Keep it! You like it, it’s a great little car, you said you’d struggle to replace it, so sounds like you’ll regret selling it straight away, only leaves you with one option. Keep It!
keep it. i still have my '08 130i (50k on the clock). Bought it in 2016 and get such pleasure driving it, despite friends / family constantly telling me it's a money black hole. it's so popular, people keep trying to nick it!
We had the original Cross Climates on our last Mini Cooper 5 door, and they were awesome in deep snow and ice, way better than the 4x4 I had on test when it snowed! Id post a link but that might get blocked by YT!
Great video again buddy! Loved my 130i, massively unsung hero back in the day, but awful ride on it's first gen plastic run flats. New Wheels look great and contrast well with the LM blue 👌🏼PS I hope those M badges are coming off soon 😉
@@JayEmmOnCars haha fair enough! My 2006 130i M sport didn't have M badges on the front wings, I think BMW started introducing those on most M sport models from 2010-2011 ish, must have been previous owner mod. That N52 is one of the greatest engines ever produced, I can still hear that mettallic rasp today 🙌 Will have to check it out one day, hopefully you hold onto it 👌
@@davidhaygarth648 yeah 10 years and adaptive suspension made a massive difference, my 2018 M140i on 18's with adaptive had a decent ride too, although on decent non run flat PSS's.
Regarding the M badges, I think you should let James May unpimp your ride :) . Great car in a very nice color. I prefer the 5door for a more cohesive design and because it’s slightly more practical. S65 NA it’s the ultimate swap for the little E87.
I had that engine in a Z4 3.0Si and it’s really good. Powerful, smooth yet economical and robust. Therefore fulfilling the requirements for a daily driver very well, I think.
@@TheMadTatter I still own a Z4M and an Alpina Z4 Roadster S. I actually owned all three Z4s at the same time. In the real world the 3.0Si was actually the easy to live with.
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi Compared to the 3.0Si yes. But, compared to the Alpina no actually because although the Alpinas were fitted with the same springs as the 3.0Si they have 19" wheels compared to 18" on the Z4M. So, overall the Z4M and the Alpina feel about the same suspension-wise. I'd same the Z4M does feel a bit more powerful but with both cars at 300+ bhp it's a little bit academic to me because I only drive them on public roads and not the track. Both are 'fast' enough! 🙂
Stick a diff in it, m3 arms , some half decent suspension, bilstein b12 or coil over b14 , get the gel set up and then it’s job done , stealth baby m3 without the running costs. Prices are going up all the time
I agree. I had mine fitted with the B12 Pro Kit, M3 arms front and rear, drop links, camber plates, sub frame bush inserts and ancillary parts just before Christmas. Was about £1,500 for parts, fitting and alignment. I think the Birds kit is overpriced.
I had an E81 (120D) and it developed the same fuel flap problem. Having seen that it was a tricky fix I glued 6 small magnets around the area by the catch which did a fine job of holding the fuel door shut - bit of a bodge but it worked.
I’ve got an e90 330i, same engine. I absolutely love it, it does what it does as the last of the revvy breed so impeccably well! Either keep it or replace it with something totally different because it does what it does so well that you’re unlikely to replace it with something that beats it at its game.
The price you were quoted for batteries seems very high. I can highly recommend Tayna Batteries of Abergele, North Wales. I have bought two Bosch AGM batteries from them for my Z4 and Golf GTI, for around £130 each, delivered in a day or so, with great help and advice to go with it.
Clearly he is not thinking of selling it if he just spent £800 on new wheels to suit his personal taste but which don’t add much if anything to the value of the car.
Best car ever, why, because it still looks modern on the outside, it’s going on 17 years, it was a 2004 design. Look at an A3/Golf/Cupra from 2004...To my 120d I have fitted an uprated FMIC, SuperPro poly bushes, Koni FSDs, Eibach Pros, 1M suspension arms, Goodridge hoses, SuperSport tyres, a small remap 200BHP takes me to the station, motorway and now instructor led track days. I sold my 987.2 Boxster so I can spend the money on learning to track drive. The 1er has risen to the occasion...
JayM. Well done on sorting the Beemer and now it's time to move it on mista ! By making it safe and secure allows the next owner to experience the same real joy & spirit in which these are legendary. If someone doesn't sell it like yourself, how can another person enjoy it ? V.
Cross climates suit the climate here in the East/South East. We have very little snow, mostly plenty of rain and 2degree daily temperatures. Swapping out for a pilot sport in the summer is definitely worth it on the 130i. Granted not worth it on a small crossover.
A friend of mine had an E36 328i coupe years ago and sold it for not a lot of money. He then spent nearly every day for the next 7 years trying to get it back. I think you may be in a similar situatiion where if you sell the 130i, you will never find anything quite like it to replace it.
Ran Cross Climates on my Landrover Freelander 2 and had no problems with them at all. Excellent tyre and yes I agree with your choice of rims, she looks great.
