New here, just got a 128i!

[bmwlaguna]

Been a fan of the 1-series for a long time. Picked up a 2013 128i coupe with 36K miles on it. Automatic transmission (the 6 speed)- hard to find a manual here.
I love this car, my first BMW. I'm hoping by following Mike Millers Maintenance that this car will be fairly bullet-proof.

Nothing wrong so far except a weird squeak/rub noise from steering wheel when lock to lock at parking speeds.
Has a set of new run-flats that we're out on before I bought it (Carmax). So I've been looking thru the recommendations for replacements.

Any other advice?

[rowsdower]

Congratulations! They are great cars. My advice: post some photos!

[Mr. Pharaoh]

Congrats on the new purchase! Welcome to the club. Best advice I can give is don't be afraid to ask questions, as long as you use the search function in the forum first. There is a plethora of knowledge here along with some fairly nice people. Happy cruising.

[Esteban]

^^ What they said! ^^

[Crazy Legs]

Congrats! What color? Are you gonna modify it?

[NorthernDancer]

Try and get it's history, even if it's verbal. Learn to do a few things yourself. The cabin filter for example is quite easy to change. Also, try and do your own oil changes. Find a good indy/import/BMW garage for maintenance & repairs. Join BMWCCA. I love my 08 to death and will keep it for a very long time.

[PDXE82]

Originally Posted by bmwlaguna

Any other advice?

Drive it and enjoy until something breaks then fix it. Rinse and repeat.

I've had mine for just over a year and still love it even with all the quirks of the DCT. Consider an extended warranty if it didn't come with one. I'm now on the positive side of what I paid for my warranty when I bought the car. It's paid out just over 5K.

[Gangplank]

Welcome. Enjoy the car, change the oil more often than BMW recommends and otherwise just follow regular maintenance.

[1and1]

Welcome to 1Addicts!
Hope the new-to-you treats you well!

[olds350]

welcome!! I'm a bit of a newby myself. As stated above, the more maintenance you can do yourself, the better you'll be in the long run and definitely change the oil more than required. I do changes at every 7500 myself... Enjoy the new ride!

[desertman123]

Advice? DRIVE IT!

[ECSTuning]

Congrats on the new car!

Advise... that's dangerous... stage 3 manifold, intake, headers, exhaust, and a tune make for a nice starting point! lol Of course after any maintenance is taken care of.

-James

[gjm120]

Congratulations. That is about the mileage mine was at when I purchased it abt 2 years ago. Last car made (at least in my price range) that melted my butter.

[bmwlaguna]

Originally Posted by PDXE82

Drive it and enjoy until something breaks then fix it. Rinse and repeat.

I've had mine for just over a year and still love it even with all the quirks of the DCT. Consider an extended warranty if it didn't come with one. I'm now on the positive side of what I paid for my warranty when I bought the car. It's paid out just over 5K.

Luckily (or not?), I have the regular 6-speed automatic.

[bmwlaguna]

Thanks everyone, pictures coming.
It's a Deep Sea Metallic with Black Boston leather.

I waited to find one with Navigation/iDrive, even though I don't really use the nav. Also has what I guess they call the HiFi stereo system? I don't know where that falls as far as an option, but it sure sounds great.

[bmwlaguna]

I did have a question about tires- and if you want to point me to a thread that's great. I do NOT have the sport suspension 128i and running the stock 17" wheels, so my question is can I go wider than the 205 size or no?

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by bmwlaguna

Thanks everyone, pictures coming.
It's a Deep Sea Metallic with Black Boston leather.

I waited to find one with Navigation/iDrive, even though I don't really use the nav. Also has what I guess they call the HiFi stereo system? I don't know where that falls as far as an option, but it sure sounds great.

HiFi is the middle option between Base and Logic 7.

Still a good sounding system for sure.

[chris_flies]

Don't ditch run-flats, unless you're ready to do the rear subframe bushings.

Other than that, congratulations! You'll love the car, despite yours' transmission-based shortcoming. Just kidding! Enjoy the car, and welcome to our friendly corner of bimmerpost.

A word of advice, see the commonalities in everyone's build...and use the E90 forums, too. There were 700k of those cars made, but only 70k of ours, there is much more knowledge over there.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by bmwlaguna

Been a fan of the 1-series for a long time. Picked up a 2013 128i coupe with 36K miles on it. Automatic transmission (the 6 speed)- hard to find a manual here.
I love this car, my first BMW. I'm hoping by following Mike Millers Maintenance that this car will be fairly bullet-proof.

Nothing wrong so far except a weird squeak/rub noise from steering wheel when lock to lock at parking speeds.
Has a set of new run-flats that we're out on before I bought it (Carmax). So I've been looking thru the recommendations for replacements.

Any other advice?

Welcome! Everyone gave solid advice so far but I haven't seen anything about the squeak/rub noise you mentioned. Keep in mind that you should NEVER drive the car with the wheels turned to full lock. You'll be able to hear and feel the power steering pump struggle at that point and it's very bad for the PS system. That noise may even just be the PS pump saying "help me"... Just back off a tiny bit until the noise stops and you should be fine. If I'm wrong and the noise sounds more suspension related, check your tie rods/endlinks and bushings - but still don't drive at full lock

[olds350]

Originally Posted by bmwlaguna

I did have a question about tires- and if you want to point me to a thread that's great. I do NOT have the sport suspension 128i and running the stock 17" wheels, so my question is can I go wider than the 205 size or no?

You can run 225s on the car, that's what I did when I ditched the crappy run flats. If you run standard tires, I do recommend building a tire fix kit and keeping it in trunk. I've got a post on here somewhere in regard to getting a lug wrench, a tire plug kit, scissors jack and a air compressor in case you pick up a nail. That will get you back on the road pretty quickly.

[bmwlaguna]

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Welcome! Everyone gave solid advice so far but I haven't seen anything about the squeak/rub noise you mentioned. Keep in mind that you should NEVER drive the car with the wheels turned to full lock. You'll be able to hear and feel the power steering pump struggle at that point and it's very bad for the PS system. That noise may even just be the PS pump saying "help me"... Just back off a tiny bit until the noise stops and you should be fine. If I'm wrong and the noise sounds more suspension related, check your tie rods/endlinks and bushings - but still don't drive at full lock

Got it, thank you! It's more a rubbing at the steering wheel. Carmax says it's the bushing in the steering column and only because I have the wheel out and down all the way (dumb answer). It's only during a quick turn of the wheel at basically a standstill.

One reason I bought this model is because it's the one of the last with hydraulic steering. I've driven newer 320's and a 4 series and while the electric steering is adjustable and does it's best to give good road feel, I like the purist BMW feel better.

[Matticus91]

Originally Posted by bmwlaguna

Got it, thank you! It's more a running at the steering wheel. Carmax says it's the bushing in the steering column and only because I have the wheel out and down all the way (dumb answer). It's only during a quick turn of the wheel at basically a standstill.

One reason I bought this model is because it's the one of the last with hydraulic steering. I've driven newer 320's and a 4 series and while the electric steering is adjustable and does it's best to give good road feel, I like the purist BMW feel better.

You'll fit in here very well indeed!