OK, so How did I do?

[champignon]

A couple of weeks ago I posted about a car I was considering buying that BMW of NA kept telling me was a 135is, however I ultimately was able to conclude that in fact it was just a lowly 135i. I ended up buying it anyway, and people asked me on the thread for pictures and details of the purchase. Now that I have the car, which got delivered today by 2 guys straight out of the old movie, DELIVERANCE, I have cleaned it up and taken a few pics and here goes:

2013 BMW 6MT 135i Coupe in Black Sapphire Mettalic with Black Boston Leather Interior.

Options are the Premium Package, Technology Package incl. Nav, Sport Seats, Heated Front Seats, and a bunch of other things that apparently were standard on the car or at least with these packages.

The original window sticker was in the glove box, thankfully. MSRP was $46,425 incl. the $925 delivery charge. I have no idea what the car actually sold for, nor what kinds of deals off of MSRP that people typically could get at the time this car was sold new.

The car has very low miles, about 12,750, and is about 21 months out from purchase with 2 years and 3 months remaining of the full mfr warranty. It had 2 previous owners, the original one, a female, who drove it around 8000 miles over less than 1 year, and the 2nd owner, not sure the sex, who drove it a little more than 4000 miles. It has sat on a Chevy dealer's lot for around 5 months during which it was driven less than 200 miles.

On inspection it looks basically pristine; other than for extremely minor signs of use externally, I can't find anything to comment on. The interior is also in fine shape. There are zero mods, which is what I wanted. It drives well; I took it up to highway speeds over a few miles test drive after it got delivered.

The car was at a Chevy dealer in Kentucky for quite a few months and in the end they just wanted to get rid of it and I wanted to buy it after finding that I felt I could trust the sales manager, who went out of his way for me on the sale.

Purchase price was $28,000 plus non-negotiable doc fee of around $400. They got me a real deal on the shipping for $1000 from Kentucky to Idaho. Taxes and registration locally are not included in these figures.

I think I did pretty well; what do you think? My intention is to drive this car a lot, and keep my 1M as a garage queen trophy, which I'll put a couple or 3 thousand miles on a year.

[Esteban]

A lowly 135i, huh? Not too shabby. Those are some low miles. Congrats and enjoy it in good health.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

A lowly 135i, huh?

That was intended as a joke

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by champignon

That was intended as a joke

Yeah, I got it.

[champignon]

I have only driven it about 15 miles at this point. Hard to compare to the 1M based on that, but I would say that it is about 80% the car that the 1M is, in all honesty. Doesn't have the performance bits but the core is basically the same.

My impression is that if you don't rack up too many miles, the basic 1 Series cars (128i and 135i) will end up being considered collectibles in the future, as the last run of real drivers cars ever to come out of Bavaria. Most probably, 6MT will be preferred, DCT will be in the middle, and the AT cars will be the least desirable, if past trends on other collectible BMWs hold.

[The Wind Breezes]

If your purchase price includes tax that's a pretty good deal.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

If your purchase price includes tax that's a pretty good deal.

It did not include the tax, which would vary by locale in any event. It is 6% in Idaho, close to 9% in CA, and in parts of Canada approaches or equals 15%

[PopsnBurbles]

Hah! Pathetic lowly 135i missing an 's.'

Kidding aside, great looking car but not too sure about the wheels. Congrats.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by PopsnBurbles

Hah! Pathetic lowly 135i missing an 's.'

Kidding aside, great looking car but not too sure about the wheels. Congrats.

+1 on the wheels. Throw some 313s on that baby.

[PopsnBurbles]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

+1 on the wheels. Throw some 313s on that baby.

Yup, 313s are simply the best among the cleanest looks for the e82/88. They're a HUGE game changer for the 1er's exterior. Not to mention, easy to clean lol.

[edisapimp]

Looks nice. I agree with everyone about the wheels. Wtf are those.

