What options on a used 135?

[decaturdad]

I started off looking at a 235 as a replacement for my 328. I no longer need 4 doors or a usable back seat. I loved the power of the 235, but the feeling made me hold off. Plus, with what I would want on it, we were at around $46,000 (Never reached a final number.)

So, I have decided to find a CPO 135. From reading on here, I think I want the DCT tranny. (Wife can't drive a stick.) What other options are "must have"? I lean towards performance over comfort, but this will be a daily driver.

Thanks!

[davis449]

If you were looking at a 235, you need to just find a fully loaded M Sport model 135i. If you could afford even a base model 235 you can afford to find a used, low-mileage, and fully-equipped 2011-2013 135i M Sport or (if you can find one) 135is.

[fcman]

I wish you posted this like a year from now when I'd be ready to sell. I have a 2011 DCT 135i fully loaded with CPO til 2017, and I'm in Atlanta. I daily mine and I'm happy with all of the options. If I wanted something more barebones I probably would have bought something else.

[Dackelone]

I would say MUST HAVE's would be full M-Sport(sport seats, sport steering wheel, alcantera black headliner, m-sport wheels, etc) and/or get a 135iS(last model year) which has the PE(performance exhaust) and PPK(+20hp). Maybe get heated seats and a USB/Bluetooth. Everything else is just gravy.

[dtla1]

M-sport trim would be a good place to start.

Try to find one with BMW Performance Suspension, Performance, Exhaust and PPK software and you will be golden, however, I don't feel like an owner with those things would actually sell back.

All or any of these would be a great start.

Otherwise, first mod would be a good set of tires (Michelin Pilot Super Sports are the go to) which you might convince the dealer to swap out as part of the deal.

Upgraded suspension, which one depends on taste, coil overs, lowered a lot, lowered a little, BMW performance part etc.

Those two things will have you being glad you didn't get the 235.

Then you could start looking into stiffening up the ride so it feels like you are in more control, which means a rear sub frame bushing upgrade. Again, choices here include inserts, two piece aftermarket, BMW M3 bushings, all the way to solid Delrin or Aluminum, most likely overkill unless you plan on going to the track quite a bit.

Any questions feel free to ask, the community here is very supportive.
Or at least very supportive until you go to the Dinan vs everyone else discussion that's going on here somewhere.

[TheCaptain]

You definitely want the M-sport package.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by TheCaptain

You definitely want the M-sport package.

This, for the sport seats and M steering wheel alone.

[gemini.m3]

i feel really fortunate to have found a 12 w/ 28k miles with every possible option available just added the PPK1 recently and BMW PE soon!!

dont settle, get it with everything under the sun including navi and ull be happy to know you bought a car with every possible option for low 30's to high 20's which some peopel prefer over a barebones 235 that runs 46K +

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ntsthrilla

i feel really fortunate to have found a 12 w/ 28k miles with every possible option available just added the PPK1 recently and BMW PE soon!!

You will love the combination of PPK and PE. The exhaust popping and crackling in overrun is spectacular.

You probably already hear the pops and crackles with PPK, but it's even more enhanced the PE.

I always drive with my stereo off and my windows down just to hear that wonderful noise.

[gemini.m3]

ay ! I was worried about power loss according to some reports but I can't see that.. I can't imagine it adding much but the noise! i ran into a 135is a few days ago and that sealed the deal for me :P

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ntsthrilla

ay ! I was worried about power loss according to some reports but I can't see that.. I can't imagine it adding much but the noise! i ran into a 135is a few days ago and that sealed the deal for me :P

PPK is supposed to add 20 horsepower. I don't know of any reported power loss. If you don't mind, please explain what you mean.

[gemini.m3]

i meant power loss for the PE not the PPK1, I'm very happy w/ the ppk! i logged my boost and it was hittin 11

[lowbudgethero]

I would sit in both sport and non sport seats, some may favor one or the other for comfort. The sport seats definitely have much better side bolsters to keep you in the seat while cornering and I like the adjustable seat length.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ntsthrilla

i meant power loss for the PE not the PPK1, I'm very happy w/ the ppk! i logged my boost and it was hittin 11

I don't think I've ever heard about power loss from the PE. Please tell us what you've heard.

