BMW 130i M Sport

[scooby_simon]

The R32 configurator is here

Peter (Welcome to Tyresmoke BTW), I assume you can get the BMW one up PDQ; I've not used that one.

[danksy]

MrMe if BMW withdrew lending TG their cars, I think it would play into their hands!

Imagine the stick they would get?

At the end of the day they would blag one, or hire one to road test it, as well as making a big issue about how BMW had reacted.

JC virtually killed off the Vectra single handedly (although Vauxhall were partly to blame for making a poo car )

However Vauxhall have produced some cars which Clarkson and TG have reported back on (The VXR range in particular).

Although the 1 series is £4k more to buy, I would hazard a guess that lease plan prices could be similar to the R32 due to potentially stronger residuals.

[NewNiceMrMe]

Dansky, I agree, I'm certainly not condoning it if it's true.

Besides, even though I think he's a twat, Mr Clarkson has just bought an M5 so I suspect they'd think long and hard about it!

[danksy]

Agreed

[NewNiceMrMe]

Hang on a minute, hang on a minute....

What did they test last night?

I think there is something wrong.

Was it a BMW 130i SE with an M Sport kit.

OR

Was it a BMW 130i M Sport?

Because there are significant differences and the fact he said they'd pay £1,700 for the M Sport kit has just hit me. He must surely have tested a 130i SE?

[peterh]

Thanks for the welcomes I’m not trying to provoke an argument just discussing the differences in price highlighted on the Top Gear show my comments are not meant to cause offence.

I have had a quick play with both configurators and tried to keep the specification of both cars as similar as possible:

BMW 130i SE

Metallic

Leather

Auto Dim Mirror

Cruise Control

Professional Navigation System

Bluetooth Phone

Grad Tint Windscreen

Xenon’s / Washers

£29,265

VW R32

5 Door

Metallic

Leather

Auto Dim Mirror + Elec Fold

Navigation System

Telephone Prep

Cruise Control

£28,745

I have looked in a reasonable amount of detail to ensure both cars have very similar equipment, if I have missed anything please let me know.

It seems the difference in price is just £520.

[ian_m]

Its ok, I'm not trying to offend either I would certainly prefer the R32 and would even pay more for it! But its all down to personal choice!

[Scotty]

The Golf he has was a 3 door. I wonder if that added to the difference?

[peterh]

audi_smitten : without driving one I can’t say for sure what I would go for but an R32 with the DSG does look rather nice on paper!

Having seen both cars in the flesh I didn’t think that the golf any more rear legroom like Clarkson indicated apart from the space for the middle rear passenger if traveling 5 up. He also left a false impression that they golf had a bigger boot. According to TopGear magazine: Golf 245 litres; 1-Series 330 litres. In fact it's 25% smaller, or taken the other way round, the 1-Series's boot is nearly 35% larger than the Golf!

I do appreciate that the show is more for entertainment than serious reviews these days but surely they should at least be honest with the facts?

[ian_m]

It wouldnt bother me, I will NEVER drive a 1 series, even if they bring them in at work

[P_G]

[ QUOTE ]

The Golf he has was a 3 door. I wonder if that added to the difference?

[/ QUOTE ]

The difference between the normal 3 door and the five door DSG is about a couple of grand if I remember rightly, so yes I would think 2 extra doors will knock the difference to about £1K . Then there was the M-sport Kit which I imagine most would wnat to make it stand out from the other 1 series whcih is another £1K whereas the cosmetics are free on the R32.

So there is £2K for a start.

Thing that gets me is that for another £6K you'd get an S4. Need I say more (it's rhetorical!)?

[ChrisBuer]

I decided on the R32 over the 130i for the following personal reasons:

1. The R32 sounds better

2. I prefer the way the R32 looks.

3. I wanted a car that I could enjoy in all weather. RWD in the rain (been there done that) is not as fun as having the stability of 4WD IMHO.

Like everyone keeps saying, it IS down to personal preference. The BMW is a lovely car, but I feel that the Golf can offer so much more enjoyment for me personally.

I’d certainly never judge anyone for choosing one over the Golf…everyone has their reasons for their choice

[scotw]

Hmm those figures for the boot are wrong, its 350 for the R32, 330 for the BMW, so there's not much in it. I have test driven the 1 series and the rear room is not good and access is horrible with a very high sill. IMHO its for children only, adults won't be comfortable in the back of a 1.

[peterh]

Scott_W : I think the boot space for the R32 may be less than that in your GTI due to the Quattro system. Either that or Top Gear magazine is as good with figures as the TV show

[NewNiceMrMe]

Peter, those boot sizes are definately wrong. They're certainly 330 for the 130i and 350 for the GTi/R32.

[Ari]

[ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the welcomes I’m not trying to provoke an argument just discussing the differences in price highlighted on the Top Gear show my comments are not meant to cause offence.

