NewNiceMrMe Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 Despite the fact that this post may well be met with a plague of derision, I feel I have a 'TSN justice' to post a review on the car I drove today....a BMW 130i M Sport. I won't go into the details as to how this came about but basically the opportunity presented itself and I took it with both hands. The car I drove was in Japan Red with cloth trim. Options were limited on the car as it is doing the rounds for test drive purposes and won't be at any particular dealership for any length of time. First impressions should of course be on the looks of the car. Well I'll start by upsetting everyone and telling them I liked it - a lot. The 130i M Sport sits 20mm lower than the standard car, and in this case it was shod with 18" spoked alloys that give the car a very aggressive stance indeed. The dual tailpipes at the rear are purposeful if somewhat understated in diameter. They do give the first hint that the car has something a bit different under the bonnet though. The front air dam sits deeper and the rear valance is lower and more pronounced than on other Sport models. However, BMW have let themselves down here because the rear valance isn't colour coded. Instead it's a very nasty looking black/grey-ish plastic finish and quite why Munich decided to do this is beyond me. Overall though, first glance lets you know this isn't an ordinary 1-series...but you'd not know what lurks beneath it either. Anyway, on to the interior. Coming from the 645 I have to say everything felt very much in the right place and the finish of the main switchgear was very good indeed. The M Sport benefits from Kodiak silver interior trim (not the normal aluminium style trim) and it looks much better than the crap on other 1 and 3-series of late. The seats are firm, supportive and I didn't take much time getting a decent driving position (although I note that EVO magazine had an issue with this). Starting the engine reveals a distinctive 6-pot burble that wasn't as muted as I thought it might be. Indeed it brought a smile to my face although perhaps not of the width that the 6's V8 did. Just a different type of smile - a more yobbish one perhaps! Engaging first gear was nice and easy and this applies throughout the gear range. In fact the gearchange is absolutely superb. Very short, very sharp, and actually much better than in my first manual M3 Coupe. The length of the throws is well gauged and the precision is faultless. Ok, so how did it go? Well, I'm sorry to tell you it went incredibly impressively! Having driven a 120d Sport before I knew that the handling of the car was very go-kart like. However, it feels very different when powered by a 3-litre engine putting out 265 bhp. Jesus...this little car doesn't half shift!! I'm not sure how best to define the acceleration except to say that whilst I know it's not on par with an M3....that it didn't feel a great deal removed from one. Firstly, the low down grunt of the engine is very evident. Unlike an M3 you don't have to exert the upper half of the revs counter to induce a smile. The power is available much earlier in the range (although you do of course run out of it more quickly) and it's delivered with very smooth traction. Actually, that's a good way of describing the delivery - quick and smooth. First gear didn't feel too 'jerky' and I soon remembered how much fun a RWD hatch with good amounts of power can be. This is when I had flashbacks to my younger days and experiments with various hot hatches. Oh how I would have killed for this amount of power! The car pulls effortlessly on the straights with firm and confident changes through the gears and no apparent gaps in power between any of the cogs. Now though, well I needed to find out what the bundle of fun was really like.....so came to the twisties and roundabouts. Oh wow!!! I can only amply convey the feelings that the car gives as 'exhilerating'. It constantly urges you to push the throttle harder the more corners you give it. With DSC off I managed to get a salesman into a state of uncontrollable laughter as he reminded me of the fact he had a wife at home. However, it was genuine laughter - because the car is an absolute joy in the bends and it endows its driver with so much confidence that you just don't want to get back onto straights - and you certainly don't want to hit the middle pedal. I've decided that where corners are concerned the 130i M Sport only has a brake pedal for absolute emergencies. The rest of the time it manages to get by on gentle prods of the far right pedal, only occasionally interrupted by lightening of pressure and twitching of the wheel as you feel the back end remind you that you don't want to be facing in the wrong direction! I was also surprised with just how well suited the car was to a more sedate driving style. Jekyll and Hyde it might not be, but it was certainly at home at 1/4 throttle. So it's a super-fun, super-handling, surprisingly-swift and generally perfect upper-echelon hot hatch then? Well, ermm, no, it's not. See, the one thing I knew from previous reviews was that it's suspension had been criticised. So, armed with this prior knowledge, I sought to quell it. Unfortunately, it's impossible. The car is very hard riding indeed. EVO might point to the 18" wheels and the run-flat tyres. EVO might be right. However, I don't think changing the tyres would alter it too dramatically. The car seems to want to hurdle pebbles rather than ride them. When it can't take off over them it decides to thrust itself upon them with what seems like 10G. This doesn't necessarily mean it is any more incomfortable for a driver than, say, an M3 Coupe. However, it does make the car a hell of a lot more difficult to keep within the white lines of a narrow country lane......and I wasn't even on such narrow roads! I wasn't on good roads when it demonstrated this glaring feature, and it might be something a driver becomes accustomed to, but I still felt it enough to know that the price of such incredible fun was incredibly jumpy positioning on the road. In summary it's a utterly superb car and as a fun weekend car I could see it being a very serious contender. Indeed maybe that's where it's qualities lay - weekend out and out fun use. Could I use it every day though? Jesus no - it'd be the equivalent of having your arse dragged down 100 stairs every few minutes....and then just as you re-focussed your vision.....off you go down the stairs again! If smiles on a Sunday are your aim - then it's up there with the best of them, without doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 Sounds like a cracking car MrMe. Whether people approve or disapprove of a 1-series is irrelevant if your sitting behind the wheel and it can put a big smile on your face I'm sure it will look lovely on the drive alongside the 645. I knew the Audi wouldn't last long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I knew the Audi wouldn't last long [/ QUOTE ] Very good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Great review. Just wondered, have you driven a new R32 for comparison? