130i........doesn't feel as fast as it should?
Discussion
hi all
I was thinking about a 130i as my next "fun car"
stats look spot on 265 bhp, RWD, small car etc but I test drove a couple and they just don't feel very fast!?
I am comparing to my old Subaru wrx which was similar weight and had about similar power but felt a huge amount faster. I also drove my friends 135i which is meant to have 310 bhp but feels like it has Wayyyyy more than an extra 45bhp! (the 135i is amazing just out of my budget!)
sounded good just didnt' feel like a fast car!
Am I going mad or do these come in a little under 265 on power?
I might look at a 123d with a remap now as I dont' know if the 130i will be worth it in terms of excitement to cost ratio!
Cheers Paul
I was thinking about a 130i as my next "fun car"
stats look spot on 265 bhp, RWD, small car etc but I test drove a couple and they just don't feel very fast!?
I am comparing to my old Subaru wrx which was similar weight and had about similar power but felt a huge amount faster. I also drove my friends 135i which is meant to have 310 bhp but feels like it has Wayyyyy more than an extra 45bhp! (the 135i is amazing just out of my budget!)
sounded good just didnt' feel like a fast car!
Am I going mad or do these come in a little under 265 on power?
I might look at a 123d with a remap now as I dont' know if the 130i will be worth it in terms of excitement to cost ratio!
Cheers Paul
Dannbodge said:
You do realise that the M135i has peak torque at around 1500rpm and flatlines all the way 5krpm.
For a N/A 6pot they are pretty quick.
The 135i has an incredible engine which seems to do it all ! For a N/A 6pot they are pretty quick.
Maybe I was expecting too much from be 130i! Steering seems nice but ride is harsh but I imagi be this is sorted by non run flat tyres.
Does it have to be run on super or do people use normal petrol ?
rm163603 said:
I used to run a 130i and now have an N54 powered 135i.
To be honest I don't think the 135i feels that much quicker. It's torquier for sure but the price you pay is inferior throttle response and it lacks that rush for the redline feeling you get with the N/A engine.
My 130i was remapped to around 280 so maybe that helped but even before the remap it felt quick enough.
It's a cracking car the 130i and with a few easy mods (m3 bits mainly) to the suspension can be made even better.
Another plus for the 130 is that it's less concerning reliability wise. in almost 100K of driving by myself and my freind who bought it from me the only thing that ever went wrong was the DSC pump. The engine was 100% reliable.
yeah the reliability of that engine does appeal, one of the reasons I was looking at it! To be honest I don't think the 135i feels that much quicker. It's torquier for sure but the price you pay is inferior throttle response and it lacks that rush for the redline feeling you get with the N/A engine.
My 130i was remapped to around 280 so maybe that helped but even before the remap it felt quick enough.
It's a cracking car the 130i and with a few easy mods (m3 bits mainly) to the suspension can be made even better.
Another plus for the 130 is that it's less concerning reliability wise. in almost 100K of driving by myself and my freind who bought it from me the only thing that ever went wrong was the DSC pump. The engine was 100% reliable.
does sound good to!
Maybe I just need to go out in one being driven a little harder!!
Cheers Paul
Glad it wasn't just me thinking the ride was really bad as standard!
The way M135i prices are going it won't be long before they come into my rice range so maybe the 130i as a stop gap and see how it goes!
123d at 280bhp sounds good!
but the straight 6 noise is probably worth the extra cash!
P
The way M135i prices are going it won't be long before they come into my rice range so maybe the 130i as a stop gap and see how it goes!
123d at 280bhp sounds good!
but the straight 6 noise is probably worth the extra cash!
P
Maybe I am addicted to boost! Ha ha ! Also drove my friends 335i a while back and that was good just sold my supercharged mx5 and have a forester XT as the current car. I have had powerful NA engined cars before but in very light weight cars (westfield/caterham) so very hard to compare!
Never had a bmw thou so maybe time to try!
Wonder if I will be let out of side turnings !
Never had a bmw thou so maybe time to try!
Wonder if I will be let out of side turnings !
As an update I drove my friends MK 5 GTI tonight. It has a stage 1 remap to about 255 bhp, uprated suspension, performance exhaust, 18 inch wheels and S3 brakes! I had previously discounted GTI's as I didn't want front wheel drive but it has a lot going for it! the torque from the engine was amazing and it felt very fast (way faster than the 130i and nearly as fast as my mapped WRX) and the ride was very very good (so much better than M sport!), steering was great and handling really good! Also he has got 44 mpg from it on a steady run!!!!
back to the drawing board I think!
