Are MANUAL lightly optioned mint black/black 2012 128i in demand?

[the1andonly]

This isnt a for sale post which is why Im posting here. Its more of a question to the community if there is in fact a high demand if I decide to sell. Thanks!

Im looking at leasing a 135i but have 9 months left on my 128i lease w only 26k miles. Id have to pay $25k to buy it out but would sell to a willing buyer for less. Its been a fantastic trouble free car, oil changed every 5k and has BMW performance exhaust. I just cant swing two car payments. I see people complaining on here they cant find a good lightly optioned mint condition 128i...well here it is. (ill post pics later).

Do you guys think there is a demand for this rare gem of a car?

[x97Melbourne]

manual 128s are hard to find in general. great car.

this is a good place to post that.....most people in the general population wouldn't be interested. and dealers would low ball you because it's a manual (even though they may go for a premium).
good luck

you are looking to lease a used 135? im not sure how good of a deal you will get.....but do share. maybe you found a gem.
(maybe it's one of the few new 2013s left)? im just curious as to your thinking. :-)

[NorthernDancer]

Yes it is in demand especially if it has the sport package.

[mr_bean]

I have a manual and sport package. These were the only "must haves" when I was shopping for a pre-owned 1er. My shopping experience tells me this combination of options is extremely rare but for a reason. They are NOT in high demand.
Case in point, the receptionist at the dealership where I bought my car explained they no longer list the transmission type on their inventory list because nearly everything is an automatic. That's what everyone wants.
We (the enthusiasts) are becoming a rare breed.

[Black Flagged]

Originally Posted by mr_bean

I have a manual and sport package. These were the only "must haves" when I was shopping for a pre-owned 1er. My shopping experience tells me this combination of options is extremely rare but for a reason. They are NOT in high demand.
Case in point, the receptionist at the dealership where I bought my car explained they no longer list the transmission type on their inventory list because nearly everything is an automatic. That's what everyone wants.
We (the enthusiasts) are becoming a rare breed.

so true...

[Billup]

Originally Posted by mr_bean

I have a manual and sport package. These were the only "must haves" when I was shopping for a pre-owned 1er. My shopping experience tells me this combination of options is extremely rare but for a reason. They are NOT in high demand.
Case in point, the receptionist at the dealership where I bought my car explained they no longer list the transmission type on their inventory list because nearly everything is an automatic. That's what everyone wants.
We (the enthusiasts) are becoming a rare breed.

As much as I hate to agree, this is all very true. It seems as the years go on 6MT is becoming less and less desirable in the states. It is sad, and with all the technology, one day the car will drive itself.

I, to my own demise, opted to get a steptronic 128i for resale purposes only. I use the car as a daily driver, and I knew it would be much easier to sell to the general public if I got an automatic instead of a manual, knowing with the miles I drive, this is not going to be a forever car.

[TheSt|G]

Yes, in the private resale market, manual equiped cars hold a siginificant premium over their auto counterparts.

[JeffyD]

Right buyer, yes. Most people? Not that right buyer.

If I didn't have the second Z3M to beat on, I'd seriously consider a 128 standard trans as a fun car/no worries car/track rat car/canyon blaster oriented beast. Plus the fact no one ever really appreciates them enough because dey 2 weak, yo nonsense makes them a bit cooler in my eyes.

So, yeah. There's someone out there that'd pay for the stick, but most of those someones aren't usually in the market for whatever reason - making their relative rarity more annoying. E30s will be gone soon enough - the demand will come.

[Worra]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

This isnt a for sale post which is why Im posting here. Its more of a question to the community if there is in fact a high demand if I decide to sell. Thanks!

Im looking at leasing a 135i but have 9 months left on my 128i lease w only 26k miles. Id have to pay $25k to buy it out but would sell to a willing buyer for less. Its been a fantastic trouble free car, oil changed every 5k and has BMW performance exhaust. I just cant swing two car payments. I see people complaining on here they cant find a good lightly optioned mint condition 128i...well here it is. (ill post pics later).

Do you guys think there is a demand for this rare gem of a car?

Did you get a slicktop? To the right (smart) buyer that would increase the value a little more.

[the1andonly]

Originally Posted by Worra

Did you get a slicktop? To the right (smart) buyer that would increase the value a little more.

"slicktop" as in coupe, absolutely

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

"slicktop" as in coupe, absolutely

"Slicktop" as in no sunroof.

[imjustangelo]

When I was shopping for my used 1er last month my only conditions were that it be a manual coupe and had a clean title. Black on black was my color preference but not required. Being that there were ZERO manuals available in south Florida I had to fly to Houston to find my gem. She had been listed by the dealer for over three months and the dealer said only a few people came by to look at her. The demand is definitely there, you just have to be patient.

My '12 128i has 40k miles and came with the premium package. Sports package would have been a plus but being that I had a hard enough time finding a black/black manual anywhere in Florida (with a clean title), I had to settle for what I could find. Anyways, I had a great time getting to know how solid mine performs on the 16 hour drive back to Miami.

[Otasan]

I just picked up a cpo 2013 black on black 128i MT that _had_ 4600 miles on it two weeks ago (not anymore heh). I found this car in a roundabout way. I wanted an FRS but it sounded like they weren't exactly bombproof and lots of new model buzzes, creaks, rattles, etc. So I did a brand agnostic search with just the rest of the things I wanted like black, naturally aspirated, rear wheel drive, 6 speed manual, back seat (6 year old kid), miles, price, distance, etc. It was literally the only car that came back. Now I always loved bimmers but I never considered myself in that price bracket so it was instant obsession. My god it's good to be back in a stick. To the point, I felt like I was at an advantage because I knew damn well they weren't going to see to many other people looking to buy this car in the dead of winter with the weather we've had around Chicago. So yeah it is worth more to me, in fact it was an absolute requirement, but I don't know how many of us there are left. Now I need to make it as black as I can.

[Worra]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

"Slicktop" as in no sunroof.

Yeah, this.

[the1andonly]

Originally Posted by Suprgnat

"Slicktop" as in no sunroof.

right on! yes mine has no sunroof...keeps center of gravity lower

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by the1andonly

right on! yes mine has no sunroof...keeps center of gravity lower

Coupe, sunroof delete, stick, sport/Msport are definitely the most desirable of 128s.

[Dafttt]

I opened my sunroof for the 3rd time - ever - the other day.

I'm jealous of you guys.

[imjustangelo]

Don't sunroofs give you ''boost'' and make you look cool?

[tccox]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

Coupe, sunroof delete, stick, sport/Msport are definitely the most desirable of 128s.

Most desirable of the 228s also. Thats what I just ordered.