H.N.Y. - Just took delivery of my 135i

[2012_135i]

Happy New Year everyone,

Now that things have settled down I can share the good news. I took delivery of my 2012 135i during Christmas week. What a Christmas present. Had to wait almost four months but it was worth it. Here's what I got:

135i Coupe
Alpine White, Black Boston Leather
Grey Poplar trim
6 Speed Manual
M-Sport Package
Premium Package
Harmon Kardon Surround Sound

Attached are some pics.

Choosing the trim was the hardest part and I was a little nervous about it. But now that I see it I'm so glad I ordered the grey poplar. It looks really fantastic with the black leather. And the Harmon Kardon system was worth every penny and then some. If you like your tunes, the HK is well worth the upgrade. The M-Sport is great just for the seats and I really like the wheel and M badging on the stick and door sills. The only thing I'm not as thrilled about as I thought I would be is the 6MT. It's a great shifter, but just seems to need a little more gas pedal to keep up the RPMS than the 7 speed DCT I test drove. On the other hand, maybe I've just gotten lazy not having driven a stick in a while. It is really fun hammering second coming out of a turn though.

Besides the performance, what I'm really impressed about is how quiet and refined this car is. No road/tire noise on the highway and supple as a cat. I'm extremely happy. Color me:

[Section147]

Congrats! Looks gorgeous. Enjoy & be safe!!!

[Sinister Crayon]

Absolutely gorgeous... and SO jealous of the gorgeous weather you're having... well below freezing for me this morning

Couldn't agree more about the HK... even without fiddling it sounds pretty damned good. But here's a hint; I started with the following settings and found the audio much improved... and have only tweaked it a little since. Try it...

Treb - +5
Bass - +3
Fader - -2

100 - +4
200 - +4
500 - +6
1K - +6
2k - +4
5k - +5
10K - +6

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by Sinister Crayon

Absolutely gorgeous... and SO jealous of the gorgeous weather you're having... well below freezing for me this morning

Couldn't agree more about the HK... even without fiddling it sounds pretty damned good. But here's a hint; I started with the following settings and found the audio much improved... and have only tweaked it a little since. Try it...

Treb - +5
Bass - +3
Fader - -2

100 - +4
200 - +4
500 - +6
1K - +6
2k - +4
5k - +5
10K - +6

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give it a try. Yeah, the weather out here is pretty easy to take. But I do miss crisp fall weather with the leaves changing color and snow at Christmas. You can take the boy out of the north east but you can't take the north east out of the boy. At least not all of it.

[blf1]

Congrats!!!!!! I just purchased a 135i convertible. Didn't want to wait for a standard transmission, so I got the seven speed sport automatic which is super fun and super fast. Mine has the same rims as your and I think they are the best looking rims.

[Xtian]

The last time I was on one of the islands I noted that the speed limit was 40 - 45 everywhere I went. Is that for the whole group of Islands or just the one I went to?

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by Xtian

The last time I was on one of the islands I noted that the speed limit was 40 - 45 everywhere I went. Is that for the whole group of Islands or just the one I went to?

Sounds like you were on Kauai. There's basically just a two lane blacktop that goes part way around the island with extra lanes in higher traffic areas. I'm on Oahu where we have an actual freeway, but speed is still limited to 65. One could argue a high performance car is wasted out here, but you can still have fun.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by blf1

Congrats!!!!!! I just purchased a 135i convertible. Didn't want to wait for a standard transmission, so I got the seven speed sport automatic which is super fun and super fast. Mine has the same rims as your and I think they are the best looking rims.

Agree the rims are awesome. I wouldn't want anything different. Not sure if I made a mistake getting the 6MT or not. The seven speed DCT I test drove was definitely super fast. I've always preferred sticks in the past, but the engine response seems quite different from the DCT I test drove. Maybe I just need more cockpit and stick time to appreciate the manual. How's the ride in your vert? I test drove a 135i convertible and found the ride to be pretty jarring over bumps, very different from the coupe.

[Clovef]

Your probably feeling the different gear ratios. The dct's 7 gears are spaced closer together then the 6 are in the manual. There is also not much in the way of boost drop off between shifts like there is in the manual. I still don't think there is reason to be down on a manual though. It is a great transmission in different ways, just make sure to enjoy those differences.

[ken1137]

Originally Posted by 2012_135i

Sounds like you were on Kauai. There's basically just a two lane blacktop that goes part way around the island with extra lanes in higher traffic areas. I'm on Oahu where we have an actual freeway, but speed is still limited to 65. One could argue a high performance car is wasted out here, but you can still have fun.

Yeah, but you'll look good cruising in the white 1'er Ho'omaika'i Bra.

[doublevanosrc]

Nice and car and great pics!!

[KingOfJericho]

Hawaii really has to change their registration sticker location. That aside, awesome car and nice shots. Fuck I miss Hawaii... I think we're going back in Sept.

[P1]

Beautiful car, and nice color/options combo. You'll enjoy the crap out of it.

[blf1]

Originally Posted by 2012_135i

Agree the rims are awesome. I wouldn't want anything different. Not sure if I made a mistake getting the 6MT or not. The seven speed DCT I test drove was definitely super fast. I've always preferred sticks in the past, but the engine response seems quite different from the DCT I test drove. Maybe I just need more cockpit and stick time to appreciate the manual. How's the ride in your vert? I test drove a 135i convertible and found the ride to be pretty jarring over bumps, very different from the coupe.

You can never go wrong with a 6mt! However, the DCT shifts gears in seven/tenths of a second. Mine is also equipped with the SMG. For me the ride is very smooth. My last car was an 05 Z4. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the cost of new tires sometime in the future. Still learning all the things the computer and nav can do.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by P1et

Beautiful car, and nice color/options combo. You'll enjoy the crap out of it.

Thanks. I added the dark tint right before I took the pics. Kind of necessary out here anyway but it sure adds to the look with the shadowline trim. I still plan to do a bit more accessorizing. I want to get the drilled aluminum gas, brake and clutch pedals which will match the footrest and go nice with the black interior, and I'm considering getting the all black kidney grills. My wife likes the chrome look though which admittedly does add a touch of class. Also have to pick up some rubber floor mats and a mat for the trunk.

I am definitely enjoying the crap out of it.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Hawaii really has to change their registration sticker location. That aside, awesome car and nice shots. Fuck I miss Hawaii... I think we're going back in Sept.

Yeah, the sticker location sucks. But that's Hawaii. Hope you can make it back. It's winter time now, my favorite time of year, with nice crisp weather in the low seventies. Surf is building on the north shore too. Supposed to be 25 - 35 feet today!

[andnkuhn]

I dont know if im more jelly-beans of the AW or the island.....the carrrr haha