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallachie Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Good review, I've driven a 120d and I loved it. One thing I would say though, very few people have the cash to buy a £30k hatch as a weekend car, so come on MrMe - get with reality here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Sounds like its yet another car that has been 'Honed at the Ring' but doesn't quite work so well as an everyday car for todays roads. As some of the motoring journalists are starting to comment on, a race track isn't always the best place to make the handling of a car work for the real world. Maybe thats why people like Audi are doing more work in the UK to get things right in addition to a bit of circuit work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Great review. Just wondered, have you driven a new R32 for comparison? [/ QUOTE ] I haven't and it is quite obviously in direct competition with the 130i M Sport, and looks attractive at the price. However, there is one thing about the R32 that even EVO point out is a positive point that turns into a negative - and that's it's 4WD supremacy. The 130i offers it's go-kart like fun on the basis of RWD in a small chassis - and it makes for a fire-cracking experience. I'd see the R32 as a more capable every day car. The build of the 1-series has been lauded by a number of magazines too. They are quick to point out that the R32 build is excellent - but that the 1-series still shows it's BMW hallmark no matter how much crap others might throw at it. I'd have to say I think, having seen TP27's pictures and had some thoughts from MkVGTi, that I think the R32 probably represents better value for money though. The two cars would be nigh on inseperable on a straight road and the R32 would leave the 130i in the twisties - but as an out and out fun car I'm not sure which I'd prefer (and can't really say so having not driven an R32). EVO have adjudged the 130i M Sport as better than the R32 is two different types of road tests now, and I'll be the first to say I was suprised. However, it says a lot about just what a cracking car it is. Trust me - it sets your pants alight and doesn't attempt to put the flames out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Top review Chris, I have a chance to play in one for a weekend as a mate of mine is a BMW salesman and he has a demo one so I will definitely take him up on it just to see how it compares with the R32. I cant get my head round the looks though, but as you say it sounds the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 I'd be interested to hear what you think Dom, especially as someone who would be able to directly compare it to the new R32. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I'd be interested to hear what you think Dom, especially as someone who would be able to directly compare it to the new R32. [/ QUOTE ] Will report back. I know it is going to be a good fun drive but I couldn't live with the looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 Here are a few pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallachie Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 I've booked a test drive in one with the local dealer on Saturday afternoon, quite looking forward to it. Looking into lease plan/pcp with BMW, to make best use of my company allowance. Will post a few pics on Sunday/Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Here are a few pictures. [/ QUOTE ] It still looks like a crap breadvan. Each to their own of course, but people buying ugly cars encourages manufacturers to make even more ugly cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 I know most people think it's an ugly motor, but it's a car and a shape that is really growing on me. The more of them I see, the more I like them. In Japan Red the car looks very aggressive too, much more so than in the pictures above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I know most people think it's an ugly motor, but it's a car and a shape that is really growing on me. The more of them I see, the more I like them. [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] It still looks like a crap breadvan. [/ QUOTE ] When I see one I just think comedy BMW or Clown car. I mean how can you take anyone seriously driving a joke BMW Sorry but 3 ltr or not that's what I think......... BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] In Japan Red the car looks very aggressive too, much more so than in the pictures above. [/ QUOTE ] I agree, I like the look of S9KSY's car on babybmw.net, it is the 120d with the aero kit and looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted December 7, 2005 Report Share Posted December 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [/ QUOTE ] Is that an official BMW bodykit? Looks even better than the M Sport from the front although not so sure about the rear bumper.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Yeah that is the official Aero kit. I actually prefer the rear to the front on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Chris have you taken out a BMW Mini Cooper S? Handling on the 17" with run flats is also very very hard, just wondering if they are on par of if the 1 series is worse / better for it. I know that by changing from run flats on the mini does make a big difference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Yes I've driven a Cooper S Works actually (John Cooper Works, that is) and I loved the car. Mini's really do appeal to me - but the 1-series was a lot more jumpy than the Mini, without question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ritey Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Yikes, well there would be hope in changing the tyres then, because it does make a difference, all depends on how much though if its a lot more jumpy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 x 1000 Edit - not really needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted December 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 I think he has some issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 guess he only has 1 thing on his mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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