Buying used 135i.

MysticblueX3 · 08-30-2012, 11:50 PM

About to buy a used 2008 135i. What is something I should look for? The car has 30k miles. Owner just had oil/filter change and regular maintenance service by dealer. Car will be out of warranty soon so I just want to make sure there are no surprises. Oh yeah, the HPFP recall has been done already. Thanks for the feedback.

Venom · 08-30-2012, 11:59 PM

Seat belt tensioner and 3rd brake light should also have been looked at.
If it will be out of warranty soon, first get a private inspection before you buy it if you dont fully know/trust the original owner.

HPFP and turbo wastegates have been extended to 10yr/120k and 8/84k(I believe). But I would definitely drive it around and listen for a rattly wastegate before the warranty is up because if that goes after the original warranty they are less likely to replace the whole turbo.

MysticblueX3 · 08-31-2012, 12:10 AM

I did test drive the car. I don't know what a rattly wastegate sounds like but the car drove and sounded fine. I do plan on taking it to a BMW dealership for a pre purchase inspection. But if the turbo wastegate is covered for 8yrs/84k I still have 4 yrs 50kish miles so I don't need to worry to much about it?

Venom · 08-31-2012, 12:46 AM

PPI should do it. (I'd err on the side of caution with the wastegates.)

I have seen a forum member on here have rattling wastegates and the dealer is trying to shaft him on the repair. (Still waiting for an update on that, Vert...)
I am not sure I completely understand his situation but from the SIB, the repair covered is merely a replacement of the wastegates themselves. Do a quick search and you'll find it.

Other than all that, there are no real common problems I have seen... maybe a thermostat/water pump here and there...

Enjoy it

135Pats · 08-31-2012, 01:12 AM

Brokenvert's dealer is trying to screw him on the wastegates? that's absurd...But anyways, if you are willing to put up with the occasional hiccup, the car is overall reasonably reliable. It's not a Camry, but it's certainly not the Pinto that some made it out to be early on. If you tune it, be cognizant of the injectors/coilpacks/sparkplugs, but outside of that there are no serious issues to worry about. The N54 has shown itself to be an extremely sturdy platform, i'd wager half the members here with 135s are running elevated boost, with several members around/over 400whp. And now with wastegates and hpfps extended for quite some time, the only "chronic" issues are more or less taken care of. It's a great car, got nothing bad to say about it!

Venom · 08-31-2012, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Brokenvert's dealer is trying to screw him on the wastegates? that's absurd...

yeah I know, it's totally

but last I read he was going to try a different dealership because of it.

Back on topic: this car is a blessing and a curse. My experience is that at its worst it is rather finicky and will exhibit symptoms that will miraculously go away. These symptoms seem to last for me just until you get to the dealership and they wont be able to reproduce it. Other than that, anything that is truly unreliable has had its warranty coverage extended thanks to our litigious country.

kensington · 08-31-2012, 07:30 AM

Or spend around $1500-2000 and get an extended warranty. Then your only concern is making sure the car hasnt been wrecked. With the hpfp and wastegate warranty extended theres not much to worry about if the car drives good.

KingOfJericho · 08-31-2012, 07:56 AM

If you are looking to get Nav, do yourself a favor and get a 2009+. The 2008 unit is a fossil by comparison.

135Pats · 08-31-2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

If you are looking to get Nav, do yourself a favor and get a 2009+. The 2008 unit is a fossil by comparison.

I wouldn't turn down an 08 I loved just because of the nav, but you are right, it's basically a POS. Sometimes I just laugh at the "directions" it provides, and the logic it uses to get you places.

juliansorl · 08-31-2012, 10:34 AM

Loved my 09 135 vert. Best car for the money IMO. I bought mine cpo with only 9k miles and I never had a problem at all and I only paid 30k in Dec2010 like I said the car was a bargain. Also the car is just as great looking as it is fast. I love the lines of my vert and it's low profile and wide stance. Alas, I just sold her Wednesday Night. She will be missed. Good luck, you have great taste in cars!

tuco44 · 08-31-2012, 11:40 AM

If I had the choice, I would pass on the first year model, the 2008, and get a 2009 +. It is a fact (according to CReports, for one) that the '08 1er was more prone to trouble.

LB1 · 08-31-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticblueX3

About to buy a used 2008 135i. What is something I should look for? The car has 30k miles. Owner just had oil/filter change and regular maintenance service by dealer. Car will be out of warranty soon so I just want to make sure there are no surprises. Oh yeah, the HPFP recall has been done already. Thanks for the feedback.

GET AN EXTENDED WARRANTY! I just passed 50k and in a span of 2 weeks I had all injectors replaced (it took the dealer over a week to figure out the problem), and within a week my electric water pump was replaced. The water pump would have cost me $1500 alone. Thank god I bought CPO. Also, the extended warranty should come with roadside assistance which was a lifesaver when the waterpump went out in the middle of the freeway.

Bmwbreed · 08-31-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuco44

If I had the choice, I would pass on the first year model, the 2008, and get a 2009 +. It is a fact (according to CReports, for one) that the '08 1er was more prone to trouble.

