Windows squeaking.
I purchased this car last week. I was going to purchase a 120, but by the time I ticked all the option list, the 130 was a better buy.
The straight six 3 liter engine is very powerful, with the paddle shift on the steering wheel making gear changing very exciting. The engine note is louder than the 120, but it's bigger capacity, so it's expected.
I think the steering wheel feedback is too strong on the 130, sometimes you get steering kick when the road is not so good.
Overall I'm happy with the car, and with the dealer, but I'm very disappointed with windows squeaking after owning the car for one week. I am not sure of the cause - could be the motors for the electric windows. I am taking back to the dealer see what they say, but for the money I have paid, I am very surprised to see that windows squeaks.
Tim.
Well, this is me again, I left the review originally. The squeak is caused by the rubber being too dry. Its common on the 1 series according to the dealer. They will replace the door rubber. Hope that will fix it.
The car seem to have lot of steering kick. I do not know the reason. Anyway if the dealer cannot fix the car, I will live with it.
I don't know, I was expecting a better car, especially with the 130 being top of the range. I am starting to think maybe the car is not new. Should have purchased the 120, it's got enough power. The 130's a bit hard to drive.. is a bit over powered, not as smooth as the 120, because you need to rev low to drive normal. The engine doesn't like that.
Well, it's me again. This car is not that good. I should have purchased a Mazda Six.
Let me say this to all readers. BMW 130 is not that fast. It's a very revy engine, it doesn't need to rev much to get it going, but the extra reving doesn't do much.
Doors squeeks and rattle.
This car is nothing special. I agree with other reviewer now, it's not worth the price, the build quality is bad, I could hear air conditioning compressor making a sound now.
I will stick with a Japanese car next. I can see why euro cars are looing and can certainly see why Toyota is becoming the number 1 car manufacturer in the world.
I got a brand new BMW 130, it's a lemon. Period. And to the other review, I can confirm, yes, the door squeaks.
Tim.
Tim.
The door/window squeaking will be the start of an ongoing issue with your 130i. Trust me.
I had a 120d (see the review titled Brilliant, But Not For Everyone) and the car gave me good service for only three months before exhibiting signs of very poor quality and indifferent dealer service added to the misery of owning it.
Things got so bad that I had to phone BMW in New Zealand and they flew a techie down to have a look at my car. Replacement steering column was done to cure the car of a mysterious chaffing when the steering wheel was turned, but after that many other unresolved mysterious noises surfaced.
I got so tired of it that I sold it after only eight months at great financial loss.
Other BMWs I have had in the past all gave much better service. If this is a sign of where BMW is headed, good luck to them!
I too have a new 1 series, which is creaking and groaning from the windows. I have had the car for 8 weeks, and it has been back to the dealer 7 times, and yes it is very frustrating.
I finally had a technician from BMW UK to test drive the vehicle, and he too could hear the noises which I had described. The car was immediately taken from me and a loan car was given, whilst the car goes in for new window seals for the 2nd time in 3 weeks!!!
I have been assured that if this problem is not rectified this time, then the dealership will support me in rejecting this car and giving me a like for like car, as soon as one can be built. I am very happy with this outcome, and this is due to a good and supportive dealership.
I will update you of the outcome next week to see what happens next in my world.
Hello,
It's Tim again. I am the owner of the 130. I was advised by my dealer here to apply windex on the door seal rubber evert 10 days, it seem to have corrected the creaking sound, but very annoying that I had to do that.
I have spoke to a BMW dealer in overseas (Taiwan) Where I was from, they adviced to apply a special tape on the car frame where the seal contact, the tape is made from fabric material that will shut the creaking noise completely. I have confirmed this theory with my Brisbane BMW dealer (largest dealer in my state), they have confirmed the technic, will brin my car in to apply the tape in the next 2 weeks. Please note apply the tape on the rubber seals won't correct the creaking sound as Its already been done by my local dealer.
