Got my 135i - very helpful forum

[Jeef Beef]

Hey guys, I've been combing these forums for the past couple of months when looking to buy either a 135i coupe or convertible. I must say this forum provided some useful insight about living with a 1er everyday, on top of reviews generally saying "the car is bloody amazing".

Finally decided to join after I picked up my lovely SGM Coupe on Wednesday My previous car was an 07 X3, and god damn this is a completely different beast. Sure I haven't 'utilised' the car's maximum performance potential since I'm letting the car run in but I can feel the monster stirring beneath the bonnet. Which brings me to my first question, my car's an ex-demo of sorts (if you can call 60km on the odo ex-demo) but the dealer said the car doesn't require any 'running in' period? Is this true? He told me I could thrash it out of the showroom and it'd be fine.

The dealer was Worthington Gosford, and I have to say they're pretty good with pre-sales service. Very personal, and did not hesitate to provide vehicles for a test drive. However, I had some issues with the business manager when working out the finance, and they pushed me for September 30 delivery (originally scheduled 4th October) but can't blame them for wanting to get it done before the end of the 3rd quarter.

Anyway I've ranted on for long enough, just hoping there will be some fun times to be had on this forum

[oldman]

Congrats...I bought my car from Worthington's as well and was told the same thing.

The subject has been discussed a lot on various forums on this site with many agreeing and many disagreeing with that suggestion.

For myself, I just followed what was in the book that came with the car because...

1) I am from the old school where cars were always run in before you let fly.
2) If the manufacturer has a suggested run in period, then I feel it should be adhered to.

... but that's just me. Everyone should do what they feel comfortable with. It is your car after all.

[Guran]

Dealers all say that. Remember that they're in the business of selling cars, and they have a service area that makes a lot of money from warranty work! Check your car manual and see what that says about running in. That's what I do.

BTW I thrash the daylights out of any tester that I drive. That's what they're there for and buyers of demos need to consider that. But with only 60km on it, your car would not have seen any more than a few laps of the local block.

Enjoy the new beast and I hope you can join us on the next meet/drive.

[CT135]

Welcome to the forums.
First post and you are straight into the religious war of running in! well done!
personally - I followed the book. max 4K rpm for first 1200km. (OK ... maybe went over 4K once or twice ... it is hard to resist!!! )

[Zuzu]

Originally Posted by CT135

I followed the book. max 4K rpm for first 1200km. (OK ... maybe went over 4K once or twice ... it is hard to resist!!! )

Welcome and congrats on your new 1er..

Same as above, although I only waited 800km's before throwing her on the dyno..

[BMW86]

60km is nothing... try not to hit redline or anything above 5000rpm for the first 1,000km's. I break my engines in fairly hard and I like to mix up the rev range.

[Jeef Beef]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

Yeh, she's only got 60km and was built in May/09. Arrived in Australia at the end of July so I dare say it was pretty much brand new. Got a great deal for it though.

I've read the manual and it says to keep the engine below 4500rpm for the first 2000km, so I'll stick to that. But I see this 'running in' issue is very contentious here.

oldman from the old school... haha that makes sense. I agree with your view that BMW won't stick recommendations into the owner's manual for no reason.

Will be looking forward to coming to a meet when I familiarise myself with the car Guran

[SimonB]

Welcome and congrats CT135, mine is now just over a year old and I still love it.

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by SimonB

Welcome and congrats CT135, mine is now just over a year old and I still love it.

I believe CT135 is not the new one here

EDIT: Damn ZuZu, that is a fine beast you have in your signature. BSM with Coral leather, Navigation and manual was EXACTLY what I was hoping for... but my SGM coupe sitting waiting to be bought was too irresistible. Maybe next time I'll place an order

[d3syd]

Congratulations JB . I stuck to BMW's recommended run in procedure as well.

The hard part now is trying not to get a speeding ticket At the 4500rpm run in limit, she goes plenty fast to spark the interest of the boys and blue.

[zenderm3]

Congrats Jeef... well done on the purchase. As you already know.... they have it in the manual for a reason... good luck with the run-in period!