Ive lusted after a 130i for a few years now , a c30 t5 and an a3 3.2 quattro just didnt scratch the itch , prices are going up , and now in northern ireland weve an import tax on cars too , I would be hanging onto that one very very tightly.
She's a soon to be modernish classic, if you can financially afford to keep her (having spent 2 years knowing her rarity) keep her and enjoy her, she's a beaut btw. You never know @JayEmm she might just start to appreciate in a few more years?? Food for thought ;)
Keep it Jay, you will regret getting rid of this in much the same way as I think you did with your E46 Clubsport. I think the 130i will be the "Clubsport" to the 140i's "M3" in years to come, very much an under-appreciated model which I think connoiseurs will lust after down the line.
Also, those wheels look the business and have the advantage that you probably won't crack them the next time you hit a pothole unlike BMW's OEM wheels of that sort of era! BMW = Buy More Wheels
i didn't believe the hype about winter tyres until last year i fitted a set of budget ones as an experiment .. near me is a 10% hill & my little FWD driving past suv's / crossovers / soft-roaders who were sitting spinning all 4 tyres on 1/4" of snow convinced me
However, a little fwd's normal thin tyres can be fine on snow/ice. One you're spinning tyres though you're making it worse. Most people have no idea how to apply the right amount of force to get themselves going.
Looks good in that colour and those wheels. The Cross Climates are decent for snow and ice but I don’t think you’ll rate them for performance driving, they lack feel and you can’t lean on them as you can a quality summer tyre
I had one of these before my 140, better steering, sweeter engine. Just put a Bilstein B12 kit on it. Less than a grand, makes a big difference. I had the same issue with fuel filler flap, also the filler breather vent ( fuel leaks when full ). GT86 now, slower but a hoot to drive hard once you ditch the crappy Primacies.
A genuine review. That's exactly what I like. I know what I'm about to say will creat an uproar, and will sound a bit juvenile, but if I was you, I woukd go down the route of (the useless) rear seat delete (the rear seat in a two door car, especially in a Jaguar XKR looks absolutely ridiculous waste of effort), a massive, bespoke, party sound system, bring the car to street racing spec and suspensions, make a proper Japanese style show piece. Go from show to show and win trophies. Or else, sell it to me and I'll do that. Well done anyway, very good review on a top car.
Keep it @JayEmm on Cars .. You've sold it once and regretted it.. I owned one for 11yrs and sold it, 3 months later I bought a 2nd one. The N52 is a legendary BMW engine and the 130i is a car like no other, very unique, especially in E81 form.. It's a future classic no doubt.. And by the amount of people you have below wanting it from you, they're popular because of it. Good examples sell in hours. ! All that low down grunt along with the top end power and howl of the N52. Dont give it up! Lose those ///M badges, though.
I do love a 130i; the N52 is a peach of an engine and one that we’ll never see shoehorned into a small hatchback. Battery is a piece of cake; just done on my other half’s 125i. Paid a load less too for an AGM battery than you did. Cotswold BMW were very competitive for a genuine one (£168 delivered). I had to do the fuel filler pot on a previous 1 series. Wasn’t too bad and there are some good guides on line. The one job worse than the iller pot is pissing around with the washer jets - the tank comes out easily enough but is little shit to get back in. I had that fun on her old 1 series and now it looks like I need to do the same in her 125i. Joy.
Believe me, Jay. You'll regret selling your 130i. I did a number of years ago when we replaced it with an E90 M3. Fantastic car in its own right, but the nimble and fun nature of the 130i can't be beaten. That's why I ended up purchasing another one. Fantastic specification that will be getting a slow restoration soon. (a full respray among other things) Oh and by the way, like Joe Achilles said, please remove those M badges. The power output doesn't increase with them on. Hahaha
I add 1 series as courtesy cars when my 5 series was in for service. It just seemed too ordinary for the price and had no room inside considering the exterior dimensions. I thought it was a bit ugly. Never tried one with the big engine so that may tip balance between keeping it or getting rid. I always think blue is the right colour for a BMW.
I wish the hatches came to America in the 135 and 235. I currently own a M235i in estoril blue with a manual. It would be sweet to own its hatch sibling.
I've done the rear washer, and filler cap. Glued a 5mm magnet either side. Come and drive mine, 6 pot AP's, B1 dynamic kit, LSD and various BMWPF bits. I actually prefer it to my old E90M3. Don't sell it, I have bought mine back twice.......:D
My 2016 230i has same staggered wheel and tyre sizing 225/40/18 front 245/35/18 rear, and the official bmw winter wheel set for it is square setup 225/40/18 all round. So I got a second set of wheels, autec branded copies of my bmw wheels with michelin pilot sport alpine for winter square all round 225/40/18.
120d xdrive was a love hate relationship. Now I love it again but get the right tyres almost perfect for me. Travel a good 600 miles to get home handles and with more than enough power just now for me.. Winters rated to 260km an hour and change to my staggered summer tyres....130i next.....maybe.
