Off to test drive a 130i M-sport on wednesday. Will obviously post a review afterwards. Anyone else had a drive in one?

Hired a 118D in Austria last September.

Good Points

Seats

Handling

Engine

MPG/LPK

Bad Points

Price (Though didn't notice this)

Indicators - couldn't turn the darned things off

Visibility

Tailgate opening - No proper handle easy to scratch.

Space (Fabia has same amount and is a smaller car)

M Version will probably be better but the niggles just made the car so unpleasant.

That being said if you can live with the niggles not a bad

Yep.....as per all BMW's handling, engine/drivetrain excellent but the rest of the car is pretty pants considering the price!....much better to save some

Thinking of buying it? Could get a lot more machinery for the money!

Look forward to the review though, and I bet its fun!

Indicators - couldn't turn the darned things off

Most BMW drivers probably will not notice this

PS. You forgot to list "hideously ugly" as well

Most BMW drivers probably will not notice this

Just a thought... maybe that's why BMW drivers don't use them??? :nervous:

Why the hell have BMW brought out an M version. Would they not have been better spending their development budget on replacing the 1 series with something that's a bit more practical that you can actually live with?

Actually saw one today, in red (if that makes any difference) - not a big fan of the 1-series, but with the new front and rear bumpers, the design seemed to make a bit more sense to me. Still not 100% sure about it, but like Clarkson said about the Astra VXR, I'd accept one if it was given to me but wouldn't spend my own hard-earned on one...

Why the hell have BMW brought out an M version. Would they not have been better spending their development budget on replacing the 1 series with something that's a bit more practical that you can actually live with?

This isn't the M Version. Don't know if one will actually be made. Not seen any confirmations?

This is the M-Sport version - 265bhp 3.0 straight-six and M division have had a play with the drivetrain and suspension.

Agree it's an improvement over std 1-Series, but have you seen the price of the thing? :eek: Even if it was good looking, it would be a tough decision, especially with what else that wedge of cash would bring to your driveway.

Steve

A friend's got a 118d. It's small and getting into the back is a bit odd. It must be something to do with the door shape.

The 1-series is IMHO overrated, but it's certainly not a bad car. The options list is rather excessive, aircon not being standard on a 20k+ car is taking the p*ss.

The room in the back is reasonable, Fabia has more room already though. You're looking at Octavia money though, and frankly that blows the 1-series away for space

The 118d (which happens to be the one two of the guys at work have) seems to be reasonably fast, pretty quiet and revs smoothly, bit petrolly in nature. Not a lot wrong with it.

The 130 then - could be very interesting, I wonder how much the extra weight of the engine impacts on handling, looking forward to the review

This isn't the M Version. Don't know if one will actually be made. Not seen any confirmations?

This is the M-Sport version - 265bhp 3.0 straight-six and M division have had a play with the drivetrain and suspension.

Agree it's an improvement over std 1-Series' date=' but have you seen the price of the thing? :eek: Even if it was good looking, it would be a tough decision, especially with what else that wedge of cash would bring to your driveway.

Steve[/quote']

They couldn't really bring out a actual M version as it would be no doubt called the M1. That would be sacrilege - http://www.bmwworld.com/models/vintage/m1.htm

Oh yes, I'm well aware of the heritage

Yeah, could be a tricky naming problem. I agree that it shouldn't be called the M1.

Steve

M Version will probably be better but the niggles just made the car so unpleasant.

You're kidding right? Probably? That's like saying you drive a BMW 520i and that M5 is PROBABLY better...not top notch, but probably a little better...WHAT!?? The new M 130 owns the road, it is extremely powerful and is supposed to handle very well

And about those indicators...takes a while to get used to how they work...but then again that's one thing I hate about these manufacturers is how they seem to want to change 'standard' accepted designs...like the indicators for example...click down, left indo on, click up, right indi on...and what have BMW done? Put it like this...say you have a normal switch for a light bulb which you switch on and off plain and simple....BMW have gone and given the switch a dimmer.

4car reviewed the 130i and found it underwhelming, saying they expected more from a car wearing the "M" badge.

The new M 130 owns the road, it is extremely powerful and is supposed to handle very well

IT'S NOT AN M-CAR!

It's an M-Sport. Massive difference. Bit like a 330Ci Sport isn't the same as an M3.

Steve

4car reviewed the 130i and found it underwhelming, saying they expected more from a car wearing the "M" badge.

i think 4car have missed the point (again lol)

i could buy a 318 and get the m-sport pack.. its just sports suspension and styling.

its just a marketing gimmik like the old mk4 GTI was...

See my review here clicky

m sport is a level of trim it goes standard, es, se then M sport - I should know because I've got a 320d sport

Must stop me trading it in for a vrs estate in November (one new skoda a year is enough)