First model years of a new platform always are and then by the next yr or 2 they usually have most of the bugs worked out.

Gnarsh Darkwatch · 08-31-2012, 12:31 PM

Sorry for the noob question, but would these be the same concerns for a new (2012) car? Obviously, the 128 wouldn't have the wastegate concern, does it have the same finicky Fuel Pump situation?

tuco44 · 08-31-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnarsh Darkwatch

Sorry for the noob question, but would these be the same concerns for a new (2012) car? Obviously, the 128 wouldn't have the wastegate concern, does it have the same finicky Fuel Pump situation?

Short answer is NO. Most bugs are now fixed, current model years should have a lot less issues, but one can always get a "problem" car.......

I am very comfortable with my MY 2012 135i as both the E82 body, and the N55 engines are well proven at this time.

Gnarsh Darkwatch · 08-31-2012, 01:48 PM

I found some other information elsewhere on here that has me looking in another direction (as I will ALWAYS be the one that gets "problem cars"), but thank you for the prompt response Tuco44.

135Pats · 08-31-2012, 02:21 PM

You don't see many problems with the trans or drivetrain of the 1ers, and yes the N55 has shown solid reliability. With that being said, IMO the problems with the N54 were overblown, the HPFP issues have been resolved and the wastegates have extended coverage on them. Electronic gremlins seem to find their way into all BMWs though, they're rarely a "big deal" but they can certainly be an annoyance. For whatever reason, most of those issues seem to go away with time, but you can certainly run into AC or radio issues for no particular rhyme or reason.

Edit: Very frustrating to still see these water pump issues, they've plagued bimmers for years now, there's no reason why they shouldn't have found a practical solution to this. I haven't had issues with mine (yet), but just hearing about it angers me. BMW should be better than that.

ken1137 · 08-31-2012, 03:10 PM

+1 on a PPI. Have them thoroughly inspect the tires for wear patterns, suspension, and frame. They may not look closely if you dont point these things out. GL !

MysticblueX3 · 08-31-2012, 10:18 PM

Thanks for all the responses. What is usually inspected in a PPI and how much should it cost (hours of labor)?

ken1137 · 09-01-2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticblueX3

Thanks for all the responses. What is usually inspected in a PPI and how much should it cost (hours of labor)?

Prices vary. I've been charged anywhere between $100-$150 and my dealer discounted the last PPI since he knew I would service the car at his shop. Ask to see their check-list b/c that might vary from shop-to-shop and let them know you are more concerned about certain areas of the car. GL.

LOL WUT · 09-02-2012, 08:54 AM

+1 for getting a PPI. I purchased a 7 series off of eBay under the condition that I could back out if the PPI turned up any big dollar issues. After the PPI was completed the dealer informed me that 7800$ worth of work should be done. Needless to say that PPI saved me some headaches. I believe the inspection ran me $150, one of the better investments you can make when buying a used bimmer.

MysticblueX3 · 10-08-2012, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom

Seat belt tensioner and 3rd brake light should also have been looked at. .

What was wrong w/ the seat belt tensioner and which seat belt?