If you are thinking out parting with it James as it is not worth spending money on a new suspension set up that you will never get back - then it is time to sell and reinvest the monies on a new vehicle. That next car you can then use and promote on your website here and keep the content fresh. You get to the stage with too many cars that if they sit outside and are unused they start to rot and if they're all kept indoors somewhere then the rent outstrips their values!
I've been running a full set of CrossClimate+ for the past 2 1/2 years. I don't own a sporty car, I don't have a garage or shed to store tyres in, and despite being £115 a corner in total (195/55 R16 91V), I feel they were worth it, partly because I don't believe people should scrimp on tyres, and partly because if and when it does snow in the North in winter, at least we'd stand a chance of being able to drive in most conditions where other people probably shouldn't be trying. I was quite annoyed not being able to find them for my wife's car, in fact the only brand who did something as small as 175/55 R15 was Vredestein with their Quatrac 5... and I had to (legally) drop a speed rating or two just to get there.
Keep it and have fun by fixing it up/new mods then sell later on once you've done all that you've wanted to it, if you spent so long looking for it you might as well enjoy it and make it a fun little project before you sell it and have regrets and go looking for another one. Anyhow good luck
I look forward to seeing videos on your 130i tbh, I’ve wanted one since they came out, & as you quite rightly stated there are non about atm. Don’t sell it, it’s awesome! P.s thank the lord those black wheels are off lol, just to be clear I like the original wheels in silver, however your new ones are a nice contrast with the paint, good shout.
I thought Michelin CrossClimates were technically all season (or I think all weather in the states (if any US folks are reading this))? Good winter performance for an AS though, excellent for UK conditions where we don't have a full on negative double figure temps with inches of ice etc for 6 months. I use a set of CrossClimate + all year round, hence why I bring it up. For a set you're swapping anyway I thought a winter specific tyre would have been chosen, even for the UK. I think you could match wet braking but for the snow almost any winter tyre will outperform a CrossClimate, being designed without compromise for winter, as good as CrossClimate are. I don't know what part of England you're in though so maybe that makes the difference. I'm Northern Ireland, further north, roads are gritted more often, so probably more benefit from a winter tyre here if someone is going to have 2 sets.
Please keep it 💯🙏 my dream car love this shape of the e81 with then iconic bmw framless front windows but that shape is so rare in uk most are e87 5 door you should consider getting rid of runflats and getting Michelin PS 4S
This is a car I really want but as a student still I cant warrant owning/cant afford. Oh and get used to that rear washer getting clogged every 5 minutes. I have to clean mine once a week on my 116i
Great find, if you were to find a similar rhd 5-door 130i for that kind of budget, I'll gladly get the heads-up as I'm currently contemplating on what should followup my e36 325i 4-door. Quick reality check: things are a bit pricier here in the Netherlands (or even in Germany). One small cosmetic remark: what is up with the left front fender? It doesn't seem to align too well with the bonnet at the moment..
The michelin Crossclimates are an excellent tyre had them for 2 years and they work great in the UK's climate the main drawback is they wear out quickly
Outer dimensions of a Golf, inner - of a 2nd gen Polo. I get emotionally attached to cars, so I'd like to say "keep it", but if practicality is a must, there are larger 6-cylinder BMWs out there...
We didn’t get the 130i three door hatch in the US. Other than SUV’s hatchbacks don’t sell well here. It looks like it’s difficult to work on. Is it fun to drive? Certainly it is a practical car. Everyone needs a grocery-getter. It sounds like your over improving the car if you put a suspension kit on the car. I’d be surprised if the Celica is as practical as the 130i. I would hold off on spending more money on the Bimmer, see what your needs are with the Celica, if you don’t need the little hatch then, then sell it. Sell it into warmer weather when someone trying it out can get into it and really enjoy it.
250 quid for a battery ouch thats steep. I just bunged a large battery in mine back in the day. I think it was 90 quid. I didnt even know it should have been programmed ?
Bro, that FEAR poster is amazing. Anyway regarding 130i I sold mine because I wanted more power, greedy me. But then again I don't have a S2000 and Celica as well so not sure how that affects things.
I sold mine for a M135i since then I m looking for a track tool and pleasure/weight-power/reliability/price 130i all day long, don't sell it or you will miss it.
'Classic?!' Seriously? It's aesthetics are abysmal. It's completely soulless. People are very easily pleased these days..........There is nothing to see here, just another dull, characterless Germanic offering, move along........
They’re a great tyre and have really driven (pardon the pun) the all season sector forward and now we’ve lots of excellent choices from Goodyear, Hankook, Bridgestone and others. The Vector Gen-3 looks mighty from reviews.
not a fan of the colour to be honest! but taste is not something you can argue about haha! :) I'd say a nice lip kit and a small spoiler on the bootlid would be great
0:57 Why are you incorrectly fitting a 096 AGM when your should be fitting a 115AGM. & that 096AGM fitted by a Rac patrol and coded in is £215, not £250 like you paid?
