Help me choose which car to buy!

[Don Q]

Hi guys, i'm about to buy a 135i, but things got a bit compicated... I sold my evo because I needed something more useful as a daily driver. My first choice was to get an auto 135, because I had MAJOR issues with the manual transmission and cluth. It was always grinding, notchy and the act clutch always gave me problems.

With this said, I sold my car and found an 08 silver 135 with 23k miles and stock. I was 100% set on this car until I found another one... It's 08 white(favorite color), 8k miles and all the available bolt ons. It is my perfect 135 and I can get it for the same price as the auto one. The problem is... IT'S MANUAL.

If the manual was faster than the auto I would buy it in a heart beat. But to think that the auto is better as a daily driver and FASTER kills me... What would you guys do? Is it to good to let it go away or should I just take the manual because of the great deal?

[135iMike]

08 in white! White > Silver, Stick > Auto, 8k miles > 23k miles.. but stock > modded.

Whatever your heart feels!

[J0E]

But to think that the auto is better as a daily driver

This statement depends on a lot of things. Does your daily commute include traffic? I've had a manual transmission for my daily driver for almost a decade now and I've never thought "man this would be better if it was an auto" unless I was stuck in traffic. If your commute doesn't include traffic, I don't see why not go with a manual with less miles and your favorite color.

BTW have you test driven this car yet? The manual on my old 330Ci and now my 135i are night and day smoother and easier to drive than the manuals on many other cars I have driven including my own '11 WRX.

[jordantii]

I just traded my Evo as well for an 11 135i 6MT. I even had a new trans a clutch installed in the Evo just 1 month ago. I had a 335 with the auto and as far as an automatic goes, it's very very good. However, the 135i I just bought is a manual. It is waaaay better than the Evo. Night and day.

If you like a manual car go ahead and get the 6 speed. It's a very good trans.

[C.junior]

I went from always driving stick to BMW 135 steptronic it's really nice man I use the auto on laZy days and on weekends or when I Want to have fun I drive with paddles really quick at shifting no lag my buddy's 335 step is slower at changing gears but the 135 is really quick

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by 135iMike

08 in white! White > Silver, Stick > Auto, 8k miles > 23k miles.. but stock > modded.

Whatever your heart feels!

well said

[IDBMW]

This is my 3rd BMW with the ZF 6 speed manual. This is an extremely well built gearbox and would recommend it to anyone that wanted a manual. I can do a full throttle shift at 6k RPM, not hit redline and the shift is smooth. I was thinking about the DCT on my next BMW but decided that this gearbox is so nice I do not even want to change.

Just get rid of the CVD as soon as you can and it will shift even better.

[Don Q]

Originally Posted by J0E

This statement depends on a lot of things. Does your daily commute include traffic? I've had a manual transmission for my daily driver for almost a decade now and I've never thought "man this would be better if it was an auto" unless I was stuck in traffic. If your commute doesn't include traffic, I don't see why not go with a manual with less miles and your favorite color.

BTW have you test driven this car yet? The manual on my old 330Ci and now my 135i are night and day smoother and easier to drive than the manuals on many other cars I have driven including my own '11 WRX.

I see A LOT of traffic :/. I haven't driven a manual 135, but the evo was quite harsh and unforgiving.

[Don Q]

Originally Posted by jordantii

I just traded my Evo as well for an 11 135i 6MT. I even had a new trans a clutch installed in the Evo just 1 month ago. I had a 335 with the auto and as far as an automatic goes, it's very very good. However, the 135i I just bought is a manual. It is waaaay better than the Evo. Night and day.

If you like a manual car go ahead and get the 6 speed. It's a very good trans.

Is it much easier to drive than the evo? I wanted to get the auto because I didn't want to worry about hills, traffic jams, red lights, etc.

Out of the manual and the auto which do you like better?

[Don Q]

Originally Posted by C.junior

I went from always driving stick to BMW 135 steptronic it's really nice man I use the auto on laZy days and on weekends or when I Want to have fun I drive with paddles really quick at shifting no lag my buddy's 335 step is slower at changing gears but the 135 is really quick

I thought they used the same transmission? Why would one shift different than the other? Can you explain?

