Considering buying 2013 125i f21

[Elrey1104]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and very close to buying a 2013 bmw 125i with around 95000km on the clock.

I've read about the timing chain issues and the resulting engine failures and would like to know if this is a major concern?

The car is also very basic, no Msport, no xenons or sunroof etc, should i rather consider paying the extra 60-70k to get one with the features and a newer model say 2014/2015 or is it not worth it for the price increase?

Thanks so much in advance

 

[Schalk94]

I would rather look at a 2014 and newer 125i ,because these timing chain issues could become really costly in the long run and from 2014 the revised timing chain etc were fitted to the cars.

 

[yush1]

I wouldnt be to concerned with extras as you seldom get more for these when you trade in except if its Msport.

 

[MR_Y]

Have you considered a Golf GTI of similar age?
Besides the hijack risk, it is arguably the better car in this segment...

 

[AshG108]

If you willing to go there, rather look for a M135i with that mileage, solid motor bud

 

[hereticangel]

Friends don't let friends buy early n20 revisions engines based bmw's

 

[Elrey1104]

Thanks for the input guys!:ty:

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Have you considered a Golf GTI of similar age?
Besides the hijack risk, it is arguably the better car in this segment...

The hijack factor is one of the reasons I want the 125i over the Gti, currently drive a polo and its been stolen and recovered before so don't want to carry the risk any longer.:fencelook:

 

[SanM]

Did you have the Polo or Polo Vivo? I heard that the Vivo's are generally the higher risk.

 

[SanM]

Did you have the Polo or Polo Vivo? I heard that the Vivo's are generally the higher risk.

 

[Kyloo]

I wouldnt recommend a 125i to anybody having driven a few and seeing real life performance vs economy etc.

If i was you def rather M135i or a M Sport 120D

M135i obviously cost a bit more but to be honest the fuel consumption on F20 M135i is actually better than the 125i with way more performance and much more reliable engine. Especially since you buying out of motorplan

120D is also an awesome car very very light on fuel with a decent amount of power the torque is only 50nm less than the M135i

 

[MR_Y]

I wouldnt recommend a 125i to anybody having driven a few and seeing real life performance vs economy etc.

If i was you def rather M135i or a M Sport 120D

M135i obviously cost a bit more but to be honest the fuel consumption on F20 M135i is actually better than the 125i with way more performance and much more reliable engine. Especially since you buying out of motorplan

120D is also an awesome car very very light on fuel with a decent amount of power the torque is only 50nm less than the M135i

The older 125i 3.0i motor is a heavy drinker.
I though the newer 125i 2.0t motor was a sober drinker?

 

[TS_]

I just had my N20 engine rebuilt after the guides failed and damaged a number of other things. If you can avoid the earlier engine, all the better for you. You don't want to risk being a statistic.

 

[peanut125i]

The 125i is okish. Fuel the one I had averaged 10liter/100 over 80000km. One thing though. Be prepared for most 1.6 turbo hot hatches to blow past you at the robots.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

 

[FerdiBotha]

The 125i is okish. Fuel the one I had averaged 10liter/100 over 80000km. One thing though. Be prepared for most 1.6 turbo hot hatches to blow past you at the robots.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Lol,

Having driven many F20 125i’s I’d put my money on driver error here.

The F20 125i is much quicker than any little Clio RS, Fiesta ST etc.

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I wouldnt recommend a 125i to anybody having driven a few and seeing real life performance vs economy etc.

The F20 125i isn’t heavy on fuel. The E82 125i was.

 

[SanM]

I owned a 125i F25, automatic.
That car is a sleeper - so many people underestimated it and were left embarrassed a few seconds later. Obliterating GTI's was like a routine check. Only gripe with the car was high fuel consumption. No matter how carefully I drove, I consistently got around 11l/100km under mixed conditions. My best consumption was only when driving from Drakensberg to Dbn, in which I got 6.6l/100km (but you expect much better consumption since that trip is pretty much a downhill cruise). Overall, I really enjoyed the car and never had any issues while owning it (though only had it for 2 years since brand new).

 

[AceRally]

I owned a 125i F25, automatic.
That car is a sleeper - so many people underestimated it and were left embarrassed a few seconds later. Obliterating GTI's was like a routine check. Only gripe with the car was high fuel consumption. No matter how carefully I drove, I consistently got around 11l/100km under mixed conditions. My best consumption was only when driving from Drakensberg to Dbn, in which I got 6.6l/100km (but you expect much better consumption since that trip is pretty much a downhill cruise). Overall, I really enjoyed the car and never had any issues while owning it (though only had it for 2 years since brand new).

Agreed, also had no issues against GTIs so surprised about Peanut getting beaten by 1.6 Turbos

 

[Kyloo]

The 125i is okish. Fuel the one I had averaged 10liter/100 over 80000km. One thing though. Be prepared for most 1.6 turbo hot hatches to blow past you at the robots.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Lol,

Having driven many F20 125i’s I’d put my money on driver error here.

The F20 125i is much quicker than any little Clio RS, Fiesta ST etc.

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I wouldnt recommend a 125i to anybody having driven a few and seeing real life performance vs economy etc.

The F20 125i isn’t heavy on fuel. The E82 125i was.

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Have you driven one for a few days? I have a heavily modded 135i coupe and the F20 125i was heavier on juice than my 135i with same style of driving

 

[peanut125i]

Maybe my 125i was shit, engine did blow at 50k km so who knows. I did not rate it as a fast car at all. Not compared to the E82 135i I had later on. For fuel economy there is no way it will be anywhere near a 135i coupe's consumption. I averaged 550km a tank and same driving style 300km for the E82.

A friend of mine had a E90 320d and I could not keep up with him at all. His car was also stock.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Both my cars where a 100% stock

 

[FerdiBotha]

Maybe my 125i was shit, engine did blow at 50k km so who knows. I did not rate it as a fast car at all. Not compared to the E82 135i I had later on. For fuel economy there is no way it will be anywhere near a 135i coupe's consumption. I averaged 550km a tank and same driving style 300km for the E82.

A friend of mine had a E90 320d and I could not keep up with him at all. His car was also stock.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Both my cars where a 100% stock

Your 125i must have been a lemon then bud.

That really sucks :sorry:

 

[kingr]

There's some good feedback here about the issues experienced with the 125i regarding timing chain failure.

Anyone keen on doing a write-up for our blog on this car? Would love a detailed article on the 125i, explaining what to watch out for and known issues like this.