Congrats and nice addition.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by edisapimp

Looks nice. I agree with everyone about the wheels. Wtf are those.

To everyone who commented on the wheels; assuming one stayed with the stock wheel sizes, which is what I intend to do (and in fact have already ordered and received a staggered set of 18" PSS tires for the vehicle which are yet to be mounted), 2 questions:

What if any practical benefit other than looks would a set of 313 or other wheels provide?

Where would you buy a set of these or other wheels at a price not breaking the bank?

Thanks

[MightyMouseTech]

You basically got a new car for half price!

Nice!

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by champignon

To everyone who commented on the wheels; assuming one stayed with the stock wheel sizes, which is what I intend to do (and in fact have already ordered and received a staggered set of 18" PSS tires for the vehicle which are yet to be mounted), 2 questions:

What if any practical benefit other than looks would a set of 313 or other wheels provide?

Where would you buy a set of these or other wheels at a price not breaking the bank?

Thanks

Not cheap wheels. Part number: front (18x7.5) 36-11-6-787-645 rear (18x8.5) 36-11-6-787-646

These wheels are listed as "extremely lightweight." Don't know exactly what that means or what the numbers are, but TurnerMotorsport sells them and lists the shipping weight as 25lbs each. Not the best price here.

Quick search show this as the best price: getbmwparts.com - $380 each. You might find a better price if you do an extensive search.

http://www.getbmwparts.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

Note: these wheels with these part numbers say "BMW Performance" on them, instead of an ///M like the 313s on the 135is. Personally, I like these better because I don't think we need another ///M on a non-M car. No offense to the 135is guys.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

"extremely lightweight."

and lists the shipping weight as 25lbs each

You done good, OP. Very nice pickup, dat mileage doe.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

"extremely lightweight." lists the shipping weight as 25lbs each.

Originally Posted by swagon

I know, right? Just reporting what I read.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-51...128i-135i.aspx

[champignon]

It seemed like too good of a deal to pass up. I had started out looking for a 128i, but I couldn't find any that I liked that were equipped as I wanted, with low miles and priced well. The moral of the story would be to consider looking at cars in unexpected places (this was from a Chevy dealer in rural Kentucky) if the price looks compelling. A dealership like this one has no regular clientele for a vehicle like this, so unless they get lucky they are going to have to work to make a sale, as they did for me in this case.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Here's a good resource for pictures and specs of BMW wheels: http://felgenkatalog.auto-treff.com

At around 24# and 26# each, the 313's are not particularly lightweight.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Here's a good resource for pictures and specs of BMW wheels: http://felgenkatalog.auto-treff.com

At around 24# and 26# each, the 313's are not particularly lightweight.

Thanks for the link. The wheels currently on the car are #372. I can't find them at the above link. I also can't see, other than looks, what the advantages would be of any of the wheels that others here think look better :-)

[swagon]

Originally Posted by champignon

Thanks for the link. The wheels currently on the car are #372. I can't find them at the above link. I also can't see, other than looks, what the advantages would be of any of the wheels that others here think look better :-)

None apart from the fact that they look good, but I quite like yours. I've got the 261M's and they're kinda meh.

P.S.: You've got hell of a car stable, man... Wow.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by swagon

None apart from the fact that they look good, but I quite like yours. I've got the 261M's and they're kinda meh.

P.S.: You've got hell of a car stable, man... Wow.

I agree with you about the 261s. I got rid of them for the 313s soon after I got my car.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by swagon

None apart from the fact that they look good, but I quite like yours. I've got the 261M's and they're kinda meh.

P.S.: You've got hell of a car stable, man... Wow.

Thanks very much, I do appreciate it. And it took some work.

I was having an IM "discussion" with another forum member and he described his own collection as a "cheap man's ultimate garage." I think that mine is pretty much on the same level. Someone with real ambitions and lots of money to throw away would have a stable of Ferraris, Lambourghinis, Bugatis, etc. I just have a few obsolete BMWs and a Subaru.