- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
3.0i, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
195kW, 315Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 9.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2006 BMW 130i Sport: Used car review
The BMW 1 Series was criticised for its lack of power when the baby of the range was launched in 2004. It made its debut without a six-cylinder engine in the line-up, which is like Christmas without the presents.
Now the maker has addressed those concerns by squeezing a six-cylinder engine under the bonnet - but, in hatch terms, it's not cheap. The 130i Sport is $62,900 and the six-speed automatic version costs $65,500.
Munich's latest magnesium-aluminium composite block 3.0-litre six-cylinder - the standard powerplant, with variable valve timing - produces 195kW of power at 6600rpm and 315Nm of torque at only 2750rpm. Here, these numbers are applied to the rear wheels, as per BMW lore, to a car that weighs only 1375 kilograms. Sounds like fun.
Standard equipment includes the M Sport package - body kit, lowered and stiffened suspension, M steering wheel, power-adjustable sports seats, 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/50 (front) and 225/45 (rear) runflat tyres - plus six airbags, leather upholstery, cruise control, rear parking assistance, automatic air-conditioning, a six-stack CD player in the boot, bi-Xenon headlights, DataDots security and rain-sensing wipers.
The formula of small car plus light weight plus big power makes for exhilarating performance.
Pulling like a train from 1500rpm to a 7000rpm redline - seamlessly across the bottom end and lower midrange - the 3.0 kicks at 4500 rpm when valve lift, timing and duration are at maximum efficiency. Response to the pedal is always immediate, accurate and eager.
The 130i covers the 0-100kmh trip in 6.3 seconds. A short, sporty exhaust gives it a sweet, mean sound as well.
Geared for performance, the six-speed manual pulls 2350rpm at 100kmh in sixth. It has a light, easy action, with just the right amount of mechanical feel and an unerring ability to find the next gate.
The 130i handles and steers as a sportster should, but if you are expecting M3-like agility, balance and poise you may be disappointed. We were.
The conventional hydraulic power steering is precise but inconsistently weighted and quite heavy. The Pirelli Euforia runflat tyres detract from steering feel and lack the grip expected of premium sports rubber. The 130i requires more effort than expected to point into a corner or change direction quickly. It also pushes its nose wide in tight bends, which is most unusual for a BMW.
When the stability control is adjusted for minimal intervention, the 130i's tail-happy behaviour goes beyond enjoyment to constant annoyance. Even in full protection mode, when the stability control is still relatively benign, it is constantly triggered by the tyres' inability to hang on under power.
The ride is hard, especially around town. Suspension comfort improves with speed, but the verdict in the Drive office was mixed: some could live with it, others couldn't. Further, the noise and impact generated by messy, pockmarked bitumen is more noticeable in the cabin than in larger BMWs, and a front-end hit can cause the body to flinch occasionally.
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The brakes have plenty of bite, a sensitive pedal and strong resistance to fade. The hill-holder function, which stops the car rolling back for a few seconds as you move from brake to accelerator, is handy.
In the cabin, the elegant, expansive styling of the 1 Series remains, in dark tones for the tough-guy 130i and rendered in high-quality materials with excellent fit and finish. Most of the car's limited interior space is devoted to front occupants.
Firm, well bolstered and very comfortable on a long journey, the M sports driver's seat has an extendable cushion that is great for long legs. There is sufficient travel to accommodate these, adequate headroom for those up to 185 centimetres (with the optional sunroof on the test car) and a reach- and height-adjustable wheel, so most people will be able to tailor the driving position to suit.
However the M steering wheel rim is absurdly thick, even for large hands. It feels like something in a toy car, even detracting from the steering's qualities.
We prefer a tactile, thin-rimmed wheel, as per a standard BMW, any day of the week.
The convex dash is minimalist and efficient in layout. The two main instruments are easy to read; the trip computer display is between them.
The push button starter is a gimmick. Of greater value are several small storage spaces for your bits and pieces, plus 12-volt and audio input jacks for your MP3 player. BMW still can't fit a six-stacker in the dash.
Rear space is hopelessly compromised by the rear-drive layout. It is very tight if four tallish adults are travelling in the car.
Long legs are splayed to either side of the front seats, you need Houdini-like articulation to wriggle in and out and, with the sunroof, headroom is restricted for those of 180 centimetres or so.
The deep, reasonably spacious boot - no space-guzzling spare - can be extended, with the 60-40 split-folding seat back to a flat 1.5 metres without compromising front seat travel.
Another 12-volt outlet and four load-securing lugs are provided. We approached the 130i expecting it to be a worldbeater, so the fact that it is not is in part perhaps due to our wishful thinking. However, the 130i's beautiful set of numbers don't quite add up on the road and its steering and handling lack the effortless precision and balance that is usually a given with the BMW badge.
Despite BMW's claim of an ideal 50-50 weight distribution, the 130i feels front-heavy, the steering is harder work than it should be and the tyres are not up to putting the engine's performance properly to the road.
Too good to be true? Afraid so.