2006 BMW 130i Reviews

The word is it's going V8 to match similar offerings from Audi and Mercedes- Benz. That's a real shame because M3 has become synonomous with a hyperperformance, naturally aspirated, six cylinder engine.But there is hope for all the six-pot power hounds out there in the form of the new BMW 130i Sport which offers nearly the same level of performance as the M3, a similar engine note and similar feel - at less than half the price.It is likely the 130i Sport will cannibalise sales of the M3.So it's a win for the sporty car purist and probably for BMW which stands to sell plenty of these mightly little rear drive hatch backs.The 130i Sport aready has impressive credentials as it recently lapped the Nurburgring North Loop, in the hands of a BMW test driver, quicker than the current M3. What does that mean?It speaks of the dynamic prowess of the 130i, of its rigid chassis, grip through corners, top speed potential, stability, engine torque, accu- rate gearing, braking and much more.The Nurburgring is tough on cars and drivers.On top of that, the 130i covers the 0-100km sprint in a respectable 6.0 seconds putting it in a bracket with the likes of FPV and HSV big guns and the Subaru WRX.Therein lies a question, do you spend $63,000 on something small and good or more on something big and less good?The 130i runs BMW's new magnesium alloy straight six 3.0-litre engine with 195kW/ 300Nm output.It's a lot of poke for a small car.The engine has variable valve timing, called Bi-VANOS in BMW speak, and another system that alters valve lift for gains in power output, fuel economy and emissions reduction.A six speed close ratio manual feeds power to the rear wheels. No other small hatch has rear wheel drive these days.No doubt this has something to do with the 130i's perfect 50/50 weight distribution front to rear which in turn contributes to the car's stability and handling.The 130i Sport has a muscular appearance set off by a set of 17in alloys with wide, low profile tyres, dual exhaust outlets and an athletic squat to the suspension. Minor detail changes also set it apart from the lower spec' 1-Series.A similar formula is used inside where the 130 has a sportier style complete with metallic fascia inserta. sports seats and wheel and metal pedals in adition to a swag of luxury goodies.The test vehicle was equipped with M options.It is an absolute hoot to drive offering superb acceleration and throttle response to the accompaniment of a stirring wail from the exhaust - just like the M3.Power delivery is flexible with solid response from idle right up to the 7000rpm plus redline.It's a hare out of the blocks and stays that way throughout the range unlike a turbo car.The gearchange feels taut and gaps between gear ratrios are small.Point the 130i at some curves and it's like bees to a honey pot. The car virtually beckons you to fully explore its cornering prowess.There are some compromises to deal with such as the tight pedal box and small boot. There's no spare as the 130i has run-flat tyres. Hopefully replacements will be readily avail- able throughout the country.The low roof height can be an issue for taller drivers unless the adjustable seat is fully down.Adequate room is provided for four inside and a swag of safety equipment includes high tech stuff like ESP and dynamic stability control.

Tasty indeed.Now, that brings us nicely to another tasty combination ... mouthwatering, really. BMW's natty little 1 Series chassis and the Bavarian maestri's sublime three-litre straight six. The result is the 130i Sport.BMW do not actually use the "M" word for this car, other than to acknowledge that the M Sport package of suspension, wheels, tyres, trim and other shiny bits comes standard with the base $62,900 price tag.This is a Clayton's M1 — a really, really special five-door hatch that deserves to be acknowledged and admired. In launching the baby 1 Series more than a year ago, BMW stayed true to the marque's key tenets: it was a driver's car and it was a rear-wheel drive.Forget the option-ticking frenzy that accompanies most BMW sales. Straight out of the wrapping, this is a car to cherish.With 190kW of power and 315Nm of torque — not outlandish in pure performance terms but class-leading for a small hatch — the 130i feels lean, mean and ready to party from the first punch of the starter button.Yep, the 130i Sport has joined the growing band of "sports" cars with a starter button. Happily, on this one it looks good.With a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.2 seconds the littler Bimmer is quick but not in the manner of a slingshot. Renault's Sport Megane Cup can give it 30kW and a fair race to the ton. However, the 130i is fun ... that is F-U-N. There are precious few cars of any ilk that will finish a duel with this little rocket with its reputation intact. And it's all done wrapped in leather and style with a modicum of practicality thrown in for good measure.A rear seat — a touch tight as it is — and five doors makes the 130i a liveable daily-drive. Ferrying the kids around or picking up the groceries has rarely been so much fun.The 130i Sport's six-speed box is a sweet match to the free-spinning engine. Get into the powerband from the mid-2000rpm mark and the urge doesn't stop until you are within spittin'-distance of redline.It would be quite reasonable to fear that shoehorning a bleedin' great straight six into the nose of a smallish hatch would have a dire effect on many of those things — such as weight distribution and balance — that play such a big role in driving dynamics.You know the scenario: goes like stink in a straight line but best to avoid the corners. Not so. BMW has warped the laws applying to lesser folk to produce the lightest three-litre six in creation and balance it in a chassis that positively screams to be thrown around.The steering feel is comfortingly weighted and wonderfully precise. Tip it into a corner and the One settles on to the suspension, turns the nose towards the business ahead and gobbles it up without the fear of attracting unwanted attention with smoking tyres, a screaming engine or body contortions.Suspension is fully independent, there are anti-skid, four-wheel disc brakes, electronics for stability and traction control, six airbags, airconditioning, CD sound. The sports seats are well designed for comfort and offer good support and bolstering. Overall, the interior design is Germanic function rather than French flair but it works.Is the 130i Sport good value? For a small hatch, that would be a no. As therapy against a world being overwhelmed by mediocrity, it is a resounding yes.

