128i Red Leather & Driving an MT 128i

[Captisock]

I'm considering trading my 128i Auto for a 128i Manual but with the red leather seats. What do you guys think of the red leather (exterior is black), is it going to hurt the re-sale value? And this is my work car, would red be excessive and unprofessional, aka would it give off the wrong vibe?

Also, is the sport suspension in the sport package a bad idea? I'm worried it'll be a much rougher ride, and my 128i WITHOUT the sport suspension was pretty rough already.

Last question, how long will it take me to learn to drive manual on this car? I've never driven a manual before, it'll be my first manual car. (Is this even a good idea? Switching from automatic, that is)

Thanks!

[jimmy1990]

black on red looks great! I think you should go for it

[ItsHectic]

Not something that I would personally get but nothing wrong with it at all. Lots and lots of cars come red+black leather.

JC on TG said the M sport was a smoother ride, but he was comparing different year models.

[Frack]

Go for it, I wish mine was red

[JD135]

I got red and I love it, go for it

[nato-main-man-5am]

I found the sport suspension a little rougher than the standard suspension. But of course it handled more precisely. Trade off for what you prefer most.

Interesting that you want a manual but have never driven one. I'd recommend renting a manual (if you can find one, they seem to be rare here in the USA) for a week, to see what you think. Great for when you want to be fully engaged in driving. Annoying in heavy stop and go traffic. (I've driven one for 20+ years; my new 128 will be my first automatic ever.)

Red leather might be unprofessional, depending on your profession. Real estate agent? Probably not a worry. Undertaker? I wouldn't get it. Just as two examples.

[Bimmer100_]

Go for it. It will have a better resale value with the red interior...

[RoundelM3]

The red leather does look good on a black car - I have a friend with a black Z4 that has red/black seats, and it looks very good. I have more conservative tastes, but that's just me. Regarding learning to drive a manual trans, I'd recommend learning the basics on something other than a new car if at all possible. You wouldn't want to burn up your clutch or grind the gears on your new car. Takes a little practice, especially remembering to downshift as you slow down to go around corners or come to a stop.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by JD135

I got red and I love it, go for it

+1! The Coral Red is pure sex on a black car! Go for it!!



PS: Don't forget to do the "CDV delete mod" too.

[MikeinAlexandria]

Isn't this like asking us if you should trade in your old, frumpy girl friend who doesn't actually like you for the hot girl down the street who can't keep her eyes off you?

- red seats... They rock. Plus, red is a historic Formula One seat color
- manual... The BMW one is super easy to drive in heavy traffic. It might take a week to drive decently, but you can certainly figure it out.
- sport suspension... Eh, we are in the USA, as I discovered, BMW USA's version of a sport suspension is very lightly stiffer than stock. I would not worry about it being too stiff
- work impression... What do you think of your fellow employees who drive Toyota Prius, SUVs, mnivans, and such? I think they'll love your new car!

So, go for it, won't regret your decision.

[jimmy1990]

Originally Posted by MikeinAlexandria

Isn't this like asking us if you should trade in your old, frumpy girl friend who doesn't actually like you for the hot girl down the street who can't keep her eyes off you?

- red seats... They rock. Plus, red is a historic Formula One seat color
- manual... The BMW one is super easy to drive in heavy traffic. It might take a week to drive decently, but you can certainly figure it out.
- sport suspension... Eh, we are in the USA, as I discovered, BMW USA's version of a sport suspension is very lightly stiffer than stock. I would not worry about it being too stiff
- work impression... What do you think of your fellow employees who drive Toyota Prius, SUVs, mnivans, and such? I think they'll love your new car!

So, go for it, won't regret your decision.

[x97Melbourne]

The sport package debate has been argued so many time you'll have to make your own decision on that -- but I personally wouldn't even consider a BMW w/o sports package. The seats are more sexy.....if you can pardon the term.

As for the red -- yeah everyone in my car immediately comments on the red leather because it's so rare (for any car). I like mine and I think it makes the car. Go for it! But not without the sport package!!

