car and still puts a smile on my face after I get out of wifeys A4 Avant. The engine is epic in a very small and unassuming body-shell. However, I've just hit 94k miles and getting too friendly with AA recovery over the past 5 months, it's time to move on.
The A4 does family duties, however on occasions and emergencies I need 4 seats for my sons. So my idea of a 987 boxster or cayman was out (I'm not brave enough to run a 997.1).
With a budget of 18-19k, I thought the M235i would be the obvious choice. However after a test drive last weekend, I was left rather cold, it felt massively fast and the additional tech and connectivity was great, but I wasn't really excited about it.
So, any suggestions? 4 seats, no slower than the 130i and fuel isn't an issue but with a son that's transfusion dependant, reliability is top of the agenda.
TIA
For me it was this which I still have a E92 330i
It is a very reliable car unless you try to see if it can swim and take out the EPS. Engine was fine.
2 x Shocks and 2 x springs over the near 5 years I have had her but then this is Bristol and to be fair the back lane to my garage looks like beirut.
Not sure a 2 door is practical with kids but that is what I went to from the 130i, oh and I went auto as well but only drive with flappy paddles.
It is a very reliable car unless you try to see if it can swim and take out the EPS. Engine was fine.
2 x Shocks and 2 x springs over the near 5 years I have had her but then this is Bristol and to be fair the back lane to my garage looks like beirut.
Not sure a 2 door is practical with kids but that is what I went to from the 130i, oh and I went auto as well but only drive with flappy paddles.
Edited by Allanv on Friday 14th February 18:37
E92 M3 for me. We have a 335i Touring as a family car, but this feel way more special. Part of me thinks I should have found an E90 as extra pair of doors would be convenient sometimes.
That said we did a weeks holiday in Cornwall and it wasn't too much of a pain with the addition of a roof box for the pushchair and muddy stuff. My 5 year old is no issue as he can climb in and do up his own seatbelt. My 2 year old is still a bit of a pain to get in, but that should only be an issue for a year or so.
These are a massive bargain at the moment and you'd find a nice one for 18k.
That said we did a weeks holiday in Cornwall and it wasn't too much of a pain with the addition of a roof box for the pushchair and muddy stuff. My 5 year old is no issue as he can climb in and do up his own seatbelt. My 2 year old is still a bit of a pain to get in, but that should only be an issue for a year or so.
These are a massive bargain at the moment and you'd find a nice one for 18k.
I'm sorry to hear your 130i isn't behaving. 
I really wanted one of those as a daily, but couldn't find one in budget so I've ended up with an E90 330i on 112K miles that has been great for the last year.
To go with my Z4M Coupe for high days and holidays, and your budget would have easily covered both.
I really wanted one of those as a daily, but couldn't find one in budget so I've ended up with an E90 330i on 112K miles that has been great for the last year.
To go with my Z4M Coupe for high days and holidays, and your budget would have easily covered both.
Had my old 130i for 8 years, did 120k miles in it and absolutely loved it, favourite car of all those I’ve owned.
Natural replacement would have been the M135i/M140i, I test drove a few but like you they left me cold. I was stuck, the only car I tried that i enjoyed and felt like a step on was a GTI Clubsport Edition 40 but they were out of budget.
However, the first few M135i’s I drove were auto - I finally found a manual to try and in less than 5 minutes I knew I’d found my next car.
6 months into ownership and although I still miss the 130, I have absolutely no regrets about changing. I have fitted Bilstein B12 suspension to cure the well documented wayward rear end and an M Performance Exhaust (did very similar work on the 130).
I’d urge you to try a manual M123/235i if you can find one, so glad I did.
Natural replacement would have been the M135i/M140i, I test drove a few but like you they left me cold. I was stuck, the only car I tried that i enjoyed and felt like a step on was a GTI Clubsport Edition 40 but they were out of budget.
However, the first few M135i’s I drove were auto - I finally found a manual to try and in less than 5 minutes I knew I’d found my next car.
6 months into ownership and although I still miss the 130, I have absolutely no regrets about changing. I have fitted Bilstein B12 suspension to cure the well documented wayward rear end and an M Performance Exhaust (did very similar work on the 130).
I’d urge you to try a manual M123/235i if you can find one, so glad I did.
swanny71 said:
Had my old 130i for 8 years, did 120k miles in it and absolutely loved it, favourite car of all those I’ve owned.
Natural replacement would have been the M135i/M140i, I test drove a few but like you they left me cold. I was stuck, the only car I tried that i enjoyed and felt like a step on was a GTI Clubsport Edition 40 but they were out of budget.
However, the first few M135i’s I drove were auto - I finally found a manual to try and in less than 5 minutes I knew I’d found my next car.