I hope it snows again, just had all 4 Michelin PS4s put on mine. Was a bit iffy with 4 worn out ones. Still tons of grip in the massive rainstorm yesterday but wasn't necessarily too cold for them.
Hmmm, I got a new AGM battery for my e61 530i for £150. It was a Halfords brand one, which turns out are made by Varta... Used Carly to reset the battery.
Keep it if you can, unless the option you’ve been offered is more interesting/appealing. I’d have kept all my previous cars, bar one, if I had the money and space :)
It's crazy you can't even buy one of these for less than 3k and probably with good reason. But you could buy an E34 M5 for less than 3k 12 years ago! Even the non M BMW's go for silly money now
I'm keeping mine (2005 130i M Sport, Manual) even if it ends up getting 3rd car / weekend car duties. Appreciating asset. Sold in limited numbers, legendary N52, nice chassis. Values will continue to slowly rise over time...mines going nowhere.
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi My 1990 E30 318is would argue that point. Back in 2010, it cost me very little money, and has cost a negligible amount of money to maintain (bought a good clean example) and today, a mere 11 years later, its worth 4/5X the money I have invested in it (and values continue to rise) My 130i, and E30 are not "daily drivers" circa 2000 - 3000 miles per year, and no doubt this helps for future value and ownership costs. I don't think I'm kidding myself...lets see how much a good, low mileage example of the early 130i's are a few years from now...guarantee I'll spend less on it, than what it appreciates by...
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi I'll stick to crypto and precious metals for my "strong investment" my cars are more like an asset to me (there is a difference) albeit an appreciating asset, rather than a depreciating asset. For example, if you were to buy say, 2014 VW Golf GTD something along those lines, you would LOOSE money, month after month for next few years till its price 'bottoms' where as, something like a BMW 130i, has already lost its maximum amount of value and in turn is now appreciating in value (so long as you bought at the bottom of the market price) ....Thanks for your baseless advice never the less LOL.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
130i is a future classic.
Totaled in 2035 because you cant find someone to program the battery for you.
it is a real hatchback. RWD, inline 6, light.
To bad they cost 10k in Germany with a shitload of miles.
Keep it! You like it, it’s a great little car, you said you’d struggle to replace it, so sounds like you’ll regret selling it straight away, only leaves you with one option. Keep It!
keep it. i still have my '08 130i (50k on the clock). Bought it in 2016 and get such pleasure driving it, despite friends / family constantly telling me it's a money black hole. it's so popular, people keep trying to nick it!
We had the original Cross Climates on our last Mini Cooper 5 door, and they were awesome in deep snow and ice, way better than the 4x4 I had on test when it snowed! Id post a link but that might get blocked by YT!
Great video again buddy! Loved my 130i, massively unsung hero back in the day, but awful ride on it's first gen plastic run flats. New Wheels look great and contrast well with the LM blue 👌🏼PS I hope those M badges are coming off soon 😉
Cheers for stopping by Joe. Yeah I love the 130i, the M badges will probably stay for now - any idea if they were factory fit?
@@JayEmmOnCars haha fair enough! My 2006 130i M sport didn't have M badges on the front wings, I think BMW started introducing those on most M sport models from 2010-2011 ish, must have been previous owner mod. That N52 is one of the greatest engines ever produced, I can still hear that mettallic rasp today 🙌 Will have to check it out one day, hopefully you hold onto it 👌
Im currently on a weeks test drive with an 120i 17 reg with adaptive suspension and 18" s and ride is smooth which is contary to internet opinion !
@@davidhaygarth648 yeah 10 years and adaptive suspension made a massive difference, my 2018 M140i on 18's with adaptive had a decent ride too, although on decent non run flat PSS's.
Regarding the M badges, I think you should let James May unpimp your ride :) . Great car in a very nice color. I prefer the 5door for a more cohesive design and because it’s slightly more practical. S65 NA it’s the ultimate swap for the little E87.
I had that engine in a Z4 3.0Si and it’s really good. Powerful, smooth yet economical and robust. Therefore fulfilling the requirements for a daily driver very well, I think.
The hard top Z4 with that engine is an absolute stunner to drive if you ask me
@@TheMadTatter I still own a Z4M and an Alpina Z4 Roadster S. I actually owned all three Z4s at the same time. In the real world the 3.0Si was actually the easy to live with.
@@derin111 that S54 power tho😏❤️
@@derin111 Does the M have a harsher ride?
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi Compared to the 3.0Si yes. But, compared to the Alpina no actually because although the Alpinas were fitted with the same springs as the 3.0Si they have 19" wheels compared to 18" on the Z4M.
So, overall the Z4M and the Alpina feel about the same suspension-wise.
I'd same the Z4M does feel a bit more powerful but with both cars at 300+ bhp it's a little bit academic to me because I only drive them on public roads and not the track. Both are 'fast' enough! 🙂
Stick a diff in it, m3 arms , some half decent suspension, bilstein b12 or coil over b14 , get the gel set up and then it’s job done , stealth baby m3 without the running costs. Prices are going up all the time
This would be a great idea!