[ShocknAwe]

M-sport for the seats.

Cold Weather for the seat heaters.

Could care less about the rest of it. IF I knew about it I would have gotten the HK sound pkg.

[gemini.m3]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

I don't think I've ever heard about power loss from the PE. Please tell us what you've heard.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291078

I'd rather not believe it and all things considered this is what comes w/ the IS so I can't imagine it slowing the car, just some research

u got all the mods i want to do to my car lol

PE for sure, then either blacklines or bmw performance wing

[Ed P]

M-Sport pkg, as others have stated. Great seats, great steering wheel, and some other nice bits.

The Harman Kardon audio system is wonderful too.

Nav? Meh-I'd rather use our new Garmin when I need it (rarely), and have a clean dash, but I wouldn't pass up a nice CPO if it had it of course.

I was fortunate (and patient) -- 2013 CPO with 3100 miles. Purchased at the end of July, it was born 9/13.

You might want to contact all the local dealers of nice cars (not just BMW dealers) to be on the lookout for you, in addition to scouring the internet daily... And be ready to pounce (get your money/financing lined up now).

Good luck!

[6MT_Addict]

If you're getting an auto go 2011-2013 for the DCT. I test drove one, it's exhilarating lol. As has been said, get M sport, it's worth every penny and then some.

You can add PPK, PE, Suspension later and besides modding is half the fun. As for the PE robbing power, I call BS. BMW advertises 10hp gain and they wouldn't do that if they hadn't tested it thoroughly. It may impact the rev range and power output at some points, but even if you lost 10hp its pretty negligible. I had the PE on my old E90, best mod I ever did, it MADE that car. I put it back to stock before selling and after the PE was off it just felt like a BMW, not my BMW. It's worth every penny

Also the alarm is nice to have, so if you get one older than 2009, you cannot retrofit the alarm, or at least not easily. Pre 2009 (05/09 I believe) comes pre-wired for more or less everything. after this point BMW stopped doing this, presumably for cost cutting. If you have any issues in your neighborhood it's nice to have. Opportunist thieves tend to be discouraged by the badge but I had someone ruin my B pillar door trim on my E90 attempting to get past the double locking system, so a flashing clown nose just helps if you park it outside. Plus, the chirp is just awesome when you walk up and unlock it haha

[3002 tii]

2012+ aren't tuneable aside from jb4 or Dinan so if you want m235i power go for ppk v2. Performance exhaust won't do much in terms of power but it sounds pretty darn impressive.

[decaturdad]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

I would sit in both sport and non sport seats, some may favor one or the other for comfort. The sport seats definitely have much better side bolsters to keep you in the seat while cornering and I like the adjustable seat length.

Interestingly. My son likes the non-sport seats. He is 6'3", 230 pounds and the sport seats are too tight. But this is my car not his :-)

[DSSG]

I have a 135i M Sport Pkg with Black Boston Leather and DCT transmission. That is all you really need. My car came with the BMW Assist and Satellite Radio, but I let the subscription expires and have never used the Assist.

Regarding the M235i, there are only one or two available at any given moment in my area, and the lowest sticker price I've seen is $50K. I don't particularly like the looks of the car, since it looks like a 3 series with the air let out of it.

The 135i is a very distinctive looking car that was developed to celebrate the iconic BMW 2002 of the 1960, and the car that saved BMW from bankruptcy! As for performance, it is a brilliant car with excellent handling qualities and more than sufficient power.

You will have to make two changes, get rid of the RFTs, I put on some Michelin A/S 3s, and put in a radar detector using a Blendmount.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by ntsthrilla

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=291078

I'd rather not believe it and all things considered this is what comes w/ the IS so I can't imagine it slowing the car, just some research

u got all the mods i want to do to my car lol

PE for sure, then either blacklines or bmw performance wing

Yeah, the blackilines are great. Subtle, yet beautiful upgrade. And they're plug and play.

Don't think I could pull off the wing, though. Just don't think it would look right on me. It looks really great on other cars but I think I'm happy with the little spoiler that comes stock on the car.