Ok, not entirely; the ‘sagging’ swage above the sill line still looks odd, and it carries a slightly startled wall-eyed look thanks to the raised brow over the headlights and square-set front. Some will also find the roof a little bulbous (to allow headroom in the rear) and the high-waisted sides a bit ‘slabby’ in the short, squat Coupe.
But it’s not unpleasant. Where the lines of the hatch are a tad fey (I didn’t say that), the Coupe looks tough – in a nuggety terrier way - and has real personality to its style that grows on you. Underneath, it’s all BMW: German build, Teutonic attention to detail, German engineering.
When out on the road, when at one with the car, self, and universe; when pondering the sheer joy of driving and the interaction with the road, few cars go about things like a sporting BMW. The balance at the wheel, and the unruffled way the 125i Coupe swallows looping bends, switch-backs and straights, makes driving the wheels off this little Beamer damn near irresistible.
We were forced to take it on more than one spirited run through the foothills and into the winding passes of the Strathbogies north east of Melbourne… out here, the 125i Coupe is in its element. On these roads you find yourself pushing harder and harder looking for its limits. This car can make a ham-fisted steerer look half alright (believe me, I know someone like that). The 125i Coupe’s turn in at speed is little short of breathtaking (until you remember the last time you drove a performance BMW), and the willing throttle response from the luscious 160kW 2996cc naturally aspirated six invites power-on driving. Producing 270Nm, it’s not over-endowed with ergs, but in this car, it’s all about balance. The handling, power, and precision at the wheel, seems perfectly matched.
The feel through the well-weighted, chunky sports wheel, and the information that feeds through to the seat of the pants lets you know precisely what is happening underneath. You could fillet a carp with this sort of knife-edge precision.
Also satisfying is the muted growl from the lusty straight six up front, rising to that particular BMW howl when stretched to the redline.
‘Ours’ came with the six-speed ‘steptronic’ transmission. Not our first choice - and beaten hands-down by VW and Audi’s DSG boxes – but one of the better conventional adaptive auto boxes. Best, in our view, left to its own devices in ‘sport mode’ except when arm-wrestling a mountain pass. Then, keeping the right gear underfoot is better handled by the steering-mounted paddles. Unlike the Evo and the R32 (and most other paddle-operated tiptronic, sensodrive and DSG boxes), the paddles on the 125i Coupe each have the same function. A jab of the thumb to change down, on either the left or right paddle, and, similarly, a flick of the fingers to change up (rather than the ‘left-for-down/right-for-up’ operation most employ).
2010 HSV Clubsport R8 
2009 BMW 335i Sedan 
2010 BMW 120d Hatch manual (E87) 
2009 Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon 
2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 
2009 Ford Mondeo MB (Titanium)
“…the 270kW twin turbo 135i”
I thought it was 225kw?
Yars, you’re right Joe: 225kW for the 135i. The 125i carries 270Nm of torque, and 160kW…
(Damned hard to get good hired help these days; flamin’ elves refuse to proof-read.)
The Insider
Would’ve been better value if BMW servicing fees and spare parts pricing are anything to go by.
Great bang for the bucks nonetheless.
After reading that I want one.
there is no 130i coupe in Oz, i have a 135i and it rocks.
Great review guys. Write ups on the 125i have been so few and far between since most have focussed on the 135i. For good reason! But it’s great to see that you rate the 125i as both a great drive and amazing value too.
Are you kidding me? It’s rubbish.
It looks like a piece of plastic that’s gotten too near the flames, the paddle shifts on the auto are all backwards (why not left and right, instead of two front and backs???)
The exhaust is too boomy, and the back seats are for the elves you speak of. No sane person will sit in the back for a long distance.
The interior is too plasticky, and the servicing and parts will kill you.
No thanks.
Hmmm… Ben, put over 2000 kilometres on the 125i - on city, freeway and secondary roads - and never once thought the exhaust was “boomy”… deliciously growly maybe: a nice growl while accelerating, settling to a distant ‘note’ at constant highway speeds.
Spent the better part of the last three months jumping in and out of DSG and TCSST equipped cars, and reckon the BMW system (”two front and backs”) is better - especially when you’re ‘crossed up’ in high speed cornering…
RE the interior, where precisely is all the plastic? Sure, would love an old Jag’s burr walnut dash and console…
You’re welcome though Ben in disagreeing with our assessment, that’s what makes the world go round (and you’re not alone in finding the Coupe’s lines a little challenging… I like ‘em (generally), but others weren’t so sure).
The Insider
As much as I like this car, there is nothing under $70K at dealers advertising online, and that is for second hand ones!!!
How realistic is that $54K pricetag in terms of the ones that actually are sold??? $15K worth of options added to each???
Good car though, I agree with the comments re keeping the car small and light. I don’t understand either why each new model has to be bigger than the last!!
Alec, had a chat to Stillwells BMW in Melbourne (not sure where you’re based)… you can order the 125i Coupe sans options - ie. at the base price, manual - but you’ll have to wait until April next year before delivery, around six months away.
Worth the wait I’d reckon (what happens in international currency movements against the Oz dollar between now and then might be a variable to consider though).
The Insider
Thanks for that.. I guess the long wait for delivery explains why the second hand ones are so pricey!!
Great review! It’s about time someone took the 125i for a decent drive and penned their findings. I love my 125i, just over 7,000 kms on the clock now and she’s really loosened up. Sure, it doesn’t pack the same punch as the twin turbo 135i, but where are you going to need that sort of power in a daily driver? I optioned mine to the max - xenons, sunroof, iDrive, M-Sports pack, 18″ rims. Came in at just under $70K on the road, but $20K less than a 135i with the same options. Thanks for giving the 125i the review it deserves.
Still Waiting !!!! ordered July 08 , it may arrive by March ordered a manual and still have not driven one, only the auto ?????.
So good to see a review on the 125i coupe instead of the convertible.
Have to agree with just about everything, and after 5500km my initial reservations about the ride have gone.
Just one drive on some decent roads in South Gippsland and Im totally besotted.
Fuel economy marginally better than previous Subaru Liberty 2.5 and the 6 speed auto is from another planet in comparison.(I think there’s a connection there somewhere …)Love the paddles which can be engaged in either auto mode and will resume normal Drive around town if left alone.
Only problem I have had is due to the proximity of cruise control wand to the lighting wand. Action to activate cruise same as flashing high beam ..you can guess the rest
Would like to know how different the engine is from the 130i and if its only a matter of reprogramming EMS to get same output. Engine seems physically identical.
Andys got a point about the spare parts and service costs. BMW’s are very good cars ( well I think so )…. but when you pay $3500 for a minor service on a 320i it makes you want to re-consider the great audi a4 and the merc c-class.
Maybe thats Why my wife sold the BMW and bought the audi a4 2 litre when i was overseas, glad she did to be frank.