Saying goodbye...

[amancuso]

For now anyway. Yesterday I traded my 2008 128i in after just 13 short months of ownership. I loved my 128i, but I was never really happy with it due to a crappy CPO experience about the body/paint. It was just those issues you would notice after living with a vehicle for a few months, especially if you buy a car in the Winter in the NorthEast. You can't really get to know a car's body until you wash it by hand a few times. I thought that purchasing CPO would guarantee me a near flawless body with near perfect paint, I thought wrong.
Another reason for the trade was I never was satisfied with the fuel economy on this car. I expected at least 27-28MPG on my daily trip which is mostly highway without traffic, and the best I could muster was 25.5, lower then my previous 2001 325Ci. Anyway, I won't be without a 1 for too long as my partner is planning to pick one up in the coming year or two... My new ride is a 2012 MINI Cooper hardtop in Lightning Blue. For FWD and 121HP it's a surprisingly rewarding car to drive. Here's to the future!




Al.

[NEO135]

Sorry the 128 didn't work for you. In my experience, CPO definitely does not guarantee pristine paint...I've purchased CPO cars that had touch-ups and chips on the finish. All turned out to be marvelous cars though, including, so far, my '08 135i convertible which I had clayed and detailed right after I bought it.

Best of luck with your MINI!

[Barry45RPM]

Originally Posted by NEO135

...I had cloyed and detained right after I bought it...

[Fox128i]

Sorry to see you go, but that is a nice looking MINI you have there.

[2012_135i]

Sorry to see you go and hope you can come back soon. If the fuel mileage in your 128i was a bummer for you consider upgrading to the 135i. It actually gets better mileage than the 128i. Just a thought.

[1speedbike]

BMW paint really sucks. It's not just the CPO, it's that all our cars are just ridiculously prone to imperfections of the paint for some reason. Had new get my new bumper repainted twice and it still looks like crap. Now it's just paint chipped with lots of touch up spots that are really obvious up close. You'd probably have a heart attack if you saw my bumper if you ditched your car because of the paint (and the mileage too, I guess).

Still, I love minis. Maybe one day when I have more money I'll get one as well (never selling the 1er!). My girlfriend makes fun of me for my mini love and the fact that I'm always trying to get her to go test drive them with me. Good luck man! And don't leave the Tri-State addicts facebook group (or this site)! You're still an addict for life!

[szcyxzh]

consider the fun factor, i never mind the gas mileage. hope you be back to the 2er in the future.

[P1]

These cars aren't going to be a perfect fit for everyone, and obviously a poor CPO experience doesn't help. Before I bought my wife's 135i, I had a PTG (paint thickness gauge) put on the car to make sure it had not been repainted.

[MikeinAlexandria]

It is still a BMW, so you are good! Check out www.northamericanmotoring.com. That is the largest MINI forum, I think it has more users than the UK version at this point. And don't forget to check out your local MINI club. Also, keep (if you have one) your BMWCCA membership, as MINIs are always welcome at their events, and the Cooper is an awesome little track car! Have fun, I loved my MINIs... just wanted a four seat convertible and a Lotus, so no place for a MINI in the fleet at the moment.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by MikeinAlexandria

It is still a BMW, so you are good! Check out www.northamericanmotoring.com. That is the largest MINI forum, I think it has more users than the UK version at this point. And don't forget to check out your local MINI club. Also, keep (if you have one) your BMWCCA membership, as MINIs are always welcome at their events, and the Cooper is an awesome little track car! Have fun, I loved my MINIs... just wanted a four seat convertible and a Lotus, so no place for a MINI in the fleet at the moment.

Thanks everyone! And Mike, yes I will keep my BMWCCA membership as I still have a CPO 330i (Owned from 35k miles currently at 141,000 and ticking! Actually a fantastic experience) and a Z3 2.3.

Al.

[jkoral]

How many miles were on the 128i when you bought it?

(And considering I get around 19-20 mpg in my 135i, I disagree with 2012_135i above who said the 135i gets better mileage. My last couple BMW straight 6 NA engines were always in the mid to high 20s depending on driving style).

[doublevanosrc]

Nice pick up!! Mini's are fun cars to drive plus it will return great gas mileage.

Enjoy!!!


Now I gotta ask how does it compare to the 1er??

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by jkoral

How many miles were on the 128i when you bought it?

(And considering I get around 19-20 mpg in my 135i, I disagree with 2012_135i above who said the 135i gets better mileage. My last couple BMW straight 6 NA engines were always in the mid to high 20s depending on driving style).

I picked up the 1er with 31,300 miles. I know what you mean about the mileage my old 140K mile 330i still manages over 30 on long trips and dailys about 27 (rural areas here)

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Nice pick up!! Mini's are fun cars to drive plus it will return great gas mileage.

Enjoy!!!


Now I gotta ask how does it compare to the 1er??

Thank you! It's very engaging in the corners but obviously doesn't have the torque/pick up of a 6 cyl. Driving in traffic and open road netted me 34 MPG combined!

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by jkoral

How many miles were on the 128i when you bought it?

(And considering I get around 19-20 mpg in my 135i, I disagree with 2012_135i above who said the 135i gets better mileage. My last couple BMW straight 6 NA engines were always in the mid to high 20s depending on driving style).

That's just from the published stats. The 135i is rated slightly higher. Of course "your mileage may vary", as they say. I'm convinced there's some voodoo involved in the way the same model car identically equipped as another will get different mileage under similar conditions. We bought an Audi A3 2.0 which was advertised on the sticker as 25 city, 32 highway. What a joke. We get 18, maybe 19 around town and maybe 27 on the highway, and I don't have a lead right foot. I complained and complained but of course nothing was every found wrong with the car. Voodoo I tell you.

[Diver]

In town I get about 17 in the summer with AC and 18.5 in cool weather without AC from my 135i with DCT. With the small tank that results in frequent fuel stops. The car has had ongoing problems with what is now believed to be a noisy differential. it is in the shop right now while I scoot around in their 328i X-Drive coupe. Don't ask me why they had an all wheel drive car on their lot down here where it never snows.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Diver

In town I get about 17 in the summer with AC and 18.5 in cool weather without AC from my 135i with DCT. With the small tank that results in frequent fuel stops. The car has had ongoing problems with what is now believed to be a noisy differential. it is in the shop right now while I scoot around in their 328i X-Drive coupe. Don't ask me why they had an all wheel drive car on their lot down here where it never snows.

Because x-drive is all the rage, you know.

[wolfe]

As a previous owner of a CPO BMW, I was disappointed too for the same reasons. It just doesn't come close to living up to the hype. In my experience all you're really doing is paying a few thousand dollars more and getting an extended warranty.

Enjoy the MINI, they're a ton of fun & the owners club is awesome in most places.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by wolfe

As a previous owner of a CPO BMW, I was disappointed too for the same reasons. It just doesn't come close to living up to the hype. In my experience all you're really doing is paying a few thousand dollars more and getting an extended warranty.

Enjoy the MINI, they're a ton of fun & the owners club is awesome in most places.

Yes, that is what you get. What exactly were you expecting?

[ronssito]

gas mileage? who cares!

i will never understand people

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by ronssito

gas mileage? who cares!

i will never understand people

I will never understand people never understanding other people's priorities.