6 months into ownership and although I still miss the 130, I have absolutely no regrets about changing. I have fitted Bilstein B12 suspension to cure the well documented wayward rear end and an M Performance Exhaust (did very similar work on the 130).
I’d urge you to try a manual M123/235i if you can find one, so glad I did.
I think you maybe right, it still ticks all the boxes for me and I drove the ZF because I thought it would work better as a package... but the additional lack on engagement could be it. Will try and seek out a manual next week. Natural replacement would have been the M135i/M140i, I test drove a few but like you they left me cold. I was stuck, the only car I tried that i enjoyed and felt like a step on was a GTI Clubsport Edition 40 but they were out of budget.
However, the first few M135i’s I drove were auto - I finally found a manual to try and in less than 5 minutes I knew I’d found my next car.
6 months into ownership and although I still miss the 130, I have absolutely no regrets about changing. I have fitted Bilstein B12 suspension to cure the well documented wayward rear end and an M Performance Exhaust (did very similar work on the 130).
I’d urge you to try a manual M123/235i if you can find one, so glad I did.
MikeM6 said:
Not the most practical, but if you want something more analogue (ish) and a step up from the 130i, how about a e63 650i?
Cheap enough so you can be picky and have loads spare at your budget, or look at an F12 650i?
I really like them... my wife say's it will age me 10 years getting one though Cheap enough so you can be picky and have loads spare at your budget, or look at an F12 650i?
I’d be interested to see where this ends up.
Having bought a 130i on a whim last August for a Euro trip/trackday hoon, I have been totally amazed at the little car. Best value car by a mile.
RWD. Manual, front engined and naturally aspirated...ticks so many boxes.
Enjoy the hunt OP and let us know what you end up with
Having bought a 130i on a whim last August for a Euro trip/trackday hoon, I have been totally amazed at the little car. Best value car by a mile.
RWD. Manual, front engined and naturally aspirated...ticks so many boxes.
Enjoy the hunt OP and let us know what you end up with
So far I've tested:
Manual M135i LCI - Which was great! Much more engaging than the ZF M235i. But I didn't realise parking sensors hadn't been ticked on this one... which even on a small car, is a deal breaker for me.
MK 7 Golf R - Expecting to hate it, it surprised me, really liked it... (apart from the fake cabin engine noise thing). Felt a big step up in thrust and very surefooted. Salesman said he had another interested party, I assumed it was BS and left thinking I could get a deal the following day... it was gone in the morning. Doh.
MK 7 GTI PP DSG - After the R, I thought I would give a GTI a go around the corner from me. Again, really enjoyed it and it was on local roads, so had a good feel and comparison to the 130i. Much more supple ride and a surprising amount of pace for "only" 227bhp. I haven't driven a powerful FWD car before and it kept doing that horrible axle tramp thing. I assume this was a mix of DSG and junctions and just needing to learn when to feed in the power. I'm interested to try a manual GTI too, I think it may suit the car better.
The search continues, but I think with sensible head on that I'm looking for a 5 door hatch over my original plan of a coupe. Just for practicality with 2 kids a dog and the occasional need to carry a road bike.
On another note, the 130i hasn't had much love at PX. Bids between £500 - £1,500. Which is sad, because it's worth so much more than that to me. I have also been considering getting all the jobs done and sticking with it a little longer...
Manual M135i LCI - Which was great! Much more engaging than the ZF M235i. But I didn't realise parking sensors hadn't been ticked on this one... which even on a small car, is a deal breaker for me.
MK 7 Golf R - Expecting to hate it, it surprised me, really liked it... (apart from the fake cabin engine noise thing). Felt a big step up in thrust and very surefooted. Salesman said he had another interested party, I assumed it was BS and left thinking I could get a deal the following day... it was gone in the morning. Doh.
MK 7 GTI PP DSG - After the R, I thought I would give a GTI a go around the corner from me. Again, really enjoyed it and it was on local roads, so had a good feel and comparison to the 130i. Much more supple ride and a surprising amount of pace for "only" 227bhp. I haven't driven a powerful FWD car before and it kept doing that horrible axle tramp thing. I assume this was a mix of DSG and junctions and just needing to learn when to feed in the power. I'm interested to try a manual GTI too, I think it may suit the car better.
The search continues, but I think with sensible head on that I'm looking for a 5 door hatch over my original plan of a coupe. Just for practicality with 2 kids a dog and the occasional need to carry a road bike.
On another note, the 130i hasn't had much love at PX. Bids between £500 - £1,500. Which is sad, because it's worth so much more than that to me. I have also been considering getting all the jobs done and sticking with it a little longer...
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