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Minor upgrade to the center console, got sick of cables dingle-dangling all over the show. I have the Grom USB and BT car kit, with a mag-connect USB cable. Replaced the little coin tray with one that can hold the flash drive and phone as well as the coins. Just flick the cable over to the phone when it needs a charge. Works good apart from the 3d printed bits warping in the sun, and being a bit sh*t on the eyeballs; but you have to piss with the cock you got, right!

Im back in a BMW now after a long stint in a mini.

272000km oil change (do them every 7000km) and BMW brake pad paste on the front sway bushings (as per Kevin Birds recommendation)

Feel free to start 135i N54/5 threads if that's your thing. A lot of us prefer the 130i though. It's a bmw, isn't that what we're here for?

I think I read that article. Did it include the 335ci? My problem with the 1 series hatch is having to look at it every day.

Hi folks, I own a 1992 525i (E34) Touring for 27 years. Recently it has been leaking a lot of oil from the rear self-leveling suspension. Can anyone recommend a good, honest, good priced place to get it fixed cause I am on a tight budget and can't go to a dealer! I also have a rear trunk door lock that no longer works would love to get that fixed too. I am based on the North Shore in Auckland. Thanks heaps and look forward to your advice and replies

Looking for new or used IS style or genuine lip

Well, the consensus opinion of owners, observers and journos alike is that they're quite underrated. Doesn't mean everyone has to like them though. ?

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/e30-bmw-325i-sport-sells-for-51k-because-the-world-has-lost-its-mind/

https://www.bimmermilvs.com/

The black on black ‘murdered out’ look imo lacks contrast. The bbs wheels in shadow chrome or bronze I reckon would look a lot better.

Can't go wrong with AutoTopNL. Skip to 6 minutes for driving.

We get it, you dont like them, no one is forcing you to buy one, or to post/view this thread. Leave it alone. I have driven a few 130s, and have owned two 3.0 M3s, and the 130i is a more dynamic engine. Doesnt love to rev as much as an S50, but has a lot more down low torque and pulls hard. Its a better engine to live with and more useable power on the back roads without getting too far into trouble. I still want to own a manual 130i. A compact RWD manual hatch with a big engine and decent build quality (far better than any E36/E46) is a nice simple formula for fun.

debatable... https://www.bmw.co.nz/en/all-models/2-series/activetourer/2020/bmw-2-series-active-tourer-highlights.html

No, I haven't but seeing your recent post in the other thread made me think I should do so. I'm about to go out and play with Carly, let's see if I can configure Torque for a timed run.

Surely you'd bet on that being a mistake. BMW NZ and their dealer network are complete rip-offs yes, but I'm sure $13k for a headliner can't be right.

Amazing write up thank you. I am just tidying up the windows in the M# and realised that my handles still work but are missing the little bush in th elever rod. So preusmably the handles will eventually have issues as above. It mentions above they are replaceable, does that mean the little plastic bush for the rod to sit in is availabel as a part?

Cant agree with this.. 130i hatch is waaaaay quicker than a 328i e36 (or e46) and the hatchback boot is miles better than a coupe. also a 118/130 comparison is like a 318 vs 330 e46 or e36 m3.

A 118 you mean? A 130 is barely any slower than an E36 3.2 M3, plenty of videos on line of 130s nipping at the heels of E46 M3s!

Sit in the front

I agree with Kyu, they're fine but nothing special. We've seen manuals go recently for a lot less that that... you'd save money flying out of town to get one then driving it back. I wouldn't pay more than about $12-$13k max for a stock manual minter now and I'd want to pay a lot less than $13k tbh. As for the recent noise around 130's @Herbmiester, @Palazzo - I think the recent uptick in Bimmersport owners is a significant contributor and across a number of us we have some nice examples which stimulates some discussion. I also agree with everything @Jacko says and I'll draw a parallel to the e36... This is BMW's modern e36 and once 6 cylinder e36's became available to the masses they rapidly became popular because they were the ideal execution of BMW engineering for their era... IMHO BMW have drifted a long way from that engineering essence and the 130 gives us a glimpse of the past wrapped in (semi) modern tech. I don't consider boosted cars a suitable comparison, the driving experience is entirely different. And really, if mine has anywhere near the claimed 280hp with a 3.64 diff I certainly wouldn't want any more power for a daily. And the 6 speed auto is a dream. If they came with proper suspension and an LSD out of the box (expensive I realise) then I suspect there would be even more chatter!

CCV systems commonly sh*t emselves, and its a very different system between black and silver top N52s. I actually think failed CCVs kill DISA valves by soaking them in engine oil, the ones in my car are original and look new (at 270,000km+). There are aftermarket DISA valves which are cheap, or they can be rebuilt too, both are a couple of hundy max. To replace both vanos solenoids is 2 bolts, 5 minutes, and about $200, and provided you regularly change the oil will last forever. Valvetronic, for such an oddball idea, is relatively problem free, other than gasket failures (which come with the rocker cover gasket kit) Waterpumps and thermostats go, but its primarily at random rather than xxx km, normally they will both throw random canbus errors a few weeks before actually failing. Gets way overhyped as a big expensive job, its 4 hours work and with some shopping around $500ish in parts.

That's my experience, valve cover (easy), engine sump (expensive), trans sump (also expensive). The VANOS will need some attention at some stage but it's not terribly difficult/expensive from what I read. DISA valve... BMW will quote you over $2000 to replace it. ? I understand you can remove and clean it yourself.

RWD hatch, (pretty much in a class of its own), relatively light, brilliant engine, fun if flawed chassis that can be easily fixed, manual gearboxes can be had and available for peanuts at the moment. N52 is far better engine than N54 in every aspect other than power output, and comparing penis dyno sizes, and how often do you get to use more than 200kw on the road anyway? Got a link to that, if you look at zeperfs, 130 is faster than MPS (and way faster than Mx5) around all the tracks they list. I dont understand why E36s get so much attention... slow, unreliable, uninspired things.... if they werent so unreliable they couldve come out of any of the generic japanese 90s manufacturers

woops, i bought the other one. the smooth v6..

So all of that is done... tensioner was nowhere near as bad as @adro's or @BozzaFC's - but the new one is better and it looks like the rattle on startup is gone - will check again in the morning. Here's the other stuff... The brake fluid was *very dark* so that's been changed and perhaps wasn't helping the ABS... we'll see what happens re the ABS. Looking at my records, fluid condition was checked March last year but hasn't been replaced since Sep 2017 - about 20,000KMs ago. Rear door cards reattached ;one of them was annoyingly loose since the regulator was replaced a couple? of years ago LF window checked glass seal lubed (had been creaking when raising the window) VTNZ WoF picked up issue with the rear lights ? incorrect bulb holders fitted, burnt contacts on both lamps - so 5 bulb holders plus 4 bulbs installed ? My rear light units were some ex-4.6is units i bought for $150 when I got the vehicle back in 2016 - as one of the originals was cracked. Jon has recommended I pick up some replacement rear light units to replace the replacements! There was an E38 728i there that has had a terribly hard life ... can't believe the treatment that such a beautiful vehicle can get. Basically every panel and both wing mirrors smashed Can't save em all I suppose...

Thanks your for advice Andrew! I've been to Ernst and his team at Bavarian before! Going to bring my car in next week! I think Ernst's has replaced his suspension on his own suspension to standard struts - might be a good long term option cause its been giving me lots of trouble!

Try Bavarian motors, on the shore and the owner had / has one of these as a daily. Note, fixing the SLS will be expensive, most people end up swapping it for standard struts and springs.

Doesnt look like it.