Very Close to Pulling Trigger - Need Input from Current Owners

[Kouper]

AW/CR with no tech package (looks much cleaner without that tiny screen stuck on top of dash as an afterthought) and $5K in your pocket is the way to go.

[Fifty3bags]

I'd have to agree on the AW CR combo, I wonder why

I had black on black leatherette before this and wasn't for me either (plus it got way too hot down here in AL). Are you building the is or is it dealer stock?

[golf_234]

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=208722

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

Already have a manual, this is my daily. Unfortunately DCT is a must for tri-state area traffic.

definitely not a 'must' by any means. i drove my TT for 5 years through NYC every single day to and from the hospitals i worked at....

i'm currently driving 120 miles a day through brooklyn, queens, and long island daily.....you get used to a manual in traffic.

[JimD]

I believe map updates for the BMW navi are $200 each. Traffic may be lifetime, however.

For navigation I bought the mount for the BMW Portable Pro system and my own Garmin nuvi. I later made my own mount that puts the nuvi on the left side of the gauges. There is a article in the DIY on it. It doesn't look as nice as the built in system but it is more functional for a lot less money. You can also go for the BMW Portable Pro and get a little better appearance and function and still be less than 1/2 the price of the navigation.

Phones are another option but I find their display extremely hard to see while driving - characters are way too small. Garmin's user interface is great.

I bought a 128 vert with nothing but the sport package and walnut interior. I am very happy with that choice. Of your choices, I'd buy the AW 135i.

Jim

[e36addict]

I'm like you, I like the simple things. I wish my car had no moonroof and manual seats, but I will say, the NAV unit is SO worth it. Not only for nav, but you can communicate to the vehicle so much better. Service, TPMS, radio, all settings, etc. So worth it..

I love my DCT, it's also my daily. I get my fill of 5MT with the E36 No problems thus far and I beat the hell out of it.. People think Oh DCT, how boring... this is so untrue, the sound alone is well worth it, especially with the downpipe. I like your option #2 of AW on CR. That's ideally the combo I wanted but searched for a long time and never found one.

Personally I don't understand the whole "is" thing.. just not enough there to justify the extra cost for me. But anyways, good luck, and if you get the AW/CR, i'm jealous!

[arthur1920]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

Hello 1-owners,

I am very close to pulling a trigger on a brand new 135i/is. The car will be my daily driver with limited track use. I will keep my Z4 as my main track car but if I never need to drive 5+ hours I may consider this car. With that said, I'm considering both a 135i and 135is.

I like the 135is for its uniqueness and the BMW Performance accessories that come with the car. But truth is I only really care for the exhaust and ppk v2. The style 313's are nice but I'm perfectly content with the normal 135i rims and the other add-ons are not a big deal for me.

I'm also a less is more type of guy, and find that especially true in my search for a 135i. I want to focus on the driving experience and prefer a simple layout (no tech/navi) with barebone options to keep weight down. My perfect car would have DCT, M-sport and heated front seats, nothing else. I find that navi's are nice for the initial years but inevitably the system gets archaic and then you're stuck with outdated technology. However given it is my daily, I can see how the navi may not be so bad after all.

So with that said, I have 2 options both at really good prices. 135i packaged the way I want - has DCT, M-sport, heated front seats. Then I have a fully loaded 135is with DCT, Prem, Tech, M-sport, heated front seats and HK. The price differential after negotiations and incentives is $6485.

Go for the 135i packaged the way I want, or go for the IS which is the car I want but includes options I don't need. Thoughts?

I would wait for the promised LSD for a track car.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by arthur1920

I would wait for the promised LSD for a track car.

Already have a track car, don't need 2.

[Vigilante375]

I hate the Nav system in my 135i. I've used it a handful of times and only twice has it taken me to where I wanted to go. One house it could not even find, even though the house has been around for 10+ years. It's nice having the screen so you can navigate through the radio stations, your music and have a better layout for the maintenance stuff. If I had known the Nav system was this bad I would have waited for a 135i without the Nav.......just my 2 cents on that.

I use my phone for navigation and it's never failed me. It actually gives me turn by turn directions and says "arriving at your destination....on the left".

[Bama335]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

I'd like to know from current N55/DCT owners, how reliable has your car been thus far?

N55/DCT: no issues at all after 20 months, 8K miles - it's used primarily as a weekend fun car when the sun is out, it gets a good thrashing now and then (when "the man" isn't looking), but the majority are easy cruising or traffic miles. Tires are at 5/32", so that in itself tells a story.

AW/CR is a great color combo, it looks really good on the E88, the red/black interior looks better than the red with red dashboard in the new 4 series.

Since we had AW/CR on one car already, I went with Carbon Black over black with blue stitching for the "is" coupe. I've lusted after CB since I saw in on an E39 M5 over 10 yrs ago. While it can look black in certain lights, so far it has looked mostly dark blue. BMW black leather has worn well for me in the past and this one will be around a long time, so that played into the interior choice.

I chose the "is" as it's already got the basic mods (PE and PPK2) and I like the 313 wheels. I'll get to some suspension mods in the future

Bottom line is all 3 of your choices are good ones!