I agree. I had mine fitted with the B12 Pro Kit, M3 arms front and rear, drop links, camber plates, sub frame bush inserts and ancillary parts just before Christmas. Was about £1,500 for parts, fitting and alignment. I think the Birds kit is overpriced.
Nice to see you’ve got some space on that driveway now! 😉
quite a big space
I had an E81 (120D) and it developed the same fuel flap problem. Having seen that it was a tricky fix I glued 6 small magnets around the area by the catch which did a fine job of holding the fuel door shut - bit of a bodge but it worked.
I’ve got an e90 330i, same engine. I absolutely love it, it does what it does as the last of the revvy breed so impeccably well! Either keep it or replace it with something totally different because it does what it does so well that you’re unlikely to replace it with something that beats it at its game.
2:55 you're talking and pointing, but we're seeing detailing....
I’m sure there was a reason...the man is a pro.
The price you were quoted for batteries seems very high. I can highly recommend Tayna Batteries of Abergele, North Wales. I have bought two Bosch AGM batteries from them for my Z4 and Golf GTI, for around £130 each, delivered in a day or so, with great help and advice to go with it.
I shall certainly be using them next time
Those wheels look mint. Good choice.
Umm, your enthusiasm for car DIY is precisely the same as mine. Or any DIY in my case. Speed of completion is my main aim. Yeah, I know.
I'm using the crossclimate on my vignale, outstanding tyres... also fitting a fuel pot is a job for a warm day...
It’s nice seeing a RUclips video where someone is working on there car and there finding it hard and fiddle ! Feels more like real life
I prescribe @Hubnut
personally i think the original wheels looked a lot better, but hey its not my car.
Should have stuck with original wheels
I like them, although about the bronze color not sure if they go well with this blue.
I think bronze alloys look best on black or graphite grey cars
Clearly he is not thinking of selling it if he just spent £800 on new wheels to suit his personal taste but which don’t add much if anything to the value of the car.
@@jashugg I’d give him my winnings from the England v Scotland game ....
Nice FEAR poster, absolute classic game
Best car ever, why, because it still looks modern on the outside, it’s going on 17 years, it was a 2004 design. Look at an A3/Golf/Cupra from 2004...To my 120d I have fitted an uprated FMIC, SuperPro poly bushes, Koni FSDs, Eibach Pros, 1M suspension arms, Goodridge hoses, SuperSport tyres, a small remap 200BHP takes me to the station, motorway and now instructor led track days. I sold my 987.2 Boxster so I can spend the money on learning to track drive. The 1er has risen to the occasion...
JayM. Well done on sorting the Beemer and now it's time to move it on mista ! By making it safe and secure allows the next owner to experience the same real joy & spirit in which these are legendary. If someone doesn't sell it like yourself, how can another person enjoy it ? V.
The CCs are more of an all-season than an out-and-out winter tyre, however. There’s no reason to swap them out in summer.
Cross climates suit the climate here in the East/South East. We have very little snow, mostly plenty of rain and 2degree daily temperatures. Swapping out for a pilot sport in the summer is definitely worth it on the 130i. Granted not worth it on a small crossover.
If you're pushing on or doing trackdays, then it would be a good idea.
A Couple of button magnets glued in place should help the fuel flap problem
The one where James contemplates building a 40'x60' pole barn to store cars and have a larger workshop area.
Yep! Crossclimates are great! Even for summer. I have them on my corolla for the past 4 years. Very good tyres.
A friend of mine had an E36 328i coupe years ago and sold it for not a lot of money. He then spent nearly every day for the next 7 years trying to get it back. I think you may be in a similar situatiion where if you sell the 130i, you will never find anything quite like it to replace it.
I would keep it.. always liked the look of these + the engine is a gem.
Ran Cross Climates on my Landrover Freelander 2 and had no problems with them at all. Excellent tyre and yes I agree with your choice of rims, she looks great.
I would’ve glued on a few magnets to the fuel door..:)
I considered it, but I thought I would just be lying to myself
OEM 99% of the time is the way to do BMW.
@@JayEmmOnCars agreed...:)..
Ive lusted after a 130i for a few years now , a c30 t5 and an a3 3.2 quattro just didnt scratch the itch , prices are going up , and now in northern ireland weve an import tax on cars too , I would be hanging onto that one very very tightly.
She's a soon to be modernish classic, if you can financially afford to keep her (having spent 2 years knowing her rarity) keep her and enjoy her, she's a beaut btw. You never know @JayEmm she might just start to appreciate in a few more years?? Food for thought ;)
Keep it Jay, you will regret getting rid of this in much the same way as I think you did with your E46 Clubsport.
I think the 130i will be the "Clubsport" to the 140i's "M3" in years to come, very much an under-appreciated model which I think connoiseurs will lust after down the line.
Also, those wheels look the business and have the advantage that you probably won't crack them the next time you hit a pothole unlike BMW's OEM wheels of that sort of era!
