2013 135is owners discussion and photos thread!

[gregthegr8]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

I can't remember the last time my car was clean......but today it is!!!

The wheels look a lil black. When are the 313s going back on? Can't wait to see them all emerge from hibernation and see all the 135is's out there come back to full 135is life!

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

The wheels look a lil black. When are the 313s going back on? Can't wait to see them all emerge from hibernation and see all the 135is's out there come back to full 135is life!

maybe early to mid April? when the temps are consistently in the 50s I'll put the 313s back on....oh and when the bloody potholes are further repaired!!!

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

maybe early to mid April? when the temps are consistently in the 50s I'll put the 313s back on....oh and when the bloody potholes are further repaired!!!

My plan exactly. Also need a good rain to wash away the salt!

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by RickMsport

My plan exactly. Also need a good rain to wash away the salt!

yeah craaaaaazy amounts of salt on the road here....my shoes are caked with it after walking outside for a bit

[Downeaster1]

Well...the winter bug has bit me, so I thought I would add a few things to the car. Here she is!

[gregthegr8]

Originally Posted by Downeaster1

Well...the winter bug has bit me, so I thought I would add a few things to the car. Here she is!

Whoa, you went full bore!!! What do you think of everything you put on there? Curious to hear your feedback on all. I'm assuming as well that the CF spoiler is the authentic BMW one? And can I ask how much the CF trim ran you? I gotta say, I haven't normally been a fan of it in the past, but it looks damn good seeing it in your car.

[Chunner]

i love that performance wheel! woooo weeee... was it an easy install?

[PopsnBurbles]

Originally Posted by Downeaster1

Well...the winter bug has bit me, so I thought I would add a few things to the car. Here she is!

Very nice! Me = jelly...

I used to dislike the steering wheel but it actually looks cool. Now, I dig the wheel but I wish they can restitch with the matching blue stitch.

I can't wait to replace my Alum. hex trim...my knuckle grazed on it one time and it actually took some of my skin off! Is the CF trim weave 2x2 twill?

[mb135is]

Great upgrades! I was going to get that spoiler, but since I'm getting new tires and repairing one of my 313s (plus getting a post-winter alignment -- thank you pot holes), I'm going to hold off.

[JeffyD]

Is it sad that I have looked, unsuccessfully, at buying a PPK badge online? After explaining many many many times that my car has equipment that a stock i doesn't - to the same technician - I feel like the stupid sticker might be an easier sign not to accidentally flash out the stage 1 mapping. I could just write it on the plastic, but bmw doesn't make OEM sharpies.

The worst part is that, if such an incident did happen, I'd probably not notice. But dammit, I want it!

[gregthegr8]

Originally Posted by JeffyD

Is it sad that I have looked, unsuccessfully, at buying a PPK badge online? After explaining many many many times that my car has equipment that a stock i doesn't - to the same technician - I feel like the stupid sticker might be an easier sign not to accidentally flash out the stage 1 mapping. I could just write it on the plastic, but bmw doesn't make OEM sharpies.

The worst part is that, if such an incident did happen, I'd probably not notice. But dammit, I want it!

You mean...THIS?! Don't mind my protective plastic baggy as I was debating where to put it the other day and haven't put it on yet. You can buy it online...there are ways. You should have the white sticker though on the underside of your hood that says Performance Power Kit Installed Change Spark Plugs Every 45,000 Miles, no?

[JeffyD]

Yeah, it came with one in English on the underside of the hood, near the latch. I guess to keep it from getting too hot, I dunno. What I do know, now that I've spent some time with a few dealers' service techs, is that the majority of them are completely imbecilic. At least, the majority that I've met. To the point that I've only been to one dealer that I'm confident in bringing the car to. Never have had to deal with warranty work on a car before, and was unaware of how little many of the people employed at these places know about the products they're dealing with.

That said, I dunno. Maybe most of the guys in back doing the real work are better informed, and I've just had bad luck with the guys up front. I'd still purchase the decal just as another heads up for anyone dealing with my baby. Helpful reminders come in handy even for weathered veterans of the craft who just had an "off" moment. I'm sure it's just the fact that I'm not there to actually do the work that makes me nervous, and a little over concerned. Otherwise it'd be awesomely easy and cheap to just get counterfeit badges and slap them on every non-ppk'd 1er for free flashes if checking the VINs wasn't the actual procedure.

Plus there's that shameful piece of me that would like to have it just to "complete" the package, so to speak. I'd rather the trim monkeys had put one on the intake housing, and had forgotten about the "is" badge on the dash. Which I can't take off because, dudes, how else are people gonna know how awesome the car is?

Anyone who has any clue where to source one and is also kind enough to PM me the information is thanked a great deal.

Stickers should never warrant this much rambling.