[Don Q]

Originally Posted by IDBMW

This is my 3rd BMW with the ZF 6 speed manual. This is an extremely well built gearbox and would recommend it to anyone that wanted a manual. I can do a full throttle shift at 6k RPM, not hit redline and the shift is smooth. I was thinking about the DCT on my next BMW but decided that this gearbox is so nice I do not even want to change.

Just get rid of the CVD as soon as you can and it will shift even better.

Thanks for the response, can you explain what is the CVD?

[IDBMW]

Originally Posted by Don Q

Thanks for the response, can you explain what is the CVD?

The CDV valve a little device in line with your clutch fluid line that when you release the clutch it lets the fluid back slowly. This is supposed to take the shock off the driveline. M3’s do not have this CVD!

With my CVD in and I do a quick takeoff, the next stop a little down the road I can smell clutch. Since CVD replacement, I have no clutch smell on takeoff. It also make my shifts smother.

You can buy a CVD valve from some aftermarket companies or on our 135i we can simply punch out the valve from the valve body easily. You can also just remove the valve but BMW may notice that it is gone and cause a headache dealing with the warranty void.[/SIZE][/FONT]

You have to bleed the clutch after you remove/replace the valve.

[tuco44]

Since the auto in 2008 was not DCT, I would say get the Manual.

[Section147]

Originally Posted by tuco44

Since the auto in 2008 was not DCT, I would say get the Manual.

^^^THAT^^^

[J0E]

Originally Posted by Don Q

I see A LOT of traffic :/. I haven't driven a manual 135, but the evo was quite harsh and unforgiving.

Well on one hand, the 135i manual is pretty much the complete opposite of "harsh and unforgiving" so that is a plus over your Evo. On the other hand, no manual transmission is fun in traffic. It's going to be a hard choice but before deciding based on what people say on here, I would check your local BMW dealer to see if they have any used 1 series in both a manual and an auto that you can test drive.

[jordantii]

Originally Posted by Don Q

Is it much easier to drive than the evo? I wanted to get the auto because I didn't want to worry about hills, traffic jams, red lights, etc.

Out of the manual and the auto which do you like better?

So much easier. No comparison. You don't have to worry about hills since the 135 has hill brake at least my 11 does. But even if it did not, it is one of the easiest and smoothest transmissions. Also, since torque is right there you won't have to wait for the power to hit at 3.5k. The i6 is very smooth. You can't compare a 4 to a 6 in regards to smoothness and power delivery.

You won't have any problems at lights, on hills or in traffic. I promise!

That being said, the Evo is more raw and much less isolated which can get old real quick.

I prefer the 6mt over the steptronic. You should drive the step in manual mode, you may very well like it. It even blips the throttle on the downshift.

[1911A145]

I voted Auto. I love my 08 auto and have no problems with it. bought it used and started modding it. Ill never buy a previously modded car. ever.

[Don Q]

Thanks a lot for the info! Guess I should at least test drive the manual. I'll let you guys know what I do. Thanks again!

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by tuco44

Since the auto in 2008 was not DCT, I would say get the Manual.

Why do you say that? The step is only 50-100ms slower than the DCT on every shift except the 2-1

It's so little of a difference it's impossible to notice. They both shift in less than the blink of an eye!



That being said I said pick the auto - not because it's an auto. But because rule #1 of buying used is never buy a modified car

[J0E]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

That being said I said pick the auto - not because it's an auto. But because rule #1 of buying used is never buy a modified car

Though I tend to agree, that is an awfully broad "rule". If everyone followed that rule than no one would modify their car with anything that cannot be reversed for fear of being stuck with it for life.

I think if the modifications are done professionally with quality parts in a manner that you yourself would have done it anyway, then it's not necessarily a bad option.

[Colt]

Depends if the mods were professionally installed by a shop. Is pretty low miles though

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by J0E

Though I tend to agree, that is an awfully broad "rule". If everyone followed that rule than no one would modify their car with anything that cannot be reversed for fear of being stuck with it for life.

I think if the modifications are done professionally with quality parts in a manner that you yourself would have done it anyway, then it's not necessarily a bad option.

The fact that it's modified tells you that the i think cars r stupid was driven in a certain manner - one that may not be beneficial to the long life of the car if you catch my drift.

That's why the rule exists, for me at least, because when I buy a car I do so with the intent of owning it until it literally falls apart.