Cheers Paul
back to the drawing board I think!
Cheers Paul
Smuler said:
I'd get the M135i as it is the "next level" of performance and from what I've read here the outright performance is important to you.
I drove one back in 2013 on an "event day" and sound and performance I really liked. I was less impressed with the steering feel tho, so there's an argument that if you could manage a coupe that the 135i coupe might be the true best of both worlds scenarios.
Here's some comments on the 130 to M135 experience
http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41931
Cheers! Very useful. I think the appeal of the turbo cars is the low down torque for overtaking rather than overall outright performance. I drove one back in 2013 on an "event day" and sound and performance I really liked. I was less impressed with the steering feel tho, so there's an argument that if you could manage a coupe that the 135i coupe might be the true best of both worlds scenarios.
Here's some comments on the 130 to M135 experience
http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41931
I am very tempted to just blow the lot and get the 135i! It was the only car I have driven in a while that I got out of buzzing!
What's the depreciation on these going to be like from now on? They have lost a lot in the last 3 years but I imagine they might slow down now? Maybe 1k a year loss?
selym said:
Sounds like a) the 130i isn't for you and b) if the Golf is way faster than the 130i but not as fast as your WRX then you own an exocet.
I don't have the wrx anymore I have a forester xt right now (230 bhp) which feels pretty slow (compared to the others) and handles like boat. I think the common theam with the wrx and the golf is that they are bother remapped so maybe the otomised map is what makes the differnce! The wrx without the map was average but it flew after it! The appeal of the M135i is also that it will go to 370 ish bhp on a stage 1 map! Although I don't know if it needs any more power but mapped cars do seem to drive a lot better! The golf's remapped engine is a marvel compared to standard
rm163603 said:
You should try them as the three cars you mention are pretty different.
I've owned all three.
The most fun car was probably the 130 although mine did have quite a few mods like the LSD and M3 suspension bits. The throttle response was better than the turbo cars by miles which makes sliding it out of roundabouts etc much much easier and more satisfying.
The M135i was quick and refined and felt bigger than the 130 or 135i. The ride is miles better. It's not nearly so easy to slide around though. The Auto box is superb though .
The 135i coupe is much firmer riding compared to the M135i but not as hard as the 130. Again it feels smaller than the M135i. Performance wise my 135i coupe is standard but doesn't feel as quick as the m135i especially with the 8 speed auto which really cracks through the gears.
Comparing with anything VAG all three have much more options in the handling department. They may not be quicker or even corner as hard but they are more interesting to drive and better balanced and the 6 cylinders make a (albeit quiet!) nicer noise.
I think an R32 would be quite a good compromise? Not massively quick though.
the coupe is out as I need a hatch for space/ kit/ baby/ bikes. also i hear there can be problems with that version of the engine? I've owned all three.
The most fun car was probably the 130 although mine did have quite a few mods like the LSD and M3 suspension bits. The throttle response was better than the turbo cars by miles which makes sliding it out of roundabouts etc much much easier and more satisfying.
The M135i was quick and refined and felt bigger than the 130 or 135i. The ride is miles better. It's not nearly so easy to slide around though. The Auto box is superb though .
The 135i coupe is much firmer riding compared to the M135i but not as hard as the 130. Again it feels smaller than the M135i. Performance wise my 135i coupe is standard but doesn't feel as quick as the m135i especially with the 8 speed auto which really cracks through the gears.
Comparing with anything VAG all three have much more options in the handling department. They may not be quicker or even corner as hard but they are more interesting to drive and better balanced and the 6 cylinders make a (albeit quiet!) nicer noise.
I think an R32 would be quite a good compromise? Not massively quick though.
R32 i have never been in one so worth a look but currently put off by high tax and worse mpg. like the 4 wheels drive thou so maybe it would be worth it!
If i can make the numbers work on the M135i then I will go for that!
anybody have any opinions on expected depreciation over the next couple of years? will the bottom out? (i know it sort of guesswork!)
Cheers Paul
Cheers Paul
rm163603 said:
The N52 (the 130 engine) is definitely more reliable than the N54 (twin turbo 135i coupe) engine.
No turbos and no high pressure fuel pump to go wrong.
Depreciation wise that's a bit of a crap shoot to be honest! Who knows.