Cheers!

[Jeef Beef]

It's cool d3, I'll be watching my back before I take it to the temporary 4500rpm 'redline'. I draw attention in the car anyway since I'm a green P plater. Just got my exemption on Friday.

Thanks for the welcome Zender

[zenderm3]

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

Thanks for the welcome Zender

Too easy mate! Enjoy the car.... I imagine that you're enjoying the feel of a new set of wheels!

[Totti]

How'd you get the exemption?

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

Yeh, she's only got 60km and was built in May/09. Arrived in Australia at the end of July so I dare say it was pretty much brand new. Got a great deal for it though.

I've read the manual and it says to keep the engine below 4500rpm for the first 2000km, so I'll stick to that. But I see this 'running in' issue is very contentious here.

oldman from the old school... haha that makes sense. I agree with your view that BMW won't stick recommendations into the owner's manual for no reason.

Will be looking forward to coming to a meet when I familiarise myself with the car Guran

Looks like our cars were sisters - i had a May 09 build date and arrival July as well.

Congrats on your new buy; it's a great car..

I hit 10.000km's this weekend... ouch!

[d3syd]

Originally Posted by Taymaishu

Looks like our cars were sisters - i had a May 09 build date and arrival July as well.

Congrats on your new buy; it's a great car..

I hit 10.000km's this weekend... ouch!

Wow 10,000km since July

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by d3syd

Wow 10,000km since July

Yeah :P Mind you, it was at 8500km this time last month.

I just literally couldn't get out of the car!!! But no more driving weekdays, it's the weekend car now, and back to using the Subaru if i decide to drive to work!

[05C4R]

congrats,

you are on green peas, so did you win lotto? can ya tell us the insurance bill for a twin turbo and green peas combination.

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by Totti

How'd you get the exemption?

It was actually quite a hassle with filling in forms from the RTA, and then needing to get a JP to witness my signature. Also had to bug my employer to write me a letter to prove I had a job that required a car.

However, I do live in a rural area with around 4 buses a day that operate down my road. There is absolutely no public transport on weekends within 10km. I work whole day weekends and weekday afternoons, combined with my need to get to uni and the fact that the 135i is the only car under my name was convincing enough to satisfy a 'special need'.

I know some friends who also have exemptions, but have time restrictions on when they can drive (usually during work hours). You can say I was 'lucky' enough to work 7 days and have no viable form of public transport

Originally Posted by beemer

congrats,

you are on green peas, so did you win lotto? can ya tell us the insurance bill for a twin turbo and green peas combination.

No lotto, just a lot of work, very little free time and a whole lotta debt. It's enough to meet the monthly payments for now. In fact the only time I get to enjoy the car is getting to, during, and getting home from work.

Don't even mention the insurance bill... I have to pay that in instalments also since the amount is way too high upfront.

Except these doubts are all erased everytime I press the 'start' button I'm just glad I got the car I always wanted.

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by Taymaishu

Looks like our cars were sisters - i had a May 09 build date and arrival July as well.

Congrats on your new buy; it's a great car..

I hit 10.000km's this weekend... ouch!

Probably came in on the same ship 10,000km in 3 months? Mileage flies when you're having fun.

[05C4R]

fark you are a 1addict!! i was too busy smoking weed and chasing skirt to even think of a loan at uni. i had a 9000 dollar audi 100CD, not a fast or cool car at all. you have done well for yourself if you can keep it up. its funny how you look back on your first cars with fond memories no matter what they were. you can look back at a 135i, where are ya gunna go after this!

[zenderm3]

Originally Posted by beemer

fark you are a 1addict!! i was too busy smoking weed and chasing skirt to even think of a loan at uni. i had a 9000 dollar audi 100CD, not a fast or cool car at all. you have done well for yourself if you can keep it up. its funny how you look back on your first cars with fond memories no matter what they were. you can look back at a 135i, where are ya gunna go after this!

Too true Beemer! Mine was a Toyota Corolla Seca RV... in Polo Green... Hahaha