I have had a quick play with both configurators and tried to keep the specification of both cars as similar as possible:

BMW 130i SE

Metallic

Leather

Auto Dim Mirror

Cruise Control

Professional Navigation System

Bluetooth Phone

Grad Tint Windscreen

Xenon’s / Washers

£29,265

VW R32

5 Door

Metallic

Leather

Auto Dim Mirror + Elec Fold

Navigation System

Telephone Prep

Cruise Control

£28,745

I have looked in a reasonable amount of detail to ensure both cars have very similar equipment, if I have missed anything please let me know.

It seems the difference in price is just £520.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pretty sure the 1 Series on TG had the M-sport package. I guess thats quite expensive, guessing over £2K? JC was talking specifically about that car and the price it reached specced up.

Also the 5 door and DSG adds quite a bit to the R32, much cheaper without these things (although to be fair the 1 Series is 5 door so I guess for a fair comparison you should use the 5 door Golf).

As to room in the back ,well he sat in both, you could see the difference for yourself. I'm assuming he had the front seat where he'd need it to drive (he's pretty tall) and thats what was left.

[NewNiceMrMe]

[ QUOTE ]

Pretty sure the 1 Series on TG had the M-sport package. I guess thats quite expensive, guessing over £2K? JC was talking specifically about that car and the price it reached specced up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ari, you're right....but that's not the same.

Adding an M Sport package to a 130i SE does not give you a 130i M Sport....as strange as it may sound.

That's the main reason I think the test was hugely flawed.

[fjfr]

I went to the BMW garage the other day to look at a 130i (which had a roofbox on ) and the rear space is definatly less than in my S3.

Its more like the back of my dad's cooper S.

I like the 130 and i like the idea, but it is really just a 2+2. I'd say its like an RX8 in terms of passenger space.

Not that I can comment on an R32 cos I havn't been in one, but the 130 is very small in the back

[daveknott]

I have to agree with Mr Me's opinions. Here's my review of the BMW 130i M-Sport.....

Well, having been interested in the concept of a powerful rear-wheel drive hatchback for a long while, I thought you all may be interested to hear my opinions of this new uber-hatch from BMW, following a test drive at the weekend.

For years hot hatch fans have been force-fed a diet of front-wheel drive cars. Of course, in this size of car, front-wheel drive offers the benefits of superior interior packaging, cheaper manufacturing costs, and ultimately, a safer chassis set up. The hot headed young boy racer is far more likely to be able to control a panicky under- steer moment, than a big sideways one.

Now however, years after the Lotus Talbot Sunbeam, BMW have had the guts to bring to the masses, a compact, powerful (265Bhp), rear-drive hatchback. A car with a prestige badge, silky straight-six power, 50/50 weight distribution, uncorrupted steering, a practical 4-seat arrangement, a decent boot, and the usual Bavarian build quality and after sales service.

There are of course, downsides to this seemingly perfect offering. There is (as Clarkson loves to point out) the oft-quoted lack of rear space, and the extortionate price tag. These are criticisms that deserve to be mentioned. However, I would argue against these points.

Firstly, rear passenger seat space is really not a priority to a young professional couple, or successful single person (the type of people who’d be interested in a car like this).

These people don’t carry around a whole family. They merely need enough space in the boot to comfortably cope with a week’s shopping, or a couple of suitcases for a trip away. And those rear seats are most likely only ever needed when giving friends a lift. For the occasions when that happens, I’d argue that the couple would move the front seats forward a tad to increase their passengers’ rear comfort. For the rest of the time, the front has more than enough interior space.

Secondly, the price. £26,515 for a basic 130i M-Sport is too expensive. There’s no getting away from that. As many reviewers have mentioned, this is close to 330i territory, and for the same money, you could buy yourself a nice 5 series.

However, I’ve seen specced-up 130i M-Sport demonstrators for sale on BMW’s own website for £23,500. That’s virtually the same as a nicely specified Golf GTI DSG…..On the one hand you could have a 197Bhp front drive hatch with a great gearbox, on the other, you could have a pure drivers car. A rear-drive, 265Bhp, prestige hatch equipped with one of the world’s great engines. Hmm, now that decision is looking more tricky…..

Right, let’s cut to the driving experience. Insert the ‘key’ into the dash, dip the clutch, and press that enticing, glowing ‘Start’ button…..WOW, what a noise! This thing sounds absolutely glorious. I can’t resist blipping the accelerator and I’m treated to a bassy rumble from the engine bay, and a raspy exhaust note. All modern BMW straight six engines sound great, but this one seems to have an edginess to it. It’s as if BMW’s engineers wanted the engine to sound slightly raw, and purposeful. Its certainly leagues above the anodyne noise emitted by a MK5 GTI when you first start it up.

All the major controls fall perfectly to hand, and the seating and steering can be adjusted in all directions, so you’re guaranteed to be able to find the perfect driving position. The clutch pedal has a light, but positive action, and the short-throw gear shift feels fantastically snickety and mechanical.

I slot first gear, feed in the clutch, and notice the relatively short biting point. Clearly, this is going to make for quicker gear changing when out on the road. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this gear change is one of the best I’ve ever experienced on any BMW. My experience suggests that while the typical BMW gear change is very smooth, the throw is almost always over-long. However, the 130i’s is short, direct, positive, and full of feel. It’s almost as if there’s a Ferrari-style open gate underneath all that leather stitching.

