new 135i vert owner coming from Evo X

[Rob Daman]

Hi guys,

I just wanted to say hey as I'm always a forum junkie when I get a new ride.

I made a deal on a CPO 2011 135i convertible with DCT with only 15k miles on the clock as a lease turn in. It's still at the dealership as they have to touch up the rear bumper and I had to part out my Evo.

I have to say I loved the looks of the Evo but the ride even with upgraded KW coilovers was just punishing. My back starts to ache after about 45 minutes. Also I know there's people saying there's rattles with the 1 , the Evo was just rattle city and basically zero noise insulation. I put in damping pads and mass loaded vinyl which cut a lot of the noise but it still wasn't it. Also I hated the powerband even though I had basic bolt ons and a tune. I had to be in the sweet spot of rpms to feel happy.

Now I did my research on the 135i and I wanted a convertible with some back seats. I have 2 young boys so it's ok. My wife can drive this too since it's DCT but I hope she won't want to that much. haha.

Anyhow here's a pic of the former ride.






here's the latest pic lowered using BMW Performance springs for a coupe (huge drop due to vert weight), Koni yellows and GC street camber plates with Advan RZ 18s and Yokohama S drives. It's hard to spot but I also installed a stud conversion and added extended lug nuts from my old car.

also installed is Miesterschaft stainless axle back and resonated midpipes, an ebay painted trunk spoiler which i modified with a heat gun to fit, bmw shorty antenna, blacklines, Schmiedmann cf lip and led amber angel eyes.

I also installed Whiteline subframe inserts which helped a lot with that loose rear end.

So far I'm liking the performance difference from stock to modded. The ride is still compliant and not teeth shattering like my Evo was. I love the torque it has stock and I'll be installing a JB4 shortly so that should wake things up.

Handling is good. My tires aren't as sticky nor wide as the NT05 I had the Evo so I can't go super aggressive on curves but it definitely holds it's own.

[BavarianN54]

Welcome to the 1 club. Be sure to give us your personal comparison test after some miles.
Don't know he old your kids are but they will soon be complaining about the back seats!

[Rob Daman]

Thanks. I'm looking forward about playing with DCT as my Evo was a manual.

My kids are 2 and 6. I tested the boosters with the top down. I think they'll be ok for a few years.

[CAVU]

Welcome to the forum! Your old ride looks great... interesting comments comparing the Evo to the 1-series. Keep'em coming!

[MDRex]

Welcome. I just sold my 2011 WRX and picked up a 135i this weekend. I loved the WRX, but this is just so much better is almost every way.

[stormzusmc]

Welcome!

[135iam]

Welcome, I have 4 kids and picked up an off lease 135i convert last summer and it works just fine as my families second vehicle.

I'm bolting on lots of parts this spring to get the car where I want it, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with yours

[motorchimp]

Originally Posted by Rob Daman

Hi guys,
...
My wife can drive this too since it's DCT but I hope she won't want to that much. haha.

Haha welcome aboard and congrats on the 1er.
My wife started borrowing the 1 once a week or so, now I have to haggle my way into driving my 1
We have a 9 yr old and she loves the rear seats so I think you'll be ok for a while.

[CGMike]

I went from an 08 Evo X to a 2011 135 coupe. I dont regret the move, but do miss the Evo sometimes. I had full bolt ons, a RRE tune, zeal coilovers, perrin rear sway bar, volk 18x9.5 wheels/tires. I just had more fun beating on the evo than the 135 but the 135 is more DD friendly and gets better MPG. welcome

[Rob Daman]

Definitely. I have a patch of road that has a great turn so I always use that as my benchmark for handling. I used to own a R53 Cooper S, 05 STI, 89 Saleen Mustang, S2000 so I know the limits of that stretch.

Originally Posted by RickMsport

Welcome to the forum! Your old ride looks great... interesting comments comparing the Evo to the 1-series. Keep'em coming!

Congrats to you. I know lots of WRX guys went with an Evo but I think I'll like the beemer much more. I feel my back does already.

Originally Posted by MDRex

Welcome. I just sold my 2011 WRX and picked up a 135i this weekend. I loved the WRX, but this is just so much better is almost every way.

thank you

Originally Posted by stormzusmc

Welcome!

nice. i'm looking forward to your build. I'm doing to try to keep mine simple and low cost...but we all know about that.

Originally Posted by 135iam

Welcome, I have 4 kids and picked up an off lease 135i convert last summer and it works just fine as my families second vehicle.

I'm bolting on lots of parts this spring to get the car where I want it, I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with yours

Oh oh. I'm going to have to hide the keys. haha
Glad to hear that I have some time.

Originally Posted by motorchimp

Haha welcome aboard and congrats on the 1er.
My wife started borrowing the 1 once a week or so, now I have to haggle my way into driving my 1
We have a 9 yr old and she loves the rear seats so I think you'll be ok for a while.

Yea if I were to track which I'm too lazy to drive that far, I may have kept the X but the powerband on the stock turbo is just too annoying.

Oh and the mpg.. yes I'm looking forward to getting low 20s vs low teens.

Originally Posted by CGMike

I went from an 08 Evo X to a 2011 135 coupe. I dont regret the move, but do miss the Evo sometimes. I had full bolt ons, a RRE tune, zeal coilovers, perrin rear sway bar, volk 18x9.5 wheels/tires. I just had more fun beating on the evo than the 135 but the 135 is more DD friendly and gets better MPG. welcome

[Black Flagged]

Congrats and welcome...

