If there were one thing you wished you'd known

[an3ony]

Hello all,

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a 1 series. Doing the research on this board I'm pretty much dead set on the "unicorn" 128/6mt/sport pack but if there's a well documented 135 I'd be open to it.

I guess my question is this; if there were something you wish you'd known about your car before you bought, what would that be?

[JeffRichter]

How much I miss driving it after selling it. Should have kept it

[tuj]

Its a great car. I'm in the process of modifying mine for time attack at the track. The things I wish I would have known:

-limited adjustments in front camber without plates.
-limited wheel options because of fenders and offsets.
-very weird rear suspension setup (motion ratios)
-too softly sprung from the factory
-no limited slip (well I knew this one)

Now on to the things that I really like:
-BMW Performance Exhaust - on start-up sounds beautiful every morning.
-DAT ENGINE (N55 in my case), torque monster.
-Good steering weight
-Good gearbox
-Hides its weight pretty well
-Fairly well balanced chassis

[Mr Rooty Von Tooty]

Well you can't have mine Homer!

BTW, I did a wash, clay, and wax this weekend!

[Yeineken]

I wish I had know about the 1M before buying the 135i. Other than that it's the perfect little BMW.

[snub-nose 28]

I was strongly considering a Z4 three liter or, M but as I considered, the M-specs held at $24-25k A tight cabin (i skinny!) and road noise made me move away as I was seeking a nimble but 'somewhat spacious if shrunken' GT. At first the early gen Z4 fit that spec, so I envisioned...

Re-evaluated the usual supects, almost pulled the trigger on a 335i x but weight alarmed me.
Then the 1 series showed on the radar screen. That was less than two months ago. Logged over 4k miles since, and absolutely love it. maybe you need the 135i, if so many may suggest N55 spec.

The 1-series rear suspension is needing work, ditto a strong tendency of understeer. Each are readily improved in the fullness of time and much experience being on this forum in that regard.

To your direct question, a need to know? Serious track rats are using and winning in modded 128i na...to win, you have to finish...to finish, you have to have reliability.

[ts0ulc]

^agree wth the 128 track. Not so much about the engine power on the track. Good suspension and reliability. If tracking go for the 128 not 135 and work with that base.

[PopsnBurbles]

If I had known any better like knowing that the 1M is a 1 year model only...I would've skipped out getting my old 2010 328i (I liked that car A LOT) and waited an extra year to get a 1M. Boom, done, and over with!

If I really truly needed a car in 2010, I would have gone with a 128i w/ no sunroof, 6MT, and only M-Sport Package as the only options. Use the left over money on little BMWP bits like the pedals and such. I'm not sure if BMW offers an actual short shift kit.

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by PopsnBurbles

I'm not sure if BMW offers an actual short shift kit.

25110444655

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/25110444655/

[ORA]

NOTHING.

loved my 135is and love my 1M. the E82 1-series along with the E30 3-series and 1600/2002 are my favourite BMWs ever made.

couldn't ask for much more in a car, IMO. my 1M has 83k miles and has super reliable......rock solid even. Bone stock......the N54 is bulletproof. When people start hacking into their cars everything falls apart.

[an3ony]

Thanks for the feedback! Its going to be tough saying goodbye to the Z4MC but I just need something more practical for daily driving. And I despise the ford ranger that I bought as my DD.

[squidge]

Originally Posted by an3ony

Hello all,

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a 1 series. Doing the research on this board I'm pretty much dead set on the "unicorn" 128/6mt/sport pack but if there's a well documented 135 I'd be open to it.

I guess my question is this; if there were something you wish you'd known about your car before you bought, what would that be?

As a fellow unicorn owner, you're making the right choice. I research things to death before acting so I was pretty well informed before I bought my car and haven't had any surprises. Therefore I don't really have any words of warning or wisdom for you, other than that your search may be long but will totally be worth it in the end. Hold out for the 128 if you want the purists' experience. Better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, as they say.

[Level3]

I wish I had known how much I hate the popup nav display on my 08 135i. It's practically useless and an eyesore. bleh. If I had it to do all over again I would not have gotten nav on my 1er.

[squidge]

Originally Posted by Level3

I wish I had known how much I hate the popup nav display on my 08 135i. It's practically useless and an eyesore. bleh. If I had it to do all over again I would not have gotten nav on my 1er.

+1 to that, I wouldn't have purchased one with nav. I got lucky and found a slicktop (no sunroof) as well.