I was also impressed by the steering. Initially I’d been worried that the car would be hampered by heavy steering at low speeds (which was the case on a 120d I’d driven previously), however, the 130i’s feels fluid, and provides more feedback to the driver the faster you go. Ultimately, it doesn’t talk to you quite as much as I’d like, but it’s certainly a smooth, direct rack, that is a delight to use thanks to a brilliantly chunky M-sport leather sports steering wheel.

The chassis also feels well sorted. Under steer is never an issue at sensible speeds, and the car remains flat and grippy when cornering. Turn in, feel the front end bite, and then open the throttle wide on greasy roads – and be prepared to account for a shimmy from the rear as the electronic stability system fights to keep you hooked up. I never got the opportunity to turn off the traction control on the test drive, but I’d say that with the right conditions and driver skills, you’ll certainly be able to have some fun in this car.

Then there’s the engine. Boy what an engine! When I finally get a chance to really open the taps, this engine really sings. It revs all the way to 7000rpm, and takes on a gritty, hard edged, six cylinder wail as it makes its way up the rev-range. Other traffic can be dispatched with disdain, from almost any revs, in any gear. It’s a smooth engine when you want it to be however and an animalistic one when you’re on a charge.

The pedal layout is perfectly matched to the engine and the gear change. I soon found myself heel and toeing on the down changes, just to hear that wonderful engine blip down through the gears!

Of course, none of this would be any use if the anchors weren’t up to the job. Thankfully, I can report that BMW has equipped the car with dinner-plate sized brakes (330mm Front, 300mm rear) which are full of feel and power. Never once did I have any doubt over their ability. Of course, this might change if the car were used on track, but in normal road driving, they are more than up to the task.

For the most part, the ride, while firm, is compliant. My one real criticism of the car is that it’s too stiffly sprung at the rear. On pitted or uneven surfaces, the rear of the car bounces as the springs rebound off a compression. This can unsettle the car’s normal poise, and disrupt the way the car gets its power down under hard acceleration. If you live on bumpy B-roads, or drive them regularly, I’d suggest that this may not be the best car for you. If however, you’re in the market for one of the most exciting small cars available, then the 130i should be high on your list of choices.

Those of you who’ve craved this sort of hot hatch for a long time, you’re in for a treat. It may not be possessed with the rawness of something like a Civic Type R, but it is several classes up in terms of overall depth of quality. The engine is one of the greats, the chassis is set up for fun, and if it were only a few grand cheaper, it’d be the undisputed drivers hot hatch of choice.

SUM UP

+ Incredible engine, relentless acceleration, great interior, good steering, great brakes, sorted chassis

- Not the best looking hatch, Over-stiff rear suspension, rear interior space, expensive new list price

[Alphamail]

My 130i M Sport is being delivered on Monday, your review is really well written and encouraging, thank you. I bought mine on the phone so haven't driven it yet!

I read an article recently about it's design, it was suggested that as the more attractive higher spec cars are introduced, it creates a synergistic effect on the series. for example, I think the 3 series will benefit enormously when the M3 comes out, the old models will then begin to date.

In this respect, if BMW introduce a new 1 series M1, it will be good news for the range and I believe that it will have a positive response to the aesthetic.

I mentioned in another thread on this site that I feel that so many car designers seem to share the same CAD package, they are all beginning to look the same, without character.

The 1 series is not perfect, it looks good from most angles and blatantly ugly from the front 3/4 perspective. I kind of like that, I call it individual character.

[NewNiceMrMe]

I was told there was no chance of an M1, and that was very recently too.

I can't see how it would fit in. If they increase the power much more it'd get way too close to the M3 and M5 in performance terms and there is no way BMW would do it.

[Alphamail]

I can see your point MrMe (loved your review).

Playing devil's advocate, one of the reasons I bought the 130i and not the 330i is because I need a mini estate for lugging stuff around.

I'm not sure I'll go back to a saloon car, most likely because I like the mix of go kart feel an practicallity of a hatch back. In the same way I would not buy an M3 but would buy an M1 if it were available.

I think there is a niche and it is a pity that they are not planning one.

[NewNiceMrMe]

Well the M1 would certainly be a go-kart of a performance motor. Thing is, the likes of Hartge have shoed the M5 engine into the 1-series, so if someone hankers after the total hot hatch then it's available in a an extreme format anyway (albeit for £100,000!!!).

I think the market for this type of performance is very limited though.

With a 130i M Sport at £30k, a forthcoming Z4M at £42k, and the future M3 at £46k, well I'm not sure where they'd price it.

£35k? I think it'd be very hard to sell at that price.

[Alphamail]

You're probably right. Although I would pay 35k for an M1 if it did what we think it might do. Last week I almost bought an a3 3.2 sportback sportline for 32k.

[Alastair_A3]

Have fun with your 130 M Sport James, im a fan of that car When you get it some pics would be great. Is yours going to have the larger alloys? I know what you mean about rhe 3.2 SB they can be hugely overpriced. Id get a 2nd hand S4 for that!