[No Style 135is]

Welcome to the forum !
Congrat to you!

Originally Posted by MDRex

Welcome. I just sold my 2011 WRX and picked up a 135i this weekend. I loved the WRX, but this is just so much better is almost every way.

You got DCT or 6MT?
I came from 2011 WRX also.

[MDRex]

Originally Posted by rokjitt135is

Welcome to the forum !
Congrat to you!


You got DCT or 6MT?
I came from 2011 WRX also.

I got the auto. I've had enough manual cars that I don't miss shifting all the time on my daily commute. This is my daily that the wife can also drive, and I'm very happy with the performance of the steptronic in the 2009 135i.

Also don't miss the WRX at all.

[Rob Daman]

Just drove it home and no back pain. Love it. Needs front sway bar upgrade for sure. I can feel the under steer for sure.

[135iam]

Originally Posted by Rob Daman

Definitely. I have a patch of road that has a great turn so I always use that as my benchmark for handling. I used to own a R53 Cooper S, 05 STI, 89 Saleen Mustang, S2000 so I know the limits of that stretch.

^^^nice list

R53 Cooper S and S2000 have been 2 of my favorite previous cars.

Here are my initial thoughts on the 135i convert ride quality after having one for 3000 miles.
1. There seems to be alot of consensus on this forum that replacing the 4 rear subframe bushings with something that doesnt allow the subframe to move 1 inch with a prybar significantly improves handling with little to no change in NVH. When you run the car around a sweeper and hit a dip mid corner and the car gets unsettled and think "What the hell is wrong with this thing" its the subframe bushings. I have whiteline ones ready to go in when my garage warms up.

2. Getting rid of the run flats makes a big difference. I recently put 225/40/18 Blizzaks on my stock wheels (F&R) and ordered summer wheels. The ride is much more plush and the balance is better.

3. BMW's have unusual spring rates compared to previous cars I have autocrossed/tracked/daily drive. Keeping the front relatively soft and stiffening up the rear seems to be the best way to improve balance. I am installing the subframe bushings, M3 front and rear arms, KWv3s, and summer wheels/tires in the next month and then making a decision on sways. Everything I am adding should improve ride quality except the M3 F&R control arms (I have read on here that they are noticably stiffer and some complain they are too stiff for the first 1000 miles or so but loose up some)

enjoy the car

[Rob Daman]

thanks.

I'm going to do the m3 front sway bar for sure and have you read if the m3 subframe bushings that much harder to do than adding the whiteline spacers?

Originally Posted by 135iam

^^^nice list

R53 Cooper S and S2000 have been 2 of my favorite previous cars.

Here are my initial thoughts on the 135i convert ride quality after having one for 3000 miles.
1. There seems to be alot of consensus on this forum that replacing the 4 rear subframe bushings with something that doesnt allow the subframe to move 1 inch with a prybar significantly improves handling with little to no change in NVH. When you run the car around a sweeper and hit a dip mid corner and the car gets unsettled and think "What the hell is wrong with this thing" its the subframe bushings. I have whiteline ones ready to go in when my garage warms up.

2. Getting rid of the run flats makes a big difference. I recently put 225/40/18 Blizzaks on my stock wheels (F&R) and ordered summer wheels. The ride is much more plush and the balance is better.

3. BMW's have unusual spring rates compared to previous cars I have autocrossed/tracked/daily drive. Keeping the front relatively soft and stiffening up the rear seems to be the best way to improve balance. I am installing the subframe bushings, M3 front and rear arms, KWv3s, and summer wheels/tires in the next month and then making a decision on sways. Everything I am adding should improve ride quality except the M3 F&R control arms (I have read on here that they are noticably stiffer and some complain they are too stiff for the first 1000 miles or so but loose up some)

enjoy the car

[135iam]

whiteline makes full poly bushings and spacers. I am going with the bushings.

The install is easier than the M3 bushings as they are two piece vs one piece. I prefer poly over the M3 rubber ones myself (as poly doesnt break down as fast as rubber) some one here seem to think M3 oem parts are the best. Either way it's a big step up from stock.

[Rob Daman]

yea as long as no dramatic nvh that's good even though i have a vert.

did you find a good deal? I may do that as a mod soon.

[135iam]

http://experformance.net/i-1754765.aspx

This is a better deal than I got. I paid 179 shipped from one of the vendors that came up on a Google search for "E90 whiteline crossmember"

[Rob Daman]

Originally Posted by 135iam

http://experformance.net/i-1754765.aspx

This is a better deal than I got. I paid 179 shipped from one of the vendors that came up on a Google search for "E90 whiteline crossmember"

great thanks.

So I just tried this onramp that I always use daily and I know exactly what you meant now. I'm definitely going to do this mod. needs to be tightened up.

[boostaddict305]

i traded in my ralliart to get a 2011 135i and though i miss the sound of my ralliart the 135 is definitely an upgrade in alot of ways though i do miss the awd

[Bob Z.]

Originally Posted by 135iam

http://experformance.net/i-1754765.aspx

This is a better deal than I got. I paid 179 shipped from one of the vendors that came up on a Google search for "E90 whiteline crossmember"

Are these for the rear, front or both? One place says rear and another says front. I, too want to reduce some of the lean.

By the way, Welcome! I have a 2013 135i vert and love it (except for a little sway).