Man am I glad I found this site. I was on the brink of buying a new 130i auto. I was really attracted to the power and the pricing. I am now seriously contemplating an Audi a3 3.2 S line. They're very rare at the moment, but come in around 7k cheaper than the 130i and in my opinion allot easier in the eye.
David.
Best regards from Mexico.
I purchased a 120i a couple of months ago. It's the "Dynamic" version; sports suspension, wider tyres, sports seats, etc.. etc... Everything is so good so far except for... the doors RATTLE so much. Like there's a plastic thing loose inside the doors. It sounds so cheap it makes me want to rip the door apart to see what's inside. And I am afraid of having the dealer disassemble the doors and later have the rattles multiply because of a bad re-assembling. Any ideas? Anyone?
Hi Ben.
If you read my review yes the windows do rattle it is a common design fault of all BMW 1 series. Its not plastic loose its actually caused by the dirt on the rubber seal. When the rubber seal gets dirty it scrape against the metal as a result it makes a creaking sound, sounds like the window is loose or plastic got loose. Trust me the door is solid strong like a tank. Its the rubber seal a very tiny thing. Take your car back to your dealer they will replace the seal for you (won't disassemble the door) its only a rubber!!
Make sure you keep the rubber seal clean your dealer will advice you on that.
I am in Australia, in australia we use special lubricant which we apply on the rubber seal. It will sound like new again no creaking no cheap plastic sound.
Very small problem. Enjoy your car. PS: Make sure you check your tire pressure.
BMW 130 owner
Tim
Australia.
Hi I just recently bought a 120isports 6speed manual so far I love the car, but as soon as I drove it out of the showroom the windows haven't stopped sqeaking badly I was told about this and now I wish I had seen this website first. The car is 1 week old maybe I should have stuck with my 318i no problems there. Just wanted to know what I can do about this now,does it come under warranty is it fixable or an occuring problem cause this is the first time I have had a problem with any of the BMW I have ever owned I would appreciate your help thank you.
Rhonda.
The squeaking doors. I have had this problem with two 3 series models. Basically after investigating I found the problem is caused by the slight movement between the door frame and the body of the car - not the glass and the door frame. You can use a rubber lubricant to cure this. Spray the lubricant onto a cloth and rub into the contact points on both on the car frame and the door frame - as if you were cleaning the rubber/plastic. Alternatively applying regular car wax letting it dry and wiping it off provided a longer term solution. The squeaking can be caused by the rubber becoming slightly dry, but more often it is caused by a build up of detergent from car washes or the initial protective coating that is on the car at delivery and not properly removed. It is a minor problem, but a highly irritating one that sounds much worse than it is!! Hope this helps!
Hello Everyone.
Well I am the original reviewer of the 130. I have sold the car after 12 weeks of ownership. My final verdict of the 130 is. It's car which does everything right and everything wrong at same time. On the paper it looked a very promising car, don't let the big engine convince you to buy the car. In terms of dynamic, it really isn't that great. I made the mistake purchasing this car. The window creaking is so annoying, I am tired of putting lubricant on. It's a big issue on the 130 because of the stiff suspension. 1 series may seem a very nice car at start, but go for 3 or 5 instead.
It handles great, but lack of steering centre feel, the big 3.0 ltr is laggy needs to be reved. I also own a 2.5ltr Z4. Z4 is a much better car dynamically and despite smaller engine, its more responsive and actually feels faster, better engine note as well. I know some of you reader may say how could a 3.0 straight six go wrong, well it has.. make sure you guys take the car for a long drive. If thinking buying howver, go for 3 series. The 1 series is just too cramp too small, too stiff, the 130 does not give you that BIG bmw WOW factor as the other series equiped with the same motor.
Be very very careful when deciding a one series.
Make sure the tape have been applied on the rubber seal the window rattling is very annoying.
Tim.
