Any 128i buyers regret not getting a 135i?

[jb2178]

I'm at 38,000 miles and I love my 128i. Coming from a honda civic I knew I didn't need 300 hp. I always loved the 3 series but if you ask me the E92 is too big. I don't want to drive a car big enough to fit a V8. I also don't need 4 doors but I like knowing I can fit 4 adults in a pinch. When I saw the 1 for the first time I knew I had found the car I could buy that would be fast enough from the factory that I could drive it for years before I felt I needed to modify it. I always wanted to autocross but a 95 civic ex never thrilled me the same way after driving a Z3 vert and coupe one day at a track event. I left that day with Z3 envy so I felt like the 1 was the perfect comprimise and the price was right - I could have squeaked into a 135i but with the wife in grad school I just didn't need to spend the extra 5 grand. Once I paid off her subaru I walked into the dealership and test drove a 128i auto, non-sport - and I was sold... Two weeks later I ordered my 2008 128i sport. My car has been from Maine to Florida. It's currently sitting at 38,000 miles. I work from home so I don't get to drive it daily but I make a point to drive it, and drive it hard once a week. I've done 15-20 autocrosses in Knoxville over the past 3 seasons, it's the perfect car for me - fast enough for it to get out of control but nothing crazy, just plain fun.

This sunday I'm going to drive the tail of the dragon with my dad in his corvette. It should be some fun.

I know a 135i would have been all that and faster but I just don't need 300 hp - I've got my car and I'm probably going to keep it for 10 or more years and put 200,000 miles on it. When I looked at an E36 M3 the numbers weren't that far from my lowly 128i - and to me that's the perfect size for a 2 door coupe. It hasn't been perfect with a taillight going out and the seat belt recall. Also my radio seems to decide not to work when it gets HOT, which is annoying but I still love my car. It's everything I wanted BMW to build for me.

[Garduna]

Originally Posted by jb2178

I'm at 38,000 miles and I love my 128i. Coming from a honda civic I knew I didn't need 300 hp. I always loved the 3 series but if you ask me the E92 is too big. I don't want to drive a car big enough to fit a V8. I also don't need 4 doors but I like knowing I can fit 4 adults in a pinch. When I saw the 1 for the first time I knew I had found the car I could buy that would be fast enough from the factory that I could drive it for years before I felt I needed to modify it. I always wanted to autocross but a 95 civic ex never thrilled me the same way after driving a Z3 vert and coupe one day at a track event. I left that day with Z3 envy so I felt like the 1 was the perfect comprimise and the price was right - I could have squeaked into a 135i but with the wife in grad school I just didn't need to spend the extra 5 grand. Once I paid off her subaru I walked into the dealership and test drove a 128i auto, non-sport - and I was sold... Two weeks later I ordered my 2008 128i sport. My car has been from Maine to Florida. It's currently sitting at 38,000 miles. I work from home so I don't get to drive it daily but I make a point to drive it, and drive it hard once a week. I've done 15-20 autocrosses in Knoxville over the past 3 seasons, it's the perfect car for me - fast enough for it to get out of control but nothing crazy, just plain fun.

This sunday I'm going to drive the tail of the dragon with my dad in his corvette. It should be some fun.

I know a 135i would have been all that and faster but I just don't need 300 hp - I've got my car and I'm probably going to keep it for 10 or more years and put 200,000 miles on it. When I looked at an E36 M3 the numbers weren't that far from my lowly 128i - and to me that's the perfect size for a 2 door coupe. It hasn't been perfect with a taillight going out and the seat belt recall. Also my radio seems to decide not to work when it gets HOT, which is annoying but I still love my car. It's everything I wanted BMW to build for me.

Great post

Funny thing is, my 128i looks nothing like a stock oem 128i anymore haha! All I can say is that it is a whole lot lighter and the ride "breathes" a whole lot better cuz of something under the bonnet!

[Evice]

I am currently at 38k miles, and since end of Feb, I am putting minimum 130miles a day on my 128 because of work. I will have another track car soon! Woot woot.

Only thing that I can complain about my car is the headrests that do not tilt for comfort. I really miss that, may be it is stationary on 2009s and may be I can find a replacement.

[zamboni]

So far I'm happy with my 128i without any problemsm replaced RFT with regular tires and car runs great.

