Advice and warnings for a looker

[BallpointZen]

Hello all,
I am brand new to this place because I am starting to look into possibly getting a 128i. I have been doing my research and think the 135 is awesome, but the turbo problems scare me so I prefer the N/A simplicity.
So, I have been looking at used 128s and found this one which pretty much is exactly what I want, except the mileage is a little high: http://www.justbeemer.com/vehicle-de...oor+coupe.html


My question is, what are your opinions and what should I look for as far as problems or red flags. Also, my parents are giving me flak for wanting a BMW because of the cost of maintenance. I am wanting something actually fun after driving a base Ford Focus for the last decade so are there any big 128 issues to expect? I know it will be more, but just how MUCH more?

Basically, I am looking for info so that when I jump at this thing, I will be able to see where I am going to land.

Thanks.

P.S. I found this forum because I saw a 135 in a Dave and Buster's parking lot in San Antonio, TX with a 1addicts.com sticker. Ended up stalking the place for a while and liked it.

[Venom]

as far as I've seen you'll want to make sure the Battery has been replaced and just as general with any other car make sure you have a full service history of the vehicle.

this generation of car's brand doesn't so much matter as far as reliability is concerned. if you want it to last a while make sure that the oil changes were done more frequently than every 15k.

what brings you to consider the 1 series?

[BallpointZen]

Part of the reason I like the 1 Series is because they are the last front engine, rear wheel drive car in my price range that can actually handle daily life. The Focus I am coming from was an OK car but it was just a car. I feel these cars have the elegance but not the tech happy, inflated ego of the 3 series. Maybe it is a sort of girl next door thing where they are not the most shapely, popular, or known but you just want to be in one.
I want a car that can challenge my love of my motorcycle but still get me to work and impress a date. I just see them as the perfect car for what I want at this time in my life.
That might be a little flowery of a reply but I think you get the point.

[128GP]

Once you get the car, you can get the service history from the dealership.

Are you aware its an auto tranny?

[Overpar56]

I wouldn't worry about a turbo. I've had 3 vehicles with turbos and as long as you do regular maintenance, don't mod it to ungodly boost levels, and don't abuse a cold engine, you should be fine. Modern engines with turbos are a lot more reliable than a decade ago.

Any BMW will cost you more in maintenance than a a Focus, but the Focus is an automotive appliance. The 128 is a fine vehicle. That one you linked to looks great. You might be able to get a friendly dealer to pull a history off the vin for you.

One thing about the auto on a 128 is that a manual will drive up the fun factor. I've driven 2012/2013 1 and 3 series autos and they lack some fun. It's a hell of a lot better than the Focus, but you're making a big step up. You have to figure you're going to live with the car for a few years.

I like that 135 vert they have. Sweet!

[631twentyeighteye]

You wont have any reliability issues with the 128. That being said, GET A MANUAL. I've driven both extensively and the auto is extremely boring relative to the manual. winding the motor to 7k and rowing gears is what makes the 128i fun.

[02rsxpilot]

I came from a similar car, an Acura RSX, to my 135. The BMW is about $400 a year more expensive to insure, oil changes (done myself) are about $25 more expensive. Parts are definitely more expensive, but not as much as you'd think. A 10 year old car is also going to need parts replacements more frequently.

If maintenance is a concern, I'd go with a lower mileage CPO'd BMW that had some more life left in its free maintenance program. 50,000 miles on a 2012 is a LOT of driving.

Other than that, I don't think you need any warnings, other than to be patient and find just what you want. The benchmark I'd look for is less than 10k miles per year old the car is. So for a 2012, it shouldn't have more than around 20-25K. That tells you it was babied, not thrashed and then tossed aside for the next shiny toy the owner wanted.

[Worra]

Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye

You wont have any reliability issues with the 128. That being said, GET A MANUAL. I've driven both extensively and the auto is extremely boring relative to the manual. winding the motor to 7k and rowing gears is what makes the 128i fun.

+1 to this. I've driven the 128i auto and its a horrible French slushbox. If you can't drive a manual, its time to learn. Once you get over the initial frustration, you'll love every minute of every drive for the rest of your life.


(Ok, maybe except for the occasional times when you're sitting in gridlocked traffic)

[135i_N54_GUY]

If you are buying any used BMW I suggest you:

1. Buy it from a BMW dealership.
2. Make a purchase deal for a motor plan extension (cause you can expect some teething problems in the beginning.)
3. Make sure that you drive it before signing anything.
4. Make sure the brakes (ie. brake pads, calipers, disks and TYERS are in good condition.)
5. Check for any signs of water damage to the vehicle (ie. leaks, in the trunk or anywhere else.
6. Makes sure there is a good warranty for at least a year.
7. When you buy it make sure to drive it with no radio or music for the first month so you can make sure there are no strange clanks, or bad engine sounds.
8. Make sure the car has not been crashed by checking for any bad welds.
9. Get to know your dealer very well before dishing out any cash or signing any documents... Don't make the purchase easy make them work before you decide.
10. Do not purchase any other fancy protection paint jobs.
11. Check the paint for any differentiation in color or dribble these are all signs that your dream car has been crashed at some point.
12. Be 100% sure about the car before you buy it.

Lastly enjoy it, have fun and keep your ego levels at bay but most importantly drive safe.

I own a 135i M Performance and I don't regret it 1 bit.

God bless