Really want a 135i. Need your opinions please

[BBuff]

2009 135i Coupe - 17K miles - CPO until 6/2015
Premium Package
Cold Weather Package
iDrive
BMW Connect
Sunroof
Xeon adaptive headlights

$20,226 OTD - after trade


2012 128i Couple - 11K miles - NON CPO
M-Sport Package
Cold Weather Package
Xeon adaptive headlights

$15,463 OTD - after trade


There's still some wiggle room in each of these. I'm leaning towards the 128i because:
1. Newer
2. Longer full warranty and maintenance remaining
3. Reliability of the N54. Not sure if this is real or perceived in my mind, but based on what I've read here and other places
4. Price

The 135i has much more equipment. I think of all the 128i is missing it's the auto-dimming mirrors that I'll miss the most. I don't have nav today so I won't miss that. I hate how the bluetooth is implemented in my car so I don't use it and I never use the sunroof.

Thoughts/opinions?

TIA

[Neon01]

My son (about your daughter's age) loves riding in the back of mine. He's in a booster seat and it works great. I also have a child seat for my daughter, and she's almost 2. They both LOVE riding in "daddy's white car". My son likes it better than riding in my S2k with the top down!

Regarding the deal, it's not bad with the CPO, but just a little on the pricey side. I just bought a 2010 with some light mods that had almost every option you can get, including the M sport package (not just the sport package), with 18.7k miles and factory warranty through mid-'14 for $30k. I've been able to sell off some of the mods and actually brought the net price of the car down to about $29k.

Looks gorgeous though. Good luck

[Ammonia]

Originally Posted by BBuff

2009 135i Coupe - 17K miles - CPO until 6/2015
Premium Package
Cold Weather Package
iDrive
BMW Connect
Sunroof
Xeon adaptive headlights

$20,226 OTD - after trade


2012 128i Couple - 11K miles - NON CPO
M-Sport Package
Cold Weather Package
Xeon adaptive headlights

$15,463 OTD - after trade


There's still some wiggle room in each of these. I'm leaning towards the 128i because:
1. Newer
2. Longer full warranty and maintenance remaining
3. Reliability of the N54. Not sure if this is real or perceived in my mind, but based on what I've read here and other places
4. Price

The 135i has much more equipment. I think of all the 128i is missing it's the auto-dimming mirrors that I'll miss the most. I don't have nav today so I won't miss that. I hate how the bluetooth is implemented in my car so I don't use it and I never use the sunroof.

Thoughts/opinions?

TIA

Go with the 135i. The price is very good considering the low miles, its CPO, has more options, and the motor is an absolute blast. Not knocking the NA 6 the 128 comes with, excellent motor that makes for fun spirited driving, but going fast is freaking fun (the n54 is a damn rocket), and if that sounds like you, go for it. You may not want the extra options, but you'll grow to like them. I went from a base Civic LX to my 135, and I was in the same position. I didn't like or need or want the options. But now I cant imagine not having a sunroof, etc.

Speaking of wiggle room, beat them down abit on the price of the 135i. Use the years as leverage. You should be able to get at least another $1-2k off the price.

(Btw, N54 is the twin turbo in the 135i. You're thinking of the *N52 in the 128, iirc.)


*Thanks Neon for the correction :]

[Section147]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

Go with the 135i.

For all the reasons mentioned.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

Go with the 135i. The price is very good considering the low miles, its CPO, has more options, and the motor is an absolute blast. Not knocking the NA 6 the 128 comes with, excellent motor that makes for fun spirited driving, but going fast is freaking fun (the n54 is a damn rocket), and if that sounds like you, go for it. You may not want the extra options, but you'll grow to like them. I went from a base Civic LX to my 135, and I was in the same position. I didn't like or need or want the options. But now I cant imagine not having a sunroof, etc.

Speaking of wiggle room, beat them down abit on the price of the 135i. Use the years as leverage. You should be able to get at least another $1-2k off the price.

(Btw, N54 is the twin turbo in the 135i. You're thinking of the S54 in the 128, iirc.)

Agree on all counts. The difference in the driving experience between the 128 and the 135 is vast IMO - largely because of the turbos and the way they transform the power/torque band. To each their own though. One note - the S54 is actually the engine code for the E46 M3. "S" series engine codes are for M series vehicles.

I believe the 128i has the N52 engine.

[andybui82]

you get an n52 and youll hate it. haha i hated my n52

[BBuff]

I was questioning the reliability, or perceived reliability, of the 135 engine.

Why did you hate the N52?

[Spoolin Montego]

dont even worry about reliability. you have warranty until 100k...For mine I have had no engine problems to speak of in the 20k miles I have owned it and I have been FBO for 15k of those miles.