BMW = Buy More Wheels
i didn't believe the hype about winter tyres until last year i fitted a set of budget ones as an experiment .. near me is a 10% hill & my little FWD driving past suv's / crossovers / soft-roaders who were sitting spinning all 4 tyres on 1/4" of snow convinced me
However, a little fwd's normal thin tyres can be fine on snow/ice. One you're spinning tyres though you're making it worse. Most people have no idea how to apply the right amount of force to get themselves going.
Looks good in that colour and those wheels. The Cross Climates are decent for snow and ice but I don’t think you’ll rate them for performance driving, they lack feel and you can’t lean on them as you can a quality summer tyre
I had one of these before my 140, better steering, sweeter engine. Just put a Bilstein B12 kit on it. Less than a grand, makes a big difference. I had the same issue with fuel filler flap, also the filler breather vent ( fuel leaks when full ). GT86 now, slower but a hoot to drive hard once you ditch the crappy Primacies.
A genuine review. That's exactly what I like. I know what I'm about to say will creat an uproar, and will sound a bit juvenile, but if I was you, I woukd go down the route of (the useless) rear seat delete (the rear seat in a two door car, especially in a Jaguar XKR looks absolutely ridiculous waste of effort), a massive, bespoke, party sound system, bring the car to street racing spec and suspensions, make a proper Japanese style show piece. Go from show to show and win trophies. Or else, sell it to me and I'll do that.
Well done anyway, very good review on a top car.
Keep it @JayEmm on Cars .. You've sold it once and regretted it.. I owned one for 11yrs and sold it, 3 months later I bought a 2nd one.
The N52 is a legendary BMW engine and the 130i is a car like no other, very unique, especially in E81 form.. It's a future classic no doubt.. And by the amount of people you have below wanting it from you, they're popular because of it. Good examples sell in hours. !
All that low down grunt along with the top end power and howl of the N52. Dont give it up!
Lose those ///M badges, though.
I do love a 130i; the N52 is a peach of an engine and one that we’ll never see shoehorned into a small hatchback.
Battery is a piece of cake; just done on my other half’s 125i. Paid a load less too for an AGM battery than you did. Cotswold BMW were very competitive for a genuine one (£168 delivered).
I had to do the fuel filler pot on a previous 1 series. Wasn’t too bad and there are some good guides on line. The one job worse than the iller pot is pissing around with the washer jets - the tank comes out easily enough but is little shit to get back in. I had that fun on her old 1 series and now it looks like I need to do the same in her 125i. Joy.
Believe me, Jay. You'll regret selling your 130i. I did a number of years ago when we replaced it with an E90 M3. Fantastic car in its own right, but the nimble and fun nature of the 130i can't be beaten.
That's why I ended up purchasing another one. Fantastic specification that will be getting a slow restoration soon. (a full respray among other things)
Oh and by the way, like Joe Achilles said, please remove those M badges. The power output doesn't increase with them on. Hahaha
that blue and bronze some how just works. nice
I have one. Mine is 2008 and its really fun to drive. It s a good car.
I add 1 series as courtesy cars when my 5 series was in for service. It just seemed too ordinary for the price and had no room inside considering the exterior dimensions. I thought it was a bit ugly. Never tried one with the big engine so that may tip balance between keeping it or getting rid. I always think blue is the right colour for a BMW.
The nearside front wheels looks slightly curbed already at 7:34
That's what I noticed, they look like they've been scuffed already 😬
Soap from the tyres being fitted
Definitely keep it, they're a great little car. Plus theres plenty to modify if you're that way inclined.
Only if it was a 5 door, because I don’t really like the 3 door one, the 5 door makes it more longer and just looks so nice on the road 🥵
I wish the hatches came to America in the 135 and 235. I currently own a M235i in estoril blue with a manual. It would be sweet to own its hatch sibling.
I've done the rear washer, and filler cap. Glued a 5mm magnet either side. Come and drive mine, 6 pot AP's, B1 dynamic kit, LSD and various BMWPF bits. I actually prefer it to my old E90M3. Don't sell it, I have bought mine back twice.......:D
My 2016 230i has same staggered wheel and tyre sizing 225/40/18 front 245/35/18 rear, and the official bmw winter wheel set for it is square setup 225/40/18 all round. So I got a second set of wheels, autec branded copies of my bmw wheels with michelin pilot sport alpine for winter square all round 225/40/18.
Thanks James. Sell it and concentrate your fire power on your Ferrai and toyota.
Love the look of the first model 1 series. Great video.
120d xdrive was a love hate relationship. Now I love it again but get the right tyres almost perfect for me. Travel a good 600 miles to get home handles and with more than enough power just now for me.. Winters rated to 260km an hour and change to my staggered summer tyres....130i next.....maybe.
Aah nobody talking about the FEAR wallpaper, loved that game.
Noticed that too, good game, just played again recently
Shitted my pants multiple times, never finished ahah
Loving those rims!! Great choice of colour!
Loved my 130i Superchips remap sharped it up.great fun little motor.
