2008 135i Convertible Long Term Experience

[Sigmachimde]

Hi Everyone,

Since selling my 335, I have missed it dearly. Right now, I am eyeing a 6-spd 2008 135i convertible with Msport, Premium, and Cold Weather.

I have read more and more reviews about this car, but 2011 seemed to be the most recent in terms of dependability.

Can anyone speak to this car who may have owned one that is about 5 years old now and off warranty?

I just want to make sure I am not walking into a money pit.

I am familiar with the standard issues but interested about any others.

Thanks,
Mike

[135Pats]

Mine is a 4/08 build, so she just recently cleared the 5 year mark. Hasn’t been driven a ton, I’m currently at 49K, but it is my DD. It’s lived through actual winters, rain, heat, humidity; all the fun stuff we encounter in DC. Zero issues with the convertible top, zero issues with the heating coils on the rear windscreen. Only issues are a bit of wind noise at highway speeds; some seal isn’t 100% seating so some wind shoots through, not an issue with regards to water. It’s such a small “leak” that I can’t even track it down, so I just put up with it. When I’m on throttle, windows down, music etc, you can’t hear it at all. That’s it in terms of added issues with the soft top, all in all it’s pretty robust.

Rest of the car is what it is, N54s are maintenance hogs. Nothing out of the ordinary.

[///jbeck]

A 2008 1 series will line up in ownership experience with your 335. Same drivetrain, very similar suspention set up, same electronics, etc.. If you were ok with your 335 then as long as the 1 is taken care of you will be ok with it.

[nacaruh]

Just make sure you get a car that already had the recalls done and over with... HPFP, Waterpump, battery cable, etc. If you know someone at BMW, getting the information should be no problem. If not, just hope Carfax has something. Good luck!

[JimD]

It also needs to have the tsb taken care of for the top. I'm on my third but this one is holding up fine. I had the tsb change betwee the second and third tops. They pop rivet on some guides to get the top to fold correctly. You can find an extensive thread on holes forming on the top. The tsb is the solution. It's in one of the threads.

[Sigmachimde]

Thank you all very much!

I just signed the paperwork tonight and take delivery tomorrow.

It is a 2008 Black Sapphire 135 convertible with M sport, cold weather, and premium packages. Car has 30k with a 6 spd manual and the BMW Performance Power kit and an aftermarket exhaust. I crawled under the car but couldn't tell what type of exhaust just yet.

Sorry, what is TSB? Is this a recall/warranty item?

Thanks!
Mike

[Omegaspoon]

It wasn't from herb chambers Porsche, was it?

[JimD]

TSB is short for Technical Service Bulletin. They are issued for issues that may not rise to the level of a recall but are frequent enough that BMW issues a retrofit solution. I had to ask, more than once, for my dealership to implement it but once they found it and read it, it was no problem. Didn't cost me anything (but I was still under warranty at the time, not sure how it would work with the car out of warranty).

Here it is:

[Sigmachimde]

Awesome thanks JimD!

And yes, Omegaspooon, I just took delivery tonight of it from Herb Chambers Porsche in Boston.