• What generation is your 130i? There's a 2006 e87 that has popped up for sale near me. Manual, 140,000 kilometres and in a really nice metallic blue. Decent interior apart from a worn steering wheel. Looks to have the hydraulic power steering too. Very tempting.

  • Mine sounds exactly the same as that one. Same year, 130k miles so that’s quite a bit more, hydro steering.

    Issues I’ve had are a failed starter motor, a flooded parking sensor module and that’s about all in the 25k I’ve owned it. Go and drive it if you’re serious, if it’s healthy you can’t fail to fall in love with that glorious engine in a practical little hatch that looks no different to a 116i. The throttle response, the noise, and the sense that it will throw you backwards into a ditch if you take the piss make it an absolute hoot. I’ve never felt like I want anything more, I’m planning on keeping it forever, it’s already booked in to tackle the bit of rust that’s starting to form despite it probably only being worth about £3k.

    Edit: Mine’s the SE rather than M-Sport version with 17” wheels, taller sidewalls and softer springs which is perfect for the shitted up B-roads round me which is where it really puts a smile on your face.

  • Excellent info. Thanks. Sounds like it's a solid platform then. Would be a big change from my 306! At least I'm used to cars that like to spit you into the hedges if you drive like badly. The one I'm looking at is probably the m-sport as I think that's the only spec they sold down here and the last owner has put 19's on. They look great but imagine it drives fairly harshly. Would be changing that.
    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2006-bmw-1-series-130i-sport-e87-manual/OAG-AD-19714035

About