If you are thinking out parting with it James as it is not worth spending money on a new suspension set up that you will never get back - then it is time to sell and reinvest the monies on a new vehicle. That next car you can then use and promote on your website here and keep the content fresh.
You get to the stage with too many cars that if they sit outside and are unused they start to rot and if they're all kept indoors somewhere then the rent outstrips their values!
I've been running a full set of CrossClimate+ for the past 2 1/2 years. I don't own a sporty car, I don't have a garage or shed to store tyres in, and despite being £115 a corner in total (195/55 R16 91V), I feel they were worth it, partly because I don't believe people should scrimp on tyres, and partly because if and when it does snow in the North in winter, at least we'd stand a chance of being able to drive in most conditions where other people probably shouldn't be trying. I was quite annoyed not being able to find them for my wife's car, in fact the only brand who did something as small as 175/55 R15 was Vredestein with their Quatrac 5... and I had to (legally) drop a speed rating or two just to get there.
Prob could have resolved that fuel filler cap with some thin magnet strips stuck with impact adhesive.
Keep it and have fun by fixing it up/new mods then sell later on once you've done all that you've wanted to it, if you spent so long looking for it you might as well enjoy it and make it a fun little project before you sell it and have regrets and go looking for another one. Anyhow good luck
Keep it, or you will regret losing it!
That's my worry
Future classic, last of the rwd hot hatchbacks so I wouldn’t be in any hurry to sell.
@@JayEmmOnCars I'll buy it :)
@@Theycallmedoorway email me on talk@jayemm.com
I was very scared when you said bronze...it’s a couple shades away from being unacceptably close to WRX spec but it looks good
I look forward to seeing videos on your 130i tbh, I’ve wanted one since they came out, & as you quite rightly stated there are non about atm. Don’t sell it, it’s awesome! P.s thank the lord those black wheels are off lol, just to be clear I like the original wheels in silver, however your new ones are a nice contrast with the paint, good shout.
Keep this future classic I want to see more videos on it. The wheels look surprisingly nice on it too - I'd change the centre caps though.
I thought Michelin CrossClimates were technically all season (or I think all weather in the states (if any US folks are reading this))? Good winter performance for an AS though, excellent for UK conditions where we don't have a full on negative double figure temps with inches of ice etc for 6 months. I use a set of CrossClimate + all year round, hence why I bring it up. For a set you're swapping anyway I thought a winter specific tyre would have been chosen, even for the UK. I think you could match wet braking but for the snow almost any winter tyre will outperform a CrossClimate, being designed without compromise for winter, as good as CrossClimate are. I don't know what part of England you're in though so maybe that makes the difference. I'm Northern Ireland, further north, roads are gritted more often, so probably more benefit from a winter tyre here if someone is going to have 2 sets.
Yes they are an all-season tyre by definition, but I'm in the east of England and these should comfortably see off most of the conditions we face here
Please keep it 💯🙏 my dream car love this shape of the e81 with then iconic bmw framless front windows but that shape is so rare in uk most are e87 5 door you should consider getting rid of runflats and getting Michelin PS 4S
This is a car I really want but as a student still I cant warrant owning/cant afford. Oh and get used to that rear washer getting clogged every 5 minutes. I have to clean mine once a week on my 116i
Great find, if you were to find a similar rhd 5-door 130i for that kind of budget, I'll gladly get the heads-up as I'm currently contemplating on what should followup my e36 325i 4-door. Quick reality check: things are a bit pricier here in the Netherlands (or even in Germany).
One small cosmetic remark: what is up with the left front fender? It doesn't seem to align too well with the bonnet at the moment..
The michelin Crossclimates are an excellent tyre had them for 2 years and they work great in the UK's climate the main drawback is they wear out quickly
Outer dimensions of a Golf, inner - of a 2nd gen Polo. I get emotionally attached to cars, so I'd like to say "keep it", but if practicality is a must, there are larger 6-cylinder BMWs out there...
We didn’t get the 130i three door hatch in the US. Other than SUV’s hatchbacks don’t sell well here. It looks like it’s difficult to work on. Is it fun to drive? Certainly it is a practical car. Everyone needs a grocery-getter. It sounds like your over improving the car if you put a suspension kit on the car. I’d be surprised if the Celica is as practical as the 130i. I would hold off on spending more money on the Bimmer, see what your needs are with the Celica, if you don’t need the little hatch then, then sell it. Sell it into warmer weather when someone trying it out can get into it and really enjoy it.
Try the coupe, which you got and you will see if you think its fun or not, its the same chassis.
It’s a sell from me. I would also sell the S2000 and pump the money into the GT4 and 550 - I would love to see a proper resto done on both of those.
250 quid for a battery ouch thats steep. I just bunged a large battery in mine back in the day. I think it was 90 quid. I didnt even know it should have been programmed ?
Bro, that FEAR poster is amazing. Anyway regarding 130i I sold mine because I wanted more power, greedy me. But then again I don't have a S2000 and Celica as well so not sure how that affects things.