[leesat]

If anything makes me regret buying 128i will be there is not many of aftermarket parts....
wihtout that it's great. it has enough power and fun.

[Sdracing]

The 128i is a phenomenal car. The NA is perfectly fine for everyday driving. And its reliable.

[coda72]

I would not want a 135. I've gotten enough speeding tickets, and I know I would get a few more at least with the 135. Plus, even though BMW has maybe solved the HPFP problem, it still worries me a bit.

[128Guy]

I have a 2011 128i with sports package and manual trans - the most recent of several BMW's I have owned over the last 20 years, including some "M" models. My 128 now has 13K miles on it. I've found the 128 has plenty of power for typical passing of slower traffic, without downshifting or by downshifting just one gear. If I really want to pass very quickly, I might downshift two gears. I have found that the 128 has plenty of power for any sane real-world driving.

My wife and I have just returned from a 7,000+ mile driving vacation in my 128i; and I am still very happy with this car. About mid-way through my trip I took the "Two-day Car Control School" at the BMW driver training facility in South Carolina. I spent much of the first day in a 135i, so I was able to really evaluate the 128i versus the 135i.

My conclusion: If I had to make my purchase decision all over again, unless I planned to do a lot of really high performance track driving (in which case I'd go for the 1 Series M), I'd still buy a 128 over a 135. At low RPM's it's hard to tell the difference in torque between the two engines. When you get on it really hard, of course the 135 is faster. The 128 engine is silky-smooth and the power delivery is much more linear over the useable RMP range. Whereas the 135 is more "ballistic" - making it, in my opinion, actually somewhat harder to drive (requires more concentration to drive smoothly) under normal and moderately aggresive street conditions.

I believe that whether any given driver will prefer the 128 or the 135, really depends on what vehicle characteristrics he finds most satisfying over the long run. To me, the 128 feels light, agile, precise, fun, and sporty, yet relaxing after a long day of driving.

Since you want a manual trans, I assume you would be special-ordering your vehicle; so if you go for a 128, be sure to get the Sports Package - the seats alone are worth the extra cost - and I like the tighter suspension and better handling, even though it can be pretty harsh on very rough roads.

BTW, I highly recommend the BMW 2-day Car Control School. They will teach you to do things you may have thought were impossibe. For example, I was VERY surprised at what a 335 diesel, even without a sports package, could do in an high-speed 2-lane-change extreme evasive maneuver; and I was impressed at how well you can steer a car under maximum panic-stop ABS braking. Also, the water-covered oval skid pad is a hoot!

[SaviorXi]

I have a 335xi with Cobb accessport and it is really fast. Too fast at times. My buddy has a 128i and I love driving in his car. It has the perfect balance of natural power and on rails handling. I was truly blown away at how much joy driving his car brings me. Its a great BMW

[1-2MANY]

Originally Posted by 128Guy

My conclusion: If I had to make my purchase decision all over again, unless I planned to do a lot of really high performance track driving (in which case I'd go for the 1 Series M), I'd still buy a 128 over a 135. At low RPM's it's hard to tell the difference in torque between the two engines. When you get on it really hard, of course the 135 is faster. The 128 engine is silky-smooth and the power delivery is much more linear over the useable RMP range. Whereas the 135 is more "ballistic" - making it, in my opinion, actually somewhat harder to drive (requires more concentration to drive smoothly) under normal and moderately aggresive street conditions.

The 128i is a great car, but I really don't agree with the statement.

[Satalite]

Originally Posted by 1-2MANY

The 128i is a great car, but I really don't agree with the statement.

+1 The 135i has noticeably much more torque that makes the cars different entirely. Not only that but the added 70-80HP difference is huge.

[CarGuy]

Hey all, I'm new to the forum and awaiting delivery of a Metalic Black 2012 128i + M-Sport pkg.

I was also considering the 135i + M Sport pkg. This was based on instructing a newbie in a 135i (paddle-shift sequential AT) at Calabogie in 2009. I was very impressed with the power and it made me regret that BMW released the 135i in 2008. That's because I had just bought a '07 Subaru STi.

After less than satisfactory reliability with my STi at the track, I've sworn off turbo cars of any kind. Also, there really isn't any place other than the track to open up 300 horses. So for overall value as a daily driver I'd have to say the 128i is the better choice.