[john_w_lewis]

Originally Posted by golf_234

GO WITH A MANUAL! By FAR my biggest regret. You will never, never, regret a manual.

THIS!!

[john_w_lewis]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

Already have a manual, this is my daily. Unfortunately DCT is a must for tri-state area traffic.

Sorry for my last post. Didn't realize you wanted an auto.

[owen2001]

Originally Posted by DSC_OFF

...The 135is is Le Mans on Black with stitching. The barebone 135i is Carbon Black (which I do like) but on black leather. I'm not a fan of black on black, would've preferred Black on Coral Red.

I'm a "less-is-more" guy as well. No NAV or tech for me. I wanted the 6MT and was able to find the 135is that I wanted, but it was black on black. That was definitely not my first choice.

But having had the car for about 10 weeks now, I must say that I really, really like the black on black. I can't really tell you what it is that I like about it, but I'm really pleased with it at this point and wouldn't change a thing. Just my $.02. GL.

[yaymitch]

The NAV is less about the actual navigation system to me and more about the interface into the other features of the car. Bluetooth is a must for Google Maps and hands free phone operation. I never wanted NAV in my cars but the manufacturers have made the interface into the car so much harder without the NAV. Real-time traffic becomes addictive as well and can definitely save you lots of time in many cases. Alt routes on the fly, etc. Also, consider resale value if that's important to you. More folks want the extras than don't so car will be more marketable with them. As far as PE and PPK2, not worth alone it unless you also are partial to the wheels as well (which you aren't). You can add PE for $800 if you want and I would get Dinan or other tune before PPK2. All that being said, I just got the 'IS' because I want the PE and the wheels and I like the blue stitching in the seats.

[thepktrckt]

Did you get the car yet?

I personally went with AW/CR combo and absolutely love it. Leased it, CPO'd it and just bought it. Usually after three years I am bored and ready to move on to the next shiny thing. With my 1 I fell in love and had to keep it. I went as bare bones on mine as well and honestly the only thing I'm left wanting is the ability to put my top down via keyfob.

I have the M package, DCT and heated seats, the leather and itunes connection were free when I leased it in 2010.

I personally love a colorful interior since that's what I see 90% of the time and black was a no go. I had only owned MT cars my entire life and the DCT was my first automatic, I have zero complaints or misgivings going with it.

Good luck in your decision, regardless welcome to your now favorite car.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by thepktrckt

Did you get the car yet?

I personally went with AW/CR combo and absolutely love it. Leased it, CPO'd it and just bought it. Usually after three years I am bored and ready to move on to the next shiny thing. With my 1 I fell in love and had to keep it. I went as bare bones on mine as well and honestly the only thing I'm left wanting is the ability to put my top down via keyfob.

I have the M package, DCT and heated seats, the leather and itunes connection were free when I leased it in 2010.

I personally love a colorful interior since that's what I see 90% of the time and black was a no go. I had only owned MT cars my entire life and the DCT was my first automatic, I have zero complaints or misgivings going with it.

Good luck in your decision, regardless welcome to your now favorite car.

Waiting to hear back from the CA, he's doing his best to see if he can get the car from dealership. Unfortunately the AW on CR sold last Friday.

[3002 tii]

Just to update everyone, so as I said earlier the AW on CR sold last Friday. So my plan was to snatch the 135is fully loaded by Saturday in order to get the August incentives and rebates else go for the barebones 135i in Carbon Black.

Well, unfortunately I was never able to pick up the IS (car's still at port) but I did sign papers yesterday! Le Mans on black, premium, tech, M-sport, DCT, heated seats, HK and Bluetooth, which I was able to talk them down to $47,485 less the $2500 in build out cash and ultimate driving experience promo which put me at $44,985. That also put me under the NJ threshold of the luxury tax (0.4% on any sale price above $45k). I then got another $500 for loyatly rebate, but that gets applied as part of my down payment after taxes and fees.

I'll then lastly follow up with my CCA rebate of another $500 which I hear only takes 2 weeks. Add it all up and I'm looking at approximately an effective price of $43,985 on a car that has MSRP of 51,300. Needless to say I'm quite happy with my deal, wasn't as great as the deal I got on the Z4 but that was a once in lifetime deal. Cannot wait to pick her up next week.

[roadcarver]

Great deal you got there. You will love the lemans blue. I thought of ordering an is in lemans blue but when the dealer found the one I just got in the 135i I just went ahead and jumped on it to avoid the painful wait. I figured I can always ppk down the road. The exhaust on the 135i is good enough for me but damn that 135is exhaust is awesome.

[angler]

Save the money get the 135i. You can add the PE and the PPK for less then 2k. I paid 1895 for both installed.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by angler

Save the money get the 135i. You can add the PE and the PPK for less then 2k. I paid 1895 for both installed.

Perhaps you didn't read the end of the thread. I already signed the papers.

[angler]

Originally Posted by 3002 Tii

Perhaps you didn't read the thread of the thread. I already signed the papers.

I didn't

[mb135is]

Congrats!! Can't wait to see it!