If the 135i coupe is anything to go by though the values have been pretty strong although there were a lot of M135is taken on lease deals 2/3 years ago so you may find a lot of them come to the market at once.
There seems to be quite a lot of them out there around 16K which seems quite reasonable. I'm guessing they will drop down to around 10K in the next few years and then probably drop very slowly from there.
the car I am looking at is a black 2012 3 door manual with heated seats sat nav etc. very low miles at 20k and I would only be putting about 7k a year on it so thinking keep it for 2 years I shouldn't lose much as it will still be pretty low miles! No turbos and no high pressure fuel pump to go wrong.
Depreciation wise that's a bit of a crap shoot to be honest! Who knows.
If the 135i coupe is anything to go by though the values have been pretty strong although there were a lot of M135is taken on lease deals 2/3 years ago so you may find a lot of them come to the market at once.
There seems to be quite a lot of them out there around 16K which seems quite reasonable. I'm guessing they will drop down to around 10K in the next few years and then probably drop very slowly from there.
any body know if that is a desirable spec? I prefer a manual but everybody seems to be going for the auto and flappy paddles these days!
aeropilot said:
Given you said you wanted a hatch because of baby stuff etc.,etc......I would be looking for a 5-door M135 not a 3-dr, as you'll soon tire of trying to get the nipper into and out of a baby seat through the door with the seat forward.......!!!
A 5 door could be better but for the price I, ll be paying it is worth the hassle as I have a skoda octavia estate for all the main baby duties (work car) so it wouldnt be our main car. Steering wide I thought it was pretty good! And this is from a guy who has had a caterham! Of course it is not going to be as good as that but compared to my work cars (VAG group) and other cars I have driven (including audi rs4) feels pretty good to me!
So guess's people of value of that spec car in 2 years with 35k on the clock?
Smuler said:
Given that there are some M135is now in the mid to high teens , in a couple of years time , even with low miles, 11k sale price would be my guess assuming good condition; but lower necessary to sell reasonably quickly if there's too many around.
I agree with whoever said they will keep dropping until they hit 10k where they will be such bargains they will be snapped up. Thus demand will eat into supply.
I'm basing this a little on 335i coupe valuations though i believe they were never as popular.
Paul , didn't realise you wanted a hatch in which case the 135i coupe was not a good recommendation.
Bloody hell 2.5 k a year !! I agree with whoever said they will keep dropping until they hit 10k where they will be such bargains they will be snapped up. Thus demand will eat into supply.
I'm basing this a little on 335i coupe valuations though i believe they were never as popular.
Paul , didn't realise you wanted a hatch in which case the 135i coupe was not a good recommendation.
I think I have lose the grand total of about 250 quid in depreciation on my last 4 cars total so this all new to me!
Maybe I should stick to what I know!!
Either that or keep for a little longer to spread the pain a little.
I would weep buying one of these from new!!
gizlaroc said:
Interesting, I just put the reg of that car in WBAC and they are offering £14k for that, which seems more than fair. He is close to you Paul, offer him £14250 for it. That would be a good buy at that price.
yeah that car is near me and pretty much the same spec as my friends apart from black leather instead of red! my friend will do his under that price (basically sell it to me rather than we buy any car!) which is a great deal but if I am going to lose 2k a year then I am going to have to give it a miss!!
seems crazy that a 34k car can be worth so little after 7-8 years with low miles and nothing wrong with it!
many thanks for everybody's help. I think I will look for a Mk 5 GTi edition 30 or a Forester STI (as that is what I wanted originally) as they are pretty much at their bottom price right now and then in 2-3 years maybe grab a M135i when it is at 9-10k!
Cheers Paul
ManaghGB said:
I've had a MK5 GTI as well running 270bhp. Kept it for a 12 months but only because I spent a bit on it and wanted to get my monies worth. It was so dull to drive and felt really heavy. Once you got used to the power, which is around 4 weeks it's just a Golf.
My 130i now is in a different league. The same power but taking it to the red line is far more fun than the shove from a turbo. I don't even need to start on the handling, the GTI wouldn't see which way the 130i went.
even down a bumpy b road? My 130i now is in a different league. The same power but taking it to the red line is far more fun than the shove from a turbo. I don't even need to start on the handling, the GTI wouldn't see which way the 130i went.
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!
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! 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.
do you have a pre facelift bmw?
the BMW steering is very nice!
I know what you mean about getting used to the power
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