PS: OK I confess I will most likely take my 128i to the track since I won't be able to resist. the truth is I'd rather have a fun, solid and reliable 230HP car than a turbocharged 300HP rocket that requires a greater investment in engine maintenance, fuel, tires, brakes and insurance.

[jmcphillips1]

I regret not getting a 135 for this reason only...from the time I ordered my 128, the money factor dropped on the 135 but not the 128 so I could have leased the exact equipped 135 as my 128 and it would have only cost me 20 dollars a month more. There was no way to predict the future when I ordered it, so I gambled that the rates would stay the same and they did not, so I got burned.

[Hops128i]

wow, how can the small difference be explained for leasing? when I bought my 128i, the purchase difference was more than 7k. at the time I just could not find any lightly optioned 135i's, so my lightly optioned 128i with manual and sports package felt like a real find and value.

[hilandscott]

Lots of good advice offered: test drive everything, make a decision that can be sustained, don't have any regrets...

I'm coming from a perspective of selling my Porsche track car last month and picking up a 2011 128i last weekend at the advice of a friend. It's my first BMW and nearly half the torque of the modified 911 turbo. I had that car for eight years and loved it. Too much for the street though as a daily driver, and I need a real back seat for the new daughter. A compromise I needed to make for now.

Still getting used to the car and so far pleased with the engine, transmission and M upgrades. Xenons as well but no heated seats or sunroof, premium or convenience package-- but the price was right for a lightly used new car with only 6K miles from a private sale (less than $29K). Really nothing else out there at that price to tempt me with warranty and maintenance covered.

Looking forward to getting rid of the run flats. Probably going to 18" wheels and seeing what will fit under the fenders. The intake, exhaust and tune (or box) look like what I will need to get the handling and feel (and throttle response) that I am looking for. Nothing major is of interest, and I don't want issues with the warranty, so getting to know the car in stock form well.

With the DTC properly turned off it responds well to throttle inputs, winding through the tach and rewarding enough. Plenty of usable power for the street and soon to be tested in the mountains.

No regrets so far. Hopefully I'll get to meet some of the 1 series gurus in the ATL area...

[JanusSF]

As someone who has to use an automatic (a stick on the hilly streets of San Francisco? Crawling through traffic on the 101 to Sunnyvale? No thanks), I would really like that 7 speed dual-clutch thingamabob compared to the 128's slushy auto-6.

Ah well, I'll settle for my 128's better mileage, cheaper insurance, and a lower sticker price

I'd throw in the better reliability but it seems like a moot point with the whole BMW über-warranty thing...

[jatbeni]

I have had my 128i - Manual Sport for exactly a year now (last year, I was in Europe picking up my 128 at this time)... no regrets at all. I drove the 135 at the Performance Center - was a lot of fun, but I am sure that all that torque would just make me lazy.

The 128i with the manual makes you work hard to get to the performance - and rewards you with that sweet sounding naturally aspirated inline 6. There is plenty to get into trouble - unless you are on a track. I think its just a better balance... and comes with less potential headaches... pity, there won't be one with the new model (the 2.0 Turbo will replace the inline 6)... but that is a good thing for us current owners.

[Raine]

Nah man. The N52 engine is pretty good.

Downshift before a fast corner = too much fun out of the turn

[dasReaper]

I own a 128i as my daily driver and have no regrets. Got it brand new 2009 with 5 miles on the odo and have since put 57,000+ miles on her, including my recent road trip from Ohio to Cali. Loved every minute of it. If your looking for a fun and enjoyable DD i highly recommend it. However, if your looking for a toy that you can modify then go with the 135i. I personally would get an actual sports car(m3, elise, vette, ect...) if I wanted a toy.

[jp0974]

I am working on my 4th BMW in less than 4 yrs and I did trade two of those vehicles because I did not take them like I want it the first time. If you have the money and you really want a 135 get it. So you can be happy with your self and your new car. If not you will be regreting your desicion for the rest of the time that you have your 128. I recommned you to go out loud and get exactly what you want.

[adobeee]

Originally Posted by coda72

I would not want a 135. I've gotten enough speeding tickets, and I know I would get a few more at least with the 135. Plus, even though BMW has maybe solved the HPFP problem, it still worries me a bit.

[coda72]

I'm still loving my 128. I've never driven the 135, so I don't know what I'm missing anyway. But the 128 has more than enough power for me, and I'm still probably going to get a speeding ticket or 2 in it!