[Ammonia]

Originally Posted by BBuff

I was questioning the reliability, or perceived reliability, of the 135 engine.

An 09 will have had the HPFP issue taken care of under recall (we're not allowed to sell cars with open recalls here in NC but idk about where you are at) which is one of really only two common issues that are inherent in the N54. The other issue is carbon build-up, which is a maintenance thing that should be taken care of every 40k miles or so.

If you plan on modding, expect more problems more often, obviously. But many many members here who have left their motors alone in their N54s have reported no problems at all other than the two aforementioned. Its up to you to see the benefits vs the costs.

[BBuff]

I have no interest in making modifications to the car. I intend on keeping whatever I get for 4-5 years.

[Ammonia]

Originally Posted by BBuff

I have no interest in making modifications to the car. I intend on keeping whatever I get for 4-5 years.

Then either car will be absolutely fine.

Cheers.

[Tee-Dub]

Originally Posted by BBuff

2009 135i Coupe - 17K miles - CPO until 6/2015
Premium Package
Cold Weather Package
iDrive
BMW Connect
Sunroof
Xeon adaptive headlights

$20,226 OTD - after trade


2012 128i Couple - 11K miles - NON CPO
M-Sport Package
Cold Weather Package
Xeon adaptive headlights

$15,463 OTD - after trade


There's still some wiggle room in each of these. I'm leaning towards the 128i because:
1. Newer
2. Longer full warranty and maintenance remaining
3. Reliability of the N54. Not sure if this is real or perceived in my mind, but based on what I've read here and other places
4. Price

The 135i has much more equipment. I think of all the 128i is missing it's the auto-dimming mirrors that I'll miss the most. I don't have nav today so I won't miss that. I hate how the bluetooth is implemented in my car so I don't use it and I never use the sunroof.

Thoughts/opinions?

TIA

This really means nothing when we don't know what the value of your trade is. Having said that, the 135 is a no brainer. Super low miles for an 09.

[BBuff]

The two different places are valuing my trade between $12,000 - $12,800.

[BBuff]

Originally Posted by Spoolin Montego

dont even worry about reliability. you have warranty until 100k...For mine I have had no engine problems to speak of in the 20k miles I have owned it and I have been FBO for 15k of those miles.

Yes there is a 100k mile warranty, but I'll hit the 6/2015 date way before I hit that. Therefore, I'm only looking at a 2.5 year warranty.

[lastMleft]

Originally Posted by BBuff

Yes there is a 100k mile warranty, but I'll hit the 6/2015 date way before I hit that. Therefore, I'm only looking at a 2.5 year warranty.

That's okay 2.5 is good, go for either, my choice would be 135i, but your call

[WPG D33Z]

Honestly get the 135i! The 128i is fun and all but the 135i is just a beast. Hands down it is the most fun i have ever had on wheels. Its like an amusement park every time you get in it!

[lcrain]

I would skip for the sole reason that it is jet black. Endless pain and suffering trying to keep jet black clean and swirl free.

[BBuff]

Originally Posted by lcrain

I would skip for the sole reason that it is jet black. Endless pain and suffering trying to keep jet black clean and swirl free.

I hear ya. The 128 looks much better with the M package. It's also red in color.

[Bmwbreed]

Originally Posted by BBuff

I hear ya. The 128 looks much better with the M package. It's also red in color.

Yes jet black is a pain to maintain. Listen man don't let anyone push the 135 on you just because of how "fun" it is. The 128 can be just as much fun depending on what fun is to you. I bought my 135 without test driving either. But that's because I know how much I like torque having owned a turbo car before. Had the US market choices been between a 125 and a 128 I would have chose a 128 simply because it had more torque. I decided against msport package which is another thing most people on the boards say is a must. Basically what I'm saying is do what's right in your heart and feels good to you. If 128 will make you happy and you feel is the safer choice cuz of warranty then do that. If you want the power go with the 135 neither will be a wrong choice and I think that's how some make it sound every time someone is trying to decided between the two. I don't think that's their intention but kinda comes accross that way sort of. At the end of the day ur buying a BMW and that my friend is the right choice! Good luck deciding.

[BBuff]

BMW dealer with the 135 says that no sunroof is a very "bad" thing for the resale of the car. Is that really true? I can't imagine that it makes a huge difference at all mainly because a sunroof doesn't matter to me one bit.

[kensington]

Sports package and a twin turbo N54 are all you really need. Everything else is just fluff.

[Bmwbreed]

Originally Posted by BBuff

BMW dealer with the 135 says that no sunroof is a very "bad" thing for the resale of the car. Is that really true? I can't imagine that it makes a huge difference at all mainly because a sunroof doesn't matter to me one bit.

Not sure if it makes a huge diff in value or not but this might change my mind
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501018