I sold mine for a M135i since then I m looking for a track tool and pleasure/weight-power/reliability/price 130i all day long, don't sell it or you will miss it.
Jay you should buy a replacement fuel cap tether cord and fix it into the fuel cap.
Just had Michelin CrossClimates fitted on my Subaru XT today, heard good things... Good if you need to go onto the continent in the winter 3PMSF.
You have to keep it mate it's a classic. 550 and gt4 can go into storage
'Classic?!' Seriously? It's aesthetics are abysmal. It's completely soulless. People are very easily pleased these days..........There is nothing to see here, just another dull, characterless Germanic offering, move along........
@@liverpoolscottish6430 wow you're fun at parties
@@smilepermile8165 Thanks for your contribution, as pointless as it was........
@@liverpoolscottish6430 You're a Karen
Keep it! They are holding their value if not going up.
You might want to put the bmw wheel cap on your new wheels :)
Track car build!. Birds expensive b12 will do and lsd bigger brake calipers on the front
Cross Climates, excellent choice.
They’re a great tyre and have really driven (pardon the pun) the all season sector forward and now we’ve lots of excellent choices from Goodyear, Hankook, Bridgestone and others.
The Vector Gen-3 looks mighty from reviews.
not a fan of the colour to be honest! but taste is not something you can argue about haha! :) I'd say a nice lip kit and a small spoiler on the bootlid would be great
I’m really considering picking up one of these at the end of the year.
What a Camel Coat??lol
0:57 Why are you incorrectly fitting a 096 AGM when your should be fitting a 115AGM. & that 096AGM fitted by a Rac patrol and coded in is £215, not £250 like you paid?
Because 096 is what the internet, unhelpfully, told me I would need. And I don't use RAC.
Think you mixed up the cleaning b roll
Car looks great. Nice to see someone in the UK switching tyres over winter 😄
I hope it snows again, just had all 4 Michelin PS4s put on mine. Was a bit iffy with 4 worn out ones. Still tons of grip in the massive rainstorm yesterday but wasn't necessarily too cold for them.
Hmmm, I got a new AGM battery for my e61 530i for £150. It was a Halfords brand one, which turns out are made by Varta...
Used Carly to reset the battery.
Wouldn't put carly near any mercedes or bmws mate
Great looking new rims. Silver or Matt grey for me but that’s personal choice👍
Might be worth looking for a garage unit to store some of your cars
Great looking wheels on a great looking car! One we were never offered in the States.
Keep it if you can, unless the option you’ve been offered is more interesting/appealing. I’d have kept all my previous cars, bar one, if I had the money and space :)
It's crazy you can't even buy one of these for less than 3k and probably with good reason. But you could buy an E34 M5 for less than 3k 12 years ago! Even the non M BMW's go for silly money now
Keep it James, love the colour!
Love the arthur daley
How’s the s2000 coming along? I’m excited see the finished product 😍
Love your channel, hate BMWs but always enjoy watching, mate :-) I forgive everyone who drives BMW so no hard feelings :-)
I'm a sucker for bronze wheels and they look good but I'd prefer slightly thicker spokes. Can you lend it to a trusted family member for a while?
If you truly love your BMW, keep it! I replaced my Honda CRX for a new GTi and have been crying when I found out just how hard it is to come by a CRX.
I'm keeping mine (2005 130i M Sport, Manual) even if it ends up getting 3rd car / weekend car duties. Appreciating asset. Sold in limited numbers, legendary N52, nice chassis. Values will continue to slowly rise over time...mines going nowhere.
It's not really appreciating much and unless you do all your own work, you're kidding yourself that its free to run.
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi My 1990 E30 318is would argue that point. Back in 2010, it cost me very little money, and has cost a negligible amount of money to maintain (bought a good clean example) and today, a mere 11 years later, its worth 4/5X the money I have invested in it (and values continue to rise) My 130i, and E30 are not "daily drivers" circa 2000 - 3000 miles per year, and no doubt this helps for future value and ownership costs. I don't think I'm kidding myself...lets see how much a good, low mileage example of the early 130i's are a few years from now...guarantee I'll spend less on it, than what it appreciates by...
@@s200rey 'guarantee' eh. Why don't you sell your house and buy them all if its such a strong investment?
@@MikeSmith-rd9fi I'll stick to crypto and precious metals for my "strong investment" my cars are more like an asset to me (there is a difference) albeit an appreciating asset, rather than a depreciating asset. For example, if you were to buy say, 2014 VW Golf GTD something along those lines, you would LOOSE money, month after month for next few years till its price 'bottoms' where as, something like a BMW 130i, has already lost its maximum amount of value and in turn is now appreciating in value (so long as you bought at the bottom of the market price) ....Thanks for your baseless advice never the less LOL.
@@s200rey LOL HE HE so funny
just put the same tyres on my a class merc - make for perfect handling and grip
Same spec as my 57 plate 318 M sport 😍
Looking fabulous ! Have to let us know of the wheels are easier to clean 🧼