08-30-2012, 11:50 PM	#1
MysticblueX3 Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Buying used 135i. About to buy a used 2008 135i. What is something I should look for? The car has 30k miles. Owner just had oil/filter change and regular maintenance service by dealer. Car will be out of warranty soon so I just want to make sure there are no surprises. Oh yeah, the HPFP recall has been done already. Thanks for the feedback.
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08-30-2012, 11:59 PM	#2
Venom Colonel 374 Rep 2,388 Posts Drives: M2 Competition Join Date: May 2011 Location: East Bay, CA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.50]	Seat belt tensioner and 3rd brake light should also have been looked at. If it will be out of warranty soon, first get a private inspection before you buy it if you dont fully know/trust the original owner. HPFP and turbo wastegates have been extended to 10yr/120k and 8/84k(I believe). But I would definitely drive it around and listen for a rattly wastegate before the warranty is up because if that goes after the original warranty they are less likely to replace the whole turbo.
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08-31-2012, 12:10 AM	#3
MysticblueX3 Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	I did test drive the car. I don't know what a rattly wastegate sounds like but the car drove and sounded fine. I do plan on taking it to a BMW dealership for a pre purchase inspection. But if the turbo wastegate is covered for 8yrs/84k I still have 4 yrs 50kish miles so I don't need to worry to much about it?
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08-31-2012, 12:46 AM	#4
Venom Colonel 374 Rep 2,388 Posts Drives: M2 Competition Join Date: May 2011 Location: East Bay, CA iTrader: (5) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.50]	PPI should do it. (I'd err on the side of caution with the wastegates.) I have seen a forum member on here have rattling wastegates and the dealer is trying to shaft him on the repair. (Still waiting for an update on that, Vert...) I am not sure I completely understand his situation but from the SIB, the repair covered is merely a replacement of the wastegates themselves. Do a quick search and you'll find it. Other than all that, there are no real common problems I have seen... maybe a thermostat/water pump here and there... Enjoy it
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08-31-2012, 01:12 AM	#5
135Pats Major General 456 Rep 6,478 Posts Drives: A few BMWs Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (3)	Brokenvert's dealer is trying to screw him on the wastegates? that's absurd...But anyways, if you are willing to put up with the occasional hiccup, the car is overall reasonably reliable. It's not a Camry, but it's certainly not the Pinto that some made it out to be early on. If you tune it, be cognizant of the injectors/coilpacks/sparkplugs, but outside of that there are no serious issues to worry about. The N54 has shown itself to be an extremely sturdy platform, i'd wager half the members here with 135s are running elevated boost, with several members around/over 400whp. And now with wastegates and hpfps extended for quite some time, the only "chronic" issues are more or less taken care of. It's a great car, got nothing bad to say about it! __________________ E88 N54 Alpinweiss/Coral Red/Motiv HTA 3586r Tial .82AR/Other stuff...652WHP F30 N55 XDrive EBII
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08-31-2012, 07:30 AM	#7
kensington Private First Class 6 Rep 153 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tulsa, ok iTrader: (0)	Or spend around $1500-2000 and get an extended warranty. Then your only concern is making sure the car hasnt been wrecked. With the hpfp and wastegate warranty extended theres not much to worry about if the car drives good.
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08-31-2012, 07:56 AM	#8
KingOfJericho Major General 2452 Rep 7,341 Posts Drives: Yes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 135i Coupe [5.26]	If you are looking to get Nav, do yourself a favor and get a 2009+. The 2008 unit is a fossil by comparison. __________________ The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Bimmerpost. 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee High Altitude Hemi \| 2010 S4 Sold \| 2010 BMW 135i Retired \| 2006 Lotus Exige Sold
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08-31-2012, 10:34 AM	#10
juliansorl Private 1 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 135cab/JCWcab 2009 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: new york iTrader: (0)	Loved my 09 135 vert. Best car for the money IMO. I bought mine cpo with only 9k miles and I never had a problem at all and I only paid 30k in Dec2010 like I said the car was a bargain. Also the car is just as great looking as it is fast. I love the lines of my vert and it's low profile and wide stance. Alas, I just sold her Wednesday Night. She will be missed. Good luck, you have great taste in cars!
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08-31-2012, 11:40 AM	#11
tuco44 Colonel 644 Rep 2,294 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western Canada iTrader: (0)	If I had the choice, I would pass on the first year model, the 2008, and get a 2009 +. It is a fact (according to CReports, for one) that the '08 1er was more prone to trouble. __________________ 2018 340i xDrive M Perf Edtn Sunset Orange Previous BMWs - 19 others since 1971.
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08-31-2012, 12:31 PM	#14
Gnarsh Darkwatch New Member 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Isle of Palms, SC iTrader: (0)	Sorry for the noob question, but would these be the same concerns for a new (2012) car? Obviously, the 128 wouldn't have the wastegate concern, does it have the same finicky Fuel Pump situation?
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08-31-2012, 01:48 PM	#16
Gnarsh Darkwatch New Member 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Isle of Palms, SC iTrader: (0)	I found some other information elsewhere on here that has me looking in another direction (as I will ALWAYS be the one that gets "problem cars"), but thank you for the prompt response Tuco44.
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08-31-2012, 02:21 PM	#17
135Pats Major General 456 Rep 6,478 Posts Drives: A few BMWs Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (3)	You don't see many problems with the trans or drivetrain of the 1ers, and yes the N55 has shown solid reliability. With that being said, IMO the problems with the N54 were overblown, the HPFP issues have been resolved and the wastegates have extended coverage on them. Electronic gremlins seem to find their way into all BMWs though, they're rarely a "big deal" but they can certainly be an annoyance. For whatever reason, most of those issues seem to go away with time, but you can certainly run into AC or radio issues for no particular rhyme or reason. Edit: Very frustrating to still see these water pump issues, they've plagued bimmers for years now, there's no reason why they shouldn't have found a practical solution to this. I haven't had issues with mine (yet), but just hearing about it angers me. BMW should be better than that. __________________ E88 N54 Alpinweiss/Coral Red/Motiv HTA 3586r Tial .82AR/Other stuff...652WHP F30 N55 XDrive EBII
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08-31-2012, 03:10 PM	#18
ken1137 Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,732 Posts Drives: BMW S1000XR Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 e90 335i [6.40]	+1 on a PPI. Have them thoroughly inspect the tires for wear patterns, suspension, and frame. They may not look closely if you dont point these things out. GL ! __________________ BMWCCA member
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08-31-2012, 10:18 PM	#19
MysticblueX3 Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 245 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the responses. What is usually inspected in a PPI and how much should it cost (hours of labor)?
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09-02-2012, 08:54 AM	#21
LOL WUT New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2012 Wrangler Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	+1 for getting a PPI. I purchased a 7 series off of eBay under the condition that I could back out if the PPI turned up any big dollar issues. After the PPI was completed the dealer informed me that 7800$ worth of work should be done. Needless to say that PPI saved me some headaches. I believe the inspection ran me $150, one of the better investments you can make when buying a used bimmer.
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