[Cmoney135i]

Originally Posted by an3ony

Hello all,

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a 1 series. Doing the research on this board I'm pretty much dead set on the "unicorn" 128/6mt/sport pack but if there's a well documented 135 I'd be open to it.

I guess my question is this; if there were something you wish you'd known about your car before you bought, what would that be?

Whatever floats your boat 135 > 128 tho

[mr.fabulous]

I've been thinking about this all day, and I can't find any surprises. The things I wish were different about this car are things that were plainly visible when I bought it (too many gadgets, aiming headlights, sunroof, seat memory, etc... I could do without all of that). I went out of my way to buy a 6MT and no I-Drive and I'm extremely happy with that decision. All in all, this is a DAMN AWESOME car. I might do an extended warranty when my CPO runs out in November... that or start a slush fund I put a few $100 into each month for unexpected maintenance (next to go for me is the HPFP, come on girl do that before November ).

All of us, especially where I live, could do without the airbag risk.

[3ics]

Originally Posted by an3ony

Thanks for the feedback! Its going to be tough saying goodbye to the Z4MC but I just need something more practical for daily driving. And I despise the ford ranger that I bought as my DD.

Wait... You have a Z4MC and a Ranger. You're getting rid of the Coupe to get a 1er and keep the Ranger?

I would make sure you look at your options before getting rid of that coupe. They seem pretty rare and if you have it sorted out to your likes, you're going to start over with a 1?

Don't get me wrong, I love my 1 and they are not very common, but I would assume M Coupes are even more rare?

Back on topic... I wish I knew how small the gas tank is on these things!? Lol

[an3ony]

Originally Posted by 3ics

Wait... You have a Z4MC and a Ranger. You're getting rid of the Coupe to get a 1er and keep the Ranger?

I would make sure you look at your options before getting rid of that coupe. They seem pretty rare and if you have it sorted out to your likes, you're going to start over with a 1?

Don't get me wrong, I love my 1 and they are not very common, but I would assume M Coupes are even more rare?

Back on topic... I wish I knew how small the gas tank is on these things!? Lol

dude, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my coupe, but its so impractical. I drive it to work leave it in the garage. Maybe I drive it to Portsmouth for the afternoon. I really don't use it enough. I miss having a car that has a backseat (albeit small).

But to be fair, the ranger is out too. I hate driving it and I'm ready to ghostride it into the ocean.

So to me, the 1'r is such a perfect balance. Smaller/sportier than a 3 but not so "over the top" that I worry leaving it parked (like the MC). Plus, they look so much like the e30's from 90/91.

I agree that its a rarity, and I'm positive I'll be kicking myself for selling it in a few years.

Here's a pic of my coupe:

[kingkevbo]

You're doing the exact thing I didn't do before buying my 1er, that I wish I did. Joining this forum and asking this question.

These are features that I found out existed after I bought my car that I dont have and i pine after:

Pofi navi with ConnectedDrive (I have business)
Harmon-Kardon 8 speaker system (i have hi-fi, which is nice, but still...)
Adaptive headlights (I have standard xenons)
Comfort Access

Features I dont have which I'm glad I dont:

Electrical adjustable seats (You say you miss back seats, you dont want to spend 5 mins getting to them)

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by ORA

NOTHING.

loved my 135is and love my 1M. the E82 1-series along with the E30 3-series and 1600/2002 are my favourite BMWs ever made.

couldn't ask for much more in a car, IMO. my 1M has 83k miles and has super reliable......rock solid even. Bone stock

Agreed, after trying out BMWs new offerings (F models) nothing felt as good as the E82. It's fun to drive, looks like a bimmer, perfect size, ride is not too harsh, has a nice trunk and is comfy for 2. I just think its the perfect BMW which is why I bought another.

[Cavpilot2k]

Originally Posted by Yeineken

I wish I had know about the 1M before buying the 135i. Other than that it's the perfect little BMW.

I knew about the 1M, but they just were not available, even though I was in the market when the 1M was being sold. They were pretty much all spoken for at the time. I tried to get one and my dealer, the largest one in Boston, couldn't get me a 1M. Basically they told me the only people who were getting their allocations were lifelong clients of the dealership. No first-time buyer off the street could get one.
So I "settled" for a 135 and have been daily driving one ever since (early 2012).

[Kgolf31]

If there was one thing, it's how much stupid electronics are on the car and how much they actually inhibit your driving.

That and how stupid the OE tune and throttle mapping are.