But you know it's coming.This is what the launch of the original BMW 1 Series was like.Here was a car with obvious gifts — a road-carving chassis, sublime steering and an abrupt wheelbase — but none of the power needed to fully exploit them. We've got used to driving the 118i and 120i and, luxury accoutrements and lovable steering feel aside, to not expecting much from them.At first glance, the 130i Sport doesn't look a lot racier than these conveyances — in short, it doesn't look fast.It does, however, manage the impressive trick of feeling very quick indeed. It takes just one grip of the muscular, M3-styled steering wheel, which would make a brutal truncheon if you straightened it out, to know that this is a serious bit of kit.The M-labelled door sills and the ridiculously grippy seats, which hold your hips, sides and kidneys in a boa constrictor grip, are other big clues as well.Then there's the sound, which my better half was entirely bemused by. She seemed to think there was something "wrong" with an engine deep-bass burbling like a vat of brimstone, even just off idle.Enthusiastic application of the throttle produces a raging, metallic snarl — as if popcorn is being made out of ball bearings.These sounds were applauded as quite wonderful by the formerly baffled beloved, but it's easy to see why she was confused.That sort of fuss and fury isn't normally associated with small, five-door hatches — imagine Lleyton sounding like Lawsy and you've got the idea.What's making all that noise is the engine that makes BMW the envy of so many: its 3-litre straight six.In the increasingly bulky new 3 Series range it turns up in the 330i as a stonking, slamming powerplant, but in the 1 Series shell it's even more impressive, thanks to a weight difference of 90kg. (The 130i tips the scales at1465kg.) The 330i races to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds, but the 130i would already be gone, hitting the ton in just 6.1 seconds.Even more impressive is the price difference, with the 130i's $62,000 sticker a massive $34,500 cheaper. Unlike the latest 330i, this baby version even comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.While the gear lever feels lovely to the hand, the shift action is not as good as, say, the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It's not a pig to use, by any means, it's just further than you'd expect from class-leading.What makes gear shifting a pleasure, though, is heel-and-toeing on the downchange, with the pedals perfectly positioned to make it feel natural, and that gorgeous metallic burp/blip sound.Around town you've got to love the engine's 315Nm. It's got enough teeth to snap at you from 100km/h in fifth as if you've just prodded it with a burning stick.With 195kW, this really is the full Federer. Even in third gear, on a dry road, you'll light up thetraction light if you plant the foot.Much fun is to be had by pulling up at the lights next to an ordinary 3 Series and leaving it languishing.It's almost as good as frightening hell out of other 1 Series drivers, who look at you as a kindred spirit when you pull up, then shake their heads as you disappear towards the horizon, wondering why the dealer sold them a dud version.Street-light fights are one thing, but it's in the twisties that the 130i really shines, punching you in and out of corners and providing the sort of meaty steering that makes it feel like you're cutting big chunks out of each bend. The only criticism is that the car does not cope too well with really big bumps, but most of the time it stays as hunkered down as a tortoise.Finally the engine can ask the questions we've wanted to ask of the chassis, all of which it answers with a derisory snort, as if to say it could cope with even more power if you asked it to.It sounds like crazy talk, but at $62,000, this car is something of a bargain. Those who seek to buy the Bavarian brand for cache rather than corner-carving will counter that you can have a new, and far bigger, 320i from $49,900.Ignore the space issue and you realise that, compared to a 330i, or even a second hand M3, it's a hell of a cheap way to experience the magic of a BMW at full noise with perfect poise.It's interesting to ponder what else you might buy for the money, and only the Mitsubishi Evo IX really comes to mind. While the Evo is quicker, and cheaper, the difference in cabin quality and feel would make up the difference.And, considering our Cayman cover story last week, it's also apt to point out that, while the Porsche is a faster, and far prettier car, the levels of fun and involvement are nowhere near as far apart as the price differential would suggest.Truly, BMW has got this 1 right.