Hi just wanted to let you know that the squeaky problem has been fixed, but I'm still not happy its starting to come back now plus the lubricant on the windows has leaked on to the rubber so when the car is dirty and dry the black rubber looks blotchy and I don't like it also got told that its not a good idea to tint the windows just wondering if anyone has had any problems with this. Does anyone have tinted windows my car is a 120i sports 6speed manual I would appreciate your advice thank you.
Rhonda.
Hi Rohnda.
This is Tim again I am the original reviewer for the 130. Yes the window tinting can cause problem, its because of the plastic frame. The window rattling cannot be solved I have been to my dealership for 15 times, each time they apply lubricant, what you going to find is once the lubricant dry up, the rattle will be back. The rubber is simply too hard.. Its part of their cost saving.
I am very unhappy with my 130, the power aren't great lots of small problems windows rattling been one and plus I had few other issues. Its over priced for what it is, it's not a comfortable car too, those run flats tyres simply too hard, sports suspension too firm. For the price I have paid, I don't think I got a good car.
I sold my 130 after 3 moths of owner ship with 5000km on the clock. I am glad I did that.
The rubber issue cannot be solved, the only way is to constant apply lubricant, or do something custom which not sure if it will avoid the warranty, many customers in taiwan have applied fabric tape on it, which completely silence it, but not sure if your BMW will approve that. It doesn't make sense, such an expensive car, rattles like a cheap car.
Also yes tinting will cause problem will cause windows to screak, so you need to tint the windows with proper gap.
I have done a lot of research on the 1 series, to be honest, I recommend you give up this car and use the money to buy another brand. I wouldn't go for c-class mercedes, I had that before the 130.
I had 2 toyotas in my time, they never cause any problem, I know it doesn't handles like bmw or merc, but its relaible and the price they ask for is honest.. I get less problem with toyota and far better services.
Good luck
Tim.
Hi Tim
Thank you for your advice at the moment my car is getting the tint done again as the first time the bubbles never went down so basically it was a bodgy job and hopefully they clean up the blotchiness on the outside of the windows.I have noticed that the windows fog up for no reason wondering if that has happenned before with you.I really like the car, but its just the windows that I'm not impressed with. I have been given a courtesy car and I'm loving it at the moment I have an X3 turbo diesel and I'm looking at purchasing one in 3 years time as I don't like to keep my new cars any longer I will stick with BMW as I have never had any problems with them and they do look after me all the time.I will wait and see when my car comes back and keep you posted on further developments on the car thank you for your help Tim.
Rhonda.
Hi Rhonda
The creaking issue can be fixed 100% simplya by applying fabric tape over the entire rubber. But you would only do that as the last resource. Most of the time the rubber lubricant will fix the problem, avoid washing door frame.
But you will need to find someone who knows the right tape to use. This is a current technic which common applies on bmw 1 series sold in Asian countries, due too bad asian roads makes the queaking much worse. I wouldn't recommend this way, might avoid your warranty, but many have done it in asia, it fixed the problem 100%..
With the window tinting, because of the plastic frame it makes the tinting very hard for the tinter, so skilled tinter is needed to do a good job, I have seen some one series with pefect tinting.
Another issue, if you ever feel that the wheel is out of alignment on the 1 series, it prob isn't, make sure all tyre pressure are the same, the one series are very sensitive cars.
1 series is a good car, handles well for a hatch. I let my go because my expectation were too high, because I had porsche boxter and mercedes in the past, I was expecting the 1 series to out perform the boxter 2.5ltr, well I guess that's probably why boxter still is a more expensive car. completely different class.
I quite like the X3.. anyway see how yo go with your 1 series, if not happy should sell it and change to a x3 go for something you like.. :) :)
Ask me if you have any other issues with your one.. common issues with 1 series.
1. Window creaking/rattle.
2. Tinting problem
3. Alignment issue. (mostly cause by tyre pressure)
4. Steering sound. (Mostly on the 116s).
Thanks
Tim.