[Downeaster1]

I actually love the performance wheel. The install wasn't too bad. The glove box has to come out along with everything else in the dash in order to run the harness. I was assuming it was pre-wired. Not so much. I was just going to tap into the PT-CAN under the cluster but didn't really have time to pin out everything.

I was going to order the factory BMW performance seats, but I really hate how you can't order them with blue stiching. I don't really want to replace anything that is 135is specific.

Plus next week, I'm driving from Maryland to California...stay tuned for that thread.

Also, to the guys about the PPK badge: It's impossible with BMW's current programming set up to not program in the PPK after a reflash. The PPK is written into the vehicle order. ISTA/P (the programming client) has to read the VO before any programming sessions start. It won't program anything unless all of the activation codes are downloaded and enabled. So because the PPK is tied to both the VIN and VO of each car, the computer knows its supposed to be there. If doing a retrofit of the PPK to a non 135is car, an activation code is required from BMW HQ making it impossible to give people "free tunes". It's the same code procedure from SDARS (satelite radio) activation and navigation map upgrades.

That being said, I still want the badges lol.

Originally Posted by mb135is

Great upgrades! I was going to get that spoiler, but since I'm getting new tires and repairing one of my 313s (plus getting a post-winter alignment -- thank you pot holes), I'm going to hold off.

Well thanks!

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

Whoa, you went full bore!!! What do you think of everything you put on there? Curious to hear your feedback on all. I'm assuming as well that the CF spoiler is the authentic BMW one? And can I ask how much the CF trim ran you? I gotta say, I haven't normally been a fan of it in the past, but it looks damn good seeing it in your car.

Thanks! Yes its all authentic BMW. I'm a technician at a dealership so not having to pay total retail due to the discount isn't too bad. Everything came out to about $2500 and some change. The wheel being the pricey bit.

[motorchimp]

Awesome setup Downeaster1 and thanks for the info on the ppk re flash, I certainly feel a lot better knowing they can't just accidentally, or ignorantly delete it. I still got the sticker set for mine but put my 45'000 mile sticker near the black sticker near where the hood latches on the engine bay itself (not the hood). I hope it doesn't bake there.

[JeffyD]

Thanks a lot for giving that run down on how they do things, sir.

I was unable to get an answer from any of the SAs I asked about such a thing being possible. All I did get was more along the lines of it won't be screwed up, but you just gave me what I was hoping for - that it can't be screwed up.

That said, I still feel compelled to find and buy the badge for it. Just to display it. Which means that I'm no wiser than a 5 year old girl covering her Trapper Keeper in unicorn stickers. Awesome.

Thanks, again, though- it's nice to have a solid explanation to fill in all the gaps. I never have needed to know how one goes about navigation upgrades, or satellite radio account subscriptions since I never owned the former or cared enough to look into the latter, but it does make sense.

[mb135is]

Great info Downeaster! Thank you!

[3002 tii]

After MANY months of waiting, I FINALLY found a BMW Performance CF diffuser for sale on eBay. Brand new, $860 shipped. Figured between spending $5-600 on a replica, for $300 more OEM was WORTH it.

[mb135is]

you will love it!

[Worra]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

After MANY months of waiting, I FINALLY found a BMW Performance CF diffuser for sale on eBay. Brand new, $860 shipped. Figured between spending $5-600 on a replica, for $300 more OEM was WORTH it.

Wow! Guess I need to stalk eBay some more...

[morningscifi]

Originally Posted by JeffyD

That said, I still feel compelled to find and buy the badge for it. Just to display it. Which means that I'm no wiser than a 5 year old girl covering her Trapper Keeper in unicorn stickers. Awesome.

omg, I lost it at that comment, disturbing my coworkers early in the morning. that's a win on Friday.

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by Downeaster1

Also, to the guys about the PPK badge: It's impossible with BMW's current programming set up to not program in the PPK after a reflash. The PPK is written into the vehicle order. ISTA/P (the programming client) has to read the VO before any programming sessions start. It won't program anything unless all of the activation codes are downloaded and enabled. So because the PPK is tied to both the VIN and VO of each car, the computer knows its supposed to be there. If doing a retrofit of the PPK to a non 135is car, an activation code is required from BMW HQ making it impossible to give people "free tunes". It's the same code procedure from SDARS (satelite radio) activation and navigation map upgrades.

Thanks for that verification! I DON'T have any PPK decals, so every time this issue comes up I begin to worry that my PPK will be removed during a reflash or software update of some sort.

[gregthegr8]

For some reason I felt inclined to take pictures of my car getting washed this morning and don't worry, it's a hand wash, and I'm always the first car there when it opens at 8am. Here she is after being all soaped up by two guys, and slowly making her way down the line as I stare at her longingly.