And good decision on the manual -- the 128i can be a really fun car with the MT. Plenty fun to drive and plenty fast. The automatic in my opinion is too slow -- I seem to always get stuck with either a 128i or 328i automatic as a loaner. Lame. )))

[bluesman1]

Good idea. Take a friend who can drive a manual, and go rent a stick shift car for the day to learn on. This way you won't subject your new vehicle's clutch & transmission to any undue punishment.

[AlwayzUnce]

those seats without the sports package are ehhhhhhhhhh

[Tom K.]

While my ZSP '08 128i came with summer touring Goodyear NCT5 RFTs which gave a rather compliant ride, you should really test drive one equipped with whatever tires will be on the one you order - especially if you consider the non ZSP rough riding. Ditto for the seats as some folks don't fit well in the sport seats. Having driven both, IMHO there's nothing wrong with non sport BMW seats, unless you always corner at full tilt.

My Coral Red leather still looks fantastic after 3 years and 34,000 miles. But I don't worry about either what other folks think or possible resale value. If resale is really a concern, why are you considering a stickshift?)

Tom

[Captisock]

The thing is, I'm considering a manual car because I've been wanting to drive stick shift for a long whole. I love the 1-series and want to keep it for 4-5 years longer, a least, and I didn't want to wait that long to own a manual car. And although the car is great, it's not the most exciting thing driving it.

In any case, I work in the business field, and would like to keep the car for a long while, because I'm at a critical point in my career and do not want to waste any more money changing cars. Is switching to manual going to appease my performance-thirst while looking professional? Bear in mind I'm in my 20s, so I feel like this is age appropriate and wouldn't get much criticism from older partners or senior managers.

your input is appreciated

[chili555]

Is switching to manual going to ... while looking professional?

How are you going to drive it when with or around your professional colleagues? Hit 6,000 rpm on every shift? Heel and toe downshift at every turn or traffic light? Of course not.

You are going to drive quietly and conservatively, making as little noise as possible and as little jerky shifting as possible. You are going to consciously practice smoothness. If you do so, except for the gear-heads, your passengers will hardly ever even notice the MT.

I have driven MT off and on for forty years, including my current 128i. I can lull you to sleep or I can scare the heck out of you. With a bit of practice and concentration, so can you.

[gideonaf]

I was initially hesitant to get red seats on my alpine white. But I'm so happy I did. The red seats r awesome. And everyone else loves them too. Go for it!

[fboutlaw]

FYI. Red on black is awesome. Pics to see what you would be "upgrading" to.

[m_thompson]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

+1! The Coral Red is pure sex on a black car! Go for it!!

Yup. Did that. really like it.

[doublevanosrc]

Do it!! Red leather is gorgeous!!

[JimD]

I don't think I can tell you how long you will take to learn to drive a manual transmission car. But perhaps I can provide some food for thought. I first drove a manual transmission when I drove my first car home from a private seller. It was a 1966 mustang with a 200 inch 6 and a 4 speed manual (might have been a 3 speed). It has a pretty tall first gear so you had to feather the clutch to get it going. And I managed OK. I do not recommend this, I am just saying what I did.

I've driven other manuals that, like my 66, required you to deal with a tall first gear that would stall the engine if you did not add gas as you let out the clutch. My 128i vert is as easy as any manual I have driven. First gear is pretty low - for quick acceleration - so you could just about pop the clutch at idle and go if you are on level ground. The hill hold also is nice, particularly if you are a beginner. This keeps you from have to rev high in a start on a hill to avoid rolling backward.

I can drive a manual smoothly enough my passengers do not realize it isn't an automatic unless they notice me shifting gears. I carry on a conversation without pause while shifting. You will not get to this point in a week or a month. But you should be able to make the car move without damaging it very quickly. My late wife never got past the "make it move" proficiency partially because she never really understood what was happening and partially because she didn't care much how smooth she was.

You might have a better handle on your ability with this if you've driven a motorcycle or other vehicle with a manual transmission. If you can handle those well, you will handle this car well too but it may take a little time.

Stopping is another whole skill set. Initially, many just push in the clutch and stop. Later you can downshift to let the engine help you brake. At this point I blip the throttle on the downshifts ("heel and toe") but these skills are not for safety, they just save a little wear and tear and brakes and synchromeshes in the transmission.

Jim